unre●lent●ing

(sermon reflections)
Lent Week 5: Falsely Accused
Jesus On Trial
  1. Think of a time when you were falsely accused or unjustly treated. How did you respond? Looking back, how did your reaction glorify God? How would you have handled it differently knowing what you know now?
  2. The struggle with false accusations nearly always leads to damaged relationships. While we can’t change people, God can. How are you entrusting yourself and your situation to God? How’s your prayer life?
  3. Mike shared that “our hardships are the evidence of God working to accomplish His mission in and through us.” Looking back, do you see this to be true in your life? How are you seeing God work through the hardships you are facing right now?
  4. The Apostle Peter writes:

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials… you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:6, 8b-9)

At the end of the day, our struggles will lead us to salvation – life with Jesus forever, where He sits at the throne of God. Spend some time this week at the throne of God reflecting on His victory and the victory to come in your life. Consider Him who suffered greatly, but for the joy set before Him, went to the cross so that we might be with Him forever.

Lent Week 3: A Servant of All

John 13:1-17

  1. When I find myself in a crisis situation, what are my natural tendencies and where is my focus?  Read the list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.  Which of these fruit would be most helpful to incorporate into my life, especially in difficult times?
  2. Jesus became a servant to all 12 of the disciples but especially Peter, who He knew would deny Him and Judas, who He knew would betray Him?  What would enable us to become a servant to those who let us down or those who are actively opposed to us?  Again, review the fruit of the Spirit and ask God for help incorporating those into our lives.
  3. God has created us also to serve – both Him and those around us.  What are some specific ways that we can serve those closest to us – our neighbors, co-workers, family members?  Make a commitment to serve the Lord by serving someone today.
  4. Much of what we do provides an example for others to follow.  Who are the people who are looking to us as an example and what kind of example do we want to provide them to follow?
Lent Week 2: Love and Anger

Mark 11:15-18

  1. When do you think you want to experience more of God’s love that involves proper anger? 
  2. When do you think you typically get angry but also sin? 
  3. What would you like to give up this lenten season to make more space for God in your life? 
  4. Who do you think God wants you to connect and spend more time with, to reflect His inclusive love? More specifically, who do you think is suffering loneliness that God wants you to accompany and invite to your community?
「愛と怒り」

マルコの福音書11章15節－18節

  1. 適切な怒りを伴った神の愛をもっと持ちたいと思うのは、どんなときですか？
  2. しばしば、怒ると罪を犯してしまうのは、どんなときですか？
  3. 生活の中でもっと神様のために時間を割くために、このレントの期間、具体的に何を「断食」しますか？（何を諦めますか？）
  4. 神の「受容の愛」を実践するために、あなたがつながり、もっと時間を過ごすように神が招かれているのは誰ですか？つまり、孤独を感じて、あなたの付き添いや、ハウスチャーチへの招きを必要としているのは誰ですか？
Lent Week 1: The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21:1-11

Pastor Mike asked the question: Why would people celebrate Jesus one day and then reject Him only days later?

  1. One reason for the sudden change of heart may have been disappointment in Jesus. Have you ever experienced disappointment in your walk with Jesus? If so, how?
  2. What did God reveal to you in the days, weeks, or months later?

Perhaps you are still experiencing disappointment today. Although this will come out later, it is encouraging to note that even when the disappointment of the people led to Jesus’ crucifixion, it ultimately resulted in the salvation of the world. Take hope in knowing that God is able to redeem our greatest disappointments in time. The struggle is real and sometimes lengthy, but take heart in the words of 1 Peter:

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:9-11)

  1. Can you personally relate to the words of this verse? How?
  2. If you are struggling with disappointment, you are not alone. Are there others “undergoing the same kind of sufferings” that you can share your burden with

As a side note, in Matthew’s Triumphal Entry account (Matt. 21:1-11), the disciples are sent to pick up a colt to bring to Jesus. In addition to the colt, however, they are told to bring the colt’s mother along with them. As the colt had never been ridden before, one can understand why the mother might be needed! Following Jesus into new areas and experiences can be difficult.

