Craig

Q3. (Ephesians 2:19b) What does the phrase "members of God's household" tell us about the nature of the Church and about the nature of God? What does it tell us about the kind of fellowship that is appropriate in the local congregation? What are the implications for those Christians who aren't faithful to gather with the local congregation? "Members of God's household" tells us that the nature of the Church is one of an extended family of which Jesus Christ is at the head. Part of God's nature seems to be that He desires to bring people together as an extended family to love, nuture, and care for one another. For fellowship, service and coporate worship and prayer. Local Churches should have fellowships that emphaize love, nuture and care for another. Fellowship should be on a frequent basis so that the Body of Christ can really know each other and minister to one another as well as the community at large. Christians should be one as Jesus and God were one. (John 17). You have to have frequent fellowship in order to become as one. The implication for those Christians who aren't faithful to gather with the local congregation is that they do not have an understanding of what the Church is and their responsibility to it. It is also an indication of spiritual immaturity and self-will over the Will of God.

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 should praise God continually because He is God and is there for the saint in every way possible. Our Father who art in Heaven delivers me from affliction and depression; He rains good things and blessings upon me consistently; He lifts up my broken, crushed spirit; He protects me from evil and the evil one -- God loves me and takes care of me. I will love and praise God throughout eternity. God is continually working in my life, and I know Him, I cannot help but praise Him -- that is training.

Q2. (Psalm 118) What does "the stone the builders rejected" (verses 22-23) have to do with the Messiah? What do verses 25-27 have to do with the Messiah? As Messiah -- Savior, Jesus came to be the capstone or keystone (a stone used to align the corner of a wall), that all God's people could align themselves with in building the Living Temple of Yaweh. Jesus is Savior and God's standard. Head and model for the Church. But the builders, His people, the Jews, rejected Him -- the capstone. Paul talks about this in Ephesians, Chapter 2. 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord ..." Jesus was "Yahweh Saves." God send His only begotten Son into this world to save not only the Jews, but the gentiles from their sin.

Q3. (Matthew 1:21) What is the significance of the name Jesus? Why do you think the angel gave the name to both Mary (Luke 1:31) and Joseph independently? The significance of God's insistence that the baby should be named Jesus is that Jesus means "Yahweh Saves" because he would save his people from their sins. The name indicated Jesus' mission on this planet, in this world. Both Mary and Joseph were given the name independently by the angel so neither would ever forget who he was. Yahweh's salvation embodied in human form.

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 predominat emotion in Psalm 100 is the joyous giving thanks to God. This Psalm makes me feel excided about God -- joyous, glad and thankful. It makes me want to shout for joy to the Lord for who He is and all that He has done for me and the universe. The Psalmist gives praise to God for making us and that we are His people -- the sheep of His pasture. Praise is given because God is good and His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues to all generation. The commands in this Psalm are to shout for joy to the Lord; enter His gates with thanksgiving; and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him.

Q2. (Ephesians 2:19a) If we are fellow-citizens with the Jewish believers, what are we citizens of? In what sense are we "holy" or "saints"? We are fellow-citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God in this world. We are "holy" or "saints" because we are santified through our confession of faith in, and the commitment of our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. Through grace and the sacrifice of shed blood on the cross for the atonement of our sins by Jesus are we made "holy" and "saints" -- only through the grace of Yahweh.

q1. (Ephesians 2:16-18) Why is "access to the Father" important? In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? How did we obtain this access? Extra credit: How does this access fulfill the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) and God's purpose for us? Without "access to the Father" you really do not have an intimate relationship with Him. Access to the Father via Jesus Christ is similar to having diplomatic relations because He mediates/intercedes to the Father on our behalf. We obtained this access via Jesus' death on the cross for sins and His physical resurrection to the right hand of God's throne where He intercedes on behalf of those who believe in what God has done in and through Him. Jesus Christ invites us to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Q1. (9:1-3) What encourages Daniel to seek God for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel to its homeland? What trait on Daniel's part brings this encouragement to pass? Daniel is reading Jeremiah and understands that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So he turns to the Lord God in prayer and petition and fasting. A prayer of confession on behalf of Israel. A major point in the first three verses is that Daniel was reading the Scripture. It is important for God's people to consistently be in the Word of God searching the Scripture for what God is doing in our day and preparing for the second coming of Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Holy men and women of God have searched the scriptures for prophetic application in their day and age. We should do the same.

