shema
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Posts posted by shema
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Q3. (John 19:26-27) Why does Jesus make St. John responsible for his mother Mary? What does this tell us about Jesus? How should we apply this in our own lives?
John's presence at the foot of the cross tells us a lot about him. He was generally always there for Jesus.He must have had traits which endeared him to Jesus and made him the most suitable person to whom Jesus could entrust Mary.
Even in the midst of His own suffering, Christ thought of others.Jesus concern for His mother must be an example for the rest of us to treat our mothers with love and concern.
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Q1. (Numbers 20:1-13)
What did God tell Moses to do to bring water out of the rock?
Moses was asked to speak to the rock.
What did Moses actually do?
Moses angrily struck the rock, not once,but twice.And also took credit for the miracle, by saying " We bring you water out of this rock."
In what way did he sin?
He was disobedient, striking the rock when he was asked to speak to it, and taking credit for it instead of showing God's glory.
What emotions and attitudes were behind his sin, do you think?
The complaining, nagging, intolerable attitude of the people would naturally have affected him.They were no different from their fathers before them.Moses must have been thoroughly exasperated.
What must leaders do when they sin in these ways?
They should be filled with remorse, confess their sins and seek God's forgiveness.
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Q2. (Numbers 12)
What was Miriam’s and Aaron’s motivation for speaking against Moses?
Narrow-minded, prejudiced and jealous, Aaron amd Miriam probably felt that they were better than Moses.For instance, they were more 'correct' in their social behaviour than Moses (who had married a Cushite woman.)Being of the same family, why should the one who was less correct in his behaviour get all the power and recognition.... was what they thought.
(ii) Why do people seeking power feel a need to discredit the existing leader?
By running down others , they think they are lifting themselves up.
(iii)How did Moses handle this provocation?
He may have been upset, but did not retaliate in kind.He seems to have remained silent.
(iv) How might he have handled it if he were a proud man?
He would have retaliated in kind. He would have asked God to punish them and not pleaded for mercy on their behalf.
(v) How did the Lord handle it?
He did have mercy, but they didn't get away scot free.They were disciplined.
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Q2. (Numbers 12)
What was Miriam
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Q2. (Numbers 12)
What was Miriam
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Q1. (Numbers 11:11-15) Why do you think Moses is so frustrated in his prayer? What do you think is going on in him emotionally and physically at this point? Does he have any grounds for his complaints? Do you think this is designed to be a model prayer? Why are we shown this prayer? How did God answer him?
Listening to constant complaints is a very draining experience and can frustrate the best.When you're on the move all day, physically tired,but you're doing the best you can .. and in such a situation,if all you get are complaints,you'll undoubtedly feel frustration.
Hence,Moses certainly seems to have had grounds for his complaints; the constant, exasperating complaints , his own helplessness and physical exhaustion... but of course, theoretically ,we know that complaining is not the best response to complaints.
Is this a model prayer? The Lord's Prayer is a model prayer.From that point of view this is not.But it's a very reassuring prayer for the rest of us who frequently succumb to situations and whine and complain and feel guilty about that. It's so good to know that even Moses ( or any other 'hero', for that matter) went through such situations. And God will not throw us out if we appraoch Him at times in this manner.And God did listen and give some practical solutions to Moses' problems.
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Q1. (1 John 2:18) What is this antichrist that John expects to come? I think that John is less concerned with the man of lawlessness, this unique man and his role in the end time drama than he is with the false teachers or actors that were on the stage in this day that we are studying. His concern is related to those who went out from them, but they were not of them because they denied that Yahshua was the Messiah and that He came in the flesh and body of a human being.
What is the difference between the antichrist and antichrists in the church John is writing to?
The anti-christ is a certain man of lawlessness (son of perdition) that will one day stand in the temple and claim that He is God and in all reality, this man should not be standing in the temple at all. We have scriptures that warn us of his coming.
