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Q4. (Luke 1:38) What is the essence of Mary's positive response to the angel? What can we learn from her response for our own lives? In what sense was Mary's response an "informed consent"? When we respond to God, what do we consent to? Mary

Q3. (Luke 1:35) What does the virgin conception teach us about Jesus' nature? How central is the doctrine of the virgin conception to the Christian message? It teaches us that Jesus is God in human form! He was conceived by supernatural means to a human. It shows us that Jesus is the Lord, the one true Son of God, and He came to fulfill the prophecies of the old testament. It is central to the Christian message because of the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. Because Mary was a virgin we can't dispute the supernatural power of Jesus' conception. It is the point that shows us who Jesus is - He is Lord! Because Jesus being born of a virgin scripture is fulfilled which shows us that the Word is a true account.

Q2. (Luke 1:34) In what way does Mary's "How?" question (1:34) to the angel's declaration differ from Zechariah's "How?" question (1:18)? Why was Mary rewarded and Zechariah disciplined? Zechariah doubted if what God said was going to happen would be possible due to his and Elizabeth

Q1. (Luke 1:31-34) What did the angel's announcement say about who Mary's Child was and who he was to become? Who He was: He said that Mary was blessed among women and that she would give birth 'to a son' and she should call him 'Jesus' (v.31) Who He will be: The angel told her that He will 'be great', that He will be called 'the Son of the Most High', (v.32) That God will give him he 'throne of his father David' - so as a direct decendent, a 'son' of King David, he will become a dynastic King and will 'reign over the house of Jacab forever' (v.33) But he was also the 'Holy One' the 'Son of God' so he will be king due to His divinity not just His lineage. (v.35) His kingdom would have no end, praise God!

Hi, my name is Fran and I live in East Texas. I am divorced, but we have stayed best friends, praise the Lord. I raised 5 children, one who went home to be with the Lord in 2002. I have 6 wonderful grandchildren, four boy's and two girls. Two of the boy's live overseas (right now in Turkey) and the other two live in Florida and then the two girls live in Texas, one I am raising. I can't remember a day when I wasn't a born again Christian. Without God I'd not even be able to get up out of bed let alone have any kind of life. I am excited about this bible study and can't wait to start. I am thank God everyday for allowing me to have found Pastor Ralph and his studies. they have helped me in more ways than one.

Q1. (Psalm 150) What does this psalm teach us about praise? Where should praise occur? With what should praise be conducted? Who should praise? What does this psalm make you feel like after reading it out loud? It teaches us that every living creature should praise the Lord and using musical instruments for His many acts of power and for His surpassing greatness, It should occur in His sanctuary. With instruments and dance . Every living creature should praise the Lord. After reading this psalm out loud it makes me want to praise the Lord with song and dance.

Q3. (Psalm 139). In what way does the wonder of creation in the psalm seem to affect the psalmist? In his concluding prayer in verses 23-24, what does he ask God to do? It caused a profound self-awareness as the psalmist sees himself through God's eyes. He invites God into his heart and mind, to know him intimately as only God can. Most importantly, he asks to be tested. It is only in times of trial that we can really know the strength of our faith, the desires of our heart, and the veracity of our relationship with Him. The psalmist also asks God to find whatever faults he has so that he might fix them and thereby follow God and live the life everlasting.

Q2. (Psalm 19) Verses 1 to 6 seem very different from verses 7 to 13, but there is a common thread that relates the first part to the second part. What is it? In what way does the psalmist seem to bask in God's Word? Have you ever felt that way? How does the psalmist's wonder in creation seem to affect him in this psalm? In the classic prayer of verse 14, what is David asking God to do? 1. The common thread is the glory of God and his creation and the bond between them. The first proclaims the wonder of the heavens He created and the second the perfection and resoluteness of his commandments. 2. He basks in verses 7-11 by proclaiming how perfect and wise His commandments are. This follows into the next section where he exclaims how His law can be the psalmist

Q1. (Psalm 8). What does this psalm teach about God? What does it teach about human beings? What does it teach us about Christ? What does it teach about our responsibilities? It teaches the greatness of God. The all-powerful creator cares for His most valuable creation- people It teaches us that God is mindful of us as humans that God has ordained praise to come from our lips. Jesus became human, lived on earth as one of us but at His death He became the right hand of God and He will raise all who belong to Him above the Heavenly beings when He comes to reign over the new Heaven and new earth, Jesus is the only Person who perfectly reflects God's image We are to Trust God. We are to worship Him and let our lips praise Him, Respect Him, and Obey him. Bow down to our Lord because His name is majestic in all the earth. We are to take care of, protect everything that is put in our care. Multiply the inhabitants, Let our light shine with the Glory of Christ. Add to His kingdom those that are lost and dying.

