Lesson 7: Judas Iscariot, Matthias

Read Luke 22:1-6; Acts 1:15-26

Video blog (by Mike)



Flip of the Coin (by Richard)

Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles (Acts 1:26).

On first reading, this is another one of those verses, the ones I wish were not in the Bible, like the story about the bears running out of the woods to eat the teenagers that taunted Elisha.

Some argue that "lots" means "votes" but this is worst kind of Biblical interpretation, disrespectful to God's Word itself and to you, the reader. Why? It's very dangerous to try so hard to "explain away" something that is God-breathed. Any impartial review of the use of the word "lot" would lead us to the conclusion that it means "lot"; the eleven remaining disciples, in effect, flipped a coin to decide between Joseph and Matthias for the position made available by the suicide of Judas Iscariot.

It is difficult to take ourselves out of our own environment and prejudice, but it's good, honest work and sometimes yields great bounty. For example, did you know that "casting lots" was not only a part of Jewish culture, but that is was commanded by God?

• David divided priests by lot (1 Chronicles 24:5).


• Canaan was divided by lot (Joshua 16:1-10).


• Jonathan was found in contempt of his father Saul by lot (1 Samuel 14:41-42).


• Achan was found guilty of covetousness by lot (Joshua 7:16-18).

Why?

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Proverbs 16:33).

The Jewish people used lots to determine an outcome when a decision was required between apparently equal alternatives. The apostles followed this cultural precedent:

1. Required: "Therefore it is necessary to choose ... " (Acts 1:21a).


2. Equal : "The men have been with us the whole time" (Acts 1:21b).

Notice that they did not abandon their reasonable or spiritual sensibilities; this is the key to the making sense of our initial recoil to the verses.

1. Reasonable: They had criteria that made sense (Acts 1:21-23).


2. Spiritual: "They prayed" (Acts 1:24a).

What seemed so odd at first glance now makes perfect sense. Let's put this model to a sanity test:

I am afforded an opportunity to work in more than one ministry...

1. I think through the alternatives and come up with criteria for measuring them one against another.


2. I include others I trust in the decision making process.


3. I exclude some choices based on what I've considered so far.


4. I examine my motives.


5. I ask for God's help.

If we deconstruct the selection of Matthias in Acts 1, we find an excellent model for discerning between equal choices. If I follow their lead and still end up with two equally great choices, then I'm okay with flipping a coin, our cultural equivalent to the casting of lots. I'll choose to be grateful to God for this bounty:

1. More than one great choice


2. People I trust to help me in life decisions


3. God's willingness to expose my motives


4. God's willingness to act


5. God's availability through prayer

Is there a decision you need to make right now?
Are there steps you're leaving out of the decision making process?
Are you grateful to have more than one great choice?

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. Do you know anyone who was a follower of Jesus and then, after a time, betrayed the very Lord he/she had pledged to follow? Have you ever thought about forsaking Christ?

2. Was Judas ever really a Christian? Defend your answer.

3. God knows ahead of time those who are truly His and those who are not (John 13:21). Does that mean a person is no longer responsible for his choices since God has already decided his fate?

4. Matthias is picked to take the place of Judas (Acts 1:24-26). Following Matthias's appointment, the Scriptures are interestingly silent as regards him. What do you think his story might have been?

Lesson 6: James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot

Read Matthew 10:1-4; Acts 1:9-14

Video blog (by Mike)



Dagger Man (by Richard)

15,000 experienced Roman soldiers, the 10th Legion, advanced on about 1,000 Jewish nationalists with little military experience at Masada. It would take the Romans more than 2 years to conquer Masada. When they did they found that all but 7 of the Jews committed suicide rather than be subject to Roman tyranny. This famous ancient story, well supported by archaeological evidence, gives us insight into one of the men Jesus called.

Of the twelve men Jesus called, at least one, Simon, was a Jewish nationalist with a violent streak, that is, a zealot (Luke 6:16). Zealots resorted to violence to support their cause of taking down the occupying army. They were also called Sicarii, literally "dagger men", because of their fondness for the sica, a Roman dagger.

Simon was a very serious man who was very passionate about his beliefs, even if it cost him his life or his freedom. As with the other disciples we've considered, Simon's greatest weakness would become his strength for Jesus. Isn't it remarkable how even our poor choices are turned to good by God when He restores us to the spiritual beings we are intended to be? Simon, once called by Jesus, turns from being a misguided, violent insurgent into a Jesus-guided, wholly immersed advocate of an entirely different kingdom.

