Student Ministries News - Updated 12/7/2011
This past week we looked at Matthew chapter 19. As always, we approach these chapters with a broad brush. Although there are many topics that can be woven into these verses, I think it's important just to touch on these things, then let the life group leaders get more specific with what their particular students relate to.
The chapter begins with a reminder of how much Jesus loves to walk with his disciples. Jesus wants that type of relationship with everyone. He wants to walk, guide, interact alongside you as life is going on. When we have an event-driven relationship with Christ, it's not unusual for us to feel separated from Christ and believe a lie that He's not really interested in us. This can be illustrated with people who live in the same house but make very little effort to connect with each other each day. Over time, they begin to think the other person is not interested in them, and ultimately see no reason why separating from them would be any big deal. It is important for us to constantly be in the mindset of walking with Jesus, taking every opportunity to discuss with Him the subjects and circumstances that matter to us in the moment.
Next we see a question asked by the Pharisees in order to trap Jesus. They asked whether a man should be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason. Their culture was very similar to our culture in that divorce could happen for virtually any reason at all. All a man had to do was write on a piece of paper that he divorced his wife and give it to her. Jesus's response was to remind the Pharisees of the ideal that God wants us to reach for. Marriage was designed for one man and one woman to unite as one, and once they were joined together, no one should separate them. The Pharisees tried to spring their trap by reminding Jesus that Moses allowed for divorce, but Jesus reminded them that although it was allowed, it was not the ideal. Jesus understands that there is brokenness in the world and divorce does happen, but it is not something that God treats flippantly.
Toward the end of the chapter, we find the familiar story of a rich young ruler. This rich man is religious in his mind and wants to make sure he is doing everything possible to get to heaven. So he comes to Jesus to find out if there's any good thing he can do to guarantee himself into heaven. Jesus tells him to obey the law. The rich man quite excitedly let's Jesus know that he has kept all of the law perfectly. Jesus knows that the law is not about what you do, but about who you are. The law was written for you to love God and love your neighbor. So Jesus challenges the man with something that should be very natural and easy for someone who has truly kept the law perfectly. He tells the rich man to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor. The rich man quietly walks away. He walked away unfortunately not understanding what Jesus was trying to say. He may have believed, like all religious people do, that God has a performance-based relationship with His children. This rich man believed that he had performed perfectly and just wanted to know if there was any other good thing he could do to one-up anyone else. Jesus made it clear that only someone with a right heart and relationship with God can really do the things that God asks them to do. Many times, these verses get twisted into attacks on the rich, or into religious rules in which everyone is requested to sell all that they have and give the money away in order to be right before God. Even the disciples got a little nervous, thinking that it's impossible for rich people to get to heaven, or possibly anyone to get to heaven. Jesus's answer was perfect. It is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.
The chapter ends with Jesus encouraging His disciples that their sacrifices are not going unnoticed, and that everyone who follows Christ will be rewarded for their sacrifices when they get to heaven. He also encourages them with the concept that there are many who seem important on earth because of their possessions or positions, but they will not hold those positions in heaven. Once again, Jesus is making it clear that relationship with God is what God values, and what you do for Him is born out of that relationship.
Anyone interested in going to Guatemala in 2012? There will be an informational meeting at 8:15 PM in the Café on January 11.
Next we see a question asked by the Pharisees in order to trap Jesus. They asked whether a man should be allowed to divorce his wife for any reason. Their culture was very similar to our culture in that divorce could happen for virtually any reason at all. All a man had to do was write on a piece of paper that he divorced his wife and give it to her. Jesus's response was to remind the Pharisees of the ideal that God wants us to reach for. Marriage was designed for one man and one woman to unite as one, and once they were joined together, no one should separate them. The Pharisees tried to spring their trap by reminding Jesus that Moses allowed for divorce, but Jesus reminded them that although it was allowed, it was not the ideal. Jesus understands that there is brokenness in the world and divorce does happen, but it is not something that God treats flippantly.
Toward the end of the chapter, we find the familiar story of a rich young ruler. This rich man is religious in his mind and wants to make sure he is doing everything possible to get to heaven. So he comes to Jesus to find out if there's any good thing he can do to guarantee himself into heaven. Jesus tells him to obey the law. The rich man quite excitedly let's Jesus know that he has kept all of the law perfectly. Jesus knows that the law is not about what you do, but about who you are. The law was written for you to love God and love your neighbor. So Jesus challenges the man with something that should be very natural and easy for someone who has truly kept the law perfectly. He tells the rich man to sell everything and give the proceeds to the poor. The rich man quietly walks away. He walked away unfortunately not understanding what Jesus was trying to say. He may have believed, like all religious people do, that God has a performance-based relationship with His children. This rich man believed that he had performed perfectly and just wanted to know if there was any other good thing he could do to one-up anyone else. Jesus made it clear that only someone with a right heart and relationship with God can really do the things that God asks them to do. Many times, these verses get twisted into attacks on the rich, or into religious rules in which everyone is requested to sell all that they have and give the money away in order to be right before God. Even the disciples got a little nervous, thinking that it's impossible for rich people to get to heaven, or possibly anyone to get to heaven. Jesus's answer was perfect. It is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.
The chapter ends with Jesus encouraging His disciples that their sacrifices are not going unnoticed, and that everyone who follows Christ will be rewarded for their sacrifices when they get to heaven. He also encourages them with the concept that there are many who seem important on earth because of their possessions or positions, but they will not hold those positions in heaven. Once again, Jesus is making it clear that relationship with God is what God values, and what you do for Him is born out of that relationship.
Anyone interested in going to Guatemala in 2012? There will be an informational meeting at 8:15 PM in the Café on January 11.
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