Joeraja

How might you describe Christ’s glory? Christ will be coming in all glory, in awesome power, bright and shining with the whole world as His witnesses. How will his glory be terrifying to unbelievers? It will be very terrifying for in an instant they will know that they will be facing the wrath of God and try to run to the mountains to hide between the rocks. The awesome Glory and Splendour of our Lord will be blinding and they will be scampering to get away. If heaven involves sharing this glory forever, what would it be like to be excluded forever from the glory? I can't quite imagine let alone describe how it would be to be excluded forever from the presence of the Lord. Being in the lake of fire without any respite alone is enough to terrify anyone. Add to that forever ! Just can't imagine In what ways is the phrase “outer darkness” a helpful description of hell? It does help to picture that hell will be a very dark place void of light. You will never know from where or which direction danger and suffering is going to come from. It will be totally unbearable.

According to verse 9, what kind of punishment will unbelievers experience? They will experience everlasting destruction and be separated from the Lord. This is a conscious punishment and will be everlasting. One definition of “hell” is “a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.” What parts of this definition are confirmed in verse 9. Verse 9 says that they will face everlasting destruction and face a separation from God whic confirms that the punishment will be everlasting and the will be in a place where God is not present Which parts of the definition trouble you? Why? I have no trouble believing in the Word that clearly states that the unbelievers will face condemnation and everlasting punishment in hell.The fact that the suffering is everlasting troubles me because I have many friends and relatives who don't seem to understand the severity of their decisions not to receive the saving Grace of God by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I have to pray very hard and try to bring as many of them to Christ.

Would God be just if he did not punish sin? For God the Almighty is all knowing. Our God is a just God. Although we have been taught that all sins will be punished, it still God's Judgment. His decisions whether to punish or not will be just. He is a God of Mercy and full of compassion for He did not punish us for our sins but instead gave up His only begotten Son as a ransom to to redeem us of our sins. What is the difference between rehabilitation and retribution? Rehabilitation refers to any action to help the wrong doer realise his mistakes and make amends to change his life to be a better person. The main focus is to help the person overcome his or her weaknesses and turn over a new leaf Retribution on the other hand is to pay back a person's wrong doing. It is based on the 'eye for eye' principle. If someone has sinned or done wrong it is only fair that he is made to pay back or compensate. Retribution is being legalistic When does a Christian’s rehabilitation take place? A Christian's rehabilitation takes place when he realises his mistakes and sins and repents and allows the Holy Spirit to minister unto him and be a transformed person. When does a sinner’s retribution take place? A sinner's retribution takes place once he dies and faces the Judgment Day. But the bible also says the "he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6-7). Thus this retribution can also happen on earth How do you balance love and justice? Paul has outlined some guidelines to help us balance love and justice. That is being slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness just as Jesus as commanded us to do.

In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? Persecution, pressure and stress increases our faith because in most instances our human ability would not be enough to face, overcome and persevere. When we go through persecution and pressures we realise that only our faith can help us rise above those problems. It is a testing ground for our faith in Jesus Christ. When we come through victorious it increases our faith and get closer to God. What would we be like without the testing of our faith? Without testing we will never know what true faith is. It may be easy to state our commitment to and faith in Christ when everything is going well according to plan. But when faced with persecution many of us may backslide or back out as our faith hasn't been tested and we fear the world It is during these testing times that we know how strong our faith is. Even Peter denied knowing Jesus when faced with imminent arrest. We howerever do not have to endure such severe tests to increase our faith. Even ordinary day-to-day problems tests our Christian faith.

