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Q36. Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-32) Are Jesus' demands of His disciples too uncompromising? ANSWER: NO…Jesus speaks to the cost of discipleship. He is not calling His followers to hate their families in terms of emotional response; instead, He calls for undivided loyalty to Himself above family loyalties. He taught His disciple that nothing or no one should come before or place first over God. To follow Him, we must know our priority and embraced our personal cross for the good of others. Are we too compromising with the world's demands? ANSWER: YES…Compromise is supposed to be one of the keys to a happy life, but do too much of it and you’ll lose yourself. It can be tempting to compromise ourselves, especially when we’re offered the reward of love or opportunity in return. We compromise our integrity, our values and even our pride when it comes to fulfilling the longing we all have inside. We primarily compromise ourselves and our values out of a feeling of fear. Not all compromises are good or right. What do you need to completely surrender so Jesus has all of you? ANSWER: Jesus calls us to do is to “deny ourselves,” which means that we are to surrender self-will and embrace His perfect will. Surrendering all to God is relinquishing your control, plans, and wisdom to Him. You then become like a sheep led by its shepherd, so He directs your steps and decisions and orders your life. Surrendering to Jesus is a daily commitment. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it. The best way to fully surrender to Jesus to follow the: Believe, Obey, and Worship (acronym BOW).

Q34. Narrow Door. (Luke 13:23-27) Beyond the message that few will be saved, what is the unique message of the Parable of the Narrow Door? ANSWER: The narrow door is precisely how anyone must come to God. To walk through a narrow door, we must strip off every pretension we have. All the things that clutter our lives, all the things that we are often loath to lose; we must give up. Entrance through the narrow gate is granted through believing in who Jesus is and what He came to earth to do for us. The reason that the narrow gate is the better choice is that it leads to life. Entering the “narrow” gate is difficult because of the opposition of human pride, our natural love of sin, and the opposition of Satan and the world in his control, all of which battle against us in our pursuit of eternity in heaven with Lord Jesus. Why must would-be disciples be aggressive in order to enter the Kingdom? ANSWER: Warfare, warfare, warfare for our soul - the prince of the power of the air trying to send thoughts against us that derail us. The enemy doesn’t want us to get started, let alone finish. If you want your life to look like Heaven, you’ve got to have Kingdom aggression. You’ve got to go after God and His plan for your life violently-aggressively. We’ve got to have focus. The key is, we have to seek with ALL our hearts. That’s the missing element. What happens if we don't aggressively seek God? ANSWER: We become entrenched in the destructive ways of this world and become God’s enemies. One of Satan’s favorite, and easiest, ways to attack us—distracting us with mind-numbing activities that are seemingly more attractive and better uses of our time than seeking God. When we do not seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, We WILL submit to something. We WILL follow some authority. We WILL seek something. There is NO neutral ground. Jesus said it this way: “He who does not gather with me scatters.” Why do you think Jesus told this parable to His disciples? ANSWER: Jesus told this parable to His disciples because He was describing the pathway to life, true, eternal life, as something requiring effort and focus to enter. He was explaining how hard being a Christian really is. Also Jesus was conveying the uncertainty that could accompany the life of a true Christian. To follow Christ, one must be willing to accept a certain amount of volatility in their lives, knowing that they will remain living in the world without remaining part of the world.

Q33. Thorns (Matthew 13:22) How do "thorns" prevent the Word of God from maturing in our lives? ANSWER: The comfort, pleasure and cares of life can choke the power of God’s Word in ones life. You can't hear God if your mind is crowded with other thoughts or concerns, particularly worries, plans, and activities. When you spend more time consuming worldly entertainment than the Word of God, your heart will become cluttered and take on thorns that crowd out THE BLESSING. It is these thorns that keep us from maturing as believers and producing lasting spiritual fruit. We should not permit the thorns of cares, riches, and pleasures to choke the nourishment and vitality of God’s Word? What is the difference between a genuine "disciple," follower or learner of Rabbi Jesus, and a person who holds a Christian belief system? ANSWER: A true/genuine disciple is not just a student or a learner, but a follower: one who applies what he has learned. True discipleship is a lifelong process. The difference between a disciple and a follower of Jesus is that a follower is in it for the benefits, a disciple follows even when it hurts. The difference between a disciple and a learner is, a disciple exceeds the student, in that he is not just a learner, but a doer of the teachings he receives, showing uncommon loyalty and commitment of heart to them. A person who holds a Christian belief system is someone who has put faith and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection, their behavior mirrors, reflects and resembles Christ. What can you do to clear your life of the thorns that prevent Christ's work from maturing in you? ANSWER: Thorns don't ever seem to let up! Even though thorns seem to cause nothing but problems, we must not let thorns hold us back from what God has called us to do or from enjoying the many blessings God has given us. When we feel like giving up, we must rely on God to give us the strength to continue. Even if we can't see behind the scenes, we must trust that the all-knowing God has a plan. In 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10, Paul gives us three ways to deal with thorns 1. pray; 2. lean into God's strength; and 3. continue to glorify God. Whenever an anxious thought pops into your mind, rebuke it, and take it capti

