Raph

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 3:9-16) Why do so many churches avoid exercising any church discipline? Many church avoid exercising any church discipline because of the misunderstanding on what realy "love" is. They think because the church is supposed to be a community of love then discipline should not be exercised. What is the result of a thoughtful and appropriate application of church discipline? The result of a thoughtful and appropriate application of church discipline is strengthening the church and making it grow by getting rid of negative behaviours. What is the result of neglect of church discipline? The result of neglect of church discipline is disorder in the church and failure for its growth.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) If we were to follow Paul's rule, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat," wouldn't that allow people to starve? It sounds harsh. It sounds harsh but the truth must be told. I do not think the rule would allow people to starve as the ones referred to by Paul are the ones who are capable to "feed" themselves but they do not do so beause of laziness. What are the positive results of this rule? The positive results of this rule are that, the lazy ones will stop their laziness and start working thus releaving the burden from other people. To whom in a Christian community would this rule apply. This rule apply to those with means or are capable to work and work is available but they do not to work because of being lazy, thus relying from others for their survival. To whom would it not apply? It would not apply to the sick, mentally unstable, little children, people with disabilities.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9) What kind of example did Paul set with regard to work when he was in Thessalonica? When he was in Thessalonica, Paul set an example of hard working. As a Christian worker, did he have a right to support? As a Christian worker, he had a right to support, but he chose not to exercise such right. Why didn't he exercise that right? He did not exercise that right in order to show the Thessalonians the example of a hard worker and not to be a burden to them.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) What does the Bible teach about sloth and idleness among those who can work but refuse to? Summarize it briefly. About sloth and idleness among those who can work but refuse to do so, the Bible teaches that, those who do not work, should expect to pay the consequences, both naturally and socially. What is our Christian duty? Our Christian duty is to avoid being idle but to work so that we can take care for our own needs, and for those who are weak and can't work.

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5) Why is perseverance so important as we see wickedness increasing? Perseverence is important as it shows strengthens our faith and helps as to wean against the wickedness. What happens if we stop believing and being patient? If we stop believing and being patient, we will cease to be children of God and miss the inheritance of His Kingdom. How can we help one another persevere? We can help one another persevere by reminding each other about the truth of God and show it by our deeds. What part does faith and perseverance have in our salvation? Faith and perseverance, being what is required from us, will bring our salvation. What part does God's redemption and grace have in our salvation? God's redemption and grace will lead us to salvation.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) What makes people so gullible that they believe the Antichrist's deceptions? The people believe the Antichrist's deception because they do ot love and believe God's truth. What is the reason that God gives them over to this deception? God gives them over to this deception because they choose to disobey the truth and they are left to their will to decide to follow the trith or to follow the Antichrist's deceptions. Why is a fearless seeking of God's truth so important to us? The fearless seeking of God's trith is so important to us because, it is that truth that will lead us to salvation. How can a preaching of the truth set people free? The preaching of the truth can set people free as they will understand God's truth and be freed from the lies and deceptions of the Antichrist.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-5; Revelation 13:5-8) What are the characteristics of the Antichrist that Paul gives in this passage? The characteristis of the Antichrist that Paul gives in this passage are: lawless, rebellious, opposer, self exaltation, taking his seat in the temple God and self proclamation to be divine. What does Revelation 13:5-8 add to our basic understanding? Revelation 13:5-8 adds that, the Antichrist will blaspheme of God and slander the name of God and his dwelling place and also those who leave in heaven.

Q1. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In what way were the Thessalonians confused? The Thessalonians were confused after they received a false letter which was purpoted to be from Paul informing them that the coming of Jesus has passed and they have therefore missed the rapture. What is the order of Christ's coming in relation to the revealing of the Antichrist? The coming of Christ will be preceded by the coming and revelation of the Antichrist.

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) How might you describe Christ's glory? Christ's glory is a condition of extra brilliance, shineness, brightness. How will his glory be terrifying to unbelievers? His glory will be terrifying to unbeleivers as they will not be able to look at Him as his brightness will be blinding for them. If heaven involves sharing this glory forever, what would it be like to be excluded forever from the glory? It will be terrifying to see excluded from Jesus forever and also from the relatives who are with Him. In what ways is the phrase "outer darkness" a helpful description of hell? It is just the opposite of "glory"; no light; that is how hell is.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) According to verse 9, what kind of punishment will unbelievers experience? The unbelievers will experience everlasting and destructive punishment that will shut them out of Christ's presence and glory. One definition of "hell" is "a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked." What parts of this definition are confirmed in verse 9. The parts of thes definition that are confirmed in verse 9 are "eternal punishment" and "for the wicked". Which parts of the definition trouble you? Why? The part of the definition that trouble me is "conscious". Because, the eternal punishment will be carried out on our full consciousness and this is terrible experience. It is a call for us to turn to God so that we cannot experience such a terrible situation.

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Would God be just if he did not punish sin? God would not be just if he did not punish sin. What is the difference between rehabilitation and retribution? Rehabilitation is the process aimed to change the character of the wrong doer so that he/she can leave the wrong-doing character. Retribution is paying back for the wrong one has done. When does a Christian's rehabilitation take place? Chiristian's rehabilitation takes place when he/she repents. When does a sinner's retribution take place? Sinner's retribution will take place on the day of the Lord whe He comes to announce His judgment to the world. How do you balance love and justice? You can balance love and justice by showing true love to people around you while at the same time not closing eyes on the wrongs they might do; you have to point them outright.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? Persecution, pressure and stress help us to grow strong in Christ as during the persecution, presssure and stress our faith is tested and our faith in Christ helps us to persevere, being an indication of our strong growth in Christ. What would we be like without the testing of our faith? Without the testing of our faith, we would be boasting ourselves of being faithful to Christ while in actual sense we are not.

Q5. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) If you met a true Christian who had no assurance of salvation, how would you explain to him or her God's power to protect and present them blameless before Christ at his coming? If I meet a true Christian who had no assurance of salvation, I will explain to him or her that, God has power to protect and present them blameless before Christ at His coming; what is needed from them is to have faith and believe without reservations as their salvation was actually guaranteed by the death of Jesus at the cross. What is the problem of having no assurance of salvation? The problem of having no assurance of salvation is that a person does not believe in the saving power of God and as such he or she will not be saved. What is the problem of having a false assurance of salvation? The problem of having a false assurance of salvation is that a person might not be saved as he or she puts his or her faith on a wrong person or source of salvation.

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? Churches do sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy becuase of incidents where people interrupt each other and act as if they cannot control themselves, with the result that the service becomes disorderly. What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy? To keep prophecy in a congragation healthy, Paul gives the following guidelines: 1. Prophets should speak in turn. 2. The prophecy they speak should be reflected on to test its credibility. 3. After the testing,take that is good and leave that is evil.

Q3. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) In your own words explain how a person can rejoice and pray continually. A person can rejoice and pray continually by singing and avoiding settling mind on stressful circumstances and also by praying whenever and not to wait for any special occassion. Are there any circumstances we might be in the midst of where we should not give thanks to God? There are no circumstances we might be in the midst of where we should not give thanks to God. We should give thanks to God in all circumstances.