WinstonY

Paul writes the answer to the question :"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh" God wanted to make Paul humble. If we are not humble it is difficult to minister to God's people. ​If the thorn was the work of Satan and the evil forces in the world then God is able to use the work of Satan for good. This is th amazing transforming power of the Lord. Paul faith as well as that of the commentator of Genesis and Paul's Romans statement all point to the Lord being able to work all things together for good. No matter the results of evil God in the end finds good and returns it to humanity! It is hard to see any good in the shooting of Malala Yousafzai -the Pakistani girl who was shot, lived and received a Nobel prize- yet the work she has accomplished has been the goodness of good.

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 says to the Corinthians: I've been faithful, even though it has been difficult. These are some of the marks of a true apostle!(notes) This Is especially true in the case of Paul when he has so many trials and tribulations in his work. Paul was committed to the death. If Christians in general had his commitment the church would be different! I hope to be able to work harder for the Lord.

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 refused to require the Corinthians to support him because he was afraid that being paid my have interferred with the message he was preaching. He writes "I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed." One wonders if there were special conditions at Corinth when Paul accepted support from the other churches? or were the other churches more mature? The Corinthians or the others would not be able to say that Paul was doing it for the money! We can either pay them, give them an honorarium or to work especially hard along side of them. ​As the last will be first and the first last they and we can not expect any special reward. We will all sing before the throne in glorifying the Lord.

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? One feels terrible. Our church has seen people go to neighbouring churches. It is a gnawing feeling, a feeling that you did not minister to them probably, that one is incapable of imitating Christ. Paul feels abandoned as does the writer of Revelation . Just as Paul is trying. To show that what is is correct and in line with Jesus teaching, that the people are loved and cared for and to refute any false teaching. There is a little difficulty here in Corinth because we, 2000 years later, have difficulty in knowing just what the other 'preachers' were preaching. Were they preaching a non Christian heretic view of Christ. ( I gather this was the case for Paul seems to have little problem with Apollo) or whether they were just a little different like Presbyterian 0r methodist.

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? There is quite a big change of tone here in chapter ten. From speaking of the collection which seems to be very close to his heart and giving thanks [Thanks be to God for his indescrible gift(9.15)] Paul jumps to speaking of warfare and sieges. Although there seems no doubt that Paul, himself, wrote both sections he does seem to be interrupted and the interruption seems more that a break for lunch or some much needed sleep. There seems to have been some new information come to his attention which causes the change in tone. Whether it came while he was writing the letter and Paul himself rearraged the letter or the letter was sent and Paul sent a second letter to follow and the letters became entangled in the centuries that followed. Who can tell? Regardless, Paul as he begins chapter ten, is in a fighting mode. And as he often does.[Ephesians 6.14-17] Paul uses the imagery of war. One image Paul uses in this spiritual warfare is that of tearing down a stronghold,[a fortress or castle]. Paul realizes that he is fighting spiritual warfare and he holds that the positions taken by his opponents are defended with words, thoughts that are filled with pompousness. As well these 'opponents' belittle about his poor statureand phyusique and imply that he is not a good speaker and will tell the Corinthians fac e to face the things he puts in the letters. Paul is terribly hurt and resorts to rhetoric. He writes “I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.” (10:1-2) Paul is telling everyone when he soon returns to Corinth he will attack and defend himself capably against all comers. He will speak boldly withy confidence and daring. Though they imagine that he is soft-spoken and not trained in rhetoric, Paul warns that when he comes he will do whatever it takes and use all his apostolic authority to set things in order and protect the church.(notes) Paul uses the vocabulary of armed conflict as he does in Ephesians The weapons he will use are not human,] says Paul, but spiritual weapons endued with divine power. The strongholds that will fall here, however, are not physical, but logical and spiritual. The Arguments ofnPaul's opponents have their plausible reasons why they are right but these arguments will not stand the light of day when he arrives. Pretension describes the proud arrogance of Paul's opponents. These pretenders have exaltedthemselves and their teachings, but they will not last long.The siege will end with the rebellion being destroyed and Paul and is rhetoric and logic will win the day and the strongholds of satan will fall

