t-c

Q2. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9) What kind of example did Paul set with regard to work when he was in Thessalonica? He set tthe example of a hard working disciple of Christ, who earned his own keep and paid his way as he worked to evangelize, disciple and church plant in Thessalonica. He set an example for those in Thessalonica to follow. As a Christian worker, did he have a right to support? Yes; 1 Timothy 5:18 For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." Luke 10:7 Stay there eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Why didn't he exercise that right? I think that he was trying to set a good example for them. They were hard pressed as it was, and some were idle and living off the hard work of others. He couldn't very well tell them to work hard and provide for themsevles if he wasn't willing to do it himself; even though it was his right as a worker for the Lord.

Q3. (Revelation 5:5) What has the Lamb done to "triumph" and so become worthy to take the scroll and open its seals? (Hint: See the "for" or "because" clause in 5:9 for the answer.) Because Jesus is slain and with His blood he purchased for God, from every tribe, lanuage, people and nation.

Q2. (Revelation 5:6) Decode (that is, identify) each of the following symbols that relate to the Lamb: The lamb itself represents .... Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" Standing after being slain indicates ... The resurected Christ Horns represent .... 7 horns represent Christ's power, strength and authority Eyes represent ... That Christ is all seeing, all knowing and all powerful; nothing can come against him The number seven carries the idea of ... completeness or perfection To summarize, then, the Lamb has the qualities of being of .... All the properties of God; only one worthy to open the scrolls, Has the power to give his life (for our sin) and to take it up again (resurection) Has all power, strength, authority; is both omnipotent and omniscient; Holy, complete perfection.

Q1. (Revelation 5:5) Why is the Lamb called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" and "the Root of David"? Jesus's adoptive father, Joseph, is a direct decendant from the tribe of Judah. (one of the 12 tribes of Israel) When Jacob, the father of Judah, blessed him, he called him a lion cub and said that through him would come the rulers of Israel. Jesse, the father of David, is also in the line of Judah. The prophecy from Isaiah said the Jesus would "come up from the stump of Jesse." What do these titles signify about him? Both of these titles confirm the prophesy form Genesis, concerning "the Lion from the tribe of Judah" and the prophesy from Isaiah, concerning the "Root of David." That through Joseph and Mary, Jesus, did indeed come from the line of Judah and Jesse. In some way, to me, it illustrates adoption. God's plan was always to adopt His children through Jesus, "the Lamb of God" and His work to redeem us all from being slaves to sin, to slaves of righteousness. Joseph was Jesus's adoptive father. A little off topic, sorry.

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15) What does the Bible teach about sloth and idleness among those who can work but refuse to? Summarize it briefly. For other believers to stay away from them; not to associate with them. And that it is sinful not to provide for your family when you are able. That work is good and we should all lead quiet lives and do our best to provide for ourselves as well as others. What is our Christian duty? We are to work, I believe, as long as we can. Be productive; I haven't read anything about retirement in God's Word. Be generous to those in need as we are able. Stay busy, be about God's work when we aren't working to provide for our family. Take the Sabbath off from our normal working routine; go to church, enjoy family and friends, praise God and rest.

Q4. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5) Why is perseverance so important as we see wickedness increasing? Because the wickedness comes against the Truth; challenging it, twisting it, watering it down, accusing it, etc, in an effort do destroy it. We must stand firm (persevere) in the truth, know it and be prepared to give an account of the truth. We must keep on walking with the Lord, no matter what the world or our culture throws at us. Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. What happens if we stop believing and being patient? I think that we would slowly lose our love for God and His Word. We would lose our witness and our desire to share Christ with others. We would grow cold to the things of God and become a friend of world. How can we help one another persevere? By remaining strong in Christ, prayer and the Word. Taking the time to encourage fellow believers around us at every opportunity. Pray for the God's power for ourselves and others to continue the race that we are all in; to "Hold Fast" and finish strong til the end. What part does faith and perseverance have in our salvation? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. They go together, we must believe in the truth (faith) and we must continue through to the the end faithfully believing, until Christ's return or until he brings us home. We have to accept the free gift of salvation that Christ offers us, and hold fast to it. What part does God's redemption and grace have in our salvation? Christ redeemed us with His own life on a cross; Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

Q5. In what way does each celebration of the Lord's Supper anticipate a future Passover meal? Each celebration of the Lord's Supper draws us all closer to going home to be with our Lord and enjoying that meal with Him in person. The Wedding Feast of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Amen!

