The river of life
Water is used to symbolise many things in the Bible; cleansing, new life or healing.
Read Ezekiel 47:1-12
Here is a wonderful picture of the river of life, symbolising the spirit, life and power of God.
- Where is the source of the river of life? What do you think this represents?
Like all rivers, the river of life begins as a small trickle that grows into a mighty river, too deep to stand in.
- If the water represents the spirit, life and power of God, where are we standing? With our feet in the shallows? Or have we launched out into the deep water to be carried along by the power of God’s love?
The deeper we move into our relationship with God, the more the river of life will surround us and flow through us. The river of life brings blessing wherever it passes.
In verse 8 the sea that is mentioned is the Dead Sea – which has a very high salt content.
- What happens as the river of life enters the Dead Sea?
- Do we have the same effect on our sinful communities and the world in which we live?
- What are the five points to note about the trees in verse 12?
The river brings great blessing to all those who, like these trees, have their roots deep into the water.
- Reflect on how Christ’s life could be likened to this description.
This picture is also repeated at the end of the Bible, in Revelation 22:1-2. At the end of his ministry, Christ reminded us that he is always with us, still pouring out his love and spirit upon us (Matthew 28:20b). Let us hold on to this beautiful image and let the river of life flow through us and our communities.
Loving our enemies
Read Acts 6 and 7
Stephen was a young man richly blessed by God and full of power. He performed great miracles and wonders among the people. But some people did not like him.
They started arguing with Stephen, but God gave him great wisdom and no-one could stand against him. So, they bribed some men to tell lies about Stephen.
Finally, he was arrested and brought before the Council (the highest religious court of the Jews) and the High Priest.
When Stephen appeared before this awesome group, he had so much peace that his face shone like that of an angel.
After he had given a speech challenging these leaders for rejecting God’s salvation, they became angry, chased him out of the city and stoned him to death. As Stephen lay dying, he had no hatred for his persecutors. With love in his heart, his final prayer was, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’
- What did God’s love for mankind cost him?
- What difference did this love make to the state of mankind?
- Fairness means that those who do wrong must be judged and punished. Does this reading agree with this? What lessons are there here for us as Christians?
Quietly read I Corinthians 13:4-13. To examine our love for others, replace the word ‘love’ with your own name all the way through. For example: ‘Mary is patient and kind. Mary is not jealous.’ Note down areas in our lives that need
change.
Honesty
Read Acts 5:1-11
All members of groups need to trust one another and be honest with one another.
- What do Ananias and Sapphira do?
- Who does Peter say Ananias and Sapphira have lied to?
- What happens to them?
- What impact does this have on the church and all who hear of these events?
- Are we open and honest in our dealings with any groups we may belong to?
Reflect as a group on how we can encourage each other to be more open and honest with each other.
Protection in difficult times
When life is difficult we can turn to God’s word for encouragement and guidance.
Read Ephesians 6:13-18
This passage tells us of a protective coating of armour that we can use against the devil’s schemes.
- How can the following things protect you?
The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, the shield of
faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, which
is the Word of God and prayer.
Read Colossians 3:1-3
- How do these verses help us to concentrate on what is
important?
- How are we encouraged to keep our minds free of sin?
Receiving forgiveness
The Bible tells us that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’ (Romans 3:23) and that if we claim to be without sin we are lying (1 John 1:8-10). We all need to be made clean.
Read John 13:2-11
Here we read about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. God is the one who makes us clean and forgives us through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, when he shed his blood for us. We receive that forgiveness by confessing what we have done wrong in our lives and believing in God’s power to make us clean (Psalm
51:4,7; Acts 2:38).
- Why does Peter refuse to let Jesus wash his feet?
- What is Jesus’ answer?
- How does Peter then respond? What is he really saying?
- What reassurance does Jesus give him in verse 10? (compare 1 Corinthians 6:11)
Those who have turned away from doing wrong and who come to Christ can receive his forgiveness and then their whole body is clean. But our feet still get dirty and need washing: we need to
examine ourselves regularly and confess our sins to each other and to God so that we keep clean (James 5:16).