Q2. These chapters contain many insights into worship that have been adopted by the Christian Church. What do you learn about Christian worship from chapters 4 and 5? Don't miss the basics. Your list might include 20 elements and concepts of worship -- or more. 1. God has given us a vision of an open door to heaven. 2. God is one on high and should be exalted as such. 3. That the Lord is like a precious gem and we should be boasting about His beauty. 4. The Lord should be elevated and treated as one would a king. He is the King of Kings. 5. Magnify the Lord with all your heart. 6. Exalt His name together. 7. Give Him everything you have. (surrender all) 8. Praise shall be continually; day and night. 9. Give honor, glory and thanks. 10. Praise Him for His mercy endures forever. 11. Fall down before Him. 12. Worthy to receive glory, and honor and power 13. That God is the God of Creation. Without Him we would not exists. 14. The only one worthy to open and read the scroll and loose its seals. 15. Praise Him with weeping. 16. Praise Him for He is as strong as a prevailing lion and as gentle as a lamb that was slain. 17. Worthy is the Lamb. 18. Praise Him with others. 19. Praise Him with harp and prayer. 20. Sing to Him a new song. 21. Shout with joy. 22. God is the one with power, riches, wisdom, and strength. Praise Him for His Spirit, who gives this to us. 23. Blessing to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.

Q1. Many Christian hymns, songs, and choruses come from Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Which can you think of? My favourite is the Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah and the chorus Halleluia! Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty; My God, How Endless Is Your Love; Alleluuia! Sing to Jesus; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling; Lo! Round the Throne, A Glorious Band; O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing; What Wondrous Love is This; My Faith Looks Up to Thee; Crown Him with Many Crowns.

Q5. Summarize the lessons of this chapter. What are the churches criticized for? What are they praised for? How should these observations shape the twenty-first century Church? To summarize the lessons of this chapter: it is about the qualites that our churches should be seeking and those that they shouldn't. The Churches are criticized for being cold or luke warm. Their hearts have become hard and they could not hear God or feel His presence. Compromising with sin, lack of love and prayer, tolerating immorality. There are so many downfalls we could look at,but we should not dwell on our failures, we should look to our strengths. We need to ask forgiveness of our sins and move forward with God. We should, I think, look at the letters as a encouragement to the Churches of today. It seems that all of our Churches today have good qualities, so we should repent and strengthen what remains. We should alwasy keep the faith. As we continue seeking God, He will guide and direct us in our journey toward Him and after we find Him also. We should comtinue to praise God for what we accomplish through Jesus Christ. The promises to the faithful Christian reach a high point as the believer"Churches"shares the actual "victory" with Christ.

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? (Don't rag on other denominations!) How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves? We have become a lazy generation of people, we are a generation of fast food everything. We want a drive through everything, church, wedding chapel, food, etc. We can't and we don't take time to visit with God anymore. I know whenI was growing up my mom read the bible every night after supper, we went to church on Sunday (twice) and on Wednesday. God was the head of our house and everything was second to Him. I think that we are weary of the battle a lot of time. We con't or want to "fight" for what we believe in. We dont want our neighbors to know what kind of relationship we have with Gof for fear trhey'll think we are sosme kind of freak.

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? What compromises do twenty-first century Christians struggle with? Let's not settle for trite legalisms about drinking and smoking. What are the real compromises that dilute vital Christianity? Anytime we compromise and go along with heathen practices we break our relationship with God and must repent. We also will live with the regret of what we have done. It is better to just stand firm in the first place and not sin (but I fail at this all the time). I think some of the major areas of compromise in the church is how easy it is to get a divorce (God hates divorce), abortion (of course here I fail because I believe in some reasons for having one, rape, the baby is dead, etc) either having one or not speaking up against it and homosexuality. iI know that I don't stand up for God like I should but I never fail to say that I am a Christian and I am saved by the grace of God. I spend alot of time in prayer and reading His Word, but I know that I dont spend enough. I am easily distracted by chores and life in general. I spend a lot of time on the computer talking with family and friends, sometimes more than I should. I watch very little TV anymore and I don't listen to a lot f music either. We all have our areas of regret and where we would like to grow.