Is it any wonder that just touching the hem of Jesus' garment will heal? Confronting who Jesus is will transform you into a spiritual being with a cause that you are already equipped to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Do you know passionate people? Is there passion focused on spiritual things? If not, how close might they be to righting their own ship once they're confronted with the person of Jesus in their life?

Do you see how easily Jesus would change a passion for family, sports or advocacy into zeal for His kingdom? When you see passion, look for Jesus.

(Picture above in public domain: HERE)

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. Are you (or were you) a primary person in your work situation (ie. owner, boss, manager, etc.) or are you (were you) a secondary/support person and what are (were) your responsibilities in your role?

2. James the Less is referred to as such and it could be for a number of reasons. Do you think that maybe because his stature, position and ministry as one of the Twelve was less important and that’s why not much is said about him in the Scriptures?

3. Do you know anybody who goes by three names? What are the three names? (Thaddaeus: Three names for the same guy. "Thaddaeus" in Mark 3:18; "Lebbaeus" in Matthew 10:3, the King James Version; "Judas" in Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13.)

4. Do you think there is ever a time where violence is appropriate in either defending or promoting a religion?

Lesson 5: Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas

Read John 1:45-51; Luke 5:27-28; John 20:24-29

Video blog (by Mike)



Trump To Trumpet (by Richard)

Hindi is the most common language, that is, the unifying language of India. Indians speak hundreds of dialects that are specific to their geographic and cultural region but educated Indians also speak Hindi, enabling them to trade and travel at will without a language barrier. Greek was the equivalent language of Jesus' time, a lingering effect of the former Greek empire.

Speaking Greek granted Matthew access to the educated Romans and speaking Hebrew, his native tongue, resulted in access to the Jews of Capernaum. He leveraged his linguistic prowess by choosing to help the Roman government collect taxes from his own countrymen. Matthew would not have been an employee, he was a contractor working for a percentage of the taxes he collected. If he didn't collect taxes, he didn't eat, that is, his position was 100% commission-based. Most of us shy away from these jobs because of the need for predictable income; this makes sense because our bills are generally predictable.

If you imagine a position today that has no base salary, requires you to be multi-lingual and requires you to be a very strong negotiator on your own behalf, then you are seeing Matthew's vocation. I imagine Matthew today as a customs agent working in import/export, subject to the same kinds of temptations and benefits. It's important to see that he was likely clever, money-motivated and despised. Why?

There is a stark contrast between Matthew before and after his first encounter with Jesus. Unlike the rich, young ruler who was unable to walk away from lifestyle, Matthew immediately turns to follow Jesus. Keep in mind that most men have their productivity and self-esteem so intertwined that they cannot separate them; Matthew would have been even more like this to choose such a production-oriented profession and to choose it despite the fact that it resulted in being despised by his own neighbors. This further illustrates the dramatic change Matthew embraces when Jesus calls him.

Matthew risks his professional and personal reputations by inviting both fellow tax collectors and sinners to a feast to share in his new discovery, Jesus. In effect, he is burning bridges to his profession by including the publicans and flying in the face of those who despise him by inviting those they most despise.

Once again, we see the theme repeated from our study of Peter, James and John: Our greatest weakness may also be our greatest strength. How? Matthew is a man totally engrossed in his profession (tunnel vision) and willing to take great risks for great rewards (entrepreneurial) no matter what anyone around him thinks (independent). If we flip these Trump traits over and look at their manifestations after Matthew meets Jesus, we see this:

• A man who turns his tunnel vision on Jesus by instantly becoming a disciple or follower


• A man who takes great risks by following Jesus and leaving his old life behind


• A man who thinks independently, inviting his professional friends and "sinners" to hear Jesus despite public opinion

Once again we witness great strength exhibited in weakness if we look deeply enough. In fact, this theme recurs in our study of Men Jesus Called. Would you wear Jesus' lens and begin to think of traits you do not like in your family, friends or co-workers as desirable traits turned upside down? Wouldn't this view circumvent judging social outcasts like Matthew in favor of their potential in Christ to be a brother like Matthew? Meeting Jesus is the key, but aren't you more likely to love a neighbor like Matthew if you value them properly? Take the trait you least admire in one other person and imagine that person following Jesus using the flip side of that trait. What is the trait and what is its flip side?