Holiness in practice
Read Leviticus 19:1-18
The command to ‘love your neighbour’ first appears in Leviticus 19:18. It summarises verses 1-18, which contain various Old Testament rules and regulations. Look at this passage in Leviticus. Which of the commands in verses 3, 4, 9, 12, 14, 16 and 18 are concerned with:
- worshipping God?
- personal holiness?
- holy living standards in relation to other people?
These commands are given with a note of authority. Whose authority is this? Note the general nature of some commands (verses 2, 3 and 11) and the precise detail of others (verses 5-8, 9, 13 and 14). God wants us to be holy, both in large matters and in the small details of our daily lives.
- How does God’s law makes provision for the poor and for
‘outsiders’? (verses 9 and 14)
- How can we care for the disadvantaged as individuals,
within our family, and within our church?
Perseverance
There is great joy in persevering until we complete what God has called us to do. Both Paul and Jesus declare at the end
of their lives that they have finished the tasks they were set.
Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8, John 4:34 and John 19:30
- Do we know what tasks God has given us in our families?
- Do we know what tasks God has given us in our communities?
- Will we be able to echo Jesus’ words? ‘I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.’
(John 17:4)
- How can we encourage each other to persevere? Discuss any Bible passages that you have found helpful at difficult
times.
Our motives for giving
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
This passage describes why people give to others and challenges our motives in giving.
- What prompts people to be cheerful givers?
- Verse 7 calls us to be ready to give. What does this mean practically?
- What is generous giving? How do we know how much to give away?
- What are the results of generous giving? (verses 10-15)
- What does Paul mean in verse 11 by ‘being made rich in every way’?
- How would we answer someone who claims that giving generously will result in health and wealth for the giver?
John Wesley, a famous preacher said ‘Earn all you can, save all you can, so that you can give all you can.’
- Do we agree with this statement?
- How does this work in practice in our individual lives and our organisation?
- Is it easier to earn, save or give? How can we get the balance right?
John’s message of repentance
Read Matthew 3:1-2 and 4:17
Jesus is giving his agreement here to the message which
John the Baptist had preached.
- Why do you think Jesus is repeating John’s message?
- What was the content of what John the Baptist preached?
(Read Luke 3:7-14)
- Which particular sins did John stress needed repentance, if
people were to be ready for the kingdom of God? Make a
list.
- If John were to preach in our community today, discuss what sins he would stress that people need to repent of. List these and compare with the first list.
- From what Jesus and John preached, what are the
characteristics of the Kingdom of God?
- What challenges does this present to us today?
Failing as disciples
Read Mark 14:66-72
Peter went along when Jesus was taken away by the chief priests and soldiers to Pilate. He was convinced he would never
let Jesus down (Mark 14:31) even though Jesus had said he would.
- Why did Peter deny knowing Jesus?
- Would we have done the same?
- Did Jesus still want to use Peter after he had let him down? (Read John 21:15-17, Acts 2:14-21 and 2:32-41.)
- How does that make us feel?
Our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit
Read I Kings 8:12-21
In Old Testament times, the temple was thought of as a building where God lived and it was set apart for his worship.
- How did Solomon describe the temple he had built?
Read Psalm 51:16-17
Old Testament worship placed a strong emphasis on the need for animal sacrifice in order for sins to be forgiven.
- What kind of sacrifice does God want?
Read John 2:12-22
In New Testament times, Jesus teaches that there are other ways of thinking about the temple.
- What are these new ways of understanding the meaning of the temple?
Read I Corinthians 3:16
The role of God’s temple was to bring inner spiritual cleansing. Christ’s sacrificial death has now made this possible for each one of us, through faith in him, and he sends us his Holy Spirit to guide us.
- What is meant by the temple in this verse? Who lives in this temple?
- How should this affect the way we care for and feed our bodies?
See also
Galatians 5:22 – 6:10 The fruits of the Spirit
Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, as God’s chosen people