Craig

Q2. (1:18) How has your Christian "hope" changed your way of living? What is the result of Christians with only a meager or minute hope? How would you pray for hope to be borne in others? Hope has changed my way of living in that I am living and growing in Christ to meet and fulfill that hope. That hope is eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven in the direct presence of the Living God. The hope of serving and fellowshipping with Him and all the saints for eternity. The hope of Jesus Christ motivates me to grow in my faith, to serve and honor my God and follow my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. A meager or minute hope results in a meager or minute Christianity. My prayer is that Christians and non-Christians would have an appetite for God above all else and that they would seek and experience Him first hand. Take their Bible seriously and abandon themselves to God. As a result, the hope of Jesus Christ becomes very real as you get to know the author of that hope initimately.

Q1. (Judges 6:33-35) What inspires Gideon to blow the battle horn and summon an army against the Midianites. What does Gideon have in common with other judges and leaders of his era? (Hint: see Deuteronomy 34:9; Judges 3:10; 11:9; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6.) The Holy Spirit of God inspires Gidion to blow the battle horn and summon an army against the Midianites. What all of the leaders mentioned in these passages had in common with Gideon was the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moved these leaders to action in the service of the Living God. The same power that God used in rising Jesus Christ from the dead and the same power He fills the church and its members with. The same power that God fills the Christian with in serving Him -- The Holy spirit of God.

Q5. (Judges 6:25-31) What kind of leader has Gideon's father Joash been up to this point? How does Gideon's action affect his father? Shouldn't Gideon have considered the impact on his father? How should this have affected Gideon's action? (See Matthew 10:34-38) In what sense is Joash a follower of Yahweh now? Gideon's father has not been a good leader because he has deviated from the Torah in direct rebellion to God. He has lead his family in a direction away from the God of Israel. In fact, he has aided in the community being lead away from God. Gideon's actions force Joash to decide where he stands -- for or against the God of Israel. In serving God, His direction comes before any other consideration. That is one major problem with Christians today, they put other considerations before God and are effect Christians. In fact, they are disobedient. Yes, you could say that Joash wakes up, like Gideon. Joash stands up for Gideon, challenges Baal as a real god, and stands up against the Baal worshippping community at large. Joash makes a stand for his son and Yahweh.

Can a person be a "disobedient disciple"? Doesn't that represent an oxymoron? Did Gideon have a choice here? Do we have choices? Disciples can be disobedient at times. We all struggle with self-will and desire. However, I think as our relationship with God grows stronger, disobedience is steadedly decreasing. This doesn't represent an oxymoron because being a disciple doesn't equal perfection. Disciples are works in progress. In this situation, Gideon had a choice. He could obey God or he could ignore and disobey God. We all have choices and our lives are a sum total of those choices. Wherever we should find ourselves today is because of our choices.

How are we to obey the commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" in the kind of situation Gideon finds himself? What justification does Gideon have for his action? (Matthew 10:37). No. We are to love God and obey His commandants above all other people or things. That is the foundation in having a relationship with God. He is Creator and is above all things or people. Gideon's justification is that he is obeying God and that his father, Joash, is in rebellion and disobedience to God in having a pagan altar on his property and practicing pagan worship. Joash is in direct conflict with God and is in sin. Gideon must obey His God regardless of where the family is spiritually.

What convictions has God formed in you through this "Vision for the Church" Bible Study that will make a difference on how you think about, value, and act toward your own local congregation? Towards the greater Church around the world? The major conviction that God has formed in me through this study is patience with my congregation. A greater commitment to individual ministry. As a Pastor I desire to see quick spiritual growth and a strong commitment to service in the church by each individual Christian in my church. However, God has pointed out to me that patience and love is the key. Each member is on their own individual walk, overcoming individual obstacles in their spiritual growth and that I should be sensitive to that. So I am tailoring a ministry to each person in my congregation. All are different and this is causing me to grow and be more creative in my approach as a Pastor. It is causing me to be more empathic to others and creative in placing them in a meaningful ministry and I am getting to know each of them much better and more indepthly. Each individual Christian is valuable and important to the church. Each has unique gifts and talents from God to be used in building up the Church. So, I need to cultivate each individual to bring the best out of them in love and patience. That is what God has laid on my heart. The local and greater Church around the world should be praying for and supporting each other. My church should be concerned with what is happening to the Church in Kenya, in China, in England, etc. We are all one body regardless of denomination or race!!