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. Have you ever written somebody off after you found out about their past or place of upbringing?

2. Jesus “saw” Bartholomew prior to their meeting (John 1:48). Would you make any changes in your behavior if you knew Christ was watching?

3. The Bible says Matthew “left everything behind” to follow Christ (Luke 5:28). What do you think it means to “leave everything behind”?

4. Thomas needs to see Jesus alive to believe it (John 20:25). Are you the kind of person that would have believed without seeing? Why or why not?

Lesson 4: Andrew and Philip

Read John 1:35-46

Video blog (by Mike)



Different Folks, Different Strokes (by Richard)

We saw in week one that Jesus called Peter with a sign -- a net bursting with fish following a night's labor that yielded none. Jesus calls Philip, a Jew from Bethsaida like Peter, without a sign. Why? At the very least, we can glean that Jesus approached different people in different ways that include direct intervention (Paul), signs (Peter) and this encounter with Philip (John 1:43-44). My personal experience confirms this:

• Jesus called my wife as she listened to the Old Rugged Cross in a rustic church in the woods of New England that sported no electricity.


• Jesus called me through a direct witnessing experience from a youth leader when I was 11. I prayed the "prayer" for forgiveness that so many of us did. However, after running from the Lord for many years, Jesus called me back with a much more dramatic experience.


• Jesus called a friend of mine upon his third reading of the Bible in a row, a task he took on after his mom begged him to accompany her to a Christian concert. His testimony sounds cerebral unless you consider Paul's words (1 Corinthians 1:22):

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

We could read the Bible 100 times and still not get it. There is a New Testament professor at an Ivy League school who is an atheist. When God calls, what seems like foolishness to some becomes the "power ... and wisdom of God".

If we dive into the Greek grammar of this interaction with Philip we see three things obscured by the translation:

1. When Jesus finds Philip (John 1:43) he literally "keeps on finding" him, that is, this didn't happen in just a moment. Time passed during this "finding" which hints that Jesus was looking specifically for Philip and was committed to finding him. He was/is committed to finding you as well.


2. After searching for and "finding" Philip, Jesus "says" something to him using the same grammar, so it might be better translated "keeps on saying". This was a conversation with Philip, it's not the one sentence command it appears to be in most English translations. Jesus may seek you in a way that is not dramatic.


3. The same holds for Jesus' statement: "Follow me." It sounds like a command that Philip would respond to or reject in an instant but that's not true. The Greek language has a clear way of indicating commands and that grammar is not used here. In fact, like our previous two verbs, this can be better translated "keep on following me". Jesus is inviting Philip to continue (keep on having) the conversation they have already begun. In so doing, he is using a decidedly low-key approach to offer to be Philip's Rabbi.

The story of Philip's call illustrates that Jesus sometimes calls us in a way that is less dramatic and is likely tailored to our need. In Mike's video on Andrew, he referred to the one-time beginning of the Christian journey at salvation that happens in a moment and the ongoing work of salvation in our lives. When viewed in the original language, Philip's story trumpets the latter, that we must "keep on choosing" Jesus.

Will you pass on the Rabbi who changed the course of history? He is seeking you in particular and He will meet you on your ground, in the midst of your need. You need only realize your need for His cleansing sacrifice on the cross and accept the forgiveness only He can truly offer and that He paid such a great price to secure.

Perhaps you have already experienced this one-time call when that which was foolish was turned into power and wisdom in your life and yet you're struggling. "Keep on" following Jesus, keep choosing to do so moment to moment and day to day. You will eventually see the shore, you will see that what temporarily looked foolish is instead wise.

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. John the Baptist introduces Andrew to the Lord. (John 1:40) Who was it that introduced you to Jesus and how did it come about?

2. Jesus personally finds Philip and calls him to be His follower. (John 1:43) Do you think a person can come to Christ by himself with just the Lord calling him and no other person involved?

3. Do you find it easy or hard to share the Gospel (tell others about Jesus)?

4. Explain how to lead a person to faith in Christ.

Lesson 3: James and John

Read Luke 9:49-56

Video blog (by Mike)



Thunder and Blunder (by Richard)

The brothers James and John were called by Jesus to be disciples while fishing like Peter had been previously. Like Peter, they figure prominently in the Gospels:

• When the daughter of a prominent religious figure dies, they are present to see her raised from the dead (Luke 8:49-56).


• Along with Peter, they are present at Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13).


