Craig

Q3. (2 Corinthians 12:20) How do you “cure” a church of these kinds of behaviors and sins? How can a “love offensive” begin to change the spirit of a dysfunctional congregation? What is the role of church discipline in a dysfunctional congregation? Only the Holy Spirit can cure a church of these kinds of behaviors and sins. Members of the congregation must want to repent and correct their dysfunctional congregation. People must want to intentionally change their lives and church culture. A dysfunctional congregation must recognize their dysfunction, people causing it, and sins that are causing it. Then as a group they must go into prayer and repent of that sin and ask God for healing and direction with love in their hearts. Church leadership must call into account those creating dysfunction. Many small churches in my area are constantly in a state of dysfunction. But nobody will hold anyone accountable, so there is endless ill feelings, meanness, church hopping, splits, etc. As a result, these churches have a terrible time in building membership because nobody wants to be a member of their church. These churches become toxic and have toxic reputations, yet they do nothing about. This goes on for decades. Sad.

Q6. (Isaiah 35:1-10) How do you think these verses brought hope to their first readers? What is promised here? Why do you think Isaiah relies on heavily figurative language to communicate these promises? How does he describe the “highway of holiness”? Who will walk on it? Who won’t? What does it mean to be redeemed and ransomed? God gave the first readers of this passage hope and comfort by providing insight into their coming deliverance from sadness and sorrow and gloom and ultimate restoration with Him in the New Jerusalem. God promises a new land of abundance in all things; a display of His glory; all will be encouraged; fear will be removed from all; enemies destroyed; eyes and ears will be opened; people will be healed; it will be a land of spring time; and no one will thirst (physically and spiritually). Isaiah's rich figurative language creates wonderful and vivid images of all of the promises God is making to Israel as well as believers down through the ages. This language resonates well in capturing the imagination of Isaiah's readers. A person has no problem seeing what Isaiah is saying. The Highway of Holiness is a great road that will go through a once deserted land. Only the those walk with the Lord God Almighty will be permitted to travel on that road. Evil-minded people and fools will never walk on that road. There will be no dangers on that road. Only the redeemed will walk on it. Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world and was sacrificed on the cross for the forgiveness of that sin. Jesus paid the price of judgment and punishment for our sins. Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. We are redeemed from our sin through Jesus Christ. He was sacrificed on the cross and rose again on the third day for us. He is our redeemer. All we have to do is to accept this act of grace from God.

Q5. (Isaiah 33:14-16) How does ethical behavior display love for God? How does it display love for man? How does the corruption of taking bribes destroy righteous government? The believer's ethical behavior is based on the foundation of love and respect and a desire to honor God with their lives. The presence of the Holy Spirit within a Christian drives and influences us to conform our ethical and moral standards to those of God. We are his people. Ethical behavior displays its love for man by treating all man justly and with dignity. It displays itself when we do unto to others what we want them to do unto us and by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Brides buy an outcome but don't insure justice. Justice cannot be bought or sold. God has modeled justice throughout the ages and never was bribery a part of it.

Q3. What does it mean to have your heart circumcised? Why is this a necessity for all true believers, both Jew and Christian? How can we keep our faith active as an inward expression of love rather than become only an external religion? Have you ever struggled with this? A circumcised heart is a heart that is committed to God, loves God, and desires to serve and honor Him in all actions. All of one's actions are determined by where the heart is. A circumcised heart has a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If we don't have a circumcised heart then our faith in God is not based on love and truth. It is not a genuine faith in and relationship with God. It might be religious and legally based but not a faith grounded in a personal relationship with God. Our faith can be active and vigorous as an inward expression of love when we daily pray, study God's Word, personal praise and worship and thanksgiving, and service. It is all about intentionally building a relationship with God.

Q2. (17:11) What does circumcision signify for Abraham, his household, and his descendents? Why is some kind of definite act on Abraham's part important to confirming the covenant? What does Abraham's obedience the very same day signify? Circumcision signifies for Abraham, his household, and his descendents the covenant God made with Abraham. It would be a sign of the covenant down through the ages. A definite act on Abraham's part acknowledges and activates the covenant on his part. Abraham's obedience the same day shows that he was serious and took God's covenant seriously. Abraham had faith and trust in God and acted on that.

