Raph

Q3. (Matthew 6:31-32) Why does Jesus mention the "pagans" or "Gentiles" in verse 32? Jesus mentions the "pagans" or "Gentiles" in verse 32 to show what the needs of pagans. What point is he making? The point He is making is that, we should not be worrying the same way the pagans do; as Christians we should be different. How should a Christian differ from a Gentile, according to Jesus' teaching in this passage? According to Jesus' teaching in this passage, a Christian should differ from a Gentile by putting his/her life on faith in God, dwelling in prayer and thanks giving. What emotional and faith effect does the phrase, "your heavenly Father knows that you need them," have in your life? It makes me feel good to know that, even before I ask, my heavenly Father knows what I need. Thus, it confirms that, our needs are there, and what is required from us is just to ask. Definitely by knowing and believing in this, it makes me not to worry on earthly things.

Q2. (Matthew 6:25-34) How many times in this passage does the phrase "do not worry," "do not be anxious," or "take no thought" occur? In this passage the phrase "do not worry", "do not be anxious", or "take no thought" occurs five times: verse 25, verse 27, verse 28, verse 31 and verse 34. In what way does excessive worry on sin? Excessive worry is a sin in that it brings disbelief; makes a person to loose faith. Are worry and trust exact opposites? I think so.

Q1. (Matthew 6:26-30) What point does Jesus make with his twin Parables of the Birds of the Air and of the Flowers of the Field? With the twin Parables of the Birds of the Air and of the Flowers of the Field, Jesus makes a point of indicating the care God gives to His Creation. He points the more value God places on us, human beings, among all the creatures. Is the point trivial or is it valid? The point is not trial, it is very valid as this is the truth. God cares about us more than anything on this earth.

Q5. (Matthew 6:21, 24) The love of money can be a pretty subtle thing. Both the rich and the poor can love money. Can you describe a time in your life when you were deceived about this, and when the light in you was really darkness? I can remember a situation where I needed money but was not for urgent use. One person promised to give me. I was supposed to go to chursh service to praise the Lord but I decided not to go to church and but to go to get the mone,y telling myself that, it is only once I am missing to attend church service, so it is not such bad. Later on I surely realised that, what I did was putting money first than God. According to Jesus, could desire for money **** a person (Luke 12:15-21)? Yes, desire for money could **** a person. The parable of the Rich Fool is a clear example how this can happen.

Q4. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can't seek wealth and God simultaneously. Does he really mean this? He does not really mean that. Is this hyperbole? Figurative? Literal? It is literal. It is a fact that, several wealth people do not care about God; they see their wealth as their everything; their only hope and survival. Can wealthy people serve God in actual fact? Yes, wealth people can in actual fact serve God if they don't depend or place their hope on their wealth and forget about God.

Q3. (Matthew 6:19-21) According to the Bible, how does one "store up treasures in heaven"? According to Bible, one "store up treasures in heaven" by giving alms to the needy, praying in private, and fasting. By one's good works with a pure heart for God. What advantage does this have over accumulating earthly possessions? The advantage this has is being rewarded the inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Why are we uncomfortable with the concept of rewards in heaven? Were are uncomfortable with the concept of rewards in heaven because of our greedy.

Q2. (Matthew 6:19) Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...." Is he speaking figuratively? Hyperbolically? Generally? Specifically? Jesus is speakingly hyperbolically. Is this a new teaching, or an old one? This is His old teaching.

Q1. (Luke 12:15-21) What did Jesus condemn him for? Storing his harvest? Jesus condemned the Rich foll not for storing his harvest passé, but for thinking that, by having everything on earth is enough and he did not think about God. What is the key verse in this passage? The key verse is: "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." What is the context of this parable? The context of this parable is we should not forget God who provides for all that we can store. How does this relate to the Sermon on the Mount? The relation is in that, they both contain the elements of greedy and storing.

