Irmela

Acts 17:27-31; Romans 1:19-20; 2:14-15; Acts 4:12) How close is God to non-believers? He is not far from each one of us, is stated very clearly, in God's Word. In Him we live and move and have our being. A persons conscience also shows that something is working in our hearts, by letting us most often choose an acceptable lifestyle. We seem to instinctively know it is wrong to take what doesn't belong to us etc. Is He working in them? God's eternal power is clearly visible to believers and non-believers alike. So yes, He is working in them. Some just choose to keep themselves blind and deaf to His working. Until, one day!!!!! Glory, to God, may it still be this side of heaven, their eyes are opened and ears are unstopped and they recognize it is GOD. Since God shows forbearance for sins of non-believers, why do Christians act so judgmental? We shouldn't. For there, but for the grace of God, go I. How should we act? We should pray for them too. Is faith in Jesus necessary for salvation? Yes, absolutely. For by grace are you saved through faith.

(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? In the O. T. specific rules and regulations were given which needed to be followed, as far as sacrificing an offering for sin, personal and national etc. This was done again and again. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice. Unblemished. He is the Substitutionary Atonement. He paid the price in my stead. Never does it need to get paid for again. It is done. Finished.

(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? It does not help to not declare things as they are. The Jews might have not understood whom they were actually looking for as being the Messiah. Paul did not beat about the bush. He did tell them that Christ came and was crucified but that He also rose again on the third day. 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? As said before it does not help to sugar coat the message. Wait on the Lord and let Him guide you as to how to present it to the person being testified to. Why is it so important that we are honest about the gospel? Because the whole Gospel is what matters not bits of it. It is not a hairy-fairy story, get rich quick, have no problem kind of myth. It is real life. Real life has everything in it. Pain the works. The difference is we don't need to attempt to walk through alone. Christ has carried and paid for our sins (which would have gotten us into hell). This is important to share.

Acts 16:25; Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Why do you think we are commanded to "Rejoice always"? When we rejoice in adverse circumstances or others then we tend to keep our vision off the immediate and keep our eyes focused on Christ. What is our natural tendency when we're under stress? Our natural tendency when under stress is to worry about the outcome. What does rejoicing and thanking have to do with faith? It goes hand in hand with faith. It is like thanking in spite of the circumstances and so we get to believe that we are not alone in the bad times but Christ is indeed with us. We tend to overcome easier and have faith that God will see us through the difficult part. In what circumstance do you find difficulty praising God? I do try at all times to praise God in spite of whatever.

Acts 16:1-3) Why does Paul circumcise Timothy, even though his principles don't require him to? Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage. As the father was a Greek he had not been circumcised at birth. But now as Paul wanted to take him as part of the team, he felt that it would be better to have him circumcised, so that they would not be prevented from also appearing in the synagogues. Why does Paul "become all things to all people" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)? This way he can easier reach more people. In what ways does the path of serving Jesus require humility rather than demanding our rights? The circumstances are not always the same. Many times one has to give in and hearken to do what Jesus would have us do. (This cld be different to our normal thinking and starchy way of life)

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? The people/nations are to be seen as neither Jew nor Greek. We are to be seen as one people. From that one people, all who are believers in the Messiah, are the "New Israel." Christ death on the cross was for all. Gentiles who accept this GIFT are one with Jews who accept this GIFT. Exactly the same Protestants and Catholics who accept this GIFT are one people. They all are believers in the Messiah, they are part if the "NEW ISRAEL"

Acts 13:48; Romans 10:13-15) How does an understanding of God's pure grace fit together with the idea of predestination? Here we only understand partly. We have been given a commission and I guess that joins in with sharing Gods grace which is for everyone. It is freely given to all. To be accepted by faith by those who believe when they hear. How might a belief in predestination make us lazy with regard to evangelism? Very easy the conclusion is reached that whoever is on the predestination list will be saved anyway so I don't need to share the Good News of salvation with anyone. This then makes one share nothing. Does God "need" us to bring salvation to the world? God chooses to use us as His arm extended to reach the lost. He allows us this privilege to bring the Good News to whoever is willing to accept it. All the time it is still grace and only grace that enables salvation through faith.

(Ephesians 2:8-9) What is a simple definition of "grace"? Grace is neither earned nor deserved. It is unmerited favour. Why aren't legalism and "works" to please God compatible with grace? Legalism are a set of rules that have to be followed thus making it "works" that are seen. This is not compatible with grace because it is a GIFT which is not deserved or earned and works are things done that earn some kind of favour. What part does our faith have to do with our salvation? By GRACE are ye saved through FAITH. If I can give an illustration I would say that a GIFT is placed for me to take. This GIFT is SALVATION. I didn't work for it nor do I deserve it. But it is there ready for me. Only once I accept this GIFT is it worth anything to me. That I do by FAITH.

