Irmela

Q9. (James 2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I am not or try not to be a person-pleaser. I do shy away from a drunk person or one on drugs because I feel I cannot help them in any way. I feel terribly inadequate. I grew up with or working among the less privileged community. I feel very uncomfortable among the rich people because I stick out like a sore thumb. I don't try to make an impression on people. I re-located the week-end before lock-down and have as yet not settled at any church. I have visited but am scared to put down roots.

Q8. (James 1:26-27) Why does James make taming the tongue and caring for the poor the prime tests of pure religion? Why not the quality of our quiet time or worship? So far we have seen that faith without works is dead. Just so talking and talking without doing is also dead. It accomplishes nothing. So the tongue needs to be bridled and actions start to take place. The ones that need help most are indeed the poor. Caring for them in practical ways, either by helping with job opportunities, bringing necessities, like food and clothing, or teaching a skill. This is Christlike.

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? The perfect Torah (law) is what was given to Moses. How would you define it? The perfect Law of Liberty can be defined as love. If you love God you will keep His Commandments. That means you will live righteously. It will not be done because it is a law but because of love. You will serve God and Him only (no idols, no taking His Name in vain, meet Him as He desires - keeping the Sabbath day holy.) Honor your parents (this too shows love) You will not take what belongs to someone else. Herein most of the commandments are already covered (you will not: 1) murder - take someone's life, 2) commit adultery - take someone's wife/husband, 3) steal - take what is not yours, 4) lie/bear false witness - in doing so you are taking away someone's freedom, 5)covet - desire what is not yours.) In breaking it up like that it can be seen that the definition of the law is true love. Love for God and love for your neighbour. How does it relate to the "royal law" (James 2:8)? The 'royal law' is "You shall love your neighbour as yourself". In what sense does it bring liberty? If you look into it and continue in it it brings liberty, but it is ineffective if its admonitions are not obeyed through appropriate actions/behaviour. Loving one's neighbour as unto the Lord causes one to be an agent of God's love and grace towards others. in this way you do not favour one person above another. You do not despise one and uphold another. All are treated equally. By living in this way, you owe no one anything and it does bring with it a sense of freedom/liberty.

Q6. (James 1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? What is the nature of the self-deception? It is so easy to fall into the trap to believe all is above board when we attend service on a Sunday and read the Word. Meanwhile that is where it ends. Nothing is put into practice. We continue to live a lie and a life pleasing the flesh. This can quite easily not be a righteous life at all. We need to put that aside and put into practice what we read or are taught. Not many people attend services on a regular basis anymore. (I guess beforehand the Bible was not easily available and many were illiterate and so the only place they heard or learnt more was when they attended meetings. They also seemed to be accountable to each other to put into practice what was heard. ) Congregations are large and not everyone is known by everyone else, so it is easy to just fall into deception , that all is ok. We deceive ourselves into believing that attending service or reading a little in the Scriptures is enough. Meanwhile we lash out in anger, tell lies, covet what others have, jealousy is rife etc.

