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Q29. (2 Corinthians 12:7) Why do we often feel so weak in times of sickness or affliction? Why are we tempted to stop ministering to others when we are struggling?\ The human body naturally reacts to pain caused by sickness by exhibiting painful symptoms in line with the pain within. The magnitude of the pain within the body can actually inhibit one’s ability to work effectively. However, we may also find the pain a mere excuse to stop work without learning from Paul who God clearly told him to move on as His grace would be sufficient for him to continue in his ministry.

Q28. (Hebrews 4:16) Why is approaching God's holy throne in prayer intimidating to some people? Why do we sometimes fear judgment and condemnation when we approach God. This may be due to fear or guilt due to sin. In what ways is God's throne the place where he dispenses "mercy and grace"? God’s throne is not only a place for judgment but a place where we obtain mercy and grace especially when we approach him in repentance, worship and specific request. He hears and answer us. In what ways is your home a place where grace is given out? Unfortunately, our generation especially in my country Nigeria, our homes are not as opened to outsiders or even neighbors as during the days of our grandparents. This may be due to higher cost of living. The major reason may be as in my case; I am not like the first church that shared everything they owned. So help me Lord.

Q27. (John 10:27-30; Jude 24-25; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Timothy 4:18; Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Peter 5:10-11) Why do you think there are so many assurances of faith in the New Testament? This is to strengthen the hope of believers and encourage them to keep hanging on despite challenges that may arise. What is your favorite promise of God's role in keeping you in Christ to the end? It is the one that promises that he will never leave me nor forsake me. John 10:27-29, Rom 8:38-39& Hebrews 13:5-6 How does your favorite promise give you powerful assurance of salvation? It helps me to keep holding on despite trials and temptations.

Q26. (1 Peter 1:4-5) How does our faith function alongside God's protection to keep us to the end? How does this show God's grace? Our faith in Christ takes hold of the grace of God and his support through the Holy Spirit to accomplish our deliverance and salvation. This shows God’s grace because we do not merit his supporting initiatives along with the Holy Spirit.

Q25. (John 16:8; 6:44; 6:65) Why is it impossible for people to come to Christ without God's action to convict, draw, and enable them to come? This is impossible to do because without God’s action along with the other members of the trinity, the Holy Spirit who role is to soften man’s heart, Satan’s hold on the individual would be too strong to allow man to yield to Jesus. How does God's preparation illustrate his grace? God’s preparation for a sinful man to come to Christ is by working with the Holy Spirit to soften the heart of a sinful man to see the need for salvation. This demonstrates not only grace but I call it extravagant grace because God initiated our salvation while we are still deep in sin.

Q24. (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-6) How does predestination function with God's grace? I think predestination is all about God taking a decision well in advance and grace is unmerited, undeserved favour. So I think God showed us love well in advance despite the sin we would commit by sending his only son to die for us. What is gracious about predestination? God’s predestination to love and save us from the penalty of sin is gracious because we do not merit it. Why is his grace "glorious"? God’s grace is glorious because it is beautiful and wonderful reflecting his love, mercy and all his nature and attributes, just to save us.

Q. 23. (Romans 8:28-30; 1 Peter 1:1-2) I realize that this is a mystery, but how do you see God's foreknowledge working alongside his ability to predestine? If all this is by grace, how might faith and/or good works fit into this predestination? For me, I always wonder that if one cannot come to Christ until the Father gives him, or draws/ enable him, then why will it be my fault if I did not accept Christ. Please find below my references quoted from Pastor Raplph’s message above: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44) "No one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." (John 6:65) "No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Luke 10:22) ……..I personally want God to enable me to have faith in Jesus and sincerely need the grace of God to understand all these teaching.

Q22. (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12-13; James 2:17) How does the Spirit work in us after we are saved to form Christ in us? The Holy Spirit in us prompts and energises us to do the right thing at the right time. In what ways is this a process of "working out" our salvation? The above is a process of working out our salvation in the sense that we still have a role to play/ act by deciding to act as prompted and energized by the Spirit. Why should you expect a person's life to change when they put their faith in Jesus? We should expect a change in a person’s life after they put their in Jesus because from then onward, the Holy Spirit is available to help the person to change. What is happening if there is no discernable change? If there is no discernable change in a person, he may not be doing his own part or role of working for his salvation by loving others, deciding to obey the Spirit prompting to shun all evil and ways of the people of the world etc.