Q6. (Ephesians 5:28-30) In what sense should we love the Church because it is our own body? Because we are part of it? What will that kind of love produce in our actions? Why do we need to repent of despising the Church and begin to love her aright? We should love the church as we love ourselves because all Christians are a part of the body of Christ. We should care about and love one another as ourselves. Christians should be one as the Father and Son are one. This kind of love will produce in our actions to others in our church some of the following: patience; a spirit of encouragement; kindness; mercy; a desire for meaningful fellowship; true corporate prayer and worship; and a dynamic church that carries our the Great Commission in word and deed. It makes a difference in the world around it. To despise the church is not God's will in the life of any believer and is sinful rebellion. God is using the church to spread the gospel and His Kingdom on this planet. Not to be involved in the church is a spiritual and obedience problem with God.

Q5. (Ephesians 5:27) In what sense is the Church "glorious" or "resplendent"? Is Paul talking about the present era or when Christ comes? How do you determine this? A church is glorious and/or resplendent as it reflects the glory of God; submits its will to the will of God; and serves the Lord in love and joy/gladness. I think this verse can apply both to the present era and ultimately when Jesus comes again. We as individual Christians and as a body of Christ should daily strive to honor Him and give Him our best-- in word and deed.

Q4. (Ephesians 5:26) How does the word of God work in the cleansing, purifying process? How should the word of God be implemented in a congregation to achieve these purposes? How can we use the word for purification without relying upon threats of hellfire to scare people into repentance? The Word of God is continually cleansing the believer from the defilement and pollution of sin. The living, cleansing Word of God changes the hearts of human-beings when permitted. The Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught to the congregation for them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. In order for them to grow into mature Christians. Again, the Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught in order for people to grow into a mature Christian. Fear is only a temporary emotion with no long standing effect. The power of God's Word when read and studied daily in prayer has long term, lasting effect in the hearts and lives of people. You can never truly know and begin to understand God without systematically being in His Word. That is why he provided it to us.

Q4. (Ephesians 5:26) How does the word of God work in the cleansing, purifying process? How should the word of God be implemented in a congregation to achieve these purposes? How can we use the word for purification without relying upon threats of hellfire to scare people into repentance? The Word of God is continually cleansing the believer from the defilement and pollution of sin. The living, cleansing Word of God changes the hearts of human-beings when permitted. The Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught to the congregation for them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. In order for them to grow into mature Christians. Again, the Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught in order for people to grow into a mature Christian. Fear is only a temporary emotion with no long standing effect. The power of God's Word when read and studied daily in prayer has long term, lasting effect in the hearts and lives of people. You can never truly know and begin to understand God without systematically being in His Word. That is why he provided it to us.

Q4. (Ephesians 5:26) How does the word of God work in the cleansing, purifying process? How should the word of God be implemented in a congregation to achieve these purposes? How can we use the word for purification without relying upon threats of hellfire to scare people into repentance? The Word of God is continually cleansing the believer from the defilement and pollution of sin. The living, cleansing Word of God changes the hearts of human-beings when permitted. The Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught to the congregation for them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. In order for them to grow into mature Christians. Again, the Word of God must be preached and sytematically taught in order for people to grow into a mature Christian. Fear is only a temporary emotion with no long standing effect. The power of God's Word when read and studied daily in prayer has long term, lasting effect in the hearts and lives of people. You can never truly know and begin to understand God without systematically being in His Word. That is why he provided it to us.

Q3. (Ephesians 5:26) What constitutes "holiness" of a church? Is the church holy because of Christ's sacrifice for her, or because of her own actions, or both? How can we be holy without being legalistic and judgmental toward one another? The holiness of a church is connected to the process of sanctification. To sanctify means to set apart. The church is already sanctified and is being set apart day by day. The church is going through a process of moral and spiritual preparation, similar to the one year course of beauty culture which Esther took before being presented to King Ahasuerus, Esther 2:12-16. The process of sanctification is carried on by the washing of water by the Word of God. This means that the lives of believers are cleansed as they hear the words of Christ and obey them. Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:3: "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." Just as the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses once for all the Christian from the guilt and penalty of sin, so the Word of God cleanses the believer continually from the defilement and pollution of sin. This verse teaches that the church is being bathed at the present time, not with literal water, but with the cleansing agent of the Word of God. We are made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for us. Our actions are in response to the action of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. However, each person must respond and choose holiness or worldliness; salvation or rebellion; Heaven or hell, etc. Legalism and judgmentalism have nothing to do with being holy. In fact, both of these traits are sinful. Both are grounded in personal pride and arrogance. Jesus was neither legalistic or judgmental, but a compassionate, ministering spirit. He was about saving the lost. Judgment day will come in its own time. Now is the time for salvation.

