Lisa Rupert

Q5. (Ephesians 1:22-23) When we neglect to be an active part of a local congregation, what particular blessings do we miss out on according to Paul in this verse? How do we, by our absence, withhold this blessing from others? WHEN WE NEGLECT TO BEING ACTIVE IN OUR CONGREGATIONS WE MISS OUT ON BLESSINGS, FELLOWSHIPPING, PRAYING WITH OTHERS THAT ARE IN NEED, AND BEING PRAYED FOR BY OTHERS, WE MISS OUT ON THE UNITY WITH CHRIST. WE MISS OUT ON STUDYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE WORD TOGETHER. WE CAN'T BLESS PEOPLE ARE PRAY FOR THEM IF WE DON'T COME TOGETHER TO KNOW THEM, FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM BECOMES A PART OF THEIR CHRISTIANS LIVES AS THEY WILL BECOME A PART OF OURS AND THIS WILL UNITE US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST. IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST DEMONSTRATED HIS LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES.

Q4. (Ephesians 1:20-22) Why do we so often take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare? Why is Christ's exaltation, demonstration of complete victory, and superior rank over all spiritual powers important enough for Paul to mention it to his readers? Why do we tend to feel powerless in the face of spiritual enemies? What was Paul assuring the Ephesians of? What does this encourage us to do? We take a pass on spiritual warfare because we are afraid and we are not equipped for this type of warfare. Would a man go to war without his armor? Would this man not have a plan for battle? Would this man not weigh the cost of this battle by being prepared? If a man does not know how to fight why would he go to battle? Many of us are not prepared eventhough we believe that we are. But when tragedy hits us we cry out to the Lord because we are not prepared. That is why Paul stresses the importance of Faith. Not just saying you have faith, but believing that the Battle has already been won. Believing that we posess the power to overcome every adversity that satan throws at us. We must believe that we are his children and he has prepared us, he has even given his Son to show us the way. We must study and be prepared because the battles we face now are nothing compared to the battle that lies ahead. Paul is trying to give us the armor we need to win ALL battles for Christ. We must not leave this responsibility to someone else getting the Truth Out, we as true Christians must be prepared so we can prepare others for the battles that are ahead.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:18d) Why are we powerless sometimes? Is it an inadequacy with the source or with our faith? Why do some congregations and movements produce disciples with miracle-believing faith and others produce disciples with wimpy faith? How can this be changed? I believe we are powerless when we don't COMPLETELY SURRENDER OUR LIVES OVER TO CHRIST. We become sometimes Christians. We want Christ in our lives but we want it our way. Reminds me of the Exodus, Rescue me from the evil of where I am, but once I am rescued I want to be just like it was befoe I was rescued, but this time I will be in control. When Christians totally surrender their lives over to Christ a process begins, if the Christian feeds this thirst with the Word that process grows and matures, but if it is not feed and nourished then it remains the same. If we don't become like Jesus then we have done? Nothing. This is what Paul is saying, that the journey is long, it is hard, but the reward is great. There is only one True Example, one one Way, only one Path, and that is through Christ.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them? My inheritance in Christ is worth more than $10 million and before I receive it or after it arrives I will continue on the journey of learning about my Father's expectations of me and to walk like Christ. Because after I receive the inheritance I must be prepared to live in my Father's Kingdom, something that this earthly world can't teach me, I must gain this knowledge through the Word and the Holy Spirit. So my demands will remain the same as before I received the $10 million until the day I reach my Father's Kingdom where so many other Christians will reside. It shall be a Family Reunion in my Father's house all the relatives will be there.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:18b) What do we Christians have to look forward to? How should this hope be a major motivation in our present-day lives? How should this hope effect our decisions and our lifestyle? How does our great hope differ from the hope of the average non-believer? A Christian has to look forward to the promises of God. Eternal Life with God, being able to see God, being with God forever. We can look forward to a LIFE without sin, Everlasting Peace, Faithfu Love, Happiness beyond our imagination, being together as one people as God first intended us to be..... That is why it is important for a Christian to study the word, be prepared for the final days, learn all you can about Jesus, pray continuously seeking his wisdom and an understanding and do one's best to be more like Christ in all we do. And most importantly Prepare oneself for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Non-believers have to look forward to earthly things, a kingdom of sin, and eternal damnation. We believers have so much to look forward to more than I can express of goodness in our Father's Kingdom but those who don't believe well there faith is in the hands of satan and mankind.

