Commissioned

Q2. (Matthew 5:13) What might be the symptoms of a Christian who has lost his "saltiness"? Is it possible for a believer to detect such symptoms in himself or herself? What do secular people notice about a "de-saltified" Christian? What do other Christians notice about you? Is it possible to "resaltify" your life? A Christian who have lost his "saltiness" is one who finds himself in compromising positions. He is looked upon by his non-Christian friends and aquaintences as one of them. They see the world's values as his values, there is no difference in his values than theirs. When this happens the believer will find himself not doing the thing he once did to maintain a relationship with God; his prayer life, Bible study and time with other Believers is not what it once was. He knows that he must return to his first love. It is in returning to the things he once did in building his relationship with God that he can once again "resaltify."

Q1. (Matthew 5:13) In what sense are Christians the "salt of the earth" using the preservation analogy? In what sense are Christians the "salt of the earth" using the seasoning analogy? Christians are the "salt of the earth" because by their very presence in the world, help preserve the world and hold back the wrath of God against it. It is through the prayers of the saints God hears and His mercy is poured on the earth. Using the seasoning analogy, Christians bring flavor where ever they go. Their conversation and witness of Jesus Christ brings light to the world. Their presence make a difference. They bring a change as those of the world can't.

Q6. (Matthew 5:10-11) Why should we rejoice when we are persecuted? What keeps this from being some kind of sick masochism, or finding pleasure in pain? Why is the blessing "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" appropriate for the persecuted? We should rejoice when we are persecuted because we are in good company. The prophets, Jesus and the apostles were persecuted. History is filled with martyrs who suffered for the cause of Christ. It is because of their suffering that we have the gospel today. Jesus' reward is His place on the right hand of the Father. For us, great is our reward in Heaven. So let us endure the suffering, the persecution, the hardship for His name sake.

Q5. (Matthew 5:8) Why can people with a pure heart see, know, and discern God? Why can't "chronic" sinners see God? How do we obtain the pure or clean heart that Jesus describes? People with a pure heart can see, know and discern God because they reach out to God for cleansing. Of ourselves we cannot be pure in heart but God is able to purge the corruption from our heart and bring us to rely and obey Him. As we walk in faith and trust God enables us to live according to His Will and it is in living in His will we are able to see, know and discern God. "Chronic" sinners cannot see God because their heart is filled with darkness. Only the pure in heart will see God.

Q4. (Matthew 5:6) How can an intense desire for righteousness put you at odds with the world? What sort of righteousness is Jesus talking about, do you think? What promise are we given in this Beatitude? An intense desire for righteousness will put me at odds with the world as the world system does not adhere to the same philosophy for life successes as I do. My philosophy for success is based on the Word of God. When Jesus speaks of righteousness, He speaks of a change of heart which comes with total obedience to the Word of God. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. They will be filled with the presence and powerful working of God's Spirit within them. .

Q3. (Matthew 5:5) How does this sort of gentleness contrast with the world's ideal? How is humility important to Christlikeness? The world's idea for meekness is one who is fragile, a person who cannot stand up for himself, a person who is taken advantaged of, but to be meek as requires a person to be, first of all, obedient to the Word of God and with an ear for the Spirit of God. They are gentle in heart and spirit, and because of this nature they also exhibit a kind nature. To be Christlike, we must also be humble. If we are to walk in His steps, humility must be in our character as Christ was humble. When we look at the passion of Christ the very essence of humility is displayed and is a pattern for us to follow.

Q2. (Matthew 5:3-4) Why is it necessary to be aware of your spiritual poverty before you can become a Christian? When we become aware of our spiritual poverty (emptiness, purposelessness), the realization that the emptiness can only be filled by the Saviour becomes paramount as the Holy Spirit of God brings conviction. It is in this state that we repent and accept the salvation that Christ offers. What kind of mourning is necessary for a person to become a Christian? The person must become broken in spirit, mourn in repentance and be comforted only by the Jesus' salvation and the presence of his Spirit. What kind of mourning is a common experience of Christians? (See Isaiah 61:2-3; Ezekiel 9:4.) For Christians it is a common experience to have the spirit of heaviness over the state of the unsaved, when we witness injustice and abomination in our country. We mourn and God steps in and comforts all that mourn.

Q1. (Matthew 5:3-11) Each Beatitude consists of two parts. What are these parts? The two parts of the Beatitude are: 1) The pronouncement of a blessing and 2) The right attitude one must have for receiving the blessing. Why do you think Jesus made each Beatitude a paradox? In this world many are concerned with the recognition that comes with the world system of honor, to the extent that they divorce themself from the commands and requirements of godly living. Jesus made it plain, that only those who are aware of their spiritual poverty will be seeking more. These who seek the riches of Christ will possess his kingdom. What is the relationship of the Beatitudes to the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? The relationship of the Beatitudes and the Fruit of the Spirit is that that both speak of the purity of man's heart attitude. When you seek the fruitfulness of the Fruit of the Spirit in your life, then and only then will you possess the right attitude for the blessings of the Beattitudes.