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? We should continually ask forgiveness because as human beings we are always tempted anf fall into sinning. Thus we should like wise ask our Father to forgive us and thus be freed from sin we committed. How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? Unfirgiveness from our part can block God's blessing as we will be going against command that we should forgive in order for Him to forgive us and be accepted in His kingdom. How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness? Unforgiveness can block God's forgiveness as God said that, if we don't forgive our debtors, He will also not forgive us.

Q3. (Matthew 6:11) Why do we seek to be independent of asking anyone for help? We seek to be independent of asking anyone for help because of our belief that we have everything and we don't need anybody. Why do we seek to be independent of God? We seek to be independent of God because of our wrong thinking that, what we have is a result of our own efforts, power and strength forgetting that, such power and strength we get from God. Why should we ask God to "give" us daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves? We ask God to "give" us daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves because such earning capacity we get it from God and He is the Provider of everything.

Q2. (Matthew 6:10) In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should come? We are asking the Father's Kingdom shuld come in the sense that, He should show and manifest his power and glory in us and that He should make quick the return of Jesus to the earth. Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth? We are asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth because our prayers should be guided by His will. How should this prayer affect our living? This prayer should affect our living in that, our life - whatever we do and think, is according to the will of God. This will make us genuine Christians.

Q1. (Matthew 6:9) What about our lives and words "hallows" the name of our Father? That "hallows" the name of our Father about our lives and words is the respect we show to the name; using that name in deserving circumstances like prayers. What desecrates and besmirches it? What desecrates and besmirches it is our profane use of the name whereby sometimes we use it as a swearword. How should we "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray? We should "hallow" the Father when we begin to pray by understanding that He is the respected one and He is great and holy.

Q4. (Matthew 6:8) If God knows what you need before you ask him, why should you ask him at all? We ask him (pray) with the intention to decalre with Him our needs will be taken care of. What sense does prayer really make? A prayer is a conversation between myself and God; it is the way to communicate with Him. Are we mainly to talk for our own edification and encouragement? I think we should not talk only for our own edification and encouragement. Why or why not? Because Jesus taught us to carry each other's burden. In a similar way it is good to pray to God for others' benefits.

Q3. (Matthew 6:5-7) Why does Jesus tell us to pray in secret? Jesus tells us to pray in secret so that, our prayers be really directed to Him and so that we are not tempted to show to other people that we are praying in order to get their praises. Though public prayer in church gatherings is commanded in scripture (Acts 1:14; 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1), in which circumstances might public prayer in a church service be contrary to the spirit of Jesus' instructions in these verses? Public prayer in a church service might be contrary to the spirit of Jesus' instructions in these verses if in that church we are just there joining in prayers to be seen by other people or in order to get something in return or to be recognised. How do flowery prayers hinder the development of disciples? Flowery prayers hinder the development of disciples as many people join not because of conviction, but in order to be seen by other people. Thus, they dont really understand the real meaning of prayer.

Q2. (Matthew 5:42 and 6:1-4) How does Jesus' teaching here and in 5:42 on giving to the needy influence you and your attitudes towards the poor? Jesus' teaching here an in 5:42 on giving to the needy influence me and my attitude towards the poor by knowing that, I am supposed to help the poor as I could and I should do that not for the purpose of being seen by other people. What will you do differently as a result? I will try my utmost to give to the poor and encourage others to do the same. What keeps us from giving more to the poor? What keeps us from giving more to the poor is our own expenditures. Is that a good enough reason? No. That is not good enough as some of the expenditures are not really necessary. One cna leave them out and instead add to the portion to give to the needy.

Q1. (Matthew 6:1-18) How do the commands in this section relate to "performing for the audience of One"? The commands in this section relate to "performing for the audience of One" in that, whatever we do or give we should not do or give to be seen by others but we should give and do as we are giving to or doing for the Lord. What is the antidote for the chief sin that is addressed here? The antidote for the chief sin that is addressed here is LOVE. In what ways do churches and non-profit organizations use this sin to motivate people to give? Churches and non-profit organisations use this sin to motivate people to give by - - putting a person's name on a publicly displayed plaque if they give at a certain level; - getting people to publicly wave a certain denomination of bill that they plan to give; -- trooping down to the front of the church to make an offering that can be seen by all.

