Craig

Q2. (3:7-8) Read Matthew 12:34 and 15:18. In light of these verses, why is the tongue untamable? What has to happen before it can be tamed? The tongue is so untamable because it is the conduit of the heart. What is in the heart the tongue passes on. We really need to tame the heart. Fill the heart with God's precepts and love, then what comes out of the mouth will be loving, healing, edifying, and healthy. In other words Godly. In sum, to tame the tongue we must give our hearts to Jesus Christ and let the Holy Spirit reside in our hearts and let Him work the sanctification process in our hearts. The heart is the seat of the human-being. As Jesus said all things flow out of the heart. Our hearts must be made Christ-like so that our tongues will speak Christ-like.

Q1. (3:1-2) Why does James discourage people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word? Why is greater strictness appropriate? Should you set higher standards for your pastor than you do for yourself? James discourages people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word because they will be judged more strictly. In other words think seriously about what you are called to do. The greater strictness is appropriate because the teacher has studied and knows the Word and everything that goes with it. The teacher should know what God expects. The pastor in coming a pastor that person has met the higher standards and in his/her own walk works with God in maintaining and increasing standards in their own life. I must be concerned that my pastor's walk and teaching is in line with apostolic doctrine and the Bible. However, I should be concerned about my own standards. I should be working on becoming Christ-like and not worrying about others' standards. Oftentimes, we place standards on others that we don't adhere to ourselves. How self deluded. The standards God set for believers are for all believers not just some. James is saying God will judge the teacher more strictly, not us. We have our hands full with getting right ourselves let alone judging others. Oftentimes we more preoccupied by other peoples standards and ignore our own. We need to pray for others and really work on ourselves. The scripture sets the standards for teachers, preachers, deacons, etc. Not congregations. The question is does a fallible person have a calling to be a teacher, preacher, etc. Teachers and preachers are still in the sanctification process themselves since they are human-beings too.

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 his mission team's safety. That was one important way of helping them and as a result many people would give thanks to God for answered prayer. Prayer connects people not only with God but with other people, whether you know them or not. Jesus encouraged people to pray together often and in one mind. That it was effective and that He would be there in their midst. I believe in the power and importance of intercessory prayer. I practice it regularly in my own life. What helped me to enter into a ministry of intercessory prayer was God's Word said to do it. Over the years I have seen God's work by way of answered prayer in my life, my families life, and the lives of people I have been praying for and it has built my confidence in my prayer life tremendously. It has dramatically increased my confidence in God. God answers the prayers of the faithful.

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? The comfort I receive from my faith and trust in God on a daily basis is best expressed in Ps. 23. My walk and trust in the Lord through all the circumstances of life serve as a verbal and visual witness of what God can do for a person who permits God to be God in their live. I think as we put our faith and trust in God through all things that speaks louder words. People oftentimes say one thing about God when all is well but when a health crisis, economic trouble, etc. enters their life they act lost, panic, etc. leaving others to ask God is this God you believe in? As a pastor I have seen this countless times. In sum, I would say: let God really be your God and wait upon Him, because as he has comforted me through the years in all kinds of circumstances he will see you through also. Read Ps. 23 and make a reality in your life."

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? Paul maintained that works or religious ritual could not save a person from sin and death. Salvation is found only in faith in Jesus Christ's atoning act on the cross. His sacrificial death on the cross for all of humanity. This wasn't just a thought or faith held in the mind, but action in permitting God's will to be carried out in Jesus' actual life and actions. This teaching does not conflict with James' teaching that faith without works is dead. Once a person repents of sin and puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin and death and accepts God's Word as a way of life that person then begins to live out God's Words in actual words and deeds.. In other words a person's faith and trust God is actually lived out in every day life. What is the point accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior, reading God's Word, and inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives if this doesn't include impacting our actions. The point is we live out what we believe and what we put our faith in. Actions always reflect what we believe. Faith, life, and actions are all interrelated. Unless we live out our faith in God, there is no point in having that faith. Because God's Word commands and directs us to carry out a myriad of things in this life.