Q4. (Psalm 34:18-22) What encouragement does David give to the brokenhearted? What does it mean that God "redeems" you? How can we avoid condemnation according to Psalm 34:22? David encourages the brokenhearted not to give up hope or quit. The Lord who promised will always be with you even through the problems. God redeemed us by sending His Son to the cross to pay the price for our Salvation. We avoid condemnation when we take refuge in Jesus Christ.

Q3. (Psalm 34:1-3) Why should we praise God continually? What are barriers to continual praise? What does continual praise do to our spirit? How are you training yourself to praise continually? We ought to praise God continually because it is His Will for us to do so. Praising God is boasting about His goodnes, His faithfulness, of who He is; when we take the grace of God lightly and fail to praise Him it develops as a barrier and our continued disregard for the majesty of God, always, will set a continual barrier to our praise. However, when we continually praise God our spirit is lifted and the more we do the more it become a part of who we are. I train myself to praise by intentionally doing so throughout the day.

Q2. (Psalm 118) What does "the stone the builders rejected" (verses 22-23) have to do with the Messiah? "The stone the builders rejected" in verses 22-23 is liken to the rejection of the Messiah by the Jerusalem leaders. What do verses 25-27 have to do with the Messiah? These verses are prophetic of the triumphant entry of Jesus, the Messiah, as He enters Jerusalem. The crowds with palms in their hands they shouted Hosanna, as they welcomed the Messiah.

Q1. (Psalm 100) What is the predominant emotion in Psalm 100? How does this psalm make you feel emotionally about God? What are the reasons for praise given in verses 3 and 5? What are the commands in this psalm? The predominant emotion in Psalm 100 is that of thankfulness. The Psalm reminds you of your purpose, of whose you are and why we are to be thankful. We offer our praise to God because we belong to him. As our king and shepherd, God takes care for us and we show our appreciation in praise. The Psalm commands that we enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise, giving him thanks and praise.

Q4. (Psalm 51:17) How does one achieve a "broken and contrite heart"? What are the earmarks of this condition? How does this differ from "being sorry" for a sin? How does humility relate to this condition? A "broken and contrite heart" is acheived when the condition of profound contrition and awe is experienced by a sinful person who then becomes aware of the divine presence. This condition produces a heart that is sorrowful over sins committed. But this still lack the deep repentance that comes when one is truly sorry for a sin, he then humbles himself and seeks forgiveness.

Q3. (Psalm 51:10-12) How is it possible to have a "pure heart" after great sin? After any sin, whether it is considered a small sin or a great sin, one can have a "pure heart" when confession is made by faith we are purified. What does a "pure heart" consist of? A pure heart consist of a willing spirit to carry out the will of Father. What is the relationship between a "pure heart" (Psalm 51:10) and a "united" or "undivided heart" (Psalm 86:11)? In both, a "pure heart" and a "united" heart the psalmist is stating that he is willing to be in the service of the Lord. Who purifies the heart? What is the process? God purifies the heart when the sinner repents and accepts the cleansing of the blood of Jesus which was shed for our sins to be forgiven.

Q2. (Psalm 51:3-6) When David says, "Against you only I have sinned" (4a) is he minimizing his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah? What does he mean by this? When he mentions his sinfulness from before birth is he excusing himself or blaming Original Sin? What does he mean by this? David is not minimizing his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. He is however, admiting that all sin is against God. David mentions that he was sinful from before his birth, in this he is not excusing himself or blaming Original Sin, he is however afirming the fact he, as a man is sinful.

Q1. (Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? Self-deceit operates with sin to enslave us by keeping us from confessing our sins so that we are freed to enjoy forgiveness. Instead the guilt of sin destroys our feedom and drains us emotionally. How does confession enable us to get free from sin? When we confess the sin God promises that He will forgive us of our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [b[Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes? [/b] W sometimes resist the truth about ourselves because of pride, and not wanting to be seen in the eyes of others as one who has committed a particular sin. But when we realize the freedom of sins forgiven we repent and is washed cleaned.

Q4. (Psalm 22) What similarities do you see between the words of Psalm 22 and the events of Jesus' crucifixion? Psalm 22 paralleled the events of Jesus' crucifixion. Do you think Jesus understood Psalm 22 as referring to himself? I know that Jesus understood Psalm 22 was a prophetic reference to Him. Why do you think the Spirit inspired David to pen these words? I do believe that the Spirit inspired David to pen these words, though his interpretation of these words brought him comfort in those days.

Q3. (Psalm 22:1) Why do you think Jesus spoke the words of Psalm 22:1? When Jesus spoke the words of Psalm 22:1 he was having the same thoughts as the Psalmist when he wrote those words. What was he seeking to express? He was seeking to express to be comforted by the presence of His Father. He knew that which lie ahead was inevitable, He just wanted the presence of His Father as He went through. What was he feeling? He was feeling alone and forsaken. How did God answer his plea? God remain distant and silent.

