Matthew 11: ²⁵...Jesus said, "My Father, LORD of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people. ²⁶Yes, Father, that is whatpleased you. (CEV)

1 Corinthians 1: ²⁵Even when God is foolish, he iswiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger thaneveryone else. ²⁶My dear friends, remember what you were whenGod choseyou. The people of this world didn't think that many of you werewise. Onlya few of you were in places of power, and not many of you camefrom importantfamilies. ²⁷But God chose the foolish thingsof this world to putthe wise to shame. He chose the weak things of thisworld to put the powerfulto shame. ²⁸What the world thinksis worthless, useless, and nothingat all is what God has used to destroywhat the world considers important.²⁹ God did all this to keepanyone from bragging to him. ³⁰You are God's children. He sentChrist Jesus to save us and to make us wise,acceptable, and holy.(CEV)

1 Timothy 3: ¹Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Nowthe overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³notgiven to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a loverof money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that hischildren obey him with proper respect. ⁵(If anyone does notknow how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)⁶Hemustnot be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall underthe samejudgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputationwithoutsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil'strap. (CEV)

1 Pet 5: ¹Church leaders, I am writing to encourageyou. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ's suffering, andI willshare in his glory when it is shown to us. ²Just as shepherdswatchover their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed inyour care.Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply becauseyou think youmust. Let it be something you want to do, instead of somethingyou do merelyto make money. ³Don't be bossy to those peoplewho are in yourcare, but set an example for them. (CEV)

1. Why did Jesus not choose the rich, highly intelligent, highly educated Pharisees as disciples?
2. How is it that Paul was an exception, and Paul called the achievements he gave up "garbage"?
3. Why did Jesus choose people who were despised and lowly as His servant leaders?
4. What was there about a small group of 12 that caused Jesus to trainHis helpers that way?

Please study the above references and questions and then addyour observations and applications:
Observations                                                             Application
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Click for Group Prayer Needs
Click for Prev Agenda No. 058 or Next Agenda No. 060
Click on Grp No. for Chapter 3 - "Applying God's Wonderful News in Small Groups."
[grp041] [grp042] [grp043] [grp044] [grp045] [grp046] [grp047] [grp048] [grp049] [grp050]
[grp051] [grp052] [grp053] [grp054] [grp055] [grp056] [grp057] [grp058] [grp059] [grp060]

Click for [Introduction]
Click To Visit Jean and Warren's Page and Link Organizer
Click For Contents-1 and Book One
Click For Contents-2 and Book Two
Click For Contents-3 and Book Three
Click For Contents-4 and Book Four