Ladies' Bible study update (and questions for next chapters)

Although we likely won't be meeting for a while but can tentatively hope that the Ladies' Bible Study will resume at end of February, God willing. If you have not come to the Ladies' study and want to join, "the more, the merrier."

You can purchase a copy of Gentle and Lowly online at most book retailers and join us whenever we can meet again. A book worth reading, according to book reviewer/blogger Tim Challies, "Gentle and Lowly is a sweet and comforting book that will grow your knowledge, provoke your worship, and inspire your devotion. Best of all, it will help you to know, love, and trust our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." His full review of the book can be found here: Gentle and Lowly review

Although we won't be meeting for a little bit, the questions for chapters 2 &3 for the next section can be found below: 

Chapter 2: His Heart in Action, Read Key Passage: Matthew 9:35-38

1. What examples from scripture did the author mention that are examples of Jesus' compassion towards people (p 25-27)? Can you think of other passages in scripture that show the heart of compassion Jesus had for believers and unbelievers? 

1. “The dominant note left ringing in our ears after reading the Gospels, the most vivid and arresting element of the portrait, is the way the Holy Son of God moves toward, touches, heals, embraces, and forgives those who least deserve it yet truly desire it” (p. 27). If Jesus walked among us today, who are the people you would find Him reaching out to? 

1. This chapter reminds us of our tendency to be drawn to only part of the character of Jesus, to have a “lopsided view of Jesus”. For example, to be drawn to his grace for example, to the exclusion of his justice. In what direction do you see yourself leaning? For what reasons do you think you ‘lean’ more towards Jesus’ grace or lean towards Jesus as Judge? How can you gain a more consistently truthful view of Him? (p28 - 29)

1. What does the author mean that it is better to be biblical than “artificially balanced” in terms of who

Christ is? (p29)

1. How is Jesus's natural impulse toward sin and suffering different from our typical instinct? What can we learn from his example? (p. 30)

1. How does Jesus reverse the relationship between the Old Testament categories of clean and unclean (see p 30-31)? 

Chapter 3: The Happiness of Christ, Read Key Passage: Hebrews 12:1-7

1. Quotation of Puritan Thomas Goodwin, “Christ's ‘own’ joy, comfort, happiness, and glory are increased and enlarged by his showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving, and comforting his members here on earth." (p. 36).  Thinking about this quotation, how do we most naturally respond to the failures of others? How can we grow to be more like Jesus in our interaction with family members, friends, acquaintances, and those who oppose us?

1. Quotation, "Jesus doesn't want us to draw on his grace and mercy only because it vindicates his atoning work. He wants us to draw on his grace and mercy because it is who he is. He drew near to us in the incarnation so that his joy and ours could rise and fall together-his in giving mercy, ours in receiving it….Christ gets more joy and comfort than we do when we come to him for help and mercy." (p37) Based on this quote, some might wrongly think that the truth of this chapter gives us an excuse to sin, or minimizes sin? Why or why not (can you think of any Scriptures)?

1. What was the joy awaiting Christ “on the other side of the cross”? (see p.39)

1.  What is the significance of Christ sitting at the right-hand of God? (see p 39)

1. On p 40-41, the author mentions that each person in Jesus’ church is a member of His body. Quotation, “Our trouble is that we do not take the scripture seriously when it speaks of us as Christ’s body. Christ is the head and we are his own body parts”. Read this final section of the chapter and discuss. 

1. “The surprising testimony of the Gospels is that Jesus was a man of unparalleled and unshakeable joy” (David Mathis). Let's end by reading the following passages the give us pictures of the joy of Jesus:

1. Jesus said of himself as being a bridegroom (Mark 2: 14–20)
2. His opponents accused him of having too much joy (Luke 7:34). 
3. We see Jesus’s own joy when he makes himself the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. (Luke 15:1–7).
4. Jesus portrays himself as the woman in the parable of the lost coin. (Luke 15:8–10).

(sources used - lisalageorge.com / solideogloria.me / gracechurch.org/ Enduring Word Commentary/Gently and Lowly Study guide)