mentoring
Invitation to Hope in God
Hope. Without it, it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. God knows we can’t live a life of joy in this world without hope. The author of Hebrews describes hope as an anchor. What a wonderful analogy! When you are having extreme troubles with your spouse, your marriage is said to be shaky. When your business is experiencing difficult financial issues, your company is classified as shaky. Marriages end in divorce and businesses close their doors because they have no anchor. Without hope, life is shaky at best.
Today (Wednesday, March 12th, 2014) we examine a case study of Abraham. Our text, Hebrews 6:13-18, is an object lesson in hope. These next two lessons, that will complete our study of chapter 6 of Hebrews, will change your life. They give the objective reason for hope. I promise! Don’t miss them.
I invite you once again to the Patriarch Project weekly Bible study. Every Wednesday at 11:45 AM and again at 6:00 PM MST (Arizona time), we study the Bible together. We study the Word of God for one simple reason…HOPE!
Please join us in one of three ways. You can attend the Bible study in person; you can login via GoToMeeting; or you can visit our blog and watch the sessions anytime at www.patriarchproject.com.
We are located at 138 S Hamilton Place, Gilbert, AZ 85233. If you would like to attend the study via GoToMeeting, simply send an email to m.jones@patriarchproject.com and request an invitation.
Synopsis and Homework Week 8
One doesn’t hear the word exhort much any more. Simply put, when the Bible requires us to “exhort one another” we are to talk to each other. (Hebrews 3:13) Not just trivial conversation, but life changing, life molding, conversation. Such conversation can only happen when we exhort one another with the Word of God.
Patriarch Project places a heavy emphasis on mentoring through Bible study. When the author of Hebrews tells us to exhort one another every day the picture that it paints is Christians hungry for the truth gathering often with mentors and peers growing in Christ.
The result is living a life of solid Christ-like decisions and holding firm our hope to the very end. God has a design for living out the Christian life. Part of that design is life together, in the Word, growing and holding fast.
Homework:
King Solomon was wiser and more impactful in the world in which he reigned than any other king in history. Most of us are familiar with the account of God asking Solomon what he desired. Solomon responded that he desired to lead the nation with wisdom. God gave him wisdom unparalleled by any before or since. Wisdom enabled his life to overflow with accomplishments. God was so pleased with Solomon’s response that He gave Solomon much more. (Read 2 Chronicles 1:7-13)
Now, how did Solomon come to ask so wisely for wisdom? Did he just happen to ask God for the right thing at the right time? The answer is clear: Solomon had a father, King David, who years before spent time with his son in exhortation. That’s right, Solomon had a mentor. It was his father who told him what to seek. It was his father who passed on the wisdom of the Word of God to his son. If King David had not prepared the way for his son, Solomon would not have known what to ask for and how to build all those wonderful projects. (Read 1 Chronicles 22:11-16)
List all the ways Solomon stood on the shoulders of his father…
Investing in 2014
Unlike money, all of us have the same 24 hour allotment to invest. Since it’s wise to invest about 8 of those hours in rest and sleep each day, we all come to the marketplace with very limited resources.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics here is how the average American invests their day:
Now, I am going to make a bold assertion: there is little we can do to re-allocate time investment reflected in the chart. The chart reflects who we are physically and who we are as a culture. In other words, physically we must eat, sleep, keep our homes, and care for those in our charge…culturally we must work 8 hours and participate in sports and leisure activities. This is what it means to be an American. There is little we can do on the average day to break out of this mold.
That being said, I want to address the time slice in the chart labeled as “other”. The average American has 1.6 hours each day that is not ruled by the physical or dominated by culture. About an hour and a half daily is yours to invest any way you choose. It may not sound like a lot of time to invest but look at it this way; one could read over twenty books a year if you only invested 15 minutes each day to reading.
I believe one thing is clear, based on the limit of the resource, one must invest this time slice wisely. It is my desire that you would invest some of this resource with us. Patriarch Project exists to change lives with the Word of God and with interacting with each other.
