George L

Q26. (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) How do the bread and wine remind us of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins? If we are being scriptural and doing communion in rememberance of Jesus body being broken for us and his blood shed for us.. then we are repeating a family tradition of Christs earthly family. Bonding with the provision of a sacrifice for us. 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)? We are performing an act of remembrance. Taking part in honoring His provision of eternal life with him by him.

Q25. (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? I am not aware of such. Any distortion of the word is satans work. Why is salvation impossible to humans? There is no price capable for man to pay for a soul. Yours or ones riches for another. The price is a sinless life sacrificed. And that sacrifice is completed. To be accepted not atempted to be replicated by man. What has been done by God forcmankind may only be accepted.

Q24. (John 4:13-14; 7:37-39) If water is symbolic of life, what is flowing or living water symbolic of in these passages? The everlasting flow of the Holy Soirit in ys and through us to bring life salvation) to others as a deep deep artesian well. Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? The Holy Spirit working under the Fathers guidance. How are these promises fulfilled in believers? We recieve the second blessing as oromised. The Holy Spirit.

Q23. (John 3:3-8) In what way is becoming a believer in Jesus similar to a second birth? There is a deep simularity in your total requirement for others performance to be earthly born. You arrive by others actions, efforts, carrying, nourishment until birth. And new birth of and by the spirit if God. We must ask for the forgiveness from worldliness, the cleansing, grace, forgiveness and new regenerated life in christ. We may desire, we have to ask. But the process is spiritual, out of our hands on control. What aspects of physical birth are analogous to spiritual birth that Jesus seeks to clarify with this analogy? The entire process is in the control of others. The seed, a requestc for salvation begins it. But every step of the new kife is spiritual and beyond our control just needing our obedience to the new life requirements. What about wind's characteristics are we to attribute to the Spirit? We know not where the beginningvdirection is from norvthe destination our maturing process will take us.

According to Luke 8:1, what was the content of Jesus' message? The glad tidings of the kingdom of God Why didn't he skip the smallest villages? Mat 4:43 “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” What do you think Jesus' critics said about the women who traveled with Jesus' band continually? They may have whispered in private, but rich well politically connected women are a force today and were then. It would becunwise to bring their ire to oneself. Why do you think Jesus allowed it? Ls. he was a Rabi anf did not breal the law. Custom was a Rabi spoke to his wife and women of his family. Do you think he encouraged it? Yes Why? Because they could speak the good news to the women of every town visited. Why did the women respond as they did to healing? In their culture there was little care available to them. Many of their isdues became unclean conditions and so they were essentially cast out of their own society. What was the women's chief motivation for contributing financially to support Jesus' mission? It encased them in protective covering to continue the termendous effectual ministry to the women by their wittness and the word. How can we be responsible to save for retirement and still give generously to Jesus' work? The whole is the seed planting principle. Plant seed into ministries God puts on your heart. When the 30, 60, 100 fold increase comes, continue to bless and reinvest in God’s kingdom work. Full corn in the ear uf corn mot wheat id 12 to 20+ rows of 50 or more fully formed kernels. So 600 : 1 is a low yield in God’s true plan.

According to Luke 8:1, what was the content of Jesus' message? The glad tidings of the kingdom of God Why didn't he skip the smallest villages? Mat 4:43 “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” What do you think Jesus' critics said about the women who traveled with Jesus' band continually? They may have whispered in private, but rich well politically connected women are a force today and were then. It would becunwise to bring their ire to oneself. Why do you think Jesus allowed it? Ls. he was a Rabi anf did not breal the law. Custom was a Rabi spoke to his wife and women of his family. Do you think he encouraged it? Yes Why? Because they could speak the good news to the women of every town visited. Why did the women respond as they did to healing? In their culture there was little care available to them. Many of their isdues became unclean conditions and so they were essentially cast out of their own society. What was the women's chief motivation for contributing financially to support Jesus' mission? It encased them in protective covering to continue the termendous effectual ministry to the women by their wittness and the word. How can we be responsible to save for retirement and still give generously to Jesus' work? The whole is the seed planting principle. Plant seed into ministries God puts on your heart. When the 30, 60, 100 fold increase comes, continue to bless and reinvest in God’s kingdom work. Full corn in the ear uf corn mot wheat id 12 to 20+ rows of 50 or more fully formed kernels. So 600 : 1 is a low yield in God’s true plan.

