newwine50

Q1. (John 5:19-20) Are we intended to emulate Jesus' listening to the Father, or is knowing the Bible a modern-day substitute for this? We are supposed to do what Jesus did. Knowing the bible is not enough. Even the demons know the scriptures but they don't obey God. Why don't churches teach more about hearing the voice of God? They probably didn't learn that they were supposed to. Leaders told me that I shouldn't say that God speaks. What would happen in our generation if we would learn to dynamically hear God and then obey what he is saying to us? We would see much greater results than we are now seeing. We would see this generation healed and restored.

Q3. (John 4:53) What are the factors that caused the royal official's household (immediate family, extended family, and servants) to believe? They were told that the boy was healed at the same time that Jesus said that he would be. How mature was this faith initially? I believe that our faith has to continue to grow through meditating on God's Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. (Rom. 10:17) How do you think the royal official was able to nurture it beyond mere "miracles faith"? I believe he meditated on the words Jesus spoke all the way home.

. (Philippians 3:7-8) How do legalism and the resulting spiritual pride prevent us from trusting in Christ by faith, and knowing him? I noticed in John 5 that there were multitudes of sick people waiting for the water to be stirred. Jesus went up to a man who had been waiting for healing for 38 years. Jesus told him to pick up his mat and go home. He was immediately healed and picked up his mat and went home. The religious leaders were upset because he was carrying his mat on the Sabbath. They were also upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They were more concerned about keeping the law than seeing people made whole. Jesus was more interested in making people whole than in keeping the law. I believe this is an excellent illustration of how we can be more concerned about keeping the law in order to look good to others (pride) than in reaching out to those in need of God's healing touch with the compassion of Jesus. How has your pride in yourself kept you from drawing closer to Jesus? I spent many years and much money in a legalistic system which looked very good outwardly but didn't have much success in the healing area. I am now coming back to Christ alone as Paul did.

(John 4:43-50) What do we learn about the royal official's faith from his actions? He had faith to travel for four days, leaving his son who was near death at home. He had to have quite a bit faith that Jesus was the answer for his son. ? Why did he travel 20 miles from Capernaum to Cana? Thjat is where Jesus was. What does this say about his faith? He not only had to travel there. He also had travel back. If Jesus wasn't there or didn't heal his son, he would have lost four days to get other help for his son. He may have tried everythnig else and Jesus was the last hope. IWhen he departs for home and "takes Jesus at his word," what does this tell us about his faith? I don't think he had much choice but to take Jesus at His Word.

(John 4:43-48) Many of the Galileans believe mainly because they have seen miracles. In what ways do miracles help build faith? They show you that miracles are possible. If you didn't have miracles you wouldn't be able to believe in them. Why does only seeing miracles not build a mature faith? Faith must be built on the Word of God not the miracle itself. People can get miracles but if they don't continue in God's Word that says they are healed they can lose the miracle. The Word of God is what we are to stand on not the miracle. Why does Jesus rebuke the Galileans in 4:48? They would only believe if they saw They would not believe unless they saw miraculous signs and wonders.

Q2. (Acts 9:10-18) Why do you think God sends Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly? Jesus works through His Body, the church. Why does Ananias argue with God? Because Paul was persecuting Christians. Why does it take courage to obey? Because sometimes God tells us to do things that look totally wrong to us. What does Ananias do and say? Ananias went to Saul. He placed his hands on Saul and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. After that, Ananias baptized Saul. Have you ever had God guide you to talk with someone and minister to him or her? Yes. Have you followed through? Yes. But one time after God had me give a message, I thought about what I had done and apologized for saying what God had said thorough me. It totally quenched the Holy Spirit. It was the biggest mistake I have ever made. When you think about what God has told you do, you may not do it or worse you may apologize for doing it because it looks wrong to you. The carnal mind is enmity towards God. We are not to lean on our own understanding but be led by the Holy Spirit even when we don't understand.

