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

1.      Power of God in Okinawa seen in 1945

2.      ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1.16-17

3.      Dunamos = Power

a.      Dynamite – Destructive; Dynamo – Constructive

b.      Electricity – Capital punishment; Lighting houses

c.       Nuclear Power – Hiroshima; Energy for our cities

4.      Gospel is intended to be “good news” – can be used to tear down or build up

a.       The same message saved the Hebrews and drowned Pharaoh’s Army

b.      The same message will save the faithful and condemn the disobedient

I.                   The Good News Is God’s Power to Inform

A.     The Facts of the Gospel – 1 Corinthians 15.3-4

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1.      Most here – grew up in church, knowing these facts

2.      Some of us did not grow up with these facts

3.      Either way these are the crucial, essential foundation of our lives

B.     Facts Bring Understanding

A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997. . .

1.      While facts are important, we do not have to have a complete understanding of everything God commands us to do

2.      Baptism – Naaman – 2 Kings 5; [A. Campbell – translated NT and discovered baptism meant “immersion” – so, he asked a Baptist preacher to immerse him; 15 years later “baptism for the remission of sin”

3.      Reenact the DBR; Pre-enact our DBR

C.     Understanding Brings Action

1.      Change occurs when we LEARN enough Ephesians 3:4-6

2.      or Hurt enough

[Eastern European Missions AND World Bible School

Remember when people prayed for the Iron Curtain to come down so we could spread the gospel? IT HAS! God did his part. Here is an opportunity to provide Bibles for public schools in Ukraine. $945/school. $1 Million+ will take care of the schools in 2 States. The plan is to accomplish this by end of school year!

II.                The Good News Is God’s Power to Transform – Romans 12:1-2

The true story of the Mutiny on the Bounty . . .

A.     Universal Transformation (Jew/Greek) – Hebrews 4:12-13

1.      Good News – Luke 2:10-11

2.      Bad News – Romans 3:23; 6:23

B.     Personal Transformation – Romans 1.16 (I am not ashamed . . .)

1.      Shame is a big motivator – Dead Messiah?

2.      Impacts Individuals – Paul; Ethiopian; Cornelius; Jailer; Lydia

3.      Impacts Groups of Individuals – Pentecost; Priests (Acts 6.7); Philip at Samaria; HOUSEHOLDS

III.             The Good News Is God’s Power to Reform

A.     When We Fail - 1 John 1:6-7

B.     When We Are Confused – Focus on Yeshua (Jesus)–  Hebrews 12:1-2

Conclusion

1.      Pioneer 10 Story

2.     $Million Sunday for Eastern European Missions; Impact of WBS;

    1.  1 Corinthians 15.3-11

    2.  Eyewitness testimony story.

    3.  So Far we have seen:

a.       Lamb Selection Day – “Palm Sunday”/”Triumphal Entry”/1 Week before resurrection

