WORD SEARCH, SCRIPTURES, WORKSHEET feb 6 2010
The Persecu*on of Jesus C3 Bible Study February 6, 2011
February 6, 2011
Please take time to read/re-read the sermon handout from the past Sunday. Based on the themes in the sermon, your C3 group will delve deeper in study and discussion of the key themes. 10 Minute 5 Minute 10 Minute 15 Minutes 35 Minutes Fellowship Announcements Outreach Care & Pray Bible study
One of the harsh realities of the Christian faith is that of persecution. The sinful world hates God, His Word and His People. That leads to persecution in many and various ways. Jesus Himself was persecuted, and teaches us that “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also (John 15:20).” Today we will look at this topic of “persecution.” BEGIN HERE: How have you personally seen persecution in your life? Throughout Christian history believers have been persecuted by those who are not followers of Christ. Jesus knew these persecutions would take place and told his followers about what would happen. What do these verses teach us?
Matthew 10:16-‐20 1 John 3:13
Matthew 24:9 Luke 21:16-‐19 John 15:18-‐21 2 Timothy 3:12 Make a list of the various forms of persecution that Old Testament believers faced based on Hebrews 11:36-‐38
Make a list the various forms of persecution that St Paul faced based on 2 Corinthians 11:23-‐28
Read and discuss the following verses. What do these verse teach us about our response to persecution? Matthew 5:44
Matthew 10:19-‐20 Matthew 10:26 Acts 5:40-‐42 Romans 12:14 1 Corinthians 4:12-‐13 Matthew 10:32-‐33 Matthew 13:21 Matthew 24:9-‐10 Matthew 5:10-‐12 Luke 21:19 Revelation 2:10
Note Acts 21:12-‐13. Are you at a point in your spiritual life where you can say those words? Why or why not?
There are Christians around the world right now who are being
s e v e r e l y p e r s e c u t e d . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e w e b s i t e www.persecution.org, the leading countries today that persecute Christians are Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and China. Reports from many of these countries are inconsistent and dangerous to obtain, there is no independent news media. But it is said that 70,000 people are imprisoned in North Korea alone simply for being Christians. These nations pay spies for information on those who worship, own a Bible, pray, or talk about Christ. Persecution appears in forms such as imprisonment without charge or court date, inhumane prison conditions in metal shipping containers or underground holes, with minimal food/water, no medical care, where they are tortured, maimed, paralyzed, limbs amputated, or outright executed. Homes are burned down, families killed, women raped, children sold into slavery, possessions looted, churches bulldozed, or Christians sent to labor camps. Please pray for these believers. Ask the Lord to help them and protect them. Ask Him to keep them faithful and bring them to their Heavenly home.
Finally, what is the comfort in Revelation 6:9-‐11?
February 6, 2011
Please take time to read/re-read the sermon handout from the past Sunday. Based on the themes in the sermon, your C3 group will delve deeper in study and discussion of the key themes. 10 Minute 5 Minute 10 Minute 15 Minutes 35 Minutes Fellowship Announcements Outreach Care & Pray Bible study
One of the harsh realities of the Christian faith is that of persecution. The sinful world hates God, His Word and His People. That leads to persecution in many and various ways. Jesus Himself was persecuted, and teaches us that “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also (John 15:20).” Today we will look at this topic of “persecution.” BEGIN HERE: How have you personally seen persecution in your life? Throughout Christian history believers have been persecuted by those who are not followers of Christ. Jesus knew these persecutions would take place and told his followers about what would happen. What do these verses teach us?
Matthew 10:16-‐20 1 John 3:13
Matthew 24:9 Luke 21:16-‐19 John 15:18-‐21 2 Timothy 3:12 Make a list of the various forms of persecution that Old Testament believers faced based on Hebrews 11:36-‐38
Make a list the various forms of persecution that St Paul faced based on 2 Corinthians 11:23-‐28
Read and discuss the following verses. What do these verse teach us about our response to persecution? Matthew 5:44
Matthew 10:19-‐20 Matthew 10:26 Acts 5:40-‐42 Romans 12:14 1 Corinthians 4:12-‐13 Matthew 10:32-‐33 Matthew 13:21 Matthew 24:9-‐10 Matthew 5:10-‐12 Luke 21:19 Revelation 2:10
Note Acts 21:12-‐13. Are you at a point in your spiritual life where you can say those words? Why or why not?
There are Christians around the world right now who are being
s e v e r e l y p e r s e c u t e d . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e w e b s i t e www.persecution.org, the leading countries today that persecute Christians are Eritrea, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Nigeria, and China. Reports from many of these countries are inconsistent and dangerous to obtain, there is no independent news media. But it is said that 70,000 people are imprisoned in North Korea alone simply for being Christians. These nations pay spies for information on those who worship, own a Bible, pray, or talk about Christ. Persecution appears in forms such as imprisonment without charge or court date, inhumane prison conditions in metal shipping containers or underground holes, with minimal food/water, no medical care, where they are tortured, maimed, paralyzed, limbs amputated, or outright executed. Homes are burned down, families killed, women raped, children sold into slavery, possessions looted, churches bulldozed, or Christians sent to labor camps. Please pray for these believers. Ask the Lord to help them and protect them. Ask Him to keep them faithful and bring them to their Heavenly home.
Finally, what is the comfort in Revelation 6:9-‐11?
