ccs
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Q2. (2 Peter 1:6) Why is a disciplined devotional life important to you? What happens when you forget or don't have time? What Christian disciplines do you employ to help you open your spirit to God's Spirit?
Why is a disciplined devotional life important to you?
It is important for me to stay in fellowship with God and not loose sight of my purpose and my calling.
What happens when you forget or don't have time?
I start relaying on myself or others.
What Christian disciplines do you employ to help you open your spirit to God's Spirit?
The Inward Disciplines
Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study
Outward Disciplines
Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service
Corporate Disciplines
Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration
These are what I try to pratice and perfect, taken from the book Celebration of Discipline, the Path to Spiritual Growth: by Richard Foster
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Q1. (2 Peter 1:5-6) Which of these virtues so far has been the easiest for you to move into. Which has been the hardest for you? Why?
Which of these virtues so far has been the easiest for you to move into? Why?
In 2 Peter 1:3 we covered that we have been given all things through His divine power, so you would think all of the virtues would be easy for me. . . No, not so because of my humanness or maybe my unbelief? Whatever the reason I do understand that our God is a merciful and loving God and he has given those that believe in his Son the opportunity to grow in the process of perfection.
With that being said and if I am reading the question right and dealing only with the virtues in 2 Peter 1:5-6 which are goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance; then to answer this question and beginning first with the foundation of faith; I would have to say that the easiest of the above virtues for me has been knowledge.
As I follow the growth cycle day by day and I say day by day because the Christian journey has not been easy; however in order to make any sense of this journey I have learned to value scripture and applying God
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Q4. (2 Peter 1:4) How can strong desires erode our faith and corrupt our lives? What strong desires can build our faith? What does a strong desire for God have to do with the "knowledge" of God, or "knowing" God? How are God's promises and evil desires at odds with each other? How does one build and the other erode our faith?
The strong desires can refocus our attention away from God to the point where we turn the object of the strong desires into a god. Any desire that substitutes the object of the desire in place of God as the ultimate to be desired, would erode faith in God because our faith is put in those things that we believe will satisfy our desires. Since the source of all truth and goodness is God, this would also have a corrupting influence.
Our strongest desire should logically be toward that which is most satisfying and fulfilling. The only way we can be completely satisfied and fulfilled is by enjoying God and fulfilling our desires in Him. That does NOT mean enjoying the things God give us. It means enjoying and delighting in God Himself. And the more "knowledge" we have of God or the more intimate our relationship is with God, the more we understand how only He can fulfill and satisfy our deepest longings.
How can strong desires erode our faith and corrupt our lives?
They can take our focus off of what is really important, which is God.
What strong desires can build our faith?
loving God with all our hearts, soul and mind.
What does a strong desire for God have to do with the "knowledge" of God, or "knowing" God?
If you have a strong desire for God you will want to know everything about him. You will want to have a relationship with him because you long for Him.
How are God's promises and evil desires at odds with each other?
God can not have fellowship with sin, because He is holy thus, it is impossible to partake in fellowship with Him because God is good and evil is not.
How does one build and the other erode our faith?
Through the promises we become partakers in God's nature. "one who takes part in something with someone, companion, partner, sharer." We have fellowship with him because we are obeying Him. When we have evil desires we sin, Jesus says, even when we think it, it is sin and sin separates us from God tearing down our relationship with Him. [/color]
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Q3. (2 Peter 1:3) What does it mean for you personally to be called "by his own glory and goodness"? How does God's glory and awesome Presence affect you? How does his goodness and moral excellence affect you?
What does it mean for you personally to be called "by his own glory and goodness"?
For God to call me personally is so awesome; I remember when I was younger I used to pray that all I wanted was to be in His Kingdom, even if it was to empty trash cans. He did, he called me and to a higher calling then I could have ever asked for. It means everything to me. . . it is my life, it is the air I breath, the dreams I dream, what I talk about, and what I want.
How does God's glory and awesome Presence affect you?
[COLOR=blue]I am totally humbled by his presence and can not comprehend the beauty of his glory. I feel so loved when I am close to Him and so at peace.
