Marloes
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Posts posted by Marloes
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Q1. (1 Samuel 17:26-30) Why is David so upset about Goliath’s taunt? Why is Eliab, David’s brother, so upset with David? What does this teach us about David’s faith? What does it teach us about Eliab’s character?
Goliath insults God so David feels offended.
Eliab is upset, because his brother's questions show he (Eliab) is afraid of the big man.
David on the other hand isn't afraid because he knows it's God's battle.
We learn that Eliab thinks in military terms, therefore is afraid, and that he isn't a nice person.
That's why God didn't choose him as a king, I guess.
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Q4. (1 Samuel 16:14-23) From Saul’s perspective, why is David summoned to court? From God’s perspective, what seem to be the reasons for this service in Saul’s court? What things tend to prevent us from learning from God in the midst of the circumstances in which we find ourselves? What might make us more teachable?
Saul wants David to play music.
God wants David to learn politics.
We often pay attention to other things that are not from God.
We better quit all bad things, don't watch bad programs on the telly, things like that.
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Q3. (1 Samuel 1:13) What is the significance of Samuel anointing David? What is the significance of the Holy Spirit coming upon David? How does this explain his success? How is the Holy Spirit upon us vital for our own success as disciples?
The anoiting makes the Spirit enter David?
David needs the Spirit to be a good king.
The Spirit gives him the power and knowledge.
Ofcourse the Spirit is vital to us too.
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Q2. (1 Samuel 16:3-12) How does this story teach us the importance of listening carefully to God’s voice? What is our instinctive way of discerning? How is God teaching us to discern? How do we learn to listen to the Spirit?
We judge by outer appearance.
God however judges the heart.
To check if our thoughts are compatible with the Bible?
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Q1. (1 Samuel 15:22-23). What is rebellion? In what way is rebellion as bad as witchcraft or occult practices? What does rebellion have to do with arrogance? What can we do when we find rebellion against God in our hearts? What happens if we do nothing?
Rebellion is when God tells you to do something, but you do something else.
Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft, because in both cases you don't honour God.
Rebellion means you're to arrogant to listen to God.
Humble ourselves?
Then we turn away from God more and more.
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If God is a God of love, it's difficult to understand that He sends people to hell.
Let alone that this is forever.
Forever is so definitive.
Anyway, people have the choise.
And God is a fair judge.
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They haven't been with women - standing for no mixing with pagan things.
And they haven't lied.
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Q2. (12:1-17) The vision of the woman and the dragon are heavily symbolic, but comprehensible when you take care to understand. In your own words, what does this vision tell us about the cosmic battle in Jesus' day and in our own? What comfort should we disciples draw from this passage?
The battle is spiritual: with the devil.
comfort: St Michael has beaten the devil.
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Q1. (11:3-12 ) Interpreters disagree upon the identity of the Two Witnesses, but they are certainly strong and brave. What positive characteristics do you see in their actions that we should emulate in our day? What is their reward?
We shoud testify - like them - even if it results in death.
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Q1. (1:1) How would you describe the behavior of a Christian who identifies more with his present homeland than his heavenly one? Have you ever caught yourself doing this? What has to happen to get our spiritual priorities straight?
Our focus should be Jesus.
If something earthly is most important to us, He isn't our focus.
Aye.
We should pray and read the Bible, and don't think watching the telly is more important.
Or if the Bible says not to do something, but it is general accepted were we live, we shoudn't do it.
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Q3. (Revelation 5:9, 12) What made Jesus so worthy of opening the scroll and thus bringing history to its consummation? Why was this act so noteworthy and praiseworthy?
Because He's the Lam who let Himself being killed just to save us.
He wasn't forced to, and He didn't have too, but did it anyway because He loves us.
Most people don't even want to die for their friends, let alone for 'bad' people or strangers or whatever.
So it's noteworthy and praiseworthy.
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if boundaries become less clear, you turn farther and farther from the Lord, until you end up completely somewhere else
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Q3. (Galatians 6:9-10) Why do we tend to become weary living out our faith? What promise does Paul give us in 6:9 to forestall this weariness? Why should our “doing good” begin with our spiritual family, not with the non-Christians?
After a while, we lose our enthousiasm, because it's not new anymore, becomes a habit, etc.
Paul warns for this, and tells us to stay active!
In Revelations we get a warning too not to lose our first love; that's also about this.
Doing good has to start with your congregation, not because of egoism, but because of first responsability.
You need to have a healthy and strong congregation to survive the evil in this world.
If there's something left, you can help other people outside.
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Q2. (Galatians 6:7-8) What does it mean to “sow to the flesh”? What does this look like? What synonyms does Paul use for “sow to the Spirit” in Galatians? (Hint: see 5:16, 18, 25). What does sowing to the Spirit look like in a congregation? What are the results in a congregation of sowing to the flesh?
"Sow to the flesh" means you do what your body wants, like going with men, getting drunk, etc.
At the moment we think it's nice, but God has given rules, because it's not always good for us.
