Debra Grant

Q1. (Acts 9:30; Galatians 1:15-17) Why do ambitious Christians struggle so much when they don't seem to be doing anything important? Why is patience with God's plan so important to growth? Why is a period of spiritual formation so important to future leadership? To listening for God's voice? 1. They do not rest in the Lord and wait for the Lord to speak. Christians feel as if they are not doing enough and do not want to wait on the Lord, but get busy. 2. We cannot be lead by him without patience. Therefore, our ministry will not grow. 3. We must seek the spirit of God for wisdom through Knowledge. We need to wait on God to know which direction he wants for us and to carry out his perfect will.

Q4. (Philippians 3:9; Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:4) Abraham had been a moon-worshiper. According to Genesis 15:6, how does he come into right relationship with the God who created all? How can a person today become righteous by faith? What is involved in really "trusting" Christ? 1. By having faith in God which is believing and obeying God. 2. Surrender, believe, trust, and obey. Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 3. Having faith in him, looking at the end result as positive, and not on the situation.

Q3. (Philippians 3:7-8) How do legalism and the resulting spiritual pride prevent us from trusting in Christ by faith, and knowing him? How has your pride in yourself kept you from drawing closer to Jesus? 1. Legalism results in spiritual pride which focuses on the persons efforts and achievements. That deprives a person from dependeing on the power of Christ for salvation. 2. Wanting to take my dressing and look so superior than I should to an unnecessary point.

Q2. (Acts 9:10-18) Why do you think God sends Ananias to Paul rather than revealing directly? Why does Ananias argue with God? Why does it take courage to obey? What does Ananias do and say? Have you ever had God guide you to talk with someone and minister to him or her? Have you followed through? 1. To bless Ananias and Paul. Ananias is a willing vessel, who's not afraid to go when God calls to do the work of a disciple. The Lord had a plan for Paul's life to bless him even though he did what he did. 2. Ananias responds by informing Jesus about Saul's reputation and intent. 3. When stepping in faith it can be fearful, but if we are trusting God there should be no worry. 4. Ananias responds by informing Jesus about Saul's past reputation. 5. Yes, a friend of mine. Lisa 6. Yes

Q1. (Acts 9:4-5; 26:14) Why does persecuting Christ's people constitute persecuting Christ himself? What kinds of goads or prods have you seen God use on you to move you along Christ's path? When you "kick against the goads" is it harder on you or on God? 1. When Christians are persecuted, it is Christ that is being persecuted because his holy spirit dwells in them. 2. He lets me see what I have done wrong and that he does not agree with it. 3. It is harder on me, even though it grieves God.

Q4. How do confession and repentance fit with self-examination? What is the result of self-examination without confession and repentance? How do confession and repentance serve to bring spiritual health and character change? 1. Confession can aid in spiritual growth and victory over sin. Confession and repentance is needed to grow in the Christian life. We must do an inventory of ourselves then confess and repent to God and others as needed. 2. Our sacrifice will not be pure and God will not remove our sins. 3. God can remove all of our sins and we can have a right relationship with him.

Q3. (1 Corinthians 11:28, 31) Introspection by a neurotic person can foster guilt and self-loathing. Where is the balance? How can we conduct self-examination and self-judgment so that it has a healthy rather than an unhealthy result in us? 1. The balance is to obey God. Be truthful about the situation you are in. That’s when God can help you. 2. Examine ourselves truthfully and be willing to get help and know if we are truly in the faith. Judgment by paying attention to ourselves only. Above all is: "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." (Galatians 6:4-5)

Q2. (1 Corinthians 11:29-32) Why has God brought judgment to the offending parties at Corinth? Isn't sickness and death rather harsh? How does God's discipline actually work for our good in the light of Hebrews 12:5-7? 1. Paul is warning the Corinthians that continuing sinning will invite punishment. Which is judgment and discipline from God. 2. No, not when God is seeking to form us into his own image. We are to be like him. The Lord will get your attention because: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth

Q1. (11:29) Why does "not discerning the body" at the Lord's Supper constitute such a grave sin? Aren't there worse things a church could have done? 1. "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body [of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself." (1 Corinthians 11:29) 2. Yes, but ignoring what Jesus taught and mistreating others is not supporting the body of Christ or Jesus.

Q4. (Revelation 22:4) When you meditate on "seeing his face," what thoughts come to mind? Why should the Lord's Supper stimulate these thoughts every time we partake of it? 1. I look forward to seeing him, rejoicing, and feeling something I never felt before. 2. Jesus suffered and died for me, he loves me so much he was willing bore all my sins on the cross and shed his blood.

Q3. In what sense does the Lord's Supper point to the past? How does it point to the present? How does it point to the future? 1. It’s a remembrance of the death of Christ for our sins. 2. It points to the present as a communion with the living Christ. 3. It points to the future as a promise of eternal life in the presence of Go

Q2. (Luke 22:16) In what sense does the Lord's Supper find its "fulfillment" in the Great Banquet at the end of the age? What should this do to our thoughts at the Lord's Table? 1. It is the culmination and fulfillment of the incarnation, the cross, and the resurrection. Not looking at the old covenant, but at the new covenant Jesus instituted by his death and resurrection. 2. We should rejoice and be glad and give him glory! We are to remember the promise of future things to come. Remember that we all will be together.

Q1. Why are so many of Jesus' teachings oriented toward the future? What kinds of associations come to mind as you think of the Great Banquet? 1. There were things fulfilled through Jesus during his time and some going to be fulfilled after his resurrection. The coming of Our Lord Jesus for those who have trusted and obeyed him. 2. At his great banquet there will be a miraculous meal prepared before us. Our Lord will will serve his servants.