Q2. (Ephesians 5:25) What does it mean that Christ "gave himself up" for the Church? What does this teach us about God's commitment to us? Was this sacrifice altruistic or self-serving or both? Jesus gave up His life on the cross, in obediance to the Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of both Jews and Gentiles. For the universal forgiveness of sin so that all of humanity could have followship with the Living God -- Creator. God created the unique entity known as the church which blended Jews and Gentiles together in Jesus Christ. Out of Jesus Christ a totally new creation of mankind entered history -- the Christian. God has used the church for the last two thousand years to preach the gospel and spread the Kingdom of God on this planet. Jesus gave Himself up for the Church as a sin sacrifice and as an example of everything He taught while walking among men. God is committed to having a relationship with men and women who seek Him and respond to His open invitation. This invitation is Jesus Christ. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross was everything. It served God's purposes and benefits humanity. Of course, God's purposes are working to create human-beings who want to live a higher purpose and in cooperation with the Creator of the Universe.

Q4. (22:43) Did Jesus get "special treatment" because he was the Son of God to have angels help and strengthen him in his spiritual struggle? Do we get that help, too? No. The Scripture and testimony throughout the centuries have told of God sending angels to His saints to encourage them; strengthened them; protect them; and minister to them. God takes care of His saints as they carry out His will on this planet.

Q3. (22:42) When Jesus prayed "not my will, but yours be done," was the Father pleased? Why is the Father not pleased when we are passive and uncaring and dispassionate in our prayers that his will be done? What is required for us to pray the prayer of submission with authenticity? I think God was pleased when Jesus submitted to His will as well as when we submit to His will. God is working His plan out on this planet and we are a part of it. When we resist and/or are careless about our role, this displeases God. The fate of many souls are at stake and we are a part of God's plan in saving them. The saints are a part of God's plan in spreading the Kingdon of God on this planet. We must take it seriously. We must strive to see the big picture. God knows the big picture and the importance of it. We need to do the same. What is required is that we need to abandon our own wills to the will of God. We must pray with passion and purpose to live out God's will in our lives.

Q2. (22:42) Why did Jesus pray that the Father take the cup from him? According to Mark and Matthew, Jesus repeated this prayer three times. Why was he so intense about it? What did this mean? Why was Jesus resisting the Father's will? Or was he? I don't really know or understand why Jesus asked the Father to take this cup from Him. The obvious reason is the pain and suffering and ultimately feeling the full wrath of God being laid against Him. That is why I would ask God to take the cup from me. However, Jesus did know His purpose and the divine plan for Him. Just a thought, but maybe this was the last attempt by satan to discourage Jesus from carrying out His purpose and Jesus turned to His Father for help. Jesus did tell the disciples to get up and pray so that they did not fall into temptation. Jesus was so intense about it because the situation He was facing and about to endure was intense beyond our limited imaginations. No one on this planet can begin to understand being sacrificed for the sins of this world, being sinless and from heaven, and having the wrath of God pointedly and singularly poured on them. Jesus did. Jesus was not resisting the Father's will. Jesus was fully man and God. I think the human side of Jesus was under great pressure from different sources and Jesus poured His heart out to His Father who send an angel to strengthen Him.

Q3. (Judges 6:12-16) How did God see Gideon? How did Gideon see himself? Whose self-perception is most accurate? How can our own self-perception prevent us from becoming what God has made us to be? What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? What might be an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage? God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior. Gideon saw himself as weak and small. God's perception is most accurate because He always sees what we don't see, especially when it comes to individual potential and purpose. He created us and knows us. He purposed us when He created us in our mother's womb. We can block God's purpose for our lives by self-doubt; cann't do attitude; and disbelief. By not permitting God to be our God. God's answer to Gideon's self-image is: "... I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." An appropriate prayer would be: Dear Lord, help me to know your purpose for my life and to fully trust you in carrying it out, despite my perceived limitations of myself. May I abandon myself totally to you and permit you to be my God. Lord execute your will in my life. Aman.