Q5. (James 1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? God of His own free will has redeemed us (given us new spiritual life/ birth) by the "Word of Truth" as the most important of His creation. It is an act of grace. We are undeserving for we go our own way. Yet, we are purchased with the precious Blood of God's only Son. He continues to refine us (through hardship) so that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. By grace are ye saved through faith. This faith is obtained by hearing the Word of God. We then accept the Word and the refining process starts in earnest to conform us to the image of Christ, to break down the flesh and build up spiritual life.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 7:25-35) The disadvantages of remaining unmarried include being deprived of sexual relations. What are the advantages of celibacy that Paul discusses in these verses? How can married believers maximize "full devotion" to the Lord? To be without anxiety of needing to please a spouse or having to care for one and the usual family that follows. Full time can be devoted to the things of the Lord without having the necessary concern of family. His basic thing was to be free from care. Married believers can be fully devoted to the Lord also by fully being one and supporting each other in their calling.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 7:10-16) What do these verses teach about divorce for married believers? According to v 10 and 11 the wife is not to separate from the husband. but then comes the big but remain single or be reconciled This is possibly because some had the notion suddenly to remain celibate and would possibly in due course realize that that was not God's intention but that it was a misinterpretation of what they had heard in the assembly. This was also the same for the husband. What about divorce where one spouse isn't a believer? According to v 12 to 16 they should stay together as before. The possibility for the unbelieving partner to change course is often greater when staying together and experiencing the love of God through the believing partner than if they parted just on the grounds of becoming a believer but still living happily together. should this of course not be the case and there is strife etc, then they are free to divorce or separate. What about remarriage? I guess that is a very debatable subject. Each case is different. Unfortunately not all believers handle their wives as per Scripture, I guess and vice-versa. I am just reminded again of that little song He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 7: 9 and 37) What do verses 9 and 37 teach about sex between couples who are engaged but not married? What counsel does Paul give to engaged couples who do not control themselves sexually? Sex outside of marriage is sin. Paul's advice is to get married if you cannot control your sex-drive, period. (no two ways about it.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 7:1-6) Why does Paul concede that "it is good for a man not to touch a woman"? What does he teach about sexual intercourse within marriage? How does he teach mutual rights within marriage, not just a man's right? What does this passage teach about using sex as a bargaining chip within marriage? Touching a woman out of wedlock is the same as starting up feelings that can easily lead to having a relationship with her which is only meant for married couples. Intimate touching is definitely a no-no. Sexual intercourse within marriage is healthy for the marriage relationship to remain strong. It is not only for creating children but also for mutual-pleasure. A stronger bond is built between the couple if the sexual relationship is healthy. It is not just a man's right but also a woman's right. Man is for the woman just as much as woman is for the man. Only if there is mutual agreement should they abstain. This does not mean that she is a sex-toy to satisfy his sexual **** either. Sex is not to be used as a bargaining chip. It should be something enjoyed by both partners.

Q2. (John 6:28-29) What kind of "works" do people sometimes pursue to please God? They pursue charitable acts for others less fortunate than themselves. We just know that nothing we do will earn us eternal life. It is a free Gift. Some feel that attending church always, giving heaps of money, are "works" that please God. Our motives for anything we do to please God, need to be right. According to Jesus, what is the most important "work" that God requires of us? To believe in the One God has sent.

Q1. (John 6:26-27) Why were some of these "believers" following Jesus? What were their selfish motives? For what motives do true disciples seek Jesus? We are told that they were following Him because they ate the loaves and were satisfied. Their motives were to satisfy themselves. there was no thinking of tomorrow or the next person. I was satisfied so I want more. True disciples seek Jesus to serve Him and to finally be with Him throughout eternity.

Q4. (James 1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom? If we need wisdom we can ask God, Who gives wisdom without finding fault in us (without reasoning, but you got yourself in this mess, so get yourself out of it). What's more is, He gives GENEROUSLY. The condition is, that we must believe and not doubt. Doubting is described like a wave of the sea, which is tossed about by the wind. So then even if we do have the answer, there is uncertainty and the odds are weighed up and still no certainty about what to do, or which direction to follow, because the "wave" condition is not standing still but fluctuates all the time and uncertainty rules. Trials very often bring us to the point where ALL is laid out on the table and we come to the point where we indeed give doubts and fears and whatever sins are in the way to the LORD and ask Him to take over. We ask Him then for wisdom to handle the situation and to help us in it and finally to help us out of it.

Q3. (James 1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? How do trials help us grow in faith? We reach the end of our tether and cannot go on anymore. We then call out to God Who in His love for us points out how our actions are one day like this and then like that. No certainty in our decisions or actions. We are showing fruits of double mindedness. If we then allow Him to help us break with sinful actions, desires, thoughts, etc., which lead to the double mindedness, He will do so and set us free. We are able to lean on God, strengthen our faith in Him. Our decisions for actions that had plagued us in the past, change. They coincide with God's ways. No longer are we double minded about our actions but secure in God's leading. This is a sure way of increasing our faith. so overcoming the trials helps our faith to grow.

