Alicea

Q3. (1:6) What does Paul expect God to do for the Philippian believers? Why does he expect God to do this? What is the basis of Paul's confidence? On what basis can we expect God to do this for us? He expects God to continue working in the believers the good work He started in them until Jesus returns. The basis of Paul's confidence is his knowledge and personal relationship with God, both through experience and the scriptures. We can expect God to do this for us on the same basis, if we desire it. It is something we must continue to search for, by the study of scripture, fellowship with other believers and our times alone in prayer and meditation with the Holy Spirit.

Q2. (1:6) When we become financial "partners" with a Christian missionary, minister, ministry, or church, what do we receive out of the partnership? What other kinds of support might we offer beyond financial? We receive the peace from the Lord in knowing that we have been obedient to Him and knowing that we are enabling His work to be done. Other ways to support are of course prayer, but also telling others of the ministry and the work it does so they can support it to if so led. Sometimes it may involve sending actual items, such as the Christmas boxes Samaritan Purse collects, or clothing and toiletry items to the mission for the homeless, etc.

Q1. (1:1) What is the basic idea of "slave"? What is the root idea of "saint"? In what way are these words saying the same thing about a Christian's relationship to God? (Note: to answer this question correctly you'll need to refer to the notes on the precise word meanings.) Slave: Committed for life, compulsory service. Saint: Consecrated to the service of God. They say the same thing in that it is a life long commitment, totally given over to the Lord.

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? I learned a lot about the times and culture Abraham lived in. It even inspired me to look some information up, such as the Hammurabi Code. It brought out so well the human-ness of Abraham and I appreciated him and his example even more than I had before. I thoroughly enjoyed the study and look forward to continue with other studies with Joyful Heart. I am sure everything can be improved but at this point I like the way it was presented and greatly value the teaching, especially the way Pastor Ralph always brings the point of the lesson into present time and teaches us how to apply the lesson to our lives today. Many, many thanks.

Q4. Which of Abraham's achievements inspires you the most? As you reflect on his life, what stands out for you? Abraham's obedience to God. He just did what God told him to do even when he didn't know why.

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 the servant's prayer was probably brought to his mind by God and by seeing it answered it gave him reassurance that this was the right girl.

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? He pays for the property to satisfy the present situation but he still has faith that one day it will all be his and his descendents anyway. Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. NASU Even though Abraham did not see God's promis he was convinced of its truth

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 is not that easy to figure out if you go by just what she said, she didn't really say all that much that would help you to understand her faith. She did respect her husband and trust in his leadership both in the natural and in the spiritual. She was a little unsure of how God would do things and tried to bring them about by natural ways such as obtaining a child by giving Abraham Hagar.

Q4. How does Abraham's near sacrifice of his beloved, only son Isaac help you understand better Jesus' crucifixion? Jesus was God's only Son, God considered Isaac, Jacob's only son, both were beloved. To me it is a picture of God allowing Jesus to be sacrificed on our behalf. It brings to impact that pain that the Heavenly Father felt in offering His only Son on our behalf and expresses His love for us.

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 have learned by asking in prayer. One time He miraculously filled our gas tank with gas. We were taking people to church, we had seven dollars, an empty gas tank, and a locked gas cap. After church my husband told me that he had put his five dollars in the offering plate. That left us with two dollars for gas to get several adults and their children home in our station wagon. When we stopped at the gas station and unlocked the gas cap, the gas tank was so full that you could see it. I put in my finger up to the first knuckle and it was wet with gas. Right now I am trusting the Lord to give my husband a job. He has been off work for a long time.

Knowing God is a maturing process for us just as it was for Abraham. Each time we know Him a little more we trust Him a little more. Yes I have surrendered my life to Christ. When I first surrendered I thought I had surrendered my whole life to Him, but in His grace, He has opened my understanding to areas that were not surrendered. As He does this I surrender a little more. Each time I do, I am blessed with a greater sense of His presence and power in my life.

Q1. What effect does Satan want trials to have in our life? What effect does God want them to have? The effect really depends upon how we respond to the trial. Have you ever been through a trial that strengthens and invigorates you at the end? Have any of your trials inspired others or have you been inspired by another's trial? Satan wants our trials to lead us away from God and God wants them to draw us closer to Him. When my husband was dying of cancer I learned how faithful God is. I don't know that I would say I was invigorated at the end but I was definately closer to God. Others say they were blessed by seeing how I handled the situation. Corey Ten Boom's story, has been an inspiration to me. Everytime I read her book, I learn more about Christ.