Q32. Parable of The Sower (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to the Parable of the Sower, why do some people falls away so quickly? ANSWER: The human heart is like receptive soil to the seed of the Word of God. First, there is “the hard heart”, the seed that falls along the roadside. This represents people who hear the Word of God, but never really believe. Then there is “the shallow heart”. That is the seed that falls on stony ground. This signifies the people who hear the Word of God and receive it with joy, but because there is no root to sustain them, they wither. Finally, there is “the crowded heart”. That is the seed that falls on ground where weeds choke out its growth. Slowly and surely, these people, busy with the cares and riches of the world, just lose interest in the things of God. What is their problem? ANSWER: The problem is they do not have receptive hearts and the Word of God cannot work in their lives. We are the ones who determine what kind of soil our hearts will be. We decide whether we will have a hard heart, a shallow heart, a crowded heart, or a receptive heart.

Q31."I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:6-15) Why does a true shepherd "lay down his life for the sheep"? ANSWER: As Scripture tells us, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Jesus gladly lays down His life because we’re His sheep. He will lay down His life for the sheep, which is motivated by His love for them. This love Jesus has for us is so strong that when the wolf came for you, Jesus our Shepherd took our place. He laid down His life for the sheep/us. Jesus willingly endured the wolf Satan’s attacks, even the pain and spiritual torture of the cross, for us. It was our Shepherd who from the cross cried out, “It is finished!”and then willingly gave up His spirit in death. His death saved us from three destroying wolves: 1). sin 2). death and 3). judgment. How did Jesus' do this for his disciples? ANSWER: At Calvary, the cross of Christ became an eternal emblem of love. Jesus not only laid down His life for those who loved Him, He laid it down for all men and women, even those who choose to reject Him. How did Jesus' do this For us? ANSWER: At Calvary, He didn't die just for those closest to Him. He died for all of us; no one is left out. Jesus showed that “there is no greater love than this” when He laid down His life for us. In what way did Jesus intend His disciples to learn that they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives for the sheep? ANSWER: Jesus tells us there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. He did exactly that. He laid down His life for us, people He never knew, and yet called friends. He first laid down His life in heaven to come to our world to help us learn. Then He laid down His life on earth and allowed Himself to be crucified for our salvation. Jesus is not asking us to follow Him by literally dying for one another, but He is asking us to consider how we respond to the needs of others and give up part of our lives for the benefit of others. We are to be are willing to put ourselves at risk, to put our lives aside to benefit others without weighing the risks and cost to ourselves. Laying down our life for others means going out of our way to meet another’s need. It means giving up a part of our lives, sacrificing our own resources and energy to meet the needs of another person. When you lay down your life, a little each day, you are modeling Christ-like grace. You are sharing love. You are becoming more like Jesus. Can you think of any examples where Christ's servants have done this? ANSWER: God selected Abraham and his descendants so that they become a model nation for other nations and that “All the families of the earth will find blessing” in them. Jesus received the command to lay down his life for humanity with the freedom to accept or reject it. The Christian missionaries all over the world give up their comfort and risk their lives for the spreading of the gospel and enlarging the one sheepfold of Jesus. Jesus calls us to imitate him. He tells us that we too are called to lay down our lives. It is not an incidental offering, but an intentional one. Most often, the place we will be called to imitate the Shepherd is in our vocation. It is only in giving up our lives that we truly live.