Someone said we change the world one life at a time. Please watch this TED Talk from a man who grew up in South Africa working in his family’s tourism business:
Teaching Outline Week 6
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
Consider Jesus
(Christmas Edition)
Hebrews 3:1-6
Outline
Verse 1:
Consider Jesus, the faithful Apostle and High Priest
Let’s take a look at a favorite Christmas hymn: O, Come All Ye Faithful!
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the King of angels; Refrain: O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord. O come all ye faithful: Hebrews 2:16-17 Jesus was first faithful and makes a way for us to join the faithful! Joyful and triumphant: Hebrews 2:14-15 No longer slaves to death and sin. O come ye: Hebrews 3:1 Consider this Jesus! Behold him, born the King of angels: Hebrews 1:13 Jesus, reigning victorious King And now the refrain: O come let us adore him ADORE: Shepherds (Luke Chapter 2:20) Smell like manure, not incense Magi (Matthew Chapter 2:10-11) More like wicked wizards than kindly kings ACKNOWLEDGE: Roman King (Matthew Chapter 2:3) Wanted Jesus dead. Jewish Religious Elite (Matthew Chapter 2:4) Really wanted Jesus dead! LIFE APPLICATION: This Christmas, do you adore Jesus or simply acknowledge him? (Hebrews 2:1)
Synopsis and Homework Week 5
The author of the book of Hebrews is speaking to the church when admonishing with the words…consider Jesus. It is a catalyst for self examination. Our hope must rest in this Jesus who is greater than Moses. It allows the option of listening to the heavenly calling and sharing in all that it has to offer. We have Jesus, Apostle and High Priest, bringing God to us and us to God.
Confidence comes not from making life choices that seam to work well, but making choices that come from time spent with the Lord. Confidence comes when we know this Jesus as… in history past as the once-for-all perfect sacrifice; in times present as the Ambassador of God the Father; and in the future as one who keeps all of the promises made to the church.
Consider Jesus is not just an evangelistic term used to present the Gospel to unbelievers, but a life long requirement for every believer.
HOMEWORK:
Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 and answer the following questions:
In Paul’s example to the Corinthian church who is the building (those who plant) and who is the builder (the one who gives growth)?
What will be the difference between building on the foundation with wood, hay and straw or gold, silver and precious stones?
What is the main idea in regards to receiving the offered rewards?
Got Confidence?
A key to having Joy in Responsibility is confidence. If you see the future as hopeful it is much more common to experience joy in that which you are responsible.
Therefore, if you lack confidence, the joy of which we speak will be missing from your life. The problem may be as simple as misdirected hope. Placing your hope in the next big business deal, our nation’s economy, or your own intelligence and abilities, could be the source of your lack of confidence; and rightly so. None of those things are perfect.
Along with the author of Hebrews, I am asking you to CONSIDER JESUS. Can’t find joy in this season of joy? Consider Jesus! Lack confidence in your future? Consider Jesus!
Redirect your hope. Consider Jesus. That’s why we study the Word of God together.
Join us each Wednesday at 11:45am or 6:00pm. Or visit our blog site and watch the recorded study sessions. www.patriarchproject.com
We will continue our in-depth study of the book of Hebrews and seek to find the Joy in Responsibility!
Synopsis and Homework Week 4
The Bible goes to great lengths picturing Israel under the rule of its kings. 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings and Chronicles detail the victories and ultimate failures of each monarch. Most of the kings were so wicked that it’s difficult to see any good in their reign.
To think that Israel began with only God as it’s King, and because they desired to be like other nations, they rebelled against the Lord’s Kingship and adopted earthly sin-filled kings. Each king led the people from bad to worse with short periods of revival toward God few and far between.
After reading these accounts I found myself wondering, “God why did you do it this way? After all, You were King! Why allow mortal man to take over the rule of your people?”
It wasn’t until I heard one of my favorite teachers speak on the matter that I understood. It’s so simple that often times Bible students miss the main reason why the Bible goes to such lengths to tell us the accounts of the kings. It’s easy to get lost in the details of these remarkable stories.