Q4. Why is it so important to forgive those who have offended us before partaking of the Lord's Supper? Because we are expected to forgive others that have offended us, in the same way God has forgiven us of our sins. When we come before the Lord to take commumnion we are to be right with our brothers and sisters, forhiving them as we have been forgiven by God. In what sense are the Lord's Supper and unforgiveness incompatible? How can we continue to have an unforgiving heart towards others, when Jesus died on the cross so that we may be forgiven of our sins. What God has forgiven; how can we still hold others in contempt for.

Q3. Why should the words, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28) fill us with sorrow? Because the price for "forgiveness of sins" was the life Jesus Christ; beaten beyond recognition, spat upon, humiliated, rejected and crucified on a Roman cross. His separation from God for 3 days is an angony that we can't really know or comprehend. His sacrifice and suffering for us should bring us sorrow. Why should they fill us with joy? Because on the 3rd day He arose, alive, victorious over death; just as both Jesus and prophecy that predicted His coming said He would. Satan was defeated and we as Christ followers now have forgivess of our sins; the veil was torn and we have access to God in a way never experienced before that moment. Hebrews 4:16 Let us approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive grace and find mercy to help us in our time of need.

Q3. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) What makes people so gullible that they believe the Antichrist’s deceptions? He is a master of deception and will perform signs, wonder, and miracles etc... that will even deceive the elect. I think as God's children, we would be foolish to underestimate his power to deceive believers. 1 John 4:1 Dear friends do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. God will also blind those who have "refused to love the truth; so that they will believe the lie." What is the reason that God gives them over to this deception? "Since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done." (Romans 1:28) Knowing the truth, yet rejecting it, not doing what is right, even though we know better. 2Timothy 3:5 -"having a form of Godliness, yet denying it's power." Why is a fearless seeking of God's truth so important to us? Because as we seek the truth through God's word with the Holy Spirit's guidance, and are obedient to the truth; when a lie, false teachings or leadership come along we will be able to discern it for what it is, because we are it the truth. To spot a conterfeit, you have to know the genuine article through and through. "John 8:31-32 If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know thw truth, and the truth will set you free." How can a preaching of the truth set people free? Romans 10:17 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." It can introduce us to Jesus Christ, " the way the truth and the life." Salvation is freedom, Jesus is the only Savior! John 8:36 " So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Q2. Compare the annual Jewish Passover celebration meal in Jesus' day with the Christian's celebration of the Lord's Supper. In the Christian celebration; at some churches it's celebrated weekly, at others, once a month and so on. Following a time of prayerful reflection, including confession of sins and thankgiving for Christ's sacrifice and redemptive work on the cross, we eat a waffer (bread) drink grape juice (wine) in rememberance of Christ. Where are the similarities? I think like memtioned in the study notes; in the NT Church, Jesus redeems His people for their sins and their bondage to sin. In the people of God (Israel) from the OT, God saves the first borns from death from the destroyer and redeems His people from Egyptian slavery. Wine and bread are used in both ceremonies. Where are the differences? There are many.. In 1Corinthians 10:16, Jesus speak that this cup is the New Covenant in My blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Drink of it-all of you. This moment signified the transition from the Old Covenant, (the Law) into the New Covenant (God's grace, through Jesus, and His death on the cross) Jesus is saying, do this in rememberance of Me, of who I am, and what I have done and will do. God is saying celebrate this meal in rememberance of your deliverance from the destroyer who past over your house and your firstborn was spared. The OT Passover points to the coming Messiah, Christ, the Lamb of God.

