tom.nabors

Q1. (Matthew 13:44-46) What do the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price have in common? What is the main point of these parables? How should it affect our values? Our lives? They both compare the Kingdom of Heaven to items of huge value, that a person would give up anything to possess. It should effect us and our values the way Paul expresses it in Philippians 3:7,8.

Q4. (Luke 17:33-36) What does our passage teach about the separation and judgment that will occur when the Kingdom comes? How should this affect our lives? Our testimony? Our love for our neighbors? It will happen in the twinkling of the eye. It will be too late for repentence and turning to God, believing the Gospel. Therefore, we must be ready. In other words, TODAY is the day of salvation, this hour, this minute. Don't put it off! It should affect us to implore our unbelieving neighbors with the truth of the Gospel, that is if we love them.

Q3. (Luke 17:24-32) What indications does Jesus give in this passage that he will suddenly come in his Kingdom without further warning? What are the implications of this for our attitude? For our lives? It will be sudden and cataclysmic. It will not be expected. There will be no warning. The desctruction will be so swift and thorough that it will not make sense to even try to go home if you are out. Instead of turning back because we long for things of this world, as Lot's wife did, we should look forward to the Day of the Lord.

Q2. (Luke 17:22-24) What do Jesus

Q1. (Luke 17:21) In what sense was the Kingdom of God present in the Person and ministry of Jesus? In what sense is the Kingdom of God present today? The Kingdom of God is present in Jesus because King Jesus gathered disciples, ministered to people, called people into His kingdom. The Kingdom of God is present today in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Q4. (Matthew 11:12; Luke 16:16) Admittedly, this is a hard passage to interpret. However, if you take the

Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to

Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can

Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so? Worries/cares seem to be the thorn that is most dangerous because anxiety or worry shows a lack of faith and the cares of the world can be greater than our love for God.

Q4. Why is repentance so central to the Kingdom of God? Why is baptism important to converts to the King? Can Christ reign in an unrepentant heart? Repentance means turning away from our old life of sin. We cannot be serious about the Reign of Christ if we don't turn from our sins. To pretend to follow Jesus while we are still living in sin is an affront to his Kingship over us. Baptism is our public proclamation of repentance and being symbolically washed, cleansed or overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. If Jesus saw the need to "fulfill all righteousness" in this way, we should to show solidarity with Him. Repentance also means acceptance of the Lordship of Christ. It means no longer conforming to the world but renewing the mind in conformance to Christ.

Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repenting of their known sins? Why do people avoid repentance? What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart? Based on Scripture, it would seem to be impossible for someone to become a true believer without first repenting. As far as we know from the Gospels, Jesus' first public speaking began with repent before He said believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). In Acts 2, Peter told those asking him "what shall we do?" to "Repent and be baptized...". So, if people adopt the Christian faith without repenting, that faith would not be genuine. People avoid repentance because they do not really want to turn from the sin they love. I would hesitate to guess a percentage but it is probably much higher in a country that does not persecute Christians.

I would more readily ask for repentance each day and thank God for keeping me in the belief that Jesus Christ is the only way, that He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. I would ask that He keep me in the way of the Spirit instead of the way of the sinful nature. This passage helps me in my witness so that I witness only with the Gospel. This passage absolutely denies Universalism.