Thursday, Sept. 27, Psalm 19

Today we will ascend to greatness and consider Psalm 19. Here are a few study questions.

1. The Church teaches that God created the universe by His word, according to His wisdom. Does this concept appear in Psalm 19?
2. The second half of the psalm describes the Torah. Is there something in the first half that describes Jesus or the Gospel?
3. Is there something about the message of Jesus that is inescapable to any man, woman or child, something that no man escapes?
4. Does Jesus' view of the Torah lead to the conversion of souls?
5. The precepts or statutes of the Lord lead to rejoicing of the heart, but federal and state statutes are about crimes and misdemeanors, so how can the Lord's statutes lead to rejoicing? And by the way, how many statutes are on the books of the Lord?
6. WHAT THE --?! Fear endures forever? That does not seem quite right -- or does it?
7. In Acts 3, St. Peter with St. John mentions gold and silver by the "Beautiful Gate" of the temple. How does that series of events relate to God's judgements?
8. To whom will the Day of Judgement be sweet? To whom will it be bitter?
9. What makes sins hard to "detect," hard to comprehend?
10. What was the worst, most horrendous sin ever committed? Is it possible for a man to be complicit with that sin, even now?
11. How would Peter, the Rock, have prayed this psalm?

Let's have some coffee and talk it over, seeing deeper into the perfect Torah of freedom.

Greatness

We now dip forward to chapter 18 of Matthew's gospel and get some of the Lord's teaching on greatness. Here are a few questions to prime the pump and get the brainwaves moving:

1. When the disciples ask about who is the greatest? are they asking in general or are they asking about Peter?
2. Who is the greatest in the earthly "kingdoms" in which we currently live?
3. Is there something, perhaps several things, that a little child has but the greatest in our earthly kingdoms does not have?
4. When Jesus foretells that such things must come that cause little ones to sin, is He the cause of those things?
5. Why do these men exist, who cause such harms even to little ones?
6. If these things must come, are the men guiltless who cause harms to little ones?
7. Can the crime of abortion be compared to this kind of harm caused to little ones?
8. Why does Jesus immediately follow his warning and lament about these men, in v. 7, by an admonition to the Twelve about their own conduct in vv. 8-9?

We say that the Lord's Word is the perfect Torah of freedom and that we must be doers of this Word. In this section of Matthew's gospel, there is a lot to consider for those of us who desire to be doers.

More to think about

We will finish our stroll through Matthew 3 tomorrow, with some of the following questions, and then dip forward into the fourth chapter.

1. What does it mean to bear a winnowing fan by the threshing floor?
2. What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
3. What does it mean to baptized with fire?
4. What does Jesus' statement in v. 15 tell you about his relationship to John the Baptist and his relationship to the Torah?
5. How does John's reluctance to baptize compare to Peter's reluctance to have his feet washed?
6. Should the people have believed after hearing God's voice from on high? Why didn't they?
7. In the temptation tests of chapter 4, the enemy keeps saying, "If you are the Son of God..." and Jesus dumps the enemy's test by calling on actions
   1. obedient life by God's word
   2. obediently avoiding show and displays of power
   Was Jesus the only person who could fulfill those actions?
8. Who was intended by God to become ruler over the nations? Why was this a test for Jesus?

There is a fair start for tomorrow. We are heading deeper into God's message, the gospel of Matthew.

The question

In preparing for Thursday morning's study of 1 Peter 3, I will only suggest one question which Peter himself asks:

1. What sort of persons ought you to be?

This is Peter's final examination question for us. Good.

Moses and Peter

St. Peter, from 2nd century catacombs, and a sketch of Moses by Raphael

Our readings this Sunday included Exodus, Moses and the burning bush, when he was on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God and God spoke to him. It made me think about Peter's experience on Mount Tabor when he heard God's voice from the shining cloud. Peter mentions it several times in his two letters.

It is interesting to think about Peter's responsibility, as chief apostle, leading the elect, the early Church, toward the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

1. As Peter walked 30 miles up to Caesarea to see Cornelius, did he think about Moses traveling back to Egypt to help the Israelites?
2. When he reminded his flock to remember and never forget the manifold grace of God, did he think of Moses doing the same thing, telling the Israelites to place his words on their hearts?
3. Did he smile when he thought about Moses in the bulrushes, floating in his tiny papyrus boat, plucked out to safety and eventually to a rescue mission, just as he himself had been plucked out of his fishing boat to become a fisher of men?

As Deacon Al frequently suggests, it helps to meditate upon the lives of the people we meet in the Bible. Moses and Peter and their similar responsibilities are a good meditation.

