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Q3. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11) According to these verses, what is the purpose of God increasing your “store of seed”? How do greed and generosity differ from each other? What is God’s promise here to generous givers? God's purpose in increasing our “store of seed” is to cause thanksgiving to him. Greed is self-centered, generosity cares about others. God's promise to generous givers is to multiply what is sown.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Why do you think pastors or other church leaders use guilt to try to compel people to give more? Can greed be behind their pressure? Why is pressure incompatible with worship? What does cheerfulness while giving say about the condition of a person’s heart? Any pastor or church leader who uses guilt to compel people to give more doesn't trust God for finances and doesn't know much about love or faith, they use guilt because because of their own lack of spiritual maturity and their worldliness. Greed could be behind their pressure in some cases. Pressure is not of God so its incompatible with worship of him. Cheerfulness speaks of freewill, faith and love.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Does the Scripture teach that material blessing results from giving generously to God’s work? Why are we so careful to reinterpret this as referring mainly to spiritual blessing? If you compared your own actual giving to God’s work to a tithe (10%) of your income, would it look generous? Yes, the scripture does teach that we will be materially blessed from giving generously to God's work. Some people may think it's more spiritual to expect only spiritual blessing. Sometimes I give only a little, other times I give large amounts, I try to be led by the Lord.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 8:21-22) What is the balance between living our lives wholly before God without being men-pleasers, and doing what is right in the sight of men? We must first love and serve God and live to please him, when our lives are pleasing to God and we love our neighbor, men will see our good deeds and God will get the glory.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 8:9) What riches did Christ have according to this verse? How did he become poor? In what way were we poor? In what way have we become rich? Christ was rich because the Earth is the Lords and everything in it, he had everything before the incarnation, and does again now. He became poor by being born as a man into a poor family. We were poor in spirit, we become rich through the exchange at the cross and through us entering into the New Covenant.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 8:4, 7-9, 19) What does grace have to do with giving? What does giving look like when it isn’t accompanied by grace? What does it look like when grace prompts your giving? Grace is from God and when giving is inspired by God we will give give in love and concern for others with joy. Giving without grace can be done grudgingly and compulsively and will lack generosity.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) Why is it so difficult to give when we are stressed by circumstances and bills and pressures? What can we learn from the example of the Macedonians and the poor widow? How will this lesson affect your own giving? It is so difficult because we live so much in the natural realm and are affected so much by our circumstances. The Macedonians and the poor widow gave freely by faith and joyfully, they knew God was in it and he blessed the gift and the givers. I try to keep open to God in giving, occasionally I give large amounts when I feel led to do so. I want to be a channel of finance and blessing to whomever God chooses.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 7:5) What are the distinctions between fear, faith, and courage? Why is being honest about our fears better than pretending we don’t have any fears? How did Paul deal with his fears? Fear looks at the circumstances and is the opposite to faith which looks to God and trusts him for the outcome. The devil uses fear as a weapon against us to rob our faith and peace. Courage is refusal to give in to fear and to trust God in despite of fear. We need to be honest about these things or the devil can use them to trap us. Paul took comfort in God who sent Titus to comfort him and tell him of the Corinthians desire, mourning and mind toward Paul.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) What kind of separation is Paul calling the Corinthians to? How can they strike a balance between separating themselves from sinful practices that mess up their spiritual lives while at the same time maintaining friendships with pagan neighbors and co-workers? Paul is calling the Corinthians to be totally separated from their old sinful way of life. They can be friends with their pagan neighbors without compromising holiness by refusing to partake in any ungodly activities, they need clear boundaries which they must not cross. That means leaving physically sometimes, and being outspoken in love sometimes. They need to be prayerful and uncompromising.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) What are the reasons Paul gives us – both in his letter and by quoting Old Testament scriptures – that we should live holy lives? What kinds of temptations did the Corinthians face in their notorious city. We should live holy lives because we are the temple of the living God. If we are holy God will receive us and he will be a father to us. The Corinthians faced the temptations of sexual immorality and idolatry.

