Acts 19:1-7
1. What did Paul explain to the disciples?
Paul explained, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
Romans 8:29; Galatians 4:4-7
2. What is God's goal for our lives?
God sent Jesus to redeem us under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because we are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So we are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
We are to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Never enough!
Joshua 7:1-26; Proverbs 27:20
1. What did Achan confess to?
Achan confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
2. How did his sin affect others?
Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
1. What did Achan confess to?
Achan confessed, "I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
2. How did his sin affect others?
Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Money, money, money
Luke 18:18-25
1. What prevented the ruler joining Jesus?
The ruler could not join Jesus though he does not commit adultery, murder, steal, give false testimony, honor his father and mother. But when Jesus asked him to sell everything and give to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven and follow Jesus, the ruler became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
James 5:1-6
2. Why did James rebuke the rich?
The wealth of the rich has rotted, and moths have eaten their clothes. Their gold and silver are corroded. The corrosion will testify against them and eat their flesh like fire. The rich have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Look! The wages the rich failed to pay the workmen who mowed their fields are crying out against them. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. The rich have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. They have fattened themselves in the day of slaughter.
The rich have condemned and murdered innocent men.
1. What prevented the ruler joining Jesus?
The ruler could not join Jesus though he does not commit adultery, murder, steal, give false testimony, honor his father and mother. But when Jesus asked him to sell everything and give to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven and follow Jesus, the ruler became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
James 5:1-6
2. Why did James rebuke the rich?
The wealth of the rich has rotted, and moths have eaten their clothes. Their gold and silver are corroded. The corrosion will testify against them and eat their flesh like fire. The rich have hoarded wealth in the last days.
Look! The wages the rich failed to pay the workmen who mowed their fields are crying out against them. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. The rich have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. They have fattened themselves in the day of slaughter.
The rich have condemned and murdered innocent men.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Anger is poison
Esther 3:1-6; 7:9-10
1. What was the result of Haman's anger?
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman's house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king." The king said, "Hang him on it!" So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided.
Proverbs 16:32
2. What is better than power?
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
1. What was the result of Haman's anger?
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
Then the royal officials at the king's gate asked Mordecai, "Why do you disobey the king's command?" Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai's behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman's house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king." The king said, "Hang him on it!" So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided.
Proverbs 16:32
2. What is better than power?
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Reprobate instincts
2 Samuel 13:1-21
1. Why did Ammon feel ill?
Ammon was ill because he fell in love with Tamar but she was a virgin. Thus, he called her to come and give him something to eat. Actually he had in plan to rape her.
2. How did his passion overwhelm his common sense?
He refused to listen to the reasonings of Tamar and raped her, ending up hating her than loving her more.
1. Why did Ammon feel ill?
Ammon was ill because he fell in love with Tamar but she was a virgin. Thus, he called her to come and give him something to eat. Actually he had in plan to rape her.
2. How did his passion overwhelm his common sense?
He refused to listen to the reasonings of Tamar and raped her, ending up hating her than loving her more.
Monday, May 5, 2008
'This rabble of the passions'
Romans 7:5-25
1. What struggles did Paul experience?
Paul was struggling with sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in him every kind of covetous desire, deceived him, and through the commandment put him to death, sold as a slave to sin.
He said, "Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
2. How did he find an answer?
In Paul's inner being he delight in God's law; but he see another law at work in the members of his body, waging war against the law of his mind and making him a prisoner of the law of sin at work within his members.
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul said.
1. What struggles did Paul experience?
Paul was struggling with sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in him every kind of covetous desire, deceived him, and through the commandment put him to death, sold as a slave to sin.
He said, "Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
2. How did he find an answer?
In Paul's inner being he delight in God's law; but he see another law at work in the members of his body, waging war against the law of his mind and making him a prisoner of the law of sin at work within his members.
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul said.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
'The only hope...'
2 Kings 2:7-14
1. How did fire redeem Elijah?
As Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Isaiah 6:1-8
2. How did fire redeem Isaiah?
The doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" Isaiah cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Then one of the seraphs flew to Isaiah with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched Isaiah's mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Then Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And Isaiah said, "Here am I. Send me!"
1. How did fire redeem Elijah?
As Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Isaiah 6:1-8
2. How did fire redeem Isaiah?
The doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" Isaiah cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Then one of the seraphs flew to Isaiah with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched Isaiah's mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Then Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And Isaiah said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Saturday, May 3, 2008
'Redeemed from fire by fire'
Proverbs 17:3; Zechariah 13:7-9
1. What will fire do?
The LORD uses fire to test the hearts of men.
He will bring into the fire and refine the righteous like silver and test them like gold. They will call on the Lord's name and God will answer them; The Lord will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
2. How can we ensure fire will not damage us?
Our works will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
If what we built survives, we will receive God's reward. If it is burned up, we will suffer loss; we will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Therefore, do everything truthfully based on God.
1. What will fire do?
The LORD uses fire to test the hearts of men.
He will bring into the fire and refine the righteous like silver and test them like gold. They will call on the Lord's name and God will answer them; The Lord will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' "
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
2. How can we ensure fire will not damage us?
Our works will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
If what we built survives, we will receive God's reward. If it is burned up, we will suffer loss; we will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Therefore, do everything truthfully based on God.
Friday, May 2, 2008
A framework of fire
Genesis 1:14-18
1. Why does God allow fire into our lives?
Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.
God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 15:6-21
2. Which two fires did Abraham experience?
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river."
1. Why does God allow fire into our lives?
Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.
God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 15:6-21
2. Which two fires did Abraham experience?
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river."
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Danger! Fire!
2 Samuel 14:28-33
1. Why is fire dangerous?
Fire is dangerous because it can destroy. Just like how Absalom's servants set Joab's barley field on fire
Acts 17:1-8
2. What happens when people encounter fire?
The Jews were jealous when they hear about Jesus Christ (Holy fire).
So they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
1. Why is fire dangerous?
Fire is dangerous because it can destroy. Just like how Absalom's servants set Joab's barley field on fire
Acts 17:1-8
2. What happens when people encounter fire?
The Jews were jealous when they hear about Jesus Christ (Holy fire).
So they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
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