Godswriter

Q4. (Philippians 1:20-23) In what way is death "gain" for Paul? (verse 21). Which is better for him? Life or death? (verse 23) How does Paul decide which he prefers -- life vs. death -- according to verses 22-24? Death is gain for Paul because he will be with Christ for eternity. For him he wants so badly to be with Christ. He decides through realizing that the church needs him more and chooses to stay longer until his death.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10) Why should appearing before Christ as Judge make us fearful? Will we be condemned at that judgment? What saves us (Romans 8:1; Revelation 21:12)? How will our works be judged on that day (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)? The main reason it should make us fearful is because He will judge our deeds and words and weigh them. We need to make sure that everything we say and do is for the Lord. No because the Lord loves His own. Jesus saves us from condemnation through His blood. It shall be judged by fire.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:8; John 14:2-3) In what ways is heaven like your "home"? Which is eternal? Which is temporary? What kind of faith would it take for you to walk or live with this as your belief, rather than holding on to your earthly possessions, status, and life? Heaven is like my home in many ways for one it is where we will spend eternity, two that is where the Lord is, three that is where our mansions are. Heaven is eternal while the earth is temporary. It would take a very strong faith that is firmly planted in Christ.

Q1. (2 Timothy 2:3; 3:10-12; 4:7) Why are we quieted so quickly by mild societal disapproval of our witness? What would enduring hardship “like a good soldier of Christ” look like in your life? What would it look like to “fight the good fight” for you? utI believe the reason is because we are afraid however as believers we need to remember that perfect love casts out fear. Meaning God's love casts it out. We need to also be like Peter and obey God rather than man in some situations. In the situation of our witness we need to remember that God will choose when we need to witness and when we don't. We need to obey His leading not fear the society and how they will look at us when we witness. For me it would mean enduring persecution and threats of all sorts. The good fight would mean spending more time with Jesus and doing His will more than mine.

Q4. (Acts 20:24b; Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) In what sense was Paul an ambassador? In what sense are you an ambassador? Why is sharing your testimony important in your ambassadorship? Paul is an ambassador to Christ through the fact that God chose Him to serve all people groups. But also because he was a Jew who once persecuted the church and then became a follower of Jesus. I am an ambassador in the fact that God chose to use my past to bring people to Him and also the present as well. It is important because through it I am able to glorify God and also bring people to Him.

Q3. (Acts 20:24) Our life is valuable to God, of course, and we are to value it. However, what problems result from valuing our life for its own sake? What does it mean to "take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23-25)? What keeps us from doing that? What does it mean when Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)? Can we follow Christ, if we are actually trying to hang on to our own life? We end up unable to serve others and the Lord because we are too focused on ourselves. As the Lord said we will lose our life when we hold onto it. It means to lose your life for His sake and follow Him completely. Business of life and the distractions of life. It means we have been buried with Christ and our sins in the grave. No we have to be willing to give up our own life and give it up to Him.

Q2. (Acts 19:21; 20:22-23; 21:11) Are the prophecies about imprisonment in Jerusalem in conflict with Paul’s leading from God? What, then, conflicts with Paul’s leading to go to Jerusalem? Why do you think Paul actively encourages prophecy in the churches he establishes (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5)? Why do you think many Christians despise prophecy today (1 Thessalonians 5:20)? No they are not in conflict. They only deal with the fact that eventually he will have to deal with authority figures and answer to them and give an answer for the hope that is in him. What conflicts with Paul's leading to go to Jerusalem would probably be the love of the people at the church he is leading and their decision to plead with him not to go at all. It actively encourages it because it edifies the church and not just one person. It also glorifies God. i believe it is because there is false prophets out there who use it for their own gain.

Q1. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) Why did Christians worship on "the first day of the week"? Why is it called "the Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10)? What does it mean that they "break bread" (Acts 20:7, 11; 2:42, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:16)? Why is that important to believers (Luke 22:19)? Traditionally the Hebrews worshipped on the Sabbath which is Saturday however when Christ rose from the dead it was on the first day of the week which was on Sunday. That's why it's called the Lord's day because He rose from the dead on it. Breaking bread is a means of remembering Christ's death until He comes again. It is important to us since He revealed Himself to us.

