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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? Why is salvation impossible to humans? People try to distort the parable of the Camel and the Needle because the wealthy can't believe that their money and power can't save them. Salvation is impossible to humans because it is not man's work, but God's. Man cannot save themselves.

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? Who creates this spiritual thirst in a person? How are these promises fulfilled in believers? Flowing or living water suggests a continuous flow. So "living water" is a symbol not just of life, but continuous, eternal, everlasting life. Jesus creates spiritual thirst in a person. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will flow from within like an artesian well, never stopping. These promises are fulfilled with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Day of Pentecost continued presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

Q18. (Matthew 20:1-16) What does the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard teach us about God's generosity? About grace? What in our heart rises up to demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted? How much of this is a godly sense of fairness and how much is pride? The parable teaches that God's generosity is not based on fairness but his love for humanity. He does not give us salvation based on what we deserve but his generosity. His grace is sufficient. We could never earn it for man will fall short every time. So much injustice in the world today we demand recognition and fairness when we feel we are overlooked and taken for granted. It is something that happens far too often. We need to put our trust in God, we all have sinned and if he would be fair to give us what we deserve we would be in bad shape. He knows what we need and will supply.

Q17. (Matthew 13:47-50) What is similar about the Parable of the Weeds and the Parable of the Net? What belief are these two parables meant to counter? How does a belief in the ultimate triumph of righteousness encourage Christians? Both parables talk about the good and man and separation. There will be a final judgement. Judgement will not come immediate but in the end the righteousness will be recognized and wicked punished.

Q16. (Matthew 25:31-46) What are the “sheep” complimented for? What are the “goats” condemned for? Is this salvation by works? If no, why not? How does Jesus identify himself with “the least of these my brothers”? Why did Jesus tell this parable to his disciples? What do modern-day disciples need to learn from it? How should this parable motivate missions to aid immigrants, the poor, and the homeless? The sheep are complimented for being calm and gentle. The goats are aggressive. No, salvation cannot be earned. It is freely given. Jesus identifies himself as the lease of these my brothers because they are the needy and he wanted to express that he love them too. The parable was to teach his disciples that they will be judged by how show love and compassion for another. Jesus loved us all and we are to be Christlike and help the less fortunate, show love and compassion.

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? In hell, what is the Rich Man's attitude towards Lazarus? What is the main point of the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus? What are you and your church doing to aid the very poor in your area? In the world? Rich man sin was that he did not attempt to help the poor man. Even in hell the rich man still looked at the poor man as his slave. The main point of the parable is that your worldly wealth does not get you into the kingdom. There is nothing wrong with having riches but we should not be selfish with our wealth and not help the poor. The world is in such a turmoil right now, I feel, the churches are struggling to maintain memberships and have turned their backs on the poor.

Q14. (Matthew 7:3-5) What is humorous about the Parable of the Speck and the Beam? How can we get to a place where we can see with clear spiritual eyes? Why does Paul insist that “spiritual” members correct sinning Christians with gentleness? What does judgmentalism have to do with hypocrisy? What is humorous is when one person with a speck in their eye trying to remove a speck from someone else eye. We can see with clear spiritual eyes when we deal with our own faults and make a change in our lives. We are to correct sinning Christians with gentleness because want to help them make a change in their lives. We don't want to anger them or become judgmental.

Q12. (Matthew 7:13-14) Why is "seeking" necessary to “find” the narrow gate? Why do you think Jesus concludes this brief parable with the phrase, “and only a few find it”? How is this parable designed to strengthen disciples to be willing to go against the flow, to be different from others in the culture? "Seeking" is necessary to "find" the narrow gate because those who take the narrow gate will have to search to find. It will not be easy. It displays your willingness and determination to go thru some things. Not many will be willing to give up the things of the world. Disciples are strengthen knowing that the narrow path leads to eternal life with Jesus.

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”? How can you help young Christians move from believing to true discipleship? Jesus focus on putting into practice rather than believing is because by putting into practice his teaches it becomes easier to follow Christ. You have a strong foundation. I can help young Christians become true discipleship by my actions and to let my life be an example to true discipleship.

Q10. (Matthew 5:23-26) Why did Jesus tell the Parable of the Guilty Defendant? How do people we have wronged and to whom we have not kept our promises get in the way of us worshipping God properly? In what ways is it hypocritical not to address these matters to the best of our ability? Jesus told The Parable of the Guilty Defendant to illustrate that if you have wrong someone you should make amends and repent before it is too late. The guilt that we have wronged someone will linger and hinder our worshiping God. It is hypocritical if we do not try to reconcile with those we wrong and try to worship God as if nothing is wrong.

Q9. (Mark 7:14-23; Matthew 15:10-11, 15-20) What does Jesus teach about the heart of man? What does Jeremiah 17:9 tell us about the heart of man? Why do we try to look good on the outside, but resist letting Jesus change us on the inside? Why is repentance necessary for an outwardly “moral” person in order to be saved? Jesus teaches that noting that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean. What comes out of man is what makes him unclean. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us the heart is deceitful. We try to look good on the outside because we think our outward appearance would hide the wickedness within. Repentance is necessary because we are corrupt and need inter cleansing and unable to do it ourselves.

Q8. (Matthew 21:33-46) Who do the servants sent to collect the landowner’s share of the crop represent? What happened to Israel who rejected God’s servants and Son who were sent to them? 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? Why is supporting our pastors and leaders important to God’s plan for the church? (Hebrews 13:7, 17). In the Beatitudes, how does Jesus encourage those who are rejected and persecuted? (Matthew 5:10-12)? The servants represent the prophets and apostles. Destruction of Jerusalem. I have heard of churches rejecting their Pastor but never experienced it. If pastors and leaders are truly sent by God we should support them anyway we can. God has a plan for the church that will be fulfilled if we follow the man of God. They are encourage because God is saying they will be blessed.