Q6. (Matthew 5:48) In the context, what do you think verse 48 means for the Christian? To the Christian, verse 48 means that, a Christian should show real love to everybody, even his enemies. Is perfection taught here? Yes, perfection is being taught. Does maturity express the idea best? Yes. How about the doctrine of "sinless perfection"? This is difficult as for us human beings, we are weak and we commit sins; thus, sinless perfection is not possible. How does verse 48 relate to verse 45? Verse 48 relate to verse 45 in that, if we are perfect, we will be sons of God.

Q5. (Matthew 5:39-44) If the principle that underlies verses 39-42 is found in verse 44 and 22:39, are there times we must defend ourselves physically against evil men in order to fulfill the principle? Yes, I think there are times we must defend ourselves physically against evil men in order to fulfill the principle. What might be some examples? Some examples can be: 1. When attacking a thief who is attacking your family. 2. Serving as a police and arresting a robber.

Q4. (Matthew 5:38-42) If we were to assume that Jesus is teaching on retaliation and revenge rather than pacifism in verses 38-42, how would you sum up his teaching in a single sentence? "Do as it is done to you"

Q3. (Matthew 5:39-42) What do Jesus' examples or tiny cameos in verses 39-42 have in common? The thing that Jesus' examples or tiny cameos in verses 39-42 have in common is LOVE to others, even our enemies. Someone has said that if we were to carry out verses 39-42 literally, we would aid and abet evil. Do you agree? I do not agree as by doing that, there will not be love and without love evil will not be abetted. How should we take these examples: As case law? As hyperbole? As a series of aphorisms or adages? In another way? I think we should take these examples as hyperbole.

Q2. (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:15-21) What was the purpose of the "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth" regulation? The purpose of the "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" regulation was to restrain man's vindictiveness. Is this law designed to be administered by a court or judge, or by an individual? This law was designedd to be administered by a court or judge, not by an individual. Is it designed to govern judicial action or personal action? It was designedd to govern judicial action and not personal action.

Q1. (Matthew 5:33-37) What does it mean: Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no? Let you "yes' be yes and your "no" no means that our words must be the plain truth. If we obeyed this command, what would be the result in our speaking? If we obeyed this command the result of our speaking will be the truth. In our credibility? We will be speaking the truth directly without playing games with words in order to deceive.

Q6. The Church has always been supportive of those who are hurting or scarred. In Christ, we help people make the best of what is sometimes a difficult situation. What can you do to extend Christ's healing love to someone who is struggling in his or her marriage? What can you do to bring healing to someone who is or was divorced? In both such situations what I can do is to comfort the people involved and try to reflect with them the teachings of the Word on marriage. I will also advise them to seek proffessional counselling.

Q5. (Matthew 19:9) Does a person who has remarried after a divorce that wasn't caused by marital unfaithfulness, live in a perpetual state of adultery? Yes, a peerson who has remarried after a divorce that wasn't caused by marital unfaithfulness lives in a perpetual state of adultery. Should that person divorce or separate in order to get back into God's will? Yes, if the divorced one is not ret re-maried, that person should divorce, not only separate, in order to get back into God's will. How can he or she get back into God's will, or is that no longer possible? It is possible to get back into God's will by repenting and to ask God for guidance.

Q4. (Matthew 19:10) Why do you think Jesus' disciples reacted so negatively to his teaching on marriage and divorce? I think Jesus' disciples reacted so negatively to his teaching on mariage and divorce because they also believed and may be practiced Mosaic Law. The people at that time, I think, they saw Mosaic Law as an escape from marriage, for any little justification. With Jesus' teaching, this is not the case. Did they misunderstand it? I don't think they misunderstood it. They just saw things changing and then think: if they is no way to divorce, there is no need to marry.