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 1:10) What does verse 10 teach us about the Christian faith? Which of these elements are most important? Which are less important? Which are underemphasized by the church in our day? (i) Quoting from the notes: In this one verse, Paul reminds the believers of five foundational truths which are at the core of the gospel. Jesus Christ is God's Son. It is just a reference here, no doubt, to much more thorough teaching that he had given in person when he first won them to Christ. Jesus Christ will return. Every chapter (except one) in 1 and 2 Thessalonians has something to say about Christ's coming. It is a persistent theme of both letters (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:1-14). Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Paul mentions this again later in the letter: "We believe that Jesus died and rose again." (4:14). Jesus Christ is our Savior. He has stood in our place, he took our sins upon him on the cross to rescue us from the punishment we so richly deserve. God's wrath is coming upon sin. Our age has rejected the idea of accountability to God -- and even of the reality of sin. They don't believe in the wrath of God against sin -- or at least they suppress that thought most of the time. That certain and terrible judgment is another theme of these letters (1 Thessalonians 2:16; 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 7-8; 2:12) (ii) These are all important. Possibly 5 is not as important as the others. I do not feel comfortable with the term of God. Yet it can hardly be denied. Leon Morris notes that the wrath of God is not vindictive passion and does not imply lost of control as does the wrath of people. For the wrath of God does not have the imperfections of human wrath but it gives the idea of God's detestation of evil and sin as it is expressed by the human condition. This wrath is just not expressed in the present world but is also to continue forth until the day of the Lord. The wrath of God is of the Lord and we as humans cannot understand for our God is paradoxical and beyond our comprehension. (iv) God's wrath is coming upon sin is probably the one that is forgotten in many of today's churches.

Paul writes "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" and in so writing he encourages the Thessalonians to follow his example because he imitates. In the same fashion the leaders of the church today need to imitate Christ (and Paul also) than they can be examples for the people. Often it is easier to follow a mentor's example than to figure it all out one self. One's character and morals are probably the easiest to follow by example. It seems that ministers are looked at with admiring eyes. Thus many people we act and talk in imitation the minister. Christianity as we know it is a community faith and it is necessary to worship in community together. as fellow ship brothers and sisters we share together our faith, our love, our hope and our sorrows. Together we are stronger to combat the trials of life in this world and as brothers and sisters of faith we look forward together to our joyous future with the Lord.

Paul writes "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" and in so writing he encourages the Thessalonians to follow his example because he imitates. In the same fashion the leaders of the church today need to imitate Christ (and Paul also) than they can be examples for the people. Often it is easier to follow a mentor's example than to figure it all out one self. One's character and morals are probably the easiest to follow by example. It seems that ministers are looked at with admiring eyes. Thus many people we act and talk in imitation the minister. Christianity as we know it is a community faith and it is necessary to worship in community together. as fellow ship brothers and sisters we share together our faith, our love, our hope and our sorrows. Together we are stronger to combat the trials of life in this world and as brothers and sisters of faith we look forward together to our joyous future with the Lord.

Q2. (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5) Why is the Holy Spirit’s working so necessary to effective ministry? What happens when the main power behind our ministry is will-power? What is the role of miracles in Paul’s evangelism? What would happen if we saw miracles in evangelism in our day? What is hindering this? The Holy Spirit’s working so necessary to effective ministry because the power of Christ's love and spirit are only available to people by the power and strength of God' powerful and mighty right arm. This is called election by God in order to underline and make clear that our faith and love of the Lord can only happen according to God's Holy purpose. This is made clear in verse 4:"For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you". This being chosen by God is called election and it proceeds from the Love we find in God's great heart. The purpose of election is not to sentence people to a burning eternity but exists to deliver people from sin. With God it is all planed by his eternal purpose It is not a last minute choice by God for God has a definite plan for the future. From the beginning God know's what is to happen in our futures . People are not damned by God from the beginning- it just happens that God lives the past, the present and the future and knows the decisions we will make from eternity. God must smile when he looks ahead, back and sees Paul in Paul's time and the work he does for the Lord. When the main power behind our ministry is people's will-power and not the Lord's the ministry is a sham. Miracle's were used to show the power of God. Many would not believe, others would be doubtful Some would be convinced. I am not sure that God wants us to believe because of miracles. Gog, I think wants us to have faith because we love God and are convinced by all signs that God loves us. Personally, I do not want my children and grandchildren to love me because I do things for them. I want to be loved because I am a loving parent. Would God want less?

