Bible Study Recap – January 28

The Gospel of John – Chapter 1

Wednesday, January 28

Theme: Grace, Truth, and Our Birth into God’s Family

Last Wednesday, we began our journey through the Gospel of John by grounding ourselves in John chapter 1, a passage that sets the theological foundation for everything that follows in this Gospel. Rather than starting with Jesus’ birth or early ministry, John begins with eternity, inviting us to see Jesus not just as a teacher or prophet, but as God in the flesh.

Why John Was Written

We learned that the Gospel of John was likely written between AD 85–95, later than the other Gospels. By this time, the church was more established and facing serious challenges – persecution, theological confusion, and growing questions about who Jesus truly was. John writes with a clear purpose: not just to tell stories about Jesus, but to help readers believe and live in light of who Jesus is.

John himself states this purpose clearly:

“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

Belief, life, and identity are at the heart of this Gospel.

What Makes John Different

Unlike Matthew, Mark, and Luke – the Synoptic Gospels – John is deeply theological. He focuses on signs rather than parables, and each miracle or encounter points beyond itself to a deeper spiritual reality. John is less concerned with simply what happened and more concerned with what it means.

Writing to a mixed audience of Jewish and Gentile believers living in a Greek-influenced world, John bridges Jewish theology and Greek philosophy by introducing Jesus as the Logos (the Word), God’s creative, revealing presence made personal and visible.

“In the Beginning Was the Word”

John opens with one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

By starting here, John makes it clear from the outset that Jesus is not created, not merely human, and not gradually revealed. He is fully divine, from the very beginning. Everything else – grace, truth, salvation, and new life – flows from this reality.

The Word does not remain distant.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

God doesn’t shout instructions from heaven. God moves into the neighborhood.

Becoming Children of God

One of the most beautiful themes in John 1 is the idea of spiritual birth. We reflected on how becoming a child of God is not based on heritage, effort, or human will, but on receiving Jesus:

“To all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God - born of God.”

This marks a shift from religion based on performance to relationship rooted in grace. We are not slaves trying to earn approval, we are children who belong.

Jesus: Full of Grace and Truth

John describes Jesus as being “full of grace and truth.” These two are never separated in John’s Gospel. Truth without grace leads to condemnation. Grace without truth becomes shallow and cheap. In Jesus, they are perfectly united.

Truth in John is not just correct doctrine, it is a person. Jesus reveals reality as God intends it to be, exposing darkness not to shame us, but to heal us. Grace, meanwhile, comes before repentance, before transformation, and before perfection. From Jesus’ fullness, we receive “grace upon grace”, continuous, overflowing grace.

John the Baptist prepares the way, but Jesus brings fulfillment. His ministry does not begin with demands, but with presence.

Why This Still Matters

John begins with divinity because only God can:

• Give true grace
• Define real truth
• Make us children

Jesus doesn’t just teach grace and truth, He is grace and truth. When we hold both together, we move from fear to belonging, from striving to trust, and from slavery to true spiritual childhood.

We closed our time reflecting on these questions:

1. Why do you think John insists on holding grace and truth together?
2. Where do you see the church today being tempted to emphasize one over the other?
3. How does understanding yourself as a child of grace change the way you relate to God?
4. After answering the questions above, click the link to take the online quiz: https://wordwall.net/resource/61079703/religion/john-119-who-said-or-did

This study invited us not just to learn about Jesus—but to receive Him, and in doing so, to discover who we truly are.

Bible Study Recap - October 22

Bible Study Recap — October 22

Theme: “Worship from the Heart”

📖 Scripture Focus: Isaiah 29:13

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’”

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Icebreaker: Writing Our Own Acrostic

We began the study with a creative and reflective icebreaker! Everyone was invited to write their own acrostic using the word GRACE. Each letter represented a personal expression of faith or a quality of God’s character.

After sharing some of our acrostics, Pastor Marvel explained that several Psalms in the Bible were written in acrostic form — where each verse or section begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This poetic style was a way to express completeness and devotion — praising God from A to Z.

Some examples of acrostic Psalms include:

• 🕮 Psalm 25 — a prayer for forgiveness and guidance.

• 🕮 Psalm 34 — a song of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.

• 🕮 Psalm 37 — wisdom about trusting the Lord and doing good.