Q4. (21:33) How does the realization that God is El-Olam, the Eternal God, effect you? How does it alter the way you live your life? I stirs me to a deep sense of awe and causes me to deepen my sense of worship and reverence.

Q2. (21:8-10) What motivates Sarah to demand Ishmael's expulsion from Abraham's family encampment? Is she righteous in this? Have you ever tried to force your spouse to act against his or her principles? Have you ever been forced yourself? I believe fear motivated her request more than jelousy. I think she was fearful that Ishmael would harm Isaac. I don't know whether she is righteous in her motives but God supported her request when He told Abraham to go along with it later on in the passage of scripture. No, I have never tried to force my spouse to act against his principles. Yes, I have been pushed into that situation when I was younger, now I do not allow it, but he also doesn't try. When I make it clear that I believe it is not what God would want me to do that is the end of the discussion.

Q1. (21:5-7) The name Isaac means "he laughs." What is Sarah's laughter like now compared to her laughter in 18:12-15 and Abraham's laughter in 17:17? What does this tell you about God's sense of humor? Sarah previously laughed in disbelief but now laughs with joy. The same I believe with Abraham. God's sense of humour always seems to border on the ironic to me, but it is also always gentle and with the promise of blessing when it is extended to his worshippers.

Q4. (19:30-38) Why did Lot's daughters turn to incest? What does this tell us about their values? About their faith? Why does Lot turn to intoxication? What does this incident tell us about his faith? His hope? His influence? His choice of residence? What lessons should we learn from this story? Lot's daughters turned to incest to have children and preserve their family line. They values were to have their own way in spite of what it took. They knew it was wrong which is why they got Lot drunk. They knew he wouldn't do such a thing sober. They don't demonstrate any faith of their own but were apparently familar with their father's. Lot turns to drunkeness to deal with his situation. He knows he failed in his faith, he is without hope, he did not influence his neighbours, wife or daughters to do any good. He realizes too late to get away from the city and leaves Zoar and dwells in a cave. Lot thought he good mix with the "world" and it would not touch him. He lived a life of compromise and it cost him everything he held important.

Q3. (19:26) After nearly being delivered, why did Lot's wife stop and gaze rather than escaping? What was in her heart? Have you ever struggled with this in your heart? What lesson does Jesus draw from Lot's wife in Luke 17:31-33? I believe she couldn't quite believe what was happening and it was hard for her to leave her life of knowing what life was, what to expect, what was comfortable. I have struggled with this, it is hard to leave our comfort zones sometimes. The point made about keeping your life and using it is not something I had applied to this situation I am glad it was made as it added a dimension to Lot's wife looking back that I hadn't considered. She was trying to keep her life as she knew it and as a result lost her life. What a good point. What a blessing these lessons are to me.

Q2. (19:15-16) Why did Lot and his family hesitate? Have you ever hesitated when you should have been fleeing a danger? What is the lesson for us? I think they hesitated because they felt safe with what they knew. They knew what they were dealing with even though it was evil. They had been there so long they trusted more it what they were familiar with and could see, touch and taste and had forgotten how to follow the Lord and had become insensitive to Him. Yes, I have hesitated in fleeing from danger. I actually went back into an abusive situation because I knew better how to deal with that situation than the one I was in. The lesson is stay close to our Lord. It doesn't take too long away from our daily walk with Him and the world seems less evil and less wrong and not so bad after all. Those of us you feel like we would never fall need to be careful. Peter said he would never deny the Lord. We are all vulnerable to error even when we are close to the Lord as Peter was. But thankfully He is merciful and sends us help when we need it. The other lesson is to keep praying for the lost and interceding on their behalf like Abraham did for Lot as He does hear our prayers as we stand in the gap for others.

Q1. (19:4-11) How can Christians keep balance on the issue of homosexuality in our day? Is it really possible to be loving and compassionate toward practicing homosexuals at the same time as you condemn the sin? Should the church be silent about homosexuality? If not, what should we be saying? Where should we be saying it? (Be gentle and loving as you discuss this subject -- please!) This subject is particularily an issue in my life at this time. A little over a year ago myself, our priest and several others of us left our denomination and little parish over this very issue. Accepting homosexuality. We were accused of being unloving and homophobic. Nothing we could say we convice our accsuers that the real issue was obedience to God and not homosexuality. We repeatedly stated the sin of homosexuality acted upon was the same as the sin of adultery or any other sin taught against in the scripture. At the same time a young man whom I had known since babyhood and cared for very deeply was dying from a disease acquired by his homosexual life style. I love this yound man and had much compassion for him. His death broke my heart but there is still a rift between his mother and I because she cannot understand that while I love him I did not love or accept his life style. We cannot afford to be silent but we must also not scream hatred and condemnation. We need to continue to insist the issue is obedience not orientation.

