Bible Study Guide

Purpose of This Bible Study Lesson

This lesson will guide the participants to understand that the goal of every Christian is to become like Christ.

Learning Goals

This lesson will guide the participants to:-

1. Learn to think the thoughts of Christ
2. Challenge the learners to become Christ-like in thinking

The overall goal will be to guide the participants to develop and cultivate a deeper intimacy with God in prayer and in His Word.

Introduction

The lessons on this topic are based on a study guide book entitled The Mind of Christ by T.W. Hunt and Claude V. King (2001). The authors say that it is the Holy Spirit who will enable the participants to grasp the significance of becoming like Christ as a Christian, because that is why God created us. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom 8:29Rom 8:29
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:  

). So even as you begin this series, pray and ask God to reveal the truths about this subject to you, because God’s desire is that you be like Christ.

The authors also encourage the participants to approach this course practically as it is intended to be more practical than theoretical; it should be studied with a view to immediate application i.e. applying the word in our lives as James 1:22James 1:22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.  

exhorts us saying “Keep on being doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves”. Another aspect of this series is that there are more activities included to make it practical. For example, you will discover the Name of Christ and make a prayer before starting the lesson in order to reinforce your Bible study.

Begin Today’s Lesson by reading: Romans 12:2Romans 12:2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  

and John 12:2John 12:2
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.  

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and memorize Phil 2:5-8Phil 2:5-8
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; ⁸ and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross.  

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Name of Christ for Today: The Bread of Life

Prayer to Begin the Lesson: Jesus, I am hungry and thirsty after your righteousness. I do want to be like you. You are the Bread of Life itself. Fill me with yourself so that I may experience the abundant life you came to give. Amen.

The Personality Test

One of the aspects of your personality that God will measure constantly for Christlikeness is your mind. Becoming like Christ is a lifelong process and it will not be finished this side of heaven, because God is continually molding and shaping your life into the image of Christ. We need to allow God to work with us day by day, and the only way we will do this effectively is by spending time with God in prayer and in His Word daily.
Six times the New Testament describes or implies what the Christian’s mind is be like. In each case, the word mind is mentioned. From these we can derive six adjectives that describe God’s ideal for your mind. These characteristics are as follows:

1. Alive-”the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6Rom 8:6
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:  
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2. Single-minded- “I am afraid, lest . . . your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:32 Cor 11:3
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.  
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   ).
3. Lowly-”in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Phil 2:3Phil 2:3
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   3 [doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;  
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4. Pure- “Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Tit 1:15Tit 1:15
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   15 To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  
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   ).
5. Responsive- “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45Lk 24:45
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;  
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6. Peaceful-”The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6Rom 8:6
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   6 For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:  
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   ).

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Bible Study Questions For Discussion - Week 22

Let us begin our lesson by looking at the first and last characteristic “alive” and “peaceful”. Paul tells us, “the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6). Without Christ we are dead (Eph 2:1Eph 2:1
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
2 ¹ And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trepasses and sins,  

). In Christ we have everlasting life (John 3:36John 3:36
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.  

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). Jesus went further than saying we live. Jesus said that He came in order that we might have abundant life (John 10:10John 10:10
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.  

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). You demonstrate this life (or death) constantly by the choices you make. When you set your mind on the Spirit, you experience life.

Name of Christ for Today’s Lesson: The Bread of life

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit”. (Zech 4:6Zech 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.  

)

When we feast on the word of God during our fasts,
We are able to accomplish great Spiritual feats.

Amen.

Tags: Bible study, Bible study guide, christian, Jesus Christ, mind of Christ

Purpose of This Bible Study Lesson

Today we will study why it is important for Christians to know the authority that Jesus Christ handed over to them through the apostles. In the preceding lessons, we studied how a Christian can tap into the power of the Holy Spirit to pray effectively and grow spiritually.

Lesson Objective

This lesson will guide the participants to:

1. Know the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven;
2. Know what authority has been given to Christians;
3. Know how to claim that authority by growing in the faith and earnestly seeking God.

Introduction

A story is told of a certain couple who won a lottery ticket to go on a triangular cruise by ship. Just before boarding the ship, they reasoned that they could afford not meals on the ship so they bought some crackers, biscuits and some other snacks for the trip. Aboard the ship they stayed in their cabin and would look out through the window to see the trip’s progress. They did not mix with the rest of the people. At meal times, they would eat a snack. The captain of the ship had noticed that there was a table that was always empty at dinner time. On the last day, he inquired why this was so. He was told that it was reserved for a couple who were on board but had never came down for dinner. He decided to pay the couple a visit. While talking to them, he asked why they never came down for dinner. They told him that they could not afford the dinner. So he asked them for their ticket. At the back of their ticket, in small print, it was written that all meals on the ship and other facilities were included at no extra cost! Very disappointed, they asked him whether they could come for one meal. He told them they were docking in fifteen minutes - it was too late. Due to lack of knowledge, they had missed out on delicious meals and had instead put up eating snacks.

