Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

1.       Henry Morrison Returning Home
2.       Parades – Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade; Bowl Games; Ticker Tape
3.       A Parade for Yeshua (Jesus) – John 12.12-15

¹² The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”¹⁴ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

4.      Palm Sunday – One Week Before Easter – resurrection celebration

5.      This Day was more than Yeshua’s (Jesus’) journey into Jerusalem and even more than the cross; it included:

I.                   Emotional Connections

A.     Don’t Forget the Emotions of Yeshua (Jesus)

1.      Sorrow – Lazarus (John 11.35); Jerusalem – Luke 19.41-44

2.      Anger – Luke 19.45-46

3.      Excitement – Zacchaeus – Luke 19.9

B.     The Passover Story Employs Emotions

1.      Emotional Events surrounding the Passover (Pesach)

Rollercoaster of emotions – slavery and freedom; dealings with Pharaoh; plagues; death of firstborn

2.      The Lamb – Exodus 12.1-6

a.       The Lamb was part of the family – the reason the shepherd leaves the 99 to find the lost ONE – doesn’t wait for more to be lost; willing to fight the predators

b.      Qualities – One year old male; without blemish; sheep or goat;

C.     The “Triumphal Entry” Was Emotional – For God

1.      His Lamb – 5 days before Passover (John 12.12)

2.      His Son – John 3.16 (one of a kind)

a.       Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac – one of a kind son

b.      Riding the Donkey – Yeshua (Jesus) assumes God’s and Man’s parts in the sacrifice

                                            i.      Yeshua (Jesus) was the Lamb to be sacrificed – “God will provide”

ii.      He was also the sacrifice – God sent an angel to stop Abraham – He did not stop himself

iii.      God “cut a covenant with Abraham in Genesis in which he assured him that he would fulfill it by going through the blood path twice – the smoking fire pot and the flaming torch

II.                Expectation Controversies

Josephus, the notable Jewish historian, estimated that two-three million people were involved in the great Passover Feast. It is known that 256,500 lambs were slain at one Passover and that each lamb represented at least ten worshippers. Teeming thousands from all over the world were flooding into the city to observe the Passover. The mass of people and the necessary housing and food arrangements to handle such a mass of people can hardly be imagined.

A.     “Hosanna” – A Triumphant King

1.       We – “save us from Sin
2.      They – Save us from: Rome; Distress; disease; Distresses; Hunger; etc.
3.       Son of David = Political Messia

B.     “Hosanna” – A Sacrificial Substitute

1.       Son of David = The Messiah
2.       Key to understanding is in these two verses:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9.9

Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, “Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.” Isaiah 62.11

3.      GOD = the salvation (Yeshua) of Israel – God as his own son and servant will accomplish his purpose in our salvation

4.      Also hints at TWO visits – the First as a humble sacrifice, riding the donkey; the Second as the victorious King of kings (Philippians 2.9-11)

Conclusion

1.       Pointless Things
2.       There was a Coming where:

a.       Yeshua (Jesus) was our sacrifice for sins

b.      He rules over all men

1.       There is another type of coming – a personal one

Hebrews 3.7-8 (cf. Psalm 95.7)

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice, ⁸ do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,

4.      We MUST Hear and He will come

5.      Honoring Yeshua (Jesus)

Matthew 21.1-9; Mark 11.1-10; Luke 19.28-44; John 12.12-16

Open

Please share your answer to ONE of the following:

1. What do you like best about parades? Least?
2. When purchasing an important item, what is your criterion for selection?
3. What makes you cry?

Study

Please read John 12.12-16 (or another selection from above) and discuss the following with your Group:

1. In what ways do you see this as Jesus’ “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem?
2. How does this scene depict God’s selection for HIS Passover sacrifice?
3. How do you think this Passover impacted the Father? The Son?
4. What do you think is the significance of the “Hosannas” that the crowd was shouting?
5. Jesus expressed great emotions (as weeping over Jerusalem; anger in clearing the temple), which one(s) surprise(s) you?
6. What is significant about the Donkey on which he rode? (see also Zechariah 9.9)

Apply

1. What kind of reception would Jesus get if he came to our town?
2. How has Jesus ridden into your life?
3. In addition to sin, what areas of your life do you need him to step in and save?
4. How do you envision the NEXT coming of Jesus? What is significant about Philippians 2.9-11?