If you met a true Christian who had no assurance of salvation, how would you explain to him or her God’s power to protect and present them blameless before Christ at his coming? I am not sure what a true Christian means as obviously a true Christian would have had the assurance of salvation. But if it is in reference to a Christian who has not understood salvation then I would explain to him that salvation is a gift from God and will never be taken away. The moment we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are granted salvation through God's grace. With salvation also comes the gift of the Holy Spirit which will help us to lead a holy life and present blameless before Christ. God's power works through the Holy Spirit. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us or to empower us. What is the problem of having no assurance of salvation? Having no assurance of salvation means that we have no hope to be part of God's Kingdom, as we who have the assurance of salvation are the sons of God. No assurance of salvation also means that we cannot overcome sin and will be unable to lead a holy life. Thus we will face condemnation on Judgment Day What is the problem of having a false assurance of salvation? False assurance is believing in "once a Christian always a Christian". They believe that salvation alone is enough to save us and the life we lead after that is inconsequential. This would be living in deception. Salvation is given to us by the grace of God and is an encounter with God, marking the beginning of our Christian walk. We have to continue to work our Christian life to remain holy until we are presented blameless before the Lord.

Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? I believe churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy due to their doctrines not believing in prophecy or simply their inability to deal with it. Sometimes there are too many people who prophecy and it results in disorder. The people who prophecy also lead questionable lives. There are also conflicting prophecies, and the congregation gets confused. This leads many to be wary of prophesies. What guidelines doe Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy? First of all Paul says that there should be order in the church and that prophecy should be tested. There should be a critical examination of prophecies to ensure that it is in agreement with the scripture and that it doesn't take us astray. We need to discern whether it is from God or from the individual. Prophesies should encourage and build the church.

In your own words explain how a person can rejoice and pray continually. One can rejoice continually if we focus all the blessings we have received from our God. Sometimes we get side tracked when we are focused on the problem rather than the faithfulness and generosity of our God. God has kept us from harm and blessed us with a family, friends with resources and thus have so much to be thankful. Praying continually will be to be thankful for everything we have and trust God to help us face all the challenges and battles ahead. We communicate with God praising and thanking Him, as we make our requests to Him. We also need to remember our loved ones. friends, people in need, our church leaders,and the nation in our prayers. Are there any circumstances we might be in the midst of where we should not give thanks to God? No. I do not believe that God makes mistakes! Not wanting to thank God is subtley saying that God has made a mistake. We may not be in a favourable situation but God is always there with us to help us pull through.

What happens to people who seek revenge on those who hurt them? People who seek revenge continue to increase the animosity between themselves and others. This tit for tat response will increase the hurts and they will all end up miserable What happens when they neglect to forgive those who have wronged them? Unforgiveness robs the people the joy and victory in living a Christian life. What happens in a congregation that has an unloving, superior attitude towards outsiders? How do these attitudes reflect on Christ? The outsider will feel 'small' and may not return to the church. If they are non-believers they will be getting the wrong impression of christians and it will be difficult to win them for Christ later. This attitude surely doesn't reflect Christ as Christ has taught us to love one another and be humble. How can people or congregations get healthy after have been vengeful, proud, or unforgiving? We can always turn back to Christ through the repentence of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of our lives. It means that we have to spend more time reading and meditating on the Word and lead prayerful lives.

What happens in a congregation when people don’t show respect for their leaders? When the congregation don't show respect for their leaders they will not trust or support the leaders' plans and aspirations. They (the leaders) will have no say in determining the direction the church growth should take. It thus will affect the spiritual and physical growth of the church.The congregation loses out. What happens when the disrespectful spread their disrespect? There will be disunity and will give rise to factions, with each faction trying to grab the leadership and chaos will result. Some members may decide to leave when the church climate is unhealthy. Will getting rid of the leader fix the problem, or is there something deeper going on here? Well it all depends on who the source of the problem is, the congregation or the leaders. A change of leadership may help if the leaders are the source of the problem. Having said that it may not be the solution as there could be something deeper. Maybe it would be better, as Paul suggests, that we go into negotiation and consultation to iron out the differences and reach an amicable solution