Q2. (2:15-16) To what degree are we responsible for the poor and needy in the church community? How about our responsibility for those outside the church, in the community at large? God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and earth commanded through the Torah, the prophets, Jesus the Christ, John the Baptist, and the Apostles to take care of the poor, elderly, aliens, orphans, and others in spiritual and physical need. Read the Bible in its whole and this message is clear. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 25. Loving your neighbor as yourself doesn't mean just who you attend church with. Most Christians don't even take care of fellow church members. Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you applies to all people. As a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Kingdom of God I am my brother's keeper. The prophets, Jesus, and apostles taught that we should treat all people justly and with love. This is a common theme throughout all the books of the Bible. Remember God is love. Read I Cor. 13. It applies to all people.

Q1. (2:14-18) In what sense is faith dead if it is unaccompanied by action? In what sense might (if that were possible) it be alive? Faith is dead when unaccompanied by action in that the faith has no life. For faith to be alive it must be exercised in my daily walk not in my mind. When faith is restricted to the mind it has no impact on the world. As believers we are called to impact the world with our faith in Jesus Christ for the Kingdom of God. What is not lived out is dead. Action makes faith, concepts, and ideas living.

Q2. (4:3-4) Why do non-Christians try to get you to sin with them. Why are we tempted to do so? How can we resist this temptation? There is a non-sensitivity to sin, for the most part, with the non-Christian. Sin what's that, who cares? Then there is the discomfort of the Christian who strives to live in participation with God's Word, so the non-Christian wants the Christian to them join in the things of the world. It make them feel better about themselves. The Christian witness often reminds the non-believer of where they should be and what they should be doing in relationship to God. Often, misery loves company. Causing Christians to fall to temptation can be used to discredit the Christian walk and prove there is no difference between believers and non-believers. The attitude is don't be a Bible thumper come and join the fun. Then there is just plain evil spirits out there that intentionally want the Christian to fail to live like Jesus and live holy lives. We are tempted because we were born in this world with natural worldly natures. We participated in the things of the world without guilt or conviction before turning our lives over to Jesus. The temptation is always there so long as we are in this world. Additionally, satan and other dark entities make war on our souls. They want to destroy us in their rebellion against God. We can resist temptation by daily staying in God's Word, daily prayer and fellowship with God, daily praise and worship and service. By permitting the Holy Spirit in us to steel us and aid us in overcoming temptation. He is greater the god of this world.

Q4. (2:13b) In what way is showing regard towards the wealthy (2:2-3) a denial of mercy? Extra credit: Read Hosea 6:6; Matthew 5:7; and 9:13. In what way does mercy �triumph over� (NIV, RSV, NASB) or �rejoice against� (KJV) judgment? What does this mean? In regarding the wealthy I am diminishing the poor. Mercy is tied to love. Mercy is tied to kindness and grace. God loves all people so should we. "Know, oh people the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you, to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 To do what is right is to act justly to other people. Mercy doesn't judge peoples' race, gender, economic/social status, etc. Mercy doesn't judge whether a person is lost or saved. It treats all people with dignity and justice. Mercy liberates us from the slavery of being judged as well as judging others.

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the �Royal Law�? How is it more �royal� than the Mosaic Law? How does showing favoritism toward a rich person break the �Royal Law� towards that rich person? How does it break the �Royal Law� in regard to a poor person? God is love. Love places the needs of others before my own. Genuine love connects me with God and those around me. Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but everlasting life." John 3:16. So, if God so love the world how can I as a follower of Christ not love others. When you love God and others you don't sin against them. You truly do unto others so you would want them to do unto you. You truly care. Love is not real if it is selectively given. Royal law is the King's law. That King is God and he is love. If we are to be his people we need to love. See I Cor. 13 for a definition of applied love.

