by Bret Capranica | Oct 13, 2012 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:38-42. Summarize in one sentence what the main idea is. How does Matthew 5:38-42 fit with the idea Jesus expressed in 5:17-20? Read Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; and Deuteronomy 19:21. What are these passages teaching about retaliation? Why would the OT emphasize this? How do these OT passages help you understand what Jesus is referring to in 5:38? Is Jesus contradicting the OT passages in 5:39? Why or why not? List the illustrations Jesus gives about retaliation in 5:39-42. What is the emphasis of each one uniquely (i.e., what is the issue with being slapped verses being sued, etc.)? Is Jesus advocating pacifism in these verses? Are Christians not to defend themselves? Is Jesus suggesting that we not advocate justice? Why – why not? Prayerfully Meditate How are Christians supposed to apply these concepts in 5:38-42 in day-to-day living? Over what sort of issues are you most prone to seek personal vengeance? How could you cultivate the default attitude of trusting God and not seeking revenge when taken advantage of? What sort of patterns of thinking would you need to develop? How could this affect how you pray for those who are unjustly taking advantage of you? What would help motivate a person to respond the way Jesus is advocating? How does the message of the gospel help cultivate this sort of response? Think back to what Jesus suffered. How did he respond? Why did he respond as he did? How would his responses be helpful in our cultivating a similar response? Intentionally Act Have you been expressing any personal animosity or vengeful attitudes toward...
by Bret Capranica | Oct 13, 2012 | Twitter
Look who’s cookin BBQ in KC today! Guy’s in the house! @ American Royal Complex http://t.co/nOfVsGd7 # Siri calls’em like she sees’em: http://t.co/XUXCvJWa # @tigercornboy if only you had some glass moose cups & white loafers to go along… in reply to tigercornboy # It’s like she (Siri) was there. Narrowly indeed: http://t.co/a4jHQsOk # @DawsonBryant @GolfDigestMag ahh-THAT’s my problem…it will all change now in reply to DawsonBryant # How to run your business in Evernote http://t.co/flwZ0eFZ # Man dies after live roach-eating contest in Fla. http://t.co/bOxlYzHY -parag 4-huh? Are most roaches clean? # @JayBizzleBizzle I’ll let you suggest that to the kitchen crew in reply to JayBizzleBizzle # There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This is fr the hand of God Eccles2.24 # RT @TGC: Why new churches should sing old songs. http://t.co/xXndBrmR # @mjc75 @JayBizzleBizzle I’m for no roaches at ANY dinner. in reply to mjc75 # @jayhawkfan2014 @mjc75 @JayBizzleBizzle Did you read the article? A dude DIED from eating roaches! in reply to jayhawkfan2014 # @ghotihook85 @JayBizzleBizzle @jayhawkfan2014 PEOPLE! A man just died for this sort of thing. This will come up when I preach your funerals. in reply to ghotihook85 # @dvdkng thx David. Paul is a great encouragement to me. I told him to glean everything he could from you. Thankful for your ministry! in reply to dvdkng # Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life…James1.12 # Studying Matt 5:38-42; doing the detail work; pray...
by Bret Capranica | Oct 6, 2012 | Christian Living, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think Read Matthew 5:33-37. Summarize in one sentence what Jesus’ main point is. How does this passage relate to what Jesus said in 5:17-20? What are the similarities and differences between this passage and the previous sections (anger: 5:21-26; lust: 5:27-30; divorce: 5:31-32)? Read through the following OT passages: Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21-23. What background to the give to what Jesus says in Matthew 5:33-37? In what ways does Jesus define “do not take an oath at all” in 5:34-36? What does this suggest about the nature of an oath or what is involved in the kind of oath Jesus is referring to? Why does Jesus indicate that one should not take an oath and call heaven, hearth, Jerusalem, or your own head to account for the oath? What is Jesus’ point in bringing up these examples? Instead of taking an oath, what is the primary focus of a righteous person? Prayerfully Meditate Why does Jesus attack giving oaths? Does this include taking an oath in a court room or for those who serve political office? Why or why not? In the course of daily living, why would an oath be necessary? What are the greatest challenges to honesty? When are you most tempted to lie? Why are we often tempted to hedge the truth in what we say we will do? What would it take for you to be able to live in such a way that your “yes” or “no,” is believably sufficient? Intentionally Act As you think about the way you approach your own personal commitments, what needs to change in...
by Bret Capranica | Oct 6, 2012 | Twitter
@ghotihook85 @jayhawkman826 @JayBizzleBizzle haha! I am going to have so much fun come December! in reply to ghotihook85 # @ghotihook85 @jayhawkman826 @JayBizzleBizzle you can change the conference, but until the heart is changed . . . in reply to ghotihook85 # Sermon prep being helped out with a free b-day drink from @starbucks on #nationalcoffeeday perfect! http://t.co/GjmVqbGn # Thank you Siri: http://t.co/eSc6NP3f # SWBC preparing your heart for Sunday? Looking forward to a rich day of worship and fellowship. http://t.co/HHJMsZhZ # Some help in singing our first song, “Hosanna” tomorrow. This should help. http://t.co/gnPNg351 # They said to each other “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures Luke24.32 # Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, http://t.co/0NrbRNIp – praying for such a work today. # I must go to church now and not watch any more coverage of the Ryder Cup or my leading the prayer of confession tonight will never end. # @BranFerguson @dawsonbryant I absolutely love this time with you brothers! in reply to BranFerguson # Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, http://t.co/ZFBtBQ2q – a good one to start off with on a Monday. # Pew: Half of US adults own tablet or smartphone http://t.co/QTQHCTYf # Headed to our final Royal’s game of the season. Our boy is pumped! # Our favorite! http://t.co/8aY0AOZj # Major Bible software issues this morning have put me behind in study; about to dig into the details of Matt 5:33-37. #SWBCSermonPrayer # Got things working smoothly with the...
by Bret Capranica | Sep 29, 2012 | Twitter
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power…Heb1.3 # Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. http://t.co/uNyaULJd # A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. http://t.co/Y9Mo2f51 cp w/ v 1-wisdom # May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day. #VoV # Weekly planning time-one of the most helpful disciplines of my weekly routine. http://t.co/3UIRLOvN # In the study preparing message on Matthew 5:27-30 with tomorrow’s music filling the air. Love it! Pray for wisdom. http://t.co/6MgkERzz # Birthday chair! http://t.co/P3tATmTD # Three years ago today David came into our home & hearts. Gaining a son on my b-day-hard to beat that. http://t.co/O1CatFRc # @walterprice thanks Walter! Miss you, friend! in reply to walterprice # Steep learning curve for the SEC newbies # I shared Dave’s cake for his b-day-Kel insisted on 43 candles for a half cake. Smokey! http://t.co/xriOQIy9 # @Rhyno604 ha! There was a point at which I was wondering if we weren’t going to have some trouble. in reply to Rhyno604 # Like I said, pretty steep learning curve for these SEC newbies. 😉 http://t.co/DEv0EHp9 # Can’t overemphasize the connection between what we will sing tomorrow with what we will study in Matt 5:27-30-prepare your heart #SWBCSunday # @ArmstrongDC obviously 😉 in reply to ArmstrongDC # All...