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They are 1) **** of the flesh 2)**** of the eyes 3) and the pride of life. We were born into sin and unless we go to Christ each day it would be easy to over look these sins. They would just become part of us.If they were to become a way of life then that would be because we closed Christ out. Worldliness is harmful as it becomes a way of living of wanting more, living for oneself which in turn is less and less of God. You can`t serve two and our God is a jealous God. If you are living with those three particular sins you are definently walking with satan. That would make the world a place of havic, bringing no right or wrong to our children or grandchildren. There is still Christianity in the world today but it is slipping.The Lords prayer has been taken out of the school system, teachings of Christ are gone out of the schools, and in place other religions and cults and science have been put in place of them. Worldliness is very harmful to the future!
I guess you're from the United States CRiv.It was hard for me to believe that a so-called Christian country, could do away with prayer in schools,especially when no other religious groups could really object in a 'christian' country.. Now to hear it from the horse's mouth , as it were, is really very distressing. It's such spiritual blindness and an even more perverted form of worldliness than some other forms... though I guess there can be no degrees of sin. sin in Sin.
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They are 1) **** of the flesh 2)**** of the eyes 3) and the pride of life. We were born into sin and unless we go to Christ each day it would be easy to over look these sins. They would just become part of us.If they were to become a way of life then that would be because we closed Christ out. Worldliness is harmful as it becomes a way of living of wanting more, living for oneself which in turn is less and less of God. You can`t serve two and our God is a jealous God. If you are living with those three particular sins you are definently walking with satan. That would make the world a place of havic, bringing no right or wrong to our children or grandchildren. There is still Christianity in the world today but it is slipping.The Lords prayer has been taken out of the school system, teachings of Christ are gone out of the schools, and in place other religions and cults and science have been put in place of them. Worldliness is very harmful to the future!
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Q4. (1 John 2:15-17) What kinds of sins are covered by the three examples of worldliness that John gives? Why are these sometimes so difficult for us to discern in ourselves? Why is worldliness so harmful to our future?
The sins covered by the 3 examples of worldliness would include, I think :
(1)all kinds of self-indulgence catering to physical pleasure
(2) indulging in materialism ... amassing wealth,etc.
(3) pride in our achievements, status etc.
Ofcourse we often fail to discern it in ourselves because we think they are all quite legitimate needs.Even being proud of our achievements is fine(or so we explain to ourselves) since we're not not exhibiting false modesty.
Worldliness would be harmful to our future , since it is really so empty. No matter how much pleasure we get or how much wealth we have or how much we seem to have achieved, there will be a void in us until our spiritual needs are met. And that can be satisfied only by Jesus Christ.
PS. Being told to be not of the world used to bother me since I'd argue why then are we put into the world. Like being put in a room full of a contagious disease and being told not to get the disease.However, thinking things out like this helps one to pause and really think things out. However, one wonders how ascetic one ought to be. How or where does one draw the lines? By saying everything is a sin, won't we drive non-believers away? And then there is the self- righteousness of those unworldly individuals,(ie.those who believe they've been so disciplined and able to curb their naural desires and hence are so superior) who think they're the sole inheritors of heaven.
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Q3. (1 John 2:15-16) What is "the world" in verses 15-16? What kind of love of "the world" keeps us from loving the Father?
The 'world 'would refer, I think ,to all those aspects of life on earth which are not in keeping with the fruits of the Spirit... the materialism, the yearning for physical pleasure and comfort, the self centred nature of people are all of the world.
Naturally when we are so bent on satisfying our insatiable appetites,we are kept from loving the Father as we ought.Self-control, generosity of spirit, humility are all pretty unworldly and in need of cultivation.
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Though I was a trifle distressed that John omitted to mention women at any stage,I guess in this passage he is really referring to believers at various stages of life; he has simplified it from Shakespeare's Seven Ages to John's three basic stages.
No matter at what stage of life one is , one can always do with some encouragement.And John's obviously understood that.And it's good for us to remember to encourage others.
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I'm a Syrian Christian from Kerala, India. My sister in Australia sent me the link to this study and I'm just checking it out since I've not done a Bible study on the net prior to this.Looking forward to it.
Q3. Woman, Behold Your Son (John 19:26-27)
in Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross
Posted
John's presence at the foot of the cross tells us a lot about him. He was generally always there for Jesus.He must have had traits which endeared him to Jesus and made him the most suitable person to whom Jesus could entrust Mary.
Even in the midst of His own suffering, Christ thought of others.Jesus concern for His mother must be an example for the rest of us to treat our mothers with love and concern.