Falls Presbyterian Church (OPC)

Behold the Glory of the Son of God: The First Disciples 1. Meet the Lamb of God 2. Find the promised Messiah 3. Trust the Son of Man

True believers are full of mercy; it is one of the 'weightier matters'. (Mt. 23:23) 1. In a merciless world, only believers remember mercy. a. we remember our own need for mercy from God. b. we remember how we received that mercy - through the death and resurrection of Christ. c. we remember to give mercy to others. 2. We remember what true mercy is. (v.7) 3. We remember that God provides His tenderness and healing within our fellowship. (v.7b, plural 'they') What is the consequence of this teaching? Read his sentence; what crime did he commit? Ps. 109:6-16 Name some opposites of mercy. Rom. 1:31 A disciple is full of what things? Acts 9:36

God causes radical sharing in His church, which is a testimony of great power. 1. Heart unity in the church results in radical sharing. (v.32) 2. Radical sharing in the church has a powerful testimony. (v.33) 3. Radical sharing meets the needs of the poor. (v.34-37) How much is sharing our all? If we will always have poor, why try? Matthew 26:11 What should happen to the poor among us? Deuteronomy 15:4 How should Christians relate to money? 1 Timothy 6:10

True believers hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is desperately yearning for right things that are pleasing to God. 1. Christians do not give up and drift along, but rather we keep caring passionately about making things right. (v.6a) 2. Seeking righteousness is seeking a perfect relationship with God, who is the source of all good things. (v.6a) 3. It is God alone who fills and satisfies us; how badly do we desire Him? (v.6b) Considering this teaching, how do we respond? How can we view ourselves accurately? Is. 55:1-3, Heb. 4:12-13 Where do we get righteousness? 2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 5:21 When will we hunger no more? Mt. 6:33, Rev. 7:16

Because Jesus predicted His resurrection, we remember His words. So that the supernatural will not perplex and terrify us. (v.1-7) So that we will spread the good news. (v.8-10) So that the truth will make sense to us. (v.11-12) Discuss His Words: What words do we recall when faced with the supernatural? When did you remember God's words as you shared the gospel? On what basis do we believe in Jesus' resurrection?

Jesus proclaimed that His message is a message of power. 1. The power of understanding. (v.44-46) 2. The power of preaching. (v.47-48) 3. The power of The Spirit. (v.49) How much ability is needed to truly understand spiritual things? Why are we able to understand? 1 Cor 2:14, Eph. 3:18. How does God sanctify us? John 17:17. How do we know we are children of God? Gal. 4:6

As three dying men talked, Christ showed us the way of salvation. 1. The dying man's mockery. (v.39) 2. The dying sinner's message and prayer. (v.40-42) 3. The dying King's welcome. (v.43) What is the rescue for us? When convicted of sin, will we trust Christ? Mt. 20:1-16 When we hear God blasphemed, how should we respond? Eph. 3:20-21 How do we know that we can stand on the promises of God? 2 Cor. 12:2-4

While officials dishonored and condemned Him, Our King provided faithful testimony about who He really is. 1. The Temple, not made with hands, was put on trial, rigged with the intent to find evidence to put Him to death! (v.53-59) 2. The Christ, the Son of the Blessed, was questioned and pressured to testify! (v.60-61) 3. The Son of Man, seated and coming with the clouds of heaven, was condemned in their court, insulted, mocked, spat on, and struck with blows. (v.62-65) What is the irony of Jesus appearing before the high priest? In what ways was Jesus a faithful witness? Rev. 1:5 1 John 1:9 At what times was Jesus silent and why? Isaiah 53:13, Luke 6:26 How did Jesus endure the ordeal? Prov. 18:8, 1 Peter 2:23

Since Christ came and is coming, we have His peace, and we must praise Him. 1. Who is Christ? 2. Why must we praise Him? 3. What is the result? When we reflect on Palm Sunday, what are we to learn? Define peace using verse 42. When did we find peace of heart? Why do we sometimes lack peace and praise? Who says God must be praised? Who found whom? Phil 3:12.

Because Christ holds all power, when we pray in His name, we have real-world, real-time results, plus eternal results. 1. From where does that power come? 2. What forms does that power take? 3. How can we access that power, and for what is it used? How much boldness do we have? When we are bold, of whom are we mindful? Isaiah 37:16 Who has authority over us constantly? Revelation 2:26-29 What events encourage us to speak up more? Philippians 1:14

True believers are meek. 1. Meekness is being gentle and yielded to God. (v.5a) 2. The meek will inherit the earth. (v.5b) 3. Christians never lose out in the long run. (v.5) As we take this truth seriously, what will we think and do? How is 'survival of the fittest' wrong? Mt. 21:5, 1 Tim 6:11 To whom does the earth belong, to be given away? Ps. 24:1 In the end, who will 'reign upon the earth'? Revelation 5:10

Jesus gives us courage to speak about Him to others. 1. Courage to speak comes from spending time with Jesus. (v.13) 2. Christians speak about undeniable facts (v.14-15) 3. The highest authority has called us to speak. (v.16-22) How can we grow in courage? How in our lives do we spend time with Jesus? Ps.119:99 What if we do not know what to say? Luke 21:15 Why does higher authority impact our speaking? Mt. 28:18