Hard Questions—Why worship God?

Why would God need people to worship Him (isn't that egotistical and arrogant)?


A1 Question

B1 Does God need it?

C1 God needs nothing

D1 "...nor by the hands of men is He served, as though He needed anything, for He gives to all life and breath with respect to all things. (Acts 17:25, EMTV) Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. (Acts 17:25, GNB92)

D2 Psalm 50:8-15

D3 Since He is the source of life and everything that is, He needs nothing.

D4 Since He owns everything, He needs nothing.

B2 What is worship? See below in answers

A2 Answer

B1 Reasons

C1 Being thankful--Matthew 15:36, Romans 1:21, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Philippians 4:6, Revelation 7:12

C2 Praise for good work--Luke 19:37, 1 Kings 8:55-56

C3 For a compliment--Mark 7:37, Luke 23:41

C4 Respect and honor--Matthew 2:2, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 4:9-10, Matthew 8:2, Romans 1:25, Revelation 4:10, Revelation 9:20, Revelation 22:8-9

C5 Singing for our emotional expression--2 Chronicles 5:13, Revelation 5:8-14

B2 God gives these to us

C1 Thanks--John 11:41, 1 Peter 1:7

C2 Praise--Luke 22:28-30, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5

C3 Compliment--Matthew 25:21

C4 Honor--John 5:44, John 12:26

Hard Questions—Is the Old Testament God different from the New Testament God?

Why does the "Old Testament God" seem different than the "New Testament God?"




A1 Problem

B1 The God of the Old Testament is angry, but the God of the New Testament is love.

B2 The Old Testament God is angry, holy, vengeful, punishing; the New Testament God is meek, mild, compassionate, and loving.

A2 Solution

B1 There is a misreading and understanding of the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament.

C1 Old Testament

D1 God is holy and punishes. Joshua 24:19, Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 27:11

D2 God is compassionate and loving. Exodus 34:6, Psalms 86:15, Jonah 4:2

C2 New Testament

D1 God is holy and punishes. John 2:15, John 18:6, Matthew 23:33

D2 God is compassionate and loving. Matthew 15:32, Hebrews 5:2, Matthew 20:34

B2 God's character

C1 His likes and dislikes.

C2 Heaven is where God "lives." God does not like liars, adulterers, haters, bullies, abusers, covetousness, murder, thieves, etc. So in heaven He does not want these things happening, and they will not happen.

C3 Israel is a nation, a DNA people, chosen by God to be a special people for a special mission. Because they are to represent Him, they must be like Him in their thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. They were and are not, so God becomes angry just as He said.

C4 This is all summarized in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20).

C5 Of the 10 Commandments, 9 are repeated in the New Testament.

Old Testament	New Testament
Do not have no other gods besides me	Matthew 4:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 John 5:20-21, 1 Corinthians 5:11
Do not make any graven image	Romans 1:23, Revelation 9:20, Matthew 4:9-10
Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain	Matthew 5:33-37, Colossians 3:8, 2 Timothy 3:2
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Honor your father and mother	Mark 10:19, Matthew 19:19, Ephesians 6:2
Do not kill	James 2:11, Matthew 5:21, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9
Do not commit adultery	James 2:11, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9
Do not steal	Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9, Ephesians 4:28
Do not bear false witness against your neighbor	Matthew 19:18, Romans 13:9, 1 Timothy 1:10
Do not covet	Romans 13:9, Romans 7:7, Luke 12:15, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Colossians 3:5

C6 No sinner will be in heaven.

B3 All people are sinners and will face God's wrath.

C1 God reveals His character. His character reflects His rules.

C2 He warns what will happen if disobedience occurs.

C3 He provides a plan for forgiveness.

C4 Image

C5 Need God

A3 Further study

B1 Is God different?

B2 Isn't the God of the Old Testament Harsh, Brutal, and Downright Evil?

Hard Questions-- Why does God remain so hidden?

Why does God remain so hidden?




A1 Problem—If God exists, why can't we see Him?


A2 Notes

B1 The skeptic's view

B2 The Christian view

A3 Solution

B1 Many people have said, "Just let God show Himself, and I will believe."

B2 Response, "If you saw someone who claims to be god, how would you know?"

B3 What are the characteristics of God? (just a few are given).

C1 Omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent

C2 Always existed, just, love

B4 Nevertheless, why doesn't God reveal Himself today?

C1 "Didn't He publicly reveal Himself during the giving of the 10 Commandments, all the wonders to Israel and Egypt, and Jesus on earth doing miracles in the sight of many people? It seems as if He was advertising Himself."

C2 Sin Isaiah 59:2, Isaiah 64:7, Habakkuk 1:13.

D1 God likes some things and dislikes some things. The things that He hates are called sin.

D2 Some examples--lying, murder, hate, adultery, idolatry, covetousness.

