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Q25. (Luke 18:24-25) Why do you think people try to distort Jesus’ Saying of the Camel and the Needle from a parable of impossibility? Why is salvation impossible to humans? People try to distort the parable of the Camel and the Needle because the wealthy can't believe that their money and power can't save them. Salvation is impossible to humans because it is not man's work, but God's. Man cannot save themselves.

Q24. (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39) If water is symbolic of life, what is flowing or living water symbolic of in these passages? Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? How are these promises fulfilled in believers? Flowing or living water suggests a continuous flow. So "living water" is a symbol not just of life, but continuous, eternal, everlasting life. Jesus creates spiritual thirst in a person. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will flow from within like an artesian well, never stopping. These promises are fulfilled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Day of Pentecost continued presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

Q18. (Matthew 20:1-16) What does the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teach us about God's generosity? About grace? What in our heart rises up to demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted? How much of this is a godly sense of fairness and how much is pride? The parable teaches that God's generosity is not based on fairness but his love for humanity. He does not give us salvation based on what we deserve but his generosity. His grace is sufficient. We could never earn it for man will fall short every time. So much injustice in the world today we demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted. It is something that happens far too often. We need to put our trust in God, we all have sinned and if he would be fair to give us what we deserve we would be in bad shape. He knows what we need and will supply.

Q17. (Matthew 13:47-50) What is similar about the Parable of the Weeds and the Parable of the Net? What belief are these two parables meant to counter? How does a belief in the ultimate triumph of righteousness encourage Christians? Both parables talk about the good and man and separation. There will be a final judgement. Judgement will not come immediate but in the end the righteousness will be recognized and wicked punished.

Q16. (Matthew 25:31-46) What are the “sheep” complimented for? What are the “goats” condemned for? Is this salvation by works? If no, why not? How does Jesus identify himself with “the least of these my brothers”? Why did Jesus tell this parable to his disciples? What do modern-day disciples need to learn from it? How should this parable motivate missions to aid immigrants, the poor, and the homeless? The sheep are complimented for being calm and gentle. The goats are aggressive. No, salvation cannot be earned. It is freely given. Jesus identifies himself as the lease of these my brothers because they are the needy and he wanted to express that he love them too. The parable was to teach his disciples that they will be judged by how show love and compassion for another. Jesus loved us all and we are to be Christlike and help the less fortunate, show love and compassion.

Q15. (Luke 16:19-31). What was the Rich Man's sin that landed him in hell? Since it isn't stated explicitly, what must it be? In hell, what is the Rich Man's attitude towards Lazarus? What is the main point of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus? What are you and your church doing to aid the very poor in your area? In the world? Rich man sin was that he did not attempt to help the poor man. Even in hell the rich man still looked at the poor man as his slave. The main point of the parable is that your worldly wealth does not get you into the kingdom. There is nothing wrong with having riches but we should not be selfish with our wealth and not help the poor. The world is in such a turmoil right now, I feel, the churches are struggling to maintain memberships and have turned their backs on the poor.

Q14. (Matthew 7:3-5) What is humorous about the Parable of the Speck and the Beam? How can we get to a place where we can see with clear spiritual eyes? Why does Paul insist that “spiritual” members correct sinning Christians with gentleness? What does judgmentalism have to do with hypocrisy? What is humorous is when one person with a speck in their eye trying to remove a speck from someone else eye. We can see with clear spiritual eyes when we deal with our own faults and make a change in our lives. We are to correct sinning Christians with gentleness because want to help them make a change in their lives. We don't want to anger them or become judgmental.

Q12. (Matthew 7:13-14) Why is "seeking" necessary to “find” the narrow gate? Why do you think Jesus concludes this brief parable with the phrase, “and only a few find it”? How is this parable designed to strengthen disciples to be willing to go against the flow, to be different from others in the culture? "Seeking" is necessary to "find" the narrow gate because those who take the narrow gate will have to search to find. It will not be easy. It displays your willingness and determination to go thru some things. Not many will be willing to give up the things of the world. Disciples are strengthen knowing that the narrow path leads to eternal life with Jesus.

