Oh I Get It!

Followers of Christ in the New Testament were Christians, so were their churches like ours?

Start by reading Acts 11:19-30

The churches themselves were different: • They met in people’s homes. • They often had to meet in hiding. • Everyone in the group was involved; nobody just “went to church.” • Everyone shared their meals and stuff with each other. Just like in our churches, they came together to pray, worship and learn how to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

 

More To Get You Thinking

Was Jezebel the wickedest witch or what?

Start by reading 1 Kings 21

Jezzie was a piece of work. When married to King Ahab, she killed off God's prophets, made Ahab build a temple for her false god, Baal, and scared even the godly Elijah with her threats. She once had a guy killed so Ahab could have his vineyard. Worst of all, she used things like a holy fasting day to trick people into doing her dirty work. But read on to 2 Kings. Jezebel got what she deserved.

In Mary's time, was having a baby when you weren't married that big a deal?

Start by reading Luke 1:35–28

In Mary's time, if a girl became pregnant before marriage, the men of her town stoned her to death (see Deuteronomy 22:20–21). That makes Mary's response powerful. She didn't say, "Why are you doing this to me, God?" She said, "I'm ready to serve God by having his child." She was willing to endure shame and possibly death so God could bring his Son to us. Her courage was a really big deal.

What is this "Day of the LORD" Zephaniah keeps talking about?

Start by reading Zephaniah 3:12–20

You've heard through the Old Testament that God was the judge of all the earth. He would reward those who had lived God-filled lives; and he would punish the people who had turned on him. The time when that would happen was called the Day of the LORD, or Judgment Day. Zephaniah described it in gory detail, but he also said there was a chance to repent before then and be spared. Time to be meek and humble before God.

When God called Gideon to lead Israel, Gideon was acting like a wimp. Why did God use him?

Start by reading Judges 6:15

Gideon reacted to God's call just like Moses did: "Why me? I can't do this!" God often calls on people we consider "wimps" to do his mighty work. These people with self-doubts had to listen to God and obey him because they didn't have plans of their own getting in the way. Full of God's power, Gideon brought down a false religion and then took out the Midianites with only 300 men, restoring peace to the land for 40 years. But he was so humble he wouldn't let the people make him king. Only the Lord was king, he said. And that's exactly why God chose him.

Why did it upset Peter that Jesus wanted to wash his feet?

Start by reading John 3:1–17

Guests always got their feet washed because people in Bible times tromped around in sandals through everything from dust and donkey poo to somebody’s garbage. The washing was usually done by a servant. Peter was horrified that his Lord and Master would touch his icky feet. Jesus did it because it was a lowly task. He set an example for his followers to do whatever we can to serve our fellow humans, even if it grosses us out.