lesson loop 5.14.15

Middle School ("Submitting to Government")
Romans 13:1-7

Big Idea: It pleases God when we submit to our government.

We began by talking about some natural laws we cannot change - like gravity. Then we discussed how these types of laws are similar to and different from God's laws.

Teenagers have a typical struggle with authority, and so our goal with this study is to show them how the Word of God calls us to live towards authority.

We saw that...

Submission to our government pleases God because…

1. God instituted government (v. 1-3) The statements in vs. 1 are broad and apply to all peoples at all times, regardless of the government at the time.
   Psalm 75:7
   Daniel 2:20-21
   And so the logic goes....
   If the government is instituted by God, then disobeying the government is in actuality disobeying God. We discussed some laws people commonly break (speeding, jaywalking, etc...)
   • Somebody who is self-righteous keeps the rules for their own praise and glory.
   • Somebody who is righteous keeps the rules for God’s glory!!
2. God uses government for our good (v. 3-4) Alternative: anarchy How does God use government for our good? * protect good * punish evil Sometimes, God uses government as a blessing Sometimes, God uses government as a judgment
3. It clears our conscience (v. 5-7)

Qualification - when government is against God:

• Ex. 1 - Pharaoh commands the midwives to kill every male baby… ) “but the midwives feared God”
• Ex. 2 - Since that didn’t work, Pharaoh orders every male baby to be thrown in the Nile. It is at this time Moses is born. Do you remember what his parents did?
• Daniel 3 - Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego - remember?
• Daniel 6 - King Darius declares it illegal to pray. What does Daniel do?
• Matt. 2 - King Herod tells the wise men to report back to him once they find out where baby Jesus is. Do they obey?
• Acts 5:29

In all of these situations government prescribed something that was directly opposed to clear teachings of God.


High School - ("Insiders and Outsiders")
Mark 3:13-4:34

Big Idea: Only “insiders” with “ears to hear” follow the Son of God.

1. Insiders are those who are “with Jesus” - 3:13-35 Jesus redefines the very understanding of "insiders" and "outsiders" The 12 - v. 14 (exception: Judas)
   • v. 14) Discipleship means “being with” Jesus & “being sent by” Jesus!! (relationship before a task, who before what)
   Those “around Him” - v. 20, 32)
   “Those who assume they are close to Jesus should think again; those who assume they are far from Him should take hope!”
   When it comes down to it...
   There are only 2 types of people:
   * Those who sit inside at Jesus’ feet
   * Those who stand on the outside with false assumptions about Jesus. (Jesus’ family are not “guaranteed” insiders - nor should we assume we are because we grew up in Christianity)
   
   
   “unpardonable sin” - many people get concerned that perhaps they have committed the “unpardonable sin”. Some have said it is murder, adultery or suicide
   The unpardonable sin is rejecting the work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Outsiders: Jesus’ family and the Scribes - 3:20-35
2. Insiders have “ears to hear” God’s Word - 4:1-25
   (Outsiders are “spiritually deaf”)
   There is a difference between hearing and Hearing!
   
   
   Hearing vs. “Hyper-hearing”
   Hear - ἀκούω
   Obey - ὑπακοή  (ὑπα - ἀκούω) (hyper-hearing)
   “Parables” - Jesus’ preferred form of public teaching
   parable: something alongside to help explain
   (earthly story with a heavenly meaning)
   We learn something very interesting from Christ about their purpose: designed to clarify and conceal at the same time - (depending on how you looked at it)
   Another way we could say this is...
   Insiders can “see” the light of Jesus (v. 21-22) 1 Cor. 2:14
   Really not an auditory problem, but a heart problem.
   Everyone within earshot heard Jesus’ preaching. But most did not hyper-hear (really hear and obey)
   Receiving God’s Word produces lasting fruit (a work of God) - 4:1-20
3. God’s work “inside” is a beautiful mystery - 4:26-34 We are not insiders because of our wisdom or intellectual prowess (only by God's grace)
   The farmer simply sows the seed. Life and growth is God’s beautifully mysterious work.
   “by itself” - We cannot force someone to receive the gospel; we can not manipulate or control - we can only share and pray…
   v. 30-34
   God’s work in His kingdom (and in our hearts) begins small and gets big!

Hopeful reminder: God makes “outsiders” “insiders” !! That is what the gospel is all about.