STP Study Guide for April 17, 2024
No Longer Afraid
“Then he said to them: ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.’”—Luke 21:10-19 NIV
Again, we’re looking at Jesus instructing His disciples about what was expected of them as disciples of Jesus Christ. One thing in certain, Jesus didn’t promise them a ‘rose garden’ and we aren’t either. It seems like Jesus is trying to talk the disciples into not following Him, but I believe it was His way to prepare them for what was coming. He wanted them to know that facing off against the Roman and Jewish authorities would be a test for the most devout believer. We don’t have Roman conquerors or religious authorities coming after us today, but we do have false teachers, all kinds of distractions that cause us to stray from the path that we are to follow. But Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us to face up to our enemies. We must open ourselves up to the power of the Holy Spirit and we can “Turn the World Upside Down.”
Come Holy Spirit, Come…Amen.
St. Paul UMC Worship Service; 9:00am Sunday; 495 St. Paul Cemetery Rd., Dover, AR 72837
Dover UMC Worship Service; 10:00am Sunday; 81 West Water St., Dover, AR 72837
Today’s Memory Verse: “Stand firm, and you will win life.’”—Luke 21:19 NIV
Win life, blessings and prayers…
Circuit Writing 