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-5; Revelation 13:5-8) What are the characteristics of the Antichrist that Paul gives in this passage? That he is the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction;he opposes every god or worship object and places himself above and over them. He takes the seat at God's temple, pretending to be God. What does Revelation 13:5-8 add to our basic understanding? The antichrist has been given authority to blaspheme God, His name, His heaven and those who dwell there. To wage war against God's saints and to defeat them; everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will worship him. This will all take place within a 42 month time frame that God has allowed for the antichrist to act.

Q1. In what way did the lambs on the first Passover protect the families of God's people? Each family slaughtered a yearling lamb and put the lambs blood along the tops and sides of their door frames. They also ate the lamb they slaughtered as a meal. The destroyer, sent by the Lord will see the blood and not enter the house to strike down the firstborn of the family inside. (Exodus 12) What is the primary point of comparison between the first Passover lambs and what Christ did for us as our Passover Lamb? The shedding of His blood and the blood of the Passover lamb was to protects us from God's coming judgement. To be a sign that we are His.

Q1. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-3) In what way were the Thessalonians confused? They thought that the second coming of Christ had already occured (the Day of the Lord); by a spirit or message or conterfeit letter form Paul. What is the order of Christ’s coming in relation to the revealing of the Antichrist? That the Antichrist would be revealed before the Day of the Lord.

Q4. According to the slave-ransom analogy, who is the slave? I am, and all others who haven't accepted Christ's free gift of salvation. What is he enslaved by? Sin. Who offers the ransom? Jesus Christ If Satan is involved in the enslaving process, why isn't the ransom paid to him? The world, the flesh, and the devil (satan) are what we battle with, but sin is ultimately our enslaver. Ransom isn't paid to satan because he is not the slave owner, God is. Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world,and all who live in it; Why isn't the slave-ransom analogy spelled out completely in the New Testament? Because it seems as though in the analogy, God pays Himself to redeems us from our slavery to sin, although we are the benefactors of the ransom and it's high price.

(2 Thessalonians 1:9) How might you describe Christ’s glory? As a man, I don't have an answer for that question. How do you decribe something you can't completely understand; how can the created describe the creator? How will his glory be terrifying to unbelievers? John 10:14 I am the good sheppard; i know my sheep and my sheep know me Because He will be so visually spectacular they won't be able to stand before Him; combined with not knowing Him or being known; they will sense His impending judgement on them; a terrifying experience beyond description. If heaven involves sharing this glory forever, what would it be like to be excluded forever from the glory? To know that what you thought was a lie is true, a tremendous sense of loss, realization of having missed out on one of the greatest event the world has ever known... self loathing, anger, fear, darkness, dread, despair, lonliness... In what ways is the phrase “outer darkness” a helpful description of hell? It implies that there is an inner light, another place that is the opposite of where you are now; but you are not there and can never get there.

(2 Thessalonians 1:9) According to verse 9, what kind of punishment will unbelievers experience? Everlasting destruction; the condition of being shut off from the Lord's presence and the majesty of His power. One definition of “hell” is “a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.” What parts of this definition are confirmed in verse 9. They will be punished with everlasting destruction. Which parts of the definition trouble you? Why? Because it is an eternal punishment; it never ends. I don't know why anyone would choose this over eternal life and eternal fellowship with God. The evil one has done a great job in convincing people that there is no hell. But I believe in a righteous and Holy God whose grace and mercy and love are beyond our imagination; if there is a way for a person to be saved from erternal destruction He will make it. His wrath will not begin until the very last person comes to Him, broken, accepting Christ's free gift of salvation. "He desires that none should be lost." We can trust Him; if our hearts are breaking for the lost, just imagine how God must feel, creation rejecting the Creator, again and again and again...

(2 Thessalonians 1:6-7) Would God be just if he did not punish sin? No. According to God's word, sin requires punishment; and God is just. What is the difference between rehabilitation and retribution? Without looking it up; rehabilitation is training someone to take a different path than they are currently on; show them the errors of their ways. Retribution, is getting back at someone for something they did to you, that you didn't like. Doing unto them as they did to you. When does a Christian’s rehabilitation take place? As believers, it takes place as we submit to the refiners fire, (the Lordship of Jesus Christ) and He begins the process of sanctification in our lives. This process continues until we go home to be with Him. When does a sinner’s retribution take place? At the great white throne of God, where the judgement of the world takes place. How do you balance love and justice? Not very well. But I believe that I am called to love God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind; and to love my neighbor as myself. And to leave all matters of justice to God. Much work to be done here!

