Thursday Bible Study

  {PARABLE} The wheat and the weeds_   Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43     We all wish that God would remove evil from the world. But put yourself in God’s place for a moment: if by a simple word of power you could snatch evildoers away from the earth, what complications might arise from your decision?   As one person has said, “If God were to destroy all evil at midnight, who would be left at one o’clock?”     [Group discussion starter] As followers of Jesus we live in an environment which is hostile to his life and teachings and to his way of love. What difficulties can this hostile environment create for followers of Jesus?       Although it is difficult to live in a world of evil, this parable tells us that judgement is something we need to leave in God’s hands...     [Read Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43]     What title would you give this parable?       What crisis occurs at the beginning of the parable (v...

  {PARABLE} The Widow and the Judge_   Luke 18: 1-8     Today many people are suffering from the disease known as “lottery fever”... the gambling craze sparked scratch-cards and multi- million pound prize lotteries.   A person’s chances of winning are very small , so small that you would think people would soon get discouraged. Yet millions go on playing the lottery unsuccessfully all their lives. They never lose hope.     [Group discussion starter] What, if an y, wild and crazy schemes have you put your hope in?      Praying Christians often give up hope. Why? Why do many of us stop expecting anything when we pray “Thy will be done”? In this parable Jesus tells us why we should always pray and never give up..     [Read Luke 18: 1-8]     In your opinion, what are the key words in verse 1?   Explain your answer.       The characters in the parable are drawn sketchily but vividly.   What image...