His ways were revealed to Moses, mighty deeds to the people of Israel.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in kindness.

But the LORD'S kindness is forever, toward the faithful from age to age.

He favors the children's children of those who keep his covenant, who take care to fulfill its precepts.

The LORD'S throne is established in heaven; God's royal power rules over all.

Bless the LORD, all creatures, everywhere in God's domain. Bless the LORD, my soul!

Questions to consider

Tomorrow morning, we will dive into 2 Peter, chapter 2. Here are a few questions by which to direct your thoughts.

1. Peter writes that false teachers have greed and exploit believers. What is the object of greed for someone who exploits the faith by deception? What are they greedy for?
2. A false teacher sets up victims so that they eventually show contempt for lordship. Yet, does a false teacher still lord it over his victims in any way?
3. Who was Balaam?
4. Was Balaam's act similar to things we sometimes observe in this our day?

That is a good start, as we seek to make our faith deep and true early this Thursday morning.

Promises

Some of the comments from today's session, concerning the promises that Messiah Jesus made to Peter.

1. Sal: You are ROCK, and on this rock, I build my Church.
2. Scott: He who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
3. German: I will send the Paraclete.
4. Joe: the Lord promised the Eucharist. See John's gospel, chapter 6.
5. Someone mentioned the words of our Lord in Mark 8:33, "Get behind me, you satan," spoken to Peter, but Jim pointed out, no, that is not a promise. It is more like a 2×4.
6. Sal: just think of the prayer after communion, or St. Thomas Aquinas' Anima Christi

   Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.
   
   Body of Christ, be my salvation.
   
   Blood of Christ, fill all my veins.
   
   Water of Christ's side, fill all my veins...

7. German: the Paraclete and the Eucharist promises are linked. Just look at John 6:63.

So when Peter the Apostle talks about the promises he passes on, they are some great promises! Thanks, Peter!

A few study questions for 2 Peter

We will also be studying 2 Peter, chapter 1 this Thursday. Here are a few study questions:

1. In verse 4, Peter refers to the powerful promises. What were some of the Messiah's promises to Peter?
2. In verses 5-7, Peter builds a large progression of the effects of grace. What is the first building block he mentions?
3. Peter expects his flock to be fruitful, as he mentions in v. 8. What is the primary fruit that an apostle wants to cultivate and grow?

This letter is LOADED with powerful concepts for us. To start, we will look into these three questions plus maybe a few more, early this Thursday morning.

Final exam

This Thursday we will have our final exam on 1 Peter. It will be one page of multiple choice and regular questions, so bring a pen or pencil. As always, it is "open book" and this includes the Nordonia translation if necessary.

Questions for Thursday

We still have a few questions to tackle from last Thursday. Here are some additional questions:

3. In verse 1 of chapter 5, Peter refers to himself as a witness of Christ's suffering. When did Peter observe the Messiah suffering?
4. In verse 1 of chapter 5, Peter refers to himself as a partaker in glory, one who has a share in glory. When did Peter observe glory?
5. We know that Peter knew Paul and John well. Can you detect any trace of Paul's or John's teaching in Peter's short letter? (This is an open-ended question.)

Tomorrow morning we will discuss these and other questions as we gaze into the perfect law of freedom, God's Word.

A river rises in Eden.

From Genesis, at the creation.

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and he placed there the man whom he had formed.

A river rises in Eden to water the garden.

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.

Cf. Genesis 2:7-15

It is interesting that, in this account, God creates man before the garden. This rhymes with our comments Thursday morning, that to be a faithful steward over God's manifold grace, we must include our own heart: faith, humility and so forth.

It also parallels some of our thoughts about the fig tree, the faith of Israel, and our own faith, when we were studying Mark's lecture notes from Peter's school of evangelism -- i.e., the gospel of Mark.

Good detective work, everybody.

Stewards of God's manifold grace

Here are some of the comments of the men this morning, concerning the requirement to be a good steward of God's manifold grace.

1. Sal: humility is needed. You acknowledge God and what He has given us.
2. Dave: Faith is a gift over which to be a good steward.
3. Jim: mentioned a sign he had seen in England, "Love your enemies. YOU made them!" It is a gift from God if you can do this.
4. Dave: Everything God has given you, even life, is something over which to be a faithful steward.

We also discussed the recent television advertisement with a college football player advocating to be a steward over life: "Choose family. Choose life."

We also discussed the deacons, priests and bishops, with their huge responsibility to be a faithful steward over God's word. Unfortunately, no deacons were present this morning!