Q11. (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49) Why does Jesus focus the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders on “putting into practice” rather than in “believing”? How can you help young Christians move from believing to true discipleship? Jesus focus on putting into practice rather than believing is because by putting into practice his teaches it becomes easier to follow Christ. You have a strong foundation. I can help young Christians become true discipleship by my actions and to let my life be an example to true discipleship.

Q10. (Matthew 5:23-26) Why did Jesus tell the Parable of the Guilty Defendant? How do people we have wronged and to whom we have not kept our promises get in the way of us worshipping God properly? In what ways is it hypocritical not to address these matters to the best of our ability? Jesus told The Parable of the Guilty Defendant to illustrate that if you have wrong someone you should make amends and repent before it is too late. The guilt that we have wronged someone will linger and hinder our worshiping God. It is hypocritical if we do not try to reconcile with those we wrong and try to worship God as if nothing is wrong.

Q9. (Mark 7:14-23; Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20) What does Jesus teach about the heart of man? What does Jeremiah 17:9 tell us about the heart of man? Why do we try to look good on the outside, but resist letting Jesus change us on the inside? Why is repentance necessary for an outwardly “moral” person in order to be saved? Jesus teaches that noting that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean. What comes out of man is what makes him unclean. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us the heart is deceitful. We try to look good on the outside because we think our outward appearance would hide the wickedness within. Repentance is necessary because we are corrupt and need inter cleansing and unable to do it ourselves.

Q8. (Matthew 21:33-46) Who do the servants sent to collect the landowner’s share of the crop represent? What happened to Israel who rejected God’s servants and Son who were sent to them? This is a parable about resisting those whom God sends to us to help us. Have you ever seen a church reject a pastor or leader that God sends to help them? Why is supporting our pastors and leaders important to God’s plan for the church? (Hebrews 13:7, 17). In the Beatitudes, how does Jesus encourage those who are rejected and persecuted? (Matthew 5:10-12)? The servants represent the prophets and apostles. Destruction of Jerusalem. I have heard of churches rejecting their Pastor but never experienced it. If pastors and leaders are truly sent by God we should support them anyway we can. God has a plan for the church that will be fulfilled if we follow the man of God. They are encourage because God is saying they will be blessed.

Q7. (Matthew 22:1-10; Luke 14:15-24) In Jesus' Parables of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew) and the Great Banquet (Luke), who are the people represented by those recruited from the streets and lanes of the city? From the highways and hedges? Who do the servant-recruiters represent? How diligent are you and your church in recruiting those who are of a lower class than others in your congregation? What keeps you from this Kingdom task? How might your church fulfill it? The people that are represented from recruited from the streets and lanes of the city are the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Those from the highways and hedges are the vagabonds and sojourners. The recruiters represent us. We are diligent recruiting for those the come into the church and are unsaved. We can do much better by going outside the church recruiting. Mostly, we feel that we do not know what to say and/or afraid a question may be asked that we cannot answer.

Q5. (Luke 13:6-9) What caused Israel’s barrenness in Jesus’ time? What keeps the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) from growing and maturing in our lives? What can we disciples learn from the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree? Israel's barrenness in Jesus time was caused by disobedience and rejection of God's teachings. Self pride can be a killing factor in keeping fruit of the Holy Spirit from growing. Let our good works speak for us. The willingness to follow God's commandments . Above all, we must love our fellow man.

Q4. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, where do you see justice? Where do you see grace? Where do you see greed? Where do you see unforgiveness? What lessons from this parable are disciples to incorporate into their lives? I saw justice when the king that originally forgave the unmerciful servant debt being put in jail for not forgiving the servant that owe him a debt. Grace was when the king forgave the unmerciful servant debt. Greed is when the unmerciful servant would not forgive the debt owe to him. Unforgiveness is when the unmerciful servant would not forgive the servant that owe him. Lessons learned from the parable is that we must be willing to forgive one another just as Christ forgives us.