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

In the Bible, “living water” refers to moving water that comes directly from God and not carried by people. A river would be an example of living water. A bucket down the well is not.

The Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan are living waters. They “receive” water and they “send” it out. The water moves from one location to the next, all the way to the “Dead Sea.”

The Dead Sea receives water but keeps it for itself. Over time it has become a huge mineral-laden, stagnant body of water that lives up to its name.

It occurs to me that we need to drink of the true living water. That water is from Jesus (John 4.10-14; 7.37-39). After drinking that water, it keeps moving as we share it with others.

It is easy to make Christianity all about ME and what I get. It is another to make it about what I can give - both to God and others. On the one hand we are in danger of becoming like the Dead Sea; on the other, we have the privilege of sharing life through Jesus and his Spirit.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please discuss one of the following with the Group:

• Tell about a time that you realized you are not totally independent.
• Barnabas (Acts 9.26-27) seems to be a “trusting” person; Thomas (John 20.24-28) seems to be more cautious. With whom do you identify more? Why?

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 and discuss the following:

• In light of the “Tongues Speakers vs. Prophets” controversy, why do you think Paul chooses eyes, hands, feet, and head to illustrate his point?
• How do you think Paul deals with the issues of Pride and low self-esteem here?
• Why do you think:

          The weaker are indispensable?

          The less honorable receive special honor?

          The unpresentable are treated with special modesty?

          The presentable are not given special treatment?

• When the church body functions properly, how can we feel good when others are honored? How can we feel bad when others hurt?

Apply

• When do you struggle with:

          Jealousy of other Christians?

          Condescending to others?

          Ignoring others in their successes or pain?

• What do you need to improve your outlook?
• How can you “celebrate the weaknesses” of others? YOUR weaknesses?
• Where do you think YOU fit in the body of Christ? How can you help others to fit in?

 Don’t you love those “epiphany” moments when you gain insight into a topic? I just read something that had never ever occurred to me. In John 8 a woman is caught in adultery and taken to Jesus. The accusers tried to trick him into violating the Law of Moses. They ask him what to do in light of the fact that the Law said to stone her to death.

At first, Jesus appears to ignore them by writing in the dirt. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8.7).  They all leave so that the woman has no accusers. Jesus assured her, “Neither do I condemn you.”

I had always assumed that Jesus was making a point about their hypocrisy; and loving the sinner without loving sin. These are true. He also takes the Law literally. To condemn someone there had to be two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).  All of her accusers left — according to the Law, Jesus could not condemn her alone. So he upholds the Law, saves a sinner, and silences his critics all at the same time.

Some questions to answer: What are my motives regarding others? How well do I know God’s word? How concerned am I for those walking out of step with God? Am I walking with God?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please discuss your response to one of the following:

• What was your first job?
• What is one unusual talent or feature you have (e.g., touching your tongue to your nose, double-jointed elbows, etc.?)

Study

Read the 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 and discuss the following:

• What do you think is going on in Corinth that would make Paul write on this subject?
• How is the unity of diverse gifts a reflection of God?
• Why do you think God has created the church body - with its parts - as he has? Why is each part so important to the whole?
• How do you think our personalities fit into the picture?
• What do you think is the overall purpose of the diversity of gifts?

Apply

• Which gifts listed here would you say are “YOU”?
• How satisfied are you with the gifts God has given you?
• What would improve your satisfaction level?
• How do you feel towards those who are gifted differently than yourself? How do you work with them?
• What things do you keep in mind as you fill your role in the church’s mission?

We experience a variety of emotions in connection to “September 11″ (9.11). We feel sadness at the loss of life and property. We feel anger at the unprovoked terrorist attacks. However, from our American history, I want to share with you another September 11^th.Did you know that the Continental Congress approved the import of 20,000 BIBLES to the American people on September 11, 1777? The Revolution had interrupted trade with England and the American people needed Bibles so, our Congress sought to purchase copies from other countries. The special Congressional Committee wrote:

“The use of the Bible is so universal and its importance so great that your committee . . . recommends that Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import 20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different parts of the States of the Union.”

On November 1, 1777 Congress issued the colonies our First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving to God in regard to our victory over the British at Saratoga. Isn’t it ironic that our country was founded upon biblical principles by Bible-literate men and the Book is rejected today? Isn’t it ironic in light of today’s stances that the leaders of our fledgling nation not only felt the need to read the Bible but used government monies to provide it to Americans?

Do you think there is any connection to our reliance on God’s word and our blessings as a nation? Obviously! “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance” (Psalm 33.12).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

This thought came to me early this morning. Here is a challenge with the help of my good friend, David Gross’ editing.

The Bible calls us to be like Jesus, and the most remarkable thing about Jesus is that he is so often serving (Matthew 20:28).  So, like Jesus, I need to give (Acts 20:35); I need to be humble (1 Peter 5:5-6); I need to wash feet (John 13), and serve in all of the other ways that we see Jesus serve.

However, serving is not the whole story about Jesus — the Bible also shows him receiving.  Jesus accepted the anointing and foot washing of a sinful woman (Luke 7).  In John 12 he received a meal service from Martha and the anointing of the pure nard by Mary.