This Sunday is referred to as “Palm Sunday.” It marks one week before the “Easter” celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It also is the day we remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Here he fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9.9, as he humbly rode into the city on a borrowed donkey to face his crucifixion.

There is another aspect to this day that becomes a key to the events surrounding Jesus’ death. A few days before the Passover meal, according to Exodus 12:1-6 and Leviticus 23:4-14, a family had to select a lamb to offer as their sacrifice. As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem he not only came to conquer sin and death BUT also to be God’s selected lamb for his atoning sacrifice at the Jewish Passover.

At least twice John the Baptizer said of Jesus, “Behold the lamb” (John 1:29, 36). As Jesus enters Jerusalem God reiterates the declaration. He would visibly demonstrate the power of God in the Passover as God led his people out of the bondage of Egypt to freedom in the wilderness and eventually into the land of promise.

As our “Passover Lamb of God,” Jesus leads us out of the bondage of sin and into freedom. This freedom is in our journey through this world into eternity with God. It is the freedom to serve the living God rather than entanglements of the adversary.

This Sunday, “Behold the Lamb!”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

1.      You’re the Preacher story!

2.      If someone asked you, “What do you do when you go to church?” What would you say?

3.      Perspective Story

4.      What would happen if we changed how we view what we do at church?

5.      Consider Isaiah’s Experience with God – Isaiah 6:1-8

I.                   Changes in Perspective for Our Worship – From “What Do I Get?” to “What Do I Give?”

A.     From: Sing some songs to: Praising God – Hebrews 13:15

B.     From: Giving Money To: Blessing God with the First Fruits of His Gifts

C.     From: Taking Communion To: Remembering God’s Perfect Sacrifice and His Power in the Resurrection of Jesus

D.     From: Saying Prayers To: Honoring God with the words of our hearts

E.     From: Reading the Bible and Listening to Sermons To: Hearing God’s words for our lives (Shema – Deuteronomy 6.4)

II.                Changes in Perspective Produce Expectations (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Checking Direction Story:

A.     Expect God’s Presence (Isaiah 6:1-4)

1.      Encountering God Changes Lives – Ours and those who follow – Abraham; Moses

2.      A Reminder – Matthew 28:20

B.     Expect a Time of Self-Examination (Isaiah 6:5)

1.      God’s Word is Our Mirror (James 1:22-24)

a.       See Yeshua (Jesus)

b.      See ourselves – Fruit of the Spirit vs. Works of the Flesh

2.      God’s Word Gives Us Right Standards

a.       It is easy to compare ourselves with each other or our culture and feel good (2 Corinthians 10:12)

b.      What happens when we compare ourselves to Yeshua (Jesus)? Luke 5:1-11

C.     Expect a Reminder of Grace (Isaiah 6:6-7)

1.      Goal of worship is not Guilt-Induction – is a time of refreshing (Acts 3:19)

2.      One of the Powerful aspects of the Lord’s Supper is the Grace-Reminder

Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline writes the following: “To worship is to experience Reality, to touch Life. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community. It is breaking into the glory of God, or better yet, being invaded by the glory of God.”

a.       Baptism is an experience and expression of Grace – Romans 6:1-4

b.      We are reminded that we are not condemned in Christ – Romans 8:1

c.       There is a powerful aspect of grace in our relationship with him – 1 John 1:7

3.      Expression of Gratitude

Victorious athletes react to their victories in a number of ways.

•          Some shake hands
•          Some embrace their teammates or friends tightly
•          Some weep openly
•          Some laugh uncontrollably
•          Some shout and dance
•          Some sit in awed silence

D.     Expect an Inspiration to Serve (Isaiah 6:8)

1.      How do you respond when you receive a gift from someone? Thanks/Reciprocate

2.      We have a similar reaction when we encounter God – he does not beg for servants – it is a natural response

1.      In Bible times the Jewish people looked at their homes as a “Small Temple”

a.       Table = altar

b.      Father = Priest

c.       Parents instructed children in Torah

d.      Family participated in worship activities – Sabbath rituals, Prayer, Community etc.

