Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Character of Leadership

Living in the Image of God M07S09

This bible study discusses the character of leadership based on Christ message to Pharisees and an interaction with his disciples when he washed their feet at the Last Supper. In the message to Pharisees, Jesus describes his spiritual role as the only source of salvation among people. Additionally, the message uses language that describes leader-follower relationships, which we rely upon to discern understanding regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships. In the other event, Jesus provides a demonstration of leadership by washing his disciples’ feet. The feet washing conveys a message to do what you can to provide for a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy.

The bible study begins with a Christ message to the Pharisees (John 10:1–21) regarding his role as the only source of salvation among people [John 10:9–10]: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Additionally, the message uses language that describes leader-follower relationships, which we examine to discern understanding regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships.

Continuing, we discuss a Christ demonstration of leadership by washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1–17). Feet washing was a common practice among the Jews at that time. People’s feet were usually dirty because of walking on unpaved dusty roads either barefooted or on open sandals. Each household would assign servants (generally of low status among the people) to wash the feet of guests as they arrived. Therefore, by taking up towel to wash his disciples’ feet, Jesus provided a service that would not be assigned to a leader in that society. His providing the service conveys a lesson for every one: to do what you can to provide for a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy. That is, an important character of leadership is to provide service to alleviate a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy.

Therefore, the study focusses on Christ teaching in two events that provide information regarding the character of leadership. The first event provides an understanding of leadership based on language in a Christ description of his spiritual role among people. The other event discusses Christ demonstration of human leadership by washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.

Based on the events: we learn that a leader relates to the people directly; is available to them; understands their views, aspirations, and concerns; and is able to present the understanding to the authorities or other organizations important to the people. Thus, the leader is able to represent the people as a channel for advancing their interest among those capable of influencing the effects of the people’s interest on public policies important to them. Additionally, a leader provides leadership without fear of making sacrifice. The leader represents the people boldly, focused on goals, and determined to accomplish the people’s objectives in choosing him or her as leader.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Limited Power of Human Interactions and Relationships

Living in the Image of God M07S06

The experience of a paralyzed man by the legendary pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem provides a subtle but powerful statement of the limited reach of human interactions and relationships, especially compared to the power of God. The man was paralyzed for thirty-eight years and laid by the pool hoping to attract friends powerful and kind enough to help him get into the pool first after a “stirring of the waters.” The legend was that an angel would occasionally stir up the waters and the first person into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had. The paralyzed man could not find such friends. So, we learn that human interactions and relationships, no matter how strong or powerful, are limited in what they can do for a person. In contrast, the man was healed in one encounter with God, then in human form as Jesus.

A man paralyzed for thirty-eight years laid by the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem hoping to attract friends powerful and kind enough to help him get into the pool first after a “stirring of the waters.” The pool was associated with a healing legend [John 5:4]: “From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” So, the paralyzed man waited by the pool with the expectation that somebody would throw him in to be the first there after a “stirring of the waters.” Nobody did. Even if anybody had thrown him in, he would have found that the legend of the healing power of the pool was simply just a legend.

But Jesus found the paralyzed man [John 5:6]: “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” The man at first did not recognize the opportunity that Jesus presented to him. Instead, he thought the opportunity was for him to begin constituting a group of sympathizers that would help him into the pool at the next stirring [John 5:7]: “Sir, … I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” But Jesus was motivated to heal him by the power of God and not by any legend of the pool: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk’” [John 5:8]. The man was healed immediately. He picked up his mat and walked.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Learning from John the Baptist Introduction of Jesus

Living in the Image of God M07S04

John the Baptist introduction of Jesus provides a biblical example for recognizing and promoting the value of others. He was charged with the responsibility of introducing Jesus to the human community starting with the Jews. His task in the introduction consists of a spiritual component and a socio-community component. This bible study focuses on the latter. He was to introduce Jesus as a person of high value to the community. He explained the value of Jesus using the spiritual basis to distinguish between Jesus and himself. By so doing, he provides a message of explaining the value of others by elevating what is known about them. If you are in position to introduce another person, provide a cheerful and enthusiastic presentation of his or her positive attributes to elevate their value. Provide only truthful information and do not exaggerate.

The introduction of Jesus by John the Baptist provides an example for recognizing and promoting the value of others to a community. His responsibility to introduce Jesus consists of a spiritual component and a socio-community component. Accounts of the introduction are provided in the Gospel versions by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The account in the Gospel according to John focuses on the spiritual component: “And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.’” [John 1:33–34].

This bible study focuses on the socio-community component of the introduction, whereby John the Baptist introduces Jesus as a person of high value to the community [John 1:26–27]: “‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’” A similar message occurs in Mark: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie” [1:7] (Also, see Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16).

