Commissioned

Q4. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12) How does it encourage you to know that Paul went through tremendous stress and pressure? What effect did these sufferings have on the way people could see Christ in Paul? Why is pain necessary to spiritual growth? How does our pain allow others to assess our authenticity as Christians? Knowing the tremendous stress and pressure that the Apostle Paul suffered encourages me because he is an example of what it means to suffer for Christ. In the early church, as with us today, people could see Christ in Paul because he exhibited the meekness of the Lord Jesus and did the will of God who sent him. Pain is necessary for spiritual growth as it rids the sould of the stain of sin. The washing away of our sinful nature, many times is painful, but as the blood of Christ cleanses us it become evident to those around us as they begin to see the righteousness of Christ being revealed as we reflect His image. Then and only then would they see the authenticity of Christians.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 4:7) What truth is Paul seeking to communicate by this analogy of a treasure in a pottery jar? What does the clay jar represent? What does the treasure represent? What’s the paradox here? Paul is seeking to communicate the value that we carry as vessels of God; vessels that He can use here on earth so that His will be done. The clay jar represents the container to God's extraordinary power, the treasure. The paradox here is that we are God's instrument here on earth. A container for God Himself to manifest through and communicate and touch the world.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) Since Satan has blinded people’s eyes to the truth, is there any hope for them? What strategies must we use to overcome spiritual blindness? How many people are likely to find Christ without intercessory prayer? Even when Satan has blinded people's eyes to the truth, there is still hope of them receiving the word of God and eternal life. For those persons we need to interceed for their souls, present the pure Gospel to them, love them and allow the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin. We must always remember that God loves everyone and wants all to be saved.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2) How do questionable ethics and ministry practices hurt the work of Christ? What is Paul’s alternative in verse 2b? Questionable ethics and ministry practices hurt the work of Christ by misleading believers. Paul's alternative is to speak the truth without embellishment and let every man's conscience be convicted or edified by the Word.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Why is character change directly related to time deliberately spent in God’s presence? What is the theological word for the process of maturing in Christ? Have you noticed a change in the “degree of glory” you’re experiencing now compared to a few years ago? Why or why not? Character change is directly related to time deliberately spent in God’s presence because His character is imprinted on the person who spends time with Him. The theologically word for the process of maturing in Christ is sanctification. Yes, Praise God I have noticed a change in the "degree of glory" in me compared to a few years ago. I can concur with the writer of the song Dr. Wilson sang, those earthly things that I once craved and longed for has been replaced with a desire for heavenly things; and more and more I long for God's image to be perfected in me.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Moses glowed by spending time with God on Mt. Sinai, in his tent of meeting, and in the Tabernacle. How can we get a similar glow of the Spirit in our lives? In what way is meditating on Scripture beholding God? Is the low plane of Christianity in our day related to the time we spend in communion with the Lord? What is God leading you to do to increase your glow? We can get a similiar glow of the Spirit in our lives by maintaining a closerelationship with God. Meditating on the Scriptures is indeed ebholding God, because this is one of the ways in which God has revealed Himself to us. The time we spen in communion with God can be considered a part of our daily Christian walk if spent in a conscious awareness of His presence. To increase my glow God is leading me to spend more time in His word and on my knees before Him.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:16-17) Why is the Holy Spirit essential to help people see truth clearly and be able to grasp it? What enables people to come to Christ at all? What kind of freedom does the Spirit give us when we become Christians? The Holy Spirit is essential to help people see the truth clearly and be able to grasp it because it is the Holy Spirit that frees the person from the entrapment of the veil and reveals the truth of God's word to them People come to Christ because God calls them. In His prayer Jesus said to Father God, "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." (John 17:6); and again in John 6:44, ""No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." When we become Christians the Holy Spirit gives us freedom from the letter of the law.