Thursday Bible Study

  {PARABLE} the wise and foolish bridesmaids_   Matthew 24:36 – 25:13     It is the classic love story... The bridegroom is called away from the bride, the love of his life. He asks her to wait for him. He asks her to believe he will come back for her no matter how long it takes. He asks her to trust that he will come back because of his great love and devotion. The bride is grief-stricken but promises that she will wait for him and not give up hope. But the years pass and the hope fades. She begins to question his promise. She begins to distrust his love. Until one day she realises that she is no longer waiting for him.     [Group discussion starter] Think of an example of when you waited a long time for someone or something important to you. What was the waiting like? What helped you maintain hope?     In the series of short parables that Jesus presents in this text, he calls us to not give up hope. He calls us to trust his love and his promis...

  {PARABLE} of money and self-worth_   Matthew 19: 16-30 / 20:1-16     “You deserve the best!” “Demand your rights!” “I’m worth it!” People today want everything that’s coming to them, and they want it now . Convinced of our own worth, we demand higher paying jobs, better working conditions and more benefits. If any of these are denied, we feel we have been treated unfairly – and perhaps our feelings are justified.     [Group discussion starter] List as many examples as you can think of that demonstrate how our society links people’s value with their wealth.     What happens when we treat God like a divine employer? In this passage Jesus challenges our human concepts of fairness and worth. He shows us that Kingdom values are often the opposite of what we expect...   [Read Matthew 19: 16-30]     What themes do you see running through these verses?       Before answering the man’s question (in verse 16), Jesus asks ...