Q1. (Acts 9:4-5; 26:14) Why does persecuting Christ's people constitute persecuting Christ himself? Because we are the Body of Christ. He is the Head of the Body. What kinds of goads or prods have you seen God use on you to move you along Christ's path? At the moment I am trying to get back to Christ alter many years in religion. When you "kick against the goads" is it harder on you or on God? It is harder for me, but I also believe that it is hard for God to get His mission done when we are kicking against the goads.

What motives cause the woman to bring up a religious controversy to Jesus? She wanted to know the 'right' place to worship God. Why do people today try to generate religious controversies with us? They want to prove their religion is the right one. . What are their motives? They have probably been raised to believe that their religion is right and others are wrong.

Q4. (John 4:16-19) What was the effect of Jesus' special knowledge of the woman's history with men? She realized that he was a prophet. What effect did it have on her faith? It made her believe that Jesus was from God and made her wonder if He was the Messiah. How can such gifts of the Spirit work today to bring people to faith or deepen their faith? They can help people know that God knows who they are and cares for them. They can cause them to believe that Jesus is the Christ and lead others to Him.

Q3. (John 4:9-15) What does the "gift of God" and the "living water" (4:9) refer to? It refers to the Holy Spirit. What does receiving this gift result in (4:14)? A spring within us welling up to eternal life. But I also believe that it should result in us being witnesses of Jesus just as the woman at the well was. Does this gift differ from or is another way of saying the "baptism with the Spirit" that John the Baptist spoke about in 1:33? No. Both gifts are the Holy Spirit which resulted in being witnesses of Jesus.

Q2. (John 4:9-15) Jesus' words to the woman in verses 10-13 seem to imply that all people are spiritually thirsty. What has been your experience? I believe all people are spiritually thirsty but are satisfying their thirst with things that don't satisfy, just as the woman at the well was. Does the woman seem spiritually thirsty at this point? Yes. As the song says she's been looking for love in all the wrong places. What caused her deep thirst to surface? Jesus showing up. The thirst has always been there, but when He shows up, He has what she has needed. What does this teach us about our own witness? We need to lead people to Jesus who can give them living water. That is their greatest need.

Q1. (John 4:7-9) Why do you think Jesus went against the social norms to communicate with the woman? He was totally obedient to His Father and did only what He saw His Father do. Jesus wasn't influenced by the social norm but by His Father. Why do we hesitate to go against social norms to share the good news? We worry more about what people think about us than what God thinks about us. We fear people more than God. How do we balance our need to obey God and our need to live peaceably in our culture? We need to be at peace with all people as much as possible, but when God tells us to do something we must obey Him even if it offends people. If we are told we are wrong for obeying God we need to not let that stop us from being obedient, but we must also respond in love to those who accuse us.

Q2. (John 3:3-5) What does "entering the Kingdom" have to do with being "born anew"? We cannot enter the kingdom unless we are born again by the Spirit. We enter the kingdom when we are born again by the Spirit. Which do you think is the best translation here: "born again," "born anew," or "born from above"? Defend your reasoning. I think both 'born again' and 'born from above' are important. It almost seems we need both to get a clear meaning. I am not as familiar with 'born anew.'

What does Jesus teach here about the nature of the Kingdom of God? No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Jesus is teacing Nicodemus that the kingdom of God is spirotual and we must be born again by the Spirit to see it or enter it. Do you think Nicodemus understands him? No. Why or why not? Because of John 3:9-10 9 'How can this be?' Nicodemus asked. 10 'You are Israel's teacher,' said Jesus, 'and do you not understand these things?

Q3. (John 2:23-25) What is the problem with faith that rests solely on miracles? Faith that rests on miracles alone, and doesn't mature to embrace Jesus and follow him, is shallow and fickle. Is it true faith? No. What is necessary for it to develop into true faith? It must mature to embrace Jesus and follow Him. I think of the seeds sown in bad soil and good soil. One produces fruit. One doesn't. Did Jesus see these problems as a reason not to perform miracles? No.