Q4. (2 Chronicles 20:15-17a, 21-22; Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) What do praise and thankfulness have to do with faith? Why do you think praise and thankfulness are such powerful weapons in our warfare? When it comes to praise and thankfulness your faith shows through by them being made manifest meaning as you do these you are showing the world that you believe that God will do what He says. When you praise God you are being thankful at the same time. Praise and thankfulness go together with faith. Complaining and ingratitude go together with doubt. Praise and thankfulness gets our minds off of us and onto God. They are powerful weapons because together they combat doubt and discouragement and many other areas that us Christians face.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:26-27) How do you think anger and unforgiveness give Satan an opportunity to damage you? For you, who is the most difficult person to forgive? Why is your unforgiveness more damaging to you than to the person who hurt you? Anger and unforgiveness give way to the enemy by allowing him a foothold in our lives. Anger is a God-given emotion however when you misuse it; it becomes sin. When we process anger wrong, it becomes sin immediately. The most difficult person to forgive would be my aunt Shirley since she hurt me so deeply. It is more damaging to me because it harms my testimony and everything else about it.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; John 8:44) What are Satan’s chief tools to keep people under his control? Why is the sharing and preaching of the gospel so threatening to him (John 8:31-32; Romans 1:16)? Why do you think it is so difficult to share your faith or preach in the world outside the church? Satan's chief tools consist of blinding people to the gospel, using his demons to blind them in their faith that is the same thing as I said before but it is somewhat different in the fact that religion is protected by them and no one can reach them because of it. Doubt is yet another tool that he uses. He has many tools that he uses to blind people. Sharing and preaching the gospel is threatening to him because of the fact it is the power of Christ crucified and that alone defeats him. Because I am homebound and don't drive.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Psalm 24:1) What is the difference between legitimate authority and usurped authority? Which kind of authority does Satan have? How can Satan be defeated at the cross (Colossians 2:14-15), but still be dangerous (John 10:10a, 44; 1 Peter 5:8-9)? Authority when it comes right down to it given by God and when it came to Adam and Eve they had it from God however Satan usurped it by lying to them telling them they could be like God through eating the fruit on the tree. Legitimate authority is authority that is given by the Lord. That is not from the devil who is the enemy for he is a poor imitation. Usurped authority is authority that is overthrown by someone that is not legally allowed to have authority. Satan has usurped authority for he is a usurper. He can be defeated at the cross through us daily submitting ourselves to God also realizing that we can't usurp God's authority.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9; Ephesians 6:18-20) What portion of Paul’s “overwhelming pressure” was due to spiritual warfare, do you think? How much can be attributed to the “normal” struggles of life? Why is intercessory prayer for leaders and for one another so important? I believe that a lot of it dealt with spiritual warfare but some of it could have been normal life struggles as well. I would have to say about half and half for them. I believe intercessory prayer is so important for leaders and ourselves because it stops the powers of darkness from overwhelming us.

Q3. (Acts 19:11-19) Why do so many contemporary churches expect to evangelize effectively in the 21st century without signs and wonders? What are we afraid of? How do we identify people in our congregations whom God has gifted with ministries of healing, faith, and miracles? What will it take to move in this direction for you? For your church? They believe that signs and wonders have passed and no longer are existence and are no longer needed for ministry. We are afraid of what people will think I believe in this century. I believe we have to do it through this spiritual gifts inventory where we can see what each person has. For me I already do this in a ministry that I have. For my church I am not sure the pastor does not believe like me.

Q2. (Acts 19:9-10) How did “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia” hear God’s word from one apostle, who taught daily in Ephesus and didn’t travel around. What do you think was going on that caused this kind of expansion? Why is it vital to evangelize in our great cities? I believe it was because that the Jews and Greeks chose to follow Paul and listen to his message and after hearing it they then told their families about it as well. Who told someone else. I would have to say the possible persecution of the church and also the fact that some believers were willing to tell others of the hope of Christ Jesus. It is vital because there is a lot of people who are lost. However to do so you need different approaches for multicultural people.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 1:11-12; 2:1; 3:3-6) What seems to be the primary difference between Paul's ministry approach and that of Apollos? Why does this create competing allegiances at Corinth? How does Paul address the issue? Can you think of any divisions over style within the Christian community in your region? What should you do as a result of those divisions? The primary difference between Paul and Apollos is how they present the Gospel and their appearances. Paul is less attractive than Apollos and also less educated. However Paul was once a Rabbi so the audience he will attract will be different than the one Apollos attracts. Since He is more attractive and his speech is more polished. He would probably attract people that work in the government and also people who are wealthy. It creates that because people think that they should remain loyal to the person instead of Christ. He tells them that Christ was crucified and that God gives the increase and that he and Apollos are just workers. Yes the Pentecostals thinking they are better than the rest of the churches. The Catholics believing the same thing. Pray for them to realize that unity is the answer.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) How important was belief in a bodily resurrection to the gospel that Paul taught? Why is Christ's resurrection foundational to our faith? What will happen when we die? When Christ comes? The resurrection was critical to the gospel message since it was part of the gospel to start with. For without it we would not be saved from the powers of the darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. It is foundational to our faith because without it we would be pitied because we would have no hope of eternity. When we die we will get to see the Lord in all His glory because we will have new bodies. We will be raised from the dead.

