Congregation Bible Study (30 mins.) lfb lessons 80, 81.
Analysis of Lesson 80: Jesus Chooses the 12 Apostles
Who did Jesus choose to be his 12 apostles?
After praying all night to seek Jehovah's guidance, Jesus chose twelve of his disciples to be his apostles. They were: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus chose 12 of his disciples to be his apostles, that is, his closest representatives. They were ordinary men, mostly of humble origins, whom he personally trained to accompany him, learn from his example, and later assume important responsibilities in the Christian congregation.
Luke 6:12-13. These verses show that before choosing the apostles, Jesus spent the entire night in prayer. This indicates that it was not an impulsive decision, but one carefully considered under God's guidance. It teaches us the importance of seeking divine direction when facing important decisions.
Mark 3:13-19. Here it is mentioned that Jesus called whomever he wanted and appointed them apostles. This highlights that the selection was not based on prestige or visible abilities, but on what Jesus saw in their hearts. It also demonstrates that God can equip ordinary people to fulfill special purposes.
Acts 4:13. This passage describes the apostles as men without formal education, yet courageous and steadfast. Even so, people recognized that they had been with Jesus. This underscores that their true preparation came from their closeness to him, which transformed their thinking and actions.
Ephesians 2:20-22. Here it is explained that the apostles form part of the foundation of the Christian congregation. This reveals that their selection had a lasting purpose within God's plan, as they would be key to establishing and strengthening the congregation after Jesus' departure.
What did Jesus entrust to his apostles?
Jesus taught his apostles how to preach and eventually sent them out to preach on their own. He also entrusted them with leading the Christian congregation, and they would be its foundation after Jesus was no longer on Earth.
Although Jesus' apostles were imperfect, made mistakes, and sometimes argued about who was the most important among them, they were good men who loved Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus commissioned them to preach the message, teach others, provide spiritual support to people, and care for the congregation. Furthermore, he prepared them to continue the work he had begun, faithfully representing him even after his death.
Matthew 10:1-10. These verses show that Jesus gave them authority to preach and also to help people through powerful actions. This demonstrates that their commission included both teaching and acting on behalf of others, and that they had the necessary support to fulfill their mission.
John 15. Here Jesus calls them friends because he shared with them what he had learned from his Father. This indicates that his assignment was not just a task, but a relationship based on trust. The more they understood his teaching, the better they could fulfill their responsibility.
Mark 10:35-40. This passage shows that, although they had an important assignment, they still struggled with attitudes such as the desire to excel. This demonstrates that part of their commission included growing in humility and learning to serve, not seeking position or recognition.
1 Corinthians 9:5. This text reflects that the apostles organized their lives around their work. This indicates that Jesus' commission was not something temporary or secondary, but an ongoing responsibility that required commitment and personal sacrifice.
What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
This account teaches us that Jehovah values prayer and guides those who sincerely seek him. We should follow the example of Jesus, who sought Jehovah's guidance when he had to make an important decision, such as choosing his 12 apostles.
It teaches us that we should seek Jehovah in prayer. Like Jesus, who prayed all night showing how much he trusted in his Father's guidance, we should not make important decisions on our own.
In this account we see that Jehovah does not choose perfect people, but those who love him and are willing to learn and serve him, like Jesus' 12 apostles, who were imperfect and made mistakes, but loved Jehovah.
What practical lessons can we learn?
We learn that we should pray to Jehovah before making important decisions and trust in his guidance. Furthermore, we should not be discouraged by our imperfections, but rather strive to improve and serve him wholeheartedly.
We learn to value spiritual training and to trust that Jehovah can use us to accomplish his will, even with our imperfections.
Analysis of Lesson 81: The Sermon on the Mount
What do we have to do to be friends of Jehovah?
To be friends with Jehovah, we must recognize our need for him and learn to love him. But we cannot love God if we do not love others. For this reason, Jesus taught that we must be kind and righteous to everyone, even our enemies. We must also value our friendship with Jehovah more than material things and trust that he knows what we need.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
To be friends with Jehovah, we must recognize our need for him, learn to love him deeply, and put our relationship with him first. This involves trusting in his care, following his teachings, and not prioritizing material things over spiritual matters.
Matthew 5:3. This verse highlights the importance of being aware of our spiritual need. Recognizing our dependence on God is the first step toward drawing closer to Him. This humble attitude helps us seek His guidance and value our friendship with Him above all else.
Matthew 6:19-21 teaches that we should focus not on accumulating material wealth, but on spiritual wealth. This shows that our friendship with Jehovah is strengthened when our priorities are right and we value what has true and lasting worth.
Matthew 6:25-34. These verses highlight the importance of trusting that God will take care of our needs. They teach us not to live dominated by worry, but to develop faith that Jehovah knows what we need and will act in his due time.
Matthew 11:29. Jesus invites us to learn from him, highlighting his mild and humble character. This shows that, to be friends of Jehovah, we must imitate these qualities, since they reflect the way God wants us to be.
How does Jehovah want us to treat others?
Jehovah wants us to treat others with love, being kind and fair to everyone, even our enemies. He also wants us to forgive wholeheartedly, to take the initiative to make peace, and to treat others as we would like to be treated.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jehovah wants us to treat others with love, kindness, justice, and forgiveness, even those who treat us badly. We should strive to be peaceful, understanding, and apply the Golden Rule in our relationships.
Matthew 5:44-45. These verses teach that we should love even our enemies. This shows that the love Jehovah expects from us goes beyond the natural, reflecting his own example of kindness toward all kinds of people.
Matthew 5:23-24. This passage highlights the importance of resolving conflicts quickly. Jehovah values peace and reconciliation, so he expects us to take the initiative to settle differences with others.
Luke 6:31. This text presents the golden rule. Treating others as we want to be treated is a practical principle that guides our actions and helps us develop empathy and consideration in our relationships.
Matthew 5:48. This verse encourages us to strive to be complete in our love and conduct. It reflects Jehovah's desire for us to imitate his way of dealing with people, showing kindness, justice, and balance at all times.
What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
This account teaches us that Jehovah is a loving God who cares about people and their needs. It also shows us that he wants us to have a close relationship with him and to learn to love both God and others. Furthermore, Jehovah knows what we need and cares for us.
What practical lessons can we learn?
We learn that we must recognize our need for Jehovah and strive to love him. We must also treat others with love, being kind and fair to everyone, even our enemies, and forgiving from the heart.
We learn to prioritize our friendship with Jehovah over material things and to trust that he will always provide what we need.
Comments
Post a Comment