masika
-
Posts
847 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by masika
-
-
Q3. (Luke 9:57-61) Why was Jesus so harsh with those who made excuses when called to follow him? Why is the call so urgent? Why do our excuses seem so trivial when offered to Jesus?
Jesus was harsh because He need Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can
-
Q2. (Luke 14:15-24) In what way is the Parable of the Great Banquet about grace? In what way is it about judgment? In what way is it about evangelism? To what End Time event does the great banquet point??
God has made a great provision for the salvation of men's souls.
God
-
Q1. (Luke 14:15-24) In the Parable of the Great Banquet, who do the original guests represent? Who do the later invited guests represent? What does it mean to "compel them to come in" (KJV)? How might this sense of urgency apply today?
The original guests represent the leaders of Israel who are rightfully the first to be invited. They thought they were good enough by keeping God
-
Q4. How do you think Jesus will hold you personally accountable on Judgment Day for using your "talents"? If you begin to be more faithful from now on, how do you think that may affect his accounting on that Day?
From the time of the creation of mankind, each individual has been entrusted with resources of time and material wealth. Everything we have comes from God and belongs to Him. We are responsible for using those resources so that they increase in value. As Christians, we have additionally the most valuable resource of all
-
Q3. When we are successful, to whom does the fruit of our labors belong? In what sense are we independent entrepreneurs? In what sense are we stewards of the gifts and "talents" given us? How does the attitude of a self-made person differ from the attitude of a steward?
We are stewards or managers, to whom God has entrusted a portion of his riches. We have the privilege---and responsibility---of taking care of His property and spending his money in ways that please Him.
Recognizing that we are stewards can change our outlook in many ways. Instead of asking, "What do I want to buy?" ask, "Lord, how do you want me to use your resources?"
All that the Father has entrusted to us and all that we earn from the entrustment belongs to our Father. All that we possess has been entrusted to us as his stewards. If we are faithful stewards, he will give us more to manage on his behalf. If we fail to be good stewards, he will remove his talents from our management.
-
Q2. (Matthew 25:15, 21, 23) What are the factors that make up a person's "ability to carry out something"? What percentage of this is raw talent, in your opinion? Why are some who succeed not necessarily the most talented? What factors are keeping you from carrying out what God has entrusted you to do?
The factors that make up a person
-
Q1. (Matthew 25:14-30) What do you think the "talents" represent? If you were to take an inventory of your "talents," what would they be? What spiritual gifts have you been given? What abilities do you have? What Bible knowledge do you have? Where has God placed you in your community? In society? In your profession or industry? In what sense do these "belong" to God rather than to you?
The talents represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and he expects us to invest them wisely until he returns. We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have but how well we use what we have.
-
Q4. (Luke 13:18-20) According to these parables in this lesson, in what ways is the Kingdom small? In what ways does the Kingdom grow? In what ways is the Kingdom door narrow? In what way is the Kingdom banquet, on the one hand, large and diverse, and on the other, selective?
We like to see big things happen. We like incredible success stories that give us hope that we too, could be successful. But the kingdom of God has small beginnings. The mustard seed is extremely small yet, given time, will grow into a large tree. For many of us, we can face anxiety when we try to compare the small seed that God has sown in us with a mature tree that took decades to form. But we must trust in the power of the seed, even when we see no sprout above the ground. As time goes on, we will be surprised as what seemed small and insignificant in our life becomes a place of refuge for many.
The kingdom of God is narrow in that only one person to follow Jesus Christ. Finding salvation requires more concentrated effort than most people are willing to put forth. Obviously we cannot save ourselves
-
Q3. (Luke 13:28-30) The great "feast in the kingdom of God" has guests from all over the world. Who are they? Who will be the ones "thrown out" of the feast? Why will they be excluded?
There will be many surprises in God
-
Q2. (Luke 13:24-27) Why do you think Jesus characterizes the entrance to the Kingdom here as "narrow"? Why will many people "try to enter and will not be able to"? Why would people delay entering until it is too late?
The gate that leads to eternal life is called
-
Q1. (Luke 13:19-21) What is the point of the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven? How would this be encouraging to Jesus' disciples who had expected an instant Messianic Kingdom? How might it be encouraging to people experiencing smallness or poverty in their lives?
The mustard seed was the smallest seed a farmer used. Jesus used this parable to show that the Kingdom has small beginnings but will grow and produce great results.
