Craig

Q3. Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words. Jesus gave Himself as a substitute for humanity (me), on the cross to bear in full force the pushishment for sin that we deserve from God Almighty. A punishment that we could not bear.

Q2. Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convince you that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? If you aren't convinced, what stands in your way? Some scriptures that convince me that Jesus saw his own mission and distiny in Isaish 53 are: Luke 4:17-21; 22:37 and 24:25-27.

Q1. From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? In what sense is Jesus' sacrifice wasted on some people? Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, went to the cross for the atonement of sin for all nations and ethnic groups. Jesus' sacrifice is salvation universally for those who accept it and it is wasted on those who reject it.

Q4. (3:17-18) With what tool do peacemakers sow peace? Why does this produce a ripening crop of righteousness? In whom does this crop grow? Peacemakers sow peace through the love of Jesus Christ. The love of Jesus affects the hearts that receive Him in profound ways resulting in righteousness.

Q3. (3:13-16) In what ways are "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" (3:14) direct opposites of "humility" (3:13)? How does denial of "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" prevent healing? How does boasting about these prevent healing? Bitter envy and selfish ambition are self-centered fruits of the flesh looking for self-glory, personal power, etc. whereas humility down plays the ego and exalts others above itself. Humilty isn't looking for self-glory, but seeking the glory of God. Denial of these traits prevent healing because until a person recognizes they have a problem nothing is done to correct the problem. Boasting about these traits only promotes them and healing cannot take place because there is no repentance and acknownlegement of sin.

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 untamable because it reflects the heart. Until the heart is where it should in Jesus Christ the tongue cannot be tamed. The tongue is tamed when the love of God Almightly through Jesus Christ reigns in the heart.

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 being teachers of the Word because God holds them to a higher standard and will be judged with a greater strictness. Greater strictness is appropriate because the teacher is without excuse, because he/she knows the Word of God. Yes and no. Yes because he is the Pastor and model. He should practice what he preaches. No, because I'm a Christian and also a role model that others are watching and learning from. I think we all need to set high standards for ourselves in Jesus Christ.

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives? Paul asks God to give the Philippian Christians discernment because he loves them. Discernment leads to spiritual maturity and a richer life in Jesus Christ. Ultimately, a life well spent for the Lord. Selfishness seeks only individual gratification or desire and doesn't always, if rarely, looks for what is best or right in any given situation. People are often preoccupied with good things and don't have time for the best, most important or most significant things in their lives. We often settle for the transitory things that ultimately have little worth. They might be good, but have no ultimate importance.

Q6. What do you think God intended animal sacrifice teach us about sin? About holiness? About God's nature? I think that God intended for us to understand that there is a price to be paid for sin. I think this reflects how serious God views sin and the need for us to deal with sin in our lives in order to have a relationship with God.

Q5. In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin? God doesn't have to have a provision of animal sacrifice or anything thing for the forgiveness of sin. The fact that He allows for it is an expression of his mercy. God says throughout the scripture that animal sacrifices were not adequate for atonement of human. What God has always wanted was the heart of His people.

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms (www.jesuswalk.com/psalms/psalms-exercises.htm). These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others I read all three of these Psalms (8, 19 & 139), to a group of senior citizens as a part of a praise, prayer, and worship service. All three of these Psalms reflect the glory, majesty and joy of knowing the God of creation and asking for His involvement in our life. This group of senior Christians felt the same thing. I think that the people of God throughout time have rejoiced in the joy, awe and mystery of our relationship with God Almighty, both as He reveals Himself in creation and in the His written word. It was exciting to lead this group in praising God Almighty and acknowleging His awesomeness, holiness and love for us. It was exciting as people expressed their joy in what God's word meant to them and how it has affected their lives. This experience causes me to Praise God for the opportunity as Pastor to preach, teach and lead people in worship to the living God.

Q2. (Psalm 19) Verses 1 to 6 seem very different from verses 7 to 13, but there is a common thread that relates the first part to the second part. What is it? In what way does the psalmist seem to bask in God's Word? Have you ever felt that way? How does the psalmist's wonder in creation seem to affect him in this psalm? In the classic prayer of verse 14, what is David asking God to do? The common thread that relates the first part to second part of Psalm 19 is that God is revealing Himself, or speaking to us, both through His natural creation and through His written Word. Both reveal the glory of God. Both give joy to the heart of those who recognize the Creator of the Universe. David declares God's word to be perfect, reviving the soul and is trustworthy. God's word make the simple wise and His precepts are right and give joy to the heart. His Word is light; radiant; endures forever; and righteous. His word is more precious and pure than gold. Sweeter than honey. I feel this way now. I think that anybody who will read, study and apply God's word to their life will fall in love with the Word of God and feel exactly the way David did as expressed in this Psam. David seems to be in total awe of God. He takes great delight in knowing God and looking to Him for direction and redemption. In verse 14, David is giving himself over to God in all that he says, thinks and does (his total being).

Q1. (Psalm 8). What does this psalm teach about God? What does it teach about human beings? What does it teach us about Christ? What does it teach about our responsibilities? This Psalm teaches that God's glory is above the heavens because He is the creator of the universe and the creator of the universe is mindful of and cares for puny mortals. God has crowned Jesus with glory and honor and has made Him ruler over all things. Our responsibility is to worship, honor and obey Him as King Jesus.

