ReVisit Series: Journey to The Cross (Days 5-11)

Day Five: Heart Fast: Tidy Faith
Questions to consider from Day Five, page 20-24
1. Alicia states that our God-concept and our self-concept are connected. (p. 21) Do you agree or disagree? Why?

2. Dr. Sweet explains that in the Jewish culture, “it’s an act of reverence to ask questions of the story. The Jews are confident that the story is strong enough to be tried and tested…” Around the table, a Jewish child has ‘That’s a good question!’ drummed into his or her soul, not, ‘You don’t ask that question’. . . Questions are as sacred as answers.” (p. 21-22) How comfortable are you asking questions about your faith?

3. What do you think John’s response was when his disciples returned with Jesus’ answer?

4. Day Four invites us to fast tidy faith. Is there a difference between doubt and unbelief?

Let's Read John 12:37-43

Questions from the scripture
1. What are miracles?

2. Who are The Pharisees?

3. What stopped the people from believing in Jesus? (vs37, 42)

4. In Isaiah 53, God revealed to Isaiah a preview of the Life of Jesus. When you read that scripture, what do you learn about Jesus?

Personal Application
1. What is stopping you from believing God?

2. What areas in your life right now are preventing you from believing in God 100%?

3. Who are your Pharisees?

Who are Pharisees?
Individuals who were considered extremely accurate in all matters as it relates to the law of Moses. They were considered self-righteous and prideful. From the begging of Jesus’ ministry, they plotted to destroy his influence among the people.

Other Scriptures Concerning Pharisees
Matt 9:11; Luke 7:39; 18:11-12

Day Six: Heart Fast: Speeding Past Sorrow
Questions to consider from Day Six, page 25-28

1. Have you ever lost someone who truly believed in you? What was it like?

2. When grieving, when do you prefer to be alone? To be with others?

3. Share any of the names and stories that came to mind as you answered today’s reflection question.

4. Today’s fast is speeding past sorrow. Why do some prefer to hurry through sadness?

Quote to Remember:
“Deaths are defining moments in our lives. It serves us poorly to hurry past them.”

Let’s Read John 12:44-50

Questions from the Scripture
1. Who sent Jesus into the World?

2. Why did Jesus come to world? (vs 46)

Personal Application
1. What did you learn about Jesus from this section of the scripture?

2. How can you apply those principles to your life?

3. What does it mean to believe in Jesus?

4. Verse 46 says, “that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness”. What is preventing other people from experiencing the light?

Day Seven: Heart Fast: A Meal
Questions to consider from Day Seven, page 29-32
1. How does “fear, by nature, distort reality”? (p. 29)

2. Imagine surveying your neighbors with this question: “What comes to you mind when I say ‘the cross’?” What responses do you guess they might offer?

3. What do you think “the cross” meant to Jesus’ disciples before His death? After His resurrection?

4. Share your experience fasting a meal if you were able to participate in today’s fast.

Quote to Remember
“On the cross leadership dies. On the cross success dies. On the cross, skills die and excellence dies. “

Let’s Read John 13:1-7

Questions from the scripture
1. What does it mean when it says “The hour had come for him to leave the world”? (vs1-3)

2. According to this section of Scripture, what was the purpose of washing the disciple’s feet?

Personal Application

What is Passover?
It’s the festival that marks the remembrance of God’s passing over the houses of the Israelites when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed. (Exodus 12:12-14; 24-27). The Passover was also called the Feast of Unleavened bread. It is ordinance that was meant to be celebrated for all generations

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a time when no leaven bread was to be eaten or kept in the household. (Exodus 12 – 13). It was made with only flour and water. Jewish culture still celebrates this feast with some of the following:

*Unleavened bread (matzah),- that represents the bread baked by the Jews flight from Egypt.
*Bitter herbs that are dipped in vinegar- that reminds them of the bitterness of their slavery and suffering.
*Charoset-a mixture of chopped apples, nuts cinnamon and wine that symbolizes the mortar used to build the palaces in Egypt
*Wine- that they drink from a common bowl and express the unity of the people.
*Reading of the Exodus Story
*The Hallel - A prayer of Thanksgiving and praise to God for their deliverance.

What is an ordinance?
An established right or ceremony. In our tradition, we believe in 2 ordinances (Baptism & Communion). Other traditions believe in more. (We will cover this in another Bible Study.)

