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

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

The bible reminds us of the “blessedness” of our trials in James 1:2. Some of our greatest lessons come, not from our triumphs but from our tragedies. O, yes, we do love to win but in winning, we may overlook important lessons for the next round.

George Washington is my favorite American. At the battle of Monongahela, he was an officer fighting with the British against the French and Indians. The British and their Virginian allies lost this battle to inferior forces. The greatest army in the world broke rank and fled from the field in panic.

Washington had horses shot from beneath him during the battle. He later found at least four bullet holes in his uniform – but had no wounds. The Indians (and some of his comrades) believed that God had protected him and that he “could not die in battle.”

Later, he would reflect on Providence. He also reflected on the fact that the British army could be beaten. This is something that had been unimaginable to him heretofore.

The lessons would accompany him into our War for Independence. The Continental Army, under the leadership of George Washington, defeated the British and established the greatest nation in modern history. He, along with other Founders attributed this monumental accomplishment to the providential hand of God.

Perhaps if the British had won the Battle of Monongahela Washington would not have seen the possibility. His trials brought a nation from oppressive slavery to freedom. When it was all said and done, the trials – all of them – brought incredible joy to countless people.

What trials are you facing? There is discomfort (or it wouldn’t be a trial). There is also a blessing hidden within it. Our task is to learn and do.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

1.      The Lawyer

2.      Romans 16.25-27

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages²⁶ but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

3.      [Reader’s Digest summarized lengthy books in a concise format – Good for all of us busy Americans – even came out with a Reader’s Digest Version of the Bible so we don’t have to worry about that pesky minutia.

 4.       Our text gives a summary of the gospel

I.       The Gospel Message

A.     Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Story – Romans 3.21-24

1.      “Messiah”

2.      Anticipated – OT/Today (return)

B.      “Good News” is to Be Declared (Romans 10.14-17)

1.      Good Facts – 1 Corinthians 15.1-4 (The Death, Burial, and Resurrection)

2.      Good Promises

a.       To provide wholeness – Saved/Lost is not just about heaven and hell

Why did he come? Son of Man is come to seek and save lost (Luke 19.10); not just go to heaven (“get me out of here”); Hints back to Ezekiel 34.11-12, 16 (done by God) – Yeshua is calling himself God;

Lost – bring back stray; bandage hurt and crippled; strengthen weak and sick (v. 20 – I myself will; v. 23 I will raise up one shepherd feed them; I will be their God)

Saved – Luke 7.50 – And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Healed – Matthew 9.22 – Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

The woman was “Yeshua-ed” – Saved or made whole;

Issue of blood for 12 years touched tzitzit (Numbers 15.37ff; represents the totality of God); to be “whole”;

The woman with the issue of blood has heard the teachings of Yeshua and declares himself to be God and says – if I can touch his tzitzit I will be ‘yeshua-ed’ – his name is Yeshua and means to save/make whole;

Why did she do this? Seems strange she would touch the edge of his garment – Malachi 4.2 – “Sun of righteousness (euphemism for shining one of righteousness; messiah) with healing in its/his wings”; when she heard Yeshua speaking and understood he was declaring himself to be God, she linked the passages together and grabbed his tzitzitot and was made whole

b.      To provide freedom – Romans 6.17-18

1)      From sin – Romans 6.3-4

2)      From condemnation

3)      From death

3.      A Good Possession – “MY Gospel”

a.       His proclamation

b.      His Ownership – for all and for ME

II.    The Gospel Mystery

A.     Truth Formerly Concealed Is Now Revealed – Romans 11.25

Road to Emmaus – Luke 24

Parables

Hidden Gospel in OT – Isaiah 53; Psalm 22

Lord’s Supper is More Than crackers and juice – Body and Blood – 1 Corinthians 11.27-34

B.     The BIG Mystery – the Nations

1.      We Expect Salvation for Israel in God’s Plan – Romans 1.16

2.      Jews’ Advantages:

a.      Scriptures – Romans 3.1-2

b.      God’s Focus – Romans 9.4-5

3.      SURPRISE! God Let the Nations in – Romans 11.30-32

III. The Gospel Manifestations

A.     Our Obedience to God

1.      The Obedience of Yeshua (Jesus) – Romans 5.19

¹⁹ For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. = “Attentive; Hearkening; Compliance; Submissive”

2.      Obedience is Learned – Hebrews 5.8

3.      Obedience is Seen in Our Actions – Romans 12.9-14

B.     Our Obedience Brings Glory to God – Romans 16.26-27

Matthew 5.16 – Let light shine; glorify Father in Heaven AS:

1.      God of Eternity (eternal/immortal)

False gods/idols began with man

Man began with God – Psalm 90.1-2 (from everlasting to everlasting – you are God)

2.      God of Wisdom

3.      God of Power – Ephesians 3.20-21

3 Hebrew Boys – Our God is able

Three things Hebrews would die for rather than be forced to do:

Commit Murder; Immorality; idolatrous worship

4.      God of Worthiness (Deserves Worship)

Conclusion

 Don Calhoun and the Million Dollar Shot.

Open

Discuss one of the following with your Group:

• How do you feel when someone asks you to keep a secret? Can you tell of a time that keeping the secret was especially difficult?
• Who is your favorite fictional detective? What is special about him/her?

Study

Read Romans 16.25-27 and discuss the following with your Group:

• How would you summarize the “Gospel” to someone? Would you emphasize the facts, commands, or promises? Why?
• In what ways do you think the gospel is more than just about heaven?
• In what ways can you say the gospel is, “My Gospel”?
• In Luke 24.13-35, Jesus meets two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus. Why do you think they do not recognize him at first? What caused them to finally know it was the Lord? What was significant about their actions once they realized they had been with Jesus?
• Why do you think it was a surprise to bring Gentiles into the church?
• How do you think obeying God brings him glory?
• How would you define “glory”?

Apply

• What are the best ways for you to show the gospel in your life? What are positive things you do and negative things you avoid?
• Aside from heaven, what is your favorite promise of the gospel? How does your life reflect this promise?
• How do you stay focused on the big picture of the gospel?