Q1. (Acts 17:1-10) Why do you think there was so much strong opposition to Paul's ministry in Thessalonica? Why do you think Paul keeps preaching the gospel, even though there is often a violent reaction against him? Does a violent reaction to our ministry necessarily mean we should stop? There was so much strong opposition to Paul's ministry in Thessalonica because Paul and his ministry team had lured some of the Jews in the synagogue to join forces with the Christians and as well a large number of God-fearing Gentiles. This would effect the attendance at the synagogue as well as the finances. Their also was the matter of jealousy. Paul had been responsible for these loses to the synagogue and he would pay. After all he had been welcomed to the community and look what he had done. No wonder they were angry. This type of situation often developed when Paul became successful in his proselyting. The Lord had called Paul on the Damascus road and hell or high water was not to stop him throughout his years as an apostle. No! As Paul we are also called to spread the Gospel and we should, as good disciples, persevere despite all difficulties. The Gospel story is not to be hid under a bushel but it is to be a light on a candle stick so all can see.[Luke 11.33]

This was a new and magnificent concept for me. Of course one result of our giving is the increase in comfort to the receiver. The other isthe idea that God will be praised and glorified by our gift to others. God's gift of Jesus is all surpassing and indescribable because it is just 'to good to be true.

The purpose of God increasing your "store of seed is to enable to give more generously to those who need the help. Those needy exist both in our own community and around the world. Jesus was always concerned about these unfortunate. Paul writes And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (9:8) Greed and generosity are opposites. Greed is about self. Generosity is about others. God promises to supply and increase your store of seed and enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. Paul in these verses is drawing on the old testament for inspiration and guidance. Here he makes use of isaiah 55.lo and Hosea lo.12.these speak to the bounty of God

Q2. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Why do you think pastors or other church leaders use guilt to try to compel people to give more? ? Leaders use guilt hoping that the peer pressure created will increase giving. Can greed be behind their pressure? Well. I suppose so because an increase in 'collection' will look good on them. Why is pressure incompatible with worship? God is looking for a cheerful giver, and a heart of love and caring. If we love our neighbour as we love ourselves we will respond to the offering with a loving and happy heart. We are to give according to our means. What does cheerfulness while giving say about the condition of a person's heart? A cheerful giver has a cheerful heart. "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (9:7)

Q1. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Does the Scripture teach that material blessing results from giving generously to God’s work? Why are we so careful to reinterpret this as referring mainly to spiritual blessing? If you compared your own actual giving to God’s work to a tithe (10%) of your income, would it look generous? We are asked, no ordered, to give generously to God’s work. Not only to the administrative part of God's work, the building and the mission, but we are also ordered to give to help the plight of the poor in society. Paul writes : Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (9:6) This is implying that we should give willingly, freely and without any regrets. People tend to be miserly with their material wealth. we tend to hoard it without realizing : the days of the Exodus when manna came down from heaven. "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” (8:15, quoting Exodus 16:18) tells us that, as Paul wrote(referring to Exodus): Some people gathered a lot of manna; others gathered only a little, the Bible says. But when it was measured, the amount each had gathered was just what he and his family needed. No one gained by gathering more than they needed; that which was kept over to the next day spoiled anyway. Each family got what they needed, not more or less. It is that kind of equitable distribution that Paul seeks in the family of God, motivated entirely by love.

