Bonnie Nelson

Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so? I personally think that worries/cares can be the most dangerous. Worry affects our faith. After we pray and make our requests known to God, those worries should cease. But they don't. We often want control of a situation and we can't control it, we worry again. We have taken back control of the situation. So the prayer we prayed is meaningless. I know it is somewhat trite.... But "Let Go and Let God." Harder to do than one might think.

Q1. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to Jesus' teaching here, do some people fall away so quickly? What is their problem? People are sometimes caught up in the sensationalism of a revival or sermon. Their emotions catch them offgaurd. So, temporarily they pray the prayer and go about their day. When things are going good, people forget to praise God for the blessings He has given them; but when the bad times arise, the think God isn't with them. Living a Christian life isn't like a off/on switch. It takes time and conviction. It takes study and prayer. People become resistant to change. Becoming a Christian is a change---a change of living, thinking, and believing.

Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John's action and the Messiah's action? What is the point of difference? Do you really long to be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit? What might prevent this in your life? What might encourage it? John's baptism was one of water...It is a symbolic. God's baptism is with the HOly Spirit. Baptism by water is physical, Baptism by the holy spirit is spiritual. Being overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit is an awesome feeling. I remember doing a study on Jabez.... I Chronicles 4:9 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me and that you would keep me from evil and that it may not grieve me. When we pray for our borders to be enlarge, the Holy Spirit works within us and increases our ministry. Sometimes the amount overwhelms us..it appears to be too much to handle. But God knows what we can do. If we do not repent and conintue in prayer, study and praise the Holy Spirit is not able to do His work. If we continue to pray for guidance and an increase in our borders the Holy Spirit will grant our request.

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? Who welcomed John's baptism? Who resisted it? Why? The Saducees and Pharisees still looked to the law. When Jesus was baptized, it was a sign of grace and love. The religious sects eyes were clouded; they could not see the relevance. They could not see that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus welcomed John's baptism as did others...fishermen, tax collectors....regular people.

Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repent of their known sins? Why do people avoid repentance? What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart? Salvation is a gift. Many times people receive gifts only to forget about them. When we accept salvation through Jesus Christ we have accepted a gift. Then many times we forget about that gift. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts our hearts to repent. Salvation without conviction limits what God can do in our lives. God wants us to be with him. As one person said

Q6. In the context, what do you think verse 48 means for the Christian? Is perfection taught here? Does maturity express the idea best? How about the doctrine of sinless perfection? How does verse 48 relate to verse 45? I believe that verse 48 means that we should strive to do those things that Christ does. Unfortunately, our human nature is not perfect and we will never achieve perfection in this world. But we can strive to do those things that are working towards that perfection. By loving your neighbors, by loving your enemies, by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to touch those individuals that harm us, can we begin to achieve Christ-like perfection. Christian maturity does play a major role in obeying the truth in verse 48 because it seems that the older we get the more forgiving and understanding we become.

Q5. If the principle that underlies verses 39-42 is found in verse 44 and 22:39, are there times we must defend ourselves physically against evil men in order to fulfill the principle? What might be some examples? Yes, defending yourself is a natural idea. If someone threatens you with physical harm, you should defend yourself and your family. We should be doormats for people to tread on. But, we should be careful that we do not defend ourselves just for the right of defending. There are times that we should look at what others say, and let our pride fall to gain greater understanding of what the Lord wants us to do. Pray for people who attack you. Instead of groveling in self-pity or anger, turn it around and pray that the Lord will convict your enemy.

Q4. If we were to assume that Jesus is teaching on retaliation and revenge rather than pacifism in verses 38-42, how would you sum up his teaching in a single sentence. Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

Q3. What do Jesus

Q2. What was the purpose of the

Q1. What does it mean:

Q3: According to Jesus, does the Mosaic Law command divorce? Does it allow or regulate it? Why does it allow divorce at all? What was God

Q2: Do people need to be Christians to be joined as one flesh? Is this making into

Q1: With whom did Jesus side: Rabi Hillel or Rabbi Shammai? What exception does Jesus gives to his prohibition of divorce? How does this exception relate to Deut. 24: 1-4. I do not think that Jesus really sided with either one. In the grand scheme of things

Q5. The spirit of our age is very accepting and approving of ****. According to Jesus