How does his goodness and moral excellence affect you
His goodness and moral excellence effects me by wanting to perfect my life. . . not for anything else but to please him and show him how much I love him, because He first loved me. . . the only way I know to give back to him is to be obedient and to set and example so others might see Him through me. It's not that I am perfect. . . I make many mistakes and continue to sin, but I also know that I am in the process of prefection, thus this in itself is a great example
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Q2. (2 Peter 1:3) Meditate on this verse for a few minutes. It is a verse about provision. What is the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"? What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise?
What are the scope and extent and boundaries of "everything we need for life and godliness"?
God has given those that believe in His Son Jesus Christ everything they need to have the power of moving mountains if need be for His glory. . . WE HAVE THE POWER of Him who lives inside us which is the Holy Spirit. Through Him all things are provided for us to be able to shine forth His glory. . .
What does "knowledge" or "knowing God" have to do with this promise?
Knowledge represents an understanding of who God is, we gain knowledge of who he is by studying, His word, meditating, and prayer. When we choose to live as he instructs us to we will have all things that pertain to life; physical and spiritual and most of all fellowship with our Lord.
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Q1. (2 Peter 1:1) What does "received a faith as precious as ours" mean in this verse? How does our faith compare to St. Peter's faith? Is our faith equal to his? Why or why not? How do you explain the discrepancy?
To receive faith is to believe, to believe is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior; because we believe and so did Peter our faith is equal in our Lord. In Romans 12: 3 we can read,
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Hello There,
I live in S. California, I am married and have two young adult children.
Looking forward to this study and the growth that will come from it.
God's blessings as we glean together.
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Q3. (2:9) What actions and attitudes should this idea of being part of God's own people inspire in us?
Actions: To Love God with my whole heart and soul, To love others as I love myself.
and walking a walk that is worthy of my calling, believing and trusting in my Lord and King and giving Him glory in all things.
Attitude: Gratitude, Humble, that of a servant
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Q2. (2:5) If your praise is primarily for God's benefit, not your own, how should you be offering praise?
We offer praise by having a relationship with Him through all that we have and all that we do. It all belongs to Him anyway. . .
We should be walking as a person with a Sprit filled life; replacing our old habits with new, Holy Habits.
Holy Habits
or Spiritual Disciplines
The Inward Disciplines
Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study
Outward Disciplines
Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service
Corporate Disciplines
Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration
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Q1. (2.5) Christians often look at their relation to God as consumers, delighting in what God does for them. What is the mindset of a priest towards God? What actions does this mindset inspire in you?
What is the mindset of a priest towards God?
What actions does this mindset inspire in you?
1 Peter 2:5 last part: to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We willingly and freely give our sacrifices from the heart through the Spirit that lives within us not the flesh
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Q3. (1:17) Why are people in our culture so upset when they sense they are being judged by someone else? How do you reconcile final judgment with God's love for the world? Why must final judgment be at the core of the Good News of Jesus Christ? What happens to the Gospel when final judgment is left out or ignored?
Q3. (1:17) Why are people in our culture so upset when they sense they are being judged by someone else?
Because we are a self righteous nation
How do you reconcile final judgment with God's love for the world? For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that all should have life.
Why must final judgment be at the core of the Good News of Jesus Christ? 1Peter 1:15-16 But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct because it is written
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Q2. (1:15-16) In your own words, how would you define "holiness"? In what sense are you (by definition) holy now? In what sense must you be obedient in order to become holy? What is your biggest struggle with holiness?
Q2. (1:15-16) In your own words, how would you define "holiness"?
Being made separate for God
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Q1. (1:13) What about Christ's coming should get our undivided attention? Why should it inspire hope? Why should it inspire self-control and soberness? What happens in our lives when we don't really expect Christ to come soon?
Q1. (1:13) What about Christ's coming should get our undivided attention?
We should (Gird up) be growing in the knowledge of our Lord, preparing our self
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Q5. (1:8-9) According to 1 Peter 1:8-9, what is the basis of Christian joy that is "inexpressible and glorious"? How does this joy interplay with human emotions? Is it essentially emotional? How does it differ from what is generally regarded as the pursuit of "happiness"? Extra Credit: How can you tell the genuine article of joy from the counterfeit?
Q5. (1:8-9) According to 1 Peter 1:8-9, what is the basis of Christian joy that is "inexpressible and glorious"?