Even though the Temple was destroyed, the Jewish people live on

 2.      Glad He’s Done

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• Share a way in which you dealt with a stressful situation this week.
• What is the best (or worst) trip you have ever taken?
• How have you been recruited for volunteer ministries?

Study

Please read Isaiah 6.1-13 and discuss:

• What could be the significance of Isaiah mentioning the year that King Uzziah died in relationship to his vision?
• Why do you think God chooses to reveal himself to Isaiah?
• What things in this revelation are the most striking to you? How would you have felt in seeing it?
• What does this encounter tell you about the nature and purpose of God?
• What significance do you see in Isaiah’s response in verse 5 compared to verse 8?
• What would be the impact of Isaiah’s work?
• What is key about the last half of verse 13?

Apply

• How does your experience with God compare to Isaiah’s? To the people to whom he was to preach?
• If you were Isaiah, which of your senses would be most impacted by the vision? (i.e., sight; sound; etc.)
• If the members of your HOME Group “responded to the invitation” Sunday morning and said, “Here we are, send us!” What reaction do you think there would be?
• What is something you are learning about God (either from this lesson or in other ways)? How are you responding to it?

I read that during the Second World War, the Jewish philosopher Walter Benjamin fled across Europe from the Nazis. For weeks he made his way through occupied France. Finally he reached his longed-for destination of Spain; from there it would have been possible to escape to America.

There came an unexpected problem. On the day that he arrived, the Spanish border, which had been open, was closed. Benjamin committed suicide in despair. Then one of the most bizarre of paradoxes occurred, the border re-opened the very next day. The closure had been only temporary.

After striving, and running, and hiding, Benjamin had lost hope. He had come to a closed border—there was no way out.

Have you ever “hit the wall”? You have tried everything you can think of – but to no avail. There is a temptation to throw in the towel and just give up. Deep inside we know better.

The apostle Paul had a powerful insight that he shared with us: ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3.13-14).

Things are not always easy in the Christian walk. We don’t always see clearly. We DO have a God who keeps hope alive within us through the gift of his Son. Don’t quit!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 1.      LBJ Prayer Story

2.      Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

² And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴ and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11.1-4)

3.      Prayer is a caught and taught activity

I.       The Disciples Had A Sincere Aspiration (11.1)

A.     They Had Made A Keen Observation

1.      John and His Disciples

2.      Yeshua (Jesus) and His Prayers

One person observed that – There are more than 20 references to Jesus prayer life.

1.        He prayed often (Luke 5:16)
2.       He prayed early in the Morning (Mark 1:35)
3.        He prayed late at Night (Luke 6:12).
4.       He prayed at the beginning of His ministry. . . (Luke 3:21-22)
5.        He prayed before He chose His 12 disciples. . . (Luke 6:12-13)
6.        He prayed all thru the night (Luke 6.12-13)
7.        Jesus prayed before the confession that He was the Christ. . . (Luke 9:18-20)
8.       Jesus prayed before His Transfiguration . . .( Luke 9:28-29)
9.         Jesus prayed before He taught His followers. . . (Luke 11:1)
10.         He prayed while He was teaching others. . . (Matthew 11:25-26)
11.         He prayed after He ministered to others. . . (Matthew 14:23)
12.         Jesus prayed before healing the crowds. . . (Mark 1:35)
13.         Jesus prayed before feeding the 5,000.( Mark 6:41)
14.         Jesus prayed before healing the man who was deaf and mute. . . (Mark 7:34)
15.         Jesus prayed before bringing the dead back to life . . .( John 11:41-43)
16.         Jesus prayed for His friends. . . (Luke 22:32)
17.         Jesus prayed for His disciples. . (John 17:9-16)
18.         Jesus prayed for all Christians. . . (John 17:20)
19.         Jesus prayed before the cross . . . (Luke 22:39-42)
20.         Jesus prayed on the cross . . . (Luke 23:34)
21.         Jesus prayed with disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24)
22.         And now Constant Intercession (Hebrews 7:25

