Jesus Ministered to Their Needs – Discussion Starters
- What an Example! The opening note for our lesson this week describes a heart-lifting example of a woman believer in Africa being a minister for her community stricken by AIDS. Do reports like this stir you? Make you wish you could send a few thousand dollars to further this work? Or, go there yourself? Or can we at least pray earnestly for valiant workers like this?
- Interruption for Ministry. Have you ever observed a minister or gospel worker
who was upset because someone interrupted him–or her? Is it polite and proper to interrupt others? How should we as Christians respond when we’re busy and someone interrupts us to lay a burden on us? How did the good Samaritan respond to a huge interruption in his day? How can we learn to be willing to be interrupted to help someone else? - How Can I Help You? Did the friends of Jesus have good intentions in dealing with Bartimaeus, the blind beggar? How did Jesus respond to this man in need? What about the man by the pool of Bethesda? Is there a lesson here for us? What was the obvious question Jesus asked when he saw the man almost motionless by the pool? What was the man’s response? and How did Jesus respond?
- The Deeper Needs. Do you derive peace or anguish knowing that God knows your every thought? Would being able to read the minds or others strengthen your ability to be helpful to them? Which was more important to Jesus in his encounter with the paralytic than hie physical need? Since you and I cannot read the mind of those who seek our help, how should we be respond to these people?
- Dorcas in Joppa. What do we learn from Dorcas about the purpose of being kind to fellow believers? What about people outside the fellowship? Does your church have a special ministry for the elderly, the infirm, or the destitute in your community? Should it? Would you like to start up a new friendship ministry to help your church’s neighbors in need? What’s keeping you from doing that?
- The Church at Work. Why is it important for our efforts on behalf of neighbors and community members to be associated with the church? (Or is it?) Does your church’s influence in your community need more boosting to make it obvious and helpful? If we are totally committed to reach out, what support will we find from Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy? How can you encourage participation from members to open new ministries in your neighborhood for those in need?
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Life and even salvation happens in the interruptions! If all is going well for us we will not notice our need for GOD. When we pray "THY will be done," or "LORD, whatever it takes," expect an interruption. Thank of the last time you cried out for the LORD's help. didn't an interruption happen?
A wise man, Gary Gibbs, told me, and I will paraphrase, "As we travel down the wide path to destruction, several times a day we will encounter someone that will interrupt us and say 'hey, your going the wrong way.'"
Wow, that's so powerful! My husband and I are experiencing "interruptions" right now and I truly believe it is because God is trying to save us. Thank God for the interruption!
Amen...
Amazing. God bless you. U will come out strong
I wanted to comment about interruptions. As my mind was wandering, it struck me. Where would one of the most prolific places be found in most of our lives, that causes interruptions? Interruptions that are truly important for the most part. Is the amount of time spent on the internet a place that causes interruptions? What kind? Time spent that focuses on our relationship with the Father. What is the proportion between Prayer and the computer? Is this not an interruption in something that is worthwhile? Is our Salvation as important as that of others, that we want to evangelize? In my mind I think so. I wanted to continue just a bit about Prayer. Not for publication or recommendation but when I Pray, I ask God that my Prayers are sincere, meaningful not like the Publican. I ask for a transformation, a change of my heart. I ask for Repentance and Forgiveness. Not because my Prayers are special to anyone else, but I want them to be special to me. I think of Jesus praying all night and wonder what those prayers to the Father must have been like. I only bring this up because the questions that occur, when and how our relationship with the Father improves, is of prime importance to my mind. Where and how do my choices fit? Does God approve?
your comment have blessed me and gaved me this sense of "what is the proportion between my social media and my God"
Joyce, I've been pondering the question, "Would being able to read the minds [of] others strengthen your ability to be helpful to them?"
If I had a friend [or friends] who always knew exactly what I was thinking, I would feel uncomfortable around them. (And this is probably understating the matter.)
But if I were the one that had the power to read minds, I would like to think that I would do it responsibly, and would not abuse the privilege. But I feel that in reality, it would be way too much for me. (And I would make people feel uncomfortable around me.) Instead of strengthening my ability to be helpful, I suspect that it would detract from, and weaken, my capacity to be helpful. I would end up interfering, and over-stepping my "place".
God has not even entrusted the angels with the ability to truly read minds.
It can be nice to think that we can [in general terms] "read" people. Sometimes we do it rather well (or so we like to think,) but fortunately there is a "thus far and no further" clause in our human relationships.
Stewart, To read minds is probably not helpful as you describe, due to the way that some believe they possess this ability, such as reading palms or tea leaves and other manifestations. I'm sure this is not your intension. Obviously God has His own methods of spreading the Gospel. Others methods, may be what God determines , or not.
To be caring, have compassion, and love for others, seems to be one of those methods. However we do not necessarily have the right solution for every eventuality.