Q2. Why would loosening of sexual standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture be destructive of vital Christian faith and witness? How has your culture tended to take the edge off your own Christian moral convictions or forced you to be quiet about them? It is not easy being a Christian in the world of today. There is a lot of pressure put on todays Believers to compromise with sin. Compromise is the blending two diffrent things, it could be moral standards in facing a situation in what is right and what is wrong. If you say that you are a Christian then it seems that everyone is trying to get you to do soemthing wrong. No matter where you tuirn sin is hitting you in your face. It's on TV, in the movies, in songs, in books. We must not tolerate sin by bowing to the pressure of non-christians, we have to stand for what we believe in and not jsut go alone with the crowd.

Q5. (Hebrews 2:16-18) Why in God's plan did Jesus have to become human like us? How does his humanity provide encouragement and help to us when we are in trouble? Jesus had to become human like us so that he could know first hand the suffering and temptations that humans know. We have an assurance, that because of His humanity and Him knowing what we are going through, that when we are in trouble we can go to Him and He is there for us. He will forgive us our sins if we only ask.

Q4. (Hebrews 2:14-15) What was the purpose of Christ's death according to verses 14 and 15? In what sense is this mission accomplished? In what sense will it see its final completion in the future? What is the result in our lives from Christ's accomplishment? To destroy the devil and to free the world from the fear of death Jesus was stronger than Satan and He was the one who came to takenaway his power. Satan will be judged and he will be punished eternally. The power of satan has been broken. That our conscience has been freed and that we have a hope of a glorious life after death, not fear of judgment.

Q3. (Hebrews 2:10) What does it mean, to bring many sons and daughters "to glory"? In what sense did Jesus become "perfect" through suffering? What are the implications for our own lives? I think that it means to lead people to His Kingdom which He has prepared for us. Jesus came to earth to save our sins and the only way He could do that was to suffer and take the disgraceful death on the cross just for us. He is the first fruit of resurrection, which gives us hope that trusting in Him assures Eternal life.

Q2. (Hebrews 2:9) In what way did Christ "taste death for everyone"? Why is this so dependent upon God's grace? If Christ died for your blackest and most stubborn sins, what are the implications for you? By taking our sins upon Himself on the cross and died so we could have etermal life with Him and the Father. Jesus was used as a substitute for our sins. In the we sin against Him each and every day. He alone will be the Judge, so only He can say what it takes for us to become right in His sight. It is by His Grace alone that we are fofgiven our sins. It means that not only do I need to be thankful that Christ chose to die for me but that I also should be greatful that God would pardon me and give me the strength to seek to follow after Christ and worship the Father and be in right standing with Him. If I continue with my sins, after I know what God has done for me, then I am rejecting the pain and suffering that Jesus suffered for me and I am also rejecting Him as my Lord and Saviour.

Q1. (Hebrews 2:9) In what ways did Jesus suffer during his life and death? In what ways are we likely to suffer? Does suffering have any value? What happens when we live in such a way to avoid all suffering? Some of the ways that Jesus suffered during His life and death are: A.) He was ostracized by His own family for His desire to be "about His father's work" B.) The lack of faith of the Jewish people bothered HIm. C.) His neighbours in His home town laughed at HIm and said He was "just" the son of a carpenter. D.) He grieved over the death of one of His friends, Lazarus. E.) He suffered downto His very soul when He was separated and rejected by His Father in heaven. How are we likely to suffer? a.) We can be rejected and ridiculed by people we know. ib.) There are places in the world today that people are killed for their belief in Jesus Christ. Does suffering have value? this is a good question, some people say no pain, no gain, but I think that sufferig is overrated. I don't want to suffer anymore than I have too with the everyday suffering that we do as human beings. I dont know if God wants His people to suffer or not. This is a question that brings to mind the age old question about when tribulation will happen.

Q5. (Revelation 10:1-9) What is bitter about what you've read in Revelation 6 through 10? What is sweet? Why do we tend to reject what is hard for us to understand? I think that it is knowing that the window of opportunity for repentance will be gone forever and some of our loved ones will have missed it and they will be lost forever. That all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved and live with Him forever and ever. It takes work to understand somethings and we don't want to put the time or energy into learning something new. If it is something that we feel we may not agree with then we'll ignore it, hoping that it will go away.