3.      Our Observation of the Early Church – Acts 2.42-47

B.     They Had High Expectations in Prayer

1.      Opposition to Enemies – “Fire from Heaven” (Elijah – 2 Kings 1); Luke 9.51-55

2.      Greatest in Kingdom – James and John – right and left hands

3.      Prayer – more than a “Bat Signal”; Shopping List – Andrew Carnegie – I don’t pray because I do not need anything.”; Good Luck Charm (athletic events)

II.    Yeshua (Jesus) Made A Simple Summation (Luke 11.2-4)

A.     Yeshua (Jesus) and His People Participated in MANY Prayers (1 Thessalonians 5.17)

1.      Temple Prayers – 9 AM; 3 PM

2.      Blessings through the day

3.      Not vain repetition – sincere presentation

Vain Repetitions

B.     Yeshua (Jesus) Gives the Highlights

1.      (Our) Father

a.       Personal Aspect – Father

b.      Family Aspect (Our)

c.       Intimacy – Abba

d.      Boldness – Hebrews 4.14-16

e.       Superior – We request boldly but with humility

f.       Hallowing His Name – Adoration; Making Holy

2.      Kingdom Come

a.       Rule and Reign of God – not territories or buildings – hearts of people

b.      To advance in the world by: Preaching gospel; Obeying commands of God

3.      Daily Bread

a.       Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5.16-19

b.      People who will miss the world to come – people who dwell on past; future; what is above; what is below and forget about today

c.       Psalm 23 – Green Pastures – Alfalfa field vs. Desert grazing

d.      Manna – enough for right now

e.       Feeding 5000 – Mark 6.39: ³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.

4.      Forgive Our Sins

a.       Implications – Repentance and Confession – Psalm 51.1-5

b.      Forgiving each other

c.       God places a high priority on our community – Leviticus 19.18

Lord Herbert: “He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must someday pass.”

5.      Lead Us Not into Temptation

a.       Trials can strengthen (James 1.2)

b.      Tests can lead to sin (Genesis 50.20)

1.      We may feel obligations to pray – sometimes a sense of duty is the only thing that keeps us going – but don’t you think God wants more?

An Obligation Story

2.      A Prerequisite to Prayer is Faith – really believing God will answer

²²And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive. Matthew 21.22 (AMP)

3.      As William Carey once said, “Prayer is my real business! Cobbling shoes is a sideline; it just helps to pay expenses.”

4.      Take it home; Parents, remind your children of God, His Love, and His desire to communicate with them; HOME Groups; anyone who is close

Communists know that education is important to a society. They found that it is the primary deterrent to the Communist takeover of a nation. So, when they target a country, they also target its educational system, especially in regard to religion and patriotism. They slip in and revise a nation’s history and remove God from their fabric.

There is an application for Christians. In our battle, our adversary wants to “dumb us down.” He knows the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16). He knows what the proclamation of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection can do for people (1 Corinthians 15). He knows the power of truth in our hands (John 8:32).

Jesus responded to each of Satan’s three tests with, “It is written.” He won the battle (see Matthew 4). Ezra was a great servant of God because . . . Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

We can’t do what God says until we know what he says. Once we know we can’t help but do – if we are living by faith.

How is your daily time with God? What new things are you discovering from his word? What are you doing for others because God has directed your steps?

Don’t get distracted from the call of God.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your group:

1. What key experience have you had in answered prayer that you can share with the Group?
2. For fun, recite any prayers you memorized as a child?

Study

Please read Luke 11:1-4 and discuss:

1. Why do you think the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray?
2. Why do you think they did not ask about teaching or preaching or healing, etc.?
3. What significance do you see in calling God, “Father” and in “hallowing” his name?
4. What is key to you about DAILY bread?
5. How do you see prayer and forgiveness relating?
6. How do you feel about the brevity of this prayer (see also Matthew 6:9-13)?

Apply

1. How does this prayer relate to your prayers?
2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your prayer life?
3. What are areas you wish to improve? What can you do improve these?
4. How has your concept of prayer changed over the years?
5. When do you feel that God is NOT listening?
6. What issue are you facing that the Group can pray for right now?

