Lesson+19+Essay


 * When the storms come we can be flooded with all kinds of emotions.** So far in your young lives, I am guessing that you have not faced very many life threating storms, either figuratively or literally. We spoke in class about how the Jewish people, who were of nomadic desert wilderness descent found the Sea of Galilee to be both a blessing and a source of great fear and evil. Yet, much of Jesus' ministry was located on or near this body of water, and at least ONE THIRD of his disciples were fishermen! We listened to the account of how Jesus let his disciples struggle to row against the wind, then came walking out to them on the water (Mark 6:45-52) (Matt 14:25-34). Both of these Scripture passages give details of this same event. If you were to study the events just before this water walking and just after it you would read that Jesus fed the 5000, and healed many others, simply by them touching the hem of his cloak. In the middle of all of this Peter goes walking on water, and then sinks....

1) Why do you think Jesus allowed his disciples to row against the threatening waves for hours without providing relief from their frightening situation and difficult labor? What might we learn from this? Have you ever felt like you were in a situation that was very difficult for you to remain courageous and faithful? Explain.

2) Re-read the two sections of scripture mentioned above. Compare in your mind what it was like to live in Jesus time. Demon possessed people were common knowledge. Most major events were attributed to supernatural "good" or "evil" forces. People were starving. People were dying of diseases, crippled, sick. ALSO, the disciples did not KNOW who Jesus was even though he was with them. It is hard for us to imagine not knowing Jesus as the Son of God, Son of Man. YET, the men who were with him witnessed his miracles. We know who He is, but they lived with Him. We say He lives in our hearts, but our faith would not have us jump out of a boat today to go to Him on the water.

//What stops us from having this kind of faith in Jesus? How do our emotions effect our faith? How do you build your faith so that your emotions do not interfere with it? What does confessing your faith mean? How do you do this and when?// Use scripture verses to back up your opinions here.

3) When Jesus took the disciples over to the Decapolis, it was for the sake of one man's life. Or was it? Describe who you think was blessed because of this act, and why.

4) Ephesians 6:10-12, 1 John 5: 19 say something about the evil at work in our world. How seriously do you as a Christian consider the message of those passages as you go about your daily life? Read Matthew 15: 18-20 How does this scripture relate to the Ephesians and 1 John? What defiles you? (your mouth) Is your mouth clean? Explain.

5) When compared to the people of Jesus day, many people in our culture seem to be less aware of the presence of evil in the world. Do you think Satan is any less active today? Explain your thoughts. In what ways does Satan disguise his work today in order to get his destruction accomplished? Give an example of a time when you "overlooked" something you knew was wrong. Explain why you did this. Do you let fear rule your faith, or does your faith defeat your fear? Give examples.