• Along with Peter, they were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as he grieved his imminent death (Matthew 26:36-46).


• John runs alongside Peter to discover the empty tomb of Jesus (John 20:1-10).

While Jesus called Peter his "rock", he instead refers to James and John as the "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). Why?

• They quickly suggest calling down fire like Elijah did on Mount Carmel in response to the Samaritans' snub of Jesus, inviting his rebuke (Luke 9:52-56).


• Their Rabbi corrects them again when they insisted that others not in their inner circle cease casting out demons in Jesus' name (Mark 9:38-40).


• Along with their mom, they argued about who would be greatest in Jesus' kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28).


• Peter and John are the first to be arrested (Acts 4:13-21), possibly because their personalities made them easy targets.


• James was the first disciple to die for his faith (Acts 12:1-2).

It's unlikely that Jesus called James and John "sons of thunder" in a derisive way, so, like we did with Peter last week, we should look for a "double-edged sword", that is, a characteristic than can be both good and bad. Based on the evidence above, it's likely the brothers were quick to act and natural leaders (like Peter) at their best and impulsive and loud at their worst.

When I saw my children misbehaving, before I corrected them I asked myself this question: Will that be a valuable trait as an adult? If so, I would demonstrate the flip side of the choice they just made. For example, if my children stubbornly refused to eat vegetables, I would argue that we have teeth both to cut (meat) and pulverize (vegetables) for a reason, much like any parent. However, I knew that standing up for themselves was going to be a valuable adult trait, one that would protect them, and pointed that out as well. Stubbornness is cleverly cloaked integrity and passion, isn't it? Being loud and assertive like "thunder" can cause trouble but it also makes for great leaders like James and John.

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. What are examples of these dual traits from the life of you and your family?

2. Be aware that peering this closely into the lives of your family members may shine the light right back on you. What would your family say about your traits? What is the opposite of what they say? Which is good and which is bad?

3. What can we learn about our own strengths and weaknesses from the examples of James and John?

4. If you know someone who irritates you, put a name on the irritation and ask yourself if they also possess the opposite of that trait. Are you irritated because you have the same trait in its positive or negative form?

Lesson 2: Simon Peter

Read Luke 5:1-11

Video blog (by Mike)



Disciples That Bounce (by Richard)

We begin our study of The Men Jesus Called with Peter, the most prominent of all of Jesus' disciples. What makes Peter so distinct?

• Peter is among the first and possibly THE first of the disciples to be called (Mark 3:16).
• Peter's name appears first in the lists given of disciples (Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13).
• Peter was present at the transfiguration along with James and John (Luke 9:28-36).
• Peter speaks more often in the Gospels than any of the Jesus' followers.
• Peter is the first to declare Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 16:16).
• Peter is described by Jesus as the "rock" upon which the church will be built (Matthew 16:18).
• Peter walks on water.

Clearly Peter is central to the group of men Jesus called. What draws me to Peter is that he is all of the above yet also this:

• Peter is quick to speak and act; he sometimes looks foolish, but is clearly a risk-taker and a natural leader. That which makes him a leader makes him a fool and this foolishness is often how God demonstrates His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). You can't make this stuff up!
• Peter is fearful and begins to sink right after he walked on water (Matthew 14:28-33).
• Peter denies Jesus three times immediately right after Jesus warned him that he would (Luke 22).

It is this "sink or swim" journey that most resonates with me and many, many Christians. We fight the enemy and our own flesh yet we are redeemed and continue to bring redemption to ourselves and others. Over the years I have described King David to children as a "bouncer" -- he screws up then rallies or "bounces" back; Peter is a "bouncer" as well.

What can we take away from our consideration of the life of Peter? It's okay to be who you are, whether you're a natural leader or a natural something else, it's okay to use your talents and abilities, in fact God gave you those (Ephesians 2:10). Be aware that your strength has a flip side that may sometimes be your undoing. It's okay to be undone because that sometimes leads to a show of God's strength in your weakness. Are you a bouncer?

(Further reading: 8 Responses to Christ's Call)

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. What do you think Christ spoke about as He was teaching from Simon Peter’s boat (Luke 5:3)?

2. Sometimes God asks a person to do what seems to be a crazy thing (Luke 5:4-5). Has God asked you to do anything crazy? Did you do it or not?

3. Can you remember a significant moment in your life where God so impacted you it literally changed your direction?

4. What do you think about the following statement? Some people are in Christianity for the new car or house or more money (the fish) that will come versus for the person of Christ.

