June 5

The Family of Jesus
Matthew 12:46-50

1) His physical family
2) His spiritual family

Mother-Mary was praised by Gabriel
Luke 1:28
Luke 1:42 -blessed by all women
Luke 1:45 -blessed for believing
Luke 1:48 - all generations call her blessed
Matthew 1:25 Joseph knew her not until after the birth of Jesus
Born of a virgin
He was the firstborn- implies others born after Jesus
Matthew 12:46-47
Matthew 13:54-56 Brothers, James, Joses, Simon and Judas Sisters- plural at least 2

Some say that they were cousins, or Josephs children from a previous marriage
But this clearly states His brothers and named the four.

Luke 2:48-51-knew he was Gods son
John 2:5 Mary had respect for His authority
John 19:25 Mary followed Him
Acts 1:14 this was after the ascension- last mention of Mary

She truly knew He was the Son of God

John 7:2-5 Siblings did not believe He was the Savior.
Mark 3:21 they thought he was crazy
After the resurrection they believed
1 Corinthians 15- Jesus appeared to James
Acts 1:14 Ascension- James believed
Acts 15:6-21 James prominent leader
Acts 21:18-25 believed to be the author of the book of James

History tells us that he was martyred by being thrown off the same temple that Jesus was Tempted by Satan on.

Galatians1:19 Judas was the author of Jude 1 Corinthians 9:5 brothers were married.

Anyone can be a part of Jesus' family which He says means more to Him than His physical family
Matthew 12:48-50
Anyone who does my Father's will is my true family

Our physical families are temporary
Matthew 10:34-37 Physical family may not accept the truth Mark 10:28-30 Disciples will become 100 fold
1 Timothy3:15 Church is the Household/Family of God Spiritual family of God

1 Peter 1;22-23 Born again
Hebrews 2:11-12 Enjoy Jesus as our brother

To become a member, you must do the Father's will
Matthew 7:21-23

If your only true family is your physical family, you're setting yourself up for failure
What have you done for your true family? Your spiritual family?
Are you encouraging one another?
Are you in the family that Jesus loves?

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June 12
Kingdom of Great Value
Matthew 13:44-46 What is the Kingdom of Heaven

What is the great value
Is it really worth it
What will it cost us Sold all to obtain their desires
Searching for them
God's Kingdom should be the same way

What is the Kingdom

 a) Gods Kingship/Rule/Sovereignty- Matthew 6:10 Kingdom come will be done
b) Spiritual not physical- John 18:36, Romans 14:17
c) Visible manifestation- Lord's Church is the present element
Matthew 16:18
Church=Kingdom
Collosians 1:13
Acts 20:28- Purchased with His blood
d) Future element- inherit the Kingdom- Matthew 25:35 The Kingdom is wherever God is accepted in the hearts of man

Acts 2- the Kingdom began on the Day of Pentecost
The faithful will enter the Kingdom on the Day of Judgement
Become a Christian, you will gain entry

What is the great value?

a) Collosians 13-you have refuge from the power of darkness
You are either in the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan
Romans 14:17- Domain of Righteousness/Peace/Joy
Phillipians 4:6-7
b)Hebrews 12:25 Unshakable kingdom
Luke 1:33 No End
2 Peter 1:10-11 Everlasting cannot be destroyed
c)Presented to God
1 Corinthians 15:21
Matthew 13:41-43 Shine as lights Is it really worth it?
Acts 7:54-60 Stephen was stoned
Acts 8:1-4 the early Christians were persecuted
Hebrews 10:32-36
2 Timothy 4 Paul
Phillipians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 8:9 Jesus became poor so that we could become rich

All of these are now in the Kingdom of God their suffering rewarded. What will it cost?
We must be willing to pay the price
Mark 1:15 repent
John 3:3-5
Matthew 6:33 put the kingdom first Are we willing to pay the price?
Luke 14:15-24

Are we guilty of putting worldly things above serving the Lord?
Your actions will show your devotion
Your actions will show if you are willing to pay the price
Can we expect Him to accept anything but our best?
2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
We may suffer greatly, but it will be worth it!

