IvoryEagle

Q3. Why didn�t Moses accept Pharaoh�s compromises? NO AUTHORITY--NO DESIRE. In what instances should church leaders accept compromise? WHEN IT IS APPARENT THAT THERE IS REASON TO CONSIDER MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW AND INTEREST THAT DO NOT COMPROMISE THE GENERAL ORDER OF THE CHURCH. In what instances is it wrong for church leaders to compromise? WHEN THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEADER AND/OR THE CHURCH IS CHALLENGED.

Q2. Why is it so difficult for some church leaders to confront people? AFRAID OF BEING WRONG IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE. What fears in this regard does a leader face? LOSS OF MONEY, MEMBERSHIP, AND ADMIRATION How can confrontation and rebuke be a good thing? PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE LEADER TO LEAD. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OTHERS WILL NOT TEST THE LEADERSHIP WITHOUT COUNTING THE COST. What happens when we refuse to confront when we should? IT IS SEEN AS ACCEPTABLE. IT IS SEEN AS A REWARD SINCE A REPRIMAND WOULD INDICATE DISAPPROVAL. THAT WHICH IS REWARDED IS REPEATED, MORE. IT ESCULATES AMONG THE PEOPLE AND EVENTUALLY, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE CHURCH LOSE CREDIBILITY.

Q1. (Exodus 7:6-7) Why did Moses blame God for his troubles? HUMAN NATURE. Why do you think Moses and Aaron are so stubborn? THEY COULD NOT SEE PAST THERE OWN POWER. Was it fear? Was it unbelief? Or both, perhaps? BOTH Why does God have to command Moses and Aaron? THEY DID NOT HAVE THE INFINITE WISDOM GOD HAD TO KNOW THAT GOD HAD IT COVERED.

Q4. Why are we so afraid to obey God when he puts on our heart to do something decisive? WE GET IN OUR OWN WAY WITH "WHAT IF'S." IN MANY CASES THE ASSIGNMENT IS SO INCONGRUENT TO WHAT WE WOULD DO IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, WE START "THINKING." BAD DECISION... How are we to deal with fear when we feel it? GO BACK TO THE WORD AND THE MESSAGE WE RECEIVE. What is the relationship of fear to courage? OVER-RIDING FEAR REVEALS COURAGE. Why is courage required in leaders and disciples? LEADING IN AND OF ITSELF, MEANS UNCHARTED ACTIONS; WE MUST GO WHERE NO ONE HAS GONE BEFORE US.

Why is God angry with Moses? MOSES DOES NOT KNOW HIS POWER EVEN THOUGH GOD IS SPEAKING TO HIM PERSONALLY. What is Moses' basic sin? Unbelief, fear, or disobedience? ALL OF THE ABOVE Has the Lord ever been angry with you, do you think? YES How did Moses appease God's anger? HE ASKED HIM TO SEND SOMEONE ELSE

Does Moses' response to God's call reflect a low self image, true humility, or lack of faith? ALL OF THE ABOVE. How does God reassure him? HE SAID HE WOULD BE WITH HIM. How does God reassure us when we are called to impossible situations? THROUGH HIS WORD. WHAT HE SAID TO MOSES, HE SAYS TO US. "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Q1. (Exodus 2:11-15a) What do we learn about Moses' motivations, character, and leadership ability from the incident of him killing the cruel Egyptian taskmaster? What positive things do you see in his character? What negative things do you discern? PASTOR RALPH OUTLINED IT: Moses' response is interesting. He doesn't seek legal justice in Pharaoh's court. Rather, "glancing this way and that," provides his own rough but illegal justice. This suggests several things about Moses: He identifies himself as a Hebrew. He has a strong sense of basic justice. He is willing to take charge of a situation, a man of action. On this occasion he is decisive, perhaps to the point of being rash. But he is not a timid man. He is physically strong. He seems to have no sense yet of acting for God. TO ME, HE IS A LOADED HIGH POWERED RIFLE WITH NO INSTRUCTIONS. EVEN WITHOUT CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS HE HAS INSTINCT AND HE USES IT!!

Q5. (Galatians 6:16) Who comprises "the Israel of God" today? Who is excluded from this group? No one How is Romans 11:17-25 designed to temper Gentile pride? Grafted in by Christ, no room to boast.

Q4. (Galatians 6:15) What characterizes this "new creation" that Paul talks about? Unity in the Spirit What does the "old creation" look like in contrast? Condemnation by the law. What does the old creation lack that the new creation possesses? Forgiveness How does Jesus' saying, "You must be born again" (John 3:3-8) relate to this concept of the new creation? Merging the old man to the new man to make one man. Inclusion without regard for the past.

Q3. (Galatians 6:9-10) Why do we tend to become weary living out our faith? We watch others apppearing to reap a harvest in the flesh, while in many cases we are doing good and appear to be reaping nothing. What promise does Paul give us in 6:9 to forestall this weariness? Our reward will come in God's time. Why should our "doing good" begin with our spiritual family, not with the non-Christians? It is a fruit of the Spirit; family first.

