Follow along with the steps of Jesus Christ during Holy Week

While the exact order of events during Holy Week is debated by biblical scholars, this timeline represents an approximate outline of major events of the most holy days on the Christian calendar. Follow along with the steps of Jesus Christ from Palm Sunday through Resurrection Sunday, exploring the major events that occurred on each day.

Day 1: Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday

On the Sunday before his death, Jesus began his trip to Jerusalem, knowing that soon he would lay down his life for our sins. Nearing the village of Bethphage, he sent two of his disciples ahead, telling them to look for a donkey and its unbroken colt. The disciples were instructed to untie the animals and bring them to him.

Then Jesus sat on the young donkey and slowly, humbly, made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling the ancient prophecy in Zechariah 9:9:

"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
The crowds welcomed him by waving palm branches in the air and shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

On Palm Sunday, Jesus and his disciples spent the night in Bethany, a town about two miles east of Jerusalem. This is where Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, lived. They were close friends of Jesus, and probably hosted Him and His disciples during their final days in Jerusalem.

Jesus' triumphal entry is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19.

Day 2: On Monday, Jesus Clears the Temple

The following morning, Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God's judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others believe the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than just outward religiosity; true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person's life.

When Jesus arrived at the Temple, he found the courts full of corrupt money changers. He began overturning their tables and clearing the Temple, saying, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46).

On Monday evening Jesus stayed in Bethany again, probably in the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Monday's events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17.

Day 3: On Tuesday, Jesus Goes to the Mount of Olives

On Tuesday morning, Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus spoke to his companions about the importance of faith.

Back at the Temple, religious leaders were upset at Jesus for establishing himself as a spiritual authority. They organized an ambush with the intent to place him under arrest. But Jesus evaded their traps and pronounced harsh judgment on them, saying:

"Blind guides!...For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness...Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?" (Matthew 23:24-33)

Later that afternoon, Jesus left the city and went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives, which sits due east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem. Here Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. He speaks, as usual, in parables, using symbolic language about the end times events, including His Second Coming and the final judgment.

Scripture indicates that this Tuesday was also the day Judas Iscariot negotiated with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of ancient Israel, to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16).

After a tiring day of confrontation and warnings about the future, once again, Jesus and the disciples returned to Bethany to stay the night.

The tumultuous events of Tuesday and the Olivet Discourse are recorded in Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36, and John 12:20–38.

Day 4: Holy Wednesday

The Bible doesn't say what the Lord did on the Wednesday of Passion Week. Scholars speculate that after two exhausting days in Jerusalem, Jesus and his disciples spent this day resting in Bethany in anticipation of Passover.

Just a short time previously, Jesus had revealed to the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death by raising Lazarus from the grave. After seeing this incredible miracle, many people in Bethany believed that Jesus was the Son of God and put their faith in him. Also in Bethany just a few nights earlier, Lazarus' sister Mary had lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume.

Day 5: Passover and Last Supper on Maundy Thursday

Holy Week takes a somber turn on Thursday.

From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how believers should love one another. Today, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their Maundy Thursday services.

Then, Jesus shared the feast of Passover with his disciples, saying:

"I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16, NLT)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord's Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in the elements of bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20).

Later, Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to God the Father. Luke's Gospel says that "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44, ESV).

Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours, as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.

Thursday's events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.

Day 6: Trial, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial on Good Friday

Good Friday is the most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ's journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death.

According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.

Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time.

Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.

Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34, NIV). His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46, NIV)

Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.

By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb.

Friday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37.

Day 7: Saturday in the Tomb

Jesus' body lay in its tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, which was the Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended at 6 p.m., Christ's body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus:

"He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus' body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth." (John 19: 39-40, NLT)

Nicodemus, like Joseph of Arimathea, was a member of the Sanhedrin, the court that had condemned Jesus Christ to death. For a time, both men had lived as secret followers of Jesus, afraid to make a public profession of faith because of their prominent positions in the Jewish community.

Similarly, both were deeply affected by Christ's death. They boldly came out of hiding, risking their reputations and their lives because they had come to realize that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah. Together they cared for Jesus' body and prepared it for burial.

While his physical body lay in the tomb, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin by offering the perfect, spotless sacrifice. He conquered death, both spiritually and physically, securing our eternal salvation:

"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." (1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT)

Saturday's events are recorded in Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56, and John 19:40.

Day 8: Resurrection Sunday

On Resurrection Sunday, or Easter, we reach the culmination of Holy Week. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event of the Christian faith. The very foundation of all Christian doctrine hinges on the truth of this account.

Early Sunday morning, several women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Salome, and Mary the mother of James) went to the tomb and discovered that the large stone covering the entrance had been rolled away. An angel announced:

"Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen." (Matthew 28:5-6, NLT)

On the day of his resurrection, Jesus Christ made at least five appearances. Mark's Gospel says the first person to see him was Mary Magdalene. Jesus also appeared to Peter, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and later that day to all of the disciples except Thomas, while they were gathered in a house for prayer.

The eyewitness accounts in the Gospels provide what Christians believe to be undeniable evidence that the resurrection of Jesus Christ did indeed happen. Two millennia after his death, followers of Christ still flock to Jerusalem to see the empty tomb.

Sunday's events are recorded in Matthew 28:1-13, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-49, and John 20:1-23.

Fairchild, Mary. "Holy Week Timeline: From Palm Sunday to the Resurrection." Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/holy-week-timeline-700618.

Introduction:
Every week we provide this study to get you thinking about the upcoming sermon on Sabbath.  Though you could study everything in this study, the idea is to familiarize you with the idea and concepts. Don't feel like you have to do an exhaustive study. You can through it in one sitting or take several days to let in sink in deeper.

There are 2 groups of people needing growth in this story:
The blind man and the Jews as a collective group.

The invalid man had been in his condition for so long that when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, he gave excuses as to why he wasn't healed yet. Have you been in long-lasting situation that you just can't believe that today is actually the day of your healing/breakthrough? How many years have you come to church Sabbath after Sabbath waiting for the moving of the waters, all the while Jesus approaches us with a simple question of "do you want to be healed."

The other characters in this story are the Jews. They were incredulous too. They didn't think that Jesus, a common man, according to them, could heal and have that kind of authority to decide what happens on the Sabbath. Nobody wants to be compared to the "the Jews" yet we have all probably been them.  We get so caught up on tradition and customs that when someone doesn't go along with expectations, someone who isn't playing by the rule book, we may take it personal that someone is getting a blessing and we are not. The Jews should have been celebrating this healing and could have had a better Sabbath experience. 

After Jesus had healed the man in the temple, He could have moved on to the next person and let the man be. Yet, Christ meets him again and affirms the man, letting him know the how and who of his healing.

In this story, Jesus demonstrates the importance of knowing who the Author of our salvation is. In other healing stories, the healed person knows who healed them. The sick man didn't know who Jesus was in this story even though he had met him by the poolside. Jesus can heal many people without knowing Him. Our follow-up visit to these souls lets them know who is the Author of their healing and salvation. We don't have to take credit for the healing, but we give glory to God. 

Introduction:
These weekly study guides are meant to get us thinking about the upcoming sermon and become somewhat familiar with the topic. Read and study as much as you like. It is not meant necessarily to have to go through in one sitting. You can choose how much, how long and when to read.

Matt. 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1. What are the three things Jesus points to regarding the anxieties/worries of life? Matthew 6:25-31
   • The anxiety of what you will eat.
   • The anxiety of what you will drink.
   • The anxiety of what you will wear.
2. What assurances does Jesus give us when it comes to taking care of our needs?
   • God takes care of the birds; we are of more value than they.
   • God will provide our food and drink.
   • Anxiety/worry doesn’t add to our height.
   • God will provide for our clothing needs.
   • Other.
3. Read Matthew 6:33 within the context of anxiety over physical needs.
4. Jesus commands us not to be anxious about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). How do you receive these words today?

How do we apply these verses to our daily lives? Are we concerned about tomorrow’s food and what we will wear tomorrow? Some people may, but I would be correct to say that most people don’t go to sleep worrying about these necessities. That’s because we live in a country where these things are readily accessible and available. What are the things that concern you on a day-to-day basis? What are the things that may keep you up at night? Closely tied with food, drink, and clothing is finances – debt. Maybe food, water, and clothing are underlying concerns when we make decisions in life that could affect our income and our relationships. Anxiety over being good enough and intelligent enough. Am I loved? How do I love?  Getting through these bumps, obstacles, hurdles, barriers, and walls can be emotionally draining.

Jesus’ response may seem simplistic, “seek God’s kingdom first….” Jesus talks about priorities, putting things in their proper order. Put God and his kingdom first, which will help us put other things in their correct order and perspective. Our concern becomes focused on the eternal and not the temporal.

Share the passage for this week without coming across as you are minimizing someone’s anxiety or worry.

Since so many people have legitimate concerns, worry, and anxiety, how do you share a word of comfort and encouragement? We may be afraid to say much. We may deal with this very differently than another person. So, what works for you may not work for someone else. Either way, sharing your story without assuming it is the answer, could be helpful. I’m sure we can agree that showing love and being available for a friend, family, or loved one is vital.

Read the sermon on the mount and consider how this passage fits in the overall context of Matthew 5-7.

Intro
This week we will look at the prophetic ministry of Elijah and John the Baptist and their relation to the Blessed Recall

There was something special about Elijah's prophetic ministry. So much so that it was as a model for other prophets. Like Moses is known as the liberator and lawgiver, Elijah represents all the prophets. That's probably why he and Moses are the ones who meet Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The prophetic ministry was not one to be taken too lightly. Most prophets tried to avoid their calling because they knew the personal cost. These prophets would confront kings and leaders with a life and death message that wasn't well-received most of the time. Yet, God chose these extraordinary men and women to do something mission essential. By being on the front lines, they saw God act according to the words they uttered to kings, priests, and the people. Elijah faced persecution for doing what God asked him to do. John the Baptist was imprisoned and ultimately killed. All for doing what God had called them to do. Consider that before God does something great, he sends these special messengers ahead of time to let the people know what's coming.

Using the examples of Elijah and John, we can look at spiritual growth from two angles.
Sometimes we are called to use our prophetic voice to bring attention to what is coming.
The other angle is when we are at the receiving end of a prophetic message. How will you receive an urgent that comes to you that you may not consider so critical? Some were glad to hear it, and others hated the message so much that they tried to get rid of the messenger.

So even if you see a ragged-looking person dressed in camel's clothing giving a message from God, it would be easy to dismiss the message because of the messenger. Elijah supposedly was the cause of a three-year drought. Why would you listen to anything he has to say? Consider that God uses even the unlikeliest methods and people to reach us. If a message reveals our need for God, consider the message as a precursor to something greater coming.

It will be tempting to think that Elijah and John’s prophetic ministry was just for a small select group of people. At its core, it’s a message of restoring the people to God and each other. Elijah got people’s attention by being the face representing what was going on in society. His words affected the climate, the political powers, and the religious duplicity. Elijah was persona non grata. His role was not to be popular but to bring attention to what God would do.

Like Elijah, the same was for John the Baptist. He wasn’t your typical hip preacher. His message wasn’t politically correct. His part was to bring attention to the Lamb of God, who takes away the world’s sins.

How can you point people to God’s plan this week?

You never know what situations you may find yourself in.  Your place in life right now may not be what you desire. Daniel was in Babylon, away from his family, country, and community against his will. Yet, Daniel saw how God could turn his exile into a ministry opportunity. Daniel faced death on multiple occasions. When he and his friends refused to eat the king’s food, they risked their lives but went against the prescribed diet. When a death decree goes out against all the wise men in Babylon, Daniel intervenes and asks for time to know the dream and its interpretation. Later on, Daniel’s friends face the death penalty when thrown in the fiery furnace, and later on, Daniel, under a new king, faces the lion’s den. Every situation seems to be the opposite of a “blessed” life. Yet, we have the book of Daniel because Daniel lived a long, productive life. He never was ever to live again in his homeland. He lived his life in exile as a counselor to kings and subjects alike. All the while faithfully representing God.

What’s your Babylon?

Similarly, compelled by a vision and an angel, Peter presents himself before a gentile soldier. Going into Cornelius’ house was out of Peter’s comfort zone. This visit was necessary for Peter’s spiritual growth as it was for Cornelius’ salvation. God’s purpose for Peter was to expand the disciple’s understanding of his mission beyond racial and ethnic boundaries.

These encounters stretch our beliefs about how God works through us for the salvation of others. Going where God sends us or where we end up works for our own salvation too.

As you go, you grow even when you don’t want to go—going to Babylon against your will or going to Cornelius’ house. God has given us a vision that no one is “unclean” and that we are not to call “common” what he has called clean. It’s not up to us who we get to minister to, so God puts us in places and situations to be present and use our influence for God’s glory.

• Your workplace may seem like Babylon.
• Your boss may be a Nebuchadnezzar.
• Some of the people you are in charge of are unbelievers.
• Dare to be like Daniel.

God gives you a vision that changes your perspective about other people. Then he sends you to practice your tolerance by putting you in front of others you consider inferior. God will save you in the process of saving others.

So GO, and in the meantime, you will GROW, and you’ll see God change lives through you.

INTRO
We are about to embark on a story that may not be very familiar to you. One of the main characters in the book of Job is a man called Elihu. Job has been debating with his friends on God’s justice. In chapter 31, he asserts his innocence, claiming he did no wrong, and then demands answers for his suffering. Elihu hears of Job’s frustrations and comes to help draw a different conclusion to his suffering. We will look at how he responded to Job and become an encourager to him.

Then we will compare the Elihu/Job interaction with John the Baptist’s experience of doubt and struggle. John the Baptist has been in prison and begins to question if Jesus is the “Expected One” of whom he had preached.

We will see that God has a way to deliver a confirmation that He will never leave us in our suffering.

This week’s passage covers many chapters in different parts of the Bible. We see how Job needed encouragement for the loss that he had experienced and the physical, mental, emotional distress he was going through. It isn’t always easy to know what to say or how to say it. Elihu acknowledges that he is younger than Job. Culturally, a younger person doesn’t correct or address an older person with counsel. Yet he dares to share and try to encourage Job.
We are often more afraid of what we think we may say and thus say nothing. You have heard it said that if you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything. How about maybe trying to say something and being humble to acknowledge that you may not be saying the right things and by saying that to the person they know your heart when trying to encourage. Realizing this is a humble and authentic posture when approaching a suffering person.

In the case of John the Baptist, his suffering was for his preaching, leading to incarceration. While alone in prison, his purpose and ministry zeal began to fade away to the point of doubting in his purpose and calling. Jesus sends confirmation through John’s disciples. It didn’t even come directly from Jesus. Yet the words brought back were enough to know that they were from Jesus. The message was, “I am the One you preached about, and I am doing what you said I would do and bringing the hope to the people you preached to.” In other words, you are not in jail for a lie.

The goal in Fresh Start is to look at relationships we need to restore. Are there people whom we have been thinking of recently? Are there friends you miss seeing in the church pews? Do we know anyone we have not visited with for some months?
Perhaps most of us need to be Elihu to someone this week. Maybe we need to reach out to hear their story. We may need to hear what issues may be going on in their lives. We may need to reflect on God’s presence on how it has impacted our lives.
Some people may have some emotions that John the Baptist might have felt. We may know people who may feel abandonment, faithless confusion, or insecurity in their choices. Let us be like Jesus and be that friend who confirms and empowers others to know God is with them. If we can experience it for ourselves, they can see it too, with our testimonies.

Read Acts 2

1. What significant events are taking place prior to the audience asking the question?
   • Pentecost
   • Apostles speaking in tongues
   • Peter preaching on behalf of Jesus
2. What did Peter say to spark this desire in knowing what to do?
   • He used scripture to explain what is taking place (Acts 2:17-21, 25-28, 34-35)
   • He rebuked them on what they had done to Jesus (Acts 2:22-24, 36)
   • He brought up the passages are about Jesus and His resurrection (Acts 2:29-33)
   • He elevated the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 17, 18, 33, 38)
3. What was the result of Peter’s response to the crowd’s question?
   • 3,000 were Baptized (Acts 2:41)
   • People sold their property and possessions (Acts 2:45)
   • They were continuing to break bread day by day (Acts 2:46, 47)
   • Other.

How do we respond when the Word of God confronts us? Do you feel uncomfortable when the Spirit is very present in another person? Do you question how spiritual you are? In this story, scoffing at what God was doing with those in the upper room, was the initial response. Usually a response like this is because they were uncomfortable in the presence of the Spirit. That may be why Peter brought up that they were not drunk (Acts 2:15). Another response could be curiosity which leads to the question, "what do I do now?" That is what the audience said in verse 37.

We are to confess our need of being cleansed to God (1 John 1:9). Upon confession comes repentance - a desire to change our ways leads to actual steps to change our practices) happens. As a result, people demonstrated this transformation by being baptized. The Holy Spirit worked on their hearts to lead them to Christ and continue to grow us in the image of Christ. If we allow the Spirit to lead us, it will be noticeable.

Peter preached. There seemed to be no sign of him preparing the message. Be ready to speak on your convictions. After being accused of being drunk, Peter could have lashed out at the crowd for their ignorance of what had just happened. You could tell that Peter had grown in his faith and understanding of God’s plan for him. Instead of going “eye for an eye” with the crowd, he “went the extra mile” and gave them grace instead. He spoke with great conviction, full of the Holy Spirit, and told the story of Jesus. Peter gave testimony of who Jesus was. He refreshed their memory of the events of the last month and a half. The story of the crucifixion of Jesus most likely was a story most people had heard. Peter tells people the story from what he experienced. He was an eyewitness and let people know who Jesus was to him and what Jesus could be to them. Peter confronted the crowd with the truth of who Jesus was.

The people responded. People responded, “now, what do we do with what you just told us?” What would you tell people if they asked that question? Invite them to church? Get your pastor to visit them? Or follow Peter’s example. Right then and there, Peter gave them a clear invitation. Repent and be baptized. Repent is an invitation to change the direction of your life. Baptism is a public confession of your faith.

God’s words can have a significant effect on our lives. We can see that King Josiah, both in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, reacted in distress when he heard the words of the law. When we are confronted with the words of the law, we can decide to ignore them or be inspired to a reform. We look into God's Word and allow the Spirit to move us towards confession. When we confess, 1 John 1:9 states that God is faithful to forgive us from our sins. It takes courage to change course after when we have been on the wrong path for such a long time. It takes courage to lead a nation to the do the same. Josiah had been king for 18 years when the book of the Law had been found. During these 18 years he must have won the respect of the people for them to follow his example of being sensitive to God's Word.

Reformation and change didn't take place overnight even when a great spiritual leader comes into a leadership. It takes time for change to happen. Josiah made decisions to improve things in Judah as they were revealed. Eighteen years later, God revealed something Judah needed at that time. This time they didn't ignore God's word, like in the times of Manasseh.

God is more patient than we give him credit for. Why would God wait 18 years to reveal something so important to the nation?

In order to be ready for those BIG spiritual changes in our lives, work on the small things during the symbolic "18 years" of your life. One day we will "find the book of the law," and see something we have missed.

Josiah invited the nation to a reformation. He didn't do this on his own.  He included his people to participate in changing the course of the nation. Josiah could have forced change by threatening compliance or face consequences. Instead, the people knew that the changes he was calling for were not for political reasons, but for the survival of the nation. The people already knew what spiritual apostasy looked like and apparently they were ready for a life that didn't depend on instant gratification.

Maybe this demonstrates that in order for us to lead people to a transformed life, we don't just tell about the change, but invite them to join us in our journey of growth, spiritual awareness and renewal. We invite them to join us in knowing God and making our society better as we hear from God.

In this week's study guide that leads to our sermon topic on Sabbath, we will go over John 5. This chapter has many sections that could easily take several weeks to study. The main focus will be John 5:39, where Jesus tells the Jewish leaders that HE is the person that the Scriptures speak of. When Jesus said these words, the only Scriptures available were the writings of Moses, the Prophets and Psalms, and Wisdom Literature. Jesus is saying that he is embedded in the storyline. As students of the Word, the religious leaders were so caught up in "searching the Scriptures" that they could not see to whom the Scriptures pointed. 

In the passage that we can see here, we find that Jesus is a healer. Jesus does not hesitate to meet a sick man's needs, even during Sabbath hours. On the other hand, Jewish leaders focus on practicing ceremonies and Sabbath-keeping. These practices point to Jesus, yet they have lost sight of the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). This legalistic approach blinds these leaders to the point of condemning anyone who dares to disagree with them. They would even go so far as to look to kill Jesus.

It is hard to change your mind when you have entrenched beliefs that you have learned from early on. Part of our spiritual growth is allowing God's word to speak to us. What you may have believed before still has room for more clarity. Allowing God to deepen our understanding doesn't necessarily mean that our past knowledge was worthless if we thought differently later. For me, it just means that God uses what we have understood in this season of life. Later on, God will reveal more things about himself and his plans for us in a more precise way. We don't always need to stack knowledge in different topics. Just like the kids' song Deep and Wide. Which one do we lean towards more? Are we going deep or wide? The closer we draw to Jesus, the deeper our understanding and realization that we have so much more to go. 

How would you emphasize Jesus as the center of the Scriptures to someone? People usually want answers to life's questions. The Bible has many responses to those questions. The best practice is to always respond from the Bible and not try to guess or give an opinion. You may not be able actually to open the Bible in front of them, but you are sharing what God's word says.
 
So, if Jesus is not part of the Bible conversation, we have dispensed information. We may have moved someone closer to truth, but we want to lead them to the Source of Truth - Jesus. People sometimes want a quick answer about a particular topic. You could give the best response you know from the Bible. But make sure you don't leave Jesus out.

Practice Daily Reading of the Bible even if it a few verses a day

Introduction
Three and half years is a reasonable amount of time to become good friends with someone. Jesus and his disciples spent most of their days together. Take away some days when they were apart and count for the time the disciples joined Jesus, and you still have at least two to three years of close friendship. Suddenly Jesus announces that he's leaving. This news was unexpected and not accepted by the disciples. "You can't leave!" "Why do you have to leave?" "Where are you going?" Jesus assures his friends that they will not be left to fend for themselves. Jesus also promises that he will come again. After his death, Jesus appears to the disciples several times and spends forty (40) days with them before he ascends to heaven. Their relationship was more than a teacher-student relationship. Jesus called them "friends." John 15:13-15.

Part of being a disciple is learning to trust Jesus. In order to trust Jesus, one must spend time with him. We've heard this advice before. Yet, doing it requires intentionality. It just doesn't happen by itself. Friendships require the same. Jesus did chose us, but we need to chose him and make him, not just a part of our life, but to make him, our life.

When we are developing a friendship, at first, we don't know much about the other person. As we see each other more, at school, at work, in the neighborhood, or wherever else, we begin to know them more. We understand what they like, don't like, their habits, patterns, family dynamics, history, and many other things. We may not know why they do what they do, but then later on, it will be made clearer.

Jesus is inviting us to develop this kind of friendship with him. All the while, understanding, that we are not just in a friendship with a buddy, but with God. In this relationship with God we are learning about ourselves, about God, about life in general, our purpose, our goals, our future, how to deal with past and present situations.

What are ways in which we KNOW God better? Here are some suggestions

1. Reading about God in the Bible.
2. Praying. How do we know God through prayer?
3. Sharing what you know about God and your experience with God (more in the next section).

How do you enhance your friendship with God through sharing (going)? As you interact with other people, you are living out your life, modeled after what you've read about God in the OT and lived out through Jesus in the NT. The cycle of discipleship isn't complete unless you GO (share). Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the gospel. He sent them in two's. Find a partner or another friend for encouragement and company as you go out and share. The activity of sharing feeds into the Knowing and Growing parts of your discipleship. When you share, you become aware of things you don't know. So you go back to the source, back to God, and to His Word. Also, you pray, ask for wisdom, you intercede for the person you spoke to about God. Then you GO back out. This cycle repeats itself, which helps us to mature in our faith. It's different for everyone, but give it a try.

Which area do you think needs more development in your discipleship?

1. The knowing part of having enough information/experience?
2. The growing part? Not much application of what I know to my own life.
3. The sharing part? I tend to keep my religion/faith to myself.

Introduction:
We read a fantastic story in the Old Testament of a king who went on a campaign to go against God. God indirectly compares him with king Ahab. His reign was characterized by doing the wrong thing and leading the nation into idolatry and away from God. Is there hope for such a person with such a great influence?

After reading such an incredible story, you can probably see some of yourself in it. You may not be as bold and evil as Manasseh, but there's a mindset behind Manasseh's way of life. Why would he take such an oppositional platform to rule? Why not follow in his father's footsteps? Had he not read or heard of other kings who were evil too? We don't know Manasseh's childhood, but we can calculate that he was born during those 15 extra years God gave to Hezekiah. What did Manasseh see during this time? Was he angry at God for specifically giving his dad a 15-year timetable and that he would live most of his life without a father? These are all hypothetical questions.
 
What faith did Hezekiah pass on to his son? Living in a "religious" home doesn't mean that Manasseh's faith was in Jehovah. Manasseh had some form of religion that he liked, and it didn't seem like the one his father and ancestors believed. At some point, our faith needs to be just that - OUR faith. The faith of our fathers is to inspire or at least consider something worth trying. We know their faults and shortcomings, but what about the God they serve(d)? At the same time, if we have followed in the positive spiritual footprints of our parents, shall we stop at where they have reached or go beyond?

Manasseh's story demonstrates that there are no lost causes for God. It would seem like Manasseh had just gone too far. Manasseh's sins are terrible. Nevertheless, we have God's grace reaching Manasseh and restoring him. We see God not giving up on Manasseh and his people. God sent messengers, warnings, and eventually an army to get their attention. All this to save them from their destruction.

This story gives us all hope and reminds us that we don't need to wait for a crisis to turn around. God tries to save us before we destroy ourselves.

Apply:
1. How is God speaking to you through this story today?

How do you turn this story into a sharing opportunity? What did Manasseh do when his back was against the wall and in distress? He humbled himself. That means he understood that he was powerless to change his situation and was willing to surrender to God. He prayed, and God heard his plea. How can the request of an evil king move God? It comes to show that even Manasseh can move God's heart to action.

Most people in this world do not have the power to enact evil policies like Manasseh. But even if there are, there is hope for even that person. Manasseh was a murderer, idolater, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a heretic, and child abuser, among many other things. What he had in his favor was that he remembered God.

If God can save Manasseh, he can save you too.

Read Luke 2:1-20

Know

1. What could be some reasons behind the circumstance of Jesus being born in a manger?
   • The Roman census was taking place. (Luke 2:1)
   • People were heading to their hometowns to register for the census (Luke 2:3). Timing played a factor. 
   • Joseph and Mary traveled to get to Bethlehem (Luke 2:4). People could get there quicker. 
   • There was no room for them (Luke 2:6).
2. What details can we notice about the way the angel approached shepherds? 
   • “The radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them” (Luke 2:9 NLT).
   • “the angel was joined by a vast host of others” (Luke 2:13 NLT). 
   • The angel started with glorifying God before giving the message.
3. What can we notice between the beginning of their encounter to the end of their dialogue?
   • It started with them seeing one angel and would end with them seeing the vast host of angels.
   • At first, the shepherds were afraid (Luke 2:10) and were motivated to see Jesus after their conversation (Luke 2:15).
   • They were stationary before the angel gave the message. They were mobile after being given the news.
4. Can you notice how Joseph and Mary interacted with the events in the given passage?
   • Joseph would receive commands.
   • Mary was only a recipient of the events. After being given the message of being the mother of Jesus, Mary seems not to anticipate much of the events in the given passage.
   • The only thing Mary took the initiative was wrapping up Jesus
   • Joseph did not question the messages he received in the story.
   • Like the shepherds, Joseph hastened to fulfill the instructions given.

GROW
We are given cheerful messages from the Savior’s birth this Christmas season. We can notice the impact Jesus had on other people by the events that took place. We can recognize how the shepherds, Joseph and Mary, and even the angel played their roles. 

These messages presented in the story are all related to the coming birth of Jesus. The way these characters, who were recipients of the news, play their roles in the story teach us the details of how to carry out God’s plan. 

The angel brought this message of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds in a way we can observe that can be practical. The angel started by Glorifying the Lord. Beginning this way is essential for the readers to recognize that we are to remember that this is a story of God being sovereign over the entire event. 

At the end of the passage we have read, the shepherds, Mary, and Joseph also glorified the Lord when given the messages relating to Jesus. We can see that they were not in the best situation to follow up on God’s calling to them. However, they did their intended mission regardless of what they had to face in the process. 

We are to recognize that even though our circumstances can discourage us, especially when fulfilling God’s plan, we are to praise Him. 

GO
As we are in this Holiday season to be merry, we should be willing to take on this challenge to behave like the characters in this story. They were part of this plan to bring to attention the Advent of Jesus Christ. 

We have this Advent message today as well. The shepherds were not hesitant to complete God’s calling to be part of this work in the proclamation of Jesus coming to the world. We can do the same today by transitioning our conversations to the beautiful story of the first coming. Then we can express the second coming in our discussions to show how relevant the birth of Jesus can indeed be.

KNOW
Read Matthew 2; Luke 2:21-40

1. What are some events that took place when the Wisemen encountered Jesus?
   • Herod wanted to murder Jesus (Matt. 2:13)
   • The Wisemen were told by God to not listen to Herod (Matthew 2:12)
   • The Wisemen tricked the king, not reporting to him on where Jesus was.
   • They followed a star to get to Jesus
   • They bowed and worshipped Jesus
   • Joseph had a dream to escape from their place.
   • Other.
2. What can we notice in Simeon’s circumstance during his encounter with Jesus?
   • He was promised to see the Messiah before he died
   • The Spirit led him to the temple to see Jesus.
   • Simeon proclaimed praise to Jesus.
   • He said Jesus would be the cause of many who will rise and fall.
   • He was said to be righteous.
   • Other.
3. What can we notice in Anna’s circumstances in her encounter with Jesus?
   • She is a widow. She was married for only 7 years.
   • She was 84 years old.
   • She is a prophet.
   • Never left the temple.
   • She worshipped God with fasting and prayer.
   • She told her story to everyone waiting for the Messiah after her encounter.
   • Other.
4. Herod found out of the city where Jesus was born, how did he get that answer?
   • The Wisemen announced that they were looking for Jesus.
   • He called in teachers of the law and chief priests
   • They used scripture to support their answer. (Micah 2:6)
   • The priests’ and teachers’ answer was all that we heard from them in the story.
   • Other.

GROW
The Advent of Christ in this story can be about the characters’ behavior. When we have our experiences with Jesus, we can practice how the appropriate characters conducted themselves with their encounter with the Messiah. Of course, we may not want to be like King Herod, but it is important to see the examples of the others who played a role in the passage.

The Wisemen can be like those who were actively seeking Christ. They have heard of the Messiah being born and would be on the lookout for Jesus, going to different locations to find Him. Though King Herod wanted the Wise Men to report back to him, they did not listen to his instruction. Instead, they would listen to the warning that God gave them in a dream. They set the example on listening to God’s will and principles rather than what the world suggests.
The priests and the teachers seem to have given in to what King Herod demanded. Their response is opposite to how the Wise Men reacted when the King gave a command. Let us not be like the priests and teachers of the law and avoid thinking twice before deciding to follow the desires that the world throws at us.

We have noticed that the prophets glorified the Lord and made it a point to display this sense of true accomplishment. When we have a moment of finding Jesus in the circumstances we get into, the story reveals a true accomplishment behind our encounter with Christ in whatever situation we find ourselves. We are to rejoice in all the Jesus moments that we experience, for it has revealed to be the most significant goal for us to triumph. The prophets had that behavior, so we can be encouraged to do the same.

GO
When we undergo life’s everyday affairs, we can learn to be like the Wise Men when we approach the opportunity to explain our endeavors. In Matthew 2:2, we see that the Wise Men announced their reason as to why they have been on their feet trying to look for the newborn baby, who is to be the Messiah. That explanation is key to why they behave with much desire in their quest.

When we are looking to complete our goals in life, we are first to have a reason that we can say is inspired by God and His principles.
Then, when the opportunity presents itself, we give our reasoning for our endeavors. We explain that we want to encounter Jesus. Similarly, the Wise Men and the prophets had Christ as their reason.

We have this excellent opportunity to bring Jesus to more of our conversations this holiday season that we can confidently declare that Jesus is the reason for the season.

A brief overview of this week’s topic
The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead that for many is lesser-known and understood. In this study, we will be going over the Holy Spirit’s role in the birth of Christ and the Spirit’s role in the church’s life until Jesus comes again.

The Gospels describe Mary’s miraculous conception as something the Holy Spirit did in her. Mary was “found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18). The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and assured Joseph that Mary’s pregnancy was not because she had been unfaithful, but that the Holy Spirit had conceived this child inside of her. There was no human interaction to make this happen. Instead, there was a divine/human cooperation to bring Jesus into this world.

The Holy Spirit who conceived Jesus inside Mary is the same Spirit who “conceives” Jesus in us. The same Spirit that descends on Jesus at his baptism is the same Spirit that falls on us at our baptism. The same Spirit that empowers Jesus for ministry does the same in us, with us, and for us.

The Holy Spirit dwells and empowers us through this Advent Journey. May this Christmas season remind us how the Holy Spirit is eager to help us keep Jesus at the forefront.
The Spirit Moves 
KNOW
Read Matthew 1:18-20; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:13; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17; 2:29; 3:6, 13, 22.

1. What was the Holy Spirit’s role in the birth of Christ? Matthew 1:18-20
   • He was the divine person involved in Mary getting pregnant.
   • The Holy Spirit did something that has only happened once in history. 
   • Provided the miracle to bring salvation to Israel and the world.
   • Other.
2. Why do you think Jesus came at the right time! Galatians 4:4
3. The Holy Spirit’s job is to “seal” Jesus in us. How? Ephesians 1:13
   • When you heard the word of truth.
   • When you believed in Jesus.
   • Other.
4. What are some unique things we learn of the Spirit as He speaks to the Seven Churches in Revelation? Revelation 2-3.
   • We are called Conquerors.
   • The Spirit speaks, not just to individuals but to churches.
   • Reveals our weaknesses and also what we need to strengthen. 
   • Other.

GROW
Similarly, like Mary, the Holy Spirit is responsible for Jesus being a reality in our lives. It could seem complicated and impossible to say that God wants to be in me. But I'm a sinner. I make so many mistakes! Yes, yet God wants to dwell in me. Even with hardened hearts? Yes.

Once Jesus is in us, it could get some getting used to. Consider Mary's response to the announcement. She was a bit perplexed.  Joseph was perplexed over what the Spirit was doing in Mary. Have you ever had family and friends wonder what's going on with you after your conversion? They may take your conversion seriously or question your conversion. Just like Mary, Joseph questioned and was even upset enough to want a divorce over this.

So, what God does in you is for your own growth and also for those around you who see Jesus in you.

GO
Luke 1:41-42 says that Elizabeth praised God because of the child in Mary. Imagine that for a moment. Someone is praising God because of the Jesus in you. It’s not about you. It is because of Jesus. Sometimes we allow the attention Jesus brings to us to think it is about us. Elizabeth wasn’t praising Mary. She was praising God.

When you walk into a place, a room, into someone’s life, the Spirit wants to show Jesus to those who are there. We, like Mary, are willing vessels to bring the reason for praise. Mary wasn’t trying to preach, give a Bible study, or teach Elizabeth. She just showed up! Mary had Jesus in her, and that’s what made the difference. The Spirit is the one who revealed it to her. That’s the Spirit’s job. To show Jesus to the world. Even when it’s Jesus living in us.

Apply

1. Do I take Jesus with me wherever I go?
2. What’s your reaction when someone praises God for the Jesus in you?
3. Remember, it’s not about us; it’s about Jesus in us.

A brief overview this week’s topic - Promise
The theme of promise has been covered several times in past study topics. On this occasion the theme is “promise” in relation to the birth of Christ. The first hint of a promised Messiah came as early as Genesis 3:15. Isaiah spoke specifically of God with us. Daniel received visions with prophecies depicting the Messiah’s appearance and being “cut off.” We are on the other side of all of these promises and fulfilled prophecies. As we look back we see how Jesus is the fulfillment.

The Advent Journey  will be seen as a journey of hope. These promises were not just for a people from a long time ago in a far away place. Instead, the promises are for you and me. If God did it for them and then, then his promises are faithful and true for us here and now.


KNOW
Read Isa 7:14; Micah 5:2; Hosea 11:1; Isaiah 42:1-4; Zech 9:9; Daniel 7:13, 14; 9:25-27

1. God gave several promises in Isaiah 7:4
   • God himself with give a sign.
   • A virgin will conceive.
   • The virgin shall give birth.
   • The child shall be called “Immanuel.”
2. What major events or people come from Bethlehem? Micah 5:2
   • The prophet Micah said that a future ruler shall come from Micah.
   • King David was from Bethlehem.
   • Ruth and Boaz (part of the lineage) met and married in Bethlehem.
   • Jesus was born there.
3. How does God compare Israel to Jesus? Hosea 11:1
   • Israel is a symbol of Jesus.
   • Jesus would go through a similar experience as Israel did when they were in Egypt.
   • Egypt became a place of refuge for Jesus as it was temporarily for Israel.
   • God put a limit as to how long Jesus and Israel were to stay in Egypt.
4. What kind of ministry would Jesus have according to Isaiah 42:1-4
   • Jesus would be marked by his servant leadership.
   • A ministry full of the Spirit.
   • He would bring justice to the nations.
   • Other.
5. How does Zechariah 9:9 describe the Messiah having royal standing?
   • He is righteous.
   • He brings salvation.
   • He will be humble.
   • People will actually see him riding a donkey symbolizing his inauguration as king. 

GROW
The promises found in the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) pointed forward to a future fulfillment of a liberator, freedom fighter, someone who would bring righteousness and justice. To find such a ruler, president, prime minister or any other politician, who not only talks about change, but actually enacts change, is hard to find. When you do find such a figure, many try to take him out because he’s doing too many good things.

How many times have we been promised a better future, better leaders, better servants? If we just side with the one who makes better promises we will find fulfillment and purpose. We have been around long enough to know that these promises are empty.

What if, one of these candidates actually followed through with all of their promises? It would be hard to believe, but it would be a special time in the country where this leader would govern.

We have placed too much trust into the hands of other humans to give us a sense of safety and fulfillment. We have fallen into the trap of getting our hopes up only to be let down, again and again. We may even argue and bring division among friends and family because we believe so much that one man will be better than another in the betterment of our society or country.

God had promised to prophets of old, again and again, that God would send a Messiah who would be the fulfillment of all of their hearts desires. That Jesus would be the answer to their hopes and dreams for themselves and for their land.  It’s hard to believe that many still preferred human kings over King Jesus.
 
Apply

1. Compare how Jesus rose to prominence during his 3 1/2 year ministry, with other politicians and how they rose in recognition and power.
2. How disappointed have we been when promises made become promises broken?
3. How does God’s promise of a Messiah truly make an impact in our lives today?

GO
Review the GROW section of this study. How would you share with an unbeliever the promise of a Ruler who we could truly trust in. Since politics is such a big part of our lives right now (whether we like it or not), maybe you can use the comparison between current national leaders and how they failed again and again, with the Servant Leadership of Jesus Christ and how we lead a nation, brought hope and did good on his promises.

Look at Isaiah 61 and Luke 4, where Jesus reads a prophecy that refers to himself. Many things in those verses say that Jesus would come and do a lot of things for the people. He would bring healing, hope and freedom to all who wanted it from him.

Apply

1. Think of leaders who have actually fulfilled their promises made.
2. How do these leaders compare to Jesus?
3. How many promises does a person need to fulfill in order to be considered faithful? 

Scripture Memorization for this Week 
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed… ” — Luke 4:18

Introduction
Read Ephesians 1:4; Matthew 24; 1 John 3:1-3; Heb 12:2; 2 Cor 5:7; Col 3:5, Zech 7:9-10.
Do you remember when you heard the gospel and understood it? How about hearing of the Second Coming and thinking about your readiness? Our childhood faith believes in heaven and believes in being there. Our growing faith has to consider God's plan to get us to heaven. That includes beginning a lifestyle that reflects heaven's ideals.

Do you remember when you heard the gospel and understood it? How about hearing of the Second Coming and thinking about your readiness? Our childhood faith thinks of heaven and being there. Our growing faith has to consider God's plan to get us to heaven. That includes beginning a lifestyle that reflects heaven's ideals.

Our Christian journey has highs and lows, hills and valleys, ups and downs.  Don't let discouragement set in. It's not failure to fall, it's a failure if we don't get back up.

The Bible describes the Second Coming as the "blessed hope." What do people hope for? Usually, hope is for something good. The ultimate blessed hope is not even the event of the Second Coming. It is the blessing of finally being in the presence of God. Who on earth is someone you feel blessed to be around and look forward to being with them? How does that compare to being in the presence of our Savior? What would it be like to be in the presence of your Creator and Savior? I would say a much greater blessing. Share this hope with someone this week.

Introduction
Shalom - the popular Hebrew word for saying Hi and Bye. Shalom is more than just a greeting, it is a state of mind, it is the lens through which we see the world. The opposite of shalom is hamas. Hamas means violence. God offers peace. Those who don't know God offer violence.

What does peace look like? Has there even been a "time of peace" in your lifetime? After WWII there was a relative time of peace. People thought that the world had come to its senses and would avoid entering into mass-casualty conflicts. That "peace" was short lived. Since the world is always in some kind of turmoil, how do we find peace in the midst of it all? What kind of peace have you found in the last 15-18 months? Does peace come from the absence of strife or does it flourish in the midst of it? What or who is the source of our peace? Does it come from "peace talks?" Is it getting away from the conflict?

Some people seem to be more at peace than others. It can be due to their temperament, but it can also be because of their trust in what God has promised. How do we get the point where our trust in God is such that we can live in peace no matter what may be going on in the world or even in our own home?

How do you contribute to peace in your circle of influence? Does your presence, demeanor, or talk seem to take away peace? How do you promote peace. Jesus extends a special blessing on the peacemakers. I don't think that peacemakers are a special group of people, instead a wish for all of those who follow Christ. We are called to be peacemakers. In other words, we want peace but we also strive for others to experience peace. Which way are you leaning in your life? A peace-maker or a peace-taker?

Part of what I wrote in the GROW section is important in our witnessing. When we walk into a room or someone walks into our space, do we carry with us the peace of God?  That, in and of itself, is an open door for a conversation to start about what brings you peace and why it matters.

Introduction
To be fully known can put you at peace and it can also be concerning. Don't we all want to be understood and known for who we are? Well, Yes and No.

To be fully known means that there is absolutely nothing that is hidden from another person. That person knows everything about you. You may have a person like that in your life. It's amazing to have someone in your life that fully knows you and still chooses to be with you. Many times we cover up our true selves out of fear of being rejected. We say, "if that person really knew what I think or what I do they wouldn't want to be my friend." So we are careful with what we say because we want to maintain a relationship but not entrust our deepest thoughts to that person.

This could be the greatest yearning of the Christian: to be fully known and fully loved. We think it's a risky proposition to be fully known until we find that person in our lives who we are able to share who we are, without the fear of being fully exposed.  

Jesus is that person who knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our thoughts, our intentions, our desires (both good and bad), our words, etc. Yet, Jesus is willing to die for me to be in a relationship with him.

Really knowing Jesus, is acknowledging that Jesus really knows you and still loves you. So when Jesus comes, he will call you by name and welcome you home.

Spiritual maturity is something we should all want. Some don't know how to get there. Some are afraid of getting there because they don't know what to expect. Some think it's unattainable so why try.

In the parable of the Ten Virgins we see the more mature ones make preparations in case the Lord took too long. They had not set dates or times as to when the Lord would come, they prepared in the event of his delay. When we depend on artificial, unbiblical timelines of when Jesus will come, we tend to get comfortable while we wait. We figure that we have it figured out so we only prepare for the immediate and not for the "just in case." The ladies didn't bring extra oil. They lacked the ingredients to keep the light on when it got dark. So when the time came for the Lord to come, they had to go back and get what was missing. They missed out on meeting the Lord because they trusted in their experience. They missed out on a relationship, in being known.

That's why the Matthew 7:21-23 story is so sad. Jesus didn't know who they were because they had built their relationship on doing for the Lord and being with the Lord. Now, I think that Jesus values what we do. Our being with Jesus comes first and our doing will flow from it.

"As activity increases, and men become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work. While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the Word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good." The Desire of Ages, 362.

In conclusion, our growing in Christ is not measured by the increase in spiritual or church activities. It's measured by the time we spend with God in meditation, prayer and studying the Word of God.

How can you share these principles as you go about your week? We started off by talking about being known. How many people have a desire for such an experience? God offers this type of relationship. Fully known and fully loved.
 
We can tell people that doing things for God is not the same as doing want God actually wants us to do. In order for us to know what God actually wants we need to take time in God's word to know his will.

Share the Parable of the Ten Virgins and how depending on our efforts usually falls short. We can't depend on someone's faith. We need to have our own faith and experience.

Matthew 7:21-23 is a reality check on whether we serve God for God or for ourselves.

Ultimately, God's plan is make us part of his kingdom and to have the Spirit of God living in us.

Introduction
We currently live in a society where having a dwelling can be a challenge. A place we call home. An address where we get our mail.  A place where our clothes are in a closet. A place where we can open the refrigerator without having to ask permission. Ultimately, it's a place where you are comfortable, where you can be yourself.

We can see as we drive around town that dwellings can be permanent structures, or temporary outdoor shelters. Many people are not as fortunate as we are to have a dwelling.

The Old Testament writers refer to heaven as God's "dwelling place." What about our dwelling place? Deuteronomy 33:27 says that God is our dwelling place. Not a place, but God himself. The Song of Moses in Psalms 90 starts my saying, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place..."

In addition to that, God set up a literal, physical dwelling place on earth where He could meet with his people."Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst." (Exodus 25:8). It has been God's desire to be close to us, his people. So, the dwelling is a place where we can be close to God and to each other and ultimately never be separated.

The "sanctuary message" is the doctrine or teaching that uses the Sanctuary or Tabernacle as a model of how God deals with the sin problem.  The priests daily and yearly work symbolizes Jesus' intercession for us. One day that intercession will finish and Jesus will return to earth (Second Coming). According to the historical calendar we are living in the last phase of that intercession - the Day of Atonement. On this day the priest enters the Most Holy Place. This can only happen once a year (usually falls in the fall). All of the people's sins that have been confessed are symbolically still in the sanctuary and the priest goes into this last room in the sanctuary to "cleanse it." Symbolically, priest goes through a ritual to clean the Most Holy Place of sin. When the priest comes out "alive" there's a great celebration.

How does "message" help us in our daily living? It's a good question. One that many have struggled to understand.  Let's look at it from a purely spiritual position. 

1. Getting rid of sin is 100% God's job.
2. Sin is so serious that getting rid of it is a process.
3. There is a time when this process will be complete, but it's not based on what we do, but on what God does.
4. My daily confession matters.
5. Confession requires a sacrifice.

If we could just see the seriousness of sin like God sees it we would hate it more.

Growing or maturing is the process of a lifetime. In this lifetime, we learn what matters and what matters less. Some people can live long lives, and what matters hasn't changed much. At the same time, others allow life experiences coupled with God's word to shape their worldview and daily living, thus allowing God to come into our lives to dwell and abide in us in a more significant measure.

Just like dealing with sin is a process, our growth is a process. As much as we would like to become as spiritual as someone else, we need to allow God to work in us as he reveals himself to us. Humans grow in stature for about 20 years. When kids we can't wait to "grow up." In the spiritual realm, we'd like to grow up fast too. Starting with the simple basics of confession, repentance on a daily basis. Taking time in the Word and in prayer. As you do this you will open more of yourself to God as he dwells more in more in your life. As you grow, he abides.  Do not let frustration set in when you feel like your spiritual growth is stunted. Instead, ask God to reveal areas in your life where you have overlooked in the growth process. 

As you GO throughout your daily lives, consider what the GROW section of this study says. Sharing the concepts of growth with someone else can bring hope and calm people's fears about their spirituality.
 
Ultimately God wants to dwell with us and God has a plan to see that we are united with him forever.

Think of someone who wants to live with you so much that he builds you a house and sacrifices himself in order to see to it that we can spend eternity together.

In the meantime, God sends his Spirit to empower us to live until we can be together again.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 
Revelation 21:2

Life can also be very hectic with busy schedules, activities, life goals, jobs, education, sports, among so many other life events. It is vital to keep a spiritual compass on hand to stay on track. While pursuing all of our goals,  make sure we don’t veer off God’s path for us. Our compass can lose its position pointing North and requires recalibration to make sure we make it to our destiny.

Every week, Jesus is ready to recalibrate our spiritual compasses. Staying on track happens when we ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Sabbath becomes an acknowledgment of the daily work God is doing in us. He recalibrates our soul in a weekly collective celebration of his goodness.  The recalibration also happens in his corrective work in us.

Our series continues to cover essential topics of faith and practice. This week’s study will center on the meaning of the Sabbath. If you have been a Seventh-day Adventist for a long time, you are familiar with the verses in the Bible that indicate the continued blessing and holiness of the Sabbath. In this study, we won’t be proving that Saturday is the Sabbath. Instead, we look at how Jesus said that the Sabbath is for us. On this day, He restores, heals, and renews. Thus, it makes the Sabbath day a delight.

Which way does your compass take you when you want to grow spiritually? Just think of it for a moment (or two). On Sabbath, while at church, we may say, like we say every week, I need to make so many changes to get my life in order.

Sabbath allows you to stop, think about your life. It helps you think about the essential things of life and the excuses that keep us from growing.  Yet, it is so hard to do those very things that we don’t want to do.

Why not start with the basic things? Take time to pray and read the Bible every day for several minutes during your preferred time. For those times that you have set aside time for prayer and Bible reading, you feel refreshed. At the same time, it can quickly fade away. Staying constant and satisfied is what we wish we could achieve. So, let’s think about those mini-Sabbaths that we can have every day. And by “mini,” it could be a few minutes to as long as you want. The daily recalibrating of our compass is vital to staying on track.

Here are some tools that are readily available and have been used for so many years:

1. Adult Bible Study Guides or “Quarterlies”
2. Morning Devotional books (for adults, children and youth)
3. The daily texts sent to the church app
4. Prayer time between the time you open your eyes in the morning and before you feet hit the floor.
5. Singing while taking a shower :)
6. Anything else?

How many times did Jesus heal someone on the Sabbath?

Matthew 12:10 - And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Go to your neighbors and give them a gift to let them know that God was thinking about them on that Sabbath.

Luke 13:10 - a disabled women for 18 years.

John 9:13-14 - a blind man healed on the Sabbath.

There are other similar stories. The interesting piece of information is that none of these healings required urgent action. These people had chronic infirmities. They could have been healed any day of the week. Jesus could have waited until the sun went down. Instead, Jesus made it a point to demonstrate that there is a correlation between being freed from our infirmities and the Sabbath. Every Sabbath these people will remember what Jesus did for them and they will tell the story.

When these people got “back on track” with God, they became evangelists of how Jesus had healed them and completely transformed their lives. People will see them differently. They were blind, disabled, diseased, but now they are alive and well, talking about the One who had healed them.

Apply

1. How do you tell the story of how Jesus opened your eyes?
2. How long did it take for the healed people to start giving their testimony?
3. Think of every Sabbath as a healing experience, where Jesus comes to visit you and restore, repair, redeem and re-create you. After this you have a new story to tell to others during the week. This becomes a weekly cycle of celebration and healing.

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
Mark 2:27-28

The king of Italy and the king of Bohemia promised John Huss safe transport and safe custody. They broke their promises, however, and Huss was martyred. Thomas Wentworth carried a document signed by King Charles I, which read, “Upon the word of a king, you shall not suffer in life, honor, or fortune.” Shortly afterward, however, his death warrant was signed by the same monarch. “Put not your trust in princes,” were his last words.
“It is better to trust in the Lord” than in anyone or anything else.

Trust - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. 

The devil has been trying to get us, humans, to distrust the One person we can fully trust in. Ever since heaven, Satan planted doubt and distrust into the minds and hearts of angels. He has imported his strategy into our world. He has caused humanity to doubt and distrust God. Ever since there has been an ongoing plan to drive this wedge between us and God. The Bible presents the most fundamental truth that God is Love.  

Read Prov. 3:5,6 Rev 12; Genesis 3:15; Rev 20:2

1. What comes to mind when you hear the word “trust”?

• Faith
• Honestly
• Integrity
• Belief
• Other.

2.  What are some ways in which we lean on our own understanding? Proverbs 3:5-6

• Relying on our education.
• Depending on our jobs.
• Relying on our experience.
• Depending on our relationships.
• Other.

3. Who do you trust in “with all your heart”?

• Parents
• Siblings
• Extended Family
• Spouse
• Close friend
• Other.

4. What has it been like to trust God with all your heart?

• It’s my greatest desire.
• I struggle with trusting God.
• I know God knows best and I want to obey.
• I have seen God coming through when I trust him.
• Other.

5. What does acknowledging God mean to you? Proverbs 5:6

• Recognizing when God has done something you can’t take credit for.
• Telling people that it’s not about you when people want to give you credit.
• Repeating that everything you have and have become is because of God.
• Having an awareness of his presence in every area of your life.
• Other.

6. How does trust and acknowledgment work together to make your paths straight?

• Straight paths don’t always look straight but you take the path anyway because God says so.
• See God walking with on the road he wants to take you on.
• Comparing your knowledge to God’s knowledge and choosing God.
• You're put trusting God and acknowledging him over any of my knowledge.
• Other.

7. How was trust broken in heaven according to Revelation 12:7-9

• Lucifer trusted himself more than God.
• Lucifer was able to sow distrust among the angels.
• Distrust lead to a war.
• Distrust resulted in a separation from God.
• Other.

8. How was that mistrust brought here to earth? Genesis 3

• Did God really say… (vs. 1)
• You really won’t die… (vs. 3)
• Adam & Eve were afraid and hid from God (vs.  8)
• Sin brought distrust between Adam & Eve (vs. 12)
• Other.

Trust seems like a normal thing for a Christian to practice. To believe God even when it goes against what we believe to be a better course of action. Trust is more than something we believe in. Trust is something that we do. Our confidence in God grows as we read about how God related to his people in the Bible. That’s the knowledge of trusting God. Then we go out into the world and put it into practice. Practice means something we do over and over again to get better at it. We learn by repetition, by continually trying and not giving up when we mess up. 