Did Jesus heal all the sick people he saw? Did Jesus raise all the dead people he encountered? No, he could do little in his home town where there lacked faith. We only know of 3 encounters and have no catalog of othercopportunities orcrequests. How do you explain him raising the widow's son at Nain while passing many graveyards his route? Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I only do what I see my Father doing, Ibonly say what I hear my Father saying.” We often drift from our spiritvlead life, Jesus did not. He walked exactly as Father desired. Does acting out of compassion mean responding to a whim? Why or why not? Whim is danger, it is self not holy spirit saying do. We must be spirit lead. For God has a plan and we are to be an active part of the Fathers desires and not our own desires. Compassion is a dangerous virtue to cultivate. Why is that? What is the cost of compassion? What is the reward of compassion? A. There is great cost in compassion. It rends your heart to see the future of those deeply ensnared by the enemy headed for the lake of fire. And you may absolutely hate their worldly acts. B. The cost is the heart rending knowing their feet will slide in due time. And that is not God’s desire for them. C. You fulfill Gods heart as David had. Psalm 35:13-14. Cry for them as though it was your own mother upon her sick bed. Real crys rend your heart. Can you be a true disciple and be dispassionate toward people in need? Why or why not? We are thecwalking ministry ofcthevkingdom of God on earth today. How dare we not show his nature and show our own natural nature. How can a sense of compassion help you to pray effectively? Gods mercies are fresh every morning. And we have no right or permision to curse James 3. We need to spead singly blessings… therefore compassion.

Q18. (Matthew 20:1-16) What does the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teach us about God's generosity? God is generous beyond earthly comparitive understanding or reward based on levelnof service. About grace? Grace is receiving a gift far beyond anything you might diserve. What in our heart rises up to demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted? Judgmental residuals in our heart that somehow our ‘siner time’ was less abhoreht to God than anothers. How much of this is a godly sense of fairness and how much is pride? We all have great trouble coming to grips the requirement that we become rightly fit into the body of Christ. A generic motor, a amateur racing engine, a blueprinted exceptional professional engine is each an engine. But each step a better fit to be exceptional in performance. God knew us before and in the womb and gifted us especially forvour time in this eternity. We must accept that proper service is to be blueprinted to maturity (kjv perfected) in what God intended us to do for Him in His kingdom. Rewards are according to our real needs, not our desires to pile up to self. So to the workers in the vinyard in the judgement of the master.

Q17. (Matthew 13:47-50) What is similar about the Parable of the Weeds and the Parable of the Net? The sorting occurs at the end of the process of harvesting. What belief are these two parables meant to counter? My personal encounter with death as an ‘oh you know me God..’ type christian brought me to see the reality of Jude 6. Coming conscious on life support reinforced the truth you had better be committed to Christ not just giving him lip service only. How does a belief in the ultimate triumph of righteousness encourage Christians? The effort to be a fitting betrothed match with the one who gave his life for us is necessary to truly have relationship. Do we actually forgo our own desires to give the gift of our effort and time to our marriage partner? So to will the Lord know us or not know us on judgement day.

Q16. (Matthew 25:31-46) What are the "sheep" complimented for? Their charity. What are the "goats" condemned for? Their lack of cherity, self centered life. Is this salvation by works? If no, why not? No, it is the attitude of sacrifice of self for others less fortunate’s condition. How does Jesus identify himself with "the least of these my brothers"? The declairation that doing for the least advantaged you did as Jesus desired. Why did Jesus tell this parable to his disciples? So they would avoid the error of the scribes and the pharisees. Respecting the eorldly status of people rather than their need. Assistingvthosevwho needed no assistance in the world and neglecting Lazarus at their doorway. What do modern-day disciples need to learn from it? Jesus died for ALL. How should this parable motivate missions to aid immigrants, the poor, and the homeless? We should be charitable to those in need. We should not begin to withold from truly needy as a reaction to being burned by an encounter with the greedy but look needy. Discernment is needed to not be wasteful with God’s resources. My experience is you will rapidly detect being used as a source by one who is disobedient and lazy. Cut that one off when directed to do so. God rewards your heart attitude and it is important learning to be obedient in detail of doing.

