When Religious Leaders Fail

The Evangelical Herald

Bible Study No. 07-03

WHEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS FAIL

Focus: To identify the blindness of religious leaders who fail to see Jesus' divinity and mission.

Text: John chapter nine.

I. Jesus Gives Sight to the Blind Man

A. Jewish Leaders Reaction

B. The Blind Man's Response

C. Jesus' Teachings on Spiritual Blindness (Mt 6:22,23)

II. The Function of the Natural Eye (Use whiteboard illustation)

A. Gives Meaning to the World Around Us

B. The Marvelous Workings of the Eye

III. The Spiritual Blindness of the Pharisees (Jn 9:39-41)(Acts 28:25-27)

A. The Reasons for Blindness

1. Your Father the Devil -- Positive Intentions used in Deception (Jhn 8:44)

Desire to Glorify God

Guardians of the Revealed Will of God

Guardians of the Temple

2. Tradition - Jealous for Moses (Jhn 9:28,29)

3. Fear of Losing Power over the People (Jhn 9:22)

People Feared being Cast Out of Synagogue

4. Jesus did not Appear Through the Accepted Religious System (Jhn 9:29)

5. Ignorance due to a Harden Heart (Eph 4:17)

IV. Responsibility of Today's Christian Leaders (Mt 15:14)

A. Certainty of New Birth as God's Children

B. Possess Christ's Vision (Prov 29:18)

1. A Clear Understanding of His Miraculous Work

Eternal Restoration

Evangelism

C. Avoid infirmities of Spiritual Eyes

1. Reject Pharisaical Reasons for Blindness (as outlined above)

2. Focus Correctly

Nearsighted

Focusing on Temporal Issues

Focusing on Local Circumstances

No Clear World View

Farsighted

Mysticism

Over Emphases on Prophecy

Stigmatism

Half in World - Half in Christ

Divided Agenda

V. All Eyes will See Him (Rev 1:7)

A. All Will Have a Clear Vision of Christ's Person

B. All Will See His Glory