Lesson 1: The Twelve

Read Mark 3:13-19

Video blog (by Mike)



Disciples Yesterday and Today (by Richard)

In Mike's introductory video for this week, we not only learn about the twelve disciples Jesus called, but we also discover the major part of Christ's method for determining who should and should not be a disciple, namely, a full night of prayer. Jesus' commitment to prayer is easily missed, because we can be focused on the goal to the neglect of the journey.

"Disciple" is a familiar word in Christian culture but can be misunderstood out of its 1st century context. First let's establish that the word is not interchangeable with "apostle". An apostle is one who is "sent out" while a disciple tends to stay put. A disciple is understood in this time period in the context of a relationship to a rabbi or teacher, it's about a "total immersion" experience for both teacher and student.

I took 3 years of French in high school while all my friends took Spanish. Did I do so because I'm more clever than them? No, I took French because the class was almost entirely female and I was a teenage boy, it seemed like simple math to me. Over the years my French eroded for lack of practice but I sometimes debate doing a total immersion weekend where I would be thrust into a classroom with a teacher and others where nothing but French would be spoken all weekend. If I couldn't ask to go to the restroom or for a meal in French, well ...

The Rabbi / Disciple Learning Model

• The relationship between a rabbi and his disciples in this historical context was one of total immersion -- it was intense and short. Disciples and rabbis traveled, ate and slept together as a pack.


• A disciple was picked by a rabbi, not vice versa.


• A disciple would submit their will entirely to the authority of their rabbi.


• The focus of this group was the Word of God, in this context, the Old Testament. They would sometimes debate minor issues and compare interpretations of various scholars for weeks at a time, not focused on the resolution of the debate but rather on the methodology of considering the issue. To achieve this result, a rabbi would answer a question with a question or use illustrative stories (parables) to encourage thought process and not just conclusion. You can see this pedagogy illustrated in Mark 3:20-30 when Jesus is accused of being of "Beezlebub" after casting demons out of a man.

Mike and I seek to emulate this learning model along with you. We will spend weeks presenting ideas on the topic of The Men Jesus Called in an intense but short burst of interaction once per week featuring introductory videos by Mike and blog posts by me. We seek to follow Jesus' model in the context of modern technology, joining hands with people from all over the world in a way that is entirely new for the purpose of reaping a result that is ancient, that is, a rabbinic, Christ-like way of interacting and changing lives.

Study Questions (Set 1)

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. Find one example of Jesus and any of his disciples in the role of rabbi and disciple. What tips you that they are in these roles in your example?

2. What do you think would be a contemporary model for the intense relationship of a rabbi and disciple?

3. What is the first thing that pops into your mind when I say “disciple”?

4. Do you think contemporary Christian culture has lost this kind of relationship?

5. In what ways would you characterize your life as completely submitted to Jesus’ (your rabbi) authority?

6. What characteristics of the rabbi/disciple relationship of Jesus and His disciples do you NOT see today?

7. What changes are you willing to make to achieve this level of intimacy in your spiritual walk?

Study Questions (Set 2)

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. What do you think it was about Jesus that these twelve men would follow Him?

2. In your mind, what does it mean to "follow Jesus"?

3. Jesus prayed all night prior to choosing the Twelve (Luke 6:12). And then the Twelve He chose were, quite frankly, full of flaws. Do you think Christ's prayer was answered? Why or why not?

4. How did it happen that the Lord called you to follow Him?

The Twelve (video blog supplement #1)

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. What do you think it was about Jesus that these twelve men would follow Him?

2. In your mind, what does it mean to "follow Jesus"?

3. Jesus prayed all night prior to choosing the Twelve (Luke 6:12). And then the Twelve He chose were, quite frankly, full of flaws. Do you think Christ's prayer was answered? Why or why not?

4. How did it happen that the Lord called you to follow Him?

Disciples Yesterday and Today

In Mike's introductory video for this week, we not only learn about the twelve disciples Jesus called, but we also discover the major part of Christ's method for determining who should and should not be a disciple, namely, a full night of prayer. Jesus' commitment to prayer is easily missed, because we can be focused on the goal to the neglect of the journey.

"Disciple" is a familiar word in Christian culture but can be misunderstood out of its 1st century context. First let's establish that the word is not interchangeable with "apostle". An apostle is one who is "sent out" while a disciple tends to stay put. A disciple is understood in this time period in the context of a relationship to a rabbi or teacher, it's about a "total immersion" experience for both teacher and student.