• 🕮 Psalm 111 & 112 — twin psalms celebrating God’s works and the blessings of the faithful.

• 🕮 Psalm 119 — the longest and most famous acrostic, celebrating God’s Word with 22 sections (one for each Hebrew letter).

• 🕮 Psalm 145 — a hymn of praise to God’s greatness and compassion.

This exercise reminded us that worship can be both creative and intentional — a way to engage our hearts fully in expressing love to God.

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Summary

Our study focused on authentic worship — worship that flows from the heart rather than empty routine. Isaiah’s message challenges us to examine whether our expressions of faith truly come from within.

Pastor Marvel reminded us that worship is not just something we do; it’s a reflection of who we are in relationship with God. Real worship comes from gratitude, not obligation — it’s about connection, not performance.

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The Image of the Four Creatures

Pastor Marvel also shared an image of four symbolic creatures — a man, a lion, a bull, and an eagle — each representing one of the four Gospels:

• 🧍‍♂️ Man (Matthew) — Jesus as the Son of Man, emphasizing His humanity.

• 🦁 Lion (Mark) — Jesus as the Son of David, the King with power and authority.

• 🐂 Bull (Luke) — Jesus as the Priest, who offers Himself in sacrifice for all.

• 🦅 Eagle (John) — Jesus as the Son of God, the divine Word who came from heaven.

These images remind us that Jesus’ life and ministry reveal the fullness of God’s glory — human and divine — and that our worship should reflect this wholeness.

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Main Insights

• God desires heartfelt worship, not empty ritual.

• Worship is a relationship built on love and gratitude.

• True worship can happen anywhere — alone or in community.

• The four Gospel symbols remind us that Christ is complete — fully human, fully divine, King, Priest, and Savior.

• Worship should engage both mind and heart.

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Reflection Questions

1. What helps you move from routine worship to genuine connection with God?

2. Which Gospel image (Man, Lion, Bull, Eagle) speaks most to your heart today?

3. How can you make your daily life an act of worship?

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Conclusion

This week’s study reminded us that worship is not something we do once a week — it’s the way we live in God’s presence every day. When our worship flows from love, gratitude, and authenticity, it transforms not only our hearts but the world around us.

Let us strive to be people who honor God not just with our lips, but with lives that reflect His grace, mercy, and truth.

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📖 Final Bible Study of the Year – The Gospel of Matthew

Friends,
Join us for our last Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew before we take a short break for the holidays. It’s been a beautiful journey exploring the life and teachings of Jesus together, and we’ll gather one more time to reflect, share, and celebrate all that we’ve learned.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, October 29
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Jason Lee Memorial UMC — Disciple Room

After this session, our Bible Study will pause until January, when we’ll begin a new series to start the year refreshed and renewed in God’s Word.

Come ready to learn, share, and give thanks for this season of study together!

✝️ “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

Bible Study Recap — October 15

Expressions of Grace (Matthew 16–20)

Bible Study Recap – “Journey of Grace” (Matthew 16–20)
By Rev. Marvel Souza

Our Bible Study this week was a beautiful time of learning, reflection, and spiritual growth. We began with an icebreaker reviewing the key religious groups that shaped the world Jesus lived in—Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and others. Understanding their beliefs and influence helps us read the Gospels with deeper insight, recognizing how radical and compassionate Jesus’ message truly was.

Before diving into Scripture, we explored the different Bible translation styles:

• Formal Equivalence (word-for-word): strives to remain close to the original wording and structure (like ESV or NASB).

• Dynamic Equivalence (thought-for-thought): focuses on communicating the original message in a clear, modern way (like NIV or NLT).

Both translation types help us experience God’s Word with renewed understanding and appreciation for its depth and beauty.

