We had a really good turnout at Bible talk this week. Besides myself we had Bruno, DJ, Ronald, Diana, Lindsey, Bethany, Taylor, David, Brett, Taneia, Marcus (aka Caveman), and Chris. Bruno taught the message today and as always, began with an icebreaker.
ICEBREAKER:
What was the worst haircut you have ever received?
We had some bowl cuts, a five year old trimming, someone used craft scissors to cut off their bangs, shag, half an afro, and even a bald head.
Then we got on to the lesson, which was about having passion for God.
LESSON:
Define passion in your own words.
Passion is something we do wholeheartedly. It's something we already have in us, we just have to find it. When we have passion for something it most likely will appear on your top 3 most important things list. The love you have for it will never die. It is a powerful emotion.
Does it (passion) describe your relationship with God?
We got our lesson from John 12: 20-33 NIV:
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
Why is it difficult to have passion without dying to ourselves?
Romans says we are weak in our natural selves. It's not natural for us to love God, so it's a choice we have to make. We have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, not just some of the time, but daily.
Sin kills our passion for God. Selfishness makes it hard for us to focus, so we must let go of ourselves and let God take control and not get so caught up in what's around us.
Why would Jesus say His heart was troubled? (v.27)
He knew he was going to be denied, betrayed, and killed. He had never faced sin and God was going to forsake Him. He's getting ready to take all sin on Himself.
What kind of things trouble our hearts?
What bothered us the most was when someone was upset with us or when we mess up. Several of us beat ourselves up whenever we make a mistake. What kind of things trouble your heart?
When we focus on ourselves we are not focused on God. Jesus was focused on God and did not lose His passion for God. He was focused on what was to come.
So many things can take our focus such as school, family, friends, relationships and so much more. We need to give these things over to God so that we do not focus on them anymore.
How does Jesus' response relate to His passion for God?
He denied Himself and said for God's will to be done. If He didn't fulfill the Scriptures then the prophecy would not have been fulfilled.
Jesus was passionate for God's glory. Are we thinking about glorifying God when we are going through tough times?
We have to make ourselves do it like Jesus did. Jesus did not want to die on the cross but did it anyway because it's what God wanted.
Does your passion for God overflow into your actions? What's stopping you from being passionate for God?
How could God's thundering voice not benefit Jesus? (v.30)
It can still benefit Him even though it wasn't meant for Him, kinda like a pat on the back. To translate that to us, things can happen because of us that helps other people.
The big question is this: Is our passion for God true?
Well, that's the lesson for this week! Hope you enjoyed it and be sure to comment and tell us what you think. What does this lesson mean to you? And if you can make it to Overcash 255 on Wednesdays at 12, we'd love to have you! :)