Q4. (Isaiah 31:1) Why do we tend to seek help from every source except the Lord? In what way is this similar to idolatry? People haven’t changed. Jesus recognized this tendency. What was the remedy he taught his disciples in Matthew 6:31-33? We seek help from every source except the Lord because we don't trust Him and don't wait upon Him. We dismiss Him. This is similar to idolatry in that we displace God with something or someone else. Which usually ends up with complications. Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about anything. Seek the Kingdom of God first and everything else will be provided by God. Focus on today because today is a full time job. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Q3. (Isaiah 30:15-29) Why does God long to show us grace (30:18)? What does that say about God’s character? What prevents his grace? Have you ever experienced the kind of guidance Isaiah mentions in verse 21? What is necessary in us so that we can hear God’s voice? God's grace is shown through His love and compassion for us. He is a faithful God and wants to bless those who love Him. People prevent His grace by dismissing and ignoring Him. Yes. Throughout my ministry I have discerned and clearly understood God's leadership and direction on what ways to travel. God makes His way clearly known if you seek His direction and are listening to hear Him. We must wait upon the Lord. We must pray and seek His direction and we will hear God's voice speaking to us. We must ready to hear Him speak.

Q2. (Isaiah 29:13) Have you ever seen a religious person go through all the religious motions, but whose heart is far from God? How can we detect this in ourselves if it applies to us? What is the remedy? How can you tell if your practice of religion is merely following “rules taught by men”? What is the danger of a rule-based faith? How does it differ from a love-based faith? Yes. Our churches are full of people going through religious motions. One way to detect only going through the motions is when there is no joy and delight in my faith and worship. Without enthusiasm, joy, delight, and love for the Lord, then however I worship or serve is dead. I am only going through the motions. Others can see that deadness in me and I can see it in others. The remedy is daily quiet time spent with the Lord in prayer, Bible study, personal praise and worship. The remedy is to practice the daily presence of God in our lives. When I follow rules and regulations I follow rules and regulations. It is the rules and regulations that I have a relationship with and nothing else. When I practice a love-based faith, my actions and behaviors are motivated by a love of God from the heart. This is genuine and life giving. This type of faith is full of joy, delight, and excitement. Rules and regulations don't do that for anyone. Love-based faith is grounded in a personal relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ.

Q1. (Isaiah 28) How are we humans able to justify and deceive ourselves so easily? Why do we hold onto lies that guide our lives? Why do people stumble over Christ, the tested foundation stone, and his righteous standards? How can we help people come to the truth? What is the alternative if they don’t, according to Isaiah 28:21? We hear only what we want to hear in order to justify our actions in pursue of our desires. Our selfishness blinds us and that blindness makes it easy to deceive ourselves. We hold on to lies because they justify the way we live our lives. We create a kind of fantasy world that justifies our life styles. Right or wrong. So many stumble over Jesus Christ because He rocks their world and they cannot handle it. Truth often scares people, so they hide in denial and more lies. It is easier to run and hide rather than stand, confront, deal with, and change. We can help people come to the truth by living the truth and by being open and honest about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sin nature of man. Pointing people to the truth that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Light is found in Christ. Freedom is found in Christ. Changing your life or any part of it is always rough because we get comfortable in our life and the things we do. Coming to the truth can be a real slap in the face. But, we need it or we will destroy our ourselves for eternity.