Q30. The Good Shepherd and His Sheep (John 10:1-5) Why is knowing the Shepherd's voice and obeying it so very important for disciples? ANSWER: Sheep respond to the voice of the shepherd because they have learned to trust the shepherd. They know that if they follow the shepherd, the shepherd will provide security and rest and lead them to good pastures and fresh water. In trusting and obeying The Lord is our shepherd who gives us what we need for abundant life, causes us to rest and be restored, leads us in the right way of living, protects us from evil, and never stops pursuing us with goodness and kindness. Learning to hear the Shepherd’s voice is probably the most important thing one could learn next to salvation. Even with salvation, you cannot come to Jesus without hearing His voice saying “Come, follow me.” What happens when we act independently of the Shepherd? ANSWER: Life without God has no purpose or hope; man's worth comes only from the Lord. Apart from Him, we would walk through life without God. We would become distracted and lose sight of what was most important. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Nothing to save ourselves. Nothing to redeem ourselves. What causes sheep to stray? ANSWER: Sheep are sensitive creatures. If a lamb gets rejected by its mother or the flock, it’s called a bummer lamb. Without acceptance, the lamb will die. It will literally grieve itself to death if the shepherd does not intervene. We people are the same way. We need love and acceptance; if we don’t find it at church, we will find it elsewhere. Most of the wandering sheep have purposefully left Jesus because they didn’t feel accepted by His flock. Being part of a congregation where you feel loved and accepted is a blessing. But sometimes, we can become so entrenched in our church relationships we don’t realize we have formed an impenetrable clique.

Q29.The Parable of New Wine and Old Wineskins (Luke 5:36-39) What did Jesus intend His disciples to learn from the Parables of the Unshrunk Cloth and the Wineskins? ANSWER: Jesus was trying to tell believers that if we want to follow His teachings, we can’t be like that old piece of clothing. We can’t put Jesus’ new teaching on our old selves because it won’t work. If we want to follow Jesus’ teaching, we have to become new through Him. The old clothing, our sinful, selfish life, cannot be mended but must be replaced. We must seek to be new through Jesus and be an outward example of how we can be transformed through His grace and mercy. The point of the parable is that the message, method and messenger must fit the Messiah. Why are we tempted to say, "The old wine is better?" ANSWER: We so easily allow the traditions of those around us, and even our own preferences, to dictate to us the terms of engagement rather than the Lord. Similar to those around Jesus who kept on wanting to make Him fit their traditions, so does some of us today attempt to do the same as the disciples. How might our church traditions limit the Holy Spirit's work in our day? ANSWER: Being consumed with our own self-righteousness can limit the Holy Spirit’s work. This narcissistic behavior causes us to resist what the Spirit of God is trying to do and impede the work of the Spirit. How do these parables illustrate the need for newly planted churches? ANSWER: The mustard seed is quite small, but it grows into a large shrub (up to ten feet in height) and Jesus says this is a picture of kingdom growth. The point of the Parable of the Mustard Seed is that something big and blessed (the kingdom of God) had humble beginnings. The parable foretells the growth of Christ’s kingdom from very small beginnings to a sizable, sheltering place. Jesus’ emphasis is on the change of size, from small to large, and the surprising nature of the growth. In spite of persecution and repeated attempts to stamp it out, the church has flourished. And it’s only a small picture of the ultimate manifestation of the kingdom of God, when Jesus returns to earth to rule and reign from Zion. We should want to continually plant churches because we need to renew the whole body of Christ.

Q28. The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast (Luke 13:18-21) What lesson did Jesus intend His disciples to learn from the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast or Leaven? ANSWER: There are three lessons Jesus intend His disciples to learn from the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast or Leaven. Lesson one: the parable of the mustard seed illustrates the outward growth of the kingdom of God. Lesson two: the parable of the leaven illustrates the inward growth of the kingdom of God. Lesson three: nobody is physically born in the kingdom of God. Why might the disciples be discouraged by? ANSWER: The disciples were greatly discouraged because they have seen Jesus heal and do miracles, but they’ve not seen anything that might resemble a kingdom. Even though the disciples believed. Things are not adding up very well. They were not seeing the visible manifestation of a Kingdom. The problem was the disciple’s understanding of what God’s Kingdom is all about and what it looks like, is what made the disciples discouraged. Why are we sometimes discouraged in Christian work? ANSWER: Pride can lead us to be discouraged in ministry because we expected God to do more through us and even for us. We take our eyes off of who we are in Christ, which leads us to forget our identity in Christ. Why are patience and faith so important for disciples? ANSWER: Faith is a powerful force. It always works. It is not that our faith is weak and needs strength, but without the power of patience we ourselves stop the force of faith from working with negative confession and action. Faith must be coupled together with patience. Patience undergirds (supports) faith and gives it endurance to persevere until the answer comes. It takes both faith and patience to achieve God's will for your life.

