O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM

 Luke 13:31-14:14 (Key Verse: 13:34)                  

1. What warning did some Pharisees give Jesus (13:31)? What does Jesus’ response to Herod’s threat suggest about his determination for his mission (13:32,33)?

2. What does Jesus weep for (13:34a)? What efforts did Jesus make for the people in Jerusalem (13:34b)? What does Jesus say about Jerusalem current prospect and his longing hope (13:35)?

3. Why was Jesus being so carefully watched (14:1)? What kind of person was in front of Jesus (14:2)? What did Jesus ask the Pharisees (14:3; Mk 3:4a)?

4. What did Jesus do for the man (14:4)? To make his point, what common practices did Jesus mention (14:5; 13:15)? Why were they speechless (14:6; Mk 3:4b)?

5. What did Jesus observe at the table (14:7)? What advice did Jesus offer the people (14:8)? Why (14:9)?

6. Instead, what did Jesus suggest (14:10)? What general principle does Jesus teach (14:11)?

7. What very uncommon suggestion does Jesus give to his host (14:12,13)? Why (14:14; Mt 25:36-40)?

* How does Jesus passion for people inspire us today?

Posted: August 18th, 2010 under Bible Study.

1. We thank God for the message by Shepherd Greg Today.  Through this message we learn

  First, Jesus healed a crippled woman. The healing on the Sabbath demonstrates Jesus’ compassion, power, courage and patience.  The focus of Jesus’ ministry is to learn about Jesus’ compassion, power, courage and patience in helping even one person.

 Second, the growth of the kingdom of God is like the mustard seed and yeast. Two patterns of the growth are (1) slow and steady (2) rapid and explosive. The kingdom of God surely grows. At the same time we must guard against the yeast of worldly influences that damages the spirit of prayer and power of devotion.

2. Last Friday Dr. Abraham Nahm shared his life testimony. Jason and Peggy Roth presented on Parenting with distinguished panel members (Bruce Kwiatkowski, Rebecca Wilson, Peter Park, and Sue Paul).  We also had other guests from Lehigh.  Hospitality is an important part of ministry and parenting as well. Let’s do our best to serve them with the mind of Christ.

3. From today Narrow Gate Fellowship will have a retreat. As Greg Lewis asked, let’s pray that this retreat might be wonderful (joyful and enjoyable. We may consider the three questions: (1) What kind of Christian do I want to become? (2) What kind of Christian community do we want to build here in Toledo? (3) What kind of specific efforts are we committed to make to enter and participate in the kingdom of God this fall?
 
4. We welcome Esther Li from Shanghai, China.  Augustine and Albert Hong also returned from LA. Many students also return.  Let’s welcome them.

5. Yesterday God blessed the wedding of Wesley (University of Chicago) and Ester Jun (Argentina).  Pastor Paul Hong, Sarah Hong attended.  Jeremy Holloway joined as well. Let’s pray that God may bless them based on Genesis 12:2, “You will be a blessing”.

Posted: August 15th, 2010 under Sunday Announcements.

                               ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR

Luke 13:10-30 (Key Verse: 24)

1. What was the life-long agony of a woman who came to the synagogue one Sabbath (10,11)? How did Jesus heal her (12,13a)? What was her response (13b)?

2. Why was the synagogue ruler indignant (14)? In what sense was his point reasonable? What did Jesus say about him (15a)? How did Jesus expose his hypocrisy (15b-17)? What can we learn from Jesus?

3. With what did Jesus first compare the kingdom of God (18,19)? How is the kingdom of God like yeast (20,21)? What does this parable tell us about the growth of the kingdom of God? What are the practical implications of these two parables?

4. What was Jesus doing along the way (9:51; 22)? What did someone ask him (23)? What does Jesus command his disciples to do (24)? What is the narrow door (Mt 7:13,14)? Why a narrow door (24a)? Why “make every effort” (24b)? 

5. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, what happens (25)? What does the continuing conversation suggest about the nature of relationship with Jesus (26,27)? 

6. What is the grim prospect about the kingdom of God (28)? What are the wonderful aspects about the kingdom of God (29)? What does verse 30 mean?

7. In this passage how does Jesus himself make every effort to enter through the narrow door? Why is it that we make efforts for healing, growth, and feast in Jesus?

Posted: August 11th, 2010 under Bible Study.

1. We thank God for today’s message by Dr. Paul Hong.  Through this message we learn:

First, Jesus brings fire on the earth (49-53). Jesus’ fire enlightens, purifies and energizes the world. This fire is so powerful that it exposes the true state of people in this world. So people—even in family levels—experience conflicts and divisions in the course of this fire at work.

Second, Jesus blesses the reconciliation efforts of his disciples (54-59).   (54-59).  This world has many hypocrites who see the truth but refuse to take any actions. But Jesus’ disciples instead make efforts to bring sinners for reconciliation.  They are God’s ambassadors.  
 
Third, Jesus commands repentance for life (13:1-5). Without repentance, all sinners perish. Repentance is for our change toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. With repentance, we bring changes in our world.   With our own efforts alone, we may fail.  However, praise Jesus who still brings fire in us for life–fruitful life.

2. Venezuela Conference is now over.  Dr. John Jun and all US team will return this Monday.  We thank God for blessing all Latin American conferences—Mexico, Bolivia and Venezuela.  Let’s pray for the continuous work of God in our neighbors.

3. We all have number of initiatives for action.  Today, HBF members will go for a trip. Tuf Francis will speak briefly about this. All the trip team will come forward. Chicago HBF members will an introduce themselves. 

As mentioned in the message, we will have many guests and new people.  This week we will welcome Abraham and Sarah Nahm (Eau Claire), Wesley Jun and Bill Pottenger (LeHigh), and David Won (Richmond).

Esther Li (Shanghai, China;  August 10 to Detroit Airport) will come. Let’s do our best to welcome them and practice hospitality in Jesus’ name. 

3. In two weeks UT will start with a new semester.  Let’s prepare as faithful and wise servants. Fellowship leaders will meet for regular testimony sharing and report. S. Mark Gamber coordinates this. Narrow Gate Students plans retreats a week after from today.  

Our regular morning prayer meetings (T,W) and fellowship meetings will resume.

Posted: August 9th, 2010 under Sunday Announcements.

                         UNLESS YOU REPENT, YOU TOO WILL ALL PERISH

Luke 12:49-Luke 13:9 (Key Verse: 13:3)

1. In what sense are Jesus’ words in verses 49-51 shocking to his disciples? What painful details does Jesus outline (12:51-53)? What is the relevance of this teaching (Acts 22:1,22; Acts 23:12-15)?  

2. In what sense are interpretting the weather and interpretting the times related (12:54-56)? What is the relationship and flow between interpretting the times and trying hard to be reconciled with adversaries (12:57-59)? 

3. What was the gruesome news that some people brought to Jesus (13:1)? How did people who saw or heard about this event interpret what had happened (13:2; Jn 9:2)? 

4. What did Jesus say about this event and a similar one (13:2,4)? What repeated challenge did Jesus give to those who had told him about it (13:3,5)? What happens to those who refuse to repent (13:3b,5b)?

5. How does the parable of the fig tree show what repentance is (13:6-9)? What shows the servant’s lack of a sense of mission (13:6,7)? How did he repent (13:8,9)? What is the relationship between Jesus’ teachings on repent or perish and the parable of the fig tree?

*  This passage contains seemingly unrelated teachings. How do you integrate Jesus’ three different teachings into meaningful units? 

Posted: August 5th, 2010 under Bible Study.