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? From the highways and hedges? Who do the servant-recruiters represent? How diligent are you and your church in recruiting those who are of a lower class than others in your congregation? What keeps you from this Kingdom task? How might your church fulfill it? The people that are represented from recruited from the streets and lanes of the city are the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Those from the highways and hedges are the vagabonds and sojourners. The recruiters represent us. We are diligent recruiting for those the come into the church and are unsaved. We can do much better by going outside the church recruiting. Mostly, we feel that we do not know what to say and/or afraid a question may be asked that we cannot answer.

Q5. (Luke 13:6-9) What caused Israel’s barrenness in Jesus’ time? What keeps the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) from growing and maturing in our lives? What can we disciples learn from the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree? Israel's barrenness in Jesus time was caused by disobedience and rejection of God's teachings. Self pride can be a killing factor in keeping fruit of the Holy Spirit from growing. Let our good works speak for us. The willingness to follow God's commandments . Above all, we must love our fellow man.

Q4. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, where do you see justice? Where do you see grace? Where do you see greed? Where do you see unforgiveness? What lessons from this parable are disciples to incorporate into their lives? I saw justice when the king that originally forgave the unmerciful servant debt being put in jail for not forgiving the servant that owe him a debt. Grace was when the king forgave the unmerciful servant debt. Greed is when the unmerciful servant would not forgive the debt owe to him. Unforgiveness is when the unmerciful servant would not forgive the servant that owe him. Lessons learned from the parable is that we must be willing to forgive one another just as Christ forgives us.

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? How effusive is your love for Jesus? How should we as disciples express our gratitude for salvation? I believe she was saved prior to the dinner. The reading states that she was overflowed with thankfulness because she knew Jesus had forgiven her of her sins. My love for Jesus is undeniable. I strive each and every day to be more like him. I pray every day for this world to be a better place. I thank him in morning when I get up, I thank him thru out the day and I thank him before I go to bed. I read his word every day. I am very active in my church. Whenever I have an opportunity, I share his word with those that do not know him.

Q1. (Luke 15:1-10) What do the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin teach disciples about God’s heart? The Parables tell us that Jesus cares about each and everyone of us. He rejoices when one sinner is saved. In what way do these parables represent a contrast to the murmuring of the Pharisees? The Pharisees felt that they were above everyone else and looked down on the less fortunate. Jesus showed them that he did not discriminate against any, but welcomed all. How should a disciple implement Jesus’ value of seeking the lost in his or her own community? We are to go out and witness to those that do not know Jesus.

Q19. (Ephesians 2:8) From what have we been rescued by God’s grace? We have been rescued from sin. How has God personally rescued you from your situation before Christ? What did God’s favor have to do with your salvation? God has personally rescued me from living the life of the world. God's favor is that he chose to rescue me, an undeserved sinner.

Q18. (Romans 3:24; John 1:29; Mark 10:45; Isaiah 53) In what sense is Jesus a sacrifice for our sins? God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood for our sins. Why is he punished for our sins instead of us? Why is he called the Lamb of God? Jesus was the only one that was sinless that could make this sacrifice. He is called the Lamb of God because He sacrificed Himself for us.

Q17. (Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:17-19) In what sense have we been redeemed from slavery? What slavery have we been freed from? We have been redeemed from slavery thru Christ Jesus presenting himself as a sacrifice. We have been freed from sin. What was the price of our manumission or freedom? In what sense are we free? In what sense are we still slaves? The blood that Jesus shed for you and I. We are free from sin but still struggle not to sin.

Q16. (Romans 3:22-23; Romans 5:12-14; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9) Is humankind basically “good” because of the image of God in us? Or basically evil because of deceitful hearts and our corrupt nature (“flesh”) that is “bent to sinning”? We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Nothing good lives in us because of our sinful nature. It is only by God's grace that we are saved.

Q15. (Luke 18:18-27) How does the story of the rich young ruler show the impossibility of salvation without a miracle of God? The impossibility of salvation without miracle of God is because of God's grace. It is nothing that you can earn or is it anything that you deserve. Why does Jesus use a rich and outwardly righteous man to make this point? Where does grace show through? It shows that no matter how rich you may be, you cannot earn salvation. Nothing is impossible for God.

Q14. (Luke 23:39-43) How does the story of the thief on the cross illustrate salvation by faith? How does it show the triumph of grace over sin to those who don’t deserve it? The story of the thief on the cross illustrates salvation by faith when the thief asked to be remembered in Jesus Kingdom. He knew she had sinned but recognized Jesus as the Son of God. God's grace extends to sinful people who don't deserve it and will always triumph over sin.

Q13. (Luke 15:11-31) What does the Parable of the Prodigal Son teach us about God? The Prodigal Son teaches us that our Father in heaven is a gracious and forgiving God. About repentance? When we repent, the Father is eagerly ready to celebrate our return back to him with open arms. About grace? God forgives us of our sin. His grace is undeserved and unmerited love he has for us.

Q12. (Matthew 18:21-35) In what way does the king show grace in this parable. The king grace is shown by him taking pity on the man and canceled the debt and let him go. How does the forgiven servant withhold grace? Can we call ourselves Jesus’ disciples if we withhold grace according to Matthew 18:35 and Matthew 6:12-15? Forgiven servant withheld grace by not showing mercy on the one that owe him as it was shown to him. We cannot call ourselves Jesus' disciples if we are not willing to show mercy and Jesus shows us each and every day.