Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up.  The following notes are for your interest and consideration.

Personal comment:

The choices we make largely determine what happens later in our lives, and most of us know what it is like to make choices which lead to tragedy, but we pray that none would be as tragic as that of Judas.  Whatever sympathy we may wish to afford him, he chose a course of action that ended in the tragedy of the death of both Jesus and Himself, and he knew he had failed God.  It is a dramatic story, but it does warn us that it is possible to completely misunderstand Jesus and go the wrong way.  The way to avoid this is to have the humility of Peter and repent of our wrongdoing and our bad choices rather than try to hide them.

Ideas for discipleship programme

• Reflect on the differences between the story of Judas and the story of Peter.  How can these stories help you find spiritual direction?
• Pray for all those who are struggling to find an answer to their questions about Jesus, and feel that they do not understand Him.  If you know any such person, make them a subject of your prayers.

Almighty Lord and God, I place the strains and stresses of this day into Your hands.  Use my work, my recreation, my words and my thoughts, to further the work of Your Kingdom; and give me a glimpse of how what I have done fits Your greater plans, I pray.  AMEN

Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.

1. Do you feel that Judas deserves a more sympathetic hearing than this study has given?  What are your reasons?
2. Read through the prophecy of Zechariah 11, and check that you understand it and how it relates to this text.
3. Read through Jeremiah 18 and 19, and check that you understand it and how it relates to this text.