Light on the Lessons s8

Light on the Lessons

Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

Fourth Sunday in Lent; Cycle B; March 11, 2018

Participant Resources

I Getting Started

1. Why do you think ingratitude is such a common human problem?

2. Why do you think so many folks want to earn their salvation from God rather than to receive it as a gift?

3. When is it important to make judgments? What are the risks in making judgments?

II Check the Texts

1. Numbers 21:4-9

A. Read Numbers 20:14-21. How does that passage help explain 21:4? Using a map, what is the modern name of the body of water called here “the Red Sea”?

B. Compare 21:5 with 14:2-4 and 20:2-5. What do these passages have in common? What themes get repeated? Why do you think the people felt this way? What do they miss from Egypt? What do they forget about Egypt? What makes the incident in 21:5 different from the other two incidents?

C. Read Numbers 11:4-9. What does that passage explain in 21:5? How does Moses describe the source of this substance in Exodus 16:13-15? How do you think that sheds light on the attitude of the Israelites?

D. The Hebrew term used for “poisonous snakes” is “seraphim,” (singular: “seraph”) which means “fiery ones.” Read Isaiah 6:1-7. With whom are the seraphs associated? What do they look like? What did one of them do for Isaiah? What parallels (or contrasts) do you find between the seraphs in Isaiah 6 and Numbers 21:6-9?

E. Describe a caduceus, the symbol of a physician. How does that suggest the reason for Moses’ choice for the pole? What was the function of this item?

F. In terms of the interaction between God and his people, what do you see taking place in this story? Why is God doing what he does? How does God’s action affect the people?

2. Ephesians 2:1-10

A. Give titles to each section in this profound passage: verses 1-3, 4-7, 8, and 9.

B. In your own words, how would you explain the way verses 1-3 describe the former situation of the Ephesians? What do you think “children of wrath” means? Read Romans 6:6b. How well do you think that describes the situation in verses Ephesians 2:1-3? Do you think Paul’s strong word in Romans applies to all or only to some particularly noxious sinners? To what extent can you identify with the analysis in verses 1-3? Though the writer speaks of this situation in the past tense, do you think the same dynamic applies to Christians? (Clue: Check Ephesians 6:10-12)

C. With what words does the writer describe the former state and the current state of the Ephesians in verse 5? What does the writer suggest that the Ephesians already share, in verse 6?

D. In verse 8, what is your understanding of three key words: saved, grace, faith?

E. In verses 9 and 10, what is the difference in the meaning of the two uses of the word “(good) works”? What is God’s goal in giving us new life in Christ, verse 10? What word or concept connects verse 5 and 10?

3. John 3:14-21

Luther called John 3:16 “the Gospel in miniature.” If you haven’t memorized it yet, do so now. (And, while you’re on a memorizing kick, work on another gem: Ephesians 2:8-10.) Rabbis in Jesus’ time taught that the Kingdom would arrive when everyone kept God’s law.

A. Read 3:1-13, in order to get a feel for the context. With whom does Jesus converse? When are they talking? Why do you think they chose this time? What does Jesus teach him about how one enters the kingdom of God, verses 3-8? Why do you think Spirit is added to water in verse 5? (Clue: Think of the Baptist’s baptism; see Acts 19:1-7) What theme is present here that also appears in 2:8-10?

B. John uses a stylistic device in which a discourse by Jesus begins being addressed to a specific person or persons, then at some point seems to shift to a wider, unseen, audience, which would be the reader. Do you see this happening in 3:3-21? If so, where do you locate the shift from Nicodemus to the wider audience?

C. What is the import of “lifted up” in verses 14-15? (Clue: When was Jesus “lifted up”?) What connection can you make between that experience of Jesus and the image of a serpent?

D. What is God’s motive in sending his Son, verse 17? In what sense does the coming of the Son bring judgment? How do verses 18-20 explain why some people will not respond to the Son? To what extent do you agree with the psychology of human nature underlying verses 19-20?

E. Compare translations to see where they end the quotation from Jesus. Speculate a bit: Can you guess why this is an issue of interpretation?

III What Does It All Mean?

1. How have you experienced God’s activity in your life this week?

2. We often give thanks to God. Why do you think that is important to do?

3. In these three lessons, where have you seen God moving to heal and save his people? How have you experienced God’s healing and saving power in your life?

4. “The biblical writings make very little of free-will, which is such an important idea for us. Rather, we read of people being enslaved to one of two powers: God or the opposition. But those who call upon God, God will wrest from the power of the devil and bring them into God’s kingdom. Jesus broke the stranglehold that sin, death, and the devil had on us. He has freed us for service in God’s kingdom.” What do you think of that statement? Where do you find support for it in our lessons?

5. Someone asks you “Tell me in a couple of sentences your take on why we are here on earth, what life means.” How would you answer?

V Into the Week

1. You go home and someone asks, “What did you learn today?” How do you reply?

2. Try to memorize John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-10. Repeat them in unison a couple of times in the group. Work on them at home.