Q27. Binding the Strong Man (Luke 11:17-22) In the Parable of the Binding of the Strong Man, who is the strong man? ANSWER: The strong man, is, satan. Who is the stronger warrior? ANSWER: The stronger warrior is Jesus, himself. Jesus is the One who was and is stronger than the strong man, satan. He is the only One who can bind the strong man and rescue us from his clutches (see John 12:31). How does this explain Jesus' power to cast out demons? ANSWER: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is sovereign even over demons and the forces of evil. Christ is stronger than the devil because of who Christ is. He is not a mere man! He is “the God-man.” Even the demons know they must request of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself is that One who is able to cast Satan out. How does it explain Jesus' power to set you free? ANSWER: God is our Deliverer. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross. Christ’s death and resurrection broke our bondage to the law. John 8:36 confirms, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus set us free by paying the price for our sins. He said on the cross, “It is finished.” He completed the work of redemption. To set your friends free? ANSWER: Just as Jesus’ power sets me free, He will do the same for others. They must be willing to surrender their selfish will for God's will and accepting His sovereignty despite his or her limited knowledge and wisdom. It all comes down to FAITH and trusting in His power to set you free.

Q25. Camel and Needle (Luke 18:24-25) Why do you think people try to distort Jesus' Saying of the Camel and the Needle from a parable of impossibility? ANSWER: Some individuals think that because he/she has kept all of the commandments (obeyed all the rules), they should earn entitlement of inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. It is impossible for anyone to be saved on his own merits and nothing we do earns salvation for us. We have all chosen to idolize something ahead of God, relationships, riches, and even religion. Those things that we idolize prevents us from diving totally into a relationship with Christ. Without Jesus, we cannot make it to heaven. It doesn’t matter how many rules we’ve followed or how many times we’ve attended church. Men are saved through God’s gifts of grace, mercy, and faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Why is salvation impossible to humans? ANSWER: “With Man, Salvation is Impossible, but Not With God” … Salvation is to all intents is impossible for those who think that salvation is merit based on work, that is, have to satisfy the requirements for salvation. Jesus’ message is clear … it is impossible for anyone to be saved on his own merits. No one is saved without the election and predestination of God. God is in charge. “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelations 7:10).

Q26. Bread and Wine (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) How does the bread and wine remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins? ANSWER: The bread and cup represent His death on the cross. The bread is connected to His body. The bread is broken as it was distributed to be eaten shows that His body is broken, an image of His death on the cross. The bread not only points us to Jesus on the cross, it also points back to the Passover deliverance. The cup is connected to His blood. The cup is poured out when they drank it shows that His blood is poured out, an image of His death on the cross. The cup not only points us to Jesus on the cross, it also points back to the covenant ceremony at Sinai. In what way, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, do we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26)? ANSWER: The Lord’s Supper is actually an act of proclamation (looks forward, in hope, to the world to come). There are six ways we can "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes": 1). look around and restore (addressing divisions in the body of Christ); 2). look back and remember “do this to remember Me” He is telling us to think about the sacrifice He paid, the pain He went through for us, the greatness of Him taking up the cross that should have been for us. He wants us to remember this because it reminds us of how much He loves us); 3). look without and reach (reminds us to reach out and proclaim Christ to those around us); 4). look ahead and rejoice (brings our attention to the fact that someday Christ will return to gather His people together); 5). look within and repent (use the Lord’s Supper as a time of examination. Examine your salvation, relationships, and attitude); and 6). look up and renew (a reminder to us that we are in covenant with the Lord).