To understand the introduction, understand that John the Baptist was highly respected in the community. People followed him to hear his message and be baptized: “The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah” [Luke 3:15]. He used the people’s high expectation of him as a point of reference to create anticipation for the value of Jesus. The high expectation that John established through the introduction is right for Jesus but also points to the responsibility of a person that is called upon to introduce another person, whether ordinary or extraordinary.

Start by understanding the value of the person that you are called to introduce. Focus on his or her positive attributes, to identify the person’s potential value to the community. Determine an approach to elevate the values without exaggerating. Provide a cheerful and enthusiastic presentation to create a positive anticipation. Leave any negative attributes. Those could become important when assessing the person for a specific task. The responsibility of introducing a person to the community calls for creating a positive anticipation, similar to the introduction of Jesus by John the Baptist.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Understanding and Sharing the Basis for Faith

Living in the Image of God M07S08

This bible study discusses a two-part message. First, understand the basis for your faith and, second, be prepared and willing to share the understanding with others. As you share the basis for your faith, you understand better, your faith grows stronger, clarity of your presentation increases, and your message becomes bolder and more effective. The study is anchored on the testimony of a man born blind that Jesus healed. Initially, he knew only the facts of his healing but did not understand what they meant regarding Jesus. Subsequently, he understood that he was seeking to represent God among others by conveying to them a message that Jesus is the Son of God, which defines the basis for his faith. Given the specificity of your situation, if your intended action is motivated by seeking to fulfill a purpose of God, then your task belongs to God and he will guide you to victory. That defines the basis for your faith.

We discuss the testimony of a man born blind that Jesus healed (John 9:1–38). Motivated by appreciation, he shared his experience with neighbors, other relations, and Pharisees (also known as Teachers of the Law). Initially, he knew only the facts that Jesus gave him sight, by soiling his eyes and directing him to wash in a pool. However, he did not understand any message of the healing regarding Jesus. We discuss the man’s experience in a previous two-part lesson entitled Testimony of Man Born Blind (M02S14 and M02S15). This study discusses the testimony again toward understanding the basis for our faith of God.

His understanding evolved as he shared his experience. First, he understood that his healing was a miracle of God. Second, he understood the man that healed him must be of God. Later, through a subsequent encounter with Jesus, he understood that Jesus is the Messiah: the Son of God that came to the world in human form to represent God among people. He understood better and his faith grew stronger as he shared his experience with others. Telling his story became a Gospel mission that he discovered incrementally as he interacted with others.

Additionally, to understand the basis for faith, we review Christ interactions with his disciples during two storms on the Sea of Galilee and David’s message as he stepped into battle against Goliath. If you are seeking to represent God among other people—to be for the others what God would be for them if he lived in human form; then your task belongs to God and he will guide you to victory. That, is the basis for your faith as it applies to the specificity of your situation.

Regarding the man that Jesus healed from life-long blindness, the basis for his faith was that he was seeking to represent God among others by conveying to them a message that Jesus is the Son of God. Regarding Christ’s disciples during the storms on Sea of Galilee, the basis for their faith was that the task of sailing across the lake to the opposite shore was assigned to them by God (in human form as Jesus). Regarding David in his battle against Goliath, the basis for his faith was that killing Goliath to lead Israel to victory against the Philistines was a task of God.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Binary Categorization at Judgment—Good or Evil

Living in the Image of God M07S07

This bible study discusses Christ binary categorization of a person based on performing or declining their individual responsibilities in human interactions and relationships. He categorizes as “good” (righteous) a person that he judges as “those who have done what is good.” In contrast, he categorizes as “evil” a person that he judges as “those who have done what is evil.” God will grant eternal life to every person that he judges as good but will condemn every person he judges as evil. Christ declares the categorization in an interaction documented in John 5:28–29. In another teaching, he tells the Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant (Mathew 24:45–51) to explain that people that perform their individual responsibilities in human interactions are categorized good. The others are evil. In yet other teachings, he refers to the categories as “righteous” for the good and evil for the others. There is no middle category.

The study discusses Christ declaration of the categorization of people as good or evil (John 5:28–29) and his teaching in the Parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant (Mathew 24:45–51), where he explains the basis for the categorization. In other related teaching, he refers to the “good” category as righteous. Please see our previous study under M03S21, Righteous or Wicked in Parable of the Weeds.

Christ made the declaration as part of his response to Jews that had begun to persecute him based on their understanding that he was breaking the Sabbath (because he healed a blind man on the Sabbath) and that he called himself the Son of God: “For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” [John 5:18].