I took 3 years of French in high school while all my friends took Spanish. Did I do so because I'm more clever than them? No, I took French because the class was almost entirely female and I was a teenage boy, it seemed like simple math to me. Over the years my French eroded for lack of practice but I sometimes debate doing a total immersion weekend where I would be thrust into a classroom with a teacher and others where nothing but French would be spoken all weekend. If I couldn't ask to go to the restroom or for a meal in French, well ...

The Rabbi / Disciple Learning Model

• The relationship between a rabbi and his disciples in this historical context was one of total immersion -- it was intense and short. Disciples and rabbis traveled, ate and slept together as a pack.


• A disciple was picked by a rabbi, not vice versa.


• A disciple would submit their will entirely to the authority of their rabbi.


• The focus of this group was the Word of God, in this context, the Old Testament. They would sometimes debate minor issues and compare interpretations of various scholars for weeks at a time, not focused on the resolution of the debate but rather on the methodology of considering the issue. To achieve this result, a rabbi would answer a question with a question or use illustrative stories (parables) to encourage thought process and not just conclusion. You can see this pedagogy illustrated in Mark 3:20-30 when Jesus is accused of being of "Beezlebub" after casting demons out of a man.

Mike and I seek to emulate this learning model along with you. We will spend weeks presenting ideas on the topic of The Men Jesus Called in an intense but short burst of interaction once per week featuring introductory videos by Mike and blog posts by me. We seek to follow Jesus' model in the context of modern technology, joining hands with people from all over the world in a way that is entirely new for the purpose of reaping a result that is ancient, that is, a rabbinic, Christ-like way of interacting and changing lives.

Study Questions

Feel free to answer any or all questions in the comment section below for interaction with fellow participants~Thx

1. Find one example of Jesus and any of his disciples in the role of rabbi and disciple. What tips you that they are in these roles in your example?

2. What do you think would be a contemporary model for the intense relationship of a rabbi and disciple?

3. What is the first thing that pops into your mind when I say “disciple”?

4. Do you think contemporary Christian culture has lost this kind of relationship?

5. In what ways would you characterize your life as completely submitted to Jesus’ (your rabbi) authority?

6. What characteristics of the rabbi/disciple relationship of Jesus and His disciples do you NOT see today?

7. What changes are you willing to make to achieve this level of intimacy in your spiritual walk?

SCHEDULE (7 weeks)

Topics and Passages:

January 10 - The Twelve (Mark 3:13-19)

January 17 - Simon Peter (Luke 5:1-11)

January 24 - James and John (Luke 9:49-56)

January 31 - Andrew and Philip (John 1:35-46)

February 7 - Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas
(John 1:45-51; Luke 5:27-28; John 20:24-29)

February 14 - James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
(Matthew 10:1-4; Acts 1:9-14)

February 21 - Judas Iscariot; Matthias (Luke 22:1-6; Acts 1:15-26)

Welcome to Men Jesus Called

I'd like to personally welcome you to the "Men Jesus Called" Bible study site. Both Richard and I are happy you've come!

Over the course of seven weeks (starting January 10, 2011 ~ view entire schedule: HERE), we will be considering the twelve disciples of Jesus. (Can you name them without opening your Bible? Try it in the comment section below to see how far you get and just for fun.)

This study is meant for both women and men. Ladies and guys will find much truth to hang their hats on and apply in their lives. Of course, a Bible study is only as good as the investment of the student involved. The fact is you will only get out of it what you put in.

"Men Jesus Called" has purposely been designed in the simplest of ways, with a lot of breathing room and to be self-contained. Each week (starting on Monday morning) there is a short passage to be read, four questions, a blog post, video blog post and then every two weeks a video chat will be offered (time to be announced) for any and all who would like to participate. And so you can join in at your own comfort level (and as your schedule permits). Visit this website at any time, morning, noon or night, and you will find the materials. No need to purchase anything. You can even read all the Bible passages here. Just pass your mouse over any of the verses you see and they will pop up for your consideration and convenience.

All content is fresh and developed by Richard Mayan (@mcProdigal) and myself (@aheartforgod). We're convinced that God will speak to you over the course of this study.

Thanks again for joining with us.

P.S. Please follow @menJesuscalled on Twitter for more information and updates (and to connect with others who are participating). God bless.