May this not be our situation when we get to the other side. Let us therefore discover from God’s word what He has provided on this side. The word of God says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..” Hosea 4:6Hosea 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.  

Today’s Lesson:

Begin today’s lesson by reading, Matthew 16:18-19Matthew 16:18-19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  

, Luke 17:20-21Luke 17:20-21
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
20 And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: ²¹ neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.  

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and Matt 18:18 - 19Matt 18:18 - 19
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z ¹! Vrstica ⁰ ne obstaja!

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The Keys of the Kingdom

The Greek word for key in the Bible is kleis: it derives it’s meaning from the act of shutting as shutting a lock. Kleio means to close or to shut up.

The Bible is very clear that there are some keys that belong to Christ’s disciples and others that belong to Christ Himself. For example, in Revelation 1:18Revelation 1:18
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.  

Jesus says that “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”. The keys of hell and death therefore belong to Jesus Christ and not to men. Other verses are Is 22:22Is 22:22
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.  

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and Rev 3:7Rev 3:7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:  

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.

Christ therefore put a boundary on the types of keys that we have. However we have the key of knowledge as indicated in Luke 11:52Luke 11:52
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
52 Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.  

wherein Christ rebuked the lawyers saying “Woe unto you lawyers, ye have taken away the key of knowledge: Ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered”. Here Christ meant that the Lawyers had burdened the people with laws prohibiting the people from entering into the kingdom of God and yet they were not able to fulfill these laws themselves.

The Pharisees and the scribes lacked the spiritual key to the kingdom of God, which is KNOWLEDGE. In the New Testament, we have a new key; it is not a real key to a real house. It is a spiritual key to a spiritual house. It is the key of knowledge that leads to the kingdom of heaven. We also have the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bind and to loose anything here on earth; these keys were originally handed to the Apostle Peter by Christ Himself in order to empower the Church of Jesus Christ here on earth.

Hosea 4:6Hosea 4:6
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.  

clearly says that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.” And just like that old couple which won that ticket to tour the world on the ship and did not read the small print at the back of the ticket, there are many Christians today who are suffering because they have not discovered the hidden treasure of words contained in the Bible that they need, the key of Knowledge that will open and close doors for us as Christians, so let us get knowledge from God’s word and begin to live fulfilling lives.

Jesus compared His going away to a house owner who was going away for a while. He gave authority to his servants over his household but he did not tell them when he would return but he told them to watch and be ready for he could return at any moment (Mark 13:34Mark 13:34
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
34 [It is] as [when] a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.  

). Jesus also gave the disciples the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. (Matt 10:1Matt 10:1
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
10 ¹ And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.  

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.)

In summary Jesus commanded the disciples and gave them authority to preach the gospel (key to usher people into God’s Kingdom), heal the sick and to cast out unclean spirits. He asked them to wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit before moving out. (Luke 24:49Luke 24:49
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.  

and Acts 1:8Acts 1:8
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  

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). He also gave the authority of the tongue - whatever they bind or loose shall be bound or loosed accordingly and whatever they say and believe in their heart would be done. (Mark 11:23-24Mark 11:23-24
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. ²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  

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.)

This is a spiritual journey. Paul exhorts Christians to grow in their faith in order to exercise fully the authority that Christ has given them. He compared this to a child growing up in his father’s house. So long as the child remains a child, he has no authority in his father’s household and is equated to servants. In fact even servants exercise authority upon him. However as soon as he is grown, he takes charge of his father’s house including the servants. We should therefore grow into maturity (of faith) by studying and hearing God’s word.(Gal 4:1-7Gal 4:1-7
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 ¹ But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; ² but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. ³ So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: ⁴ but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ⁶ And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. ⁷ So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.  

).

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Week 12: Bible Study Questions For Discussion

1. Do you think that the keys of the kingdom mentioned in Matt 16:19Matt 16:19
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  
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   are physical keys? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2. How can you describe the keys of the kingdom of heaven in your own understanding? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. Would you say that these keys were only given to Peter according to Matt 16:18-19Matt 16:18-19
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  
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   ? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4. What is your understanding of the words “bind and loose” as used in verse 19? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Would you say that the question the Pharisees asked Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom of God was out of ignorance? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
6. What do you think Jesus meant when He said that “the kingdom of God is within you”? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
7. How can you describe the key of Knowledge that Jesus mentioned about in Luke 11:52Luke 11:52
   English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
   52 Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.  
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   ? Please explain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. Do you think this key of knowledge is important today to us as Christians? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. How can Christians use the keys to the kingdom that Christ gave to Apostle Peter today? Please discuss………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

A Reflection: Matthew 4:4Matthew 4:4
English: American Standard Version (1901) - ASV
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  

- Kingdom Bread

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.
God did not allow the children of Israel to store the manna that they collected in the wilderness for more than a day; we therefore need to feast on fresh spiritual bread everyday, as our spirits can only be satisfied by spiritual bread.

Amen.

Tags: Authority, bible lesson, Bible study, Christianity, Jesus Christ