Q2. (Matthew 1:19) What were Mary's options being pregnant and carrying a baby not her husband's? What kind of character did Joseph exhibit by deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently? Mary's options were nil. She faced the possible rejection of Jospeph and she was not remarriageable; she faced possible shunning from family and community; she faced the possibility of a tainted, runined reputation and the possbility of being stoned. At that period of time in Palestine she really didn't have any options. She was at the mercy of Joseph. Joseph displayed great love, mercy, kindness, maturity and righteousness in deciding to divorce Mary quietly and leniently. Joseph's desire to do the right thing was an integral part of his character. A reflection of of His relationship with God and God's influence in his life.

Q1. What would Jesus have learned as the son of a carpenter? What experiences would this have exposed him to? Jesus would have learned from Joseph personal and trade skills in contracting carpentry work in the community. They would include: patience; attention to detail; the abililty to see and solve problems; effective communication with others; general carpentry skills and techique; assessing the cost of material and labor as well determining the time to complete a project. No doubt Joseph shared the Scripture and his spiritual values with Jesus on a daily basis. In living the carpenter's life, Jesus would have been exposed to the community as a whole on a regular basis, i.e. he would have interacted with all social/economic levels in the community. He would have experienced the pressures of meeting dead lines for projects; working with different personalities in contracting and completing jobs; experienced the joy and pride in workmanship/craftsmanship; the joy of completing jobs and meeting the satisfaction of customers. He would have been exposed to local economic cycles that impacted the carpentry trade for good and bad during his time. He would have been exposed to tradtional Jewish religious life in family and community and all that goes with that.

Q4. (139:23-24) Why is this prayer of surrender to God so difficult to pray? When was the first time you prayed this kind of prayer to God? What was the result? Can a person be a genuine disciple without praying this kind of prayer? This prayer of surrender can be difficult because it means becoming vulerable before God. Casting aside any self-deceit and admitting sin in my life. Admitting and coming face to face with my life -- the good, bad, and the ugly. However, the result will liberating. Freedom from the limited and often fantasy world of the self. The result is a vigorous connection between God and I. A person cannot be a genuine disciple without praying this kind prayer. Without this kind of prayer there is no genuine fellowship between God and the disciple.

Q3. (139:13-16) How is an awareness of God's involvement in your prenatal development meant to encourage you? What might this mean to a young woman carrying a child? A young father-to-be? Why is such knowledge overwhelming to us? God's involvement in my prenatal development tells me that He has been personally involved in not only my spiritual development, but my physical development as well. It tells me that He is my creator and that He is interested in me. To a young woman carrying a child this might mean to her that is God is intimately involved in the development of that baby and that God is in control. The baby will be as God has planned. The same thought would apply to the father. The idea that God is seemingly involved in so much detail at all levels and with so many is overwhelming to a human-being.

Q2. (139:5, 10). In verses 5 and 10, how does God's hand touch the psalmist? Have you ever felt God's hand on you in a special way? Was it for your good? What was it like? God laid His hand upon David and also held him fast. I have felt God's hand upon me in blessing me with words, ability and protection in certian situations, as well as His hand of disciple upon me when I have sinned or acted in a wrong manner. Whether hand of blessing or disciple, God's hand is always good. I know He is working with me.

Q2. (139:5, 10). In verses 5 and 10, how does God's hand touch the psalmist? Have you ever felt God's hand on you in a special way? Was it for your good? What was it like? God laid His hand upon David and God's right hand held David fast. I have felt God's hand upon me both in blessing me with ability and protection in certain situations, as well as God's hand of disciple on me correcting sinful or wrong behavior. Whether blessing or disiciple, it is all good.

Q1. (139:7) Why do people sometimes want to flee from God? Why do people imagine that God doesn't know what they do? Have you ever felt this way? People sometimes want to flee from God to avoid confrontation with the truth or because they are ashamed of themselves. People sometimes imagine that God doesn't know what they do because they are in denial or simply do not believe in God. I have always felt that God knows all about me and everything else. I have never believed in secrets from God.

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? One achieves a broken and contrite heart by humbling one's self before the Living God with a repentant heart and asking Him for forgiveness of sin. By submitting ourselves to Him. Earmarks of a contrite heart include being humble, thankful and obedient. True repentance ends with a changed heart regarding whatever sin, while being sorry for that sin is just that -- being sorry with no permanent change of heart.