Q2. (2:4) In what way does favoritism make one a judge? How does favoritism make one a judge with �evil thoughts�? Personal favoritism in any category divides other people into economic, social, personality types, etc. thus causing me to judge people on those criteria. In doing so, I cannot minister to and bless all of those who God brings my way because of my built-in biases. God instructs us to love all people without any criteria. As Christians we are called to be open to all. We are also called into unity as the body of Christ. We are one in Christ. If I don't see that then the love of Jesus is not in me. That begs the question am I really a follower of Christ? Or just an opportunist? Favoritism steers me to associate with only those who will benefit me at the expense of those in some kind of need. This is selfishness and is sin. The evil of it all is that I will sacrifice those in need to those who will meet my needs. Again selfishness.

Q1. (2:1-3) What kind of person or what kind of sinner do you tend to discriminate against? What kind of people are you (or your church) trying to make a good impression on? I tend to discriminate against people who intentionally don't try to better themselves on any level. I have a low tolerance for people who whine and cry about their condition and don't do anything about it. I personally try to pray for, bless, and make a good impression on all people.

Q1. (4:1-2) When the scripture says "arm yourselves with the same attitude" as Christ had, how should this attitude help keep you from sin? What attitude are we talking about? Christ was willing to suffer physically in rejecting sin. As followers of Christ, Jesus said we must take our cross and follow him. We must be willing to suffer in defiance and rejection of sin and this satanic world order we live in. We must take on the same attitude as Jesus. The sin of this world and its influence is at odds with a soul striving to be Christ-like. It is at odds and at war with the Kingdom of God. Suffering can be both physical and emotional. We must be prepared and willing to suffer both to carry out God's will in our lives. One aspect of that will is to be holy as he is holy. As Paul wrote to the Phillippians "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13 As painful as it might be we must break the chains that hold us to this world. This world means death and eternal separation from God.

Q5. What has this study on 2 Peter and Jude meant to you? How has it enriched your life? How could it be improved? This study has reminded me that "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." 2 Peter 1:3 What this study has made to me is that God has given me everything I need to have a relationship with Him and to be like His son Jesus Christ. I have the ability to seize the moment, seize the day and live a life that is Godly, holy, and pious and that most importantly brings honor and glory to God the Father Almighty maker/creator of heaven and earth. With my actions and decisions I can glorify God and bear witness to Him in a satanic world order. I don't have to be just another lost soul in slavery to satan and this world. This course was excellent.

Q4. (Jude 24) What does it mean to you that God is guarding you from falling? How can you explain God's exultant joy towards you? How will God manage to present you to himself "blameless"? How does that work? It means that God is concerned about me and I'm secure from falling away from Him in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. God takes joy and delight in those who love, acknowledgment Him, and seek His ways. We are has children. I am only blameless in Jesus Christ.

Q3. (Jude 21a) What does it mean to "keep yourself in God's love"? What are you doing to strengthen your love relationship with God? What more could you do that might help? By staying in fellowship with believers and in communication with God through sprit led prayer, Bible study, and applying God's Word to their life a person keeps themselves in God's love. I engage in daily Bible study, prayer, praise and worship, and service beginning in my home. My plan is to let Jesus increase in heart and life and my self decease in order to be the person God intends for me to be.

Q2. (Jude 20a) Why does God make you responsible to "build up" your own Christian faith? What are you doing on a regular basis to obey this command? What should you begin to do that will help you be built up better? God makes us responsible to "build up" our own Christian faith because He created us with the ability to do it. We were created in the image of God and given free will. In order for a relationship to be truly a relationship requires independent action between all parties. God did not create us as puppets but as thinking creatures. I must act and respond to God as an individual. I must exercise my will to response to Him. I must act as God intended for us to act. I engage in daily Bible study, prayer, praise and worship, and service to others beginning in my home. I must continue to let Jesus increase in my life and my self will decrease to be the person God purposed me to be.

Q1. (Jude 1) Which of these three privileges catches your attention more than the others? Why is it so special to you? How does it encourage your faith? All three privileges are attention getters. However, as I answer this question the fact that call would call me and never stop convicting me of where I need to be and what I need to be doing, despite my willfulness, is amazing and I love God ever more for it. I accepted and/or acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and as savior as a young boy and followed that with baptism under the leadership of my earthly father. God has never let up or stopped participating in my life since that moment. Since that time my life journey has been marked and defined by spiritual hallmarks. It encourages me to keep on trusting and loving my God as expressed in Ps. 23 by David.

