Sue

Lesson 9 Q 2 (a) The basis of Paul's contentment is drawing upon Christ's power for strength. He could see life from God's point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. He had his priorities straight and was grateful for everything God had given him. He detached himself from nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal. ( This contentment do not undermine ambition. If we are contented we are more likely to succeed. Out priorities will be straight. © Necessary for us to achieve this kind of contentment is it lies in our perspective, our priotities, and our source of power.

Lesson 9 Q 1 (a) A "prosperity doctrine" can threaten a Christian ministry by people will be accepting Jesus for prosperity instead of believing what He has done for us. A "prosperity doctrine" is not the full Gospel. ( The prime motivation in us that such a teaching often appeals is having a worry-free life, (so we think). Everything taken care of with money. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in our life. Through the Gospel message, money or possessions is not what will make us happy, only a life in Jesus Christ will and it will more than fill that empty place. © The Bible teaches about poverty and riches is to be content in whatever state we are in. Jesus is with us in both poverty and in riches. Amen? The secret is drawing upon Christ's power for strength.

Lesson 8 Q 4 (a) Why is mind control necessay for success? Mind control is necessary for success because if we do not learn to control our mind we will lose, we will fail, we will be in bad trouble. ( For mental and spiritual peace? Mind control is necessary for mental and spiritual peace because if we do not learn to control our mind it will be difficult to focus on God and our relationship with Him. We will be failing to trust Him. We will not have any peace without controling our minds to think healthy thoughts. We will be in bad shape, spiritually. We will not experience the peace that God promises us. © What have you decided to focus on instead of your anxieties? What I have decided to focus on instead of my anxieties is God's Word. I am trying to study and asking God for understanding through this Bible Study ( Thank you Dr. Ralph F. Wilson for being obedient to God). I also listen to Joyce Meyer's tapes while I am doing my housework. When I am called to do work for the Lord I do it. I try to focus my mind on positive things (which is God's way) instead on negative things (Satan's way). Amen? (d) How is this working for you? This is really working for me because it relaxes me and takes my mind off my worries and anxieties. It also gives me a really good feeling. PEACE!

Lesson 8 Q 3 (a) Making our requests known to God helps build a relationship and trust by having a conversation with God deepens our relationship and trust with Him. By making request to God we are trusting our Heavenly Father and turning only to Him to meet our needs. It shows who we rely on to bring us peace. ( God's part in the promise of peace is when we pray with thanksgiving, God's peace will guard our hearts and mind. God will provide security over our mind and His peace will banish turmoil and worry.

Lesson 8 Q 2 (a) Request in prayer is altered by the presence of thanksgiving in the prayer by offering thanksgiving we are expressing our gratitude and thanks to God in our past situations thus expecting God to answer in the presence situation. We are showing God our faith and I believe He is willing to answer our prayers on our behalf if we have the presence of thanksgiving. ( Thanksgiving affects our faith as we pray by thanksgiving is the language of faith. It shows our faith and also remembers God's faithfulness. It encourages and lifts us up.

Lesson 8 Q 1 (a) Is rejoicing in the Lord a feeling or an action? Rejoicing in the Lord is an action. Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Therefore, if Christ is in us, we should be full of joy (like Paul) no matter what situations we are in and our actions should show this. ( How should you seek to fulfill this command if you don't feel like it? Ask the Lord to fill you with this joy and follow His leading. © What is the effect of rejoicing? Joy, Joy, Joy. If Christ dwells within us, no matter what happens, Jesus Christ is with us. It is an attitude of mind in the Lord and towards the Lord.