Q3. (Psalm 51:10-12) How is it possible to have a "pure heart" after great sin? What does a "pure heart" consist of? What is the relationship between a "pure heart" (Psalm 51:10) and a "united" or "undivided heart" (Psalm 86:11)? Who purifies the heart? What is the process? It is possible for us to have a "pure heart" after great sin by repenting and confessing that sin to God who is faithful to forgive us and restore to us a pure heart (1 Jn 1:9). A pure heart is a heart clean of sin and in fellowship with God. A united heart is a consistant, stable and believing heart in fellowship with God. Following the Living Word of God and submitted to His leadership. God purifies a person's heart through repentance, confession and restoration.

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? In sinning against Bathsheba and Uriah, David ultimately sins against God in breaking His commandants and dishonoring Him. Bathsheba and Uriah are both a victim of David's **** and selfish-ness. He doesn't minimize anything. When David mentions original sin, he identifing his nature and blaming only himself for his sin.

Q1. (Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? How does confession enable us to get free from sin? Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes? Self-deceit operates with sin to enslave us because it will not permit us to see ourselves as we truly are, to avoid elminating those things in our life that God doesn't want in our lives. Our self-deceit attempts to justify what we do whether right or wrong. Self-deceit trys to justify sin, thus keeping us slaves to our sins. Confession airs our sins to the light of day and forces us to face them. We sometimes resist the truth about ourselves because we do not wnt to admit we are wrong or in error. Or simply because we do not want to change our lives. Sometimes it takes God to rock our world with some situtation to see the truth.

(Ephesians 3:20-21) Where does God's power work according to verse 20? How much power is at work there quantitatively? Why isn't it more evident? How does exercising Christ's power on earth bring glory to God? The power of God works through believers on this planet and is unlimited. The power of God is as evident in believers as they submit their wills to the will of God and permit Him to work through them. Christ's power on earth through believers gives the world the ability to recognize the characteristics of God, feel His love, and receive His blessings. The recognization of God by His creation, utlimately brings glory to God.

(Ephesians 1:23) What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? What does this say about the Church's power? Jesus is the Head of the Church -- the body of Christ. We, the Church, are His body and He works on this planet through us to bless others and spread the gospel. Jesus Christ empowers the Church to do the Will of God on this planet. The Church has the unlimited, supernatural power of Almighty God.

Ephesians 2:6) From the standpoint of power, what is the significance of Paul's statement that "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus...."? Almighty God has complete and ultimate power over all things. Through His life-giving power He raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him at the right hand of His throne and He has placed the believer there with Him. The believer has access to the throne of grace and has been placed above the evil dominions of the physical and spiritual world. We are spiritually right there with Jesus in the heavenly realm.

(Ephesians 1:20-22) The Ephesian Gentile Christians believed in various spirit beings that exercised power over them. What is the significance to them of Paul saying that Christ is seated at God's right hand in the heavenly realms? In what sense are these spirit beings and powers "under his feet"? God Almighty has placed Jesus Christ above physical and spiritual entities at every level, of every kind and title throughout the universe. They are "under his feet" because Jesus has complete power over them.

(Ephesians 1:19) Why does Paul pray that God would open the Ephesians' eyes to discern "his incomparably great power"? What is wrong with their eyes? Where does this power operate according to 1:19? Which miraculous event does Paul use as an example of this level and type of power? Exposition Paul wants the Ephesians to realize and understand the extraordinary divine power or force by which Jeus Christ was raised and is the same power at work in and through believers. The Ephesians, like many Christians, don't comprehend, understand, or connect with the power that God provides the Christian through faith and trust in Him that allows them to utilize that that power. This power orginates with the Living God and is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and put Him above all things in the universe.

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"? Elizabeth pronounced that Mary would be blessed becasue God was going to use Mary to give birth to, and mother the Messiah -- Jeusus Christ. The power of God through the Holy Spirit made the Virgin Mary pregnant with the Messiah. So the title "Blessed Virgin Mary" fits Mary appropriately. Mary's was a very unique mission given by God. I think some are hesitant to exalt Mary as "blessed among women" because they do not want to make her into some kind of deity or create a cult of personity.