Oddly, many Christians find it easier to serve than to receive. If we are to be like Jesus, we must be both a humble giver and a gracious receiver.

How did Jesus do this?  First, he kept his ego in check.  It did not offend or thrill him to serve or be served.  We are subject to the temptation to think we are more than what we are, but Jesus knew exactly who he was.

Second, he knew something we often forget:  that to receive another’s gift gives opportunity for their faith, hope, and love to grow as they exercise their spiritual gifts.  To reject another’s gift is to stunt their growth.  If giving is to be a blessing, it requires a gracious receiver.

God both gives and receives. He expects the same from us.  If we keep our egos in check and our hearts focused on benefiting others through the receiving, we become more like him.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

A Small Group Lesson:

Open:

Finish this sentence:

• On the way to this meeting, I was feeling ___________.
• One real strength I have is _____________________.
• One area of my life in which I’m proud of myself is___________.
• A talent or skill I have is ____________________________.
• An adult who had an impact on me as a teen was_________.

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 12.1-13 and share your thoughts in the following:

• What is the context of these verses? Why do you think Paul emphasizes the one body to the Corinthians?
• What do you think is the significance of being baptized (immersed) into the body of Jesus? What do you see as key lessons from baptism?
• What is significant about Christians having the shared experience of baptism?
• What role do you think the Spirit plays?
• What role does baptism play in our relationship to God? To other Christians?
• How do you see people as gifts to the body?

Apply:

• Why is it important for us to grasp the concept of the unity of the body of Christ?
• What things were you saying to the world by your baptism? Do you think you are trying to live up to those statements?
• In light of the gift descriptions in 1 Corinthians 12, where do you see yourself?
• How does being baptized into the body release your potential in serving Jesus?

Mark Twain once said, “A great, great deal has been said about the weather, but very little has ever been done.” It is a fact that we often complain about the weather and it is a fact that we can do little about a 106 degree day. About the only things we can do are: step into the shade or sit in an air conditioned room.

The same is true about a lot of things in life. How often do we complain about things that we have little or no control over? Generally, the best we can do is make adjustments.

The Bible makes it clear that we have little control over most things. The world is a bad place and getting worse. We would like to change it but it does not want to change. What do we do? The best I can figure is that, just like with the weather, we make adjustments on a personal level.

The Bible reminds us that we change ourselves and then help others change. The following list reminds us that we can only make changes within ourselves. We can:

• Consider ourselves dead to sin - Romans 6:11
• Present ourselves to God - Romans 6:13
• Devote ourselves to prayer - 1 Corinthians 7:5
• Examine and test ourselves - 2 Corinthians 13:5
• Clothe Ourselves in Christ - Galatians 3:27
• Have the mind of Christ - Philippians 2:5
• Rid ourselves of sinfulness - Colossians 3:8

I would like it if I could wave my “magic wand” and have YOU do the above things, but I cannot. I can only do them myself and encourage you. The interesting thing that happens however is that as each one of us becomes more Christ-like; the world becomes a better place.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

The American Restoration preachers used to tell this story. A man was going on a trip so he left his son in charge of building his farm. He gave him a map of where he wanted everything located and went away. His son took the map and saw the location of the house, barn, well, etc. He said, “I agree with the location of all these things except the barn, it should be in a different spot.” Then he built the farm. The preachers then asked, “How many times did the son do his father’s will? The answer was zero. He only did what he was in agreement with. If his father had a different view, he rejected it.

We might change the setting but the point is still applicable. How many times do we read the Bible and when we come across something tolerable, we will do it; yet, if we find something that puts us out of our comfort zone, we go “around the barn” to find a way NOT to do it? Then we cry, “Grace! Grace!”

When Thomas finally saw the resurrected Lord, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:28. Do you think Thomas spoke those words casually? Do you think he was saying, “You are my Lord and God as long as your words please me.”? No, most likely, Thomas reverently said that he recognized that Jesus was exactly who he claimed to be; and with that he would do whatever Jesus wanted.

Legend has it that Thomas was run through with a spear as a martyr for Jesus. That is not the end of a man who would take Jesus casually. It is not the end of a man who spent his life doubting the reality of God or his son. It is not the end of a man who would expect to do as he pleased so that “grace would cover it.” This was the end of a man who sold out to Jesus - come what may.

Jesus is not our Lord and God if we are still in charge. We do not get to pick and choose. We are the servants. He is the Master.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  “You can do more after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed” (John Bunyan).We may try to treat prayer as a magic cure-all, like the little girl who prayed, “Dear Lord, please make Boston the capitol of Vermont because that is what I put on my test.” Prayer is much more! It connects us to the will and mind of God (Matthew 6:9-13).

A reporter once asked Samuel Morse, “In inventing the telegraph, did you ever come to a place where you did not know what to do?” Morse replied, “Yes.  I asked God for knowledge. That is why I never felt that I deserved the honor I have received for inventing the telegraph. I have made a valuable application of electrical power, but it was all through God’s help. It was not because I was superior to other scientists. When the Lord wanted to bestow this gift on mankind, he had to use someone.  I am just grateful he chose to reveal it through me.”

It is no wonder that the first telegraph message Samuel Morse sent, ‘What hath God wrought?’

How do we view our prayers? What great things are we asking from God? How do we honor him?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene