Saturday, October 8, 2016

MATTHEW 28 

Below is the lesson we covered in Matthew 28 today (as you know, we break down the chapter verse by verse …and hopefully your children are learning how the study the bible and learn truth for themselves).  Attached are the story boards that your children drew to give us a visual of the Chapter. (Photos attached).

We discussed several things – one was the Characteristics of a True Believer of Christ (see list at the bottom).  We also discussed the broad road and the narrow road….. worshipping God/god our way or HIS WAY (in humility and reverence).  Sometimes we create a “god” in our mind… that WE want…and of course this “god” is very accepting of us and overlooks our bad choices and sin, because WE are really nice people!! But to understand the “TRUE GOD” we must read and study HIS WORD in context…learn about HIS Character and what HE expects of us.  Examine yourself messages are listed below as well.

We talked about how we can be disciples and share the good news with people we meet.  As promised, we told the kids that we’d share some links to some gospel tracts that they could use:
                https://airocross.com/2013/11/12/do-you-know-him-gospel-tract-now-available/  “Do You Know Him? Gospel Tract
                http://store.livingwaters.com/gospel-tracts/kids.html  Kid’s gospel tracts
                http://store.livingwaters.com/gospel-tracts/money.html  Money gospel tracts
                http://store.livingwaters.com/gospel-tracts/in-depth.html  General tracts
                http://thecripplegate.com/which-gospel-tracts-do-you-use/  A Variety of Gospel Tract sites (10 ministries)
We took a poll last week and none of the kids have READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE….so we encouraged them to do that this year.   As they understand more of God’s Word, they will be more confident to share HIS Gospel.
               

LESSON:  Matthew 28                 “The Resurrection”

An interesting fact in the book of Matthew is in Matt. 1:23 …”they shall call His name Immanuel (God with us)” ……and in Matt. 28:20 …. “I am with you….”   - it’s so exciting to see how God’s Word is interwoven throughout scripture!  Scripture interprets scripture throughout the bible and can be discovered only by searching and studying HIS Word.

Read vs. 1-20  (answer 5 W’s and H questions)

When did the Sabbath end?  It officially ended at ____Sundown________________ on Saturday.
Why did the women come to the grave? Look at Mark 16:1   “They brought Spices to anoint Him
Were they looking for a resurrected Christ?  no
What happened to the earth at dawn when the women arrived?  There was an ___earthquake____.
Was there a previous earthquake?  __yes_________ 
Matt. 27:51 What event surrounds the previous earthquake? __Jesus death on cross____
Why was there an earthquake as the women arrived?  To roll away the stone so they could see that the tomb was empty
How did the guards respond to the earthquake? Vs. 4 They fell like dead men. (some scholars say they passed out).
How did the women respond to the earthquake?  Vs. 5  An angel told them “do not be afraid”….He is not here….He has risen as He said.

What other passages did He mention His resurrection in Matthew?
Read Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”
Read Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.  Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You."…
Read Matthew 20: 17-19  "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

Who actually remembered what Christ said about His resurrection?  The Jewish leaders
Read Matthew 27:63  "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver (meaning Christ) said, 'After three days I will rise again.'  This is the reason the guards were put near the entrance to the tomb.

So the women saw the empty tomb….then left quickly …
What were their thoughts and feeling as they ran to tell the disciples?  Vs. 8.  Fear and great joy

After they ran…Who did they see? Vs. 9 Jesus
How did they respond? Vs. 9  They Held His feet and worshipped Him.
What did He command them to do? vs. 10 Do not be afraid, Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee and there they will see Me.
What did the guards do?  Vs. 11 They went to the city and told the chief priests.
What did elders and counsel do?  Vs. 12-13  gave guards money and a story to tell about disciples stealing His body
This story is told to this day.  Jews do not acknowledge the resurrection.

What happens in vs. 16-20
o   11 Disciples go to Galilee to the mountain
o   They see Jesus and worship Him
o   Jesus commands them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded them.
This is called “the great commission”

Greek verb meaning of “Make disciples” is “Matheteuo” – which is the central command of  vs. 19-20.  The root meaning refers to believing and learning – but the full meaning refers to “those who place their trust in Christ and follow Him with a life of continual learning and obedience”.

Read John 8:31  “If you abide in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”
Those who truly follow Christ become what in Matthew 4:19?  “fishers of men”

What was the mission of the early church as seen in Acts 2:47 and Acts 14:21? to make disciples

Are you a disciple?
Have you put your trust in Christ?
Are you following Him with continual learning and obedience? 
Are you sharing the “good news” of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection?
Are you discipling others to do the same?




EXAMINE YOURSELF (encouraging messages below)
Recent statistics indicate there are approximately two billion Christians worldwide. But you have to wonder how  any of those people say they are Christians because they believe there’s a God, grew up with parents who professed faith in Christ, attend church regularly, or once repeated the sinner’s prayer.

Undoubtedly the sincere claims people make are sometimes far from reality. As chilling as that thought may be, there are countless well-meaning people who believe they’re saved, but they aren’t. Could you or someone you know be one of them? How do you know your faith is built on a solid foundation? Or is that something you can ever know this side of eternity?

Determine for yourself whether you are a Christian. John MacArthur shows you how to assess your spiritual condition in Examine Yourself.

    Includes the following 2 messages:

·  Listen
Examine Yourselves Whether You Be in the Faith, Part 1
September 24, 1978 Selected Scriptures 1377
Free Download: High Low
·  Listen
Examine Yourselves Whether You Be in the Faith, Part 2
December 3, 1978 Hebrews 1378
Free Download: High Low


More encouragement for believers!!
Characteristics of Genuine Saving Faith
What a disaster it would be to come before Christ on Judgment Day and discover you are sentenced to hell because you didn't come to Him His way! Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith. As Peter said, "Be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you" (2 Peter 1:10 ; New American Standard Bible ).
2Cor. 13:5  “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith”….
Seven conditions/evidences that do not prove or disprove genuine saving faith.
1. Visible Morality:                                         Matthew 19:16-21; 23.27
2. Intellectual Knowledge                           Romans  1:21; 2:17
3. Religious Involvement                             Matthew 25:1-10
4. Active Ministry                                           Matthew 7: 21-24
5. Conviction of Sin                                        Acts 24:25
6. The Feeling of Assurance                        Matthew 23
7. A Time of Decision                                    Luke 8: 13-14

The fruit/proof authentic/true Christianity:
Love for God                                     Ps. 42:1; 73:25; Luke 10:27; Romans 8:7
Repentance from Sin                     Ps. 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Rom. 7:14; 2 Cor. 7:10; 1John 1:8-10
Genuine Humility                            Ps. 51:17; Matt. 5:1-12; James 4:6
Devotion to God's Glory              Ps. 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 43:7; 48:10; Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Cor. 10:31
Continual Prayer                             Luke 18:1; Eph. 6:18; Phil 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; James 5:16-18
Selfless Love                                     1 John 2:9; 3:14; 4:7
Separation from the World        1 Cor. 2:12; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 5:5
Spiritual Growth                             Luke 8:15; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:12-16
Obedient Living                               Matt. 7:21; John 15:14; Rom 16:26; 1 Peter. 1:2, 22;  1John 2:3-5
Hunger for God’s Word                1 Peter 2:1-3
Transformation of Life:               2 Cor. 5:17

If list #1 is true of a person and list #2 is false, there is cause to question the validity of one’s profession of faith.  Yet if list #2 is true, then the top list will also be true.
Source:  John MacArthur Study Bible

 May you all have a blessed week and have the courage to share the good news!

In Christ’s Love,


Mike & Kim Armstrong


Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances
Luke 24:4 two men. These were angels. Only Luke mentioned them both (see note on Mark 16:5). Mark was concerned only with the one who spoke for the duo. 
Such minor differences in the Gospel accounts are all reconcilable. 
Here’s a summary of the events of the resurrection, assembled from all four evangelists’ accounts: 
Finding the stone rolled away, the women entered the tomb, but found it empty (Luke 24:3). While they were still in the tomb, the angels suddenly appeared (Luke 24:4Mark 16:5). The angel who spoke reminded them of Jesus’ promises (Luke 24:6–8), then sent them to find Peter and the disciples to report that Jesus was risen (Matt. 28:7–8Mark 16:7–8). The women did as they were told (Luke 24:9–11). The disciples were skeptical at first (Luke 24:11), but ran to where the tomb was, John arriving first (John 20:4), but Peter actually entering the tomb first (John 20:6). They saw the linen wrappings intact but empty, proof that Jesus was risen (Luke 24:12John 20:6–8). 
They left immediately (Luke 24:12John 20:10). 
Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, and was standing outside weeping when Christ suddenly appeared to her (John 20:11–18). That was his first appearance (Mark 16:9). 
Sometime soon after that, he met the other women on the road and appeared to them as well (Matt. 28:9–10). 
Later that day he appeared to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–32), and to Peter (Luke 24:34). 
24:34 appeared to Simon. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:5–8. Scripture describes at least 10 distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension. 
He appeared to: 
1) Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mark 16:9John 20:11–18); 
2) to the women on the road (Matt. 28:9–10);
 3) to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–32);
 4) to Peter (Luke 24:34); 
5) to 10 of the 11 disciples, Thomas being absent (Luke 24:36–43Mark 16:14John 20:19–25); 
6) to the 11 disciples (with Thomas present) eight days later (John 20:26–31);
 7) to seven disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25); 
8) to more than 500 disciples, probably on a mountain in Galilee (1 Cor. 15:6see note on Matt. 28:16); 9) to James (1 Cor. 15:7); and 
10) to the apostles when he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3–11). After his ascension, he appeared to Paul (1 Cor. 15:8). 
The next time he appears it will be in glory (Matt. 24:30).

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