D3 There are seven things that the LORD hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends. (Proverbs 6:16, GNB92)

D4 These are a few of the reasons that God hides Himself.

C3 Even if God was to reveal Himself to people, most would reject Him anyway. They would not worship and love Him.

C4 Miracles bring the conversion of a few if any. Jesus and the Apostles did many miracles, yet most people rejected.

B5 Evidence of His being. A number of articles dealing with witnesses, clues, and questions about the evidence of God's existence.

Sunday School Lesson—The Savior is born

Sunday School Lesson

20 Dec 2015

The Savior is born.


A1 Text

B1 Luke 1:26-45

B2 Luke 2:1-7

A2 Outline

B1 Luke 1:26-45

C1 Jesus's birth foretold Luke 1:26-38

D1 The angel comes Luke 1:26-28

D2 The angel's message Luke 1:29-33

D3 Mary's question Luke 1:34

D4 Angel's answer Luke 1:35-37

D5 Mary's response Luke 1:38

C2 Mary visits Elizabeth Luke 1:39-45

B2 Luke 2:1-7 Jesus's birth

C1 Background of Jesus's birth Luke 2:1-3

C2 Journey to Bethlehem Luke 2:4-6

C3 Jesus born Luke 2:7

A3 Questions

B1 Luke 1:26--what does sixth month refer to? (Elizabeth's pregnancy).

B2 Luke 1:26--who is Gabriel?

C1 Archangel Daniel 8:16, Daniel 9:21, Luke 1:19

C2 Stands in God's presence. This might indicate greater authority. Two groups of angels are seen in God's presence at His throne.

D1 Seraphim Isaiah 6

D2 Cherubim Ezekiel 1 and 10

B3 Luke 1:27--Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Why was Joseph important?

C1 Descendant of King David.

C2 Promises made to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 1 Kings 8:25, Psalms 132:11, Luke 1:69

B4 Why Nazareth (Natsrat)?

C1 Home of Mary and Joseph. The existence of the town was in question for a number of years but archeology has shown its existence in the first century and earlier. See here and here.

C2 Prophesied. Read Isaiah 9:1.

C3 Why did God choose this city? It is not written.

B5 Was Mary really a virgin? Yes, because it is most reasonable. She would know. Her character was blameless. Others testify it so. Joe believed it. The angel told Joe that it was so. It is a fulfilled prophecy. Isaiah 7:14. Many translations use the term "young woman" in Isaiah 7:14, which would imply she may or may not be a virgin, but it does not have to be translated young woman. When the Septuagint was translated approximately 200 years before the Lord Jesus was born used the Greek word strictly for virgin--parthenos. See here and here.

B6 Does the angel's greeting in Luke 1:28 seem strange? Mary was troubled by his words (Luke 1:29). The Greek word for troubled is διαταράσσω which means acutely distressed, greatly disturbed. We might feel that way if we receive a letter with the return address of the IRS.

B7 In Luke 1:30 what might have Gabriel picked up on that this news started or distressed Mary. (body language and facial expression).

B8 Why did God pick Mary for this blessing in serving God?

B9 How many times is the future tense used in Luke 1:31-33? (Seven. They are "will conceive, will bear, will call, will be great, will be called, will give, and will reign").

B10 What is the significance of the name Jesus? It means "Yahweh saves", "Yahweh is salvation." Joshua of Old Testament fame has the same name (Joshua 1:1).

B11 What is the significance of the word "forever" in Luke 1:33?

B12 Is Jesus still "King of the Jews? Hebrews 2:8, 1 Peter 3:22

B13 Is Mary disputing with Gabriel in Luke 1:34? Compare Luke 1:18-20. Wilbur Pickering in his translation noted writes

Zacharias expressed doubt, but Mary simply requests some necessary information. She has understood that God wants her to be the Messiah's mother—she was doubtless highly intelligent and perceptive.

B14 Anything special about Jesus being called holy?

C1 The Greek word holy is ἅγιος. This means

hágios – properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, 40 (hágios) means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world."

The fundamental (core) meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" – thus a temple in the 1st century was hagios ("holy") because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay). In the NT, 40 /hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord."

[40 (hágios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different (distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.]

HELPS Word-studies copyright C1987-2011 by HELPS Ministries. HelpsBible

C2 It has the means of sinless, separated from something (in this case separated from evil), and devoted to god (in this case YHWH).

B15 Is anything impossible with God (Luke 1:37)? Can God lie?

C1 Luke 1:37 in Greek is οτι ουκ αδυνατησει παρα τω θεω παν ρημα (Luke 1:37, Byz). "For not will be impossible with the God any word."

C2 So anything that God says will happen, will happen.

C3 I translate this as "Because with God every spoken word will not be impossible."

B16 What attitude does Mary have that we are must have? Luke 1:38

B17 How would you/I deal with something that seems impossible?

B18 What are somethings that we need God's help to do?