Lesson7 Q 4 (a) Recongizing and affirming our citizenship and allegiance is vital to discipleship because it remings us that we belong to Christ and as Christians we will one day experience all the special privileges of our heavenly citizenship. ("our conversation is in heaven.") It keeps us from living the worldly way. ( It keeps us from the temptations outlined in verses 18 and 19 by reminding us that our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. Heaven should be our focus, therefore, it keeps our eyes of the world in which we live and gives us the opportunity to serve, and to become the best person we can be. © The dangers of a church combining and confusing the concepts of temporal patriotism with a Christian's true citizenship are: (1) It keeps us from knowing Christ; (2) of being in Christ; (3) of " the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Lesson 7 Q 3 (a) Paul can be so bold as to ask others to imitate him by Paul focused his life on being like Christ. None of the Gospels had yet been circulated, so Paul could not tell them to read the Bible to see what Christ was like. Therefore he urged them to imitate him. Paul his living his life now, wanting to know Christ fully. ( We are so hesitant to do this because we make mistakes and fear keeps us back. © God uses imitation in building disciples by giving us Jesus to imitate. What an example! (d) Likely to imitate me: my family, friends, Sunday School Class, whoever I come in contact with.

Lesson 7 Q 2 (a) What is it like to be called upwards by God? It is a privilege. An invitation. A calling to Salvation. To know Christ fully and to be in perfect relationship with Him. ( Have you ever experienced this? Yes, Amen! © What causes God's call to become dim in our hearing? Looking at our past. Letting Satan attack us. Not forgiving ourselves. (d) How can we renew our hearing of His call? By forgiving ourselves and turning our eyes from the past to the present and future with Christ. (e) What is the content or specifics of this message or summons or call? To know Christ fully. Turning our eyes upon Jesus.

Lesson 7 Q 1 (a) The past can get in the way of our quest to know Christ by it may distract us from being effective Christians. We will lose our focus on the spiritual world and lose our bearings. We will be defeated. Paul was concerned about the Philippians and their disunity; he urged them not to lose ground in the race. ( What we need to "forget" so that we may focus on Christ today and tomorrow is yetersday. The past - looking ahead instead of looking back. © Is there forgiving you need to do so you can grow in Christ? No, not now. About seven or eight years ago, but now that is taken care of and we have moved on, loving each other in the body of Christ. Amen!

Lesson 6 Q 4 (a) What does it mean to "know" Christ? It means a person's relationship with Christ is more important than anything else. To know Christ should be our ultimate goal. We need to consider our values. To "Know" Christ means we do not place anything above our relationship with Christ. Our priorities need to be right. ( Does this mean to have faith? Or to have a personal relationship? I believe it means both. We have to have faith in Christ to begin a relationship. © Is it possible to have a personal relationship with Christ without faith? No. We need faith to begin our relationship. (d) Is it possible to have faith without a personal relationship? No. If we have faith in Christ we will want a personal relationship with Him. If we are truly Christians we will be like Paul and long for an even greater intimacy with Jesus. Our relationship will grow over a lifetime. (e) Where are you on your quest to know Christ? I am trying to spend more time in the Word and Prayer. Asking for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I want my life to be totally for Christ. To Know Him in every way and above everything. Making Christ my top priority.

Lesson 6 Q 3 (a) Righteousness obtained through faith differ from righteousness obtained through law observance by righteousness through faith is accepting God's own acceptance of us. Through faith in Christ, God accepts us as "righteous". Only the covenant of promise, the covenant based on faith in Christ grants us acceptability before God. Righteousness through law observance is by keeping the law, we are relying on our own efforts to establish our acceptance with God. This is doomed to failure. The covenat of the law could never grant acceptability before God. This "righteousness" was available not just to those who possessed the Torah but to all who professed their faith in Christ, including the Gentiles of Philippi. ( How seriously does righteousness by law infect my congregation? I think a lot. My denomination believes if you observe the rituals you are okay. Do whatever you want but partake of Holy Communion and be involved in the different levels of boards/ government in the Church. © How seriously does righteousness by law observance infect Society's view of Christianity in general? Once again a lot, because Christianity do not appear in many cases any different from Society's way of life - relying on our own efforts with no relationship, fellowship or intimacy with Christ. (d) This concept of justification or righteousness by faith is so difficult to grasp because of unbelief. It is to good to be true. It is hard to have faith - trust, confidence that is not from ourselves but from an Almighty God. It is amazing how faith confirms what God has done and activates this Salvation for us. It seems to simple, it is like activating a bank card or telephone card but that is how simple justification/righteousness by faith is. Amen?