Q4. (1:13-14) These verses contain two analogies: (1) seal and (2) downpayment, with the balance to be paid in a lump sum at the end of the term. When does the "end of the term" occur? The "End of the term" is "to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ." How do these analogies help explain how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives? Having become a believer after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, we were marked with a seal, a promise, a stamp of approval, the promise of the Holy Spirit which guarantees our inheritance. We have been blessed with being holy and blameless. With full inheritance rights, we live for God's glory. We are blessed with redemption, the payment which bought us from the slavery and bondage of sin.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:11-12) According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? We were created to Praise, Worship, Adore, Thank, Believe in, Glorify, Treasure, Love, Honor, Trust, Obey, Acknowledge,....etc... God. This is what our purpose is forever and ever. In order to do this we must live a life of Christ our true example of God's love for us and Christ love for God. How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? This relates to how we should be an example of the love Jesus has demonstrated to us as he does the Father's will. How we should use his examples to walk in the light as he did. To love like he does, to believe like he does, to face adversity as he did no matter how hard the trials he stood tall and did the will of God. This is what we are here to do, carry on the will of God. Live as an example as the example that Christ has left us. We are and should be a mirror image of that example.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:9-10) What is the significance that all things will be brought under one head -- Christ himself? How does this relate to the Creator? What does it say about unity? I BELIEVE THAT UNDER ONE HEAD, CHRIST MEANS THAT ALL WHO WORSHIP HIM WILL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER UNDER CHRIST THE ONE WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR US. WE WILL ALL BE GATHERED TOGETHER TO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE LORD, THE WORD, THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT. JESUS IS AND WILL BE KING OF KING AND LORD OF LORD OVER ALL THAT REMAIN UPON THIS EARTH. WE WILL BE TAUGHT HOW TO TRULY WORSHIP GOD AS WE SHOULD. WE WILL BE LEAD BY THE TRUE LEADER, JESUS. GOD IN HIS INFIINITE GLORY WILL RECEIVE HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING BEFORE THE FALL. IN UNITY WE WILL BE ONE UNDER CHRIST OUR LORD, OUR KING OF KING, OUR SAVIOR, OUR REDEEMER. GOD'S OWNERSHIP WILL BE RESTORED ON THIS EARTH UNDER ONE AUTHORITY, HIS. Extra Credit: How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28? 1 COR 15: 24Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death.27For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. JESUS WILL CONQUER, HE WILL RULE OVER ALL WITH GREAT AUTHORITY AND POWER DEFEATING THE EVIL AND SATAN. WHEN ALL IS COMPLETE HE WILL GIVE THE AUTHORITY OVER TO THE FATHER FOR HIS GLORY.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:7) In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? What do you think your life up to now would have been like if you hadn't been redeemed? What would your future be like without redemption, do you think? WITHOUT CHRIST MY LIFE WOULD BE TOTALY CHAOTIC. WITHOUT HIM PAYING THE PRICE, I KNOW FOR SURE I WOULDN'T BE REPLYING TO THIS BIBLE STUDY COURSE. FELLOWSHIPPING WITH EVERYONE IN THIS COURSE. I WOULD NOT BE FREE AND WOULD BE LIVING IN TOTAL COMPLETE SIN. DEFINITELY A SINFUL NATURE, BECAUSE IF I ALLOW THIS FLESH TO LEAD IT WOULD FOLLOW SATAN, WITHOUT A DOUBT. THAT IS WHY I AM THANKFUL, GRATEFUL EACH AND EVERYDAY OF THE PRICE THAT JESUS PAID FOR OUR SINS, I AM THANKFUL THAT GOD GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO SAVE US, TO BE WITH US, TO LOVE US. OH, THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET, BUT I AM ABLE TO FIGHT IT EACH AND EVERYDAY. BECAUSE JESUS PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE. WITH OUT JESUS I WOULD HAVE TO ATONE FOR MY SINS AND I PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT I WAS SINNING. LIKE MY LIFE WAS BEFORE I KNEW WHAT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WILL IS, NOT TAKING WHAT I'VE LEARNED SERIOUS, BELIEVING THAT I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE IT RIGHT, BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT I GAINED MY SENSES IN TIME AND JOINED THE RIGHT TEAM. I CHOSE JESUS AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR, I CHOSE TO LIVE ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL AND NOT MY OWN WILL, AND STILL I WAS GIVEN THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE. WITHOUT JESUS I PROBABLY LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE STILL WORSHIPPING STATUES, AND OTHER FALSE GODS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THEIR LEADERSHIP BELIEVES IN AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, BUT JESUS FREED ME AND GAVE ME THAT CHOICE, HE PROVED HIS LOVE AND LOYALTY TO THE FATHER AND TO US. HOW CAN ANYONE DOUBT THAT?