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The Context: Religious Groups at the Time of Jesus

Group	Description	Bible References
Pharisees	Lay leaders devoted to observing and interpreting the Law and oral traditions. They emphasized purity, fasting, tithing, and external righteousness. Jesus often challenged them to match their outward obedience with inner humility.	Matthew 23:1–7; Luke 18:9–14
Sadducees	A wealthy, priestly class connected to the Temple. They rejected the idea of resurrection, angels, or spirits and accepted only the Torah as authoritative. They sought peace with Roman rule.	Matthew 22:23–33; Acts 23:6–8
Essenes	A separatist Jewish community, likely linked to the Dead Sea Scrolls. They withdrew from society to pursue ritual purity, simplicity, and readiness for the coming of God’s kingdom.	Not directly named, but reflected in John the Baptist’s lifestyle (Luke 1:80; Mark 1:4–6)
Zealots	A revolutionary movement that sought to free Israel from Roman occupation through resistance and, at times, violence. Some believed the Messiah would come as a military liberator.	Luke 6:15; Acts 21:38
Herodians	Political supporters of the Herodian dynasty and collaborators with Rome. Though their interests differed from the Pharisees, they sometimes united against Jesus.	Matthew 22:16; Mark 3:6
Scribes	Scholars and interpreters of the Law, often serving as teachers and advisors. Many were Pharisees and held positions of authority in religious life.	Matthew 23:2–3; Mark 12:28–34
Chief Priests	Leaders of the Temple priesthood who oversaw sacrifices and maintained religious order. Many belonged to the Sadducees and wielded significant political influence.	Matthew 26:3–4; John 11:47–53
Samaritans	A people living in Samaria, descended from mixed Israelite and foreign ancestry. They worshiped on Mount Gerizim instead of Jerusalem. Though despised by Jews, Jesus highlighted their compassion and faith.	Luke 10:33; John 4:9–42

This background gave us a deeper understanding of the spiritual and political tensions surrounding Jesus’ ministry—and how His message of mercy, humility, and grace stood in contrast to the religious systems of His day.

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Walking Through Matthew 16–20: The Expressions of Grace

As we journeyed through these chapters, we discovered how Jesus’ grace takes many forms, shaping discipleship from within:

1. Grace that reveals truth – Matthew 16:13–20
   Jesus reveals His true identity as the Messiah, showing that knowing Him personally transforms our understanding of God.

2. Grace that corrects with love – Matthew 16:21–28
   Jesus lovingly rebukes Peter, teaching that following Him means surrendering pride and embracing God’s will.

3. Grace that heals and restores – Matthew 17:14–21
   When the disciples could not heal a boy, Jesus reminds them that faith grows through trust and prayer.

4. Grace that builds community through forgiveness – Matthew 18
   Jesus defines true greatness in humility and calls us to forgive endlessly, just as God forgives us.

5. Grace that welcomes and challenges – Matthew 19:13–30
   From blessing children to confronting the rich, Jesus shows that grace comforts and challenges in equal measure.

6. Grace that gives generously and freely – Matthew 20:1–16
   The parable of the workers in the vineyard reminds us that God’s generosity is rooted in mercy, not merit.

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Reflection Question

Which expression of grace speaks most deeply to your life right now—and why?
How is God calling you to embody that grace toward others this week?

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Conclusion

Grace is not a single event—it is the ongoing language of God’s Kingdom.
In every word, miracle, and moment of forgiveness, Jesus reveals the same truth:
We are loved not because of what we do, but because of who God is.

May we continue to live and express that same grace in our relationships, words, and daily walk with Christ.

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Invitation

You are warmly invited to join us for our next Wednesday Bible Study
📖 Topic: Continuing our journey through the Gospel of Matthew
🕕 Time: Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
🏠 Location: Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church
Disciple Room – 168 S. University Ave, Blackfoot, Idaho

Bible Study Recap - October 1

📖 Bible Study Recap – October 1

Matthew 14–15: Grace that Provides, Heals, and Transforms

On October 1, our Bible Study at Jason Lee Memorial UMC focused on Matthew chapters 14 and 15, continuing our journey through the Gospels with a lens of grace.

Key Highlights:

• Grace that Provides: In the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000, Jesus took what seemed insufficient and turned it into abundance, showing us that in His hands, “not enough” becomes more than enough.
• Grace in Weakness: When Peter faltered while walking on water, Jesus reached out and lifted him up—reminding us that grace rescues us when our faith is shaky.
• Grace over Tradition: Jesus taught that true purity comes from the heart, not just external rituals, emphasizing transformation from within.
• Grace without Borders: In healing the Canaanite woman’s daughter and feeding the multitudes in Gentile territory, Jesus revealed that God’s table is wide, with room for everyone.

Activities:

• We had a Bible Quiz to review what we’ve been learning together.
• We played an online interactive game filling in the gaps with the correct words from Jesus’s parables—it was a fun way to engage Scripture while learning together!