Q21. (Acts 18:27; Matthew 16:16-17; John 6:44) How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives to prepare us for salvation? He gives us some promptings or little nudges. In what sense is the Spirit's revelation important to faith? I think the Spirit revelation gives us better understanding of our need regarding faith and prompts us to take appropriate action. In what ways have you seen the Father "draw" people to Christ? I personally think that all the times at alter calls etc, people respond to a call to accept Christ, they do so by the Father’s power drawing them. What is the role of "free will" in salvation? God has given us the will to choose or decide what we want to do including choosing to accept eternal life or not. I do sometimes wish that God would not allow me to take any wrong decisions. That he would enable to do only what he wants, and only that which is right.

Q20. (Ephesians 2:8-9) How does the idea of earning salvation by being good enough for God distort the essential gospel? Earning salvation by being good distorts the gospel because the gospel teaches that salvation is not by works but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. With that scenario, what is the need for the cross? The cross is necessary because the shedding of the blood is necessary for the remission of sin-our sin. However, God’s grace and mercy made Jesus to die on our behalf and all we need to do is to put our faith in Christ to avail ourselves our salvation. How does it affect a sense of self-righteousness? Of pride? Of looking down on others rather than loving them? The finished work of Jesus on the cross paid the penalty of our sin. There is therefore no place for our self-righteousness, pride or any reason for anyone to look down on others. Why is this kind of works-righteousness so ingrained in people? How does an understanding of salvation by grace change this picture? The human nature is inclined to thinking of salvation by merit and works. We however need the help of the holy spirit to help us remember always that salvation is by the grace of God and by faith in Jesus alone.

Q19. (Ephesians 2:8) From what have we been rescued by God's grace? We have been saved from judgment resulting into death sentence due to our sin. How has God personally rescued you from your situation before Christ? God loved us while we were yet sinners and sent his only begotten son who was sinless to pay the penalty of my sin and die on my behalf. What did God's favor have to do with your salvation? My salvation is due God’s grace and favour, unmerited.

Q18. (Romans 3:24; John 1:29; Mark 10:45; Isaiah 53) In what sense is Jesus a sacrifice for our sins? Jesus is a sacrifice for our sins in a similar way in the old testament when animals were sacrificed to atone for the sin of an individual. Why is he punished for our sins instead of us? God graciously allowed Jesus his son and the only lamb that was wholesome and without sin to be able to take our sin upon himself once and for all. Animal sacrifice would have to be repeatedly carried out. Why is he called the Lamb of God? Jesus is called the lamb of God because he is the son of God who had to shed his blood for the remission of our sin.

Q17. (Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:17-19) In what sense have we been redeemed from slavery? We are sinful by our nature from Adam and thus slaves to sin. But Jesus paid the price with his blood to buy us back to God as his Children. What slavery have we been freed from? We have been freed from slavery to sin and its death penalty. What was the price of our manumission or freedom? The blood and life of Jesus Christ In what sense are we free? We are freed from the death penalty of our sin if we did accept Christ. In what sense are we still slaves? We probably are still struggling to remain absolutely free of sin and usually fall and rise up again.

Q16. (Romans 3:22-23; Romans 5:12-14; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9) Is humankind basically "good" because of the image of God in us? Or basically evil because of deceitful hearts and our corrupt nature ("flesh") that is "bent to sinning"? The human being is by nature sinful due to the Adamic nature but thank God for his grace that makes us acceptable as the redeemed of the Lord through faith in Christ.

Q15. (Luke 18:18-27) How does the story of the rich young ruler show the impossibility of salvation without a miracle of God? Why does Jesus use a rich and outwardly righteous man to make this point? Where does grace show through? Salvation is not by works or deeds but grace of God that is undeserved hence the rich man could not qualify to go to heaven by mere observance of the laws.

Q14. (Luke 23:39-43) How does the story of the thief on the cross illustrate salvation by faith? How does it show the triumph of grace over sin to those who don't deserve it? The story of the thief on the cross illustrates salvation by faith because the thief believed that Jesus who was suffering for no just cause had the power to forgive his sin thus his request to be remembered when he resurrected. This story shows that grace always triumph over sin to those who do not deserve it.