Q2. (James 1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Does God tempt us with evil? No Does he tempt sinful people with evil? No Why does he allow people to sin? It is their choice Why does he allow evil to exist at all? It is a consequence of choices that it exists In Genesis we read about the FALL. There we find one blaming the next one and finally blaming God. That has not changed down through the ages. Always someone is sought to place the blame on. God has made us to be unique, not puppets that are all the same. We have been allowed to make our own choices. We can choose to be obedient or not. There are consequences to both choices. 50 yrs ago 4 in our family of 6 members were killed. That was not God that did that. The person causing that had made a wrong choice, by doing that he/she caused unspeakable pain and agony to others. To themselves probably yrs of guilt. A chain reaction could now have been set in motion. Bitterness , hatred , etc could have consumed us. We had to choose. Forgiveness, resting in God, finding quiet in the storm, relying on Him to be able to move forward. Was it easy? Of course not. But God kept His Word. He never left us. But it was not His fault. It was the CHOICE of man that had a ripple effect.

(James 1:2-4) What value have trials had in your life? They have taught me that God is indeed everything to me. He is my All in All. They have taught me not to rely on man for man lets you down. You cannot trust man. Indeed when at times I failed, when turning back to God, He was true His Word. He was there. When I repented, He indeed forgave me. We will come to that passage soon enough. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? He sure tried and got me very discouraged, broken and despondent. Needing to fight depression. My God has been there and in my Despair I called to Him and indeed He was there, He never left me alone. I still battle with trust issues but fight it. Or allowed God to refine you? He sure has done a work in my life. i was so sure of myself before. so confident of my abilities. Now I rely on Him. How have you changed? Now I try to rely on Him always. WHAT A POTTER. MASTER. FRIEND. !!!!!!!!!

Q5. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) What are the implications of the truth that you don't belong to yourself, but to God? What category does it put us in if we resist that truth? Christ bought us with a a price. I no longer belong to myself. I belong to Christ. Whatever I do to myself, I am actually doing to Christ. If I resist this I am actually saying I do not belong to Christ and am an unbeliever.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 6:13b-15) What does it mean that "your bodies are members of Christ Himself"? What are the implications of that with regard to sexual sin? What are the implications of that with regard to your ministry? When we accepted Christ into our lives, we handed over rule and reign to Him. It is no longer I that live but CHRIST that LIVES IN ME. By that we mean that we are members of Christ's body. Thus any sexual sin we commit we are putting that sin on Christ afresh. Basically crucifying Him yet again. Dirtying His holiness. Our bodies are now a temple of the Holy Spirit. This means our ministry is sullied. It cannot really be effective.

(1 Corinthians 6:11) Why is the gospel such good news to those who have been involved in gross sin? We are given the way/plan of salvation. Christ died on the cross. He paid the penalty for sin, and because of that we are set free from sin and death. On what basis can a person be forgiven? if we come to the place where we confess our sin and repent from it, He is faithful and just and forgives us our sin. On what basis can a person be cleansed from sin? in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit we are cleansed and made whole.

(1 Corinthians 6:9-10) What does the scripture teach here about participating in homosexual acts? It is sin. It is corrupting the natural that God made for the created creatures to enjoy, and making something unnatural out of it. Almost saying to God that what He had ordained was not good, the created being knows better, and then homosexual acts are participated in. What does the scripture teach about heterosexual immorality? It is sin. it is violation of God's will and purpose. Why is repentance so important for a believer? Sin is doing or committing something that is against the will of God. To restore that fact we need to confess it. Repent from that kind of lifestyle and come back to living as God intended us to live. So we can see from that, that it is very important for a believer to live a life pleasing to God.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) How does it hurt the Christian cause when Christians take each other to court? How should disputes be settled between believers? How might this be instituted in a local congregation? Among churches in a geographical region? An overall picture is created that Christians cannot get along with each other or cannot tolerate each other. There is no love between members/brethren. Another thing, I guess, the thought does come up . . . They are still human, but can they not sort out their differences between each other. themselves? Do they have to use outsiders (the local court system) to do this? Disputes between believers should be resolved between themselves. In the church body. The leaders of the local congregation, have the authority to appoint people in this position. i think if it is of a more serious nature and cannot be settled in the local congregation, then it would be handed over to the higher authority of that denomination. To the body/umbrella they are affiliated with,or fall under, or the leadership they are accountable to.