Q24. Living Water (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39) If water is symbolic of life, what is flowing or living water symbolic of in these passages? ANSWER: In the Old Testament, flowing or “living” water stands for God’s faithful and lasting provision for his people. Living water is a symbol for salvation and a true knowledge of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It is also a symbol of cleansing. The living water that Jesus gives us as believers is spiritual blessing and life-giving power. “Living water”, God’s Holy Spirit, is not Jesus Himself, although spiritual faith in Him (Jesus) is needed to truly receive this life-giving blessing. Unlike ordinary water which only quenches our physical needs, God’s living water inside us satisfies our far greater spiritual thirst for Him. Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? ANSWER: Spiritual thirst is a way of describing a person’s own search for God. Spiritual thirst is a God-created hunger that begins when He calls us into His family. He creates this hunger and thirst in us, by causing us to acknowledge that thirst, and to relieve it by drawing from the well of prayer. In summation, there are three things we need to do if we’re going to quench our thirst in Jesus. 1) admit you’re dehydrated; 2) stop drinking the things that make you thirsty; and 3) quench your thirst with Jesus. How are these promises fulfilled in believers? ANSWER: Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will flow from within like an artesian well, never stopping. the continued presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer. The blessings of living water is living water heals. It nourishes and sustains. It brings peace and joy. As believers, we have the ability to refresh and witness to others. Not only do we receive blessings, we also become a source of blessing to others as well.

What aspects of physical birth are analogous to spiritual birth that Jesus seeks to clarify with this analogy? ANSWER: Just as physical birth requires two parents, spiritual birth requires two: the Word of and the Spirit of God. Being “physically born” makes us “physically alive” and places us in our parent’s family while being “spiritually reborn” makes us “spiritually alive” and places us in God’s family. In John 3:3-8 What about wind's characteristics are we to attribute to the Spirit? ANSWER: Wind, or breath, is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Just like the wind, the Holy Spirit comes in suddenly and from seemingly nowhere, He whirls about the atmosphere and changes everything. The Spirit, like the wind, moves wherever He wants and is, at times, unpredictable. The comparison is fairly straightforward. You cannot see the wind, but you can feel it, and see what it does. You likewise cannot see the Holy Spirit, but He can be experienced, and He does mightier things than the natural wind ever could.

Q23. Spiritual Birth (John 3:3-8) In what way is becoming a believer in Jesus similar to a second birth? ANSWER: The “second birth” is also called regeneration. When a baby is born, it’s born of its parents with the human life of its parents. To be born again, or regenerated, simply means we’re born of God with God’s life. Once we’re born again, our most important need is to spiritually breathe and be nourished so this new life in our spirit can grow. We can do this by praying, calling on the Lord’s name and spending time in God’s Word. As we grow, we’ll express the life of God more and more in our daily living. The new birth involves two operations of God the Holy Spirit. The first operation is regeneration, a sinner is regenerated by the Holy Spirit when he is quickened or made alive spiritually by the Holy Spirit. Conversion is the next operation of the Holy Spirit in the new birth. Conversion is a work of the Holy Spirit empowering the instrument of the Gospel to bring a sinner to salvation. These two operations of the Holy Spirit brings about the new birth. They are both necessary in salvation as the means by which God brings His people from condemnation to salvation.

Q14. Speck and Beam (Matthew 7:3-5) What is humorous about the Parable of the Speck and the Beam? ANSWER: Jesus teaches His disciplines not to judge other people because they will be judged according to the same standard they use to criticize others. He illustrates this point with the humorous image of a man with a log coming out of his eye trying to help remove a speck of dust in his brother's eye. How can we get to a place where we can see with clear spiritual eyes? ANSWER: What to do to open your spiritual eyes? ANSWER: To do this, just focus a part of your attention at this point, while letting your eyes focus on the task at hand. You can also look at another persons spiritual eye while talking to them, to help remind you that God or Spirit is in that person as well as you. The more we ask for guidance, the more we can purify our heart and sharpen our inner vision to see the light from God. With this understanding, we recognize which spiritual qualities we lack and which we need to cultivate. By cultivating spiritual qualities, we change the way we deal with situations — and this leads to new patterns of action and transformation in our life. Why does Paul insist that "spiritual" members correct sinning Christians with gentleness? ANSWER: Paul shows that we should not be argumentative or quarrelsome, but he also says that we should correct those who are in opposition to the Lord. You are to gently correct those you know that are in sin or error. Do it wisely. Do it in love. Do it in accordance with God’s Word. Do it prayerfully, being aware of spiritual warfare. But do it! Do it because you love God more than anything and you love your brother or sister as you love yourself. You need to fear God more than you fear people and recognize that obedience to His command to love others requires correcting them if you see them heading for the cliff. What does judgmentalism have to do with hypocrisy? ANSWER: Judging Others by Action and Yourself by Intention: …The sin of judgmentalism (judgmental behavior or attitude), causes us to be prone to self-righteousness and pride and we are often tempted to be critical, condemning and harsh toward one another. To further complicate matters, often we excuse our behaviors under the guise of helping a brother or sister who is in sin. Hypocrisy is the failure to practice what you preach. Hypocrisy is a form of entitlement