Q4. (Ephesians 1:5-6) Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? Because God adopted us we are now heirs. He made us holy and blameless before him so we could be with him. He loves us so much and blessed us by including us in his family. God loves us so much that he did what we couldn't do so that we could be with him in his kingdom.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? The word consecrated means blessed, sacred, hollowed, divine, sanctified, etc... So to be "holy" is what it takes to belong to God. To be blameless before God would require that one have a Christ-like life. To be true before God. God can not look upon sin. So one must repent of all sins, must be washed and cleansed of those sins so that one could go before God blameless (without fault) for those sins. To be washed in the blood of Christ. To acknowledge Christ as our Savior. The one who paid for our sins with his unblemished blood.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? What is comforting? Why does Paul bring up predestination? Why do you think he praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians? I am sure predestination can be scary for those who do not take The Word seriously. Those who are afraid are this way because they don't believe that some will be excluded from God's grace with no oppourtunity to redo it again. No second chances. They believe they can continue to live a life of sin and believe that when the final day arrives that there will be another chance to get it right, or they may believe that they have time to start following the Word of God they don't have to do it now, they put it off until later. But for those who do believe it is comforting to know that God chose you from the beginning. It is good to know that you are on the right path. Paul brings this up to let the Gentiles know that they are included in God's plan and that God didn't decided to chose them oneday he choose them before the world was created. I believe Paul was praising God because he was thanking God for predestination. He was giving thanks that God for he chose and he knows who his chosen are and they aren't just a few select people. The Gentiles are included also, all God's people are included no one select group of people but the choice was made throughout all of God's creation of man.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? What I believe to be "in Christ" should prove evident in the life I live. I walk with Christ, I talk with Christ, I live with Christ, I sleep, dream, drive, eat, dance, laugh, cry, etc....All things I do, Everything I do, I do with Christ. I try to mimic the examples of Christ by trying to follow his examples. Of course, this is not an always easy to do. I use the analogy "What would Jesus Do" when I'm facing difficult times. I speak with him in prayer, I speak to him constantly no matter where I am and I seek to learn more about him each and everyday seeking to know more about him and what he expects of me. So that I can learn to be more like Christ in all I do. Of course Christ was and is perfect and I by no means will ever be, but I can get as good as he allows me to be. Christ came and he left the guidelines needed for all to live a life of Christ. Paul also teaches us how to use those guidelines. It also took away the excuse that God doesn't understand man on earth because he came down to earth to show us the way.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LISA AND I LIVE IN MELBOURNE, FL. I HAVE ATTENDED MANY OF THESE BIBLE STUDY COURSES WITH PASTOR RALPH, AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS STUDY OF EPHESIANS. I AM SURE IT WILL BE JUST AS ENRICHING AND EXCITING AS THE PREVIOUS STUDIES.

