jlemons

Q3. (Revelation 5:9, 12) What made Jesus so worthy of opening the scroll and thus bringing history to its consummation? Jesus is the only pure, holy, sinless man/Spirit/God who was able to live upon this earth and be tempted in every way that man is and yet was without spot or blemish. That was the only sacrifice that would be worthy to open the scroll. Why was this act so noteworthy and praiseworthy? He is our redeemer, who loved us so much that he was willing to give his life for each one who would come to him and believe.

Q5. Summarize the lessons of this chapter. What are the churches criticized for? Following after Satan, idol worship (putting anything/everything before God) being dead to the Truth and Christ, being neither hot nor cold and professing Christianity when we are not. What are they praised for? Power, keeping the word and not denying Christ, love, faith, service, perseverance, patient endurance and sound doctrine How should these observations shape the twenty-first century Church? Go back to our first love..love God with our whole heart, soul and mind as Christ loves his church

Q4. Why are so many churches a "hotbed of apathy"? There are so many reasons that it would take a book to write them all, so in a nutshell, I will sum it up by saying, "we have become a greedy, self-centered nation"who thinks only of ourselves and what we want. We have no time for others or service to others and that is what the Christian faith is all about, "SERVICE". Jesus set the example of service. How can we combat spiritual apathy and an insipid witness in ourselves? You first have to recognize the "sin", confess and turn. We need to ask for a new in-filling of the Holy Spirit

Q3. Why do you think the religious compromise required by participating in heathen religious practices in the trade guilds was so spiritually destructive? When we as Christian begin to compromise God's Truth, it will eventually start to feel like normal behavior and will slowly chip away at our beliefs until one day we are no different than the world. 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? Tolerance of bad language, sexual scenes on TV and movies. Tolerating our religious freedoms slowly being chipped away without raising a hand to defend them. Believing the lies being fed to us about "separation of church and state. And that is just touching the surface. Allowing our worship services to be al lthings to all people in order to increase our numbers. I have to wonder how hurt our God is at seeing what goes on in today's churches in the name of "religion".

Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? By placing things of this world before God, material things, money, jobs, homes, programs, self, etc. When we do this, God is no longer our first love, but whatever we have placed before him becomes our god. What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? Our love, concern, and service for one another and for the lost. Love and hunger for Truth. How does the lack of love show up? Mostly by non-growth, stagnation, and indifference How can a congregation regain this love? By humbling ourselves, recognizing our sin, repentance and turning back to Christ and His truth

Q1. Revelation is written to encourage and strengthen a church facing intense persecution. Why is the theme of testimony and witness so important to that purpose? We, who are fortunate enough to live in the U.S., have little knowledge of what real persecution is. That is; persecution unto death for declaring yourself a Christian or death/imprisonment for owing a Bible. Our persecution comes in the form of being ridiculed for our beliefs by others