Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 21, 2013 (4EasterC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Believe in God or believe in the Church?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 5, Verses 27-32, 40-41
1. “Almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” Did they like what they heard? What made Paul and Barnabas decide to preach to the Gentiles? Was salvation planned for the Gentiles from the beginning or was this a change of plans?
2. How were Paul and Barnabas instruments of salvation? Are you an instrument in any way? How? What do you do when you encounter opposition?
Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5
1. There is something comforting about being shepherded by our Lord Jesus. Our psalmist says we are 'the flock He tends.' Speak of how you feel to be one of His sheep.
2. The Psalm tells us to 'serve the Lord with gladness.' Give an example of how you are serving Him with a joyful spirit.
Second Reading
Book of Revelation, Chapter 5, Verses 11-14
1. People suffer and yet still stand before the Lamb. How can this be? Does the Lamb take care of their needs? Does Christ have a way to understand their hardships? How about you: can you understand other people’s suffering better if you have experienced suffering yourself?
2. What resistance to the values of Christianity do you encounter in your life? When you encounter inner conflict regarding social justice and the people who suffer because of it, what do you do? What would you like to do?
Gospel
According to John, Chapter 21, Verses 1-19
1. “Jesus said: I know them.” What does the Good Shepherd know about you?
2. “No one can take them out of my hands …or the Father’s hands.” The sheep are safely kept. Are there forces that try to take the sheep out of Jesus’ hand? What are they? Do they sometimes take you too? When will you be free from struggle?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings with other ParishWorld readers. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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BEWARE OF DISTORTED SHEEP-TALK
ReplyDeleteDo dead sheep have eternal security? Can sheep ever be lost? The favorite proof text of advocates for the erroneous doctrine of "once saved always saved" is John 10:27-28.
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
Jesus said His sheep hear is voice. Jesus told us all how to become a member of His flock. (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.....) If you have not believed and have not been baptized in water, then you have not listened to the voice of Jesus. There is only one way to become a sheep.
Jesus said His sheep follow Him, He did not say that He would force them to become sheep.
Jesus said His sheep will be given eternal life and no one will snatch them from His hand.
No one can snatch you from the hand of Jesus, however, you can choose to leave His hand voluntarily.
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Why would Jesus instruct His sheep to endure to the end, in order to be saved, if the sheep were once saved always saved?
DO DEAD SHEEP HAVE ETERNAL SECURITY?
Acts 5:1-11.....3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the price of the land? 4 .....You have not lied to men but to God."5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last. (Did this dead sheep, who lied to God, have eternal security?)
Acts 5:11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.(Why would the whole church be in fear because of two dead sheep, if all the sheep were once saved always saved?)
SHEEP HAVE FREE-WILL!
1 Timothy 5:14-15 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
Satan did not snatch these widows from the hand of Jesus, these sheep made a choice to follow Satan.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The love of money can cause sheep to wander from the faith. Satan has no power to force people from the faith. Men have a choice.
1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith.....
The Holy Spirit says some sheep will fall from the faith.
Who do you trust, the Holy Spirit or John Calvin?
DO UNREPENTANT SHEEP, WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY, HAVE ETERNAL SECURITY? NO!
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