(John 6:14) How does the people's desire to make him king relate to the third temptation Jesus met in the wilderness (Luke 4:9)? What would have happened to God's plan of redemption if Jesus hadn't retreated to the hills on this occasion? Why must we resist giving in to people�s plans for our lives? When satan tempted Him in the wilderness and offered Him the earthly kingdom to rule over if He bowed down to him. The people also wanted Him to rule as king. This would have thwarted the plans of redemption. Jesus showed us what to do in the face of temptation. Turn from it. Go one side and spend time with God. People's plans and God's plans don't necessary co-incide.

(John 6:12-13) Why does Jesus have his disciples pick up the left-over pieces? What does this have to do with his attitude towards waste? What does it have to do with his teaching the disciples about abundance? They pick up the left-over pieces so that nothing was wasted. It shows that we should be grateful for everything and not just take an abundance for granted. The lesson is truly that we should comlete the task before us not just part of it. The first part was getting the crowd ready to accept the miracle. Then came the miracle. What they could eat, was eaten. Now came the part to pick up the abundance left over after all had had their fill. We are not to let the abundance go to waste. God truly gives in abundance. He does not skimp.

John 6:11) How did Jesus distribute the multiplied loaves and fishes to the multitudes? How do the disciples fit in? How are the baskets used? What impression do you think this is making on the disciples as they work hard during the ongoing miracle? Jesus took the loaves and after He gave thanks He gave to the disciples who distributed to the crowd. So He also did with the fish. The disciples were the vessels He used to serve the people. I can imagine that the food was put into baskets to distribute it easier. After all were satisfied, what was leftover was picked up and 12 baskets full was gathered. I guess they were awe inspired and this enabled them to continue with their task. There is order inspite of it all being miraculous and awe-inspiring.

John 6:10) Why does Jesus have the crowds sit down before feeding them? What is the disciples' role in this? Why would you prepare for a miracle if you don't think it would happen? How ready is your congregation to see miracles take place? When we eat, we too sit down. This was a sizeable crowd. If women and children were included in the count there would possibly be 12 to 15 thousand. We are told that in that time the people would recline at the table to eat. There might not have been tables but there was grass. So this was an outside 'dining place'. To be able to reach the people to serve them with the food it was far easier to have them sit in groups. This too would stop the jostling about, the accidental tramping on someone, falling over etc., which so easily happens in a crowd. It too would help to ensure that no one was left out. That everyone was served. The disciples had to be OBEDIENT before anything could happen. They ensured that the crowd was settled and then after Jesus prayed and broke the bread and gave to them, they distributed the food. As also the fish. Faith and obedience was the key.

John 6:5-9) Why does Jesus try to get the disciples to own the task of feeding the crowds? What is the significance to the story of the boy's five loaves and two little fish? The crowds had followed them and had listened to His teaching and were possibly hungry by this time. It was as if the crowds were "visiting" Jesus and His disciples, so they were the hosts responsible for feeding them. Jesus already knew how the problem would be solved but He 'threw it into the disciples court'. I feel that Jesus wants us to realize the importance of making use of that which we have (not always want more or the best) and give that into His hands to use. It might seem so insignificant in man's hands but in God's Hands it is worthy of making a miracle happen. The five barley loaves and two fish, were not from a rich man's table, but were the lunch of poor people. In this instance the lunch a mother had probably provided for her boy. In man's eyes enough for a boy but in God's eyes enough to FEED THE CROWD OF THOUSANDS and have some left over. Lord help me to give the little I have to You to use to 'feed spiritually' whoever You bring across my path. That they may go home 'filled with spiritual food'.