Q1. (17:1-2) When God tells Abraham, "Walk before me and be blameless," is he requiring moral perfection? What kind of blamelessness does he require of Abraham? Does he expect more (or less) of Christians under the new covenant? God doesn't demand something we can't do. Humanity isn't capable of walking in moral perfection due to the sin nature of humanity. However, we can, and God expects, that we understand and intentionally attempt to line our ethical and moral standards to God's standards as we live out our lives in this world. We might not be able to be morally perfect, but we can be ethical and moral in our decision making, honoring God, and how we treat others. In light of the great price God gave in providing our salvation, I believe that God expects more of Christians of the new covenant. In fact, why shouldn't God expect people to try and be blameless. To have hearts that while not perfect try to be blameless and righteous to honor God and to love others. We cannot save ourselves, but I believe God expects us to live our lives based on the new covenant and the insights He has given us through Jesus Christ and His written Word.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 12:10) What was the life-changing lesson that Paul learned from God when God denied his prayer? How does our self-sufficiency limit God’s power through our lives? Can we become dependent upon God without having to experience some “thorn in the flesh” ourselves? Paul realized that when he is weak he strong in Christ. That God uses our weakness so that He can make us strong. That we know it is not us but Him who is providing the strength. I think this is another way that God reveals Himself to us personally and creates a strong bond between believers and Himself. I think that if we walk humbly with God we will avoid the necessity of a thorn in the flesh. I believe that God does what he needs to do in developing each believer. We all require different aides or tracks in spiritual development. Some things that seem bad are really good for us and some things that seem really good are bad for us. Case in point: Several years ago I had a brush fire blow back on me and it burnt 17% of my body. I spend 14 days in the burn unit and trauma ward at Shands UF in Gainesville, Fl. It was rough, but it was one of the best two weeks in life. My relationship with God grow more profoundly and deeply that at anytime in my life. God revealed himself to me more deeply that at anytime in my life that I am aware of. God taught me to wait on Him and He waited on me. The Lord is truly my Shepherd and I shall not want for anything. I will always be grateful to God for that experience. It has and will have an eternal effect on my life.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 12:7) Why was this “thorn in the flesh” given to Paul? What purpose did God want to achieve through this in Paul’s character? How can something be both used by God and be caused by Satan’s destructive work? How does this verse relate to Romans 8:28 and Genesis 50:20? I will agree with Dr. Wilson that the thorn in the flesh was most probably a physical aliment of some sort and God used that aliment to keep Paul from being haughty or arrogant -- to work on his character. To keep him humble. Like with Joseph, what evil his brothers intended for him, God used for good and to achieve divine purposes. So, God can co-opt the evil initiated by Satan directed at a person's life and use it for His purposes and ultimately for the good of that person. In reality, God uses all things that happen, both good and evil, in a believer's life for the good and spiritual development of that person.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) How do Paul’s sufferings help authenticate his claim to be an apostle? What do these sufferings tell us about Paul’s commitment? How does this account inspire you – or convict you? How will you be different from having pondered it? Paul shares with the Corinthians the sufferings he has endured to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world around him. A level of commitment rarely seen. Paul is truly an apostle of Jesus Christ. No false apostle or pretender would or could endure the hardships and sufferings Paul did. Pretenders are normally in it for themselves and this doesn't include suffering for nothing. Paul's account inspires me to stay the course in my own gospel ministry. Ministry is both a joy and a burden. Many people you minister to out of love are just plain mean-spirited and ungrateful and can be brutal. But we must continue to minister and live out our faith both in word and deed or it is not real. The satanic world order pushes back at the believer. We must, like Paul, spread the gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 11:7-9) Why do you think Paul refused to require the Corinthians to support him? How did this help his ministry? How did it contribute to them taking him for granted? How can we honor Christian workers, clergy and lay, who give of their time sacrificially to minister for Christ? How will Christ honor them? Paul wanted to set an example of hard work and reliance on God and to prevent being controlled by others. This enable him to go where the spirit lead him and freed him to preach what the spirit placed on his heart. We can pray and support those that give their time sacrificially to minister for Christ. Jesus Christ will bless their ministry and their lives for eternity.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 11:1-5) What does it feel like when a congregation loses its pure devotion to Jesus Christ, and instead takes on other motivations for its religious observance? In what ways is this like the church at Ephesus losing its “first love” (Revelation 2:4)? How can this purity of devotion be restored? It feels empty and secular. When a church loses Jesus Christ as its driving force and focus, the Church takes on the feeling of a dysfunctional secular family. It is not a church a true follower of Christ wants to remain a part of. There is nothing divine going on. It might as well be the Elks Club. Corinth lost its love for Christ and each other. During the time of this letter, the church in Corinth was got up in who's the best apostle, teacher, preacher -- the cult of the celebrity and the rock star. Look at me I am the best and do the most. The focus was on speakers and teachers and not the Gospel of Jesus (first love). Much of the church is like this today. The purity of devotion to Jesus Christ can be restored through repentance, prayer, and determined/intentional recommitment to Jesus Christ.