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? The Bible describes it best: Galatians 5:16-25--(NKJV) Walking in the Spirit 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the **** of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Q1. (Galatians 6:1-5) What does Paul mean, "caught in a sin"? Responding in the flesh instead of the Spirit. What would restoration of a such brother or sister look like in his or her life? Repentence and getting back on track. Who should restore this person? We who are Spiritual. In what spirit should it be done? Humility. What is the result of trying to restore a person without humility? Subjected to sin, especially the sin of pride.

Q4. (Galatians 5:24-25) What does it mean to "crucify the flesh with its passions and desires"? It means to put fleshly desires to death, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Can a person be a Christian without "crucifying the flesh"? Yes, when we start out, we are weak and like children. It is a gradual process. However, we must have a heart to crucify the flesh to allow the Spirit to work in us. How have we produced such a crop of lukewarm Christians? By preachers being afraid to preach the truth and sharing situational information to preserve their congregations. In other words, they wink at God as they work to keep the congregation satisfied in its "itching ears."

Q3. (Galatians 5:22-23) How does the Holy Spirit produce this fruit in our lives? What theological term would you use to identify this process? How can it be that a person who has been a "Christian" for years displays few or none of these fruits? Are they saved, but just immature? What does James 2:17-19 say about this? Is that too harsh? It is sometimes called sanctification or spiritual formation. In secular terms: "Put your money where your mouth is." People love to talk and to judge; God wants action. James 2:17-19 (NKJV) (No, this is NOT too harsh--it is accurate) 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Q2. (Galatians 5:22) The fruit of patience should be understood as forbearance, that is, putting up with people around us without exploding. Why is this patient forbearance such an important personal character element? I believe it is important because WE ARE NOT INCHARGE. In many cases, things are NOT moving because God is holding them back for his time just as the statement below by Pastor Ralph indicates. We need to remember, it is not always about us. Blowing my stack could derail or slow down God's work in me and/or in others. "There is a Holy Spirit fruit of patience that comes from a trust in God that he will bring something to pass when he's ready. Patience is a product of a maturing faith, and comes from walking closely with the Holy Spirit."

Love and peace to humans is what salt and baking soda is to bread. They work together to create perfection in the outcome.

Q4. (5:21) Why do some Christians resist accepting Paul's warning in 5:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? The believe that God is their buddy. They wink at God and think the are the exception. What statement might these Christians desire to substitute for Paul's warning if they could reword the Scripture? "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) The would make "wicked" a "situational" condition that excludes them.

Q3. (Galatians 5:19-21) If you were to divide the works of the flesh into several groups, what would those groups be? Eyes, mind, hands, body, & appetite

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? We must focus on the Word and led by the Spirit as a deterrent. In what way does yielding to the Spirit suppress the power of the old nature (the flesh)? We can only serve one master and it will be the master we feed. If we are feeding our minds, hearts and Spirit with the Word, we will have the strength to suppress the flesh. If Spirit-led living is possible, why do people claim that it’s impossible not to sin? Hungry, Horney, and Helpless without the Word. We must NEVER go out unprotected by the Word. Sin is always waiting with "a better offer" and it is always EASIER and quicker than studying. The rewards are NEVER as lingering as studying. Count the cost.

Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? ABSOLUTELY!!!!! How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? Through the Word and the Spirit What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)? They are not in the Word and definitely not in the Spirit.

Q5. (Galatians 5:11) What is “the offense of the cross” that offended the Jews? They killed Him How does the cross offend people in our day? Unbelief Have you noticed Christians softening their proclamation of the cross? Yes Does this help them communicate more clearly to our age or does it compromise the true message? A TOTAL COMPROMISE

In what way has the Spirit become the new “mark of identity” for the believer? Faith expressing itself through love is the "mark of identity" and the standard of Christ.

Galatians 5:4) Exactly what does Paul mean by “fall from grace” here? To choose the law is to reject Christ. What has occurred that has caused this fall? Choosing to be circumcised links them to the total law. How can present-day Christian legalism cause such a “fall from grace”? Creating bylaws and other man-made law that conflict with the Bible to increase control of self absorbed leaders.

Q2. (Galatians 4:19-20) How is Paul’s grief over his spiritual children like that of a parent seeing children stray? Parents love their children, in many cases, more than themselves. They grieve at the thought of them getting misled. What does it look like when Christ is formed in a person? They reveal Christ and all He embodies. They have the mind of Christ. What is the process involved in this spiritual formation? Letting go of the law and embracing the Spirit, one day at a time.

Q1. (Galatians 4:10-11) Is celebrating different special worship days essentially wrong? NO Why did Paul grieve over the Galatians’ observances? They were attempting to be "saved" by law instead of love. What significance did these have in terms of their movement towards Judaism? It was a major conflict with Christianity. How can we be blessed by observing special days in our era? A thoughtful participation is good. How can observance of special days become legalistic for Christian believers? They become ritual and attempt to crowd out the Spirit.