Setting the World on Fire: How Scripture applies to our world today
“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49, NAB)
This will be a topical Bible study, so not one particular book, but instead jump around with many different passages from different books, but all related to topic studied.
Topics:
Division & Unity
Enemies & (Non)Violence
Apocolypticism
Conspiracies & Trust
Fear, Anxiety, Response
More?
Luke chapter 12 is our diving board - jumping off point, covers many things…
Luke 12:1-3 Conspiracy theories
Luke 12:4-12 Fear (Enemies & non-violence?)
Luke 12:13-21 Security, Stability
Luke 12:22-34 Anxiety
Luke 12:35-40 Watchfulness - (Apocolypticism?)
Luke 12:41-48 Faithfulness
Luke 12:49-53 Division
Luke 12:54-56 Interpreting the Present Time
Goal - To look at our world the way God sees it, a Biblical world-view.
Luke 12:54–56 (RSV2CE)
54He also said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens.
55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens.
56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Luke 12:49-53 (RSV-2CE) - Jesus the Cause of Division
49 “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division;
52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three;
53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Feb. 2 readings!
Malachi 3:1-3
Luke 2:34
Lucan “Fire”
Luke 3:16-17
Luke 9:51-56
Luke 17:20-37
Luke 24:46–49
Acts 1:4–5
Acts 2:3–4
More on “fire” - judgment and the end
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
2 Peter 3:3-16
More on Peace….
Luke 2:14
Luke 19:41–44
More on division…
Luke 14:25–28
Luke 18:29–30
Micah 7:6
Romans 11:7
Romans 11:25–26
John 7:40–44
John 9:16
John 10:19–21
More on Unity
Psalm 133
Acts 4:32
A parallel passage….
Matthew 10:5–42
St. Paul on Unity & Division & Peace (some good practicals)
Romans 14:17–19
Romans 15:5–6
Romans 16:17–20
1 Corinthians 1:10
1 Corinthians 11:17–22
1 Corinthians 12:12–26
2 Corinthians 13:11
Galatians 5:13–26
Ephesians 4:1–6
Ephesians 4:25–32
Philippians 2:1–7
Catechism on Unity
Paragraphs 813-821
What kind of relationship do we have with the world? Unbelieving/secular? (mostly Johannine)
Mark 16:15
John 14:27–31
John 15:18–21
John 16:33
John 17:11–19
John 17:20–26
1 John 2:15–17
1 John 5:4–5
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 6:14–18
2 Corinthians 10:3–6
James 4:1–12
Need for discernment! By the fruits… Matthew 7:15–20