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Q4. (Colossians 3:25-4:1) What instructions does Paul give masters - or employers, in our culture? What would happen in the workplace if employers sought to live by this rule? Paul is addressing the unjust employer; those who take advantage of their employees. They should remember that we are all equal before God. Paul warns them that they will have to give an account to the Lord. An employer who has grown rich through unfair labour practices are unacceptable to God. In an ideal Christian workplace the employer would pay a proper wage not withholding payment. Besides paying a fair wage employees will be treated with respect. We will have a fully functional workplace with everyone doing their best for the Lord.

Q4. (5:10-11) Which promises in verses 10 and 11 are most meaningful to you at this point in your life? Why? Most meaningful to me is the fact that our God is the

Q3. Meditate on the phrase "High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy...." (Isaiah 57:15, RSV). What do you learn about God from this phrase? How should this affect your outlook on life, your way of conducting yourself? He is exalted, above everything. There is none like Him. My finite mind cannot even begin to comprehend His greatness. It humbles me, His creature, to know that He cares. I don

Q3. Why do we seek to be independent of asking anyone for help? Why do we seek to be independent of God? Why should we ask God to "give" us daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves? In our society we are so accustomed to doing things our way

Q3. (Colossians 3:22-24) If you apply Paul's instructions to slaves to the role of being an employee, what is the role of sincerity as an employee? How do we live this out when working under a poor boss? In what sense are we actually "working for the Lord"? What would happen in the workplace, if we actually began to live by these attitudes of heart? Sincerity means having a pure motive; that is only to please the Lord Jesus. Instead of striving to please their employer, with an ulterior motive of seeking promotion or other favour, they should with sincerity and uprightness do honest work showing reverence for their Lord. It does not matter working for a poor boss. As long as he is honest and upright. For ultimately we are working for the Lord as our reward is in heaven. The result will be greater efficiency, and a better work environment.

Q3. (2 Peter 1:3) What does it mean for you personally to be called "by his own glory and goodness"? How does God's glory and awesome Presence affect you? How does his goodness and moral excellence affect you? To be called by His own glory and goodness means I have been called out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Pet 2:9); I have been called to follow Christ in a pathway of suffering (1 Pet 2:21); I have been called to return blessing for insults (1 Pet 3:9); I have been called to his eternal glory (1 Pet 5:10). In other words He called me by revealing the wonders of His Person. God reveals His essential Being through visible glory and He displays His goodness in His deeds. We read in John 1:14,

Q3. (5:8-9) What instructions does Peter give us to guide us in spiritual warfare? Extra credit: How are these instructions similar or different than Paul's instructions in Ephesians 6:10-17? As a guide in spiritual warfare we are to be self-controlled taking a realistic approach to life, and to be intelligent concerning the evils of the devil. We must be vigilant, alert, in other words prepared to meet every attack. We are not to surrender to his tricks and lies, but to resist through prayer and God

Q2. Meditate on the title "Most High." What does it mean to you? How do you or will you incorporate it in your worship? He is above all, creator of all, owner of all. As His creature, I stand in awe of our Heavenly Father. I only have to think of all the things He made on a micro scale and then everything on a macro scale, and how everything is being sustained by our Lord. It is too much for a finite mind like mine to understand. Best of all to think such a mighty God still has time to love me, a sinner! I give Him all the glory and will praise Him forever. Amen.

Q1. (Genesis 14:19, 20, 22) What did Abraham and Melchizedek seem to believe in common about God Most High? They both believed that God Most High was the Creator of heaven and earth. Also that He was a concerned God who defeated their enemies.

Q2. In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should come? Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth? How should this prayer affect our living? We are asking that our Lord Jesus Christ, please come and set up His kingdom here on earth and reign in righteousness. We also ask that our Heavenly Father

Q2. (Colossians 3:20-21) In what way does obedience prepare a child for everyday life in the future? For spiritual life in the future? What can fathers do to keep from discouraging their children? We know from experience that children are not only immature but also sinful by nature, wholly incapable by nature to choose good. We read this in Psalm 51:5,

Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What are the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise? Peter is saying that God has granted and continues to grant us

Q2. (5:8) What is it important to be aware of Satan's existence? What does this verse teach us about the devil? Why is this teaching important? There is no need to worry about Satan, but we have to be aware of his existence, and at the same time we have to take him seriously and be alert to his evil and devious tricks. This verse teaches us that he is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. This means that we have to be constantly vigilant and prepared to meet every attack that he might have up his sleeve. No way can we have a light-hearted attitude to his tricks and lies. Sometimes he comes like a snake, seeking to lure people into moral corruption. Sometimes he disguises himself as an angel of light, attempting to deceive people in the spiritual realm. There are many ways we can be deceived. As long as we are strong in the Lord we will be safe. We must remember a Christian has the protection of spiritual armour (Eph 6:11-18). When a Christian is fully equipped, the devil is unable to penetrate this armour.