b.      Lamb Sacrifice Day – Passover

c.       Our Lamb’s Burial – Feast of Unleavened Bread

d.      Lamb’s Resurrection – Feast of Firstfruits

e.       50 Days to Shavuot/Pentecost

4. Post-Resurrection Yeshua (Jesus) to His Apostles – ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1.3

I.                   Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Formidable Witnesses

Great Raid Story — POW’s were not forgotten

A.     The Significance of Witnesses –

1.      In establishing a Truthful Situation  Matthew 18.15-16 CF Deuteronomy 19.15

2.      Yeshua (Jesus) even used TWO Parables to establish the truth of some of his teachings

B.     The Sacred Scriptures as Witnesses –1 Corinthians 15.3-11

1.      Declared the Gospel in Advance – Isaiah 61.1 (Luke 4.18)

2.      OT scriptures produced faith in believers of Yeshua (Jesus) – Acts 8, etc.

C.     The Sanctified Saints as Witnesses – 1 Corinthians 15.5-8

1.         References of Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection:

1. TO MARY MAGDALENE AT THE TOMB – JOHN.20:11-17

2. TO THE OTHER WOMEN RETURNING TO THE TOMB – MT.28:9-10

3. TO PETER – LUKE 24:34; 1 COR. 15:5

4. TO THE DISCIPLES ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – LU.24:13-31

5. TO THE 10 DISCIPLES – MK.16:14

6. TO THE 11 DISCIPLES A WEEK AFTER THE RESURRECTION – JN.20:26-29

7. TO 7 DISCIPLES BY SEA OFGALILEE – JN.21:1-23

8. APPEARANCE TO 500 – 1 COR. 15:6

9. TO JAMES THE LORD’S BROTHER – 1 COR. 15:7

10. TO THE 11 DISCIPLES ON THE MT. IN GALILEE – MT.28:16-20

11. AT THE ASCENSION – ACTS 1:3-9

12. TO STEPHEN AT HIS STONING – ACTS 7:55 – 56

13. TO PAUL ON THE DAMASCUS ROAD – ACTS 9:3-6

14. TO PAUL IN ARABIA – GAL. 1:12-17

15. TO PAUL IN THE TEMPLE – ACTS 9:26-27

16. TO PAUL IN PRISON IN CAESAREA – ACTS 23:11

17. TO THE APOSTLE JOHN – REV. 1:12 – 20

2.         PEOPLE and Eyewitness Accounts are important!

II.                Yeshua’s (Jesus’) 40 Day Teachings

A.     Focused on the Scriptures

1.      Emmaus – Luke 24.13-35 (esp. v. 27)

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

2.      Disciples – Luke 24.36-49 (esp. vv. 44-49)

B.     Emphasized Action

1.      His Coming Ascension

2.      The Coming Holy Spirit (Acts 1.4-5; John 14.15-17; 16.7-10)

Luke 24.49 — ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

3.      Advancing the Kingdom (Rule of God) – Acts 1.6-8

1.      Could all of this have been a hoax? Could Yeshua (Jesus) have manipulated the situation for his own benefit and then the disciples have taken advantage of the situation after his death?

2.      This is only possible IF:

a.       More than 500 people collaborated and were willing to suffer and die for it

b.      Note Paul’s Trials in 2 Corinthians 11.23-29

²³ Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

c.       Note the Apostles’ Fate:

SIMON PETER – A FISHERMAN was crucified, head-down, at his own request.

ANDREW, BROTHER OF SIMON PETER – A FISHERMAN was crucified at Patras in Achaia. JAMES, SON OF ZEBEDEE – A FISHERMAN was beheaded – ’put to the sword’ (Acts 12:1-2 following) by King Herod.

JOHN, BROTHER OF JAMES and SON OF ZEBEDEE – A FISHERMAN was banished to the island of Patmos, now one of the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. He was subsequently freed and died a natural death at Ephesus c AD100.

PHILIP was martyred at Hierapolis.

BARTHOLOMEW, also NATHANAEL was flayed alive, and then beheaded.

THOMAS DIDYMUS – ’DOUBTING THOMAS’ was speared to death in India.

MATTHEW, also LEVI – TAX-COLLECTOR/PUBLICAN was martyred in Ethiopia.

JAMES, SON OF ALPHAEUS was martyred in Egypt.

JUDE, also THADDAEUS was killed with him in Persia.

SIMON THE ZEALOT or PATRIOT was either crucified or hacked to death in Persia

MATTHIAS was martyred in Ethiopia.

PAUL OR SAUL OF TARSUS was beheaded in Rome.

3.      Would you be willing to go through these things for a hoax? Modern Martyrs

4.      The Eyewitness accounts of Yeshua AFTER his resurrection indicate the truth of it/Him

5.      How does this impact us? – It is true; we believe; act; and go “all out” – hold nothing back

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

1. What is the hardest “good-bye” you have had to make? What made it hard?
2. If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 15.3-11 and discuss the following with your group:

1. How would you describe the facts of the gospel?
2. Why do you think the scriptures were at the center of Jesus’ proofs of his resurrection?
3. What is so important about so many eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrection?
4. Which people in Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances are most significant to you?
5. What makes you think this was not a hoax?
6. Why does Paul emphasize “grace” in verses 9-11?

Apply

1. If you had been an advisor to Jesus during the 40 days he spent with his disciples after the resurrection, what things would you have encouraged him to teach? Why?
2. If you had been one of the people who had literally seen Jesus after the resurrection, how do you think you would have reacted?
3. Knowing Jesus is alive, how do you react?
4. When hearing the accounts and evidences of Jesus’ resurrection, how do you respond?
5. If you were to explain the gospel to an interested friend, what would you say?

 When we lived in Alabama, the University hired a new football coach. Before the season began he was released from his contract. Not one game had been played, so it was not for a “losing season.” Instead, the man was released for his questionable actions OUTSIDE of the football field. As a result, the University of Alabama struggled through a rough season. In the long run, it paid off with their thirteenth and fourteenth National Championships.

Recently a similar circumstance impacted the University of Arkansas football team. Misconduct off of the field cost the coach his lucrative position. It was not the University’s win-loss record, rather a character issue.

Character is important. When course corrections are in order, they must be made. Leaders, such as coaches, impact the lives of many people. It becomes doubly hard for them. They must perform their jobs and do it with high ideals. One man I know said, “We should always do the right things and do things right.” This is sage advice that pays off in the long run.