Q15. (Luke 16:19-31). What was the Rich Man's sin that landed him in hell? Since it isn't stated explicitly, what must it be? Failure to value his crumbs. And to see there were those to wich even so little was a blessing given into a need. In hell, what is the Rich Man's attitude towards Lazarus? That Lazarus should serve his desire. What is the main point of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus? There is consiquence to failing to value people while need and the power of even our smallest crumbs. Just our pocket change can change lives if used for ministry. What are you and your church doing to aid the very poor in your area? Truckers for the Homeless operates from our ministry. In the world? I give into ministries that have feeding programs each based out of missionary efforts.

Q14. (Matthew 7:3-5) What is humorous about the Parable of the Speck and the Beam? Imagine being so insensitive to such a large obstruction in your own vision yet arriving to help one in delicate need. Oh my. Sacry implications as to the damage that may cause. How can we get to a place where we can see with clear spiritual eyes? S.D.Gordon to the rescue. Until we have prayed there is nothing else we can bo but pray. We should never proceed without prayer and supplication. It is God that moves not we ourselves. God sight and guidance not our own. Why does Paul insist that "spiritual" members correct sinning Christians with gentleness? The word is sharper than a two edged sword and we are taking up heart surgery. We are out to set the one who has lost their way back to the sheep fold. Jesus calls no one ‘sinner’ He told us to seek the lost. We should be holding out the reaching hand of help. What does judgmentalism have to do with hypocrisy? It fails to appreciate that we were once lost in sin, could very well have been worse off than the one that has our attention. And without the Lamb of God we would be in no position at all. Will we carry away a burden or load more weight upon…. Let us be lifters of others burdens.

Q13. (Matthew 21:28-31) Which son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes? The second. Why do you think so? Because they saw butcdid not act to recieve. They observed without actual belief. Why is it harder to actually obey, rather than just mouth the words? Because act is facing the next skill to be learned. With its bumbling, mistakes, reworking, and correction. Skilled workmen succeed through their apprenticship. Building skill. It is a new life walk to learn. Abandoning the familiar old is never easy. How is the lesson of this parable similar to the lesson of the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders? (Matthew 7:24-27) Because of the needed attention to detail for a campleted good foundation. Why is actual obedience essential to true discipleship? It is the only skill builder in the new life.

Q12. (Matthew 7:13-14) Why is "seeking" necessary to "find" the narrow gate? The hebrew understanding of wisdom is a wide view, not just a single fact without context. In life it is do easy to pick up sense of a problem. It is work in prayer to get hold on the full scene notvjust the watchmens first notice. There are so many things in our life to dead with. The holy spirit knows which is due up to work upon. Why do you think Jesus concludes this brief parable with the phrase, "and only a few find it"? Many are not patient with their own learning. They want to hear ‘your right’. Experience for me is I learn far more from my imperfections and corrections. Rather than patting myself on the back where a bit of success was no learning at all. You must find that next step not just any stell How is this parable designed to strengthen disciples to be willing to go against the flow, to be different from others in the culture? The apostles had to learn to be lead by the spirit. That God has a way for things to be done. That provides God the perfect venue for demonstrating that the Kingdom of Heaven is indeed touching earth befor the great cloud of witnesses. We must eliminate ‘self’ motivation and walk the Christ life. Submitted to God. Not running amuck as children.

Q11. (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"? There is a great gulf between believe that I heard of a promise and the experience that one has lived out the reciept of the promise. The level of trust is far far greater when you have lived it. How can you help young Christians move from believing to true discipleship? Guide them step by step from milk teaching to meat teaching. Walking out the steps from hearer to practicing student, to skilled practitioner.

Q10. (Matthew 5:23-26) Why did Jesus tell the Parable of the Guilty Defendant? So that we begin to understand the repeated need for being open with God about our sins as the Holy Spirt brings rememberance of debts covered by Christs blood that we have not yet acknowleged. Our grace blessing came at great price. What we have attained is only by God interceeding in ourvlife for our good. Once dealt with the rnemy can nolonger rail us eith it. We know for sure itvis ‘under the blood.’. For we ourself placed it there. How do people we have wronged and to whom we have not kept our promises get in the way of us worshipping God properly? Because we have debt unpaid and unforgiven. For we have not saught to heal the wound in our character. The’I have failed you in this…’ conversation brings healing. A new beginning. In what ways is it hypocritical not to address these matters to the best of our ability? For we are still dirty and soiled in our heart. Burdened with something we can not avoid before the Lord. He is pleased with obedience. For that is our truth.

