Imitating Jesus: Jesus and the Purpose of Scripture- Sermon 3

September 16, 2012 Creekside Community Church

Creekside Community Church: “Imitating Jesus” “Jesus and the Purpose of Scripture” September 16, 2012
John Bruce – Pastor

Jesus and the Purpose of Scripture
Jesus Relied Upon the Scriptures to Show Him What God Wanted Him to Do. (Matthew 4:12-16, 8:16-

17, 12:15-21, 13:10-15, 34-35, 21:4-5, Luke 19:46)

Jesus Relied Upon the Scriptures to Show Him What Would Happen to Him. (Luke 18:21, John 12:38- 41, 15:25, Matt. 26:20-24, John 13:18, 17:12, Mark 14:49, John 18:8-9, Matt. 26:31-25, 52-56)

For further thought and discussion:

Getting Started

1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2. Can you think of a time when you were absolutely sure you were in the will of God? Can you think of a time when you weren’t so certain? What made the difference?

Going Deeper

Please read Matthew 4:12-16, 8:16-17, 12:15-21, 13:10-15, 34-35, 21:4-5, and Luke 19:46. What do these verses indicate to you about the way Jesus determined God’s will?
Please read Romans 12:2 and 2 Tim. 3:16-17. What do these two passages indicate about finding God’s will? Why do you think finding the will of God is so troublesome for some believers?
Do you think God leads us apart from the Scriptures? Why or why not? If so, how do we know it is God leading us?
Please read Luke 18:21, John 12:38-41, 15:25, Matt. 26:20-24, John 13:18, 17:12, Mark 14:49, John 18:8-9, and Matt. 26:31-25, 52-56. How did Jesus know what would happen to Him? How do you think this knowledge affected Him? What do you know about what will happen to you in this life from the Scriptures? How does this knowledge affect you?
What place does the Scriptures play in revealing God’s will for our life? What else do people rely upon to indicate God’s will? Can you think of any pitfalls in using other methods?

Application:

What is one thing you learned from this week’s passages that you will apply to your life?

Imitating Jesus: Interpreting the Scriptures Like Jesus- Sermon 2

September 9, 2012 Creekside Community Church

Creekside Community Church: “Imitating Jesus”

“Interpreting the Scriptures like Jesus”

September 9, 2012 John Bruce – Pastor

JesusreadtheScripturesasonestory. (Luke6:1-5)

Jesus read the Scriptures as a story from history. (Luke 17:26-29, 11:29-32)

Jesus read the Scriptures as a story about Himself. (Luke 24:13-32, 44-47)

For further thought and discussion:

Getting Started

1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2. Why do many people think that interpreting the Bible is difficult? What would you say to someone who complained, “The Bible is too difficult to understand. Somebody else can tell me what it means.” What parts of the Bible are the most difficult for you to understand? Why?

Going Deeper

Please read Luke 6:1-5. Why were the Pharisees upset with Jesus and His disciples? How does Jesus answer their objection? What’s Jesus’ point? What does this passage reveal about the way Jesus read the Scriptures? How should the way Jesus read the Scriptures change the way we read the Scriptures? Can you see any benefits of reading the Scriptures the way Jesus read the Scriptures?
Please read Luke 17:26-29 and Luke 11:29-32. What does this passage reveal about the way Jesus read the Scriptures? How should the way Jesus read the Scriptures change the way we read the Scriptures? What should I do if I have a hard time believing that some of the stories from the Old Testament actually happened?
Please read Luke 24:13-32 and 44-47. Why do you think the two disciples’ eyes were initially prevented from seeing the resurrected Jesus? What did they learn from their encounter with Him? What does this passage reveal about the way Jesus read the Scriptures? How should the way Jesus read the Scriptures change the way we read the Scriptures? How might approaching the Bible in this way change what you see?

Application:

What is one thing you learned from this week’s passages that you will apply to your life?

Imitating Jesus : Living Under the Authority of Scripture (Matt. 4:1-11)- sermon 1

September 2, 2012 Creekside Community Church

Notes Read

Creekside Community Church: “Imitating Jesus”
“Living under the Authority of Scripture” (Matt. 4:1-11) September 2, 2012
John Bruce – Pastor

Honoring the Scriptures more than our Appetites

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (Matthew 4:1-4)

Honoring the Scriptures more than the Approval of Men

“Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU'; and 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" (Matthew 4:5-7)

Honoring the Scriptures more than our Ambitions

“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" (Matthew 4:8-10)

For further thought and discussion:

Getting Started

1. What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?

2. Do you think every Christian is called to be a disciple of Jesus? Why or why not? Do you consider yourself His disciple? Why or why not? In what way would you most like to be more like Jesus?

Going Deeper

Please read Matthew 4:1-4. If Jesus is God, how was it possible for Him to be tempted? (Hebrews 2:17- 18, 4:15) Why do you think the Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness TO BE tempted by the devil? Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted? Why do we need to be tempted?
How does Jesus honor the Scriptures above His own appetites in this passage? What was Satan’s intention? Why would the devil’s suggestion tempt Jesus? In what ways do your appetites compete with the Scriptures for your allegiance?
Please read Matthew 4:5-7. How does Jesus honor the Scriptures over the approval of men in this passage? What was Satan’s intention? Why would the devil’s suggestion tempt Jesus? In what ways does your desire for human approval compete with the Scriptures for your allegiance?
Please read Matthew 4:8-10. How does Jesus honor the Scriptures over His own ambitions in this passage? What was Satan’s intention? Why would the devil’s suggestion tempt Jesus? In what ways do your ambitions compete with the Scriptures for your allegiance?
Do you think it is to our benefit to learn to live under the authority of the Scriptures? Why or why not? What in our culture makes living under the authority of the Scriptures difficult for Christians today?

Application:

What is one thing you learned from this week’s passages that you will apply to your life?