Trusting God in everyday things helps us to trust God in the occasional big things. The first couple’s temptation could seem like a small thing - you can eat from all the trees except this one. It doesn’t seem too complicated. But when you add a talking snake into the mix, you have just taken the temptation to a new level. Have you ever asked yourself, “what was Eve even doing around the tree that God said not to eat of”? The devil didn’t show up at one of the “good” trees. I guess part of trusting God is checking out what the forbidden is to understand better what I am supposed to stay away from. That sounds like an excellent human excuse. “Well, God, I just wanted to see why the tree is not good for eating. I’m not going to eat it. Just look at it.” Maybe my scenario is far-fetched, and Eve just happened to be walking by the tree with the forbidden fruit. What does this have to do with trust? In hindsight, we could say, trust God and stay away from the tree. Well, God gave us the ability to choose for ourselves, and free will implies the ability to trust. If God took away our ability to choose, then there would be no need for trust. Trust means that we have a choice not to trust. In heaven, Lucifer had to trust too, but he decided not to trust in God.

So as hard as it may be, trust is taking God at his word, believing in the outcome he promises, making decisions based on God’s word, obey his commandments even when they may be inconvenient.
Apply

1. Think about a time when you faced a trial, you trusted in God and did the right thing. 
2. Is it a lack of trust to get too close to temptation?
3. What are the “little” things that you still struggle trusting in God with?
4. Continue reading the Bible so your trust and faith increase, but also trust God in the application of that trust.

Sharing your faith is an act of trust too. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” Along with that was the promise of his presence as we went forth. 
It takes trust to open our mouths and bring God into the conversation. 
It takes trust to invite someone to church. 
It takes trust to read the Bible while you have a drink at a coffee shop. 
It takes trust to begin a conversation with someone while waiting in line or riding the bus or train.

Trusting God doesn’t mean you are not nervous as you GO. When faced with a minor or significant dilemma, first consider 

1. What God’s word says. 
2. What the Holy Spirit speaks to you. 
3. What your faith brings to the moment. 

You will face temptation. Maybe we’re too close to the forbidden fruit. We want to share God’s word and what God has done in our lives, but what if it goes wrong? What if I don’t know what to say? What if I make things worse? We don’t always get it right as imperfect beings, but disciples are learners, and learners are learning how to live. We are not just students in the classroom learning what trust is. We are like the scientist who experiments with the information at hand. Experiments don’t always go right on the first attempt. You trust your research, believe in what you are doing, and keep trying until it works. You continue to read the Bible (the literature), you continue to consult with God (like consulting with the scientific community), and you go back into the lab (the world).  

Even when Adam & Eve failed the experiment, Jesus came into the world to pick up where Adam & Eve had fallen. He walked through the same territory, faced the same temptation, and was able to succeed where other men and women had tried. So when we don’t get the experiment right, trust God who sends us his Spirit to empower us to keep going, keep learning, keep trying, and never stop trusting. 

Apply

1. Trust God in the area of bringing God into a conversation with someone this week. See what happens.
2. Trusting can happen before a trial or temptation. It can also occur after the test or temptation. Whether we fail or succeed, our trust in God must increase.
3. Share a story of how you were blessed by trusting God. 

A brief overview this week’s topic
It was the first day of training camp. The year was 1961.  Thirty-eight members of the Green Bay Packers football team arrived to start a brand-new season.  The previous season ended horribly for the Packers who squandered a lead to lose the NFL championship to the Philadelphia Eagles.

This was a new season, however, and the players arrived at training camp with great expectations of playing better, smarter and with more effective plays. Their coach, Vince Lombardi, had a different idea.

Author David Marannis recounted that day in his book, When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi:

“He took nothing for granted. He began a tradition of starting from scratch, assuming that the players were blank slates who carried over no knowledge from the year before… He began with the most elemental statement of all. “Gentlemen,” he said, holding a pigskin in his right hand, ‘this is a football.’”

This is an iconic story about the importance of the fundamentals — not just of a sport, but in any endeavor, including our spiritual lives.

Read Isa 46: 8-10; John 1:3-5; Gen 1:1-4; 1 John 4:16

1. What is God calling his people to “remember?” Isa 46:8-10
   • The former things of old.
   • That he is God.
   • The one who can tell us what will happen before it happens.
   • God’s purpose will eventually come to fruition.
   • Other.
2. How does John’s Gospel account begin? John 1:3-5
   • That Jesus is the Creator.
   • Jesus is the source of life.
   • Without Jesus there would be no creation.
   • Life was inherit in Jesus.
   • Jesus is the Light of life taking darkness away.
   • Other
3. What did John and Isaiah borrow from Moses? Genesis 1:1-4
   • They refer to the “beginning,” Creation.
   • There is darkness at the time of Creation.
   • God brings light into the darkness.
   • Other.
4. How did the apostle John come to his conclusion about God? 1 John 4:16
   • He was sure about God’s love for us.
   • He was sure in what he believed about God’s love.
   • God’s essence is love.
   • Abiding in love is abiding in God.
   • Other.

Darkness doesn’t have a source. It happens when the light goes away. Darkness doesn’t come in; the sun goes away. Light exposes that which hides in darkness. In the Bible, usually, darkness has to do with evil, and light has to do with God. God brings the light and gets rid of the darkness. I think you get the idea by now. 

As children of God, he calls us to be that light too. We are not the source of light. We receive the light that comes from God and reflect it to the world. It may be tempting to take credit for shining, but recognizing that we are “reflectors.” That should keep us humble. We realize that God is the source of light and life, and we are entirely dependent on him. How easily we forget this simple truth. Therefore, God’s constant words of “remember” are spread throughout the Bible. So, remember who created you. Remember who God is. Remember what he’s done. 

God’s festivals are events to remember how God acted in the past to save his people, mainly how God delivered Israel out of Egypt. Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, and the rest of these feasts are visual, physical, and spiritual reminders to sear into the minds, hearts, and souls throughout the generations, how God dealt with darkness, and how he brought light. 

The Sabbath is a weekly reminder that God is our Creator and our Redeemer. This week at Carmichael, we will celebrate another one of those reminders - Communion. It’s the new Passover, a reminder of how God liberated us from the hands of the devil, like Pharaoh. A reminder of the blood of the lamb on the doorposts that kept them safe that dark night. A reminder of how fast they had to leave, so much so that they had no time to bring leaven with them, thus the unleavened bread. 

In the next couple of days, remember the past. Let’s not dwell on our shortcomings but thank God for bringing light into our darkness. If you haven’t experienced that light yet, consider the darkness that still exists in your life and how God wants to invade every dark crevice of your life and fill it with light. 
 
Apply

1. Remember when you gave your life to Christ. 
2. How do you “abide” in the light of God’s love?
3. What area of darkness in your life do you need to unlock to let God bring his light into?
4. Celebrate one of God’s “remember” this week by participating in Communion on Sabbath. 

Sharing the light of God is to be mere reflectors of his glory. When we remember what God has done, we recognize God’s work in our lives and our dependence on him. This daily, constant exercise would drive us to God to give thanks, confess our sins and repent of our sins. Practicing these spiritual disciplines keeps our “reflector” clean. What do I mean by that? Our lives are like mirrors that receive the light for ourselves and then spread the light to those around us. That’s why the mirror needs to be as clean as possible. A dirty mirror reflects, but imperfectly. In the spiritual life, we will never be a perfect reflection of God. Yet, God invites us to reflect His light on the world.

This week’s GO is more about us remembering what God has done for us, where he has brought us from, and where he is taking us toward. Having this awareness helps us reflect God more clearly. Reflections have no words. It just shows what’s in front of us. Practice a life of confession, repentance, and growth, and you will let your light shine, and people will see your good works. (Matthew 5:16).  

Apply

1. Share with someone your “remembrance” of God’s work in your life.
2. Acknowledge that our “mirror” is never fully clean while at the same time reflecting and sharing the light that you receive from God.
3. Remember to take people to the source of light and not to you, the reflector of light.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”- Genesis 1:1-3

“and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24