Bible Study Fellowship - Lesson 0 - Matthew

September 7, 2021

I went out walking at lunch and read the notes, introducing Matthew. It is a new year and a new time to study God's word. I've been in BSF now for 2 years and the study and accountability to study God's word has been good, but I must admit struggling at times with the community. For this 3rd year, I've been placed in a new group, not with my son which is sad, but he says it is amazing we've been in the same group 2 years in a row anyway. 

I've always been a person that thinks about application and applying God's word. Basically, doing it and expecting to see a change in me because of it. So much of church life and even my personal time is spent in adding knowledge to my life. I get saturated it seems in learning and just wonder at times if I'm being changed by God's word. Yet, I know I am. The Holy Spirit is working in me. I know this. He is helping with my online ministry and helping me impart truth to others and as I do lives are changing. So it is exciting to get God's word out there to people and then seeing their lives change and the way they view the world be altered. 

This year in BSF I am hoping for progress on knowing the people in BSF better and also to work through these studies and learn everything God is asking me to learn, in hopes of it impacting my thinking of the Gospel and the work He is doing in the World.

Noteworthy thoughts from BSF Lesson 0 - Introduction:

• The apostles connected the teaching of the Old Testament to the person and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. P. 5 [Often why we see so many references of the Old Testament in the New Testament - showing us how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament teaching.] 
• The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles as God's chosen instruments to uphold the truth. P.6 [Learning more and more that it is the Spirit that is speaking to us today and giving us understanding of God's word and teaching us. I've spent so much of my life, not really acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit.]
• John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
• John 15:26-27 - “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
• John 16:12-15 - “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
• 2 Peter 1:21 - for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
• God wrote to us, using human language to express spiritual thoughts and concepts that cannot be fully captured by human words. P.6 inset [Does this mean we need to be careful that we don't become too confident in what God's word has to say to us?] 
• We read to hear God speak. P. 6
• Gospels p. 7
• Mark (Jew) - written as early as AD 58-60; action-oriented narrative
• Matthew (Jew) - written before AD 70; educated writer; drew content from Mark
• Luke (non-Jew) - drew content from Mark; presents Jesus as Savior of Sinners
• John  - 80% writing unique; written AD 80-100; presents salvation and life in the Spirit
• Matthew wrote to a primarily Jewish audience. p. 8
• Matthew recorded the most important facts of Jesus' ministry and not necessarily in order of occurrence. p. 8
• Matthew revealed Jesus as King of the entire human race. p. 8 (Matthew 24-25)

Application:

How will I actively trust God today?