What is the evening meal?
This was a formal meal or supper that was usually done in the early part of the evening.

What is the Lord’s Supper?
This is also called communion and in some traditions, it is also called the Eucharist. This ordinance is not listed John’s account of the scriptures. (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). In our tradition, we believe that it symbolizes the Lord’s Death.

What is Foot Washing?
As we all know, during this time the dusty roads of the lands caused the feet to become dirty. The purpose of washing the feet was to make sure that the dirt from the outside would not travel throughout the house. This task was normally reserved for servants and became a form of hospitality. By Jesus washing the disciple’s feet, he was showing them that even though he was leader, he still had the heart to serve and even do the nasty jobs.

Day Eight: Heart Fast: Fixing Things

Questions to consider from Day Eight, page 33-36
1. On page 34, Alicia states: “Tomorrow’s needs and storms cannot void the reality of today’s miracles any more than today’s miracles can void the potential of tomorrow’s needs and storms.” How can today’s storms prompt us to forget yesterday’s miracles?

2. Why are we tempted to offer platitudes in the face of another’s pain?

3. In your own words, what does it mean to “fast fixing it”?

Quote To Remember
“Tomorrow’s needs and storms cannot void the reality of today’s miracles any more than today’s miracles can void the potential of tomorrow’s needs and storms”

Let’s Read John 13:8-17

Questions from the scripture
1. What was Peter’s motivation for asking Jesus to wash his hands and head?

2. What disciple was Jesus talking about in Vs 11?

Personal Application
1. Verses 12-15 is talking about service. In what ways, should we serve each other?

2. What is servant-leadership?
-The Basin and Towel attitude. That means that even though they are in leadership that are willing to serve others and empower, encourage and deploy others to come alongside them in service.

Day Nine: Heart Fast: Rationalism

Questions to consider from Day Nine, page 37-41
1. How would you answer the question Alicia poses on page 38: “Why does Jesus speak words that He knows we cannot understand?”

2. Countless studies have been conducted on how music affects the developing brain of a baby. Clearly then, we do not have to understand something’s complexity to be affected by its sound. What do you believe happens in your mind whenever you read or hear God’s Word?

3. List things you enjoy that may be beyond your current understanding as you fast rationalism. For example, a skillful saxophone solo or a star-filled sky.

Quote to remember
Proverbs 3:5-6

Questions from the scripture
1. Why was Jesus troubled in spirit? (vs21)

2. Why do you think Simon Peter was afraid to ask Jesus a question? (vs 24)

3. What was Judas’ responsibility as a disciple of Christ?

4. What is the significance of Judas leaving at night? (See John 9:4)

Personal Application
1. What did you learn about Jesus during this section of scripture?

2. What stops you from have a real conversation with Jesus?

3. Have you allowed Jesus identify the Judas in your camp?

Day Ten: Heart Fast: Avoidance
Questions to consider from Day Ten, page 43-46

1. What does the request of John and James (and their mom) tell you about how the disciples viewed Jesus’ kingdom? (p. 43)

2. How do you most often respond when faced with uncertainty?

3. Share your response to today’s featured quote from Gerald G. May on page 44.

4. What are some of the things that scare you about where God is trying to take you?

Quote To Remember
“To dance when we do not know the steps requires us to value our Partner above our performance. To dance in the dark demonstrates a lavish display of trust.”

Let's Read John 13:31-28

Questions from Scripture
1. How will people know we are disciples of Christ? (vs 34-35)

2. What type of love is mentioned in this section of the scriptures?

Personal Application
1. What stops us from following Jesus?

2. Why is it important for us to love one another?

3. What stops us from loving one another?

Day Eleven: Heart Fast: Religious Profiling
Questions to consider from Day Eleven, page 47-51

1. If you were given one week to live, how do you think you would spend it?

2. Think about making a movie of Bartimaeus’ story. Which scene would you pick as your favorite? Why?

3. What possibilities did you list in today’s reflection question concerning the reasons why the disciples’ might have sought to silence and turn away children and Bartimaeus?

4. Concerning today’s fast of religious profiling, what would it look like to discount the faith or potential of the beautiful? The poor? The highly educated? The mentally broken?

Let’s Read John 14:1-14

Remember for Next Week

40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast by Alicia Britt Chole

Read Pages 53-89 (Days 12-18), We will discuss during Bible Study on March 22, 2017