Q2. (Psalm 110) Why do you think that Jesus asked the Pharisees about verse 1, "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" What point was Jesus making? The Pharisees expected a Messiah to be of the linage of David who would come conquering the enemies of the Jews. They saw Jesus as human, as a decendant of David, and as such to be inferior to David. Jesus' question to them was to get them to see Him for who He is, the Messiah Son of God and thus greater than man. How does Jesus combine the roles of Warrior-King and Priest in his ministry to us and to this world? Jesus combine the roles of Warrior-King and Priest in his ministry to us and to this world as His Messianic rule extended beyond this earthly kingdom, thus King of Kings. And as Warrior He conquered the enemy of our soul and delivered us from the bondage of sin. How do you reconcile the violence suggested in verses 5-6 with Jesus as "Prince of Peace"? Before peace reigns again on the earth, the Prince of Peace must bring judgement and destroy wickedness from the earth.

Q1. (Psalm 2) What does Psalm 2 teach us about Yahweh's "anointed" king? Anointing was used to set apart to God a thing or person, like a priest. Here it is said that the Son is Yahweh's anointed king, He is set apart for the service of God. Why do you think the apostles saw this passage as referring to Jesus the Messiah? The apostle saw this passage as pertaining to Jesus because they equated the the conspiracy of Herod and Pontius Pilate that resulted in Christ's crucifixion (Acts 4:25-26). The "nations" refer to the Gentiles (the Romans), and "kings of the earth" and "rulers" to Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Sanhedrin. What does the passage teach about the importance of submission to Jesus the Christ before it is too late? It teaches that submission to Jesus the Christ is important early before He comes and bring judgement on you.

Q3. (Psalm 117 and Lamentations 3:22-23). Why are love and trustworthiness so important as the bedrock of the Old Testament faith? Both love and trustworthiness are important and the bedrock of the Old Testament as God continuously wooed the nation of Israel back to Him. Every time they backslide into idolatry, He showed them great love. Regardless of their affection towards Him God showed them His love. What kinds of terms does the New Testament use to talk about these characteristics? In the New Testament God shows His grace and mercy towards all who would come to Him. Can you think of any New Testament verses that speak of these themes? 2 Cor. 12:9 in which He tells us that His grace is sufficient for us: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. ..." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Q2. (Psalm 145) Which aspects of God's character mentioned in Psalm 145 stand out to you in particular? We know that God is omnipresence, and being reminded of this in the psalm is very reassuring. The Psalmist tells us that the Lord is near all those who call on him and again He watches over all who love Him. Another Psalm asks the rhetorical question, where can we go from his presence, behold He is there. In the midst of our every day situations and crisis, we are not alone. Anywhere and everywhere we go He is with us and watches over us. Why is it important for "every creature," every human being, to praise him? He is compassionate and loving to "every creature." We praise Hime in gratitude for His loving and caring for us. What are you doing to help that happen? Praising Him, unceasingly.

Q1. (Psalm 103) Which one or two aspects of God's character mentioned in this Psalm stand out to you? Compassion: God's compassion extends from eternity to eternity. It is His compassion that made possible redemption. God loved mankind so much that He put a plan in place to provide for us an escape from the penalty of death unto eternal life. Why do you think the Exodus was so foundational in Israel's understanding of God? They needed to know who God is and how they can place their faith and trust in him. According to Psalm 103:10-12, what are the limits to God's forgiveness? According to Psalm 103:10-12, the limits to God's forgiveness is failure to 'fear' Him, not accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.

Q4. (Psalm 24) How do verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King? Verses 1-2 establish the Lord's right as King because He is creator of all things. What do verses 3-6 tell us about the requirements of the King? Verses 3-6 tell us that the King requires worshippers who have a clean hand and a pure heart, ethical and moral purity; those who do not align themselves with the enemy but has given all allegiance unto God. What do verses 7-10 tell us about the glory of the King? Verses 7-10 tell us that the glory of the King is his Person, Yahweh; His omnipotent power as He is the victorious Warrior of all battles. How does this psalm speak to you in your situation? This psalm tells me that my God is a Victorious Warrior. When I face a battle I need not be afraid, I can just call out to Him and He will rescue me from the hand of the enemy. I am moved to render worship to Him continually.

Q3. (Psalm 126). In this psalm, the nation is going through some kind of crisis. How does memory of God's deliverance in verses 1-3 prepare them for the prayer of verse 4? In verses 1-3 they are rejoicing and praising God for bringing them back to their homeland. They have experienced God's power, his faithfulness and his love for them. This has motivated them to asked God to restore their land, their properties and bring them to flourish in prosperity once more. How do you understand the two metaphors of deliverance: (1) a wadi or dry gully and (2) sowing and reaping? A wadi or dry gully is always ready to receive a fresh flood of water which when overflows into the dry desert brings a harvest of beautiful flowers. To reap a harvest one must faithfully plant for which he wants to harvest. How do these metaphors help you in your situation? It says that in spite of the situations, continue to be faithful in ministry and let God provide the harvest.