Q4. How does "eating the Bread of Life" (to use Jesus' metaphor in John 6) nourish our faith? How does partaking of the Lord's Supper build and nourish our faith? What does the main point of the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:25-69) have in common with "Do this in remembrance of me," in Jesus' Words of Institution (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)? 1. The Lord's Supper is aid of us remembering, reflecting, believing, and trusting life to our faith. 2. It helps by feeding on Jesus' words and basking in his presence which is the essence of trust, of true belief in him and him dying on the cross for us. 3. Jesus is the bread of life from heaven which is that everlasting bread. When taking the Lord’s supper, we are to remember why we are taking it (eating and drinking). Remember Jesus died for us and shed blood for us so that our sins could be removed.

Q3. (John 6:53-71) If to eat Jesus' flesh and drink his blood is a strong expression for "to believe," why does Jesus emphasize this so strongly? What was the difference between the Twelve and the crowd of "disciples" that turned away from Jesus? What is the mark of true disciples according to John 8:31-32? 1. John tells why: 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 2. The listeners take his words literally and are deeply offended, as Jesus know they would. They believed he is speaking literally of his own flesh and blood.

Q2. (John 6:51b) What is Jesus referring to when he says, "This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world"? What similarities do you see with Jesus' teaching at the Last Supper in Luke 22:19b? 1. It was his "body, physical body" given for us which he took on our sins on the cross. 2. The bread was his broken body given for us to eat as a remembrance of him on the cross. Bread of life is similar in both scriptures

Q1. (John 6:35-51) What does the metaphor of "eating the Bread of Life" mean in practical terms? To extend the same metaphor, what do you think might be the difference between nibbling and actually making a meal of it? 1. It means believing in Jesus which is necessary to live for God. 2. Nibbling is not going all the way such as having true belief in Jesus. For to believe on Him is to eat the living bread.

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:17) How does Paul's teaching on the One Loaf affect our relationships and love for those of other Christian denominations and traditions? How does blanket judgmentalism towards the faith of other Christian groups sometimes seem to excuse us from Jesus' command to love one another? 1. We are to love them regardless of the belief or denomination. We should love brothers and sisters who are just as sincere and devout as we. 2. Even if we don’t agree with all the practices or understandings of other believers, we must not let pride make us think that our supposed rightness is an excuse to be unloving. If we are one in Christ, we must act like it by loving one another regardless of tradition, nationality, and denomination.

Q3. In what ways do the divisions in Corinth sound familiar in our own congregations? Don't pick on another congregation; how about your own? How serious was the need for unity? Can bickering congregations partake of the Lord's Supper without sin? 1. There is divisions between members. 2. Some don’t want to serve God all the way and if things are not their way, it’s wrong. That discourages them. 3. Completely serious because, otherwise we will not have unity with others and cause ourselves to go to hell. 4. No, because there heart will have some kind of sin inside. It is not the cup of thanksgiving concerning the blood of Christ. It is not the break that is broken in participation with Christ.

Q2. Read Mark 11:25 and Matthew 5:23-24. How do these relate to Paul's teaching on the One Loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17)? What must we personally do to achieve unity to prepare ourselves to partake of the Lord's Supper righteously? 1. We are one body and we must be in unity by forgiving one another to have a clean heart due to us partaking in the same loaf. 2. We must have a forgive and be reconciled.

Q1. (1 Corinthians 10:16). What does the "cup of blessing" teach us about our focus at the Lord's Supper? Who is to be blessed when the "cup of blessing" is lifted heavenward? 1. The cup of Blessing should be offered to God with praise and thanksgiving to bless him.We must take care not to be self-focused, but focused on Christ as we partake of the Lord's Supper. 2. We should partake of the Lord's Supper as a service of worship and blessing towards God.

Q4. Why is the Lord's Table such a time of intimate fellowship with Jesus? In your experience with having meals with friends, what makes the difference between a casual, forgettable meal, and one which is rich with memories? How can this insight make your experience of the Lord's Table more meaningful? 1. The Lord's Supper is a meal that brings honor, value, a remembrance of him dying on the cross for me, and a closer fellowship with him. 2. I enjoy the one rich with memories more so. I pray about the forgettable meal and appreciate the casual meal. 3. I think about the honor it has for me and what Jesus did for me to have that great meaning. It brings a closer relationship, and intimacy with Jesus.

Q3. What is the significance of the 12 Apostles drinking the Cup of the Covenant? To whom would they correspond under the ratification of the Old Covenant? (Hint: Exodus 24:11.) What is the significance of us drinking the Cup of the Covenant? 1. When they drink of the cup, they are binding themselves to the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. 2. The old covenant to the nobles of the children of Israel they did eat and drink to ratify the old covenant.” 3. Jesus said, "Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." We drink his blood and so renew our commitment to the New Covenant.

Q2. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) How does the promised New Covenant differ from the Old Covenant? What are the promises God makes in the New Covenant? What are our responsibilities under the New Covenant? 1. The new covenant is of the Holy Spirit to live within us and enable us to follow Christ. The old covenant was the law that was external and depended upon human will and discipline to perform. 2. He promises to give us salvation, eternal life, forgiveness of all our sins through the death of his Son. 3. We are to have faith in God. Trust in God. Belief that Jesus was God in the flesh.

Q1. (Exodus 24:3-11) How was the covenant with Israel ratified? What promise did the people make twice in this passage? What was sacrificed? What was sprinkled? What was eaten? 1. The covenant with Israel was ratified by the blood of their sacrifices poured out on the altar to God and sprinkled on the Israelites. 2. The promise was “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.” 3. They sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. 4. Blood Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people. 5. The flesh of the bulls.