Q1. What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of our Father? What desecrates and besmirches it? How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? God is holy and we are to honour His name all the time. It is when we live lives dedicated to Him and words that praise Him that we honour His name. His name is to be respected, reverenced, and glorified in everything we see and do. We are to acknowledge His majestic works in all of creation. We honour Him also my honouring His Son, and imitating the life of Jesus, to the glory of God. It is when we use His name in vain or flippantly, and worse, as a swearword that we desecrate and besmirch it. We

Q1. (2 Peter 1:1) What does "received a faith as precious as ours" mean in this verse? How does our faith compare to St. Peter's faith? Is our faith equal to his? Why or why not? How do you explain the discrepancy? We are all dead in trespasses and in sins. We must be born again. This is the faith we receive from God. We receive this faith by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. God gives this faith to us who believe on the Lord Jesus. Christ's death, burial, and resurrection provide a just basis upon which God can show grace to sinners through faith. The debt of sin has been fully paid and now God can justify the ungodly sinner who believes on His Son. Faith is the sum total of all we have received when we embrace the Christian faith. We note that this faith is of infinite value as it was purchased by the blood of our Saviour. Our faith is exactly the same as Peter

Q1. (Colossians 3:18-19) Why do you think Paul chose these directions to give to wives and husbands - considering all the things he could have said? Why is true submission difficult for wives? Why is unselfish love difficult for husbands? What prompts harshness in a husband? Is the cause inner or outer? In the Christian life, God considers the home to be a very important place, and Paul knows this. The family unit was designed by God for the preservation of much that is worthwhile in life. Today as we see less and less attention is devoted to the home, more and more our civilization deteriorates. It is in the Christian home that spiritual qualities are developed. The father must have his place of authority in the home, and he must exercise it in wisdom and love. The wife and mother should realize that her first responsibility is to God and then to her family. In our modern world today, with all the human rights, wives sometimes find it difficult to be submissive to their husbands. But in the Christian home she can be a blessing to her husband, can exert a gracious, very powerful, and beneficent influence upon him, and can promote not only his but also her own happiness. She is not to dominate or to lead, but to follow his leadership, wherever she can do so without compromising her loyalty to Christ; her first loyalty is always to the Lord Jesus. Husbands, too, have a responsibility. They are to love their wives, and not to be bitter toward them. If these simple precepts were followed, many of the problems of married life would disappear, and homes would be happier in the Lord. Actually no wife would be likely to object to submitting to a husband who truly loves her. Thus, the husband, having fully committed himself to the principle that his love for his wife must be a true reflection of the deep, sacrificial love of Christ, acts toward her as a man of understanding, is never harsh or over-powering, but is considerate toward her, and honours her in every way. In such a marriage each seeks to please and benefit the other, and to promote the other's welfare, and this not only physically and culturally but also, and in fact mainly, spiritually. The husband views his wife as his equal in the sense that she is

Q1. (5:7) According to this verse what should you do with your fears? What reason is given why you should do this? In what manner should you do it? How will you apply this verse's instruction in your own life? What a privilege we have as Christians. This verse teaches us that worry is unnecessary; there is no need for us to bear any burdens when He is willing and able to bear them for us. The reason we do this is that we know God cares and loves us as His children. We cast our cares on Him by earnestly praying to Him as our Heavenly Father. Being of an advanced age I can truly speak from experience - I know that worry is futile, and does not solve any problems. I also feel that worry is sin. By worrying I

Q5. (Revelation 22:20) If you were convinced that Jesus Christ would return in your lifetime, how would it affect your life? What would you do differently than you do now? Nothing. I know I have been saved by the grace and mercy of our Lord. I also know I