1.      Ignorance and the Bible (Illustration)

Someone once asked, “What’s the difference between ignorance and apathy?” A man replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care.” And that’s about how it is when it comes to many people in regard to the Word of God. “I don’t know anything about the Bible and I don’t care.”

2.      Polls have found:

90% of Americans own at least one Bible; 80% say that the Bible is the most influential book of all time

•          The problem is most Americans aren’t reading the book
•          In this congregation – about 10% of our baptized membership are “Daily Bible Readers” by their own report;

Yeshua (Jesus) quoted from Deuteronomy 8.3 in his testing with Satan in Matthew 4.4:

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

•         When was the last time you missed a meal?
•         How often do you miss reading the Bible?

3.      2 Timothy 3.14-17

4.      Parents can have a profound effect on the spiritual development of your children by making the Bible an important part of your life. Let them see you read it; talk to them about it; encourage their study of it –We have included a “Take It Home” activity for you to use with your kids; within your HOME Group; or with anyone you want to share this with

I.       Faith Grows Best When Begun Early (3.15)

•          Daniel Webster: “If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.”

A.     The Significance of Childhood

1.      A time to know God – Ecclesiastes 12.1

2.      Lifelong Impact – Psalm 37.25-26

3.      Becoming child-like – Matthew 18.1-4

4.     And Easier to learn scriptures to recall them as adults – Psalm 119.11 

B.     The Role of Family

1.      God-assigned Responsibility – Deuteronomy 6.4ff

2.      Teaching of Family (and Paul) – ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. (3.14)

3.      Grandmother, Lois; Mother, Eunice – Single parents? 2 Timothy 1.5

II.    Faith Grows by Following the Instructions

Listen to what great men in the past have said about the Bible. (via S. Shepherd, “Committed to the Bible”; Sermoncentral.com)

•        Abraham Lincoln: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.”
•        W. E. Gladstone: “I have known ninety-five of the world’s great men in my time, and of these eighty-seven were followers of the Bible.”
•        George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”
•      Horace Greeley: “It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.”

A.     “Scriptures” Refers to the Old Testament Writings (3.15)

1.      No NT Canon yet

2.      TaNaKH

3.      Inspired – God-Breathed

B.     Scriptures Point Out Salvation

1.      Foreshadowing of the Messiah and Ultimate Atonement

a.       John the Baptist – Forerunner Mark 1.3 cf. Isaiah 40.1-3

b.      Yeshua (Jesus) – Messiah Matthew 21.1-5 cf. Zechariah 9.9; Matthew 21.12-13 cf. Isaiah 56.7 – Removing leaven in preparation for Passover!

2.      Actions for those who determine to follow Yeshua (Jesus)

a.       Pentecost – Acts 2 and Joel 2

b.      Ethiopian – Acts 8.32 cf. Isaiah 53

3.      Faith in Messiah is the basis for our salvation – Romans 10.17; Acts 8.37 (Here is water)

4.      Authority for Apostles – OT Scriptures – quote all through the NT

C.     Scriptures Provide Instructions (3.16-17)

1.         Torah = Instruction, not Law

2.         Teaching = giving correct information

3.         Reproof = Repairing wrong actions/attitudes

4.         Correction = Repairing the Flaws

5.         Training in righteousness = to make right choices

6.         Complete/Maturity

7.         Good Works – Psalm 1.1-3

Conclusion

1.      The Bible is an amazing Book!

a.       I believe the Bible is inspired because it tells the story of ONE God over many years

b.      Ancient Polytheists created their own religions that suited them and made sense to them – what THEY wanted

c.       God called people who were surrounded by immoral polytheism to become moral monotheists (Deuteronomy 6.4)

d.      This came from God, not men – Israel continually went after other gods – endured persecutors; repented; were restored

e.       God Inspired instructions for his people to live by

2.      Psalm 119.105-106; 111-112

3.      Take it Home

Family time – talk about the value of the Bible (remember Lois and Eunice)

Discuss in HOME Group

Devote Personal Time to It