Q4. On what ground does Abraham so boldly address God? Do you think God desires us to do the same? Why or why not? Why do you think Abraham's intercession pleased God? What will it take for us to please him in our prayers? Abraham addresses God based on his confidence on who God is and on God's nature, The Judge of all the Earth. I do believe God wants us to do the same, the scriptures say Christ died that we may come boldly to the throne of grace. God is love, and Abraham was exhibiting his love for Lot, even though he knew that Lot was in the wrong place. We please 'God in our prayers by being completely honest and transparent with him.

Q3. (18:19) In your own words, describe what a lifestyle of "keeping the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just" looks like in the twenty-first century. In what ways is this difficult? In what ways is this easy? What are the special challenges? Keeping the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just in this age can make you look like a fanatic if you speak up, which at times is required if you are going to do what is right and just. We do what is right and just and keep the way of the Lord by obeying the word, whether it is politically correct or not. This is especially difficult with some Christian denominations putting the stamp of approval on behavior God clearly calls sin. It is especially difficult when people you love are espousing the views that oppose the word and insist they are in keeping with what God "really meant". It is easier when you are in daily communion with your Lord and in frequent fellowship with other believers. The aggressive and verbal behavior of the ones who are opposed to Christianity creates an extra challenge. The media accept and present their postion as what is correct, so you definately feel like you are "swimming upstream"

How can fathers and husbands strike the right balance -- of being godly, caring leaders without being dictators? How can mothers and wives strike the right balance -- of being submissive and at the same time being open about their needs and desires? (I know of no Christian cookie-cutter answer to this. It must be contientiously worked out within the crucible of marriage.) Men can be t he godly caring leaders by, of course obeying the scriptures about how to love and cherish his wife, as Christ loves the church. Christ does not FORCE obedience. He lets His love bring us into line with His will. Women usually do not have a problem with submission when treated with respect and love. The scripture says to be obedient to their OWN husbands. Therefore it needs to be worked out between the husband and the wife in the way their relationship is to go. I once went to a church where the elder in the church was trying to tell other men how their wives should be acting toward them. (Little did they know that he was beating his own wife). My husband and I took the stand against his bullying by telling him that I was to be obedient to my own husband and we had worked out our relationship and had peace in our home and with each other. Because we are sinners we all either get dictatorial or rebellious but when both love Christ repentance comes in and the relationship is restored. If married to an unbeliever we must live at peace in as much as it is possible within us to do, but it is better to obey God than man if the unbeliever is wanting us to do something sinful.

Q1. (18:14) How can we tell if we really believe in God's present willingness to do miracles in our day? Is there any indication in Scripture that God will stop doing miracles? Is there any indication that God continues to do miracles? How can we regain an active faith in the God of miracles? I think we can tell if we believe in God's willingness to do miracles in our day by whether or not we ask Him to. I do not know of any scripture that says God will stop doing miracles. God yesterday, today and tomorrow unchanged .... greater works than these you shall do .... and of course the fact I have seen God do miracles in my own life and in those of others. Try, (test) and see if the Lord is good, we can regain an active faith in the God of miracles by deciding we want to and by asking Him. Also by hearing others testimonies and by reading the scriptures.

Q4. In your own words, how would you explain why circumcision is now obsolete for Christians and that baptism is now sign of the covenant? Circumcision is now obsolete because the sign of our covenant with God is now spiritual, it became that way when the Holy Spirit was poured out on both Jew and Gentile. Circumcision was the outward sign of a Jew being of Jewish faith, baptism is the outward sign of our Christian faith.

Q3. What does it mean to have your heart circumcised? Why is this a necessity for all true believers, both Jew and Christian? How can we keep our faith active as an inward expression of love rather than become only an external religion? Have you ever struggled with this? To have your heart circumcised means that you are aware of the need to live a holy life in fellowship with our Lord. That you have promised to do so and you are in a covental relationship with Him. It is necessary for all believers because outward signs are not enough, outward work is not enough, it must be real and on the inside where no one but God can see. We keep our faith active as an inward expression of love by living a life of worship of our Lord. Prayer, meditation on scripture and bible study help but they do not necessarily keep our faith active. We need both the Spirit and the truth to truly worship Him. Yes, there have been times in my walk where all the outward trappings were there but inside my faith wasn't active like I needed it to be. Repentance restores it.