James warns us in regard to teaching the Bible: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). There is a principle of high expectations for those in leadership positions – doing the right things in the right ways.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

1.      Signs

Two preachers were on the roadside with a sign that read, “The End is Near – turn around now before it’s too late”. A passing driver yelled “leave us alone you religious nuts”. Then the preachers heard a loud splash. One preacher said to the other, “Do you think we should have just said “Bridge Out”.

 2.      Importance of “signs” – 1 Corinthians 1.22  (For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,)

 3.      Ultimate sign of Jesus – empty tomb

 4.      Other signs of Jesus

a.       Prophecies and their fulfillment

b.      7 Feasts (Leviticus 23) –

1)      All Point to Jesus

2)      4 Fulfilled; 3 yet to be

5.      Three feasts lined up in a daily order at the time Jesus died – Passover – Friday; Unleavened Bread – Saturday (Sabbath); First Fruits — Sunday

I.       Passover: The King’s Redemption – 1 Corinthians 5.7

A.     Original Purpose of Passover – Life for the Faithful

1.      Enslaved in Egypt – Call and Leadership of Moses

2.      10^th Plague – Lambs’ blood on doorposts; “Pass Over”; Chet & Chai

3.      Freedom to serve God

B.     Hidden Meanings in Passover

1.      Egypt = Sin

2.      Yeshua (Jesus) = Lamb – John 1.29

3.      Redemption/Freedom to serve God – by the blood of the Lamb  Matthew 26.27-28

II.    Unleavened Bread: The King’s Righteousness  1 Corinthians 5.6-8

A.     Original Idea – Removing Leaven from Houses (Yeshua (Jesus) Cleansing his Father’s House by driving out the money-changers, etc.) – only used unleavened bread (Exodus 12.15)

B.     Hidden Meanings

1.      Sinless Body of Yeshua (Jesus) – Matthew 26.26

2.      Suffering Body of Yeshua (Jesus) – Matzah – Isaiah 53.4-5

3.      Submerged (Buried) Body of Yeshua (Jesus) John 12.23-25

4.      Sabbath Body – Yeshua (Jesus) was in the Tomb on God’s “Day of Rest”

III.             First Fruits: The King’s Resurrection

A.     Original Intent – Celebration of Spring and God’s Replenishing the Earth

1.      God Gives the Best

2.      God Promises – More to Come – Gives to us out of love and concern; Baal out of manipulation

3.      God Has first call on EVERYTHING – first sheaf to God

4.      Man’s willingness to Give to God – FIRST

B.     Hidden Message

1.      God Gave us His Best in Yeshua (Jesus) – Hebrews 1.1-12 (Mark in Bible)

2.      Although Yeshua (Jesus) Died – He lives – forever

3.      There is MORE to Come – WE will be raised to live forever!

 1 Corinthians 15.20-23

SO What?

We have Redemption; Righteousness; Resurrection – So what?

Chameleons or Christians?

We live lives of Redemption; Righteousness; Resurrection Romans 6.1-

We are a type of First Fruits for others –

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1.18

WARNING SIGNs

Open

Share your response to one of the following:

1. What is your idea of a great party?
2. Tell of a tradition in your family and what it means to you.

Study

Please Read 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 and discuss the following

1. In what ways do you see the ancient feasts of God (Leviticus 23) as pointing to Jesus?
2. What is significant in the Passover about Jesus? What parallels do you see in the original purpose of Passover and its symbolism in Jesus?
3. What is significant in the Feast of Unleavened Bread? How does this speak to the body of Jesus?
4. What is significant in the Feast of First Fruits?
5. Why do you think the resurrection of Jesus is so important?

Apply

Read Romans 6.1-4 – what is the result of following Jesus?

1. In what ways are you like a chameleon? In what ways are you different?
2. How can you encourage your fellow believers to “stand out” in the crowd as disciples of Jesus?

In the villages of Northern India a missionary was preaching in a bazaar. As he closed, a Muslim gentleman came up and said, “You must admit we have one thing you have not, and it is better than anything you have.”

The missionary smiled and said, “I should be pleased to hear what it is.”

The Muslim said, “When we Muslims go to Mecca we at least find a coffin. But when you Christians go to Jerusalem, which is your Mecca, you find nothing but an empty grave.”

The missionary just smiled and said, “That is just the difference.

Muhammad is dead; he is in the coffin. All false systems of religion and philosophy are in their coffins, but Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is to include all nations and kindred and tribes, is not here; He is risen. And all power in heaven and on earth is given unto Him. That is our hope.

Annually the Christian world celebrates the empty tomb of Jesus. It was on the first day of the week following Jesus’ last supper that he overcame death itself. In so doing, he gives those who follow him hope.

Remember the words of the angel:

⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

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