MONTHLY ARCHIVES: June 2016

Bring Someone with You

Posted by Karah

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Thank God for how He is transforming you. Ask Him to give you a heart for those who need to know Jesus.

The last few weeks, you’ve learned that Jesus’ followers are transformed by the Holy Spirit, called to a new way of life, and humbly aware that their salvation is found in Christ—not their own merit, effort, or good works. Today, you’ll learn another important truth about disciples: they bring people to Jesus. Read John 1:35-42 in your Bible.

“He first found his own brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah!’ (which means “Anointed One”),  and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, He said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas’ (which means “Rock”).” —John 1:41-42

Next to each quote below, record why it was an important step in the process of Andrew bringing Simon to Jesus:

“followed Jesus” (v. 37)-

“Rabbi, where are you staying?” (v. 38)-

“stayed with Him that day” (v. 39)-

“found his own brother” (v. 41)-

“brought Simon to Jesus” (v. 42)-

Andrew met the Messiah and couldn’t keep the good news to himself. Who has been an Andrew in your life? How?
Andrew didn’t try to reason or argue his brother into believing. He simply invited Peter to come and see. What might be some ways we could invite people to come and experience Jesus for themselves?

Respond

Think about the people who have been Andrews in your life. Thank God for each one. Consider thanking those people personally.

Who are the people in your life who need to experience Jesus? Pray for each one by name, asking God for opportunities to share your hope in Christ.

Sharing your faith isn’t about browbeating, arguing, or using guilt to force someone to accept Jesus’ invitation. It’s about presenting Jesus and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the work of changing hearts. Ask God to prepare peoples’ hearts and give you the opportunity to talk to them about Jesus.

For further study, read Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 2:1-12.

Behind the Story

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels (“synoptic” means “seen together” or “seen with”). These three Gospels tend to view Jesus’s life and ministry from the same angle. John approached the story from an entirely different angle and uses a very different writing style than the other Gospels. Earlier this week in Mark 1, we studied Jesus calling Andrew and Simon as they were fishing. Many scholars believe that the event in Mark and the one in John’s Gospel describe two separate events with John recounting the disciples’ conversion and Mark recording their call to service.

The Point

Disciples bring others to Jesus.


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Born Again

Posted by Karah

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Stop for a minute and think about the ways your life has changed since you began to follow Jesus. Thank Him for making a way for you to know the Father.

Think about Jesus’ invitation to Nathanael to join Him in His work. You learned that true disciples know that Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with the Father. Today, you’ll learn that disciples of Christ experience spiritual rebirth and transformation. Read John 3:1-21 in your Bible.

“Jesus answered, ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.'” —John 3:5-6

Ponder these questions:

Jesus told Nicodemus that two births were required to enter the kingdom of God: one physical and one spiritual. How is someone born again? (Hint: look at verses 15-18.)

Spiritual rebirth is an act of God in which the Holy Spirit makes you brand new. It happens in the moment you place your faith for salvation in Jesus. What word or words describe how you feel when you think about how you have been reborn? List a few ideas below.

Following Christ isn’t about following a bunch of rules, behaving better, or doing good works. It’s about being transformed. Why is that important for us to understand? Explain.

Respond

If you are a believer, list a few ways you can see the Holy Spirit transforming you. Ask your parents, a Christian friend, or a mentor about ways they see God at work in your life. Thank God for the ways His power is on display in your life.

Who in your life needs to hear about the good news of what Jesus has done and the transformation they can experience? What steps will you take to share the gospel this week?

For further study, read Romans 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; and 1 Peter 1:3-12.

Behind the Story

Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees, one of the religious ruling groups of the day. He had seen the miracles Jesus had done (such as the wedding at Cana in John 2) and knew that no ordinary human could do those things. Pharisees believed that religious and ethical purity earned God’s favor, which led to a deep concern for obeying every facet of the law. Nicodemus may have come to visit Jesus at night because it was less likely the other Pharisees would notice.

The Point

Disciples of Christ experience spiritual rebirth and transformation.


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