Debra Grant

Q4. What do the Words of Institution say to us about forgiveness? Why is it important for us to repent of known sin before taking the Lord's Supper? 1. This is my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. We take of communion unworthily if we haven't confessed and repented of known sins in our lives. We ought to examine our self before we eat the bread and drink of the cup." We should to do this in reverence for God and so that we will not bring judgement on ourselves.To partake of the Lord's Supper in full faith. To my affirming that Christ's blood was shed for my forgiveness and my pardon.

Q3. Why did Jesus purposely point his disciples to the phrasing found in Isaiah 53? How does this chapter help explain the meaning of Jesus' death? 1. Jesus was letting his disciples know he closely identified with his own ministry. He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 2. He wanted the disciples to be able to recall the entire Suffering Servant passage and gain understanding of the reason for his death.

Q2. Why did Jesus refer to the violent nature of his death in the Words of Institution? What did this probably mean to the disciples at the time? What did it probably mean to them later? 1. Jesus is explaining that his death on the cross -- violent and unrighteous as it might seem -- is also a sacrifice of atonement for sin. 2. They really didn’t understand Jesus was telling them about this Crucifixion. Neither did they understand that Jesus would go through such pain as die and leave them. 3. Afterwards, when he had risen from the dead I think they understood what he had told them.

Q1. How were Old Testament sacrifices a way of God showing grace and mercy to his people? Instead of the death of a person for sin or rebellion, God offered a way for the forgiveness of sins, the death of an animal instead of a person. A lamb or goat or bull was costly, teaching that sin is costly. The Law required an animal for a human life (the lesser for the greater), but God provided his own Son as a sacrifice for our sins (the greater for the lesser), bringing us to God.

Q4. How does Jesus' voluntarily laying down his life for you encourage you? How does it speak to your value and worth as a person? What does it inspire you to do? 1. He laid down his life for me like no other would do and the purpose no other could do. He loved me so much. Therefore, I must serve him because he made it possible. I must love him back and be thankful for him dying for me. 2. It makes me feel loved and comforted that I have the authority to serve him in truth. 3. It inspires me to love him and do his will concerning me.

Q3. Look at the verses above which include both the word "give" and a preposition that means "in behalf of." According to these verses, what was the purpose of Jesus giving himself in sacrifice? 1. Jesus gave himself for the life of the world." That was to allow us to be forgiven, have the right to salvation, which caused him to be a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. He loved us so much that he was a ransom who took on our sins. He reconciled us to God.

Q2. (1 John 4:2-3) Why does Christianity insist on a physical birth, physical suffering, and a resurrection of the physical body? How would our faith be different if Christ hadn't fully entered the human condition? 1. So that we would be made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." God was not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Jesus is a Living body and not an idol. If Jesus didn’t die for our sins, there would not have been a resurrection for us. 2. We would be under the law whereas we suffer from not being truly forgiven because the law was weak. I believe our faith would wonder at times and we could possibly begin to serve an idol. We would not have redemption with God. There would have not been a great salvation. Our faith would be weak and possibly not grow much. We would not know what true faith is.

Q1. (1 Peter 2:24) Why do you think the Apostle Peter emphasized Jesus' physical body, when he talks about sin-bearing? 1. Jesus was crucified on the cross in his physical body and beaten for us. He was punished for our sins which also allowed us to have salvation.

Q4. What are the implications for you personally, when you realize that in the Lord's Supper you are becoming a sharer in the sacrifice of the cross? How does that affect you? How does it change your understanding of the Lord's Supper? 1. It lets me know that I must obey God in every area of my life. I feel comfort and protection knowing that Jesus died for my sins. 2. I feel a spiritual connection with Jesus. It makes me appreciate him and accept his forgiveness. 3. It lets me know that Jesus had and still do have great love for me. I am a sharer and part taker in communion.

Q3. In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice? 1. Not just the offering of the goat by fire, but eating of a portion by the priests, was part of the atonement process. 2. When we eat of the Lord's Supper, we become sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.In the same way, our participation in the remembrance in communion is to take part in eating and drinking the bread and wine served.

Q2. What does koinōnia mean? What does it mean to "participate" or "share" in the blood of Christ? 1. Paul uses this word koinōnia to describe the believer's relationship to the blood of Christ and to the body of Christ -- that is, the sacrifice of Christ for us. The Greek word koinōnia, participation, also translated as communion or sharing. It means sharing something in common with others such as communion. 2. When koinonia refers to people it means "participants, fellows." The concept of sharing with others in communion as one in the body of Christ.

Q1. Why was Paul exhorting the Corinthians about the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons? What was going on in the church? What was the danger to the believers? 1. They could not drink from the cup of the Lord and demons. We must flee from idolatry. There is one loaf, we are many, are one body, and we all partake of the one loaf. That one loaf is Jesus. 2. Church members were tempted to participate in sacrifices to various Greek and Roman gods. 3. Taking part in various sacrifices such as Greek and Roman gods is to become sharers closely identified and sacrificed to demons that are the spiritual reality behind false gods. They risk being judged and punished by God because he is a jealous God.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 11:26) In what way is the Lord's Supper a proclamation? To whom is the proclamation made? Why is this important? What happens to the church when its proclamation shifts to a different central theme? 1. "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26) The Lord’s supper is proclaimed when we do it according to his will, otherwise, it is in vain. 2. To the followers of Christ and in agreement with Christ then to unbelievers. 3. It helps us to remember that Jesus Christ gave his life as a sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins! 4. It shifts when the church does not proclaim the gospel of the crucified Christ to all mankind. Therefore, it cannot be strengthen as it should, corruption can come in, people will be misled, and God will be forgotten.

