Commissioned

Q1. (1 Corinthians 10:16). What does the "cup of blessing" teach us about our focus at the Lord's Supper? The "cup of blessing" teaches us that our focus at the Lord's Supper should be on Christ and not on ourselves. Who is to be blessed when the "cup of blessing" is lifted heavenward? When the "cup of blessing" is lifted heavenward God should be blessed.

Q4. Why is the Lord's Table such a time of intimate fellowship with Jesus? The Lord's Table is a time of intimate fellowship because it is shared with friends and people of like passions. In your experience with having meals with friends, what makes the difference between a casual, forgettable meal, and one which is rich with memories? Meals with friends that are rich with memories as opposed to those which are casual and forgettable, are laced with intimate moments. There would be times of sharing personal details and expressions that are precious. It is a time of closeness. How can this insight make your experience of the Lord's Table more meaningful? Just knowing that you are obeying Christ command and that you are sharing in this very personal gift that He has given to the whole world should make every experience of the Lord's Table precious.

Q3. What is the significance of the 12 Apostles drinking the Cup of the Covenant? It show that the twelve Apostles share in the Cup of the Covenant and ratified the New Covenant. To whom would they correspond under the ratification of the Old Covenant? (Hint: Exodus 24:11.) They correspond to the seventy elder, as representatives of God's people, under the ratification of the Old Covenant. What is the significance of us drinking the Cup of the Covenant? When we drink the Cup of the Covenant we bind ourself to the Covenant. Every time we do so we renew our commitment to the New Covenant Jesus established so many years ago.

Q2. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) How does the promised New Covenant differ from the Old Covenant? Under the New Covenant Jesus paid the price for all men to be reconciled with the Father and when He returned to the Father he gave men the Holy Spirit to indwell and teach men all things for a rich spirit-filled life. In the Old Covenant animals were sacirifce for atonement of sin and only a few special people were privileged to received the Spirit. What are the promises God makes in the New Covenant? In the New Covenant God promised salvation, eternal life, and forgiveness of sins through the death of His Dear Son. God also promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, who will live in us and enable us to live righteously. What are our responsibilities under the New Covenant? Under the New Covenant we are responsible to have faith and trust in God, and to believe that Jesus was God in the flesh.

Q1. (Exodus 24:3-11) How was the covenant with Israel ratified? The covenant with Israel was ratified with the building of an altar and the offering of a sacrifice to the LORD. What promise did the people make twice in this passage? The people promised twice to do everything the LORD had said. What was sacrificed? Young bulls were sacrificed. What was sprinkled? The blood from the sacrificed animals. What was eaten? The fellowship offering was the animal that was sacrificed.

Q4. What do the Words of Institution say to us about forgiveness? The Words of Institution tells us that Christ blood was shed for the forgiveness and pardon of our sins. Why is it important for us to repent of known sin before taking the Lord's Supper? When we come to partake of the Lord's Supper it is important for us to repent of known sin so that we may received the forgiveness and pardon that the blood was shed for. So that when we drink of the cup we do so without guilt.

Q3. Why did Jesus purposely point his disciples to the phrasing found in Isaiah 53? So that the disciples will recall the entire Suffering Servant passage and from it gain understanding of the reason for his death. How does this chapter help explain the meaning of Jesus' death? From this passage we know that the Son of Man came to serve and to give his life a ransom for many, not only for some but it was for all mankind.

Q2. Why did Jesus refer to the violent nature of his death in the Words of Institution? Jesus referred to the violent nature of his death in the Words of Institution because this was to be a memorial, they were to remember the greatest sacrifice of all - God's plan for the redemption of the world, the shedding of Jesus' blood. What did this probably mean to the disciples at the time? At the time the disciples who were very familiar with the animal sacrifice for atonment saw it as Christ ultimate expression of his love for them as He went to the cross for them. What did it probably mean to them later? Having had time to reflect on the events and the prophecy of the coming Messiah, the disciples now knew that Christ blood being shed was for the benefit of all mankind (the animals too ).

Q1. How were Old Testament sacrifices a way of God showing grace and mercy to his people? God showed his mercy to his people by sparing their life and having them sacrifice an animal to atone for their sins.