I can say it no better than Dr. Ralph: There is a time to live our lives before Christ, and not to please men (Acts 4:19; 5:29). But how we live reflects on the gospel and on our Lord. So when possible, we need to take whatever precautions are necessary to demonstrate that are we are acting above reproach – especially about such often abused matters as money, sex, and power. Pastors and church leaders who don't take extra precautions to protect themselves in these areas are asking for both temptation and accusations of wrongdoing. (notes)

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? Before Jesus came to earth he was the eternal son of God, present in the beginning (John 1.3) and seemly equal to but in some way the heir of God. As such he would have had eternal glory and power. It would be to this one to which Isaiah praised in his vision in the inner temple. (Isaiah 6.5) Thus Paul uses the term wealth to anthropomorphically represent the state of the pre-incarnation Lord Jesus. Jesus became poor by taking on the human form and leaving all his power and Glory behind him. We were poor in that we were, before Christ, living under the power of sin and death but now we

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? Grace establishes the correct relationship between God and people and thus makes possible giving in a manner that is of no intrinsic value to the giver. Grace, in fact, overcomes the obstacles between us and God- it prepares us for spending eternal life with God. Grace is given by God by Christ through the Holy spirit and allows people in faith, hope and charity. [J P Wawrykow, Thomas Aquinas,(John Knox:Louisville, 2005), 63-68.] Thus in order for an individual or group to give without expecting ANY intrinsic value to the giver grace needs to be involved. It is this grace as provided by God that makes us willing givers. If giving is a chore or a duty to be fulfilled than it is not of the grace of God but of the law. As an example we can see here in these verses of 2 Corinthians 8 that despite the poverty of the Macedonian they had given very generously to the collection of the Jerusalem church. [The province of Macedonian had rich resources but had been raped of its riches by the Romans- hence the inhabitants were poor.] It is probably to this characteristics of the Macedonian churches to which Paul refers. Grace in generosity. [C K Barrett, 218.] When giving is prompted by grace it should be a giving that is given in love, care and charity, not expecting anything in return.

It is difficult to give when you are pressed by bills because we haven't the money to pay the bills let alone giving a tithe. Often our faith is weak and we do not believe God will provide. We learn that God will provide. I will probably increase my giving.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 7:5) What are the distinctions between fear, faith, and courage? Why is being honest about our fears better than pretending we don't have any fears? How did Paul deal with his fears? Fear in the Bible text has two possible meaning. One is to be afraid of something or somebody. Secondly, in the Bible, fear can mean awe and reference. Also in the Bible there can be a meaning that includes both fear and reverence. For example when Isaiah saw his vision in the temple he exclaimed : “Woe to me!I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” These words seem to be filled with all of fear, awe and reverence. Courage is the ability to go forward in spite of your fears. Faith in God gives us courage for if God is for us who can be against us. 1. If we admit our fears and name them then we can deal with them better and understand them. 2. The people we are dealing with can understand our fears and, being aware of them, can be more able to cope with these fears and be more understanding of why we do some of the things we do in reaction to those fears. 3. . If we name our fears to God then God will empower us to deal with those fears. Paul told his fears to the Corinthians , from his heart. I am also confident that Paul prayed and talked to God before he wrote his letters.

Paul is speaking of ' brothers who is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolaters or a slander. With these do not eat'. We are to befriend all people but do participate in their practices with them. Maybe we can influence them.

1. We do not have much in common with non_ believers. 2. We are the temple of God. 3. God walks among believe rs. 4. Believers are holy, set apart for God. 5.believers are God's special people. Sex was preoccupied the people.

Paul shares his tribulations with the Corinth ians because in his sharing he hopes to establish his apostles ship with the people for he has no writing recommend ation. His recommendation is his record of suffering and his record of preaching with the Corinth ians. With such a record the spirit must necessarily with paul. No, nothing compares with Paul.

Wow! My life would be transformed! Instead of being thrilled with the art of teaching knowledge I'd be thrilled when the Holy Spirit transformed another! Hopefully I would be seem, by God and people as spirit filled.

Jesus takes our sin upon himself, wipes us clean , cloaks us in a cloak of righteousness so we are able to come before God in righteous ness and holiness, set apart for service for God.

Corinthians 5:21) In what sense did Jesus “become sin” on our behalf? In what sense do we “become righteousness”? Because we cannot not stop sinning God has provided Jesus himself to be the subsidiary for our sin