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) Why does Paul liken his dealing with his opponents in Corinth with reducing a city wall by siege and then taking its citizens captive? Is Paul talking about a victory by the use of incisive logic or is there a spiritual stronghold here, one that derives its power from Satan’s kingdom? Paul is engaged in spiritual warfare and he is going to be persistent and methodical in overcoming his opponents much like in taking a city by siege. He is going to be relentless in defeating the enemies of Jesus Christ in Corinth and lead its citizens to Jesus. Paul wrote to the Ephesians: "For we not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Eph. 6:12 (NLT) The battle in Corinth is spiritual based and must be fought through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Worldly logic doesn't understand or comprehend the spiritual let alone be effective against spiritual forces. What is of the spirit is of the spirit and what is of the world is of the world.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 8:21-22) What is the balance between living our lives wholly before God without being men-pleasers, and doing what is right in the sight of men The balance is, it is all about God. We serve and minister to men but being a men-pleaser is a compromise with the world. Human praise is shallow and fleeting. One day you are the greatest the next day you are a bum. The only balance is to honor and serve God and carry out His will in ministering to those around us in grace and love. Human praise is empty.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 8:9) What riches did Christ have according to this verse? How did he become poor? In what way were we poor? In what way have we become rich? Our Lord Jesus Christ has a generous grace through which all who trust in Him become rich beyond anything this world has to offer. Jesus set aside the trappings of being the Son of God or the King of the Universe to work with humanity, to set an example for humanity, and to die on the cross for the universal atonement of human sin. So, Jesus, didn't participate in accumulating worldly riches, fame, and wealth because that is not why He came to into this existence. If you are God why do you need these things anyway? God desires love from His creation. The riches and wealth and their accompanying trappings in this world are cheap and corrupt imitations of the real thing found in Heaven/Kingdom of God. Jesus rejected Satan's offers in the desert because they were no big deal to Him. Jesus had all of that and more. Jesus didn't need shadows of true riches, meaning, pure fellowship, and love. Jesus came from where it all originated -- the bigger and greater reality -- Heaven. We have become rich in completeness, peace, reconciliation with God, and the promise of life eternal in the presence of God.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 8:9) What riches did Christ have according to this verse? How did he become poor? In what way were we poor? In what way have we become rich? Our Lord Jesus Christ has a generous grace through which all who trust in Him become rich beyond anything this world has to offer. Jesus set aside the trappings of being the Son of God or the King of the Universe to work with humanity, to set an example for humanity, and to die on the cross for the universal atonement of human sin. So, Jesus, didn't participate in accumulating worldly riches, fame, and wealth because that is not why He came to into this existence. If you are God why do you need these things anyway? God desires love from His creation. The riches and wealth and their accompanying trappings in this world are cheap and corrupt imitations of the real thing found in Heaven/Kingdom of God. Jesus rejected Satan's offers in the desert because they were no big deal to Him. Jesus had all of that and more. Jesus didn't need shadows of true riches, meaning, pure fellowship, and love. Jesus came from where it all originated -- the bigger and greater reality -- Heaven. We have become rich in completeness, peace, reconciliation with God, and the promise of life eternal in the presence of God.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 8:4, 7-9, 19) What does grace have to do with giving? What does giving look like when it isn’t accompanied by grace? What does it look like when grace prompts your giving? Giving freely without any conditions is grace -- giving or receiving something they/we don't deserve. Grace is something given freely out of love and mercy. When I give I give out of love for God and others. I give to honor God and to live out my faith to best of my ability. The reality is that I have a desire to give. When giving isn't accompanied by grace there is an attitude of bitterness, resentment, and duty vice love and joy. When grace prompts gracing there is joy, delight, excitement, and a true sense of being connected with God and a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) Why is it so difficult to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills and pressures? What can we learn from the example of the Macedonians and the poor widow? How will this lesson affect your own giving? It is hard to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills because they have to be paid. People within the household must be taken care of. However, love for God and Kingdom work finds a way within the financially strapped to give to God.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) Why is it so difficult to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills and pressures? What can we learn from the example of the Macedonians and the poor widow? How will this lesson affect your own giving? It is hard to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills because they have to be paid. People within the household must be taken care of. However, love for God and Kingdom work finds a way within the financially strapped to give to God.

Q4. What lesson is God teaching you out of Hagar's experience? Which situation that God is calling you to is most difficult for you to submit to? To wait on God and rest in his will and presence. Nothing at the moment.

Q3. (16:13-14) What is the significance of Hagar's name for God -- El Roi, the God Who Sees? What does it mean to a person who is discouraged and losing hope? What does it mean to you personally? It a personal revelation to Hagar that God sees her individually and cares about her. It warms the soul and excites the spirit knowing that cares about me personally, as an individual. It means I have a purpose and a purpose that means something. It gives one hope in knowing that God cares about them. It gives me hope that God cares about me.

Q2. (16:7-9) Why does the angel ask Hagar something that the angel already knows? ("Where have you come from, and where are you going?") Why does she send her back to Sarah? Have you ever reacted and got yourself out of the place God wanted you? God wants to interact with Hagar and wants Hagar to talk to him. So, he initiates the conversation. God's plan is not for her to leave Abraham and Sarah. It is God's will for her stay with the couple. Yes. I have reacted to my emotions or feelings and let my will in a situation dominate, which took me out of the place God wanted me.