Patriciaa

Q5. Why do we often fail to see God's blessings during the everyday conflicts of our lives? Too often we can't see the forest for the trees. Blessing always comes amidst conflict Why do blessings and conflicts so often come at the same time? What hope do we have in the midst of our struggles? Jesus says to you: Take heart, don't be discouraged, my child. I have overcome the world.

Q4. (Genesis 31:44-55) What are the terms of the Mizpah Covenant? A stone pillar (31:45), such as Jacob had set up in Bethel. A heap of stones (31:46-49a) which they named Mizpah (watchtower) and Galeed or Gilead (witness heap). Calling on Yahweh as witness and guarantor of the covenant: "May the LORD keep watch between you and me...." (31:49b). A promise from Jacob not to mistreat his wives, nor to take rival wives to displace them from their status (31:50). A non-aggression pact: "I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you...." (31:51-52). An oath in the name of God (31:53). A sacrifice and fellowship/covenant meal together (31:54). Of what is the Mizpah monument supposed to remind Jacob and Laban? "The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." (31:49, KJV) But this was no sentimental saying. It was a threat with divine sanction that meant: If you break this covenant when I can't see you, may God watch you and punish you.

Q3. (Genesis 31:17-36) Why did Jacob and his family leave without saying good-bye to Laban? The Lord speaks directly to Jacob to return: "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." (31:3) In what sense did they "deceive" Laban? (31:20, 27). 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. Was anything they did unjust or unrighteous? If so, how? "Rachel stole her father's household gods" . "[Laban asked]

At what point do you think Jacob realizes that his breeding techniques are not the cause of his growing wealth? Jacob realizes that God is the cause of his growing wealth when each time the terms of the wages changed, the animals produced would be in Jacob

Q1. (Genesis 29) Why do you think God allows Jacob to be tricked into 14 years of labor for two wives? What purposes do you think God is working out through these circumstances? God often teaches us life lessons and patience by putting trials in our lives. As we learn to trust God and use all of life's circumstances for His glory, we grow and mature in our Christian life and become closer to the Lord and thus better servants for Him. I believe this trial of having to labor for 14 years was God's way of teaching patience to Jacob and perhaps giving him the opportunity to reflect on his deceitfulness toward his brother Esau. Certainly patience and chance to repent is being worked out and during this time God begins the Israelite people through the gene pool of 5 people: Jacob, Leah, Rachel, and the 2 servants girls named Bilhah and Zilpah.

Q4. (Genesis 28:22) What does Jacob's promise to tithe indicate about his commitment? Presumably, Jacob has been a believer in Yahweh all his life. In what sense is this incident at Bethel a conversion experience for him? What is the relationship of tithing to conversion? Jacob

Q3. (Genesis 28:18-21)

Q2. (Genesis 28:12-15)

Q1. (Genesis 28:3-4) 1. Why does Isaac bless Jacob, especially after Jacob's deception? "So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him:

Q5. (Genesis 25:28) What happens when your children sense that you love one child more than another? This could cause jealousy, envy and poor self-esteem. Did such discrimination happen to you when you were growing up? No, I feel our parents loved all of us. How can we as parents love our children equally but differently? Parents can value each child

Q4. (Genesis 27:33) Why couldn't Isaac reverse his blessing once he discovers Jacob's trickery?

Q3. (Genesis 27:6-29) God had told Rebekah that Jacob is supposed to rule over Esau (Genesis 25:23). To what extent does this excuse her plan to deceive her husband Isaac? I do not believe this excuses her for deceiving her husband. She should follow God

Q2. Was Rebekah a spiritual woman, that is, interested in spiritual things? Yes, Rebekah was a spiritual woman who prayed to God. However, she was like most of us in that she did not always trust in God's timing as being the best timing. Often we get "uptight" when things don't happen on our schedule rather than wait in contentment for God's timing. Was Isaac a spiritual man? Yes, I believe Isaac was a spiritual man who prayed on his wife's behalf that she would be fertile. Which do you think was the more spiritually sensitive?Each was spiritually sensitive to some degree but I would find it hard to say which was more spiritually sensitive. What evidence of spirituality do you see in Jacob? It's pretty obvious that neither Jacob nor Esau had a sterling character. God didn't chose Jacob over Esau because Jacob was more righteous. God had a plan in spite of Jacob's character. God works on Jacob's character and changes it, as we'll see, but God's plan and purpose for Jacob is not dependent upon Jacob's goodness and worthiness, but on God's grace and plan. In Esau?"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He It's pretty obvious that neither Jacob nor Esau had a sterling character. God didn't chose Jacob over Esau because Jacob was more righteous. God had a plan in spite of Jacob's character. God works on Jacob's character and changes it, as we'll see, but God's plan and purpose for Jacob is not dependent upon Jacob's goodness and worthiness, but on God's grace and plan. ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." (25:34)This incident also says a lot about one's value of spiritual things, if we can consider the birthright in a spiritual as well as legal light. Esau values stew more than the birthright, while Jacob values the birthright more than his own integrity. The narrator notes, "So Esau despised his birthright" (25:34). "Despised" is bāzā, "to despise, distain, hold in contempt," with the root ning, "to accord little worth to something."13

Q1. (1 John 5:4-5) How does a defeatist mentality differ from a belief that in Christ we have overcome the world? We have victory, John is saying, because our Master has taken on the world and won. Maintaining this victory over the dominant culture in our own day requires (1) an understanding of Jesus' victory over sin, the world, and the devil, and (2) our faith, that is, our willingness to stand in this truth in our day and live by it. Even though the call of the world rings in our ears, the voice of Jesus is louder still. A defeatist mentality does not recognize that Jesus has already won the victory for us. What part does faith have in this overcoming? Faith is believing this and thus it is true for us. What part does unbelief have in a defeatist mentality? A defeatist mentality does not believe that Jesus has won the victory.

Why does John exhort his "children" to "keep yourselves from idols"? JESUS CHRIST THE SON IS THE TRUE GOD AND ANYTHING THAT REPLACES HIM IN OUR LIVES IS AN IDOL. What idols distract us from the true God? WE STRIVE TO NOT LET MATERIAL THINGS, UNWISE USE OF TIME AND ANYTHING OF THE WORLD REPLACE GOD IN OUR LIVES.

Q3. (1 John 5:14-15) What are the two conditions to answered prayer in 1 John? (See also 3:22) 1. Our obedience (3:22) 2. God's will (5:14) How do we determine God's will so that we can pray boldly, confidently?We study scripture to know what God desires and we pray that God will lead us in know His will. How often will our prayers be answered when our main motive is to achieve our will? They may or not be answered according to what God desires but it is not pleasing to God for us to pray for our will and not God's will.

We should have an attitude of hope as we look forward to spending eternity with our loving God.

[quote name='Pastor Ralph' date='21 October 2009 - 02:48 PM' timestamp='1256136496' post='47520'] Q3. (1 John 4:7-8) Why is the statement, "God is love," so important? Love is evident in every part of God's character. What does it say about God's nature? God's nature is one of love. How does love being the essence of God's nature affect us? It affects us in our knowing that we are loved by God and it reveals to us how we should love others. If we were created in God's image of love, but fell, what does this say about the road to healing in our lives? Because of God's love for us, he forgives us and thus we can know we are restored to full fellowship with God. Why does love demand a willingness to forgive? Jesus taught us to forgive others just as He forgives us.

We do not live in fear because we know that no matter how tempted we are or whatever happen in the future, God is with us and will give us the strength needed to overcome eveil and will win in all battles of life.

False teachers did not teach about sin John's teaching tells about sin.. They seem to be teaching that we can sin and still live a righteous life