Q2. (Hebrews 4:15) In what ways did Jesus share our weaknesses? In what ways was Jesus' tempted? Because we know he didn't sin, were his temptations easier or more difficult than ours? Do we have any temptations he didn't have? Why does it comfort us that he can sympathize with our temptations and weaknesses? Jesus was human, so He knew what pain was, He felt the same pain from a fall that we do, He knew that it was something that had to be avoided as much as possible. He knew what they were and He knew that He couldn't be a part to them. He was tempted by the same things we are today. He was tempted by hunger (turning stones to bread after He had gone so long without food), to be the center of attention (jumping from the higerst tower), greed (to claim ownership of land by deferring to satan), to avoid pain as much as possible (by calling down the angels from heaven to aid Him before His crucifixion I thank that His temptations were much more difficult than ours are because of HIs understanding of what He had to face was more complete than what we see. I also know that He had a greater ability to withstand pain than we mortal man does. No I don't believe that we have temptations that He didn't have. We are faced with the same things He was. He lived a completely normal human life in which he faced all the temptations common to man, but He overcame them and gained victory over them. Because He knows what we face each and every day and He knows that, if we fail we are only human and that we are the way God the Father made us. He understand what we go through each and everyday and He knows that we can be victorious as long as we have Him on our side. He knows that God is a God of mercy, not a God of justice.

Q1. (Hebrews 4:14) What is so important about "holding fast to our confession." What is our confession or profession of faith? Why is maintaining this confession so vital? Holding fast to our confession of faith means we are telling the world that we are followers of our Lord Jesus Christ and that we place our life and our allegiences with Him. My confession of faith is that I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that He is the Son og God, that He was hung of the cross, dies, was buried and on the third day He arose and assended into heaven and He sits at teh right hand of God the Father. I believe in the Trinity, The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. I believe that one day He is coming to take His Bride (the ones who believe in Him with all their heart and all their soul) to heaven to live with Him for ever and ever. Priase God! I think that the reason it is so vital is because of the dangers out in the world around us and we have to live a good, clean life holding fast to the belief that Jesus is one day coming for us to take us home to heaven to be with Him. We show the world everyday by our actions what we believe in.

Q1. (Hebrews 2:9) In what ways did Jesus suffer during his life and death? In what ways are we likely to suffer? Does suffering have any value? What happens when we live in such a way to avoid all suffering? Jesus suffered during His life and death in the following ways; 1. ) He was ostracized by His own family for His desire to be 'about His father's work' 2. ) He was grief stricken at the lack of faith of the Jewish people. 3. ) He was discounted by His hometown neighbours. 4. ) He was grieved at the death of a friend, Lazarus. 5. ) He suffered physical abuse at the hands of those who claimed to know God. 6. ) He suffered deeply in His soul when separated and rejected by His heavenly father. How are we likely to suffer? 1.) Rejection and ridicule 2. ) We may suffer physical abuse and perhaps even death for our faith in Jesus Christ in some places Does suffering have value? I suppose it does but I'm not really sure how. I don't really think God wants us to suffer at all. I really don't think that we can avoid suffering, if we are sick we suffer, if a loved one is sick, we suffer. I don't think that there is really any way around it.

Q2. Why would loosening of sexual standards to conform to the prevailing morals of the culture be destructive of vital Christian faith and witness? How has your culture tended to take the edge off your own Christian moral convictions or forced you to be quiet about them? This is as really tough question. In today's sociaty we cannot conform to the morals and attitudes of the world and remain valued disciples of Jesus Christ! Watching afternoon TV we see adultry, we see sex, we see same sex stories, on afternoon TV, a time when the young is watching it. Look at the music videos that play evdery day on MTV and VH1, plus on the stations that play country music, everywhere you look is nothing but sex. Many want us to think that we can blend in and not make waves, but, as Christians, we are to be leaven in the world, challenging the world and, by example, leading them to the Lord. A lot of time I am quiet about my belief not wanting to talk about Jesus with people for fear that they'll make fun of me. My sister in law says that she don't believe in Gof nor does she want to believe in Him if her animals aren't going to be in heaven. I pray often that He will guide me--specifically--if He wants me to step up and confront her at some time. I know that if He is guiding me and showing me what to say, then it will turn out right. If I just push forward on my own, I will do nothing but further turn her away from Him. I have been able to share Jesus in certain circumstances, at one time I was very active in church and loved going. In recent years I have been unable to find a church that I want to go back too because I haven't "felt" God in the church. A couple weeks ago I went back to my old church and felt such love there and felt God everywhere in the building that all I want to do now is move back to San Antonio so I can go to this church again. I am praying for guidence on what God wnats of me in and I am leaving it up to Him. This past Friday I found out that I had been approved for the disability that I had applied for back in November so I am praying that He will show me what to do with my life now.