Q9. (Mark 7:14-23; Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20) What does Jesus teach about the heart of man? Mans heart is the seat of our individual problems needing regeneration. The seat of what has been damaged by life events and words ofcothers. What does Jeremiah 17:9 tell us about the heart of man? Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? Why do we try to look good on the outside, but resist letting Jesus change us on the inside? We fail to understand the mighty weapon of humility agaist the enemy. Not having an I must win over you attitude prevents argument. Forces peace. Look good covers heart attitudes with whitewash. Humility emphasizes you need no defence for your position. Why is repentance necessary for an outwardly "moral" person in order to be saved? We must be honest with God. I Am is That I Am, all knowing. Joh 2:24 But Jesus [for His part] did not trust Himself to them, because He knew all [men]; Joh 2:25 And He did not need anyone to bear witness concerning man [needed no evidence from anyone about men], for He Himself knew what was in human nature. [He could read men's hearts.] [1Sa 16:7] We so need what he can do for us through the Holy Spirit’s counsel.

Q8. (Matthew 21:33-46) Who do the servants sent to collect the landowner's share of the crop represent? The prophets prior to Jesus ministry, perhaps back father than the 400 years but at least those to Hosea and Malachi What happened to Israel who rejected God's servants and Son who were sent to them? Those who heard and received Jesus, the sect of Jews that were and believers known as ‘the way’ and departed Jerusalem. Those that did not heed the warning died in the Roman 67-70AD destruction of Jerusalem and its population. ‘In three days.. not one stone stone will be remain’..and so it was. This is a parable about resisting those whom God sends to us to help us. Have you ever seen a church reject a pastor or leader that God sends to help them? Yes a few and it did not end well for them. One died of cancer in prison after going public with something God was dealing with and wanted kept still. One decided to build a fancy church not expand his outreach from the storefront building. Cancer again, gone in months.. One was fleecing the flock. Fancy cars, etc etc. After a warning disreguarded God removed the demographic population which was his church body by moving that major group to another state. He was bankrupt without church, house, or car within two years. He now assists two other ministries as an assistant. Why is supporting our pastors and leaders important to God's plan for the church? (Hebrews 13:7, 17). No one is perfect. All of us gain wisdom and maturity more by error and recovery than doing it right the first time. Doing it right seems to generate the self pat on the back, not humility for the blessing. We should always be support in prayer for those annointed to lead. Stand by them as they too walk the believers walk each step of the way. Moses needed his arms supported for the duration of the battle. We should be that service to those anointed we serve. Both when the going is good and when it is recover and gain wisdom from correction. That is love. In the Beatitudes, how does Jesus encourage those who are rejected and persecuted? (Matthew 5:10-12)? All is the seed planting principle. If we will give the Lord an offering of our sickness, disease, lack, poverty. And in faith trust Him to honor our heart to give from what we have….. the He will reward us with heavenly blessings far better than our poor offerings. He delights in faith which follows His leading.

Q7. (Matthew 22:1-10; Luke 14:15-24) In Jesus' Parables of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew) and the Great Banquet (Luke), who are the people represented by those recruited from the streets and lanes of the city? I take that as beyond the temple atendance so gentiles. From the highways and hedges? The social outcasts. Who do the servant-recruiters represent? The body of the church as workforce. Not the leadership only, which should be growing up to maturity the harvesting crew. Then leading and guiding the harvest. How diligent are you and your church in recruiting those who are of a lower class than others in your congregation? I am not sure we truly know how the Father wants it done. I believe our current efforts are limited in productivity. And I truly believe we are in a change of seasons and being taught how to fish a new. As with the apostles who came in with empty nets. And were told go out deeper and recieved a great reward. We are gaining a few. Here and then there. We must learn the updated how to. What keeps you from this Kingdom task? God told me no more vending machine grade cheap prayers. He is not refilling the machine. Without tears He will not believe we care in prayer. Or we do not receive Psalm 35:13-14 and cry for the lost who no mater how bad they are do not deserve the Lake of Fire reserved for satan and his. We as body are not at that point yet. How might your church fulfill it? I am called to pray to the dead bones. Our chuch and others shall respond and fulfil the next level of our maturing and calling. That is my faith that as I do as guided by the Spirit, God will fulfill His purpose.

