Love as a Way of Life



Study Series: Name Above All NamesBy: Alistair Begg & Sinclair FergusonLesson Title: “Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant” (pp. 70-80)July 9, 2017Session 06 The main point of this lesson is: Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, obediently suffered the cross for the sake of suffering humanity.Focus on this goal: To help adults commit to suffer with the Suffering Servant.Key Bible Passages: Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Luke 22:39-46To the LeaderSend this thinking question to every group member: “What’s a thoughtful thing someone has done for you when you were hurting?”During the SessionStep 1. Lead-in Highlight Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant. Explain that this is one of the tougher names to understand, and yet it brings comfort because Jesus is acquainted with suffering, grief, and sickness (Isa. 53:3). He knew and knows how to manage these. Add that as Jesus suffered He both called upon people and showed compassion to people. To illustrate compassion, ask the thinking question (see “To the Leader,” sidebar, this page). Challenge the group to study the suffering of Jesus Christ to watch for ways we can suffer with Jesus the Suffering Servant.Step 2. Day 1 – The Suffering OneDirect adults to the quote from Isaiah 52:13 in Day One (p. 70). List several ways Jesus showed wisdom in the whole of His life, using Day?One, activity 1 (pp. 70-71). Then focus in on how He showed wisdom during suffering. Use the discussion questions in Day One (p.?71) to continue studying Jesus Christ’s suffering. Focus on how to talk with God while suffering and how to express anguish.Step 3. Day 2 – The Servant’s CompassionSay that the suffering of Jesus Christ was unique in a very important way: He became a curse for us so that we might receive God’s blessings. Highlight this quote from Galatians 3:13 in the margin of Day Two (p. 73). Agree that Jesus suffered beyond our understanding, but we can begin to understand it in three ways: facts, feelings, and mystery. Discuss these using the Day Two discussion questions (p. 72).Step 4. Day 3 – The Servant’s Commitment, Part 1Gather 12 items—figures, blocks, sugar packets—to represent Jesus and those disciples who were with Jesus during His agonizing time in Gethsemane (the twelfth disciple, Judas, had departed) and guide the group to set the positions described in the first paragraph of Day Three (p. 74). Use the Day Three discussion questions (p. 74) to guide the group to put themselves in the shoes of the disciples. The Day Three, activity 1 (p. 76) continues this discovery of Jesus’ unprecedented suffering from both Jesus’ point of view and the point of view of Peter, James, and John.Step 5. Day 4 – The Servant’s Commitment, Part 2Direct the group to identify three dimensions to Jesus’ suffering as described in Day Four (pp. 76-77; mental, physical, social). Form three teams (one for each dimension) of one or more learners to debate which aspect of Jesus’ suffering might have been the most difficult to bear and why. Guide groups to use the copy in Day Four as well as the discussion questions (p. 78). Let the debate bring out the horrors of each element of suffering. Step 6. Day 5 – The Servant’s ContrastCall for a volunteer to read the session goal on page 81 (to suffer with the Suffering Servant) and the quote in the sidebar of Day Five: “On the average Sunday, pastors minister to congregations of people whose lives are marked—and often marred—by quiet desperation.” Generate ways we, as the body of Jesus Christ, can help other believers with the mental, physical, and social aspects of suffering in ways that are not bossy or condescending. Urge learners to think beyond the true but easy answers of praying for them or taking them a meal. Use the Day Five discussion question to explore how to truly give Jesus’ love to others. Recall that we began to list ways in Step 1. Specify what can be done by individuals and what might need to be done as a group. Step 7. Make It PracticalTo let Bible phrases reinforce our commitment to Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, lead the group to commit to memorize portions of Isaiah 52–53, the fourth Servant Song. Decide to do this in phrases, perhaps one phrase per day. (Select phrases as a group, or allow each person to select phrases he or she wishes to memorize.) To make this more successful, list, as a group, helps to memorizing the phrases. Suggest the group collect methods they’d like to try at home. Starter ideas: These verses are songs, so sing them to a tune or commercial jingle.Break down a passage into phrases. For example, 52:13 could be three days of memorization: 1) “See, My Servant will act wisely; 2) “He will be raised and lifted up; 3) and greatly exalted.”Listen to the passage while driving.Read the phrase at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Use the phrase as a completion of: “Jesus, thank you for…” or “Jesus, I am amazed that…”Work with a friend or family member to quiz each other on the phrases you are memorizing. Closing PrayerAfter the SessionEncourage group members to text you when they reach milestones in their memorizing of phrases from Isaiah 52–53. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download