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20) How should we disciples apply the principles: "You are not your own, you were bought with a price"? We should apply it as; we were slaves to sin and dead in our transgressions, and Christ "brought us with a price." That price was His life poured out on a Roman cross. We have been given new life. abundant life in Christ. We are His now, our life is not our own, we are slaves to righteous now. Eshesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Jesus Christ to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. How should this affect our living? John 15:8 This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. We should dedicate our lives to serving others in Christ's name, within the circumstances he has put us in life.

(2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? Because we are all the more dependent on Christ; 2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong. What would we be like without the testing of our faith? That situation could easily lead to a complacent attitude; one in which we are walking in our own strength. We would possibly be spiritually weak, so when the testing came, (and it will in one form or another) we would ill prepared for a time, to bear up under it. Romans 5:2b-3 And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also boast in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character, and character, hope.

Q2. What comparisons do you see between Jesus and the role of the Old Testament type of the Kinsman-Redeemer? I think of Boaz and Ruth as the only story where the role of Kinsman-Redeemer is played out. Where we get to see first hand the importance of having a kinsman step in and redeem a relative in need or in bondage. Boaz is motivated by his love for Ruth, but he also extends mercy and grace to Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi. By marrying Ruth, he not only redeems her, but Naomi also. He acted not out of self interest, but he did what was best for Ruth and Naomi. Ruth was a non-Jewish, foreigner, even if she now worships the God of Naomi. Marrying her seemingly would be a negative to Boaz's future in the town he lived in. People could question his character. Jesus as our Kinsman- Redeemer acted out of love, grace and mercy as He paid the price for our sins with His blood. He also extends that redemption to everyone, regardless of nationality or past religious affiliation. His actions were not self motivated; He endured shame and ridicule for his friendship with sinners and those of lowly station. He was concerned with doing what was right, rather than the appearance or perception others had of Him.

In the New Testament world, what class of humans were freed by payment of a redemption price or a ransom? Slaves. Why do you think that Jesus, Peter, and Paul used this analogy in this week's theme verses. Slavery was very common in that day.They illustrated the fact that we all needed a redeemer to pay the ransom for our slavery to sin. The price for our freedom had to be paid by Jesus Christ and His sacrificial atonement for our sins. What aspect of the Christian life does it help explain?\ That we once belonged to the world and were slaves to sin, but we have been redeemed, brought at a high price and we now belong to Jesus Christ and are slaves to righteousness.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) 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. First, I would assure him of his salvation through Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth you profess your faith and are saved. Then a verse like Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus; to assure him that God's work in him is ongoing and will continue until he is safely home. That it is all accomplished in God's strength, God's strength is manifested in our weakness. To believe in God's word. What is the problem of having no assurance of salvation? No peace; how can you bear wittness to others about salvation if you aren't convinced yourself. You would probably develop a works theology; thinking if I do enough or if I'm good enough, that God would accept me into His heaven. What is the problem of having a false assurance of salvation? Primarily, you are not saved and under the blood of Jesus Christ. You could do many good works in Christ's name, and look like a man of God, but at Judgement Day you would hear, depart from me evil doer, I never knew you. False sense of security.

(1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? I think mostly because docturnally, they haven't been exposed to or have any experience with prophecy. Fear and distrust accompany these concerns, so they shy away form prophesy and do not promote people to share. We tend to dilike what we fear, and to stay clear of it. Church services today are usually time driven; so much time for music, prayer, testimonies, baptisms, and sermons, etc... not much time is alotted for the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy? That they would be given (2 or3) and evaluated in an orderly fashion and that they should be tested and judged by scripture. If it survives testing and it's good, hold on to it, if it contains evil, stay away from it.

Q5. Which single New Testament passage best sums up for you the lessons of Isaiah 53? Why did you chose this passage? 1Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, for the righteous and unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit. I thought it captured the message of Isaiah 53 well.