Q13. Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31) Which son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes? ANSWER: The tax collectors and prostitutes were represented by the first son in the parable. The leaders of Israel represent the second son who claimed obedience but didn't respect or follow the will of the father. Why do you think so? ANSWER: Because as in the parable, the first son was disrespectful and noncompliant in his initial response to his father, but he then ended up obeying his father’s request. So the tax collectors, prostitutes, and other sinners repented when they heard the gospel message from Jesus and John, just as the first son. Why is it harder to actually obey, rather than just mouth the words? ANSWER: We find it difficult to obey and listen because we are sinners that are full of pride, are scared of rejection, or do not completely trust God. How is the lesson of this parable similar to the lesson of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders? ANSWER: The parables of Two Builders and the Two Sons have a similar lesson, namely obedience. Obedience is shown through actions, not just words. When a person builds his life on Jesus' words he is building a strong foundation. You can do nothing wiser than to obey the Lord. Lip service, (saying “YES” with your mouth but saying “NO” in your heart and by your actions. It is honoring God with your lips when your heart is far from him), is no substitute. (Matthew 7:24-27) Why is actual obedience essential to true discipleship? ANSWER: Obedience so important to God because by obeying in all things, even the mundane, you are showing God that you are willing and able to obey whatever He asks of you. I Obedience to God is not only a way to worship him, but a way to get closer to him, prepare for whatever he leads you to and grow as a person.

Q12. Narrow and Wise Gates (Matthew 7:13-14) Why is "seeking" necessary to "find" the narrow gate? ANSWER: Here the Lord is teaching us that there are two ways and two destinations. One is heaven and the other is hell. Entrance through the narrow gate is granted through believing in who Jesus is and what He came to earth to do for us. The wide gate of the world promises life and happiness but delivers destruction. The way of Christ requires that we lay our lives down, but in that sacrifice we find a reward of life. Why do you think Jesus concludes this brief parable with the phrase, "and only a few find it"? ANSWER: Jesus makes it clear that we all stand at a spiritual crossroads, and there are two paths in front of us. The wide path leads to hell. The second, narrow path leads to eternal life in heaven. How is this parable designed to strengthen disciples to be willing to go against the flow, to be different from others in the culture? ANSWER: Jesus is saying that this narrow door is precisely how anyone must come to God. To walk through a narrow door, we must strip off every pretension we have. All the things that clutter our lives, all the things that we are often loath to lose—we must give up. Mainly, Jesus teaches that there are in fact two paths with two different destinations, one leading to eternal life and the other to eternal judgment.

Q11. Wise and Foolish Builder (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:47-49) Why does Jesus focus the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders on "putting into practice" rather than in "believing"? ANSWER: Jesus shared his Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders to illustrate the folly of not listening to him. Today, those who hear and obey his words are like the person who builds a house on a firm foundation, unlike those who hear but ignore his words. When a person builds his life on Jesus' words he is building a strong foundation. He will be strong inside. The foolish man in the parable was like someone who listened to Jesus' instructions but then did not follow them. A person that does not build his life on Jesus' words will not have a strong foundation. How can you help young Christians move from believing to true discipleship? ANSWER: Only a disciple can make a disciple. Discipling new believers … To disciple someone is to spend dedicated time with, pray for, build a friendship with and intentionally teach them how to grow in their faith.