Teaching Moment: Means of Grace

Pastor Marvel shared a teaching on the Means of Grace in the Wesleyan tradition:

• Works of Piety – prayer, searching the Scriptures, worship, fasting, and celebrating the sacraments.
• Works of Mercy – serving the poor, visiting the sick and imprisoned, seeking justice, and practicing compassion.

Through these practices, God’s grace is not earned but freely given and experienced in tangible ways. The Means of Grace are ways we open ourselves to God’s transforming love, both personally and in community.

Living It Out at Jason Lee Memorial UMC

Our church has been embodying these Means of Grace in everyday ministry:

• Holy Communion as a sacrament of God’s love.
• Serving the community with food, clothing, and care.
• Providing a safe space of worship for all people.
• Offering free language courses (English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese) as a bridge of grace.
• Fellowship and inclusive practices where everyone is welcomed.
• Bible Studies that nurture our faith and understanding.

Discussion Reflections:

• Where in our lives do we need to trust God with our “not enough”?
• How have we experienced Jesus’ grace when our faith faltered?
• In what ways are we called to extend God’s abundant grace across boundaries?

Closing Thought:

God’s grace meets us in our fear, weakness, and hunger—and extends far beyond the boundaries we create. We are called not only to receive this grace but also to share it generously with others.

Rev. Marvel Souza 

what happened?

Bible Study Recap, September 24, 2025

 

Bible Study Recap: Matthew 12–13 – Expressions of Grace

Last Wednesday at Jason Lee Memorial UMC, we had another beautiful time together in God’s Word. Our study focused on Matthew chapters 12 and 13, two chapters that highlight both the growing opposition Jesus faced and the powerful ways He revealed God’s Kingdom.

What stood out most was how grace shines through every story. In a world full of criticism, accusations, and misunderstandings, Jesus chose to respond with compassion, healing, and invitation. That is the heart of grace - God’s love meeting us in our weakness and transforming us from the inside out.

We reflected on several powerful expressions of grace:

• Grace Restores. In Matthew 12:13, Jesus told the man with the withered hand to stretch it out -and what was broken was completely healed. This reminded us that grace doesn’t wait for the perfect moment or the perfect conditions. Grace comes now, restoring us fully and making us whole.

• Grace Liberates. Later in chapter 12, Jesus set a man free from spiritual bondage. While critics accused Him of working with evil, Jesus showed that His power comes from God’s Spirit. Grace always breaks chains - whether of fear, sin, or lies.

• Grace Welcomes. We also noticed how Jesus impacted the very idea of family. First, in His own life, He was born into a family arrangement that was not considered “normal” for His time - Mary, Joseph, and a story marked by divine intervention and questions from the community. Second, in Matthew 12:46–50, when told His mother and brothers were waiting outside, He pointed to His disciples and said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Jesus was reshaping the definition of family at a time when traditional family structures were considered central to identity and honor. Grace redefines belonging - not by bloodlines or appearances, but by our relationship with God and our willingness to walk in His will.

• Grace Scatters. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3–9), Jesus taught that the Word of God is scattered generously. Some falls on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. What amazed us is how abundant grace is—God sows His Word everywhere, even in places that seem unlikely to produce fruit.

• Grace Transforms. The mustard seed and yeast remind us that small things can bring about extraordinary change (13:31–33). Grace takes what seems ordinary and turns it into something life-changing.

• Grace Values. In the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price, we discovered that the Kingdom is worth everything. Grace teaches us to treasure God’s gift above all else.

Throughout our discussion, we shared how these truths connect to our own journeys. Some of us feel like the man with the withered hand, longing for restoration. Others see God’s Word taking root in places we never expected. Together, we were reminded that God’s grace is personal, generous, and transformative.

We ended with a sense of gratitude: that in the midst of life’s struggles, misunderstandings, and challenges, grace is still at work.

Hearts that learn. 

That’s our calling as a church - to keep growing, keep learning, and keep opening ourselves to the surprising ways God’s grace shows up.

Rev. Marvel Souza

We’d love for you to be part of this journey. Join us next Wednesday at 6:00 PM for our next Bible study. Bring a friend, bring your questions, and bring an open heart. Together, we’ll continue exploring the treasures of God’s Word and what it means to live as people shaped by grace.