Not Guilty?

Here's the link to the Sermon: The Innocent Man 

Reading: John 19:1-16


Read question 7 and keep that in mind as you run through the first 5 questions.

1. How many trials had Jesus had, who were they with and what were the individual 'Judges' positions - who held the real authority?
2. What did Pilate hope to achieve by having Jesus scourged? Describe scourging, and discuss the other nasty things the soldiers did to Jesus. V. 1-3
3. What was Pilate more afraid of and why?
4. V.8Why did Pilate question Jesus again?
5. How many times is Jesus declared "not guilty"?
6. What does Verse 11 mean, who is 'the one' and how is one sin greater than another?
7. There is some interesting fact and history here, but what is there in this passage that we can apply to our lives today?

The whole truth

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: The truth is...

Reading: John 18:28-40

1. What was the time and what had been going on during the night? (18:1-27).
2.  What concession did Pilate make to the Jews? (29) Why do you think that was? What was the Jews reply? (30)
3. What did Pilate ask the Jews and how did they respond? Is there anything wrong with their answer? Why did the Jews demand Jesus be tried by Pilate? How does this fulfil Jesus’ words in 12:32-33? (32)
4. What did Pilate ask Jesus? (33) Why did he ask that? How did Jesus respond?
5. Jesus taught Pilate about his kingdom, what did He teach and what does this mean? (36)
6. Why is Jesus’ kingship different from the kingship in the world? What does it mean, “All who love the truth recognise that what I say is true.”? (37)
7. Why did Pilate ask, “What is truth?” (38) Did he stand on the side of truth? How did Pilate seek a compromise? (39) Why did he fail? (40)
8. What can we learn from Jesus who was rejected by people? (Isa 53:3-5)

Crunch Point

If you missed it, here's a link to the Sermon: Crunch Point

Reading: John 18:1-27

Group discussion points:

1. What is the context of John 18, and what do the other gospel accounts say happened in the garden before Jesus’ arrest?
2. Why does John seem to miss thing out?
3. Why was Judas needed by the religious leaders to betray Jesus?
4. How does Jesus show that He is in control and not the men with swords and clubs? Why did Jesus tell Peter to put his sword away?
5. Why is John the only one that mentions Peter and Malchus by name?
6. Who was Annas and why was he important? Who was the other disciple that followed Jesus?
7. What was Peter’s first mistake?
8. Why did he deny Jesus (vs. 17)?
9. What was illegal about Jesus trial by Annas, the chief priests, scribes
   and elders?
10. What did Jesus’ response to the enquiry prove?
11. Why does John mention that it was one of Malchus’ relatives that was questioning Peter?
12. How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
13. How do the other gospels describe his denials?
14. What was Peter’s reaction after he heard the cock crow?

Personal points to chat about with God

1. What do you do to avoid temptation?
2. What do you do when you find yourself tempted?
3. What should you do?
4. How can you be more like Jesus in facing betrayal and trials?

The truth about prayer

Wrong ideas about prayer...

...well they range from asking for what you want, to expecting God to change His mind to match your plans, to maybe assuming prayer doesn't matter because He knows it all already... and no doubt you could add many, many more?




So what's the truth about prayer?

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—but it is not my will, but yours, that must be done.” Luke 22:42

Well the truth is not that prayer twists His arm or changes God's mind, but instead that our prayer, produced and nurtured as it is by God Himself, becomes the way by which we can enter into God's 'mind'. So we end up by asking God to do what He had always planned to do, once He had got us to the point of asking Him to do it, with a genuine belief that He would.
If we really want to see God's power at work in answering our prayers (and let's face it there would be something a bit awry if we don't), our job is not to convince ourselves of the certainty of what we've just decided to ask for will happen, just because we've decided it will... No our job in prayer is instead to ask God, to seek His will, His desires about all the needs and issues that surround us and threaten to overwhelm us; then we can allow Him to show us just how to pray within His will so that we're genuinely praying - Your will be done!

June - July Prayer for Sierra Leone Mission

Sunday:  Pray for sincerity and unity among leaders of the Church and the Government of Sierra Leone as they execute their duties. That politics will have less influence in their duties of securing the welfare of the people, especially the very poor and needy and the ebola affected people and children in particular.

Monday: Ebola has still not gone out of Sierra Leone. Pray for God's intervention on the strategies to eradicate the disease.

Tuesday: Pray for Rev. Kelvin Mbayo who has been sick for over two years now of an undiagnosed condition in his throat. Pray for proper diagnosis and healing. Pray also for the Bishop of the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone who is suffering from a stroke that has taken him away from his duty.

Wednesday : We continue to pray for more funds for the completion of Bethesda building. This project upon completion will help alleviate the plight of a lot of suffering street children.

Thursday: Pray for the students at the Theological College, that they might become mighty leaders in the churches of S.L.

Friday: The children as they resume their studies and for the teachers. For safe passage of the next shipment

Saturday: Pray for the finances if the mission, that we may continue to support all we have promised so to do.

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