Q6. (Matthew 22:1-10; Luke 14:15-24) Who do the excuse-makers represent? In our day those who ignore the calling of God both in salvation and in going to work to fulfil his desire to save the lost stolen and stray. he stresses to me He paid forr ALL. I hear no willingness to accept less than effort for working to harvest all. What are the potential results of excusing ourselves from carrying out God's will as we know it? Hearing ‘depart from me I never knew you’.

Q5. (Luke 13:6-9) What caused Israel's barrenness in Jesus' time? Harvest requires sowing as well as growing conditions. And there are seasons, times for the proper sequence. The Pharasees only took from the field. What keeps the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) from growing and maturing in our lives? Failing to plant. Or more correctly failure of faith. If all I have is debt and failure that is what I have to give to God. If I give of what I have he will honor my heart and reward me from his abundance of goodness and turn my life around. But we must give seed to hain harvest. We must invest ourselves. What can we disciples learn from the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree? Oddly there is an owner who knows three years. It takes a fig four years to five before the fig tree is giving good edible fruit. The parable says the vine dresser said. Indicating to me the owner or manager is much like poorly trained mangers today. No understanding of the nature of the process. Just demanding of right now answers. We must stay in harmony with the seasons God is placing before us. The vinedresser knew it would take one more year to get good fruit.

Q2. (Luke 15:11-32) What does this parable have in common with the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin? All the effort, and love put into the lost remains lost and all possibility of future value if not found. What does the parable tell us about our Father's way of operating and his values? The father trusts those in the sheep fold to remain. They are protected in the standard care provisions. He believes in the return of the lost by their hearts turning and or by them being sought and found. In what ways does the older son hold his father's values? He is busy atrending to business. In what ways does he lack them? His heart attitude is the lost is lost. While the Father never stopped streaching out and believing the Lost could be found or come home. What should disciples learn from this parable to equip them for ministry?Do we understand “all you have is already yours”

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? She brought a gift and ministered to Jesus. There is no record of begging for forgiveness but of deliveing care consideration and love. She must have been saved earlier. How effusive is your love for Jesus? The Jewish prayer or greeting, “May you become more like God each day” once quit cold as if I was startled by the occuance of salvation my love for him has grown deeper and more fully rounded with every passing day I serve him. How should we as disciples express our gratitude for salvation? We should be asking for completion and matuiring in the use of our particular tool box of gifts that we rightly fit into his plan. We are after all the workers he wants tomwake up and go into the fields with him.

Q4. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, where do you see justice? Both were forgiven. Where do you see grace? Needing more grace for deeper debt received full pardon with no demand for greater request. Where do you see greed? In the need to address the question of who would love more. Where do you see unforgiveness? In the need to address the question of who would love more. Thoughts of buying indulgences comes to mind. What lessons from this parable are disciples to incorporate into their lives? I live because God answered my cry from life support in ICU. With in a few days my X-rays were the main education stop for medical trauma students on just how much damage the human body could withstand and live. 13526 days of life after seven code blues while on 60 liter on oxygen per minute I write this comment. I owe Him for every breath I have taken since. I serve Him for I owe a bebt beyond what I could ever pay. And He has never requested it. I love to serve one who so greatly served me in my time of need. Think of what He has already done fore you! You will know.

God considers the gathered flock properly cared for as it should be and the main supply of coins safely stowed. The lost, stolen, stray is God’s heart. They do not and are nor recovered on their own. God cares about the endangered who are without help unless searched for. The pharisees did nothing in the way of outreach to my reading of the scriptures, rather out roadblocks in the paths of the widows, poor, and needy. The area we live in is like the lump of dough. Are we mixing the yeast of the word. Are we setting a proper at atmosphere for the word to work on our neighbors? Love is a patient work most times.