What effect should a belief in Christ’s soon coming have on believers? Christ's soon coming brings Hope for an everlasting life with Jesus Christ. This Hope rests on our preparedness to receive Christ on the Day of His Coming. So believers will need to be awake, be refreshed by the Holy Spirit daily and keep away from the sinful nature of the world. What does it mean to be “sober” or “self-controlled” (verse 6)? To be 'sober' and "self-controlled" means that the believer has to be aware the Christ's soon coming is very near and thus lead holy lives. We need self-control to avoid being influenced by the wickedness and sinfulness in the world which will increase. Without self-controll we will be tempted by Satan, who is working over-time to prevent us from joining Christ. What does it mean to be “alert” or “watchful” (verse 6)? To be "alert" and "watchful" means to be aware of Satan's attempts to pluck us away from God. We have to be aware of the subtle ways of the world that may cause us to be "asleep" when Christ comes. We also need to be in prayer and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy lives. How does this differ from our normal Christian lifestyle? Our normal Christian lives may be on of casualness thinking that there is time to set things right. For example I will pray tomorrow, or start reading the bible as soon as I complete the project. It may even lead us to compromise our christian values to keep up with the worldly ways. all this shows carelessness and that we are not alert and watchful. The Days are near and Christ will come like a thief and we may miss out meeting him in the air.

According to this passage, what warning can we expect to have prior to Christ’s return? The warning is that there will be no warning ! We are to be ever prepared for the Lord's coming and not be caught sleeping. What does it mean that he will “come like a thief”? Coming like a thief is coming at the least expected moment. Christ will come suddenly and those who are not prepared will be left behind. The faithfuls will not be taken by surprise as they would be prepared but the rest of us who are still partying and continue to sin will be caught off-guard as He" comes like a thief'

How will Christ bring with him those believers who have previously died? Those who have died will be resurrected and given new bodies, not perishable but imperishable bodies and come with Christ to meet up with those faithfuls that are still living According to Matthew 25:31, who will also will accompany Christ when he returns? All the angels will accompany Christ

In what ways does Daniel’s prophecy of the Son of Man outline Christ’s return? Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man outlines Christ's return as expounded by Paul . Christ will descend from Heaven in all glory and power and people from all nations will witness this and worship him. This will be the beginning of the new everlasting kingdom with Jesus Christ as King In light of this prophecy, why did Jesus use the title “Son of Man” rather than “Christ” or “Son of God”? Jesus used the title "Son of Man" rather than "Son of God" because he wanted to stress on the human side of His birth. Although divine in nature He came to earth in human form and will come again in the same form .

Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual morality because it is a sin we are doing with our bodies. The body has been described as the temple of God, which means the Holy Spirit abides in the body.God created man to be holy and pleasing to God. Sexual immorality thus would corrupt the holy body and thus is not acceptable Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? All sins will be punished and thus I don't believe it is more severe with sexual immorality. However the bible seems to indicate the sexual morality is a different kind of sin. It does not specifically mention that it is a bigger sin. What effect should these warnings have on Christians? It is clear that Christians should strive to keep their bodies holy as severe punishments await us. I also believe sexual sins are emphasised here because society has accepted is as the norm and continue to sin. The key to keep our bodies holy is to keep away from sexual immorality.

Are humans actually capable of controlling their sexual urges? If so, why are so many people seemingly out of control? Jesus Christ has paid in full for our sins by dying on the Cross so as to make us holy. He has given us the power(the Holy Spirit) to overcome sin and to lead holy lives. If we believe in Him and have accepted Him as our Lord and and Saviour we will surely be able to control the sexual urges People are seemingly out of control because they have not given their hearts to Jesus Christ and continue to live life according to their own understanding and might. Why is it important to control ourselves sexually within marriage? What happens when sexuality does not have any boundaries? It is important to control ourselves as the unholy world presents an environment of deceit and sexual immorality. If we have control we may exceed the boundaries and end up in adultery, fornication, sodomy etc What happens to marriages, to children, to our spirits, to our bodies? When we don't control ourselves sexually marriages break up, the children suffer as they will be separated from their parents, the Holy Spirit is grieved and will not be able to help us and our physical bodies may decay through depession, emotional stress and diseases