Q1. (Judges 6:7-10) According to the prophet, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? In what way does this same sin affect Christians today? According to the prophet, Israel did not listen to God's command in not worshipping the God's of the Amorites. They worshipped the God's of the Amorites anyway. They broke the first commandant: "You shall have no other Gods before me." Exodus 20:3. When we don't listen to God's commands and don't apply His principles and ideas, then we will suffer the consequences of our own choices. When we obey God and apply His Word, we will enjoy His blessings. Again, the result of our choices. In post-modern America there are all of kinds of gods (i.e. materialism, pursuit of monetary gain; free access to ****; endless pursuit of entertainment and recreation, etc.), that distract us from obeying and serving God. The same principle applies to us that to did to Israel -- God is God -- and you shall have no other gods before the Living, True God.

Q2. (Judges 6:13) In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in verse 13? Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? Why do we blame God? What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? Gideon blames God for abandoning Israel into the hands of the Midianites. Gideon's assessment is not accurate in that Israel's situation was a consequence of disobeying and ignoring God's commands. It was a failure of Israel submitting its will to the will of God. He didn't abandon them, He was punishing them in order to wake them up to correct their behavior. We blame God, because we don't want to take responsibility for our own decisions and actions -- behavior. The danger in blaming God for our problems or the place we find ourselves never corrects the root cause -- our disobedience and failure to submit our will to the will of God. We can stop this from happening by submitting our will to the will of God and obeying Him.

Q6. According to Ephesians 4:13-16, what is the purpose of constructing a healthy local congregation? The purpose of constructing a healthy local congregation is to grow together in maturity as one in Jesus Christ and to speak the truth in love to one another and the world around us.

Q5. (Ephesians 4:11) From a strategic point of view, why is it vital that pastors focus on "equipping the saints for the work of ministry" rather than on serving as paid chaplains to the flock? What actions might this equipping involve? In what ways is "equipping ... for ministry" similar to what Jesus did when he trained his disciples? Pastors cannot and were not meant to do all of the ministry of a church. All the saints have God-given talents and gifts to built up the church and minister to the community. The saints need to be taught the Holy Scripture, how to prayer, and taught how to present the gospel of Jesus Christ. The pastor can lead in setting goals, creating ministeries and organzing the church to reach the community for Jesus Christ. Jesus taught his disciples doctrine, how to pray, how to heal, and how to present the gospel to the world around them.

Q4. (Ephesians 4:11) How do pastors and teachers work to build up the Body? Do you recognize anyone in your church who has a pastoral or teaching ministry who is not an ordained clergyperson? What effect do they have upon the Body? What do small group leaders and Sunday school teachers do to build the Body? Pastors and teachers systematically preach and teach the Word of God and it application. A person is gifted as a pastor and/or teacher who is not ordained can be recognized by the fruit of their ministry, as well as the love and passion they put into their ministry. Their effect upon the Body of Christ is the measured spiritual growth and maturity on that Body as a result of their ministry, i.e. greater understanding of God's Word, increased involvement in ministry beyond the walls of the church, a desire to actively serve the Lord, etc. Small group leaders and Sunday school teachers are facilitating and teaching God's Word and its application. The result is stronger, more spiritually mature Christians that want to actively serve the Lord.

Q3. (Ephesians 4:11) What does an evangelist in a local congregation look like, in your experience? How does a local church evangelist function? How does he or she build up the body? The local church evangelist focus on presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ and winning souls for Christ vice focusing on Discipleship Training, etc. In addition, the evangelist teaches others how to present the plan of salvation and usually directes the Outreach Program in a church.

Q1. (22:40-41, 45-46) Why did he ask his disciples to pray? What temptation did Jesus know they would be facing? What was the content of their prayer to be? Did they actually pray this prayer diligently? How does the Lord's Prayer word this kind of prayer? Why do you think Jesus wanted to be alone during his own prayer? Jesus asked his disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation. Jesus knew that events surrendering His arrest, trial, crucifixation, and burial would create confusion and an opportunity for satan to sow seeds of doubt and denial. The content of their prayer was to be that they would not give in to temptation, but resist it -- overcome it. They didn't pray this prayer diligently because they fell into confusion and denial for a time. Jesus words this in the Lord's Prayer: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Jesus wanted to spend private time with His Father as we should do in order to have a close, intimate relationship with God.