In a different interaction (Mathew 24:45–51), he tells the Parable of Faithful and Wise Servant to explain the basis for the categorization. There he describes the human relationship with God in terms of an interaction between a hypothetical master and one of his servants. In the parable, Christ describes the master’s judgment of the servant based on performing his responsibilities to the other servants while the master was away. The master judged the servant as “faithful and wise” if he performed his responsibilities to the other servants. In contrast, the master would judge the servant as “wicked” if he declined his responsibilities to the other servants.

In the Parable of Faithful and Wise Servant, the master represents God and the servant represents any person (any individual regarding his or her relationship with God). The other servants represent other people in human interactions with the subject person. Christ uses the relationship between the subject person and other people to model human relationship with God, whereby God places every person to represent him among other people—to be for the others what God would be for them if he lived with us in human form. Therefore, the parable describes human relationship with God regarding individual responsibilities in human interactions and relationships. Please see more discussion of individual responsibilities under M04S01 through M04S21.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

The Art and Practice of Conversation Based on Jesus and Samaritan Woman

Living in the Image of God M07S05

An interaction between Jesus and a Samaritan woman illustrates how to hold a sustained, engaging, and fruitful conversation even with a person you are meeting for the first time. The bible account (John 4:1–26) starts with the two strangers meeting by Jacob’s well. Jesus was sitting by the well to rest from a tiring journey. The woman came to fetch water. We discuss their interaction to illustrate several points about holding a conversation toward understanding the art and practice of conversation.

We learn the following based on the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

  • Initiate a conversation with a simple subject likely to be familiar to either party.
  • The other party (receiving party) has to respond to keep the conversation alive. A conversation works like a tennis game. Having received the ball in your court, you have to play it back to the other court to continue the game.
  • Each response should address the previous contribution and add related information, generally increasing in complexity as the conversation proceeds.
  • Be responsive and respectful, even if you have to steer the conversation away from a subject.
  • However, be open to every subject in order to expand the conversation.
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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Believing in God and Living by the Truth of God

Living in the Image of God M07S03

The bible at John 3:16–21 describes two interdependent conditions for human relationship with God. The first is believing in God, salvation, and eternal life; through Jesus Christ the Son. The second is Living by the Truth of God, that is, Living according to God’s purpose for human interactions and relationships. The two conditions are interdependent and interwoven: believing in God calls for commitment to Living by the Truth of God, which, in turn, requires believing in God. The first condition defines the requirement for receiving the gift of God. The second defines commitment to using the gift of God toward accomplishing his purpose. This bible study discusses Christ teaching that God judges every person based on performance in the second condition. He uses the first condition to provide resources needed for the second; then, he judges every person based on their performance in the second, i.e., using the gift of God towards fulfilling God’s purpose for human interactions and relationships.

The bible study is anchored on John 3:16–21, which describes two interdependent conditions for human relationship with God. The first is believing in God, salvation, and eternal life; through Jesus Christ the Son: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” [John 3:16]. The second is Living by the Truth of God, that is, Living according to God’s purpose for human interactions and relationships: “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God” [John 3:21].

The two conditions are interdependent and interwoven: believing in God calls for commitment to Living by the Truth of God, which, in turn, requires believing in God. The first condition (believing in God) defines requirements for accessing resources that God provides to enable a person perform the second condition (Living by the Truth of God).

Christ teaching conveys a message that God judges every person based on their performance in the second condition—toward fulfilling God’s purpose for human interactions and relationships. We discuss his teaching regarding the requirement for receiving eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Also, we discuss his teaching regarding God’s binary categorization of people as righteous or wicked based on having shown themselves fit or unfit for his purpose in human interactions and relationships. Christ describes the categorization using the Parable of the Net, Parable of the Weeds, and Parable of the Sheep and the Goat.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Source and Use of Authority

Living in the Image of God M07S02

Christ interactions with Jews in Jerusalem regarding the basis for his authority provide a model for every person in an authority position. Always be prepared to explain the basis for your authority and ensure that your use of the authority is consistent with the basis and directed at making positive impact. In the event, Jesus used his authority to disperse people that used the temple courts for commercial purpose. Some Jews were not pleased and challenged him “to prove your authority to do all this,” like asking who are you that we should take this from you. We discuss his response as conveying a message that a person in authority position should always be prepared to explain the basis for his or her authority.

We discuss an event of Christ interactions with Jews in Jerusalem, to understand that a holder of authority regarding any aspect of human interactions should always be prepared to explain the basis for his or her authority and ensure that their use of the authority is consistent with the basis and directed at making positive impact. Jesus used his authority to disperse people that used the temple courts for commercial purpose. Some Jews were not pleased and challenged him “to prove your authority to do all this” [John 2:18]. His response conveys a message that you should always understand the source of your authority and be prepared to explain to those that could be affected by how you use it.