(Ephesians 2:8-9) What is a simple definition of "grace"? Grace is neither earned or deserved. It is unmerited favour. Why aren't legalism and "works" to please God compatible with grace? Nothing that we do from ourselves will grant us our salvation. It is a free Gift from God which we do not deserve but just need to accept. Legalism puts in place all sorts of rules and regulations to follow, which can then be looked at as "works" that are done. That is not Christ's way, it is not GRACE. Grace is free. Nothing that I do. What part does our faith have to do with our salvation? It is by GRACE you are saved through FAITH. If I could give an illustration, I would say that SALVATION is wrapped up as a GIFT. It is there for me/us to accept. Without that step of accepting it, it stays there but FAITH is that accepting of that awesome GIFT OF SALVATION.

Acts 15:1,5) What is the essential demand of the Judaizers? The Judaizers actually want the Gentile converts to be circumcised. (Basically proselytizing them) How does that contradict the idea of salvation by grace? If this was desired and necessary for salvation it would be salvation by following a law and not by grace. What is the danger of excessive legalism in our Christian congregations? The danger of legalism is again that it gets to be accepted or understood that salvation is by works. Looking back on the Pharisees it is like all the man-made attachments they hung onto the Law which made it impossible to be kept. We need to understand and make clear SALVATION IS AN ACT OF GRACE. Works has nothing to do with it.

Acts 13:43b) Why is "continuing" or "abiding" in the faith so important? It is important to keep the faith by abiding in the faith. Not giving up when it is hard going but keep on holding on. What does Jesus' Parable of the Sower teach about "continuing" (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21)? Seed springs up quickly and withers in persecution but if you continue with follow-up time of teaching and "rooring" then the plant gets stronger. So it would be continuing in the faith. Why do new believers need basic instruction and discipling before the task of evangelism is complete? (Acts 14:21b-22) If they have just become believers in the evangelism campaign, and know nothing more of the Gospel, it is vital that follow-up work is done. They need examples to follow (genuine ones). They need more teaching and repeated exhortation. It is easy to become discouraged

How do Paul's gospel presentations to pagans in Lystra (Acts 14:16-17;) and Athens (Acts 17:16-34) differ from his typical message in the synagogues? To the pagans he spoke about the Creator. A living God who made everything. He could point out that idols are worthless. It was necessary to repent from idol worship. In the past the Jews had been called to repentance now God was calling the Gentiles to repentance also. Speak about God's goodness in providing rain, crops, food and also joy. In the synagogues he could speak about the promised Messiah and that this was Jesus. That John the Baptist had pointed to Jesus. That Jesus was rejected, crucified and risen from the dead. Resurrection was not a strange term to them, it was supported in the Old Testament Scriptures. Then he could encourage them that through Jesus comes forgiveness of sins for those who believe in Him. What common ground does Paul build on with pagan audiences? The Creator. How will you need to contextualize the gospel in your particular area to build on common ground? Depends on the person one is speaking to or testifying to. The best is to lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance

In evangelizing people, how does God use power encounters (in Paphos, Crete, Acts 13:6-12) The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, was interested in what Paul and Barnabas were saying. The sorcerer, Bar-Jesus, tried to intefere and to keep him from accepting the faith. Paul, controlled by the Holy Spirit stopped him and declared him blind for a time. The proconsul believed. and signs and wonders (Acts 14:3 in Iconium)? They continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace and signs and wonders were performed. Are miracles enough to produce saving faith on their own? Faith in our Saviour is needed If not, what else is needed? Have you seen signs and wonders with evangelism? If not, why do you think that is? Yes, I have experienced miracles.

1. What was Jesus' last act before he ascended? (Luke 24:50-51). He lifted up His hands and blessed His followers after He had led them to a location near Bethany, and had reminded them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit had come upon them. 2. What hides Jesus from the disciples' view? (Acts 1:9). A cloud hid Him from their view. 3. How do clouds relate to Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man? (Daniel 7:13-14). Daniel saw someone like the son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He was approaching the Ancient of Days and was being led into His presence. 4. What happens to Jesus when he ascends to his Father's presence in heaven? (Philippians 2:5-11) He is exalted by the Father. His former glory of which He emptied Himself of is restored to Him. 5. How do Jesus' disciples respond to his ascension? (Luke 24:52) *They worship Him * They respond with great joy! * They praise God. * They obediently go back to Jerusalem and wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 6. What is the content of the angels' promise at Jesus' ascension? (Acts 1:10-11) That Jesus will return in glory in the same way He was taken from them.