Q4. (139:23-24) Why is this prayer of surrender to God so difficult to pray? It is differcult to pray because it leaves you completly bare, surrendered to God. You've now asked God to bring before you all the dark and evil ways in you that you need to repent of. That which you have held on to and now must release so that all would be well with you and God. When was the first time you prayed this kind of prayer to God? What was the result? At conversion. I came face to face with the part of my life that I knew I must repent of and turn away from. With God's help I am still walking this new life and trusting Him. Can a person be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer? A person cannot be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer. It is a prayer of repentance and one cannot give himself to Christ without first confessing sins and asking His forgiveness.

Q3. (139:13-16) How is an awareness of God's involvement in your prenatal development meant to encourage you? God's involvement in my prenatal development encourages me in that I know God is intimately aware of all of my bodily parts and when I pray for healing He knows, better than I do or the doctors can ever know, what miracle need to take place to bring me to prosperous health. What might this mean to a young woman carrying a child? A young father-to-be? For a young woman carrying a child she can be at rest knowing that her child is in the hands of the master creator. As a father-to-be the young man can pray and give praises to God for the gift and wellbeing of his wife and child. Why is such knowledge overwhelming to us? We cannot immagine how this is all possible, even with all the advances of science; the miracle of birth, formation of the body and all the intricacies of life we will never fathom.

Q2. (139:5, 10). In verses 5 and 10, how does God's hand touch the psalmist? God's hand was upon David for good. He led, guided and protected him from danger. Have you ever felt God's hand on you in a special way? Was it for your good? What was it like? In a good way God's hand has always been on my life, guiding me to make right life decisions, his hand has been upon me to bring healing in my body and there have been numerous times, even unknown to me, when his hand has been upon me to protect me from harm and danger. It is a joy to know that we have a God who is with us ALWAYS and we can rest assured that he will take care of us.

Q1. (139:7) Why do people sometimes want to flee from God? People sometimes want to flee from God when they are seeking to do things their own way. They may be involved in something that is pleasurable to the flesh and pulls them away from the things of God so they try to ignore the tugging of the heart by the Spirit of God. Or, they may want to run away from a call that God has on their life, they know that God has called them into a certain area of ministry yet they refuse and head down another path, ignoring God's call. Why do people imagine that God doesn't know what they do? Have you ever felt this way? It's a lie. Those who are God conscious know that He is omniscient and that they can never do anything that God is unaware of. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End and everything in between. Nothing happens and God is unaware of it. If we think that, then we only fool ourselves.

Q4. How does Jesus voluntarily laying down his life for you encourage you? Jesus' voluntarily laying down his life for me encourages me in that he did for me what non other can do. I know that He loves me. Me, in spite of all the filth and baggage that I come to him with He accepts me as his very own, a precious treasure. Thank you Jesus. I am so very grateful to you. How does it speak to your value and worth as a person? What does it inspire you to do? Though I am but a filthy rag he counts me worthy to die for, so that I may know that He loves me. I have worth in the Father's eyes. I can now live life knowing that I am more in His eyes than whatever man can see.

Q3. Look at the verses above which include both the word "give" and a preposition that means "in behalf of." According to these verses, what was the purpose of Jesus giving himself in sacrifice? Jesus gave himself in sacrifice as a ransom for all men to rescue us from the present evil age, that we may be redeemed from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are His very own who are eager to do good. Jesus gave himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God when he die for the sins of the whole world.

Q2. (1 John 4:2-3) Why does Christianity insist on a physical birth, physical suffering, and a resurrection of the physical body? Christianity insist on a physical birth, physical suffering, and a resurrection of the physical body of Jesus' because to believe otherwise is heresy, it is antichrist. How would our faith be different if Christ hadn't fully entered the human condition? If Christ hadn't fully entered the human condition we would not have such an example as he left with us. We too can live without sin, we can be strong and not fall into temptation and we can command the devil to flee and he will. In our supplications to Him we are assured that he is acquainted with our physical experiences and can comfort and help us. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Q1. (1 Peter 2:24) Why do you think the Apostle Peter emphasized Jesus' physical body, when he talks about sin-bearing? I believe that the Apostle Peter was bringing to our rememberance that it was on the Cross of Calvary that Jesus bore our sins. Prior to the cross the Jews were acquainted with the lamb being sacrificed for the atonement of their sins and now Jesus came to be the last sacrifice for the atonement of sins and bore it all in his physical body. Jesus' physical body was bruised, pierced, and battered so that we may be saved and have eternal life.

