Jen

Q1. (Matthew 25:14-30) What do you think the

Q4. (Luke 13:18-20) According to these parables in this lesson, in what ways is the Kingdom small? In what ways does the Kingdom grow? In what ways is the Kingdom door narrow? In what way is the Kingdom banquet, on the one hand, large and diverse, and on the other, selective? The Kingdom starts like a baby small and one cell and grows, like a baby grows into a mature adult. There is only one way into the Kingdom, it is called the narrow way because it is the only way. It is made easy and yet it is hard. The banquet is full of people from every tongue, tribe and nation so it is large and it is also selective because only those who meet the invitation requirements are allowed in. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q3. (Luke 13:28-30) The great

Q2. (Luke 13:24-27) Why do you think Jesus characterizes the entrance to the Kingdom here as

Q2. (Luke 13:24-27) Why do you think Jesus characterizes the entrance to the Kingdom here as

Q1. (Luke 13:19-21) What is the point of the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven? How would this be encouraging to Jesus

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) How could praying the Lord

Q3. (Matthew 18:34-35) Why does Jesus frighten us with his statement:

Q2. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, what is the purpose of contrasting the huge debt with the small one? If we were to put ourselves in the parable, which debt would we owe? Which debt might be owed us? Why was the king insulted by the unmerciful servant

Q1. (Matthew 18:21-22) Jesus says we must forgive 77 times or 490 times. Should we take these numbers literally or figuratively? If figurative, what are they figurative of? What does this teach us about God's willingness to forgive us repeatedly for the same sin? I love the statement "the Kingdom of God is a kingdom where mercy reigns". I think they can be literal (in that it would be hard to reach 490 times in a lifetime) or figuratively. We are to always forgive even as Christ forgives us. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (John 3:3-5) What does

Q4. (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16) Admittedly, this is a hard passage to interpret. However, if you take the

Q1. (John 3:3, 5) What does Jesus teach here about the nature of the Kingdom of God? Do you think Nicodemus understands him? Why or why not? It is spiritual. It is spiritually discerned and spiritually entered. I don't think Nicodemus understands. He had no ability to understand at this point. However I believe the Spirit was working in Him. We are slow to comprehend the things of the Spirit or anything for that matter. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q3. (Matthew 7:7-8) Why is continual asking, seeking, and knocking so essential to our looking forward to the Kingdom? Why do we give up so easily? How do we gain boldness and persistence in prayer? Maybe it shows either the shallowness or depth of our faith, our willingness to spend our time with the God of the universe, to getting to know more of Him, to love Him, and to show how much we care about whatever our petition is. In the flesh we are easily discouraged and give up, feel defeated. We need to remain in the Spirit. By spending time in prayer, don't give up, don't give in, don't stop now! God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26`

Q4. What does Jesus teach us about the value and worth of the Kingdom? Why are we tempted to value it so little? What helps us to appreciate its true value? How might your testimony help a seeking friend to value the Kingdom more? The Kingdom is THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. We are blinded by our sin nature and separated from God. The Holy Spirit helps us in all our infirmities. God Bless! Jen Numbers6:24-26

Q3. (Mark 10:22) Why is poverty and self-sacrifice an inadequate religion? Why does Jesus ask the man to follow him? In what senses was this a great privilege that the man was offered? Why did he reject the offer? It is not by works of righteousness that we enter heaven but by faith in the Son of God and His work for us on the cross. Jesus loved the young ruler and wanted his heart and devotion. To spend time with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? What ruler invites or desires audience with us or with me anyway? The King of Kings and Lord of Lords does. What an honor! How can my sinful heart even entertain any worldly possession over that. And yet as I sew or do anything like that I wonder if this is what God would have me doing? Am I making best use of my time here for Him? Am I loving what I am doing more than Him? Did the young ruler know that Jesus was on the path to the cross? Did he understand what Jesus was saying. Do we? Lord help us to follow you where ever you lead! You promise to be with us and that is enough! God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (Mark 10:21) Why do you think Jesus requires the rich young ruler to divest himself of his fortune? Why does this trouble us so much? If there was no other way for the man to be saved, what does that say about the spiritual dangers of wealth? I believe it was to see if the young man would set His mind on Jesus and not his wealth. If he was unwilling to sell all that he had (Jesus knew his heart) it would have been like adding Jesus on to all his wealth. Another posession. God is a jealous God. You simply cannot keep your mind on your wealth and on God. The two oppose each other. This does trouble me as I see in me a war going on inside that I am not used to. I don't have riches as some but I wonder if I did would I be willing to sell all. It's easy when you have not. Would I base my security on my wealth and not on Christ and the riches of knowing Him and the fellowship of His suffering. May the Lord keep our hearts and minds on Him. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q1. (Matthew 13:44-46) What do the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price have in common? What is the main point of these parables? How should it affect our values? Our lives? Jesus is our great Treasure and Pearl of Great Price. Only He has worth and all else is our downfall if we are content and never receive Him. We give up everything to have Him. We should live for Him and rejoice that we have found the Treasure, our eternal life with Jesus, the One who loves us, who gives us life. "In Him we live and move and have our being" and there is no other. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to

Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can

Q4. (Luke 17:33-36) What does our passage teach about the separation and judgment that will occur when the Kingdom comes? How should this affect our lives? Our testimony? Our love for our neighbors? Some will be right with the Lord and some won't be. J. Vernon Mcgee says this is not speaking of the Rapture. I don't know but it tells us that some will be saved and some not. And the Lord knows who are His. When I get rid of my 'self' and look at people as God does I see souls that need the Lord and it changes my perspective on things. I am a soldier for the Lord and I need to conduct myself as such. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness. I need to be aware of that and to act accordingly. I need to think of God's glory and what the Lamb suffered for. May the Lamb have that which He suffered for. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q3. (Luke 17:24-32) What indications does Jesus give in this passage that he will suddenly come in his Kingdom without further warning? What are the implications of this for our attitude? For our lives? Jesus gives two examples of totally unexpected destruction in this passage. People were totally absorbed in their daily lives and not giving God a thought. Obviously their lives were not pleasing to God and destrucion came suddenly with no chance to change. I am more aware of my own frailty as the years go on. I see people I know leaving this world and I wonder if they were prepared. I find I need reminders everyonce in a while as in this study the suddenness of the coming of the Lord. I have been thinking about the economic problems in our country and wondering if there might not be a good side to this if people will start focusing on God and learning about Him in place of the gadgets they can no longer afford. Maybe that should be our prayer as a group for our countrymen and members of our own families that God would place in their hearts a longing for Him now that maybe He can get their attention. Mine too sometimes! It seems I get focused on fall work to prepare for the winter and making Christmas gifts etc. (silly stuff) and don't give God the time and worship that He desires and deserves. God Bless you all! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (Luke 17:22-24) What do Jesus

Q1. (Luke 17:21) In what sense was the Kingdom of God present in the Person and ministry of Jesus? In what sense is the Kingdom of God present today? It was present in Jesus himself who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of the Kingdom of God. The pharisees were asking the very King himself because they were willfully rejecting the truth of the Kingdom of God. They didn't want the Kingdom of God, they wanted their own world system which was very good to them. They asked questions to put on a false pretense for all to see of their "spiritual nature" to advance their importance and worldly standing. The Kingdom of God lives in the hearts of the redeemed by the blood of Jesus, through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our King is alive and He reigns in our hearts. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26 I pray that God would light a fire in each of our hearts that would lead us to proclaim to an ignorant world His Kingdom has come and is now here through His Spirit in His people. May each of us have a burning love for Him in our hearts that does not waver but burns brightly in a dark, threatening world.

Q3. (Matthew 13:23) Even good soil can have factors that hinder growth in various parts of the field, or make some areas grow taller and fuller wheat. What factors make a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom? What might be the reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth? For years my tomatoes failed while other's flourished. Someone told me I am too good to them. They need a little sand in the soil for drainage while the cukes didn't want much fertilizer, the zuchini (love that stuff) could take about anything except this summer's heat and drought but still produced some. I think God knows each He has created and what soil they will grow well in. Some need trials, some flourish with money and give much to charity and helping others, etc. I think part of the reason is lack of prayer on our parts for our spirits to grow in the Lord where we are planted. I also believe that God alone knows our hearts and He plants us where even if shut up we will fully love Him and desire to honor Him. He is Lord and He reigns over all. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26 PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! Lets pray for each others spouses and children. This world with all its gadgets takes over hearts and minds which might otherwise be fertile ground for Him. We are all family in Christ. We need to pray for each other.