What does it mean to be “sanctified”? To be sanctified is to set apart our lives to be vessels of God. It is an on-going process where we continually seek Him to guide us, teach us and to build us up. In what sense are we “holy” now? In what sense are we in the process of becoming “holy”? We are holy because we have been redeemed by a Holy God, Jesus Christ who was sinless and yet sacrificed His live on the Cross that we my be made holy and acceptable to the Lord. We are made holy on accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour but will have to be refreshed daily by the Holy Spirit as our journey has just begun.Salvation makes us holy but we have to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us in order to continue being holy. What does holiness have to do with our sexuality? Holiness ensures that our bodies are kept free from the corruption of worldly life like sexual immorality, fornication and ****

What is the difference between (1) conducting our lives by rules and (2) conducting our lives trying to please our God? Conducting our lives by rules mean that we strictly adhere to the rules and laws so as to avoid its negative consequences. It is done more out of fear than of love. Living to please God on the other hand emphasises God's love and our love for God. It is based on faith and love and is voluntarily Which is stronger? Rule-keeping or love? Love is of course builds a stronger relationship On whose authority does Paul bring these commands? On Christ's authority

What is the value of visits of special speakers to a congregation? Special speakers are important because they may bring in new ideas, understanding and revelations. Some speakers have special anointing in specific areas and thus it will be beneficial to the congregation What can they impart that your regular pastor can’t? Sometimes it may give a breath of fresh air. They may also allow us to see the Word in a newer perspective. They may also be able to unravel some "mysteries' in our understanding of the Word. They can also adopt an no-nonsense approach and deliver hard hitting sermons. Why is a ministry of itinerant preaching so difficult – and important? It is difficult as the messages may be haphazard a bit as they may not flow with the general theme of the Church growth. Then of course we may have problems with the logistics - making arrangements and meeting costs As difficult as it may be, its importance cannot be denied as explained in Q 1. It will always good for the congregations to be exposed to different speakers who bring in many different reports, experiences, viewpoints and revelations.

In what ways does persecution discourage Christians from active, open service? Persecution may cause fear among Christians and they become most vulnerable. They may refrain from active service to avoid persecution. They may also prefer to ' fly under the radar' to avoid detection and persecution. This would mostly affect the unsettled Christians who may not be strong enough to face persecution In what ways does it mature them? Persecution strengthens their resolve to follow Christ and thus they mature in faith an understanding. They have already been forewarned that persecution is for real. So they would have been prepared to face persecution and are able to face it. As they go through the can experience Christ in their lives and this will mature them In what ways does it reveal our underlying motives? Persecution is test that separates the sheep from the goats. Those who face persecution and remain strong in their faith reveal that we are living for Christ. Those who abandon Christ at this time show that they are after their own lives. Why do you think God allows the tempter the ability to tempt us? Why hasn’t he done away with Satan already? I believe God allows the tempter to tempt us in order to test and build our christian character. It gives us an opportunity to show our commitment to abide in Christ Satan hasn't been done away with because the time has not arrived. God has numbered his days and it will be done at the appointed time.