Q4. How do confession and repentance fit with self-examination? What is the result of self-examination without confession and repentance? How do confession and repentance serve to bring spiritual health and character change? Confession and repentance are a form of self examination because it allows us to cleanse our sins and make amends not to do them anymore before receiving the Lord's Supper. Jesus was clean when he was here on this earth. He was sinless. So we must follow in his example to cleanse ourselves of all sins before taking of the Lord's Supper. If we don't confess and repent we bring this sin back upon ourselves. If we don't when we partake of the Lord's Supper we are merely saying that Jesus' death was in vain. So it is important to cleanse oneself before taking the Lord's Supper so that we can give Jesus his rightful praise. Confession and repentance can serve to bring about Spritual growth because it is a reminder to us that we are sinners and it keeps us mindful of the sins we need to work harder against. The sins that defile us. It clenses our spirtual health and keeps us mindful of our journey with Christ.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us? The balance from guilt and self-loathing can be found in the word. The word is the way, it is the truth, it is the light. We can balance this with constant feeding, nourishing our souls with the word. We can cleanse our souls by repentence of our sins. We can work on sinning no more. We can continue in constant prayer that we can overcome this sin. We can walk in faith and belief that we can overcome this sin. We are indeed sinners and we all fall short of the glory of God. But if you love him you will at least try to become what Jesus has shown you that you can achieve it is not beyond reach. Because Jesus came and he showed us the way.

Q2. (1 Corinthians 11:29-32) Why has God brought judgment to the offending parties at Corinth? Isn't sickness and death rather harsh? How does God's discipline actually work for our good in the light of Hebrews 12:5-7? There were so many good answers to this question. I thank all of you for giving me a little bit more. I believe that God brought judgment to the offending parties in Corinth to try and put them back on the right track. We get so comfortable in our comfort zones that we believe that we are actually doing what God wants us to do. We forget that we are sinners too. I believe that if God didn't bring judgment on them they would bring eternal damnation upon themselves and wouldn't understand why this happened. We must remember that God loves us. He is our father and he is a great father. He is one who will set us on the right path when we go wrong. He wants us to be with him and he knows that we are mere humans and sometimes don't get it as quickly as we should. We get comfortable in what we are(sin) and what we do (sin) that we don't see any harm in it. We can't walk around believing that God will forgive us when we sin over and over and over again the same sin. We must nourish and grow in his love. Not stay the same. We can't nourish and grow if we don't see that the path we are on is a dead end and there is much more out there when we seek his love.

Q1. (11:29) Why does "not discerning the body" at the Lord's Supper constitute such a grave sin? Aren't there worse things a church could have done? In all of my years of living I have always known of the importance of the Lord's Supper but never knew the REAL IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. Since taking this bible study I now have a great understanding of what I am to do when receiving the Lord's Supper, the meaning behind it and why it is so important to have unity in receiving the Lord's Supper. The importance of judging myself before sharing in the Lord's Supper and the Reasons why I want to take of the Lord's Supper is to glorify God and truly acknowledge the sacrafice of Christ. There are worse things that a church could do but as humans many of us don't fully get the understanding of what Jesus taught us because those that are teaching us don't fully have a understanding or they believe we all understand on one level. That is why it is important to seek the knowledge, go futher, try to get a complete understanding. Just don't settle for what you hear on Sunday, take it a step further like attending an online bible study such as this one. Especially if you don't understand fully the importance of it. You must first seek the truth and it's true meaning.

Q4. (Revelation 22:4) When you meditate on "seeing his face," what thoughts come to mind? Why should the Lord's Supper stimulate these thoughts every time we partake of it? When I meditate on "seeing his face" the thoughts that come to my mind are those of ultimate peace. Divine beauty, clean and pure. I shall feel as one feels when the sun rays touch your skin, the warmth it brings, when the fresh rain falls upon your face how refreshing it makes you feel. It will feel like the snowflakes that touch your body and the chilling feeling that it brings. It will feel like all GOOD and all PURE and all HOLY. It will feel like more than I can even imagine to express because I am a mere human and my mind can not conceive the beauty of God. But I know it will be an experience that I look forward to and one that I anxiousily await. The Lord's Supper stimulate these thoughts in me because it is a REMINDER of the promises of God. Thank you Eunora because I too needed a way to stop judging. What you wrote really inspired me to try it out it seems like a good remedy for the problem. Thanks again.