Q5. (2 Peter 3:11-12, 14-16) What effect should a belief in Christ's return and coming judgment have on your life? What effect does an underemphasis on Christ's return have on a Christian's life? My belief that Jesus Christ is returning and judgment will ensue and the fact that I will probably die before He returns motivates me to get my spiritual life in order which emphasizes a close relationship with God through Jesus and motivated and directed by the Holy Spirit. If I don't do this there will be no spiritual development in preparation for eternity in my life.

Q4. (2 Peter 3:9) Why does our culture resist the ideas of sin and repentance? Can there be salvation without repentance? Can you think of a time in your own life when repentance was difficult for you? Why was it difficult? Our culture resists the ideas of sin and repentance because we are materialist and secular. We want to live the good life -- the American dream of material plenty and spiritual emptiness. There is no room for sin and repentance when narrowly seeking material gain and satisfaction. Sin and repentance doesn't sit well in our culture. It makes us uncomfortable. It doesn't fit with our image. From Genesis through Revelation the Bible teaches without repentance there is no salvation. The fact is we are being saved from our sin. So without an acknowledgment of sin how can there be salvation? Repentance can be difficult because it acknowledges our sinfulness and short-comings. It remains us that we are not gods. It crushes our self-deception of how good we are. Our delusion that this is all there is.

Q3. (2 Peter 3:9) According to Peter, why has Christ's coming been delayed? What does this teach us about God? Christ's delay in His second coming is because God desires as many people as possible come to Him before the Day of the Lord. God's desire is that all people would come to know Him. God is patient, loving, and merciful.

Q2. (2 Peter 3:7-13). Why is it important for us to understand what it means to "perish"? Why are these truths underemphasized in our day? What effect does that have on us? How can we get an understanding of judgment into proper balance in our churches and teaching? It is important to understand what it means to perish because it is of ultimate importance to the lives of all people. These truths are underemphasized in our day and culture because they are treated as religious myths. They are only treated by a few as serious truths to be dealt with. A proper understanding of judgment can be developed within our churches and teaching when we place them there. When we emphasize them through teaching, preaching, and prayer. We must focus on the entire Biblical message if we are to be complete and balanced.

Q1. (2 Peter 3:1-2) Why are reminders so important for Christians? How do you remind yourself of God's promises? How do you remind others? Reminders are so important because people tend to forget and the things, cares, and concerns of this world are so overwhelming they tend to take over one's thinking unless we are focused on God's Word and the things of God. I remind myself and others of God's promises through daily Bible study and prayer and by regularly teaching the Word of God to others.

Q4. (3:20-21) Various Christian traditions have different practices of baptism -- the mode (sprinkling, pouring, immersion) and the age (infant vs. an age when a person can profess his or her own faith). Let's not argue about that in this forum. Let me ask you the crucial question for you -- Have you pledged your faith in Jesus Christ and promised to serve him as his disciple? How does this pledge relate to your own baptism? (Remember, no criticism of another's understanding of baptism in the forum. No fighting. No setting people straight -- seriously!) I have pledged my faith to and in Jesus Christ and have promised to serve Him as his disciple. As a little boy I accepted and acknowledged Jesus Christ as savior and followed by baptism. Jesus has been ever increasing in my life since that moment.

Q3. (3:18a) Meditate for a few minutes on this verse: "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." Now personalize it to imagine (1) your sins, (2) your unrighteousness, and (3) your reconciliation with God. Each of these ideas is awesome! Which of these three aspects of the verse has God impressed most strongly on you today? Select one of the three and share it. All three of these ideas are overwhelming and wonderful. All three have made a tremendous impact on my life. Right at this moment I want to comment on my being made right in God's sight by Jesus' actions. It is wonderful and comforting to know that I don't have to sink or die or suffer in my unrighteousness. That Jesus has set me free from my sin and unrighteousness and that the Holy Spirit is working to remake me into a Christ-like human-being.