After reading through 1 & 2 Samuel, Kings and Chronicles one should walk away with one main point in view; NO EARTHLY KING WILL DO. That’s it. It’s that simple. The reign of the kings of Israel was a litmus test. Its result; REJECTED! Proof that sinful man cannot be the Messiah.
Hebrews 2:17 says, Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
As we studied yesterday, we see Jesus in His humanity being tested through suffering just like us. This was His litmus test. Its result; ACCEPTED! Proof that the God-Man Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
He is not ashamed to call us brothers! What a great salvation! We are loved and accepted in a family made perfect by our Victorious Older Brother, namely Jesus. What a great salvation!
HOMEWORK:
Read John 13:12-20 and answer the following questions:
How did Jesus identify himself to the disciples?
How did Jesus’ act of washing the disciple’s feet reflect his mercy and faithfulness toward them?
Would Jesus do, and does Jesus do the same for you?
The Profound State of Being Understood
Being understood is profound. For example, in a marriage when your spouse understands you, despite all your shortcomings, the relationship thrives in many areas. And, being understood, the rough areas of the relationship prove to be a launch pad for improvement. My wife and I have been married for over 33 years. That’s a long time to study each other.
In recent years I have noticed how my wife makes adjustments in our relationship based on my many shortcomings. She can make these adjustments and avoid consequences because she understands the areas of life in which I don’t do well. Seeing her do this alerts me to the troubled area and allows me to consider making a change for the better. (sometimes I do better than others)
Most people have a fear of the unknown. We don’t know where change will lead, so we struggle to stay where we’re most comfortable.
However, being understood, and knowing we are understood, releases us from fear. Think about it; what if my wife asked me to make a major change in life. Knowing that she understands me empowers me with a confidence to move toward change. I believe it is as powerful as knowing she loves me and wants what is best for me.
Now, take this idea of being understood and apply it to your relationship with Jesus. As we continue our study of the book of Hebrews we are introduced to this same concept in our relationship with the Savior.
Hebrews 2:10 reads, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (ESV)
We are going to see, as our study continues, that God the Father saw it fitting that Jesus suffer just as we do. In this verse it states that Jesus is leading us to glory. He is not leading us as one who doesn’t understand the way we suffer with sin and fear and doubt. However, He does lead us as one who was perfectly victorious over the things in which we fail daily. Jesus understands us! He is sympathetic to our plight and at the same time victoriously leading us through it.
I find great Joy in the Responsibility that is mine when my Benevolent King, my Sympathetic High Priest, my Victorious Older Brother, namely Jesus, leads me to glory with an understanding heart.
I look forward to our time together next Wednesday December 4th. Have a Happy and Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Teaching Outline Week 3
The Joy in Responsibility
(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)
Commentary
Inheritance
Hebrews 2:5-9
Outline
Hebrews 1:1-14 Set the scene painted by chapter one:
The central theme of chapter one…
Jesus is Superior; this Jesus, the “Son of God” is the final Word spoken in these last days.
Vs 2:1-4 Therefore, listen!
God has spoken by His Son, listen, listen very carefully.
You’re either listening or drifting…
You either believe or you don’t…
It is suicide to neglect such a great salvation.
God has given us enough to respond. (no excuses)
Now pick up in verse 5 this week…
Vs 5 Look to the future
Who rules the world to come?
Our salvation is an inheritance (1:14)
Our salvation is past, present and future.
Vs 6-8 Man rules the world to come – Psalm 8
This is too exciting to neglect!
Vs 8b Big problem at present…
Death reigns and man is subjected to it.
Vs 9 Good News
Jesus conquered death and established a Co-Heir and Co-reign in the world to come.
(Romans 8:17)
LIFE APPLICATION:
Don’t live out your salvation as if only a past event.
Believe (find joy) in your future.
Say to death – Psalm 8 is my destiny!
The future is too great to neglect; just believe!
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