KEY THOUGHT:  As disciples, as followers of Christ, we should have the least to fear. We need to learn to live within the hope and comfort of God’s love.

              1.  Have a volunteer read Matthew 8:23-26.

A.        Ask class members to share a short thought on the main idea of this text.

B.         If the disciples really believed Jesus was the Messiah, would they have anything to fear from the storm in a boat with Jesus on board?

C.        Personal Application:  Have you ever been in a situation where fear arose, either for yourself or for someone else?.

D.        D. Case Study :  One of your relatives states, “I’ve seen bumper stickers that say, ‘No Fear’. Does being a Christian of courage really mean we will face everything unconcerned and fearless?” How would you respond to your relative?

2.         Have a volunteer read Matthew 14:22-33.

A.        Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.

B.   Can you believe in Jesus and not show faith in Him? Why, after Jesus told them to get in the boat, were His disciples afraid again when a storm came upon them?

B.         Personal Application: Have you ever been in a situation where you doubted whether God would or could help you out of it? Share.

C.        Case Study :  One of your friends states, “When does faith become presumption? First Peter was afraid, then he wanted to walk on water. Then he fell and cried out for help. What was Peter’s mistake that made him fall? Do we fall sometimes because we are not looking in the right direction?” How would you respond to your friend?

3.         Have a volunteer read Matthew 16:6-12.

B.         Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.

C.        What was wrong with asking Jesus to show them a sign from heaven to prove who He was?

D.        Personal Application : Have you ever experienced a situation you didn’t understand and were looking at it in an earthly temporal way, rather than in a spiritual understanding? Share.

E.         Case Study :  One of your neighbors states, “What was wrong with the doctrine and teaching of the Pharisees? Didn’t they teach from the Scriptures about the law? I thought it was their attitude and not their teaching that was dangerous. What is dangerous about their teaching?”  How would you respond to your neighbor?

4.         Have a volunteer read I John 4:18.

A.        As class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.

B.         Can a person say they love Jesus but joined the church because of a hellfire and brimstone sermon? Should we use scare tactics to bring people into the church?.

C.        Personal Application : Does love lead us to disregard the law since God won’t punish us? Should we fear God? What is the balance between obedience and disobedience and its consequences?

D.        Think of one person who needs to hear this message. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note:  “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessing can be retained only as it is shared.”  MH p. 149)

Michael Fracker

Michael Fracker ha autorizado al Doctor Martínez a traducir y ha publicar sus comentarios semanales de la escuela sabática, en el centro internacional para el estudio de la Escuela Sabática de Ministerios PM

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