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) Why did Moses’ face glow? Why did he cover it when he was out with the people? Why didn’t more people’s face glow in Moses’ time? What’s the difference between the spread of God’s glory in Moses’ time when compared to our own time? Moses' face glowed because he had been in the presence of God and the glory of God which shown around him was now glowing out of him. Moses covered his face because the glory of God which was shining out of him was blinding the people. In Moses' time more people did not shone the glory of God because God did not fellowship with them as He did with Moses. Compared with our own time the difference between the glory of God in Moses and His glory in us is the Holy Spirit. Today the Holy Spirit lives in us. God communicated His glory in us through His Spirit.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:6a) Why is a Christian’s spiritual health so closely related to his or her involvement in ministry? What are the consequences of dropping out of church – for the believer? For Christ’s Kingdom? A Christian's spiritual health is closely related to his or her involvement in ministry because their spiritual gifts and calling are made effective as the participate in the Body and not as a loner. Also as Christians mature spiritually their desire for doing the work of God also grows and they become more and more involved in ministry. For the Believer, dropping out of church means cutting of a part of the Body, reducing the effectiveness of the Body. And for the Believer, being removed from a source of spiritual strength, would render him/her weak in short order. When the Believer drops out of church the Kingdom of God loses the effectiveness of the local church in their location.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) What is the balance between the need for training in ministry (either in the local church or in schools) and personal submission to the Spirit of God? The ministry of God's work must be lead by the Spirit of God. As in all areas of life we are trained in correct induction, interpretation, application, etc.in any given subject; a minister in order to apply him/herself to ministry of the Word of God should also seek to be trained by those who are matured in the faith and are able to instruct them doctrinally and theologically. With all the training one can acquire from books and man, we still need to submit to the Spirit of God for God's Will to be done through us. Are you able to “listen to the Spirit’s voice” in your own life? I try to live my live by "listening to the Holy Spirit's voice." Why would this ability be so important in being a competent minister? The ability to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice is very important in being a competent minister because as we are leading others we need to hear God speaking and directing us to accomplish His will through us.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) In what sense are we “living letters”? In what way can people “read us”? Why is it so important to be authentic, not phony, in our lives? What happens when people “read” something in you that they admire and mention it to you? How might you respond appropriately? We are living letters in the sense that those around us will see how we live in light of the fact that we are Christians. They will measure what it is be be a Christian by our demonstration of Christian living. People "read us" by the attitudeswe display towards them and how we react to situations. Our actions speaks very loudly. Therefore it is important that as Christians we should strive to live spotless. From time to time people might "read" something in us that they admire and mention it. When they do, genuinely thank them, and thank God for giving you the grace to accomplish His work here on earth.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a) In what sense is knowing God fragrant to people who are open to God? In what way is this fragrance repugnant to people who are closed to God? Have you suppressed your “fragrance” because some people are allergic to Christian perfume? If so, how can you regain the fragrance of Christ’s gospel? To people who are open to God, a person who carries the fragrant of God is a welcomed opportunity to hear the gospel message and thereby grow closer in relationship with God and increases their faith. This fragrance is repugnant to people who are closed to God because the light of the pure Word of God, given the the preached GOOD NEWS, will shine a light on their ungodly deeds so that their evil work cannot be hidden. I suppose we have all at one time or the other suppressed our "fragrance" because of company where the Christian message would not be readily received. With the help of the Holy Spirit; to regain the fragrance of Christ's gospel, we can say, regardledd of the reception I will wisely present the gospel is ways where it is received and not rejected outright.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11) How does Satan take advantage of our unforgiveness? What are the symptoms in our own heart of unforgiveness? According to Matthew 6:14-15, how does holding unforgiveness hurt our spiritual lives? What would you have to do to really let go of your resentment and give it to God? Satan takes advantage of our unforgiveness by taking a foot hold in our lives and he uses it to defeat us. The symptoms in our own heart of unforgiveness is bitterness which could cause emotional and physical sickness. According to Matthew 6:14-15, holding unforgiveness hurt our spiritual lives because our Heavenly Father will not forgive us, our trespasses, if we do not forgive those who sin against us. To really let go of your resentment and give it to God, you would have to forgive the person who offended.