Q1. (2 Corinthians 6:3-13) Why do you think Paul shares so much about his various struggles with the Corinthians? How does this help them accept his apostleship as authentic? Have you ever complained about what you’ve had to put up with in your ministry? How does it compare to what Paul faced? He shares about his various struggles to encourage the believers, but especially to authenticate his apostleship. Paul's example of faithfulness in struggles and his letter to the Corinthian believers proves his apostleship is authentic. I have complained at things that are insignificant compared to what Paul faced.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2) If you, then, are called to be an urgent agent of reconcilia-tion, how is this likely to affect your daily life? How will it affect how people perceive you? How will it affect how God perceives you? As an agent of reconciliation, I need to be praying for others and reading the Bible, I need to be constantly ready to talk with those unsaved people around me. People notice I'm different and I want God to be pleased with me.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:21) In what sense did Jesus “become sin” on our behalf? In what sense do we “become righteousness”? The Father laid all the sins of the world upon Jesus, so he who had never sinned became sin as an atoning sacrifice for us. Because of this atoning sacrifice and the innocence of Jesus the Lamb of God, we are able to become the righteousness of Christ in God. It is the divine exchange made at the cross, the wisdom of God. Thank you Jesus!

Q4. (Romans 8:35-36) What kinds of perils were the early Roman Christians likely exposed to? What kinds of perils are Christians exposed to today? How does this passage reassure us? In what sense do we Christians "overwhelmingly conquer" (NASB) despite the obstacles we face? The early Roman Christians were terribly persecuted and many suffered imprisonment and martyrdom in the arena under Nero and other evil rulers。Christians today are still persecuted in many countries suffering discrimination and imprisonment， beatings， torture， martyrdom。 Most Christians in the Western world have different perils， for example the distractions of the entertainment industry， materialism， money and power are also big distractions， and not just in the West， I live in China and these things are many peoples ’god‘ here。 No matter what we are going through， God is with us and present to help us， he gives us the grace and is with us in the trials。We are able to “overwhelmingly conquer” because God works in every situation in our lives and is in us， and Christ has conquered everything even death。And when we die we will go to heaven！

Q3. (Romans 8:31-32) What is the significance of the statement: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Who might our enemies be? What is the evidence presented that God is for us? How does this statement make you feel? How does it affect hope? How does it allow you to act? What might: "...graciously give us all things" refer to? God is all knowing and all powerful and loves us. God opposes those who oppose us and curses those who curse us, he is our shield. What enemies? They are tools in God's hand to bring about his purpose. The best evidence that God is for us is verse 32 'He spared not his own son 。。。shall he not with him give us all things？‘ This gives us great hope，it frees us from fear and increases faith and boldness. God is our gracious heavenly father and freely give us blessing， protection， guidance， help， comfort etc。 and the rest。。All things！ Awesome！ What a great God we serve。

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) How have we humans been reconciled to God? What did God do so that reconciliation could take place? In what sense are you an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God? In what sense are you a Minister of Reconciliation for Jesus Christ? We have been reconciled to God by the atoning sacrifice of God's own son. As a son of God I am an ambassador of his kingdom, in the same way the a prince represents the king. God has given us the ministry of reconciliation for Jesus Christ.

Q2. (Romans 8:29) What does it mean to "be conformed to the likeness of his Son"? In practical terms, what does that involve in our lives? Why does Paul support this statement with ideas of our destiny? Why does he support this with ideas of brotherhood with Jesus? To "be conformed to the likeness of his Son" means to become like Jesus. In practical terms it means loving God and being in the calling of God, it means giving our lives to him and co-operating with him in the process of being conformed. It is our destiny because it's always been God's plan for us. We have been adopted by God and as our heavenly father he wants us to become like his perfect son, Jesus.