Q1. (Psalm 8). What does this psalm teach about God? What does it teach about human beings? What does it teach us about Christ? What does it teach about our responsibilities? This Psalm teaches that God's glory is above the heavens because He is the creator of the universe and the creator of the universe is mindful of and cares for puny mortals. God has crowned Jesus with glory and honor and has made Him ruler over all things. Our responsibility is to worship, honor and obey Him as King Jesus.

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives? Paul asked God to give the Philippian Christians discernment out of a love and desire for their spiritual maturity and their realization of the joy and peace that goes with spiritual maturity. The result of discernment in their and our lives is spiritual growth. Selfishness clouds discernment because it displaces the will of God in our lives. It blinds us to what is best for us. Settling for good as we see it often displaces the best that God has for us.

Q4. (1:9-11) Why does Paul ask God to give the Philippian Christians discernment? What will be the result of discernment in their lives? How does selfishness cloud discernment? How is the good the enemy of the best in our lives? Paul asked God to give the Philippian Christians discernment out of a love and desire for their spiritual maturity and their realization of the joy and peace that goes with spiritual maturity. The result of discernment in their and our lives is spiritual growth. Selfishness clouds discernment because it displaces the will of God in our lives. It blinds us to what is best for us. Settling for good as we see it often displaces the best that God has for us.

Q3. (1:6) What does Paul expect God to do for the Philippian believers? Why does he expect God to do this? What is the basis of Paul's confidence? On what basis can we expect God to do this for us? Paul expects God to complete the work of santification in the Philippians. Paul expects this because it is God who initiates salvation, who continues it and who will one day bring it to its consummation. This is Paul's basis and our basis for what God is doing for us now and will do for us in the future.

Q4. What are the basic elements involved in a sacrifice for sin? (Leviticus 4:32-35; 5:5-6) Which of these are still necessary for forgiveness of sins today? Which are no longer necessary? Why? Confession of the sin (5:5) Bringing an animal that has no defect that might decrease its market value (4:32). It must be healthy and whole or it is not fit to offer to God. An animal like this could be rather costly, though a poor person might bring a pair of pigeons or doves instead. Lay his hands on its head (4:33a). There seems to be a sense in which the offerer's sin is imparted to the animal through the laying on of hands (see Leviticus 16:21). Slay the animal by cutting its throat (4:33b). Blood is collected by a priest, put on the horns of the altar, and poured out at the base of the altar (4:34) Remove the fat portions, which are given to the priest and burned on the altar (4:35). (In the case of burnt offerings, the entire animal would be burned on the altar.) The meat is eaten by the priests in the case of a sin offering (6:24-29). (In case of a peace or fellowship offering, most of the meat would be eaten by the offerer and his family as a kind of sacred meal.) Today, we must still confess our sins to God claiming the Blood of Jesus Christ as our animal sacrifice for the giveness of our sins. We eat of the sacrifice when we participate in the Lord's Supper. Animal sacrifice and all that goes into the preparation are not necessary because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the atonement of human sin.

Q3. Why is animal sacrifice repulsive to modern people? How much of this has to do with a city vs. a farming way of life? Animal sacrifice is repulsive to modern people because they cannot relate to it. It is not a part of their modern suburban or urban life styles. Most people go to the grocery store to buy their meat as well as produce and are not involved in the process of providing food for their table. They buy it already processed. Therefore, they cannot relate to the process, even though they know it exists and they partake in the end product.

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)? James is saying that a faith that is genuinely alive will bear fruit or good works. James is not saying that by works you are saved. Paul said that by grace you are saved and not by works lest we booast. James is not contesting that point, but again, a faith that is geniune and alive is alive with good works.

Q3. (2:9-11) Why does James refer to the Great Commandment as the

Partnering with missionaries both financially, prayerfully, and administratively is a blessing in knowing that we are directly aiding in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and in receiving God blessings upon us for participating in the ministry.

A slave has no real personal freedom. The slave is owned by someone else, usually by compulsion. The slave cannot do as he pleases because his master is calling the shots. As a saint I have given my life to Jesus Christ and my life is not my own to do whatever I chose to do. I seek to do what pleases and honors my Lord and Savior. I seek to submit my will to the will of God Almighty. So you can you can see a relationship between being a saint and being a slave with one pointed difference -- I choose to turn my life over to the Lord God Almighty.

Anger is appropriate response to sin because it show where our hearts are and anger often times leads to change and a stronger loyality to God. Anger that brings out justice is controlled and focused toward an offense. Uncontrolled anger is just that uncontrolled.

Using a cultural context of that time, Jews commonly used lambs as a sacrifice for sin to God. The comprehensiveness of the "sins of the world" was radical because the Jews were sacrificing to God for only individual and national sins yearly. The Jews were not witnessing aggressively or otherwise in pointing the world to a faith in God Almighty. That was a problem God had with them for over a thousand years. They had no imperative or sense of urgency in the sprititual welfare of people outside the Jewish communtiy. So the forgiveness of sin on a world-wide scale by one sacrifice rocked their world.