    1. Like the colt, is there someone more mature in their faith who can walk beside you on this new journey?
    2. If you are more mature in your faith, how could you walk beside someone who needs help?
  1. According to the passage above, who is the one who will restore you and make you stronger? (v. 10)
  2. Why might Peter end with the words of verse 11?
  3. We learned from the message that Jesus was:
      • the coming King to rule in our hearts;
      • gentle, humble, and trustworthy;
      • on a mission to save the world
    1. Are there areas in your life where Jesus isn’t ruling as king? What makes it difficult? What will it take to give these areas over to his lordship?
    2. Jesus said he is gentle and humble, that his yoke is easy and his burden light. He says come to him and he will give you rest. Are you experiencing his rest today? If not, why do you think that is?
    3. How can you be a part of God’s mission to save the world?
  1. Another reason the people turned on Jesus was because they did not have a complete understanding of Jesus’ true mission. It has been said, “A little knowledge is dangerous.” Having an incomplete understanding of Christ can sometimes lead to unbiblical expectations. Although our entire life is a journey of learning, how are you learning more about Jesus today? How can you improve in this area?

マタイの福音書 21 章 1～11 節

マイク牧師が、「なぜ人々は、ある日イエス様をお祝いし、その数日後にイエスを拒んだりするのでしょうか？」という質問をしましたが、

  1. 突然心が変わってしまった理由の一つは、イエス様に対する失望だったかもしれません。皆さんは、イエス様との歩みの中で 失望を経験したことがありますか？もしあれば、それはどのようなものですか？
  2. その後、数日、数週間、数ヶ月の間に、神様はあなたに何を示されましたか？

もしかしたら、あなたは今日も失望を経験しているかもしれません。あとでこの部分を学びますが、人々の失望がイエスを十字架に 導いたことでさえ、最終的にはこの世の救いという結果につながったということを見ると、励まされます。神様は私たちの最も大きな 失望をも、やがて贖ってくださることを知って、希望を持ってください。葛藤は現実に起こりますし、長く続くこともありますが、第一ペ テロの言葉を心に留めてください。

9 堅く信仰に立って、この悪魔に対抗しなさい。ご存知のように、世界中で、あなたがたの兄弟たちが同じ苦難を通ってきているのです。10 あらゆる恵みに満ちた神、すなわち、あなたがたをキリストにあって永遠の栄光の中に招き入れてくださった神ご自身が、あなたがたをしばらくの苦しみの後で回復させ、堅く立たせ、強くし、不動の者としてくださいます。11 どうか、神のご支配が世々限りなくありますように。アーメン。（ペテロの手紙第一 5 章 9～11 節）

  1. この聖句のことばに個人的に共感できますか？どのように共感できますか？
  2. もしあなたが失望に苦しんでいるなら、あなたは一人ではありません。重荷を分かち合うことができる「同じような苦しみを受け ている」人がいますか？

エルサレム入城の場面（マタイ 21:1-11）では、弟子たちはイエスのもとに連れて行くために子ろばを探しに行きます。しかし、子ろばのほかに、その子ろばの母も連れてくるように言われます。この子ろばは一度も人を載せたことがないので、母親が必要なのは理解できます。イエス様に従って、新しい場所に行き、新しい経験することは、容易ではありません。

    1. 子ろばが経験したように、この新たな旅路を、あなたのそばで歩んでくれる信仰に成熟した方はいますか？
    2. もしあなたが信仰に成熟しているのであれば、助けを必要とする人のそばで、どのように歩むことができますか？
  1. 上記の聖句（ペテロの手紙第一 5 章 10 節）によると、あなたを回復させ、より強くしてくれるのは誰ですか？
  2. なぜ、ペテロは終わりに 11 節のことばを書いたのでしょうか？
  3. 私たちはメッセージから、イエス様が以下のようであると学びました。
      • 私たちの心を支配するために来られた王である。
      • 柔和で、へりくだっていて、信頼できる。
      • この世を救うという使命を全うされる。
    1. あなたの人生において、イエス様が王として支配していない領域はありますか？何がそれを難しくしていますか？これらの領域をイエス様の支配に委ねるには、何が必要ですか？
    2. イエス様は、ご自分が柔和でへりくだっているお方であり、そのくびきは負いやすく、その荷は軽いと言われました。イエス様は「わたしのもとに来なさい。わたしがあなたがたを休ませてあげます。」と言われました。あなたは今、イエス様が与えられる休息を体験していますか？もしそうでないなら、それはなぜだと思いますか？
    3. あなたはどのようにして、この世を救う神様の使命の一部となることができますか？
  1. 人々がイエス様に敵対したもう一つの理由は、イエス様の本当の使命を、完全 に理解していなかったからです。「中途半端な知識は危険」という言い回しがあります。キリストについて不完全な理解をしていると、時に聖書的でない期待を抱いてしまうことがあります。私たちの人生は学びの旅ですが、あなたは今日、イエス様についてどのように学んでいますか？また、どのように改善することができますか？