Bible Study Guide
Sunday, September 25, 2016 Preparing for His Coming Matthew 24:4525:30; Bible Study Guide 45
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them
their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Observe.
What are some obvious points in the text?
Ask.
What questions does the text raise?
Gospel
How does the text point to the gospel?
Apply.
How does the text apply at home, church, school, work and recreation?
Share.
With whom can I share the tex
Interpretation In this passage, Jesus illustrates His warnings through the use of three parables. Each parable illustrates the same point: Be prepared for Christ’s coming, for the hour is unknown! Jesus illustrates the point three ways, which should tell us it is important. Our temptation is to hear something once and move on, whereas Jesus goes to it three times. How hard of hearing we can be! Faithfulness is the requirement demanded for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. And in these three parables, Jesus reveals that many will give the appearance of faithfulness, yet be found totally unprepared. Christianity is not a hobby that can be taken up and put down. It is a way of life, a total understanding of reality. This is why Jesus focuses on being a true Christfollower now! There will be no time for repentance when He comes again. Preparing for His Coming: Making Disciples The Transformative Task of Discipleship Read 2 Corinthians 5:1621 ● Based on this passage, why is transformation the basis of discipleship? How is Paul’s instruction here help with defining our understanding of discipleship? ● How does this text fit with Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24 and 25? What does this say about your commitment and love of discipleship? The Transformative Power of Discipleship
Read Galatians 2:1921; 3:11,14 ● Based on this text, what is the power of our transformation? How are we to live in order to show the gospel? Why is this discipleship? ● Christ is the blazing center of the Christian life. How does this text both encourage and prepare us to be ready for Christ’s return? The Motivational Power of Discipleship Read Philippians 3:1221 ● What is the reason Paul gives for his “pressing on”? How is this passage a picture of discipleship? ● How do verses 2021 support Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 2425? If Christ is the motivation for our discipleship, how does my life measure? Big Picture Jesus gives numerous warnings against apathy concerning following Him. These teachings and prophecies about His second coming have been full of warnings, and some of you may be quite annoyed. These warnings sit twofold among their hearers. First, these warnings serve as motivations to be about the work of God. For true Christfollowers, these warnings are not terrifying to their own souls, for they know they are in Christ. Their terror is for those who fail to heed the warning. Second, these warnings can serve to harden and/or annoy. If you hear these things from the mouth of Christ and remain unmoved, be alarmed, for He is coming. This why the work of the church is imperative. Discipleship is the call for every Christfollower. Let’s be about that work. Prayer Focus Pursuing Discipleship We can often find ourselves so wrapped up in the pursuits of life, that we willingly sacrifice our own holiness and the pursuit of others’ holiness through discipleship. Discipleship is the command of the Lord, and takes a big commitment with the whole of our lives. Pray this week that Jesus would give you a deep love for discipleship. Pray that He would use you in the discipling of others. Pray that Parkwood would be a place of gospelcentered ministry focused on making disciples for the glory of God.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them
their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Observe.
What are some obvious points in the text?
Ask.
What questions does the text raise?
Gospel
How does the text point to the gospel?
Apply.
How does the text apply at home, church, school, work and recreation?
Share.
With whom can I share the tex
Interpretation In this passage, Jesus illustrates His warnings through the use of three parables. Each parable illustrates the same point: Be prepared for Christ’s coming, for the hour is unknown! Jesus illustrates the point three ways, which should tell us it is important. Our temptation is to hear something once and move on, whereas Jesus goes to it three times. How hard of hearing we can be! Faithfulness is the requirement demanded for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. And in these three parables, Jesus reveals that many will give the appearance of faithfulness, yet be found totally unprepared. Christianity is not a hobby that can be taken up and put down. It is a way of life, a total understanding of reality. This is why Jesus focuses on being a true Christfollower now! There will be no time for repentance when He comes again. Preparing for His Coming: Making Disciples The Transformative Task of Discipleship Read 2 Corinthians 5:1621 ● Based on this passage, why is transformation the basis of discipleship? How is Paul’s instruction here help with defining our understanding of discipleship? ● How does this text fit with Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24 and 25? What does this say about your commitment and love of discipleship? The Transformative Power of Discipleship
Read Galatians 2:1921; 3:11,14 ● Based on this text, what is the power of our transformation? How are we to live in order to show the gospel? Why is this discipleship? ● Christ is the blazing center of the Christian life. How does this text both encourage and prepare us to be ready for Christ’s return? The Motivational Power of Discipleship Read Philippians 3:1221 ● What is the reason Paul gives for his “pressing on”? How is this passage a picture of discipleship? ● How do verses 2021 support Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 2425? If Christ is the motivation for our discipleship, how does my life measure? Big Picture Jesus gives numerous warnings against apathy concerning following Him. These teachings and prophecies about His second coming have been full of warnings, and some of you may be quite annoyed. These warnings sit twofold among their hearers. First, these warnings serve as motivations to be about the work of God. For true Christfollowers, these warnings are not terrifying to their own souls, for they know they are in Christ. Their terror is for those who fail to heed the warning. Second, these warnings can serve to harden and/or annoy. If you hear these things from the mouth of Christ and remain unmoved, be alarmed, for He is coming. This why the work of the church is imperative. Discipleship is the call for every Christfollower. Let’s be about that work. Prayer Focus Pursuing Discipleship We can often find ourselves so wrapped up in the pursuits of life, that we willingly sacrifice our own holiness and the pursuit of others’ holiness through discipleship. Discipleship is the command of the Lord, and takes a big commitment with the whole of our lives. Pray this week that Jesus would give you a deep love for discipleship. Pray that He would use you in the discipling of others. Pray that Parkwood would be a place of gospelcentered ministry focused on making disciples for the glory of God.