Lesson 6 Q 2 (a) Paul isn't merely neutral about his religious pedigree because they are empty in themselves. They do not satisfy the heart. They represent pride and stands in the way of Knowing Christ intimately. ( He considers it loss, dung, an obstacle because it means nothing to him without Christ. © My religious background could be an impediment to my faith by if we went to church; did not hurt anyone; done good, then we were called Christians. Knowing Christ intimately was not preached or taught to us. The Holy Spirit was not preached in our church like it is in other churches. Doctrine was top priority.

Sorry I am later responding to the questions but there is a tragedy. My first cousin's husband went lobster fishing Saturday morning and did not return. Just today (Tuesday) they found the body. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you. Lesson 6 Q 1 (a) "Confidence in the flesh" shows up in my congregation by placing emphasis on religious effort than on internal faith. People's spirituality is judged by their fulfillment of duties or their level of human activity in the church, but God values the attitude of our hearts above all else. Amen? Yes, I have struggled with "confidence in the flesh" and I am sure all humans have sometime or another because we have all boasted in the flesh. It has to do with what man thinks is important and we all want to feel important among our fellowman. It all comes down to our pride.

Lesson 5 Q 4 (a) So far, what seems to be the Philippian church's chief problem is bickering and dissention. ( Paul's description of Timothy's character speak to this problem by Timothy is an effective leader and has a selfless love. He's not out for himself but for the welfare of others and because of this Timothy can help them through their divisions and bickering. © Paul's call to honor men like Epaphroditus speak to this problem by he's a man highly regarded because of status and personal quality. He is honored and respected. With all of these qualities he can direct and help the Philippians with their problems.

Lesson 5 Q 3 (a) The significance of serving Jesus as a "slave" as opposed to serving Him as a preference is when you serve as a "slave" you are as one in total service to Jesus. You are obedient. Serving Jesus as a preference is more like a choice, something preferred over someone else. You preferred Jesus but, (there's always that but). Serving as a "slave" the work of the Gospel will be proclaimed. ( It says about the quality of our service is if we are totally committed then we will serve wholeheartedly, if not then we are bringing Jesus, the Gospel down. © It says about the quality of our commitment is it depends on how much love and devotion we have for Jesus. If we have geniune love then we will be totally commited, if not the commitment will not be there like it should be. (d) What is wrong with leaders who serve out of preference is there's not 100% commitment and this can cause problems. With problems comes hurt. The Church of Christ will be hurt because it will not shine in this darkened world.

Lesson 5 Q 2 (a) The people who have come alongside of me to teach me: A Sunday School Superintendent; two clergy from my early years in my walk with God; both my parents; my husband and son. Also I am attending a church at night (because there is no service at night in the church I am a member of) and the Mrs. Pastor is a great example to me. ( In the church I attend at night there are a few young people that are being trained for youth pastors. They need someone to come alongside of them. © No, I do not have anyone that I am mentoring at the present time. My church that I am a member of do not practice mentoring but the church I attend at night are really involved with taking people under their wings. Who knows, someday God may place me in that position. I know I can mentor without my church. Amen?

Lesson 5 Q 1 (a) Timothy's selfless concern was so rare among church leaders because Timothy allowed Jesus to thoroughly work through him. He was an effective leader who took genine interest in others. He was not self-absorbed or seeking power and control. Timothy had true divine love for people. ( The things that Jesus has to deal with in my life that has helped me to become genuinely selfless and focused on the concerns of others is teaching me the basis of Christianty: Tithing; listening; love; etc. Jesus has also helped me with jealously and envy. He is working on me. Amen! © He has refined me by letting me fly alone like an eagle. I am a low-key person, with no close friends at the present time, seeking and learning about Him, doing work for Him when the doors of opportunity open.