Q3. Why is our remembrance of Christ's death so important? What happens to Christianity if we neglect remembering in this way? What happens to us personally when we forget Christ's death? 1. Due to his atoning death for us, which is his "body given for us" and "blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. In remembrance of me, is a command that we should continually remember concerning his atoning death for our sins. It helps us to have a closer relationship with him and know that he loves us dearly. 2. We are being disobedient and will lose the importance of him dying on the cross for us We will be lacking somethings

Q2. What was the purpose of the Passover meal for future generations? Why was it to be repeated? What was to be remembered? What would have happened if the Jews had stopped remembering the Exodus? 1. And Passover itself is designed as a feast of remembrance to enable the future generation of how God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians. 2. It was to celebrate as a festival to the LORD concerning a lasting memory of how God freed his people from bondage. 3. God protected them through the passing over their houses that had blood on the door posts. 4. They would have forgot what God had done for them and go back to living in bondage.

Q4. Which part of the meaning of the Lord's Supper is most valuable for you at this point in your spiritual journey when you partake of and meditate on the Lord's Supper? 1. Is a powerful way of remembering Christ's death. His love for me and others.

Q3. Which action words used to describe the elements of the Lord's Supper, teach us that we are to be thinking of Jesus' sacrifice of atonement, when we partake of the Lord's Supper? 1. Given, Broken for, Poured out, and Forgiveness His body was given for us as a sacrifice. His body was broken for us. His blood was poured out for us. When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were forgiven.

Q2. How can an extreme symbolic interpretation cause a person to have too little respect for the Lord's Supper and its elements? Where is the balance, do you think? 1. Not willing to study the word of God and put forth an effort to understand the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper. Treating the Lord’s supper without reverence and respect, due to sin in their life. Having a religious attitude, not wanting to feel left out, and pretending to fool others as if they have repented and living a holy life. 2. I believe the balance is to repent and live holy before taking the Lord’s Supper. We should remember why we are taking it and put our minds on Jesus as the reason for the blessing.

Q1. How does your particular understanding of the bread and the wine (literal or figurative) help you grow closer to Christ when partaking of the Lord's Supper? 1. Remembering Jesus body was on the cross for my sins and the world’s sin. Knowing that his blood had no blemishes and is clean which was shed for me and others while he was on the cross. All of this lets me believe he loves and cared for me and others.

Q4. (Ephesians 6:18a; Jude 20; Romans 8:26-27) In the list of elements of the Full Armor of God, where does the Spirit show himself? Why is Spirit-directed prayer so important for the believer? How have you experienced this is your life? 1. Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and Prayer in the Spirit. 2. When the Spirit lives in us, we're quickly on the enemy's radar and subject to battles in the spiritual realm. We must be prepared to use Spirit-directed prayer defense against the enemy's lies and so we may assist people to come to Christ and grow in him. The spirit leads and intercedes for us in prayer because we do not always know what to pray for. We must respond to God’s nudges and pray for others as led by God. 3. When trials come I am connected to the spirit and I am strong enough to give my cares and worries to God. I see faces of people and then I know to pray for them. Sometimes I am waken early, early in the morning and I know to pray.

Q3. (Ephesians 5:18-20) How is singing worship linked to being filled with the Spirit? How is singing worship linked to joy? 1. Singing praise is a spiritual act, prompted by the Holy Spirit, a kind of musical "Abba, Father," where the Spirit "testifies with our spirits." Singing worship has a way of bringing us into a renewed sense of God's presence. We think about what we are singing and the words gets into our heart which helps us to worship God. We think about how good God is and what he has done for us. As we worship and sing we can sense afresh the Spirit's fullness and joy. The Spirit transforms us through worship. We keep our mind on God and look at the goodness of being saved. That brings us joy and we are able to serve him joyful

Q1. (John 15:1-8) Why do we need to abide in Jesus? The fruit from branches connected to a vine is the grape. What is the nature of the fruit that comes from being connected to Jesus? Is it accurate to define fruit as "souls saved"? What is the danger in this definition? 1. We cannot bear fruit by our self, unless we abide in Jesus." We need to be intimately connected to and receiving nourishment from the Jesus; to really get to know God intimately. 2. We bear much fruit that will last and bring glory to God. We matures as we "walk in the Spirit. We produces the fruit of righteous character and love that brings glory to God. 3. Yes 4. We must be sure to express fruit bearing, otherwise we will not be productive. It shows we are connected to Jesus.

Q4. (1 Samuel 3:1-10) Why is Samuel's servant attitude such an important preparation for hearing God's voice? Why is surrender to Jesus such an important element of discipleship? 1. Part of a willing and submissive spirit is a willingness to obey God. If we will listen, God is our wise counselor. We must be humble. 2. We will never know what God is doing unless we obey. God is our instructor and teacher on what way or path to take. He will not force us to obey.

Q3. How would you differentiate between (1) the Spirit's voice and (2) the Spirit nudge or prompting? What can you do to sensitize yourself to His voice and promptings? 1. I can hear his voice speaking to me. The way he nudges or prompts is to direct me clearly or fix things whereas I can only do what he wants me to do. Knowing that he is guiding me and giving me an unction to do something. 2. As we spend quiet time with God our relationship with him deepens. We get to know him better which helps us to be more sensitive to him.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 2:9-11, 16) What connects us to the mind of Christ? Do you have a regular Quiet Time? What could you do to make it more meaningful? 1. The Spirit is the connection between God's mind and ours. 2. Yes, I have a regular quiet time with the Lord. 3. Ensure that is am meditating on what God wants me to and stay focused on his word during my quiet time.