Persecution
- Cornerstone Church
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
This week’s readings will cover many miracles and moments that deserve their own study. It can be challenging to see the main idea of each individual Gospel as the readings move through all of them chronologically. However, each of the four Gospels are about the ‘Good News’ of Jesus. Pay attention this week to how Jesus is the authority over both nature and the supernatural, and how He teaches about His Kingdom. He is revealing more and more about who He is and what He came to do. Jesus is also warning against false teachers and preparing the disciples for persecution, which will be in full display against John the Baptist. Jesus’ opponents will go so far as to call him ‘Beelzebub’ or a demon, and so Jesus’ followers should expect the same.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Bible Reading Plan - Week 15
Daily Prayer Plan – Week 15
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Matthew 10:5-7. What was the smaller area the disciples were to first go to? What was their message?
Read Matthew 10:8. What was the evidence of the disciples’ message?
Read Matthew 10:16-25. What kind of persecutions did Jesus predict?
Read Matthew 10:25. What are the lies being spoken about Jesus? Who else will adversaries lie about? Read Matthew 10:26. Why should the disciples not be afraid of lying people? Read Matthew 10:27. In the face of being called “possessed” or “demons,” what is the Disciples response supposed to be?
Read Matthew 28:16-20. How is the Great Commission similar or different than Jesus’ commission in Matthew 10:1-15?
SHARE IT.
Read Mark 6:7. Who would be the other Christian in your ‘pair’ not including a spouse? How open are you to accountability, taking steps toward building trust, and encouragement?
Read Matthew 10:7-8. Read Mark 6:12-13. What opportunity for God’s Kingdom and glory is in front of you today that will be hard?
Read Mark 6:8-9. In your ministry context, how has your dependence upon the Lord grown? Read Matthew 10:19. How have you experienced this in your own life, name an example?
Read Mark 6:30-31. How do you balance too much leisure or too much work without being legalistic? How do you rest in a God-honoring way?
Read Matthew 10:28, 38-39. If you believed this, how would it provide stability in persecution or difficult circumstances?
FINAL THOUGHT
In Matthew 10, Jesus prepares the disciples to face persecution. There will be a moment when the fear of man, pain, or suffering rises up, and you are tempted to turn away from your Lord. Jesus gives them a command in Matthew 10:28, “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Man can do nothing to the believer but send them to the presence of the Lord. There will be suffering, but Jesus goes on to say that God knows when even a sparrow in the woods falls, and God knows the hair on your head. God cares for you in your suffering, “so don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). This was all said by the God that became a man to suffer the wrath of God against all sin on your behalf and my behalf. His body and soul were “destroyed” infinitely more than we could understand, and was raised to the right hand of the Father so you could pass through “the darkest valley, (and) fear no danger” for Jesus is with you (Psalm 23:4). Read God’s promises in Matthew 10 in light of the perfect suffering Savior.
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