Q10. Guilty Defendant (Matthew 5:23-26) Why did Jesus tell the Parable of the Guilty Defendant? ANSWER: In Matthew 5:23-26 Jesus is describing personal reconciliation between disciples. Forgiveness is for the forgiver. When we harbor ill will for another it does nothing but poison us. Forgiveness on the other hand, breathes life into our souls. Sin always destroys while obedience brings life in abundance. How do people we have wronged and to whom we have not kept our promises get in the way of us worshipping God properly? ANSWER: God does not accept meaningless worship. Worshiping God with the words that come out of my mouth but not with my actions and my time is empty and meaningless worship. In what ways is it hypocritical not to address these matters to the best of our ability? ANSWER: At the root of hypocrisy is fear and low self-esteem. We use hypocrisy to avoid looking at our shortcomings and figure out our part in it. It typically stems from a sincere belief that we should not be held to the same standards as others because we have better intention

Q9. Defiled Hearts (Mark 7:14-23; Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20) What does Jesus teach about the heart of man? ANSWER: Jesus says that what we put in our mouths has nothing to do with being clean or unclean people. Instead, it's the heart that really matters. In in verses 21-23 we are told that out of the heart of man come evil thoughts and the sins those thoughts produce What does Jeremiah 17:9 tell us about the heart of man? ANSWER: In Jeremiah 17:9, the passage tells us that the heart is not only deceitful above all things, but that it is also beyond a cure. Our hearts cannot be made right apart from the saving grace of Jesus in our lives. We do not need to follow our hearts because they will lead us after sin nature. Jeremiah 17:9 Reminds Us of Our Sin Problem. We are sinners at the core who are in rebellion against God. And we have hearts that are bent away from God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick,” desperately sick. We can't underestimate our sin problem. Why do we try to look good on the outside, but resist letting Jesus change us on the inside? ANSWER: Physical appearance is important to God in that it reveals the glory of His creative abilities. But it should be remembered that God judges our hearts, not our physical appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Our hearts, too, are capable of so many thoughts and feelings, reflections of the complexities of God. We should not fall into the trap of believing that our looks are to be a source of pride or envy. Our true beauty should come from inside, not from the fleshly beauty that the world judges us on. Why is repentance necessary for an outwardly "moral" person in order to be saved? ANSWER: Repentance means to “turn TO” the the Savior who TAKES away your sin. The moral lesson of repentance is through repentance we can become free from the burden of sin. Repentance lets: 1). God restore, forgive and purify us; 2). helps us to be humble; 3). drives the devil away from us) 4). frees us from the torment of sin; 5). leads us to fullness of life with Jesus. In summation, repentance lets God restore, forgive and purify us.

Q4. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, where do you see justice? Answer: Jesus taught that God is willing to let us off a debt we cannot repay, so we should be ready to forgive others. If we can't extend a fraction of the mercy that we've been freely given, then we too will suffer the fate of the unforgiving servant. The servant chose justice over mercy and his refusal to forgive landed him in prison, because he failed to understand forgiveness and receive it. Where do you see grace? Answer: The servant is unable to repay, and we hear the punishment that could occur. But because the servant asks for mercy, he is set free. Free of having to repay what he cannot. Totally forgiven. No fighting, no negotiating. Just immediate mercy from the heart of a king moved by the servant’s surrendered heart. The master in the story is like God. If a person is genuinely sorry for wrong doing and asks for God’s forgiveness, it is freely given. (The master's wonderful clemency). The significant part and moral of the story is to treat other’s the way you want to be treated. Where do you see greed? Answer: The servant who was spared should be understanding and empathetic towards the other servant but instead refuses to forgive his debt. This is a major problem and is still a major problem in society today. We should always forgive, even if the debt is huge. Grace is free. Equally true is the fact that no one owes us anything. Grace is free for others, as well. Where do you see unforgiveness? Answer: The servant who did not forgive was tortured. The unmerciful man was still operating as though life were a matter of collecting debts. The servant's unreasonable severity toward his fellow-servant, notwithstanding his Lord's clemency toward him. The principle of forgiveness is that grace or forgiveness to another is without limit. Forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Forgiveness lies at the heart of our faith in God and our love of one another. What lessons from this parable are disciples to incorporate into their lives? Answer: We get rewarded for the good things we do and punished for every bad action. it is a privilege to be entrusted with talents, resources, and opportunities to work toward God's purposes in the world. We are to focus on how we offer mercy to one another. We want to impart to others the importance of forgiveness, and how it breaks the chains of discontent and wipes our slates clean.