7. Have you ever met a powerless Christian? What kind of waiting is necessary to receive spiritual power for ministry? How diligently and obediently are you willing to wait for and seek this power from the Spirit? If you are an introvert it does not help trying in your own power to talk to a group of people. God has made each of us unique. He made us that way for a purpose. He will fill us with power to do the task He has intended for us to do. If you are called as a pastor don't try for an Evangelist. You will burn out. Nor vice versa as you will be agitated. Neither does it help to go ahead of time. Go when God sends you. Don't follow a calling that is not yours it will only cause frustration. Stay in the Word, watch and pray.

6. The first apostles were eyewitnesses by definition (Acts 1:22). In what sense are we witnesses? What evidence are we aware of about which we can speak authoritatively? Of what are you a first-hand witness? I too was lost and hell-bound. When I handed my life over to Christ, He began a work in my life to re-new me. So in that way I have witnessed Christ's power in my life. I can speak of first-hand experience. My life has changed.

5. What steps should we be taking in our communities to see that the gospel is carried to every people group in our midst? (For example, Korean, Hmong, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Muslim, Chinese.) What steps should we be taking to carry the Gospel to every language of every people-group on earth? How can we facilitate this work? That is very interesting what Hanks posted. Without Christ it is pointless going anywhere. Wherever He guides that makes sense to follow, as He will open the way. It is our lives/actions that need to portray Christ. That is what will win whichever people we get into contact with. Without power from on high this is an impossible task.

1. What does repentance consist of? What synonyms can we use to describe repentance to our generation? (Luke 24:47) Repentance consists of a change in our actions. A change from unbelief to believing in Christ and to follow Him. In doing this our old lifestyle will be left behind and we will begin to live in a new way. Having Christ take over the reign in my life, having Him sit on the throne of my heart and working the controls. Allowing Him to make me the person He would have me be. Repentance means leaving behind a life of sin and death and "living" God's way. Synonyms would be,... Tuning away from Feel sorrow for Forsaking a certain lifestyle Making restitution Forgiving where others have caused pain and bitterness Keeping the Commandments of God 2. Is forgiveness of sins possible without repentance? Is repentance possible without the forgiveness of sins accompanying it? (Luke 24:47) Only when you recognize that you have sinned can you repent and ask for forgiveness. If you do not recognize the need to repent and change no action takes place. Forgiveness is being pardoned for something recognized as being wrong. The two go hand in hand. It is AMAZING GRACE 3. What does it mean to preach or do some action "in His name"? (Luke 24:47) It means doing something in/on the authority of His Name. In the very presence of Him or by the commission of Him, i. e. He sent me. Doing it in His power. It is saying He is responsible for the action. In fact it is actually connected with all that Jesus is and has done. 4. Why was the shift of focus from the Jews to the Gentiles so significant? Jesus concentrated His ministry to the Jews. That is not to say He left out the other nations. But it was to one people who would then be commissiined to take the msg to the rest of the world. The Jews rejected the Son, then only was the msg taken to the Gentiles. Still we find the focus starts at Jerusalem then Judea, then Samaria (mixed races), then the uttermost parts of the world. The msg is NOT just for one people, it is for EVERYONE.

1. Why were the disciples so terrified when Jesus suddenly was standing among them? How did they explain this phenomenon? (Luke 24:36-37) They had just been talking about Him, that He had in fact appeared to the women, to Peter and Cleopas and his friend on the Emmaus road, and now suddenly He was in their midst. They were frightened and at first thought they were seeing a ghost, because no door had been opened. In fact the door had been locked for they feared the Jews. 2. What point was Jesus trying to make by showing the disciples his hands and feet? (Luke 24:39a, 40) Anybody else's body would not have the nail prints in them. Jesus specifically showed them the scars so they could identify it as being His body. 3. What point was Jesus trying to make by asking them to handle his flesh and bones? (Luke 24:39b) A ghost does not have flesh and bones. It was not just a phantom appearing to them, because if their great hope, desire and longing. It was really Jesus Christ the Messiah. 4. What point was Jesus trying to make by eating in their presence? (Luke 24:41-43) Jesus eats in their presence, thus showing them His body is real and has a physical reality. 5. What things do we learn about the nature of the resurrection from Jesus' appearance to his disciples on this occasion? * It has definite physical aspects. The body has flesh, bones, it can eat, converse intelligently, and can walk for long stretches. * It has continuity with the previous body before death. The holes in the hands and feet made by the nails and also where the spear was stabbed into His side are clearly visible. They have not just disappeared. * It is not just bound to the physical sphere. It can appear and disappear at will. 6. What basics about the Messiah did he teach them on that occasion from Moses, from the Prophets, and from the Psalms? (Luke 24:44-46) Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Him in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms. Also He pointed out that the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the 3rd day. Jesus is the FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE.

