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Q4. (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16) Admittedly, this is a hard passage to interpret. However, if you take the

Q3. (Matthew 7:7-8) Why is continual asking, seeking, and knocking so essential to our looking forward to the Kingdom? These are essential because Jesus is telling us to be bold and persistent when it comes to advancing the Kingdom.There is nothing passive about the Kingdom, if one is to help to advance it one has to be aggresive and radical about the Kingdom. Communication is two way and the only way the Kingdom can advance in a person's life is if they are persistent enough to keep asking, seeking, and knocking..... Why do we give up so easily? We give up easily because we get tired of asking, complacent in the situation that were in and we give up seeking, discouraged when the door is not open. And we give up when we don't fully understand what it is that God wants to do in and through our lives,we lose faith. How do we gain boldness and persistence in prayer? "Christ". No man can come to the Father without Christ.It's because of Christ we can come before the throne of grace with confidence. It's all Christ!It's all because of Christ!

Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to

Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can’t seek wealth and God simultaneously. Does he really mean this? Is this hyperbole? Figurative? Literal? Can wealthy people serve God in actual fact? Yes, Jesus really means this literally! We need to be seekers of His kingdom first and foremost.And, also we have to evaluate the reason for pursuing wealth, is it to serve for the purposes of God or is it for personal gain? And yes wealthy people can serve God so long that their wealth has no hold on them.Remember the rich young ruler.

Q4. What did Jesus intend the Parable of the Soils to teach us about the

Q3. (Matthew 13:23) Even good soil can have factors that hinder growth in various parts of the field, or make some areas grow taller and fuller wheat. What factors make a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom? The factors that make a disciple good soil for growth are 1) Response; 2)Willingness; 3)Application; 4)Repeat; I write in this sense because depending how well we respond to the Gospel message or any message that comes from the Word will affect our willingness to be obedient. If there is no obedience to the Word then there is no application, and no application means no fruit to be produced. What might be the reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth? The reason for 30, 60,and 100 fold might depend on how well they are nurtured, watered, and cared for.That is how they heard Word and how well they understood the Word. I am eager to learning more about this topic. But this is what I get from reading the passage in it's context.

Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so? THEY ARE ALL THE MOST DANGEROUS! Cause any one/all of these can have detrimental effects for anyone that pursues them.These here are all for SELF-FULFILLMENT.These take your eyes off Christ and you replace what you need for what you want.And as these become a priority above else in your life you lose focus on the most important thing, Your relationship with Christ and the Father...That is why I think they are all dangerous. I've been here before, and it has caused me to waver in my faith, it has caused me to become stagnant and stale. It has caused me to re-evaluate my commitment to the Lord. I can only say before this I was just a Christian in name only...I to have questioned the fact if was I really saved? But in actuality I was just taking up space. So I have rededicated my life to the Lord, NOW! I want to be that fertile soil, now knowing what it's really going to cost me..My desire is to no longer stay a babe in Christ it is to become a mature Believer in Christ. And for all those who are at this point in their walk don't give up and don't give in believe me the consequences can be quite severe trust me, I know.. it could have been alot worse but thank God for Grace and Mercy...

Q1. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to Jesus

Q4. Why is repentance so central to the Kingdom of God? Repentance is central to the Kingdom of God because everything that the Kingdom is, is contrary to human thinking. So to repent is to change your mind about your life and quit practicing all the sins that are contrary to the Kingdom of God, and turn to follow something or someone else,in this case the object of our repentance is the Kingdom of God.Also, Repentance is a pre-requisite to forgiveness, if you ask for forgiveness w/o repentance what are you asking for forgiveness for, since you have nothing to repent of Why is baptism important to converts to the King? Baptism is important to converts because we identify with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Also, it is an outward expression of an inward change. Lastly, it is a public declaration of your new birth.. Can Christ reign in an unrepentant heart? No, Christ cannot reign in unrepentant heart. To be unrepentant means that you are captain of your own ship. Christ is either Lord of ALL, or not Lord at all! I welcome any correction or criticism if I am wrong and insight to broaden my knowledge about baptism, repentance, and the Kingdom. Thank you, and God Bless....

Hi, my name is Javier I'm from Long Beach, California. I just want to Thank you, for making this possible Pastor Ralph.I look forward to learning more about the Kingdom, and learning from other brothers and sister as well. I'm new at this so don't expect my answers to come from a theological view point.But I do welcome insight and criticism if I get it wrong, I want to grow and mature in the Lord I don't want to stay a babe. Cause a babe needs others to care for him as opposed to one who is maturing and growing he takes care of others..But we all need each other. Grace and Peace to all...God Bless....

Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would Johns baptism have offended a Jews national pride? If John's water baptism was compared to proselyte baptism, then this would have gone against the grain of there core beliefs. A person born into a Jewish family was already called a child of Abraham. They reap all the Covenant blessings that God had promised to Abraham. And to be baptized in public was to say that they were not part of Abraham's family. Who welcomed Johns baptism? People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole region of Jordan came to John's baptism.I'm thinking that this was a mixture of Jews and Gentiles who were of lower to no class citizens and were considered out cast of Judiaism. Who resisted it? Why? The Pharisee's, the Sadducees, and the experts of the Law resisted the call to repentance. They resisted because they thought just because they were children of Abraham they were already righteous. But I'm thinking also that they didn't like the fact that some wild eyed man wearing something made out of camels hair and who survives on locust and wild honey was in no position to give them any roadmap to the Kingdom of Heaven. After all the religious leaders of that time were already the embodiment of the Law and they already knew the way to God and to Heaven.

Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repenting of their known sins? When people adopt Christian faith w/o repentance all they get is a waste of their time,and God is not God at all in there life. Why do people avoid repentance? People avoid repentance for a number of reasons 1)being that they feel that if there sin is not hurting nobody there is no real reason for repentance 2)and they feel their sin is just to great and the guilt of it overwhelms them so much repentance is the farthest thing from their mind 3)also they enjoy the sin that they are committing and if they have to repent that means they have to give it up...These are just a few reasons why I think people avoid repentance. What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart? I would imagine more than 50% but then again I'm only speculating.But there are a number of churches out there that are preaching "another gospel, and another jesus" only to attain numbers and not true believers.No offense intended, just stating an opinion.