GateWay Church of Visalia
Philosopher Jesus
Pastor Ed Kemp March 23 & 26, 2023
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
So What?!
#1. Joseph believed and acted on it.
“…welcoming the kingdom…” Luke 23:51
“…being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one…” John 19:38
“…welcoming the kingdom…” Luke 23:51
“…being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one…” John 19:38
To whom do you need to announce your allegiance to Jesus?
#2. Joseph felt fear and challenged it.
“…and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43
“…and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43
Where do you need to gather your courage and face a challenge?
#3. Joseph had a resource and gave it.
“…and laid it (Jesus body) in his own new tomb…” Matthew 27:60
“…and laid it (Jesus body) in his own new tomb…” Matthew 27:60
What resource do you have that you need to give?
Jesus the Philosopher: Acceptance
Luke 23:50-56, March 23 & 26, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Can you share the first funeral you ever attended and what was it you found unexpected and expected?
Read out loud: Luke 23:50-56,
#1. Joseph believed and acted on it. “…welcoming the kingdom…” Luke 23:51, “…being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one…” John 19:38. If you have put your faith and belief in Jesus Christ how have you acted on that faith? What is one area where you have changed your thinking? What’s one area where you changed your values? What’s one area where you’ve changed your behavior? When was the last time you felt you took a risk to believe, or think or value or behave in a way that is more in line with Biblical teaching? Do you feel you’re a public or secret disciple of Jesus.
To whom do you need to announce your allegiance to Jesus?
#2. Joseph felt fear and challenged it. “…and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43. When someone has a phobia like arachnophobia, fear of spiders, psychologists will do desensitization or exposure therapy. To desensitize your phobia of spiders the therapist will go through a series of exposures to spiders. First, you’ll look at pictures of them. Second, you’ll see preserved ones under glass. Third, you’ll see live ones inside a jar. (Are you sweating yet???) Fourth, you’ll hold a live spider in your palm. As you get exposure to the harmlessness of most spiders the phobia and discomforts you feel toward them subsides or disappears. When it comes to following Christ what is your biggest fear in following Him wholeheartedly: Bible reading, praying, witnessing, tithing or serving? What would be your steps of desensitization in that area of fear? Where do you need to gather your courage and face a challenge?
#3. Joseph had a resource and gave it. “…and laid it (Jesus body) in his own new tomb…” Matthew 27:60. Joseph feels so connected to Jesus that he treats Jesus as a member of his own family by putting Jesus body in his own family tomb. In what way have you significantly included Jesus in your family? Do you: pray The Lord’s Prayer together at dinner once in a while, watch Christian TV or movies together and discuss the point/plot, take a missions trip as a family, read and discuss the Bible together, pray at bedtime, take communion at home together, walk your neighborhood while praying for your neighbors, meet new families at church, use a advent calendar at Christmas, sacrifice something so you can sacrificially give, or something else? What resource do you have that you need to give?
Family Time: Read Luke 23:50-56. Ask your kids, “If Joseph was a good man who wanted to be ready to welcome the King of the Kingdom, what kinds of things do you think he was thinking about when he had to put Jesus, who had died, in a tomb?” How do you feel when you have lost something that you loved? What do you think Joseph thought about when he found out that Jesus had risen from his tomb and was alive again?
Luke 23:50-56, March 23 & 26, 2023
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Can you share the first funeral you ever attended and what was it you found unexpected and expected?
Read out loud: Luke 23:50-56,
#1. Joseph believed and acted on it. “…welcoming the kingdom…” Luke 23:51, “…being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one…” John 19:38. If you have put your faith and belief in Jesus Christ how have you acted on that faith? What is one area where you have changed your thinking? What’s one area where you changed your values? What’s one area where you’ve changed your behavior? When was the last time you felt you took a risk to believe, or think or value or behave in a way that is more in line with Biblical teaching? Do you feel you’re a public or secret disciple of Jesus.
To whom do you need to announce your allegiance to Jesus?
#2. Joseph felt fear and challenged it. “…and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43. When someone has a phobia like arachnophobia, fear of spiders, psychologists will do desensitization or exposure therapy. To desensitize your phobia of spiders the therapist will go through a series of exposures to spiders. First, you’ll look at pictures of them. Second, you’ll see preserved ones under glass. Third, you’ll see live ones inside a jar. (Are you sweating yet???) Fourth, you’ll hold a live spider in your palm. As you get exposure to the harmlessness of most spiders the phobia and discomforts you feel toward them subsides or disappears. When it comes to following Christ what is your biggest fear in following Him wholeheartedly: Bible reading, praying, witnessing, tithing or serving? What would be your steps of desensitization in that area of fear? Where do you need to gather your courage and face a challenge?
#3. Joseph had a resource and gave it. “…and laid it (Jesus body) in his own new tomb…” Matthew 27:60. Joseph feels so connected to Jesus that he treats Jesus as a member of his own family by putting Jesus body in his own family tomb. In what way have you significantly included Jesus in your family? Do you: pray The Lord’s Prayer together at dinner once in a while, watch Christian TV or movies together and discuss the point/plot, take a missions trip as a family, read and discuss the Bible together, pray at bedtime, take communion at home together, walk your neighborhood while praying for your neighbors, meet new families at church, use a advent calendar at Christmas, sacrifice something so you can sacrificially give, or something else? What resource do you have that you need to give?
Family Time: Read Luke 23:50-56. Ask your kids, “If Joseph was a good man who wanted to be ready to welcome the King of the Kingdom, what kinds of things do you think he was thinking about when he had to put Jesus, who had died, in a tomb?” How do you feel when you have lost something that you loved? What do you think Joseph thought about when he found out that Jesus had risen from his tomb and was alive again?