Jesus used this parable to explain that although Christianity had very small beginnings, it would grow into a worldwide community of believers. When you feel alone in your stand for Christ, realize that God is building a worldwide Kingdom. He has faithful followers in every part of the world, and your faith, no matter how small, can join with that of others to accomplish great things.
The general expectation among Jesus
-
Q2. (Matthew 18:23-35) In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, what is the purpose of contrasting the huge debt with the small one? If we were to put ourselves in the parable, which debt would we owe? Which debt might be owed us? Why was the king insulted by the unmerciful servant's action?
The huge debt was so big that the person was not able to pay even if he worked the whole of his life, and the small debt that person could have paid if he could have been given time.
Because God has forgiven all our sins, we should not withhold forgiveness from others. As we realize how completely Christ has forgiven us, it should produce an attitude of forgiveness toward others. When we don
-
Q1. (Matthew 18:21-22) Jesus says we must forgive 77 times or 490 times. Should we take these numbers literally or figuratively? If figurative, what are they figurative of? What does this teach us about God's willingness to forgive us repeatedly for the same sin?
Jesus was meaning that we shouldn
-
Q4. (John 3:16) Why is this verse so famous? What does it teach us about God? What does it teach us about salvation? Since "entering eternal life" is a synonym for "entering the Kingdom of God," what does this verse teach us about our destiny?
The message of the Good News comes to a focus in this verse. God
-
Q3. (John 3:5-7) What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit"? What do you think "water" refers to? Why have you come to this conclusion? How, then, would you paraphrase "born of water and the Spirit" to best bring out the meaning?
The water may represent the cleansing action of God
-
Q2. (John 3:3-5) What does "entering the Kingdom" have to do with being "born anew"? Which do you think is the best translation here: "born again," "born anew," or "born from above"? Defend your reasoning.
Entering the Kingdom have to do with born a new because born again refers to a "spiritual rebirth" (regeneration) of the human person, contrasted with the physical first birth everyone experiences. This is possible only through Jesus Christ
People will not go to Heaven because of their good deeds, by believing in Jesus Christ a lone.
-
Q1. (John 3:3, 5) What does Jesus teach here about the nature of the Kingdom of God? Do you think Nicodemus understands him? Why or why not?
The Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth.
Nicodemus did not understand this because from the Bible he knew it would be ruled by God, it would be restored on earth, and it would incorporate God
-
Q4. What does Jesus teach us about the value and worth of the Kingdom? Why are we tempted to value it so little? What helps us to appreciate its true value? How might your testimony help a seeking friend to value the Kingdom more?
The Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it.
Nothing is precious than the Kingdom of Heaven, yet God gives it to us as a gift
-
Q3. (Mark 10:22) Why is poverty and self-sacrifice an inadequate religion? Why does Jesus ask the man to follow him? In what senses was this a great privilege that the man was offered? Why did he reject the offer?
We cannot love God with all our heart and yet keep our money to ourselves. Loving him totally means using our money in ways that please him.
This man
-
Q2. (Mark 10:21) Why do you think Jesus requires the rich young ruler to divest himself of his fortune? Why does this trouble us so much? If there was no other way for the man to be saved, what does that say about the spiritual dangers of wealth?
Jesus did want anything like possessions or money to keep the rich young ruler from following Him. We must remove all barriers to serving him fully.
-
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?
The Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it. The man who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found it. The merchant was earnestly searching for the pearl of great value, and when he found it, he sold everything he had to purchase it.
The treasure of the kingdom. We don't find it. It finds us and buys us. But once we are found and bought, we are willing to give it our complete and total devotion.
-
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?
Christ
-
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?
Life will be going on as usual on the day Christ returns. There will be no warning. Most people will be going about their everyday tasks, indifferent to the demands of God. They will be as surprised by Christ
-
Q2. (Luke 17:22-24) What do Jesus' words about lightning teach us about the nature of the coming of his Kingdom?
This teaches us that when Jesus returns, His Power and presence will be evident to everyone. No one will need to spread the message because all will see for themselves. Christ
Q4. Call to the Great Banquet
in 10. The Call to the Kingdom (Luke 14:12-24; 9:57-62)
Posted
Q4. What does the call to the Great Banquet sound like when we extend the invitation to those around us? In what sense are we the servants told to "compel them to come in"? In what sense are we those who have been called to the feast in the Kingdom of God?
In the gospel, abundant provisions are made for the spiritual wants of mankind
God's invitation is extended to everyone
God's invitation is free and full, and urgently presented by the Lord Jesus Christ
Those who refuse the invitation will be excluded from the feast
It is the duty of everyone to immediately and gratefully accept and obey the invitation of Christ