INSTRUCTOR
- THE IMPACT OF TRUTH
GET ACQUAINTED - Explain a theological
perspective you once held and how it has changed.
List
some phrases that associate Jesus with truth.
You have
heard it said, but I say to you; the true light which enlightens
everyone, was coming into the world; full of grace and truth; grace
and truth came through Jesus Christ; true bread from heaven; true
vine; I am the way, the truth and the life; I tell you the truth;
truly truly I say to you; I have come into the
world to bear witness to the truth
Just as difficulties and problems in
life have a negative effect upon one's outlook, so the passage of time has a
dulling and dampening effect upon our faith.
Doubts formulate and accumulate when our expectations are not met. It happened to John the baptizer who
proclaimed Jesus to be "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world." He eventually sent word to
Jesus from prison asking whether Jesus really was the long awaited promised
one. How did Jesus answer
him and why (Mt.11:2-5)?
He
directed John's attention to what was going on - the miracles and the preaching
of the good news. Jesus expected that
John would recognize the fulfillment of the Old Testament pictures of Messiah's
coming.
Why
did Jesus heal the paralytic and how did it affect the people (Mk.2:1-12)?
To confirm
His authority on earth to forgive sins, people were amazed.
How
did people respond to Jesus' teaching and why (Mt.7:28-29)? People were astonished at
His teaching because He taught with authority. [see
“But I say unto You”]
Why
did people consider what He taught to be "new" (Mk.1:26-28)?
The content
of Jesus' teaching was radically different from the way they had come to
understand the Old Testament.
What
amazed people about Jesus (Mk.10:23-26? Not only His confident authority and power to
perform miracles, they were amazed by what He taught.
How
did the crowd respond to hearing foreign languages as their own language (Acts 2:6-7, 12)? Bewildered, amazed and perplexed
What
was being spoken of at the time? "The mighty works of
God" (Acts 2:11)
How
did the people react to the healing of a lame beggar (Acts 3:1-11)?
People were
filled with wonder and amazement
What did Peter do? He directed them to the source of the miracle, put it in
context along with the Gospel, and called them to repentance.
What
was it about Peter and John that astounded the members of the Sanhedrin in Acts 4? Their courage and
well-crafted argument delivered with confidence that it was true.
What
connection did the highly educated and sophisticated members of the Sanhedrin
make? They recognized that the disciples were
uneducated ordinary men who had been in the company of Jesus (4:13).
Explain
more fully why they were astonished.
The
disciples had been transformed. They
were acting and teaching with confidence and without fear like Jesus. (see Acts 9:20-21, Paul changed)
What
did the Christians do when Saul began persecuting the church(Acts 8:1, 4-5)?
Scattered
& preached the word throughout Judea and
What
was the effect of the miraculous signs that Philip did in Acts 8:5-8?
They caused
the people to pay close attention to the message.
Summarize
the events in Acts 13:4-12. Barnabas and Paul are summoned by the chief political
officer at Paphos (described as a man of
intelligence) who wants to hear the word of God (v.7). They encounter
opposition from a magician and false prophet.
The spirit through Paul blinds the magician and the proconsul believes
the Gospel.
What
does the passage emphasize about the officer's belief?
"He is
astonished at the teaching of the Lord."
Acts 19:11-12, describes some
details of Paul's lengthy stay at
Fear of the
Lord, genuine belief and true repentance defines how ["so, in this
way"]
the truth increased (grew in acceptance, spread to others) and prevailed
(exhibited effective power) [the language of conquest and dominance]. (see Acts 6:7 and 12:24)
Describe
what "the word" was, not the specifics of what was taught.
A reasoned
explanation of current events (facts) arising from
correct interpretation of historic (Old Testament) teachings and situations
containing elements of the obvious and common sense. It dealt with what happened consequent to the
advent of Jesus as related to what was prophesied [subsequent], why it had to be and
what it meant.
What
conclusions do you draw from this lesson concerning what was going on?
As the word
was taught, people were struck with wonder.
The miracles certainly amazed, astonished, astounded, awed and
confounded people, but the emphasis was on the truth. Miracles supported and verified that the
messenger and his message were from God.
The miracles were waking people up to listen to the explanations and
reasoning. Propositional truth was
opening their eyes.
Do
you need to see miracles to cause you to focus on God's word?
Have you
lost that astonishment at His revelation (uncovering of the reality)?
Do
the teachings of the Bible seem to conflict with your experiences or
understanding of life? Explain. No, rather it interprets them. It often does conflict with our understanding
of our experiences.]
What
was it (is it) Christians did (continue to do) to stir people up?
Teach and
proclaim the particulars of the Christian faith (word of God)
Why
does the Christian message have this effect?
The
truth exposes lies, reveals the evil in men's hearts and claims total authority
over the affairs of men.
What
is the parable of the sower (Mt.13) about?
The seeds, teachings about God's kingdom and responses.
Write
and interpret the phrases in the parable of the sower
concerning the word.
Sown =
distributed by speaking; requires understanding; resides in the hearts of men
to embrace or not (word has no root).
Embracing or occupying ourselves with anything else [competition for our
heart] is
detrimental (choke the word) to God's work in us and in the world (bearing
fruit to God).
How
does the word of God impart life to those who receive it (1Pt.1:23-25)?
"Since
you have been born again…of imperishable seed, through the living and abiding
word of God…[which] remains forever…the good
news that was preached to you." The word is eternal and
so are we because it lives in our hearts.
{"…Keep
them from the evil one. They are not of
the world…Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is
truth." Jn.17:15-17 "If
you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth [about redemption] and the truth will set
you free [from
slavery to sin, v.34]." Jn.8:31b-32}
How
does the word cleanse us (Eph.5:25b-27)? "Christ loved the
church and gave Himself up for her that He might sanctify her, having cleansed
her by the washing of water with the word [regeneration], so that He might present the church to
Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might
be holy and without blemish."
{"He
brought us forth of His own will by the word of truth," Jas.1:18a}
What
are we to do with the word of God (Heb.4:11-13)?
"Let us
therefore strive to enter that rest [v.6a,
by taking in His words, v.7b] so that no one may fall
by the same sort of disobedience [v.6b]. For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit,
of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the
heart. And no creature is hidden from
His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must
give account." Interact, wrestle, and
struggle with what it reveals in our hearts - submission to God and His
revealed will.
Explain
the illustration of the two houses,
Lk.6:46-49.
"Why do
you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell
you?" The two builders are people
whose lives, represented by their houses, appear very similar until tested by
God's judgment, a flood which totally destroys the man and all he has because
he has failed to heed Christ's words, the only foundation that will withstand
judgment.
Comment
on how Jesus accompanies and helps us after He has left the Earth.
Jn.14:15-18, Jesus comes to us through another Helper, the Spirit
of truth, whom the Father gave us to dwell with us and be in us forever.
15:26, Christ sent the Helper, the Spirit of truth,
who bears witness about Him in our hearts and minds.
16:12-15, The Spirit of truth
came and guides us into all the truth and to glorify Christ.
What
is true worship (Jn.4:23-24)? It is in contrast to temple and ceremonial forms
of worship which were temporary and provisional, and may be superficial or
misdirected. True worship of the living
God is in keeping with the only true God's essence as spirit. It comes from a purified heart and cannot be
insincere.
Further Study
Recommended
- cassette - "Antidote to Error" by Glen Riexinger
Look up the following passages: The truth of the Gospel
(Gal.2:5, 14), the word of truth,
the Gospel (Col.1:5), the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation (Eph.1:13),
for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be
saved (2 Thes.2:10), He brought us
forth by the word of truth (Jas.1:18)