6. Why do some Christians seem to be proud of their unbelief? How should we deal with the doubts we have? Ignore them? I feel if there are doubts or uncertainties in our belief, we should really talk it over with a righteous man/mentor and pray together about them. Let God help us through this and draw us closee to Him. Make Christ our example and not fellow-believers. Something small could trip us up for a lifetime. In what sense is Jesus revealed to us today in "the breaking of bread"? (Luke 24:31, 35) The bread as a whole. Jesus said He is the Bread of Life. When the bread is broken, this is significant of His body which was broken for us. In that way we all partake of it.

5. In 52:‪13 - 53‬:12 what is the meaning and significance of the Servant's death? What in the passage indicates his resurrection to life? His death was in our stead. He died so that we might enjoy LIFE. He took our sin and shame upon Himself. In verse 10 it states that ... He has risen from the dead in time to come.

4. Examine Isaiah 52:‪13 - 53‬:12. How could you relate the Suffering Servant (52:13; 53:11) to the Messiah? How could the Jewish rabbis miss this? In 52:14 describes the face of One who had been tortured severely. Jesus went through all that. In 53:2 it describes that He did not appear in all kingly pomp. Jesus did not come in kingly finery and with all kinds of men revealing His presence. He came as a normal human being. In 53:3 He is described as being despised, forsaken and rejected. Jesus was despised by the religeous leaders, He was forsaken by those who loved and followed Him, to stand alone, and He was rejected by His people as being the Messiah Who had come. In 53:4&5 it is poignently described how He carried our griefs, sickness, distress, our sorrows and pain. How He was wounded for our guilt and iniquities. This is exactly what Jesus came to do on the cross. In 53:9 we find that it describes that He died with the wicked, (even though He had done no violence, nor had He been deceitful,) but was buried in a rich man's tomb. This is what happened. The two thieves were hung on either side of His cross and He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Aramethea, who was a wealthy man. They were blinded so that the SACRIFICE could take place and redemption get put into place. If Jesus had not pd the price at Calvary, we would still be condemned. Now He has pd the price and we are set free and can appear as righteous in Him before our God. Because it is Jesus whom He sees.

3. Why does Jesus rebuke them? Is his rebuke fair or warranted? Why or why not? (Luke 24:25-26) Jesus rebukes them because it is as if they don't want to believe. He had told them openly on at least three separate occasions that the Messiah would be put to death and be buried only to rise again. Now it had happened and the women had related the fact and yet again they would not believe. It was as if they had blinded their emotions to the truth. Jesus's rebuke could only help jolt their memories.

1. How would you describe the spiritual and emotional temperature of Cleopas and his fellow disciple before Jesus teaches them? (Luke 24:13-24) They were perplexed, sad and downcast. Their hopes had been dashed. Hopes that Jesus would redeem Israel and set it free. They were also mystified about the report from the women, that the grave was empty and they had seen the angels, who emphatically told them that Jesus had risen. (The Amplified Version translates this as ... the women drove us out of our senses ...). The disciples had then also gone and indeed found the tomb empty but they had not encountered the angels. These happenings were all very disturbing, confusing or thought provoking to our two friends walking to Emmaus. 2. Why don't they seem to believe the women's report of Jesus' resurrection? (Luke 24:22-24) They don't seem to believe the women, because by the time the men had gotten there, the angels were no longer at the tomb. I can only guess that the women were highly excited about it all. Probably also all spoke at once in their joy and eagerness to get the men to believe.

6. Why did the female disciples believe in Jesus' resurrection while the male disciples didn't believe yet? (Luke 24:11) The women had been to the tomb and had found it empty. They had seen the angelical beings who had lit up the tomb and had jolted their memories to remember where Jesus had said that He would rise from the dead. They now believed and excitedly reminded the men. The men were as yet not convinced. They had not seen for themselves. 7. How do Peter's observations of Jesus' graveclothes (Luke 24:12) bear on the rumor that his body had been stolen? (Matthew 28:13-15). If the body had been stolen it would have been together with the grave cothes. But both the shroud or linen cloths were left one side as well as the napkin that had been around His head. This was folded neatly and put to the side. Robbers would not have worried about such detail. 8. Does the validity of the Christian faith rely upon resurrection as an historical fact rather than a religious myth? Yes or no? Support your answer. It is an historical event. Several times Jesus mentioned His death, burial and resurrection. Angels too confirmed that he was indeed risen as He had foretold. The tomb was indeed found empty and without a body but the graveclothes left where once a body had lain. After that Jesus appeared to the disciples in His resurrected body and also to other loved ones.