Knowing that if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior no matter what we go through in this life our salvation is secure.
How does this joy interplay with human emotions? Is it essentially emotional?
As humans we emotionally feel pain in trails and not joy. Joy is looking beyond your circumstances into the reality of what the future brings when we reside with our Lord in heaven for ever and ever. It
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Q4. (1:6-7) Can you remember any instances in which God used difficult circumstances to refine and purify your faith? What did God accomplish in your life? How, exactly, does genuine, tested faith bring glory to Jesus?
Q4. (1:6-7) Can you remember any instances in which God used difficult
circumstances to refine and purify your faith?
Yes, there are many but I have come to realize that God never closes a door without opening another.
What did God accomplish in your life?
He accomplished the fact that He is my everything, the Alpha and Omega, my first and my last. He has taught me how to surrender to Him; putting down my will and replacing it for His. You could some it up by one word, trust. Even if I don
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Q3. (1:5) According to 1 Peter 1:5, what is God's part in securing your salvation? What is your part?
Q3. (1:5) According to 1 Peter 1:5, what is God's part in securing your salvation?
God keeps us close and reserves a place in heaven for those who accept Jesus Christ
What is your part?
To have faith and believe that it is only through Jesus we have salvation.
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Q2. (1:2) Why do forgiveness (sprinkling) and obedience come together as a package? Why is it deceptive to think you can have one without the other? Extra credit: If true faith requires obedience, how can we say that we are saved by grace rather than works? (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Q2. (1:2) Why do forgiveness (sprinkling) and obedience come together as a package?
Because faith by itself is dead (James 2:17) If we have forgiveness and truly allow the Lord to work in us the Fruit of the Spirit will freely flow out from us.
Why is it deceptive to think you can have one without the other?
Because if you just accept forgiveness and aren
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Q3. (1:5) According to 1 Peter 1:5, what is God's part in securing your salvation? What is your part?
Q3. (1:5) According to 1 Peter 1:5, what is God's part in securing your salvation?
To give us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ; to an everlasting inheritance. He will protect us until the end when we will see Christ.
What is your part?
To keep the faith by listening and obeying Jesus; in as well serving the Lord no matter what; always giving our Lord praise, honor, and glory.
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Q1. (1:1) How would you describe the behavior of a Christian who identifies more with his present homeland than his heavenly one? Have you ever caught yourself doing this? What has to happen to get our spiritual priorities straight?
I would describe the behavior of a Christian who identifies more with his present homeland than heavenly is one who has to surrender more of the flesh and grow in the way of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17
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Hello,
My name is Claudia I live in sunny S. Ca. my husband and I have served in various ministries and various churches over the years. Presently we have a local ministry called
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Q2. (Ephesians 2:19a) If we are fellow-citizens with the Jewish believers, what are we citizens of? In what sense are we "holy" or "saints"? Exposition
If we are fellow-citizens with the Jewish believers, what are we citizens of? Because we are Christians we are of the household of God.
In what sense are we "holy" or "saints"? We are joined together by Jesus Christ being adopted into God
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q1. (Ephesians 2:16-18) Why is "access to the Father" important? In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? How did we obtain this access? Extra credit: How does this access fulfill the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) and God's purpose for us? Exposition
Why is "access to the Father" important?. "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NRSV).
In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? Diplomatic relations is defined as "negotiations between parties without hostility"... Because we have been joined together by the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) we can now approach the throne ourselves without having to wait for a human mediator.
Before we were considered
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(Ephesians 3:20-21) Where does God's power work according to verse 20? How much power is at work there quantitatively? Why isn't it more evident? How does exercising Christ's power on earth bring glory to God? Exposition
Where does God's power work according to verse 20? God
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(Ephesians 1:23) What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? What does this say about the Church's power? Exposition
What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? The Church is Christ
Q3. Loving Deeply
in #2. Add to your Faith Goodness (2 Peter 1:5-11)
Posted
Why do we imagine that "agape love" is easier than loving church members?
Because we think others should be at the same level of Christian maturity as we are. We gift project thinking they should know and grow and be as we are.
But agape love is love which gives without thought of what it will get back. My children taught me this lesson, and don