"Sow to the Spirit" means you do something that builds up the Church, like encouraging other christians, or praying, etc.
Sowing in the flesh is very unhealthy for a congregation.
For example, I've heard about a pastor who asked in church if people could help a brother who wanted to leave his wife for another sister to move...
And my mama left church with us many years ago because of all the hypocrite behaviour and gossip.
We're not allowed to hurt brothers and sisters, so even making them leave church is very bad.
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Q1. (Galatians 6:1-5) What does Paul mean, “caught in a sin”? What would restoration of a such brother or sister look like in his or her life? Who should restore this person? In what spirit should it be done? What is the result of trying to restore a person without humility?
Paul discusses what you have to do when you see somebody commits a sin.
If you don't help him, he's lost forever, but if you help him, he gets restored, and that's much better.
You can help him by praying and talking, so he can ask God for forgiveness, and repent.
It should be done in a nice spirit, because an agressive or arrogant way doesn't work!
If you try to help someone who thinks he's perfect, at least you tried...
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Jesus' love makes me feel happy and peacefull, and gives me the power to stand.
If you love Him, you can't do anyting else than trying to make Him happy.
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It depends how you're lookin at it.
(with overlap)
Crimes against God: idolatry, witchcraft,
Crimes against your body: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, drunkenness, orgies, selfish ambition, dissensions,
Crimes against other people: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, factions, and envy;
or: ****, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride
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Q2. (Galatians 5:16-18) We are told that it’s impossible for a Christian to live a sinless life. What do these verses teach about that? In what way does yielding to the Spirit suppress the power of the old nature (the flesh)? If Spirit-led living is possible, why do people claim that it’s impossible not to sin?
We have the flesh and we have the Spirit.
They're both leading us in a different direction.
The Spirit stimulates us to go in the right direction, but every now and then the flesh takes over.
I think.
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Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)?
Yes!
Some christians really think that Jesus died for their sins, so they can do as they please.
Well, they don't think they can get salvation by keeping the law, but see it as directions for good behaviour.
If you're not polite, this is not loving at all, so no christian behaviour.
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Q1. (Galatians 4:10-11) Is celebrating different special worship days essentially wrong? Why did Paul grieve over the Galatians’ observances? What significance did these have in terms of their movement towards Judaism? How can we be blessed by observing special days in our era? How can observance of special days become legalistic for Christian believers?
Celebrating isn't essentially wrong, but it can be wrong.
Most Galatians never celebrated no jewish holiday!
So if they started now, it's legalism, and legalism is wrong.
You can blessed if you remember important happenings.
It can be bad if you do it to show up.
For example, at this moment it's the first Sunday of Lent.
If you tell everybody you're fasting just to impress them, it's wrong.
If you do it to get a closer bond with Jesus, it can be good.
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Q4. (Galatians 4:6-7) How does the Spirit’s filling demonstrate we are full sons? What is the special sense in which the Aramaic word abba is used to speak to one’s father? What is the significance of being heirs of God? Are we sons in the same sense that Jesus was God’s Son?
If the Spirit is in us, we are adopted as full sons, with all rights of a son.
abba is an intimate word to speak to your father.
It's a privilege we can talk to God like that.
The significance is that we'll be with Him.
Well, we're juridically sons in the same sense.
But Jesus was God in the flesh, and we're not equal to Him in any other way.
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Q3. (Galatians 4:3-5) In what sense were both the Gentiles and the Jews enslaved? What does “redeem” mean in verse 5? What are the implications of adoption regarding a person’s legal and spiritual rights?
We're slave to sin.
Redeem means that we don't have to sin anymore, and that we don't have to suffer the consequences if we do.
Adoption gives you the full righs of a son. Meaning we can have it all.
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religion: the synagogue-system developed in that way the apostels were able to speak there, and the OT was complete
culture: a common Greek language
politics: Pax Romana, Christians were thrown out of Rome and other places so the gospel could spread, Paul had the change to have court in Rome so he could spread the word there too
economics: good roads so the apostels could travel
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Q1. (Galatians 3:26-29) Do you think Jewish Christians regarded Gentile Christians as second-class citizens? What is the basis of our unity in Christ? In what way does this unity pull down barriers? Do any groups continue to be regarded as second-class citizens in our congregations? What should we do about this?
It's clear from this letter and p.e. Acts that Jewish Christians regarded the Gentile Christians as second-class.
Paul explains here there is no such thing as Jewish or Gentile christians, because we're all one in Christ.
The basis of this is baptism.
In the first place we're christians, and it doesn't matter if you're black or white ;-)
In many churches ehm less intelligent people are considered as unequal.
We should treat everybody as one.
Q2. Experience and Faith
in 2. David and Goliath: Bold Faith (1 Samuel 17)
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David believes God helps him.
In human eyes, I guess David as a warrior sounds silly at this moment.
Saul lets him, just in case he wins by accident, so the humiliation of the enemy is bigger.
Maybe Saul has a little faith, but nothing compared to David.