Q4. (Colossians 3:12-14) Why are Christian virtues so important to Christ? Why are they so important to the church? Why are they so important to non-Christians? Why are they so important in our homes? We are one in Christ, and therefore we desire to please Him in every way. We do this, knowing that when we display His virtues we bring honour to our Saviour. Paul describes the Christian graces which we are to put on as a garment. Tender mercies speaks of a heart of compassion. Kindness speaks of the unselfish spirit of doing for others. Humility means lowliness, the willingness to be humbled and to esteem others better than oneself. Meekness does not speak of weakness, but rather the strength to deny oneself and to walk in grace toward all people. On top of this we are to exercise forgiveness toward others when we have been offended; and forbearance suggests our not taking offense. We will do well to remember Christ forgave us! Love is here spoken of as the outer garment which binds all the other virtues together in order to make up perfection. It holds together in symmetry all parts of the Christian character. It is possible that a person might manifest some of the virtues above without really having love in his heart. And so Paul is emphasizing here that what we do must be done in a genuine spirit of love for our brethren. We can see if we had to display most of these virtues there would be harmony and trust in our relationships with others in our church, our marriages, and our interaction with unbelievers. We might even by our actions bring unbelievers to salvation.

Q4. (5:5-6) What acts of humility are appropriate for church leaders? How can we discern a person's humility before putting him or her in a place of leadership in the church? What happens when we fail to do this? The key to unity and harmony in the church is humility. We read this in Philippians (2:3-8):

Q4. Three times in these two chapters, John stresses that those who continue to practice sin will not enter. Read Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15; and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. What things in these passages point to salvation by the grace of God rather than mere salvation by right living? In what way is holy living important to salvation? Why is holy living important to God? We read they had been washed and sanctified and justified. They had been washed from their sin and impurity through the precious blood of Christ, and they were being continually washed from defilement through the word of God. They were sanctified by the action of the Holy Spirit, being set apart to God from the world. They had been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and reckoned righteous before God on the basis of the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross for them. All this by the grace of God. Holy living is important as it is the fruit and proof of salvation. By living a holy life we bring praise and glory to our Lord.

Q3. (Revelation 21:9-27) John's vision of the Holy City is obviously strongly symbolic. But the Holy City pictures "the bride, the wife of the Lamb" (21:9-10; 21:2). What does John's vision of the Holy City tell us about the way that Jesus looks at his Church? The bride (wife of the Lamb) symbolizes the Holy City, which again symbolises the Church in its perfected eternal state. Jesus (as the husband, and the Lamb) supplies His Church(His wife) with everything she needs, and honours her with great respect and adorns her with attractive attire. The full beauty of this church will not be evident until the Lord returns in glory. It is the imagery of the Holy City and the bride that brings us and our Lord into an inseparable husband-wife relationship. This city is called holy as it has been consecrated by God as a place without sin; in other words, it is perfect in every respect. The privilege of living forever in the presence of God is his gracious gift to us.

Q2. Read Revelation 21:6; 22:17; and Isaiah 55:1-3. What does the "water of life" represent here and in 22:1? In what sense is it a "free gift" (22:17)? In what ways should "the Spirit and the Bride" (22:17) extend that invitation in your community? The

Q1. (21:3-5) What is the significance of the fact that in heaven "God himself will be with them"? Why can the promises in 21:4 only be fulfilled in heaven? Which of these do you especially look forward to? God and His people will live together in perfect peace and harmony. We will fully know Him, love, and serve Him, and forever taste His goodness. We will be together, which contrasts with the OT, where only the high priest once a year could enter into His presence. Now we will always be in His presence. In heaven, death, mourning, crying, and pain will all be no more. They have been caused by the curse of sin affecting God

Q3. (Colossians 3:8) Why are sins of the tongue so easy to slip into? In what ways do they damage us and others? How can we break free of sins of the tongue? It is so easy to say things which we later regret having said, but then it is too late, it cannot be taken back, the damage has already been done. James Chapter 3 has a lot to say about the damage our tongue can do. He characterizes the tongue as an unruly evil, able to spit out poisonous venom, a drop or two of which could be fatal. Poisoning minds and assassinating characters. It can not only dishonour our Lord, but also pollute our own life. We all know how easy it is to gossip about others. How often we have engaged in mudslinging in order to get even for supposed wrongs. How often for no reason at all we have belittled others, criticized them, downgraded them. We will never know the harm done, or even the misery it has brought, not only to others but also to ourselves. The price we have to pay for the undisciplined use of our tongue is enormous. It is inconsistent to use the tongue for both good and evil purposes. One minute we bless God with our tongue, the next we curse those who are made in the image of God. To break free from this evil we must pray daily that the Lord will help us control our tongues, to help us think before we speak. All that we say should be subject to the threefold test: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Constantly we should ask the Lord to set a watch before our lips (Psalm 141:3), and pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts might be acceptable in the sight of Him who is our strength and Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).