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All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Greetings all,

I will continue to try something on TheNET. I would like to see if we can engage in a Bible study using the forums. I hope to simulate a small group setting, but realize that there will be lag time. Here are the parameters that we will work with ... and this is open to everyone.

1) We are attempting to work our way through the gospel of John.

2) We will not tolerate negative comments made about a person or persons.

3) We are using the S.O.A.P. approach which = Scripture - Observation - Application - Prayer.

... 3a) Scripture text from the Gospel of John using KJV (no copyright attached)

... 3b)Observations about the particular text. What is being said, what is going on, who is involved and what might be the points being made?

... 3c) Application of the text/teaching to our lives today.

... 3d) Prayer pertaining to that which we have sought to discern.

4) It is appropriate to ask questions along the way.

5) I operating as the facilitator and teacher of this online group/class, but want the open participation of others.

6) At the end of each week (Friday's) I will close the current one and start a new one.

This weeks discussion:

John 2:12-25 KJV After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. (13) And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (14) And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (15) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (16) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (17) And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (18) Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? (19) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21) But he spake of the temple of his body. (22) When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (23) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (24) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (25) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

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Hi LT,

What I find interesting in this matter of Jesus being angry, and cleansing out the temple......is that He did it all alone.

That was also the situation about three years later, when He did it again.

Now there were 12 young men just "hanging out"watching, while all this commotion was going on. Evidently they didn't make any move to help their Master...........

IMO Jesus didn't want any help. This was a personal thing with the Lord, dealing with the so-called religious leaders.

They were the only men Jesus ever really was angered with.

Grace and Peace.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. (John 2:17 KJV)

While studying Psalms 69:9, I found a beautiful translation of these words.

My love for your house burns in me like a fire, and when others insulted you, they insulted me as well. (Psalm 69:9 CEV)

It gave me more understanding as to how much Jesus loves God's house and why He would chase out the merchandise sales persons and the money changers. He said that they made God's house a house of merchandise. I was thinking He saw what was going on, He loved God's house so much and He had to set it right.

Love,

Mary

Amen, Mary O.

Well put.

Hi Richard, God bless ou!

I got this mental picture of Jesus saying something like...You've turned God's house into Bargain Mart! Out!

They had markets and places to conduct business, but they're going to hang out in and around the temple because everyone goes there. That's the one place everyone consistently meets.

Love,

Mary

Richard

The thing I found to be interesting is that He was only asked to show a sign'seeing that Thou doest these things'. There seems to have been no attempt to try and stop Him. I believe that the same authority about Him that He displayed on many occassions kept the people at bay. Just one more time that people sensed His authority .

To go along with what has been said it is interesting to note that the market place would have been in the area set aside for the Gentiles, for the Jews would never have corrupted the "important" place (in their eyes). Jesus is upset with the activity, but it would also be safe to say that He was upset at them for putting up roadblocks for the Gentiles ... of which we know that soon Saul/Paul would be used to spread the gospel to the Gentiles and the Lord would see many come to a saving knowledge of Him.

Again, as has been pointed out, it is valuable to us to see how Scripture is remembered and how it confirms the work of God. The Word of God is precious to the child of God.

Another interesting thing to ponder, and this is just an opinion, but I can almost imagine Jesus chuckling under His breath when they challenged Him regarding rebuilding the temple that took 46 years to build ... He could have easily said I brought creation into existence in 6 days, I think the raising of a building in three days would be within my power ..., but of course He was not talking about the building.

Lord Bless,

LT

This is interesting to me for one reason, at least. I might be a little old fashion, but I see in here a little different picture, I guess. Because I relate all of this to the churches of today. Especially the one I had been attending, we stopped going for a couple of reasons. One is they, IMO making the house of God as a market place, not selling sheep etc. But allowing food and drinks in the sanctuary during services.  We have also noticed for some time now that little by little the church was getting a little more lenient in dress, the younger generation coming to church in shorts, flip-flops, no socks, coming in late, with a cup of pop, or coffee in one hand and a donut hanging on a finger of the other hand. When we first started going there, the Pastor was right on with his sermons, we were pretty much traditional, in the ushers, taking up the offering, taking communion usually on the first Sunday of the Month, etc.  The Pastor and helpers, all wore ties and suits or at least dressed appropriately and modest. The Pastor had a very good, faith building testimony, like being in another country as a missionary, was blind folded and on a firing line, waiting to hear the shots, but he was delivered miraculously, we would say by God. He also has a very positive faith message. “Not name it and claim it”. But faith for salvation by grace through faith. Not legalistic as far as giving, and church attendance, he believes that God will move on the hearts of the people, through preaching what the bible teaches about these things. But it must be from the heart, by conviction of the Holy Spirit, not from obligation.

We liked that, but over the years we have noticed for no apparent reason, other than a lot of the other churches has been getting away from traditional services, and maybe following the crowd. They started using different colored lights to light up the stage, changing colors randomly, with back drop lights of blue, green and red. But when they built the new sanctuary, the lights got brighter, the music got louder. The first time we visited the new sanctuary; when we walked in we found in the foyer a corner with a counter set up like a coffee shop with tables and chairs, free donuts with a basket by it for donations for the FREE donuts, and coffee. I didn’t like seeing people coming to the house of God the same way they go to a rock concert. The music was so loud, and with the bright lights; while standing and singing, I got dizzy and had to sit down. If Jesus had been there, I believe He would do just as He did there in the Temple, I wasn’t quite that brave. But as soon as I got home I e-mailed the assistant Pastor and explained my experience at the church that Sunday morning, and assured him that we were not coming back, and also proceeded to let him know that I thought they were giving way to the emerging church that is growing exponentially nationwide.  I don’t go to church to be entertained with bright lights and loud music and all the amities they offer, just to get the young people in. To me, church is a place to worship God, and to minister to the needs of others, or to receive ministering if needs be. So I see that we need to purge out of our churches, the money changers, “coffee and donut sellers” and get back to the main purpose of the church. I can’t say that I have ever been to a rock concert, but I doubt very seriously that anyone has ever gotten healed, or any of their needs met there.

JB

People could debate the individual points of what is too far, but few could argue against the reality that too many have gone too far. I often sit with a heavy heart wondering how Jesus would act if He were to walk into church A or church Z, then I pray Lord what about our gathering ... what about my life ...

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