Q3. (Acts 18:7) How important are the economics of house-churches and bi-vocational ministry in the rapid spread of the first century church? What are the advantages of a house-church model? What are the weaknesses? House churches are very important for the first century church and the rapid spread of the Gospel and without the bivocational ministers the gospel would not be wide spread at all. They are more economical since the ministers can go where they are needed. They are more widely accessible and many can reach the lost quicker that way. Limited space would be one and so you need more than one than house.

Q2. (Acts 18:3; 20:34-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10; 1 Corinthians 4:12) Why does Paul earn his living by skilled labor rather than through offerings from the church? Why do you think Christians believe that "full-time Christian ministry" is better than bi-vocational ministry? What lessons did Paul teach the believers by his example of working for his living? I believe he does it because he knows that the Thessalonians need an example of someone who is willing to work and not be a freeloader. But also someone who is a blessing to the Lord by supplying the church with their tithes. I believe it is because that way they can more easily focus on their ministerial needs that they have and not worry about other things that conflict with that. He taught lessons against idleness, taught lessons on hard work and also bivocational ministry and many other things.

Q1. (Acts 17:27-31; Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-15; Acts 4:12) How close is God to non-believers? Is he working in them? Since God shows forbearance for sins of non-believers, why do Christians act so judgmental? How should we act? Is faith in Jesus necessary for salvation? I believe that God is close to non believers through creation and their conscience as well. The Lord wants them to know Him and seek Him like we do. He is working in them through their consciences and the Holy Spirit can prod them to come to Him at the right time when they are ready to come. We do so because we believe we know better than God does. We should act in love and not judge them. Yes for the Lord said none come to the Father but by Him.

Q4. (Romans 3:25; 5:6-8; 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 3:18a) What is the Substitutionary Atonement? How is this such good news? How does it give us assurance in our struggles with sin? The substitutionary atonement is Jesus dying on the cross for my sins and the world's sins and covering it with His life's blood. It is good news because since there is no need for another animal sacrifice. It is also good news because we have the ability now to go before the throne and seek His face since His death tore the veil between in half in between the holy of holies and holy place in the temple. Now we have the right to go before the Lord and seek the Lord. It gives us assurance because we know we can trust Him to be there for us.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24; Romans 1:16; Acts 17:2-3) Why might Paul be tempted to underemphasize a "crucified Messiah" when preaching to the Jews? Why are we sometimes tempted to tell others how great it is to follow Christ while not telling them the other aspects of the gospel? Why is it so important that we are honest about the gospel? The Jews were the ones who crucified Christ because they didn't believe He was the Messiah. He did it because he had to consider the fact they might become offended by it. I believe that it is because we are afraid of rejection and being mocked and scorned by those we know. There are those Christians who say they believe but don't know the full love of God and what it really means. They don't even know what the Gospel is about at all. Simply put it is because it has power to save souls from hell and eternal damnation.

Q2. (Acts 16:25; Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Why do you think we are commanded to “Rejoice always”? What is our natural tendency when we’re under stress? What does rejoicing and thanking have to do with faith? In what circumstance do you find difficulty praising God? We are commanded to rejoice always because the Lord is the one who gave us everything we have and He is the one who gives us trials that we go through. He is our Creator as well. Our natural tendency is to be like the Israelites and complain, grumble and be ungrateful to the Lord. When we thank God for the answers before they come we are acknowledging Him and His faithfulness to us and how much we trust Him. For me, it comes when I am going through a tough season in my life where nothing is going right and my prayers aren't being answered.

Q1. (Acts 16:1-3) Why does Paul circumcise Timothy, even though his principles don't require him to? Why does Paul "become all things to all people" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)? In what ways does the path of serving Jesus require humility rather than demanding our rights? Paul knew that Timothy was a Greek and would need to be circumcised by him in order to satisfy the Jews in that area. So he chose to do it in order to make sure that the Gospel would be still spread and shared with everyone in the area. He becomes all things to everyone in order to preach the gospel and show that the gospel is what is most important to him and the mission. When it comes to serving Jesus we must remember that the Lord was servant to all before us and did not find it hard to become humble to the point of death even death on a cross. He even washed the disciples' feet yet and that is the one of lowest jobs a person could do in His day. We need to follow His example.

Q4. (Ephesians 2:13-15; Galatians 6:16) In what sense are believers in the Messiah the “New Israel”? Who makes believing Gentiles one with believing Jews? Who makes believing Protestants one with believing Catholics? Believers in the Yeshuah, the Messiah are grafted into the olive tree which the Israelites are a part of and should have been a part of to begin with. However they chose to reject Him and crucify Him and by doing so He chose the Gentiles to graft in as the New Israel. They choose to worship God and follow Jesus. It's the Lord who makes believing Gentiles one with Jews and makes Protestants and Catholics one body because of His blood. It is Him we have unity.