7.45pm-9.30pm
WELCOME (15mins): Warmly
welcome everyone, introducing newcomers.
Hide some
items under a cloth on a table and ask members to
Feel and guess what the items are.
Winner is one who guesses
Most
correctly. After the guesses say,”The
truth about who
Jesus is
Veiled or covered over to many – only revelation (pull
Away the
cloth) is needed.
WORSHIP (30 mins): Ask
the worship leader to choose songs opening our spiritual
Eyes to
the preciousness of Jesus.
Eg. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
you are more precious…
I
stand in Awe (You are Beautiful).
WORD (45 mins) :
Read through the material
together - the facilitator can ask
different individuals to read
different sections and relevant
verses.
Follow any given instructions.
After each
point allow a discussion time asking individuals
to share
their own experiences, problems etc.
This
should lead to a time of praying for individuals as the Lord
Leads.
WORKS (15mins): The last 15 mins are the most importance ones! Take time
Praying
for non-believers and people with problems. Pray for any
Church events
that are forthcoming (evangelistic or otherwise).
Member’s Copy.
________________________________________________________________
Read together 1 Peter 2:4-9
The leader says: “We have been studying the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers as found in 1 Peter 2:1-10. In this study of verses 4-9 we want to examine what Peter says about coming to Christ, the living Stone.”
The World Evaluates the Stone
Read together: “Let us, then, further consider the
valuation of this Stone. Citing Isaiah, Peter says Jesus is the chosen,
precious foundation Stone. What is the background of that quotation? In Isaiah
28 Isaiah was speaking against the thinking of the people of Judah. The
prophets were speaking about loving and serving God, but the people rejected
their words. Instead, they were saying, No, that is Sunday School stuff, like
the ABCs. That is "here a little, there a little." That type of
thinking doesn't help. What we need is political might and power. We can solve
problems by striking up alliances. We need to see who is the greatest power in
the world, which was Assyria, and be in alliance with that power. These people
did not want to hear what Isaiah was saying, that God loved his people and
wanted to help them, build them up, and solve their problems.”
How often do we think we know how to solve problems without
God's help ? Discuss.
What was God's answer to these people? Read Isaiah 28:14-15
and discuss.
Read Verse 16 - Laying a stone meant he was going to destroy
them and then build something new. What
three descriptions does Isaiah make about this stone ? Discuss what they mean concerning
Jesus.
God the Father laid the foundation stone. And what is this
foundation all about? It is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus
Christ made atonement so that we can trust in him and be saved.
This foundation stone, which is rejected by the world but
chosen and precious to God, is also esteemed by believers.
Some Are Blinded – Read 2
Corinthians 4:3-4 – who blinds those who don’t trust in Jesus? What must we do ?
Read Matthew 13:11 – what did the Disciples have that others
didn’t ? Why ? Discuss.
Read Matthew 13:44 – This man realized that this stone was
really a treasure of inestimable value—something chosen and precious. It was
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world. When that revelation came
to this man, what did he do? Discuss what this means to you.
Read together: “What is your evaluation of Jesus Christ? Are
you trusting in him, or are you looking him over and giving him back? We must
remember that God the Father calls him precious, chosen, and of great value.
God opened the eyes of St. Paul. Paul had evaluated Jesus Christ and
concluded that he hated him. He was an enemy of God who acted like a wild
beast, breathing out slaughter and threatening against God, his Son, and his
people (Acts 9). But when God arrested him and gave him a revelation as to who
Jesus Christ is, Paul instantly understood and began to preach in Damascus that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and Savior of the world. “
Read Gal. 1:15-16 about this revelation to Paul. And
eventually, in God's time, Paul died for his faith in Christ. Ask each member: “Have your eyes been opened
to see who Jesus Christ is? I know you are fascinated with things of the world.
I know you have passions. But has God opened your eyes to see the glory of his
Son?”
Ask each person: “Are You Worshiping This Stone? Do you worship Christ? Do you recognize who
he is? Are you fascinated by his glory, his transcendence, his work, and his
person? Are you fascinated by the gospel? “
Copyright
2001 Gibson Productions
E-mail Tim (Web Master)