Q3. In what sense does the Lord's Supper point to the past? How does it point to the present? How does it point to the future? THE PAST- THE REMEMBERANCE OF JESUS' DEATH ON THE CROSS TO SAVE US FROM SIN. THE PRESENT-FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND COMMUNION WITH THE LIVING CHRIST. J0HN 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. JOHN 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." BECAUSE A HOUSE DIVIDED CAN NOT STAND ALONG. A HOUSE UNITED WILL CONQUER ALL. LUKE11:17 But he, knowing their minds, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate; and a house divided against a house falls. 11:23 He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters. THE FUTURE- THE PROMISE OF ETERNITY IN THE PRESENSE OF GOD.

Q2. (Luke 22:16) In what sense does the Lord's Supper find its "fulfillment" in the Great Banquet at the end of the age? What should this do to our thoughts at the Lord's Table? We must remember what Jesus has done for us. We must give thanksgiving when receiving the Lord's Supper. We must give all praise and honor to God. We should eat and drink at the Lord's Supper until this time has been fulfilled. In doing so we must remember that Jesus has promised that he will prepare a Great Banquet in honor of his bride in his second coming. When Jesus returns he will then prepare a Great Banquet and we shall eat and drink uniting us as one.

Q1. Why are so many of Jesus' teachings oriented toward the future? What kinds of associations come to mind as you think of the Great Banquet? I believe that Jesus' teachings are set toward the future because it is of things to come. Of what God has promised his people. An eternity for obedience and love. John 1:11-13

Q4. How does "eating the Bread of Life" (to use Jesus' metaphor in John 6) nourish our faith? How does partaking of the Lord's Supper build and nourish our faith? What does the main point of the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:25-69) have in common with "Do this in remembrance of me," in Jesus' Words of Institution (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)? The "Eating the Bread of Life" nourishes our faith by enriching our spirits. By studying the Word we are feeding our spirit. We live by the examples that Jesus has left us with in the Word. This is pleasing to God for us to walk with Christ. By taking the Lord's Supper we acknowledge that Jesus has died on the cross and has suffered a termendous price to save us from sin. We are to remember his last supper and to do that in rememeberance of him, where he fellowship with his disciples and gave them there final instructions. He reminded them that none of this was done in vain and that they should continue the work he has taught them to do. His love for his disciples would demonstrate the love they have for each other. And in remembering that love we should love one another as he has loved them.

Q3. (John 6:53-71) If to eat Jesus' flesh and drink his blood is a strong expression for "to believe," why does Jesus emphasize this so strongly? What was the difference between the Twelve and the crowd of "disciples" that turned away from Jesus? What is the mark of true disciples according to John 8:31-32? Jesus made a point to emphasize the importance of his flesh and blood. He knows that he will pay a high price for us (the world) and we should take it literally. If you aren't a believer than you can't do the Father's Will. Jesus is a believer he believes so much that he paid the ultimate sacrafice. Jesus is the way and he has shown the world the way. Jesus emphasizes this strongly because he knows that everyone that is following him are not true believers and they will fall by the wayside. But he knew his disciples love him and were true followers so this is why he told them: Jhn 8:31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; Jhn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. The mark of a true disciple is that they will know the truth and the truth shall make them free because they will follow the teaching of the Lord and do as Jesus has taught them to do.

Q2. (John 6:51b) What is Jesus referring to when he says, "This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world"? What similarities do you see with Jesus' teaching at the Last Supper in Luke 22:19b? "THIS BREAD IS MY FLESH", in which Jesus refers to means that He (Jesus) will give his life for the life of the world. He will suffer and give his own life for the world. He will acquire the sins of man, so that man can be forgiven. If you believe in this you will have eternal life. The word bread means his body, his flesh, which he paid a tremendous price to save us (the world) from our sins. In the teaching of Luke if one is a true believer you can see the simularities in what Jesus says and what Luke writes. In Luke it tells you of how Jesus body became broken and how he gave his body for you (the world).