GROWTH QUESTION #1
Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?
“It’s Not TIme Yet”
MEETING AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
- GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
- GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
GROWTH QUESTION #2
What did you learn from this week’s sermon?
GROWTH QUESTION #3
What was your most important accomplishment this week?u
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
Matthew 17:9-13 NLT 9 As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” 11 Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
What did you learn from what we just read?
TRUTH #1
It was not time yet for Jesus to be revealed to the world.
- The Jewish people wanted a savior to deliver them from Roman oppression, not from sin.
- Sin (hamartano): to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to err, to be mistaken, to wander from the law of God
- Messiah (sotiras) - deliverer, preserver, one who rescues from peril.
- The people had rejected their Messiah, so telling the people about what the disciples saw would have been useless. After the resurrection, the message would be told worldwide.
Mark 8:27-30 NLT Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
- The world was not ready for a Savior, but the world needed a Savior.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
Why do you think Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone about who he really was?
TRUTH #2
Emphasizing religion over a personal relationship with The Old Testament scriptures revealed the truth about who Jesus is.
- The Old Testament points ahead in time to the cross, while the New Testament points back in time to the cross.
- Malachi 4:5-6 foretold (prophesied) that Elijah must come prior to the Messiah coming.
- John the Baptist was not physically Elijah, but he had come “in the spirit and power of Elijah.”
- Prophesy (propheteia) – prediction of events relating to Christ’s kingdom and its speedy triumph, together with the consolations and admonitions pertaining to it; the spirit of prophecy
Luke 1:17 NLT He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.
- Every prophesy from the Old Testament about Jesus’ first coming has come true to date.
- The other prophesies that have not come to pass as of yet, will come true also.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
Can you think of any other Old Testament scriptures regarding Jesus coming as the Messiah?
TRUTH #3
John the Baptist’s death was a foreshadow of how Jesus would be treated.
- Foreshadow: be a warning or indication of (a future event).
- Israel did not recognize the significance of John the Baptist’s mission and treated him as they pleased.
- John’s death foreshadowed how Israel would treat the Son of Man. They rejected the forerunner, and they rejected Jesus as well.
- “Son of Man” – This title was used by Jesus over 80 times to refer to himself. (30 times in Matthew, 14 times in Mark, 25 times in Luke, and 12 times in John.
Philippians 2:7-8 NLT Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
- Jesus was obedient to the Father in all things
- Christ died for everyone’s sin. He took our place on the cross so that we don’t have to.
INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS
What prophesies can you think of that need to be fulfilled before Christ can return?
CLOSING QUESTION
What is one thing you have learned from today’s lesson?
GIVING
Generosity brings abundance.
Proverbs 11:24 (NLT)
Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.
Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
PRAY
QUESTION #1
Who are you praying for to be saved?
QUESTION #2
Who can you invite to the next meeting?
QUESTION #3
What are your prayer requests?