Q1. (Romans 8:28) What is the actual promise contained in verse 28? What does this promise mean? Put it in your own words. What are the two qualifications to the recipients of this promise? How does verse 28 give you hope? The promise is that all things will work together for our good. It means that God will work every circumstance, every situation and every detail in our lives to our good. The two qualifications are that we love God and are in God's calling; that is his will and plans for our lives. Verse 28 gives me hope because as verse 31 puts it "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Q1. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) What does verse 17 teach us about the nature of a new believer? What changes in a person when he puts his faith in Christ? Why don’t old habits disappear immediately if everything has become new? The new believer has been given a new nature from God. When a person puts their faith in Christ they receive this new nature and the old nature has passed away. Old habits don't disappear immediately because we still live in this body of flesh that needs to be submitted to and lead by the new nature. As we submit to God, read and study the scriptures and pray and just spend time in God's presence and at the same time deny the flesh, the new nature grows and the old one fades away.

Q5. (Romans 8:18-25) In what sense do we expect to experience God's glory when Christ comes? How will the suffering creation experience God's glory? How will our mortal bodies experience God's glory? In what way will our spirits experience God's glory? When Christ comes his glory will be manifested so much that it will transform us and the creation itself will be transformed, because the curse will be lifted. I believe our mortal bodies will be transformed in to immortal bodies like Christ's. The glory will flow through us and our spirits.

Q4. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11a) How does Paul’s mention of the Judgment Seat of Christ fit the context here? How should our belief that we Christians will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for our works affect (1) our desire to please him? (2) Our motivation to persuade people to receive Christ? We Christians will stand before the judgement seat of Christ to be judged for our works, we will get rewards or for some a telling off. This should motivate us more to please him, it should remind us of the seriousness of our calling, there are people all around us that don't know Christ and are on their way to hell, if we don't tell them the gospel.

Q4. (Romans 8:24-25) What are the characteristics of a person who has lost hope? How does this person typically conduct his life? How does this differ from a person who holds an eager expectation of a better future? What is the "Christian hope"? How should it motivate us and affect our lives now? Some one who has lost hope will lose the joy of living, they won't smile much, they won't feel motivated, they will be sad. This person will have a negative mindset and outlook, they will not be some one that people want to be around. Our "Christian hope" is our heavenly home and our reward in heaven, we should live with our minds fixed on that and serving our Lord, bringing hope to those around us.

Q3. (2 Corinthians 5:7) What does it mean to walk by faith, not by sight? Why can’t nonbelievers understand this kind of living? What aspects of your life are guided by your senses rather than by your faith? How can you bring a faith perspective into these areas? To walk by faith means to trust God, to take him at his word, to obey the promptings of the Spirit and to keep our minds fixed on heaven and God. I'm guided by my senses in areas like daily routines, habits and any area not properly yielded to God, like some past hurts when I think about them too much. I keep applying scripture and asking God for help, it is a process.

Q3. (Romans 8:26-27) How does the Holy Spirit act as a Helper or Mediator or Intercessor in verses 26-27? What similarities do you see between the Holy Spirit's ministry here with Jesus' teaching of the Spirit's ministry as Counselor/Comforter/Paraclete in John 14:16 and 15:26)? Why do you think we tend to take the Holy Spirit for granted or fail to understand His ministry to and through us? When we don't know how or what to pray for the Spirit helps us because he is God in us and is our helper. Romans 8:26-27 are a fulfillment of John 14:16 and 15:26. We tend to take the Holy Spirit for granted or fail to understand his ministry when we don't fully surrender our lives and don't spend the time with him in prayer and communion. Familiarity can also cause us to take him for granted to a degree.

Q2. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) How do Paul’s words comfort you when you consider your death? What do Christians believe happens when we die? What will happen to us if we die before Christ returns? What will happen to us when Christ returns? When I die I will go to be with the Lord, which is better by far, that is very comforting and takes the fear out of death. I we die before Christ returns our spirit and soul go to heaven, when Christ returns our spirit and souls will be reunited with our resurrected, glorified bodies.