In the event in Jerusalem, Jesus noticed people misusing the temple courts and provided tough leadership to redirect them: “In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money” [John 2:14]. He used a whip to drive them away, scattered their wares and money, and scolded them for turning the house of God into a marketplace: “So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” [John 2:15]. Some Jews challenged him to explain his authority. We discuss his response as conveying a message that a holder of authority should always be prepared to explain the basis for the authority.

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Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Explicit and Inexplicit Parental Instruction and Request

Living in the Image of God M07S01

This bible study discusses interactions at the event of Jesus changing water into wine (John 2:1–12), to recognize and appreciate a child’s capability to understand an inexplicit parental request and a parent’s capability to understand a child’s inexplicit response to a parental request. The study begins a series on the Gospel according to John. At this event, the mother of Jesus asked him to recognize that the wine was finished, thus conveying an inexplicit request that he should do something about the wine supply. Jesus responded but did not explicitly agree or decline to do something. His mother recognized the manner of his response and advised the servants to be attentive and do whatever Jesus asked them to do.

The Banking Blessings Ministry 2026 program year will focus on understanding messages of human interactions and relationships contained in the Gospel according to John. The study begins with interactions at the event of Jesus changing water into wine, which illustrate an inexplicit request by Jesus’ mother Mary. Jesus recognized a need based on the parent’s information and provided an inexplicit response that conveyed to his mother a promise to consider doing something to alleviate the need.

As we discuss in a previous study under “Receiving Message from God through Parent”, God may alert a child to an opportunity by prompting the child’s parent to pass the information as parental instruction, advice, or request. The information could be delivered as part of normal parent-child interaction with neither the parent nor child recognizing at the time that the information contains a message from God to the child. The child will receive the message and progress toward the opportunity if he/she has a habit of listening to the parent with intent to understand and implement the parent’s information.

Two famous examples from the bible describe how a simple parental request sent a child to a mission of historical significance. In both cases, the parental request was explicit and the child understood the details and transitioned into the intended mission because of seeking to implement the parental instruction details. In one example, Jacob (also known as Israel) requested Joseph to go check on his brothers in the wilderness and report back. In the other example, Jessee requested David to go check on his brothers in the battlefield. Each child understood the instruction and was intent on completing the instruction. Seeking to complete the instruction put them in position to transition to the mission that God transmitted through the instruction.

The study is important to guide our understanding of a key parental responsibility in Family Training: i.e., training a child to understand parental instructions, advice, or requests. The parent should guide the child to listen to the parent with intent to understand and implement the parent’s information. Also, the parent should listen to the child’s feedback to be sure they understand the objective of a parent’s instruction, advice, or request.

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Living in the Image of God, What The Lord Has Given Us

Wealth, Treasures, and Compassion

Living in the Image of God M06S10

This bible study discusses Christ teaching regarding wealth, treasures, and compassion; to cap this year’s study series on using “what the Lord has given us” to provide for “needs that he will show us.” Christ gives the teaching in responding to the same question in two separate events. In each event, he was asked what an individual must do to inherit eternal life. In one event, Christ responds with the Parable of Good Samaritan. In the other event, he responds with the analogy of the “rich versus the kingdom of God.” We discuss the two responses to understand that they are the same. Although, the specific information that Jesus provides in each response is different, the responses convey exactly the same message: apply the wealth that God has given you to provide for needs that he will show you and he will grant you eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

This bible study ends the series on “what the Lord has given us;” with a discussion of Christ teaching regarding compassion, God’s purpose for personal wealth, and the role of compassion and wealth in human interactions and relationships. He provides the teaching as a response to the same question in two events. In one event, a teacher of the Law asked what a person must do to inherit eternal life [Luke 10:25]: “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” Jesus responds with the Parable of Good Samaritan. In another event, the same question was posed by an ordinary citizen [Matthew 19:16]: “Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’” Jesus responds with the analogy of “the rich versus the kingdom of God.”

We discuss the two responses to understand that they provide the same message. The two responses convey a message regarding compassion, God’s purpose for wealth, and the role of compassion and wealth in human interactions and relationships: apply the wealth that God has given you to provide for needs that he will show you and he will grant you eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Program Note

The 2025 program year of the Banking Blessings Ministry ends with this bible study session. We will take a break to prepare for the 2026 program year, which we pray will start during the last week of February. Thank you for participating with us this year. We look forward to welcoming you and many others to the program next year.

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