Download Mark 8:34-38 Common English Bible (CEB)

“Relationships That Work [and those that don’t]” Message Series
Discipleship Group Study – Scripture Passages
Passages may be studied inductively or using “6 Question Bible Study” method
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, May 14, 2017 – “Marriages Under Attack”
Ephesians 5:21-33 Common English Bible (CEB)
21
and submit to each other out of respect for Christ. 22 For example, wives should
submit to their husbands as if to the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife like Christ
is head of the church, that is, the savior of the body. 24 So wives submit to their
husbands in everything like the church submits to Christ. 25 As for husbands, love your
wives just like Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. 26 He did this to make
her holy by washing her in a bath of water with the word. 27 He did this to present
himself with a splendid church, one without any sort of stain or wrinkle on her clothes,
but rather one that is holy and blameless. 28 That’s how husbands ought to love their
wives—in the same way as they do their own bodies. Anyone who loves his wife loves
himself. 29 No one ever hates his own body, but feeds it and takes care of it just like
Christ does for the church 30 because we are parts of his body. 31 This is why a man will
leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two of them will be one
body. 32 Marriage is a significant allegory, and I’m applying it to Christ and the
church. 33 In any case, as for you individually, each one of you should love his wife as
himself, and wives should respect their husbands.
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, May 21, 2017 – “Balancing Career and Home”
Colossians 3:15-4:1 Common English Bible (CEB)
15
The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in
one body. And be thankful people. 16 The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach
and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing
to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 Whatever you do, whether in speech or action,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him.
18
Wives, submit to your husbands in a way that is appropriate in the Lord. 19 Husbands,
love your wives and don’t be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in
everything, because this pleases the Lord. 21 Parents, don’t provoke your children in a
way that ends up discouraging them. 22 Slaves, obey your masters on earth in
everything. Don’t just obey like people pleasers when they are watching. Instead, obey
with the single motivation of fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart
for the Lord and not for people. 24 You know that you will receive an inheritance as a
reward. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 But evildoers will receive their reward for their evil
actions. There is no discrimination. 4 1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves, knowing
that you yourselves have a master in heaven.
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, May 28, 2017 – “Guarding Against Materialism”
1 Timothy 6:6-19 Common English Bible (CEB)
6
Actually, godliness is a great source of profit when it is combined with being happy
with what you already have. 7 We didn’t bring anything into the world and so we can’t
take anything out of it: 8 we’ll be happy with food and clothing. 9 But people who are
trying to get rich fall into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful
passions that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 The love of money is the root
of all kinds of evil. Some have wandered away from the faith and have impaled
themselves with a lot of pain because they made money their goal. 11 But as for you,
man of God, run away from all these things. Instead, pursue righteousness, holy living,
faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. 12 Compete in the good fight of faith. Grab
hold of eternal life—you were called to it, and you made a good confession of it in the
presence of many witnesses. 13 I command you in the presence of God, who gives life to
all things, and Christ Jesus, who made the good confession when testifying before
Pontius Pilate. 14 Obey this order without fault or failure until the appearance of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 15 The timing of this appearance is revealed by God alone, who is the
blessed and only master, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 He alone has immortality
and lives in light that no one can come near. No human being has ever seen or is able to
see him. Honor and eternal power belong to him. Amen. 17 Tell people who are rich at
this time not to become egotistical and not to place their hope on their finances, which
are uncertain. Instead, they need to hope in God, who richly provides everything for our
enjoyment. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be
generous, and to share with others. 19 When they do these things, they will save a
treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take
hold of what is truly life.
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, June 4, 2017 – “Relational Pressures”
Ephesians 4:22-5:2 Common English Bible (CEB)
22
change the former way of life that was part of the person you once were, corrupted
by deceitful desires. 23 Instead, renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit 24 and
clothe yourself with the new person created according to God’s image in justice and
true holiness. 25 Therefore, after you have gotten rid of lying, Each of you must tell the
truth to your neighbor because we are parts of each other in the same body. 26 Be angry
without sinning. Don’t let the sun set on your anger. 27 Don’t provide an opportunity for
the devil. 28 Thieves should no longer steal. Instead, they should go to work, using their
hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.
29
Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is
needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you
say. 30 Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day
of redemption. 31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and
slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each
other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. 5 1Therefore, imitate God like dearly
loved children. 2 Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us
and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, June 11, 2017 – “Inappropriate Relationships”
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Common English Bible (CEB)
12
I have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful. I have the freedom to
do anything, but I won’t be controlled by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the
stomach is for food, and yet God will do away with both. The body isn’t for sexual
immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 God has raised the Lord and
will raise us through his power. 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are parts of Christ?
So then, should I take parts of Christ and make them a part of someone who is sleeping
around? No way! 16 Don’t you know that anyone who is joined to someone who is
sleeping around is one body with that person? The scripture says, The two will become
one flesh. 17 The one who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 18 Avoid sexual
immorality! Every sin that a person can do is committed outside the body, except those
who engage in sexual immorality commit sin against their own bodies. 19 Or don’t you
know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Don’t you know that
you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don’t belong to yourselves? 20 You have
been bought and paid for, so honor God with your body.
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, June 18, 2017 – “Wrong Views of Success”
Galatians 6:1-10; Mark 8:34-38 Common English Bible (CEB)
6 1Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are
spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness. Watch out for
yourselves so you won’t be tempted too. 2 Carry each other’s burdens and so you will
fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re
fooling themselves. 4 Each person should test their own work and be happy with doing a
good job and not compare themselves with others. 5 Each person will have to carry their
own load. 6 Those who are taught the word should share all good things with their
teacher. 7 Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they
plant. 8 Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their
selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from
the Spirit. 9 Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we
don’t give up. 10 So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an
opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith.
Mark 8:34-38 Common English Bible (CEB)
34
After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want
to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. 35 All
who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me
and because of the good news will save them. 36 Why would people gain the whole
world but lose their lives? 37 What will people give in exchange for their lives?
38
Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the
Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with
the holy angels.”
Preparation/Discussion for Sunday, June 25, 2017 – “Guard Your Heart”
Proverbs 4:10-27 Common English Bible (CEB)
10
Listen, my son, and take in my speech,
then the years of your life will be many.
11
I teach you the path of wisdom.
I lead you in straight courses.
12
When you walk, you won’t be hindered;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13
Hold on to instruction; don’t slack off;
protect it, for it is your life.
14
Don’t go on the way of the wicked;
don’t walk on the path of evil people.
15
Avoid it! Don’t turn onto it;
stay off of it and keep going!
16
They don’t sleep unless they do evil;
they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17
They eat the bread of evil,
and they drink the wine of violence.
18
The way of the righteous is like morning light
that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day.
19
The path of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they don’t know where they will stumble.
20
My son, pay attention to my words.
Bend your ear to my speech.
21
Don’t let them slip from your sight.
Guard them in your mind.
22
They are life to those who find them,
and healing for their entire body.
23
More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it.
24
Have nothing to do with a corrupt mouth;
keep devious lips far from you.
25
Focus your eyes straight ahead;
keep your gaze on what is in front of you.
26
Watch your feet on the way,
and all your paths will be secure.
27
Don’t deviate a bit to the right or the left;
turn your feet away from evil.