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June 18

1. Characteristics of a blind leader
2. How NOT to be misled
a. listen to them carefully
b. search the scriptures daily

Who can we trush regarding religius matters today?
Ephesians 1:22-23
Ephesians 4:4
There are almost 2000 religious organizations today
Religious leaders are not thought of highly in the Bible
Acts 20:29-30
2 Peter 2:1-2
Knowingly destroying the flock (congregation) Blind Leaders Vs. False Teachers
The majority of religious leaders are unaware that they are misleading people
They are the blind leaders
There are some that knowingly mislead
They are the false teachers Isaiah 9:16
The end resutl is the same False teachers 2 Peter:2
Blind leaders Matthew 15

1.Characteristics of a blind leader
Hold to traditions of men, the pharasies
Traditions of man equal to God's word
Matthew 15:3
They teach as doctrine their traditions not knowing what they are teaching is coming from man, not God
Matthew 23:16-22-Blind leaders
Make destinctions where God does not
i.e. the taking of oaths
Leave the commands of God undone
Matthew 23:23-24
focus on the outer man

Matthew 23:25-28 Ritual cleansing, put up with extortion, hypocracy, etc.
Blind leaders today focus on the size of their building/congregations.
Great outward appearance
But how is their heart with Jesus? Other characteristics of Blind Leaders.

Matthew 23:1-3 They say but not do
:5 boast about works
:6-7 love attention of others
:8-10 wear religious titles
:13 fail to show the way to the Kingdom
:14 there to make money
:15 don't make better people
:29-31 honor men who are undeserving

2. How to make sure you're not mislead
Acts 17:11 listen to God's word carefully.

Have this attitude

be a good listener
search scriptures daily

The Bereans did not accept what Paul said until tey compared it to the scriptures. Too many people suffer from biblical illiteracy.
They do not know enough to follow along to compare.
They do not know where to find the books or the passages.
They are unable to discern what is the Word of God or mans opinion. What will be the end of blind leaders and those that follow? Matthew 23:13-14- Uprooted, tossed aside
Matthew 7:21-23 depart from me, I never knew you, you did things without My authority. Who do we blame if people are being meslead? The blind leaders will be held accountable, but is it totally their fault?
Aren't we somewhat responsible?
Matthew 13:15 the mislead closed their own eyes/ears
Matthew 13:16-17 blessed are your eyes/ears for they see/hear
We are blessed because we have God's word and can study it and compare what people teach.

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June 26

Beware of Leaven

Matthew 16:5-12

 

1)   Leaven of the Pharisees

 

The Pharisees and Sadducees questioned Jesus

Matthew 9:11 Why eat with sinners

Matthew 12:1-2 fixing meals on the Sabbath

Matthew 15:1-2 violating elders traditions

Matthew 15:12-14 Blind leaders of the blind

 

Jesus describes their doctrine as leaven – yeast

Matthew 13:33 in a good way

Matthew 16:5-12 warning of their ways permeating and

 

Are there modern day Pharisees & Sadducees?

 

Pharisees were a religious and political group that had strict

Observances of the Law of Moses.

They held the traditions of men as important as Gods word.

 

Characteristics of Pharisees:

Matthew 15:3-6 elevated traditions

Matthew 15:7-8 hypocites

Matthew 23:5 works to be seen of man

Matthew 23:6-7 loved attention

Matthew 23:8-10 religious titles

Matthew 23:13 prevented others from the Kingdom

Matthew 23: 14 make money

Matthew 23: 15 make people worse, not better

Matthew 23: 16-22 distinctions

Matthew: 23 29-31 Honored men that were unworthy

Jesus never condemned them for following the laws strictly, but

He did condemn them for elevating traditions and leaving out

Commandments.

 

The Pharisees called the Christians Legalists because they held strict observances of Gods law.

Jesus must have been a legalist, he taught us to follow them

Matthew 5:17-19

Matthew 5: 20

 

We need to do what God says to show that we love him.

The apostles must be legalist too.

1 John 2:3-5

1 John 3

 

Modern day Pharisees

-they teach and practice traditions of men

-they teach one thing and do another

-they wear special garments while preaching

-they have special titles ie Reverend or Pastor

-they use their religion to make money

 

they will call us legalists and condemn us

 

Sadducees- leberal political and religious group

They believed that only the laws found in the first 5 books of the

Bible were binding.  None of the others are.

 

They did not believe in the ressurection

Acts 23:8

Did not believe in Heaven or Hell

Matthew 22:23-29

Jesus said they did not know the scriptures

And they did not know the power of God

Matthew 22:31-32 Jesus quotes Exodus 3

They did not believe what he was saying, even though he was

 

Modern day Sadducees-

-they take a portion of God’s word but ignores the rest

-they don’t believe what Jesus taught is applicable today

-they don’t want to follow the disciples word.

-they use human reason over divine revelation

          -it doesn’t make sense to them

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 confounded the wise and the arrogant.

They can’t comprehend it, so they reject it.

-they rule out the power of God

     -not physically possible,

          creation

          virgin birth

          miracles

          ressurection

          Heaven and Hell

 

 

There are over 1500 religious organizations that exist today because of one of two errors.

 

1)   traditions of a man –that is a doctrine elevated above Gods word, ie the Pharisees

2)   doctrines are rejected because they don’t make sense, ie the Sadducees

 

So still today, we have to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

 

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