Q3. (Luke 7:41-43, 47) According to Jesus' Parable of the Two Debtors, do you think the woman was saved prior to the dinner or during the dinner? Answer: I believed the woman was a sinner and was saved during the dinner. While Jesus was at dinner, a woman who was known to be a sinner came to the home of the Pharisee. She stood at Jesus’ feet weeping. She then began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head. While kissing his feet, she then poured perfume, from an alabaster box/jar, she had brought and anointed His feet. Her unselfish and exemplary act showed that she loved Jesus more than his host. The alabaster box symbolize giving God her best and her all. Her story teaches us that we don’t have to be extraordinary to make a difference. God can use us where we are. How effusive is your love for Jesus? Answer: I express feelings of gratitude in a heartfelt manner to Jesus by giving Him praise, praying to Him, reading the Bible, loving those around me, tithing, fasting, and being hopeful. How should we as disciples express our gratitude for salvation? Answer: One of the truest ways to demonstrate your appreciation to God is to simply pray and tell Him. Sincere simple prayer, given from the heart and expressing your thanks for the wonderful life you've been given, will touch God deeply. Other ways are: 1. remember him; 2. serve others; 3. express gratitude to others; and 4. choose to humble.

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable, (The Parable of the Lost Son), have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? (The Prodigal Son) Answer: What do the three parables in Luke 15:1-32 have in common? The three parables share a common structure: (a) something or someone considered valuable is characterized as out of place or lost, (b) it or he is found, brought, or returns home, (c) the owner, friends, family, and neighbors celebrate that what was lost is found. A relationship is restored. What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values? Answer: The father of the sons represents for us our Father God which is a “God is love.” Like our Father God doesn’t forget about us. The father in the parable, waits for his younger son to see the light and come home so he could welcome him with opened arms. Some of the important lessons we can learn from this story include the importance of 1. repentance, 2. forgiveness, and 3. redemption. In what ways does the older son hold his father's values? Answer: The ways the older son holds his father’s valves are he was always obedient as his father displaced and consistently “slaving away (working hard).” In what ways does he lack them? Answer: The older son chooses suffering and isolation over restoration and reconciliation (Matthew 5:24, 6:14–15). The older son was lost because, though he was home in the body, his heart was in a distant land. And the elder son’s attitude toward his father is the same as that of the Pharisees who accused Jesus. What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry? Answer: We must recognize that sometimes, we behave like the wayward son and the Father is not angry or waiting to punish us for our insolent behavior. Moreover, we must remember that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” apart from Christ (Isaiah 64:6; John 15:1–6). It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, not by works that we may boast of (Ephesians 2:9; Romans 9:16; Psalm 51:5). That is the core message of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Q1. (Luke 15:1-10) What do the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin teach disciples about God's heart? Answer: The parable describes how much God cares for and loves the sinner, and how much He wants them back. God is happy when a person repents and joins the others who weren't lost to begin with. In what way do these parables (the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin) represent a contrast (difference) to the murmuring of the Pharisees? Answer: The Savior's response to the Pharisees and scribes after they had condemned Him for eating and drinking with sinners. Seen in this context, these parables contain not only words of hope for the repentant sinner but also a strong rebuke against self-righteousness. God's love is so great for all of His people that He won't give up on trying to bring every lost person back to Him. How should a disciple implement Jesus' value of seeking the lost in his or her own community? Answer: We are to actively seek out lost people in order to give them the message of salvation. While looking for new ways to go to them, to draw them in, and then make them feel welcome when they come through our church doors. The strategies for doing this is: (a). We have a single message; (b). We must exhibit confident faith in God, not ourselves; (c). We must continuously discern between those who are receptive and those who only desire to reproach the truth; (d). We must be shrewd as serpents and harmless as doves. (e) Preaching and teaching without offense; and (f) We must not fear man, but God.

Q18. Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) What does the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teach us about God's generosity? ANSWER: Those who are converted late in life earn equal rewards along with those converted early, and also that people who convert early in life need not feel jealous of those later converts. What does the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teach us about grace? ANSWER: The point of the parable is that God saves by grace, not by our worthiness What in our heart rises up to demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted? ANSWER: We experience anger and contempt. Also when we feel like we've been treated unfairly, we go into fight-or-flight mode, with its resulting sense of anxiety. How much of this is a godly sense of fairness and how much is pride? ANSWER: None of it is a godly sense of fairness. Most, if not all, is pride.