Q4. What are the implications for you personally, when you realize that in the Lord's Supper you are becoming a sharer in the sacrifice of the cross? This is so profound. I have never looked upon the Lord's Supper as me being a sharer in the sacrifice of the cross. I've always been taught that the cross is where Christ died for me and that when I participate in the Lord's Supper I am remembering his work for my healing and redemption and look forward to his return. I also understand the great power in it connecting me directly to Christ's sacrifice for my sins. To now consider that I am becoming a sharer in the sacrifice of the cross takes this understanding to a another level. Holy Spirit, help me to fully understand the sacrifice of the cross and my participation therein. How does that affect you? How does it change your understanding of the Lord's Supper? Now I can see that coming to the Lord's table unworthily nullifies my participation in the sacrifice of the cross. If there is sin in my heart, at the table, my participation is of no value. I must come to the table with a pure heart. Hallelujah!!

Q3. In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? It was the practice of the priesthood to eat a portion of the sacrifices brought to the tabernacle or temple. A portion was eaten by the priests and a portion was burned on the altar. The priest's eating of a portion of the sacrifice, was part of the atonement process. How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice? Paul says that as we eat of the Lord's Supper, we become sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.

Q2. What does koinōnia mean? It means to "participate," "to share," "to have in common with others." What does it mean to "participate" or "share" in the blood of Christ? It means that as believers in Christ Jesus we share, in common with all believers, the death of Christ and that in his death he made it possible for all to be forgiven and be redeemed unto eternal life.

Q1. Why was Paul exhorting the Corinthians about the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons? Prior to their conversion the Corinthians participated in sacrifices to idols. This practice would continue had they not been instructed by Paul that in so doing they were participating with demons. Paul told them that as believers in Jesus Christ they have been commanded to share the cup of the Lord and in this new walk they cannot share the cup of demons too. What was going on in the church? Not having been instructed otherwise the new believers in Christ continued in some of their old ways; one of which was practices in idol worship. What was the danger to the believers? The danger to the believers was that if they were not instructed in the new way and if they did not turn from the old way they would have continued in sin.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 11:26) In what way is the Lord's Supper a proclamation? The Lord's Supper is a proclamation in that it tells how Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. And it declares the gospel. To whom is the proclamation made? The proclamation is made both to believers and unbelievers. Why is this important? It is important because it tells the gospel message. The gospel must be preached so that all men, everywhere, may have the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as Savior. What happens to the church when its proclamation shifts to a different central theme? When the church allows its proclamation to shift to a different central theme it is taking itself from under the Lordship of Christ. Jesus Christ is Lord over the Church for which he was crucified, to atone for its sins.

Q3. Why is our remembrance of Christ's death so important? Our rememberance of Christ's death is important because first of all Jesus commanded that we should and we remember His atoning death for our sins. What happens to Christianity if we neglect remembering in this way? If we neglect remembering in this way Christianity would become like any other religion. What happens to us personally when we forget Christ's death? We forget that it was His death on the cross that brought the atonment for our sins and we'd be seeking ways to present an adequate sacrifice to atone for our sins.

Q2. What was the purpose of the Passover meal for future generations? Future generations were to celebrate the Passover meal as a lasting ordinance. Why was it to be repeated? It was to be repeated and celebrated as a festival to the Lord. What was to be remembered? They were to remember that it is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, recalling what the Lord did for their ancestors when He passed over the Egyptians houses, killed their first born but spared the Israelites. What would have happened if the Jews had stopped remembering the Exodus? If the Jews had stopped remembering the Exodus they would have forgotten that God had delivered them from slavery. And as some did, yearn to return to their former enslavement.

Q1. When repeated often, doesn't the Lord's Supper run the risk of becoming mundane and lose its meaning? The Lord's Supper will never run the risk of becoming mundane and lose its meaning. As the Word of God is a living word so is this holy ordinance. The act of eating the bread and of drinking the wine manifest the power of God in us every time we partake. Jesus' command was for this observance to be carried on into the future, specifically "until he comes." Jesus intends that, we, his disciples should continue to "do this." Why did Jesus command its repetition? Jesus commanded its repetition because as we continually partake of the bread and the wine, we do it in rememberance of him.