Why is Timothy’s role to be a strengthener and encourager so important? Thimothy's role was very important as the newly established church at this time was facing persecution and tremendous pressure from the Jews. This situation is further complicated by the ejection of Paul from the city as such there was no one to continue teaching, strengthening and encouraging the young believers. So Thimothy had a vital role in supporting the church growth. In what ways was this a sensitive role. I was a sensitive role as he had to work undetected as the Church was facing persecution. How did it help Timothy to be sent on this assignment? This heavy responsibility given to Thimothy, a young man, further strengthened his character as an important co-worker. It also gave him an opportunity to work in liaison with Pau, a great discipler and God's servant and this would have certainly built up his faith and resolve to follow Paul's footsteps. How does delegating ministry help the overall enterprise of the Kingdom? As the ministry expands we would certainly need more 'hands' the help and co-ordinate the ministry.This will provide a platform to introduce and train new workers to help in the ministry. Also delegating will reduce the work pressure on the leaders and avoid a burnout. It will also free the leaders to concentrate on the more urgent and important issues facing the Church

How can we justify a desire for rewards for our labor in light of God’s free gift of salvation and our love for him? We can justify a desire for rewards by referring to God's promise of rewards in heaven for the faithful.Salvation is given by God's Grace and we do not have to work for it. But after salvation we need to show our faith in Christ through our works which will be rewarded in Heaven What does Christ reward? Christ rewards all our efforts and actions that manifest our faith in Jesus Christ and love for God. We have to do it in obedience. What doesn’t he reward? Our efforts and actions that are impure i.e not centered on God. Works done for personal glory. Why should showing accountability to our Master bring us pleasure? How does it motivate us? It is an act of love. By showing accountability to Jesus our Master, we are showing that we honour Him and love Him. By honouring Him and loving Him we would please Him and he will reward us richly.

What is the role of the Word of God in molding disciples’ lives? The Word of God strengthens and builds up the disciple's lives. The Word of God empowers them to speak boldly. the Word of God through the Holy Spirit gives the wisdom and increases their faith. As a double-edged sword, the Word of God ministers to him as well as the people he is speaking to. Does it have a power of its own? How does that seem to operate? It does have a power of its own. It operates through the Holy Spirit. As we meditate on the Word, with the help of the Holy Spirit, it gives us new understanding about God and His will for us, empowers us to speak boldly and work it out through healing sicknesses and casting demons. What are the implications for disciplers of this powerful action of the Word? As disciplers we are encouraged by the promises of Jesus who has given us the Holy Spirit which will work powerfully in our lives as we read and meditate the Word of God.By keeping close to the Word of God, God will be close to our heart and lead us to victory.

Why are “fatherly” roles so important to making disciples? "Fatherly" roles are important because it builds up or strengthens one's character. A father is often seen as the disciplinarian, one who admonishes and set things straight. Apart from being gentle and caring, it is also important to be stern and unwavering in providing the leadership to the disciples. How effectively do you think women can adopt these traits? I think women can adopt these traits quite effectively as we have seen mothers who are very gentle and loving but stern when the child steps out of line. However we should see the fatherly traits and the motherly traits as two sides of the coin and both have its roles in making disciples

Why are “motherly” nurturing qualities so important to growing disciples? As Paul describes, we must not burden the members as we bring the Good News to them. "Motherly" nurturing means to be gentle, loving and caring. Without these characteristics we will not be able to help a new believer. This sacrificial living will encourage the new believer to follow the disciple in taking up the cross. How effectively can male disciplers adopt some of these traits? Being gentle, loving and caring is not a trait available for mothers only. If a male discipler views the new believer as a 'child' who needs love and care, he can adopt these motherly traits. The discipler needs to take the new believer under his care until the new believer is strong enough to stand up by himself and start discipling .

Which of the character flaws mentioned in these verses is the greatest problem in the church? I believe the greatest problem in the church is man-pleasing Why do you say that? The pastor and the church leadership have become man-pleasers to ensure their 'survival' in the church. The pastor lacks the boldness to admonish the congregation when they compromise Christian values. He preaches what the congregation wants to hear and avoids confronting the members out of fear that they may leave the church. They make popular decisions and are guided by the congregation's requests rather that focusing on Christ. How can you prevent one of these character flaws from overtaking you? I believe that if we are focused on Christ and try to abide in His Spirit, we will be able to overcome the character flaws. Always ensure that our actions and words are rooted in the Bible.