Lesson 4 Q 4 (a) If I were to look at my sufferings as a "drink offering" poured out before God, that honors God by showing others that I live my life for Him. A way of proclaiming the Gospel. ( That brings value to my struggles by totally committing to serve Christ it brings others to Him. Sacrifice for the faith of others is a joyous reward. Amen?

Lesson 4 Q 3 (a) The sense we Christians are to "hold fast" the Word of Life is we are to grasp the Word and not let it go. We are not to drift from one idea to another. "Hold fast" to the Word instead of Societies way. ( The sense we are to "hold forth" this Word of Life is we are to live it, we are to proclaim it, preach and teach this Word of Life. © This relates to the purpose of the church by bringing the Good News to all. The church's purpose is to "hold fast" and "hold forth" the Word of life.

Lesson 4 Q 2 (a) Ceasing complaining and arguing enables a church to shine as stars in a dark sky by it shows it is different from the world. It shows that the church is Christ-like. The unifying power of Jesus Christ is seen. The world will see Christ. ( This shining of stars signify, is a transformed life. A clean, radiant light shining for God. It is a life of moral purity, patience and peacefulness in a crooked and perverse world. © The church I attended before I moved to this town, there was complaining and arguing. Yes, it did compromise the church's witness as a God-place because it caused a lot of gossip in the Community and people did not attend church because they would say, "I'm just as good as those that go to church". Rightfully so! (d) What can be done to change this is take Paul's advice, Cut it out! Stop complaining and aguing! "Become blameless, pure and without fault". This is not easy but repentance and change is of vital importance for the church to become Christ-like, so it can be a witness to the Community. God calls us to a higher standard. Amen!

Lesson 4 Q 1 (a) To "work out your salvation" means in this passage 2:12-13, is the Philippians as a body are to work out their problems and come to unity. ( No, this is not referring to salvation from sin. © The kind of salvation it is referring to is becoming more like Christ (church-wide) and leaving sins behind. Sanctification. Both the life of the Church and the life of the community are to produce the fruit of their salvation, that is, peace, love, and harmony in the spirit.

Lesson 3 Q 4 (a) We know we're supposed to humble ourselves like Jesus did. But how can we know whether or not God will exalt us? We can know whether or not God will exalt us by believing the Scriptures. The climax of the hymn is the early Christian confession, "Jesus Christ is Lord". For Christians there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, who is one with God and shares God's Lordship, therefore if we believe this we will be exalted like our Lord Jesus Christ. ( We get impatient with this because we are human. We get impatient with waiting for God to work in and through us. © Our impatience sometimes leads us to exalt ourselves rather than wait on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lesson 3 Q 3 (a) Was Jesus really a human being or only pretending to be one? Jesus was really a human being. ( What do these verses teach us? These verses teach us that the references to his being in human "likeness" and "appearance" do not mean that He did not become fully human but point to the fact that He was not fully describable in human terms. Though fully human and sharing humanity's likeness, He was more than human; He retained His divine nature as well. © The difference it really makes whether or not Jesus was human is being human we can relate to Jesus. We can feel to some extent His suffering and agony on the Cross. We also know that Jesus because He was human can relate to our situations: Temptation; Death of Loved ones; sickness, etc. Jesus came to live on earth and we know He understands us living as a human being here. It makes a bond, a connection. We can follow Jesus because He set an example for us, He was obedient to God's purposes and He humbled Himself.

Lesson 3 Q 2 (a) Christ didn't cling to his equality with God means He did not snatch it for Himself, it was something that was available to Him. Jesus had his equality with God fully at His disposal but did not take advantage of it. Instead Christ "poured Himself out", sacrificed Himself for others, making Himself nothing. In other words, Christ Emptied Himself. ( This passage teaches that Jesus is diving specificallly by Jesus is God. He completely gave of Himself. Amen!