Some questions to work with today

We will read into chapter 4 of Peter's first letter today. Here are some questions to work with:

1. In verse 1, Peter writes that we should arm ourselves with the same attitude, the same mind as the Messiah. Where is another place in the New Testament that enjoins us to do the same thing?
   
2. How does a believer act if he wants to be rated a good steward of God's manifold grace?
   
3. What kind of "trials by fire" did Peter and the Church experience? How do they compare to our trials today?
   
4. Where does Peter refer to the apocalypse? How does he ask us to prepare for it?
   
5. Have you ever
   1. suffered simply because you are a Christian
   AND
   2. simultaneously had a heart of praise glorifying God?
   
   
6. Peter's statement in verse 17, that judgement begins in the household of God -- how does this affect your evangelistic attitude?

Let's look into these and other questions today at Thursday Morning Men's Bible Study.

One question for this morning

There is one good question for studying 1 Peter 3:

1. Does Peter write about any of the works of mercy in this chapter?

The corporal works of mercy are as follows:

1. To feed the hungry;
   
2. To give drink to the thirsty;
   
3. To clothe the naked;
   
4. To harbour the harbourless;
   
5. To visit the sick;
   
6. To ransom the captive;
   
7. To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

1. To instruct the ignorant;
   
2. To counsel the doubtful;
   
3. To admonish sinners;
   
4. To bear wrongs patiently;
   
5. To forgive offences willingly;
   
6. To comfort the afflicted;
   
7. To pray for the living and the dead.

Some questions for this morning

As we continue to dig into 1 Peter, chapter 2, the epistle brings up several questions:

1. Verses 6-8 of chapter 2 mention the cornerstone. Who else talks about the cornerstone Jesus in the New Testament?
2. In v. 12, St. Peter writes about the reaction of unbelievers to our good deeds. When does he see this reaction happening?
3. Is it possible to be a slave, a servant, and yet be a free man?
4. The royal priesthood is right in the middle of this chapter, a powerful teaching. Does this notion appear in the Old Testament?

When we meet to seek the Lord's wisdom, we will consider these and other questions. Expect the unexpected.

Peter and Jesus

We discussed the betrayal event again this morning, especially what Peter's actions mean for us in this day -- his sleeping, his denying Jesus, and later events.

1. Bob: This is the test of Peter, but he did pass the test. He must have thought, "What a coward I was!" But later on, BANG! He became the strong central apostle.
2. Sal: This is the time of building for Peter's character. God builds our character through our mistakes.
3. Joe: The Lord works it in such a manner because he knows that Peter will eventually become the man the Lord wants.
4. German: God is always ready to give us another chance.
5. Deacon Alfonsus Magnus: Peter's path is an example of God's love and mercy... especially mercy.

We discussed the prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, and the unusual state of God praying as a human for strength. In this, there were additional comments:

1. German: it was like a man going off to combat, worries but determination.
2. Scott: As men, we want to work and not rely on anybody. But Jesus trusted the Father.

We also talked about Joseph, faithfully working and teaching his son, yet every day trusting his life and the life of his family to God the Father. Good.

Questions for next time

Next time we will dive deep into Mark 14:43-72. Here are some questions to consider as you read and prepare:

1. Was Jesus surprised that the betrayer Judas and the crowd nabbed him this night?
2. What was it that Jesus said that caused the high priest to tear apart his clothes and cancel his subscription the Jerusalem Slantinel?
3. Was Peter's performance under questioning by the slave girl the same as or different from Jesus' response to the questioning of the high priest?
4. If this gospel is really Peter's gospel written up by Mark in Rome, as many commentators think, then what does Peter the bold apostle gain by blabbing up this sorry moment in his history? How does it help him build up the faith of the newcomers to his flock?
5. Who was the young man mentioned in verses 51 and 52?

This Thursday morning, we will look into these and other questions concerning our Messiah and his Twelve.

Questions for next time

Some questions to think about in Mark 11.

1. Mark mentions the people who welcome Jesus to Jerusalem. Are these people of Jerusalem the first to mark him as Son of David?
2. Prophet Zechariah mentions the merchants in the house of the Lord. How does Jesus fulfill that prophecy?
3. The Lord gave Isaiah a word, "...my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed." (Isaiah:56:1). How else does that word to Isaiah relate to the happenings on these first two days of Jesus in Jerusalem?
4. Cephas points out the withered tree to Jesus. Why does Jesus use this as a moment to teach about faith?

There are a lot of questions to think over here in chapter 11 of Mark's gospel, and we will tackle them early on Thursday morning.