Pearl

Q3. (Matthew 7:7-8) Why is continual asking, seeking, and knocking so essential to our looking forward to the Kingdom? We have to have a don't give up attitude. Just like we go after something we wanted in the world before we received the Lord and not let go of it until we got it. This is the way that we continually seek the kingdom. We have to have that bull dog type of faith. Jacob wrestled with God until He blessed him. This is what we have to do. Why do we give up so easily? We don't have enough Word in us is one of the reasons, lack of prayer, not having the mind renewed. How do we gain boldness and persistence in prayer? Keep asking for it. Keep praying, keep asking, seeking and knocking in prayer. Wrestle.

Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to

Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can

Q4. What did Jesus intend the Parable of the Soils to teach us about the

Q3. (Matthew 13:23) Even good soil can have factors that hinder growth in various parts of the field, or make some areas grow taller and fuller wheat. What factors make a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom? What might be the reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth? Factors that make a disciple especially good soil is to receive the Word, understand it, apply to one's life and remain obedient. I'm not sure about the fold growth, but I do know that we reap what we sow. Therefore, I think it is how we may apply the Word to our lives, in reading and application of the Word to our every day life. It's when we really get it. I think we can also grow in understanding of the Word and this can cause our folds to eventually increase.

Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so? I think that riches are the most dangerous thorn because the other thorns can all thrive on a base of riches. A temporary relief from worry can be bought with money, in that a person can take some type medication that will temporarily take him/her away from the care, or worry that he/she has. A person may enjoy shopping and this can be a temporary pleasure. God's Word has to take precedence over everything in our lives.

Q1. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to Jesus

Q4. Why is repentance so central to the Kingdom of God? We have to repent before we can become a new creature in Christ Jesus. If we do not repent nothing has changed. Why is baptism important to converts to the King? It shows newness of life to the King of Kings, ourselves and our brothers and sister in Christ Jesus. Can Christ reign in an unrepentant heart? No

Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repenting of their known sins? People remain condemed sinners when they adopt the Christian faith without repenting because they are still in control and being their own god. Thi Why do people avoid repentance? I think people avoid it because they are ignorant. If people are not taught properly they feel that going to church will do it. I know I used to live that way. What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart? I can't say but I think it is more than a few.

Can a person be a "disobedient disciple"? Doesn't that represent an oxymoron? Did Gideon have a choice here? Do we have choices? Yes. Gideon did have a choice. We all have a choice in any situation.

How are we to obey the commandment to "Honor your father and your mother" in the kind of situation Gideon finds himself? What justification does Gideon have for his action? (Matthew 10:37). Our Father God comes first. He will not tell us to do things that may dishonor our parents. The dishonoring part is our choice. Gideon obeyed God.

Q5. (Judges 6:25-31) What kind of leader has Gideon's father Joash been up to this point? How does Gideon's action affect his father? Shouldn't Gideon have considered the impact on his father? How should this have affected Gideon's action? (See Matthew 10:34-38) In what sense is Joash a follower of Yahweh now? Not a good one. It put's his father up against the town.No. We may have to forsake father or mother to do what God tells us to do. He will protect us. Joash now stands up for Yahweh.

Q4. (Judges 6:25-27) What is the strategic significance of God's command for Gideon to tear down the Baal altar and Asherah pole? What positive thing is he to erect in their place? What risks are involved in this action. Why does Gideon do this at night? Is this night mission a sign of weakness or of faith? To get to the root cause of the problem which is idol worship. An altar to the Lord. He may be attacked by his family and the men in the town. He is afraid. No.

Q3. (Judges 6:12-16) How did God see Gideon? How did Gideon see himself? Whose self-perception is most accurate? How can our own self-perception prevent us from becoming what God has made us to be? What is God's answer to Gideon's self-image? What might be an appropriate prayer to pray in light of what God has taught you from this passage? As a mighty warrior. The least in his family. God's.It can paralyze us. I will be with you. "Lord help me to trust You and see myself as you see me."

Q2. (Judges 6:13) In what way does Gideon blame God for his troubles in verse 13? Is Gideon's assessment accurate? Why or why not? Why do we blame God? What's the danger and how can we stop short of this in the future? He says tnat God is not with them because where are the miracles which our forefathers told us about. No. Because sin has blinded him and apparently those who are around him and in that city. We blame God because we are blind to our own sin and not walking with him as we should. The danger is not accepting responsiblity for our own sin will lead to more darkness and more sin. We can stop this in the future by keeping our eyes on God and doing what He has commanded us to do.

Q1. (Judges 6:7-10) According to the prophet, what is the reason for Israel's oppressed state? What commandment did they break? In what way hadn't they "listened"? In what way does this same sin affect Christians today? Serving the god of the Amorites. "You shall have no other gods before Me." By serving the gods of the Amorites. We sometimes put things, or people before God, letting those things or people become first place in our lives.

Q5. Now that you're finished with the Faith of Abraham, what did you get out of this study of Abraham's life? How would you evaluate the study? What can be improved? This study gave me more insight about Abraham's life. I had no idea that Abraham and Sarah were brother and sister. Abraham was also concerned about Ishmael's future and God assured him that Ishmael would be blessed also. I did not know that he had other sons and he gave them gifts and sent them away because Issac is the true heir of Abraham, (his only son). The study was great especially since I love learning about Old Testament people.

Q4. Which of Abraham's achievements inspires you the most? As you reflect on his life, what stands out for you? I am impressed by Abraham's initial steps of faith when he left his family for a land that he did not know, but he trusted God and he knew that God would take care of him.

Q3 (24:12-14) What do you think of the servant's prayer and test of God? Did the servant find the right girl on the basis of his hasty prayer? If not, then how? I think that the servant had learned how to trust God and test God because he had been around Abraham and had apparently seen Abraham's life of faith. The servant knew how to pray and He knew that God wanted the best for Abraham's son, therefore God was with the servant. All we have to do is ask, seek and knock and our Father will answer us.

Q2 (23:3-20) What is the significance of Abraham's faith in God's promises at the same time as he pays dearly for this small property? What does this tell us about faith? I actually think that Abraham's purchasing of this property had a lot to do with his faith. He knew that the land would one day be his as promised by God. We must do our part in the life of faith and Abraham did his part.

Q1. Take some time to review Sarah's life and legacy. What were her strengths? Her weaknesses? Where did she show faith? Where did she lack faith? Sarah's strength was in being submissive to her husband. She was obedient in that she protected him in obeying him in saying that she was his sister in order to protect him. She lacked faith in that she was impatient and instead on waiting on God to fufill His promise she orchestrated her own blessing which turned out to be a problem.

How does Abraham's near sacrifice of his beloved, only son Isaac help you understand better Jesus' crucifixion? It helps me to understand it better because Abraham as an eartly father due to his obedience was willing to sacrifice his son because of the love he had for our faithful Father God.

Q3. (22:14) How have you learned to trust God to provide for you? How has he provided for you in the past? What are you facing right now that will require God to be your Provider, your Jehovah-Jireh? I'm learning He made a way for me to be transferred to a new department when the person in charge had already had the job set up for someone else. shortage in funds.