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 2:9) How does obedience to servant leaders help the church of Jesus Christ? How does obedience to self-serving leaders hurt the church? Are you obedient to those whom God has placed over you in the Lord? Why or why not? What is the relationship between obedience and church unity? Obedience to servant leaders help the church of Jesus Christ because the congregation walks in right standing as they follow the teaching of the servant leader. Obedience to self-serving leaders hurt the church as they lead the church to follow their own self serving appetites. Yes, I am obedient to those whom God has placed over me in the Lord in accordance with the Word of God. The relationship between obedience and church unity is complete harmony with the Will of God.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:24) What does it mean to “lord it over” someone? What is the balance between (1) good, strong leadership, (2) micromanaging, and (3) a complete laissez-faire approach to leadership? What are the dangers of an authoritative leadership style? What are the dangers of a weak leadership style? To “lord it over” someone means to put yourself or give the appearance that you are their superior and they are subject to you as a slave to its master. rather than working together. The balance between (1) good, strong leadership, (2) micromanaging, and (3) a complete laissez-faire approach to leadership? is using the power that comes with a position to enhance the people under you to acheive their greatest potential. The dangers of an authoritative leadership style is having people work for you as oppose to working with you. The dangers of a weak leadership style is seen in mismanagement, the organization suffers from strong leadership qualities and growth is stunted.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 1:21b-22) According to this verse, what does the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives signify? How does the Spirit unite us with God? What is the promise of future blessing inherent in the Spirit’s presence? According to this verse, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives signifies that we are Christ's. We areunited with Him, joint heirs with Him and as such sons of God. Thepresence of the Holy Spirit is our guarantee to eternal life.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11) Why does Paul ask people to pray for him? How do the prayers of others have an effect? What happened in your life that has helped you enter into a ministry of intercessory prayer? Paul asked people to pray for him because God answers the prayers of His children. Jesus taught us, by example, to pray and He told us when we pray in twos and threes, His presence is in our midst. Love for others and praying that God's will is done in the earth causes me to intercede for others.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 1:9-10) How does facing a harrowing crisis help us grow in the Lord? How has a crisis helped your spiritual life? What is the value of learning not to rely on ourselves? What does this do to our pride? How does this improve our effectiveness as God’s servants? Facing a harrowing crisis helps us grow and draws us closer in our relationship with the Lord because we see ourselves as needing to be totally inadequate and dependent upon Him. We turn our focus upon our Lord and see Him as our deliverer and strong tower. I am strengthen and offer thanksgiving and worship to God in crisis. When we realize that we cannot depend on ourselves we see ourselves for the lowly creatures that we are, but with a powerful God who is waiting for us to call upon Him. Our pride is shelved and we open up to receive the love of God as His grace and mercy brings us into that place of a humble servant.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) What kind of comfort do you receive from your faith in God? From your personal daily relationship with God? How might you share the blessing of this kind of comfort with a friend or relative who is currently suffering? What words of comfort can you bring to others? My faith in God gives me an assuring comfort, as I trust in Him and walk in obedience to His precepts I can rest knowing that regardless of the situation; because God knows my end from the beginning, I can be at peace. When friends and relatives are in need of comfort, sharing with them my experiences will lead them to have faith and trust the God of all comfort.

From the author's description of the Son, His divinity is shown most when he described Jesus as "the radiance of divine glory." This is because God said in Isaiah 42:8 "... I will not give my glory to another, ...." In doing the Father's will the Son's role is being the exact representation of God's being. This ensures the Father's will is done here on earth.

The author of Hebrews is using "Son" to give equal authority to Jesus as the Son of God; His word being equal to the word of God and carries more weight than that of Gods's servant, a prophet.

Q4. What about Moses

Q3. (Numbers 25; Revelation 2:14) Though Balaam wouldn

Q2. (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-15) What precipitated the plague of snakes? The plague of snakes came because of the peoples impatience and complaints against the Lord and Moses. Is being impatient with God

Q1. (Numbers 20:1-13) What did God tell Moses to do to bring water out of the rock? God told Moses to speak to the rock to bring water out of the rock. What did Moses actually do? Moses in anger, hit the rock with his rod. In what way did he sin?[/d] Moses sin in not trusting fully in God. What emotions and attitudes were behind his sin, do you think? Moses disobedience and rash words came because of his anger with the people's grumbling. What must leaders do when they sin in these ways? Seek God's forgiveness and mercy.