Pastor Ralph

Day 6 Meditation (Revelation 5:11-14). Why don’t you allow God to stretch you today by offering loud shouts of praise, praise that enumerates the Lamb’s attributes and worthiness. And as you speak these things, meditate on what you are saying. Have you done this yet today?

Day 5 Meditation (Revelation 5:7-10). You have been redeemed, purchased by payment of a price. In your own case, what kind of slavery have you been rescued from? Does this inspire you to sing to the Lord, even while darkness still swirls around you? Why do you think Jesus wants you to reign with him in the New Heavens and the New Earth?

Day 4 Meditation (Revelation 5:1-8; 6:1). What does it say about you that Jesus, the Most Worthy One, died for you. How does he value your worth? How casual should you be before the Lamb who is Most Worthy? What is the appropriate relationship with him? In what ways has he humbled himself to reveal himself to you?

Day 3 Meditation (Revelation 5:6). How is the Lamb described in verse 6? What does that tell you about his ability to help you now, in your present circumstances? Considering the standing Lamb that was slain, how do the wounds you have experienced become your strengths?

Day 2 Meditation (Revelation 5:5). How do humility and victory go together? How do the Lion and the Lamb fit together? How did Jesus humble himself? Why is it necessary to humble ourselves before God will exalt us?

Day 1 Meditation (Revelation 4; 5:6). Why is everyone around the throne worshipping? Why are they chanting and singing? Why do you think that we get bored with worship after a few minutes? What does that indicate about our hearts? What can we do to change this?

Q4. (Philippians 3:13; Revelation 2:4) What does it look like when a person “loses his first love”? Has this ever happened to you? How can you regain a personal intimacy with Christ? What might you need to repent of to restore this?

Q3. (Philippians 3:8-9) How can pride in our own righteousness and religious achievements actually get in the way of "knowing Christ"? Has this ever happened to you or someone you know?

Q2. (Colossians 1:14-20; Romans 8:1) What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Why is such union with Christ so important?

Q1. (Philippians 2:5-11) How did Jesus demonstrate the importance of humility and forego his rights in order to do God's will? What happens when we try to exalt ourselves, rather than waiting for God to exalt us? What do you call this tendency?

Q4. (Philippians 1:20-23) In what way is death "gain" for Paul? (verse 21). Which is better for him? Life or death? (verse 23) How does Paul decide which he prefers -- life vs. death -- according to verses 22-24?

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10) Why should appearing before Christ as Judge make us fearful? Will we be condemned at that judgment? What saves us (Romans 8:1; Revelation 20:12)? How will our works be judged on that day (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)?

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:8; John 14:2-3) In what ways is heaven like your "home"? Which is eternal? Which is temporary? What kind of faith would it take for you to walk or live with this as your belief, rather than holding on to your earthly possessions, status, and life?

Q1. (2 Timothy 2:3; 3:10-12; 4:7) Why are we quieted so quickly by mild societal disapproval of our witness? What would enduring hardship “like a good soldier of Christ” look like in your life? What would it look like to “fight the good fight” for you?

Q4. (Acts 20:24b; Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) In what sense was Paul an ambassador? In what sense are you an ambassador? Why is sharing your testimony important in your ambassadorship?

Q3. (Acts 20:24) Our life is valuable to God, of course, and we are to value it. However, what problems result from valuing our life for its own sake? What does it mean to "take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23-25)? What keeps us from doing that? What does it mean when Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20)? Can we follow Christ, if we are actually trying to hang on to our own life?

Q2. (Acts 19:21; 20:22-23; 21:11) Are the prophecies about imprisonment in Jerusalem in conflict with Paul’s leading from God? What, then, conflicts with Paul’s leading to go to Jerusalem? Why do you think Paul actively encourages prophecy in the churches he establishes (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5)? Why do you think many Christians despise prophecy today (1 Thessalonians 5:20)?

Q1. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2) Why did Christians worship on "the first day of the week"? Why is it called "the Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10)? What does it mean that they "break bread" (Acts 20:7, 11; 2:42, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:16)? Why is that important to believers (Luke 22:19)?

Q4. (2 Chronicles 20:15-17a, 21-22; Acts 16:25-26; Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) What do praise and thankfulness have to do with faith? Why do you think praise and thankfulness are such powerful weapons in our warfare?

Q3. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 4:26-27) How do you think anger and unforgiveness give Satan an opportunity to damage you? For you, who is the most difficult person to forgive? Why is your unforgiveness more damaging to you than to the person who hurt you?

Q2. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; John 8:44) What are Satan’s chief tools to keep people under his control? Why is the sharing and preaching of the gospel so threatening to him (John 8:31-32; Romans 1:16)? Why do you think it is so difficult to share your faith or preach in the world outside the church?

Q1. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Psalm 24:1) What is the difference between legitimate authority and usurped authority? Which kind of authority does Satan have? How can Satan be defeated at the cross (Colossians 2:14-15), but still be dangerous (John 10:10a, 44; 1 Peter 5:8-9)?

Q4. (2 Corinthians 1:8-9; Ephesians 6:18-20) What portion of Paul’s “overwhelming pressure” was due to spiritual warfare, do you think? How much can be attributed to the “normal” struggles of life? Why is intercessory prayer for leaders and for one another so important?

Q3. (Acts 19:11-19) Why do so many contemporary churches expect to evangelize effectively in the 21st century without signs and wonders? What are we afraid of? How do we identify people in our congregations whom God has gifted with ministries of healing, faith, and miracles? What will it take to move in this direction for you? For your church?

Q2. (Acts 19:9-10) How did “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia” hear God’s word from one apostle, who taught daily in Ephesus and didn’t travel around. What do you think was going on that caused this kind of expansion? Why is it vital to evangelize in our great cities?