Q13. (Luke 15:11-31) What does the Parable of the Prodigal Son teach us about God? About repentance? About grace? The parable of the prodigal son teaches us that God is extravagantly gracious as he could forgive what may seem to a human mortal, an impossible thing to do- to forgive such a great miss conduct/ offence. The parable also teaches us that God is ready to forgive us no matter the magnitude of the sin if we genuinely repent. And this big heart of God is due to grace extravagant that is available to a genuine repentant soul.

Q12. (Matthew 18:21-35) In what way does the king show grace in this parable. The king showed grace by cancelling all the huge debts of the servant. How does the forgiven servant withhold grace? The forgiven servant that was forgiven so much could not forgive his fellow servant who owed just a little but sent him into prison until he could pay back every dime. Can we call ourselves Jesus' disciples if we withhold grace according to Matthew 18:35 and Matthew 6:12-15? No.

Q11. (Luke 10:25-37) Why do you think Jesus sets up the hero of the parable as a Samaritan? How does the Samaritan show undeserved favor? He did so to buttress his teaching on unmerited and undeserved favour or grace. In your community, who are the "neighbors" that are resented? In recent times in some parts of my country Nigeria, some people particularly the new generation now show some segregation and discrimination against one another on religious basis. This was not so many years ago when we had good friends and neighbors from different faith that we related very well. I still have my some of my Primary and secondary school classmates that we still relate as friends even in our seventies despite the differences in religion. But politics seem to be creating deep division based on tribal or religious basis. This sometimes cause hatred and resentment that sometimes lead to serious clashes and destruction of lives and property among some communities. In what ways can you and/or your Christian community show God's grace to them? By extending gracious Christ-like love to them and also let our conduct and character be the Bibles they can read and know that we are children of light that love them.

Q10. (John 3:16) How does John 3:16 display "favor that is neither earned nor deserved" without using the word 'grace'? What is the relationship between grace and giving? What motivates the gift in this verse? How does this relate to grace? John 3:16 displays favour that is neither earned nor deserved without using the word ‘grace’ by just emphasizing the magnitude of God’s love that made him give his dear son to die for us while were still sinners. Grace leads to giving unconditionally. This gift is unmerited and is thus by grace.

Q9. According to Bonhoeffer, what attitudes cheapen the understanding of grace in Christians? Does "costly grace" mean we have to work for it? What is costly about grace? It is the wrong attitude of man to think and engage in sin with impunity believing that grace means to still have the license to wallow in sin while being a Christian. Costly grace does not mean we have to work to earn grace. It however means that grace will motivate us to walk with Jesus and work for him to bring others to him and also do good works for others.

Q8. (Jeremiah 17:9) Is there good in humankind? Are humans basically good or basically bad? Or both? What are some of the ways a "deceitful heart" shows up in our lives and motivations? If the heart is the innermost person, how does a "deceitful heart" corrupt us in a pervasive way? Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the heart of man has been sinful and desperately wicket without any good outside Christ. But thank God for his grace that makes us in the Lord Jesus whole and acceptable as his children that are wholesome.

Q7. (Ephesians 2:1-3) What do these verses teach us about humankind's fallen nature? What motivates our actions before we come to Christ? Which of these motivations might be conscious? Which might be unconscious? We were dead and slain by our trespasses and sin as the Amplified version said. Satan was having a field day ordering us here and there to do his bidding that also appeared or seemed good and pleasant in our eyes before the Lord Jesus came to our rescue.

Q6. (Romans 5:6-8) What do verses 6-8 say about humankind's situation? What is so remarkable about Christ's death for us? What motivates that sacrifice? The situation of mankind was enmity with God as we were sinners and not worthy for any favour or acts of love from God. The remarkable thing about Christ death for us is that he willingly agreed to die in our place so that we would be ransom from the penalty of sin which is death. The motivation for this sacrifice is love by the extravagant grace of God.

Q5. (Romans 5:1-2) What does it mean to be in a state of grace? According to the text, what is the role of faith in this? What is the opposite of "peace with God"? To be in a state of grace is to be acceptable by God not because we earn it nor do we qualify. Faith in the Lord Jesus opens the gateway to this Grace so amazing. The opposite of "peace with God"is to be in the state of "hostility with God".