Bible Study

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, open our hearts and minds to hear afresh the good news in scripture. Guide us in our thinking and encourage us as we gather to study your Word. Unite us in our love for you Lord and strengthen us for service in your Name. Through Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Amen

Exodus: 2: 1-10

Introduction

The Israelites were foreigners in the land of Egypt. The event took place at the time when a new king reigning in Egypt was afraid that the Israelites, who were growing in numbers, might rise up against him.

In Exodus 1 and 2 we discover that several women from different backgrounds are involved in securing Moses’ life. They did not realise at the time that this child Moses would in the future be a great servant of God and deliver the Israelites out of slavery to the promised land.

The Midwives’ Humanity ~ Chapter 1 verses 15-22

Pharaoh had ordered that all male babies born to the Israelites were to be thrown into the Nile, but the midwives let the boys live. Because of their fear of God the infant Moses was safely delivered.

A Mother’s Love ~ Chapter 2 verses 1-3

Moses’ life was spared when he was born. His mother was concerned about her child’s life so she tried her best to protect and care for Moses knowing that Pharaoh had commanded that every male child born from an Israelite must be killed. As a mother she took serious responsibility for her son, even though life was tough.

A Sister’s Courage ~ verses 4-7

Moses’ sister was also involved in securing the safety of her brother. She gave time to watch from the riverbank. She took the risk, knowing she came from slavery, and yet stood confidently with Pharaoh’s daughter and made arrangements for Moses’ care and well-being. She was wise enough to encourage Pharaoh’s daughter to accept their own mother to care for Moses.

A Stranger’s Compassion ~ verses 5-10

Pharaoh’s daughter was challenged when she found the child and knew he was one of the Israelites’ sons. As she heard the child crying it moved her heart. This placed her in a difficult position with her father in disobeying his command. Pharaoh brings death to the Israelites but his daughter brings life to them.

Conclusion

In this study, we see women from different backgrounds who took risks and responsibilities to perform tasks to save Moses’ life. They displayed their fear for God through their courage, kindness, compassion and love. By their actions Moses was spared, and later he would be called to be God’s means of delivering them out of slavery. The women acted cooperatively and collaboratively and were non-violent in violent situations.

Challenges

As Christians, members of the one body of whom Christ is the head, we are encouraged to work together, utilising our gifts and talents, no matter what challenges we encounter in our communities. God will use each one of us to strengthen the other, when faced with evil, to carry on the work of salvation.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. While God is not mentioned directly in the story, what is He doing through different people in this story?
2. What are the lessons we can learn from Moses’ story that can help us to act against evil and corrupt decisions that affect innocent people, especially women and children?

Acts 4: 32 - 37

Introduction

This was the beginning of the infant church, which was made up of Christian believers who came from different countries and backgrounds. Their group numbered over three thousand. We are given a brief insight into an amazing group of believers who were truly one body in their faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of their diversity. Our text reveals that it was indeed a vibrant and a generous Christian community that loved and cared for each other, while the apostles continued to witness to the risen Lord Jesus.

One in Heart and Mind

The believers came from diverse cultures and backgrounds and spoke different languages. Through their new found faith in Jesus Christ they were bonded together by the Holy Spirit into one heart and one mind. Within the unity of the body there was love and peace, expressed in the sharing of material needs. Their action powerfully witnessed to their new faith: thus they became co-evangelists with the apostles.

Sharing Material Possessions

The believers displayed a generous attitude towards their material wealth: they shared with one another everything they had. They genuinely loved and cared for each other and were eager to sell off their possessions whenever there was a need, humbly placing the money before the apostles, for they had set their priorities right.

Preaching the Gospel

‘With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus’ (v: 33 NIV). The apostles did not deviate from their prime mission to the world: to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. It was a message of love, peace and reconciliation with God and with each other, beginning in Jerusalem and spreading to the rest of the world.

The followers were in charge of receiving and distributing the income from the sales of the believers’ possessions. They ensured that bodily needs were taken care of so they could participate equally in the work of the proclamation of the Gospel.

The apostles were encouraged to see that what they had preached had already taken root and started bearing fruit. There was a commitment to ensure that nothing hindered their growth in faith, love and mission. All believers actively preached the Gospel in words and action.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Today Christian churches are surrounded by a society that is very concerned with material possessions. How can we as Christians be one in heart and mind as the body of Christ in our churches?
2. Unequal distribution of resources between ‘the haves and the have nots’ is a situation that prevails in Papua New Guinea, as it does in many countries. How can Christians make a difference?

Romans 12: 3-12

Introduction

The letter to the Romans was written by Paul from Corinth in the period 57-58 AD towards the end of his third missionary journey. Paul’s purpose in writing was to intimate his true intention to visit the Roman Christians, composed of both Jewish and Gentile converts. In his letter he gives advice and encouragement to the Christians in Rome, which in turn can strengthen the oneness and unity of believers in the body of Christ today.

The Basis of Oneness

Though different in our ethnic features and complexions, in Christ we find oneness. God’s act of redemption in the person of Christ is for all. Because of this fact we are brothers and sisters in this Christian bond, for in Christ we are many members yet one body.

One Body with Many Members

Paul discusses the attitude of self-promotion by using the concept of the human body to teach Christians how they should live and work together. Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so are they to work together as one body under the command and authority of Jesus Christ.

Gifts

Paul spells out what can be called the gifts of grace: every believer in the body of Christ has certain gifts. God gives us gifts so that we can build up his church; to effectively use them we need to:

• Realise that all gifts bestowed upon us are from God
• Understand that not every one has the same gifts
• Know who we are and what we do best
• Dedicate our gifts to God’s service and not use them for our personal success
• Be willing to utilise our gifts wholeheartedly, not holding back anything from God’s service.

As believers we are challenged to make good use of the gifts, talents or skills that God has given us to benefit everyone in the body of Christ (the church).

Love

Paul refers to ‘agape’ love, which is the Christian love that is pure and sincere. He encourages Christians to live in mutual love that is binding, which looks beyond faults and sins and reconciles broken relationships within the body. He urges them to put aside their differences, whether they are Jew or Gentile, to strengthen the communal life of the body by living in love, peace and harmony. Love founded on Christ is genuine and sincere and overcomes negative attitudes.

Christ in practical terms, promoting God’s righteousness. ‘In Christ there are many members yet one body’.

QUESTIONS

1. Identify situations in your community that need God’s love, healing, comfort and caring, e.g. HIV and AIDS, drugs, homelessness, sex trafficking, natural disasters.
2. How can members of the Body of Christ experience God’s love and grace and pass it on to others?

Closing Prayer

O Lord God we praise you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps: 139 v 14).

You created and chose us even before we were born, and every part of our bodies depends on every other part to be in harmony. We thank you Lord for the differences that make us unique: differences of race, colour and creed; language, character and personality; skill and ability.

We thank you Lord for your guidance since the beginning of time and for sending your Son Jesus to show us how we can care for each other. We pray that we may discern the barriers and injustices that divide us, so that we may strive towards the healing of the nations and the unity that Christ desires. We praise you for your Word that is new every morning, and which guides our footsteps in our walk of life.

We offer this prayer and this Bible Study in the name of Jesus.

Amen