B19 How does the Holy Spirit help us? (He gives wisdom, He is sovereign, He comforts, etc.).

B20 Can we answer like Mary when we read something in the New Testament that God requires of us?

B21 Many calculate the journey from Jerusalem to Nazareth to be 5 days journey by walking.

B22 Does the activity of the baby in Elizabeth's womb have any bearing on abortion? Luke 1:41

B23 In Luke 1:42 Elizabeth calls Mary blessed. The Roman Catholics have at least for 1600 years called Mary, the Mother of God. Is this correct? Why or why not?

C1 Jesus is God. Mary gave birth to Jesus, so Mary is the Mother of God.

C2 Problem. Jesus has always existed. Psalms 90:2, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Philippians 2:6-7, John 1:1

C3 Problem. Jesus is always superior to any human. (Mother would imply, at least for a while, to be superior).

C4 For further information see here, here,

B24 Most critics claim that the tax and census of Quirinius was in 6 AD, which would be too late for Jesus's birth. How to we reconcile this?

C1 Long after the conversion and death of Rahab, she was still referred to as the harlot. Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25

C2 At the time of Luke's writing, Quirinius was a common name. After Quirinius was governor, he would have been identified as governor to distinguish him from other Quirinius's.

B25 What is better God's plans or ours? What happens when our plans cannot, for whatever reason, happen? Do we somehow try to force it to happen or accept it for a better plan that God may work out later? Give some examples is your life?

B26 How do you/I react to changes in plans, delays in plans, plans that do not work out?

B27 Who is the giver of wisdom? God see James 1:5

B28 Who is the helper? John 14:26

B29 What is our duty to be when plans do not happen that way we wanted them to?

Hard Questions—How can a loving God send people to hell?

How can a loving God send people to hell?




A1 Briefly

B1 Two choices

C1 God doesn't love

C2 God does love

C3 Love is defined as

D1 Choice rather than emotion

D2 Has the characteristics of kindness, firmness, commitment, tenderness, gentleness

D3 Is described as (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

E1 Patient

E2 Kind

E3 Without envy

E4 Without conceit

E5 Without arrogance

E6 Good behavior

E7 Not selfish

E8 Calm, no hateful anger

E9 Doesn't bring up the other person's faults over and over

E10 Doesn't rejoice when bad things happen to someone

E11 Rejoices in the truth

E12 Forbears

E13 Has the attitude to believe (one would especially see this in their spouse or child. They listen and take what they say seriously. It does not imply blind faith or believing something that is questionable).

E14 Faith, hope, and patience do not fail.

C4 God does love.

D1 His character is love. Exodus 34:6-7, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:12

D2 He sent His only, begotten Son to die for the sins of humanity. Matthew 16:21, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Timothy 2:6, Romans 5:8

B2 Why not just annihilate them?

C1 Not showing love to the victims. Punishment is needed for their sake to pay back the evil others did to them.

C2 Not satisfying justice. Is there justice in the world? People cry out for justice. If there is no justice, then there is no satisfaction of equal treatment. Bribes, bullying, threats, etc. would be much more common that already exist.

C3 Incentive. What incentive would there be to live peacefully in society, it there was no punishment whatsoever?

B3 Humans exceptionalism

C1 We are created in the image of God, so we live forever.

D1 Created Genesis 1:27

D2 Resurrection Daniel 12:2, Matthew 25:46, John 5:29

C2 Moral and responsible for others. This results in that we have duties to perform. See here and here
(also see links on those pages). Genesis 2:15 (some would include Revelation 11:18, for we are to take care of the earth), Psalms 8:6

B4 God has warned about disobedience. Ezekiel 18:4, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Exodus 20

B5 God has given the solution. Acts 16:30-31, Acts 10:43. See Need God.

Sunday School Lesson—Holy Spirit Guides

The Holy Spirit Guides Us




Galatians 5:16-26


A1 Outline

B1 Two ways of life Galatians 5:16-18 and Galatians 5:24-26

C1 Holy Spirit's way

C2 The flesh's way

B2 Two results of life Galatians 5:19-23

C1 Works of flesh

C2 Fruit of the Spirit

B3 One choice Galatians 5:25-26

A2 Notes

B1 Walking in this passage refers to living our life. Read Psalms 15:2, Psalms 101:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:1

B2 All the nouns listed for works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit can be taken in the sense of our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

B3 The two different ways cannot be done at the same time. It is one way or the other.

B4 An unbeliever can do some of the things of the fruit of the Spirit as they can love, etc., but these are not of any spiritual merit or benefit.

A3 Questions

B1 Do you(I) want to live a godly life?

B2 Who can produce in us a godly life?

B3 Who has to be our leader, our guide, for us to live a godly life? (This is who we are going to study).

B4 Who makes the choice of whom to follow?

B5 What are the two ways? (God's way or our way).

B6 Are there any other ways?

B7 What is the choice we all FIRST make? (our way).

B8 Who or what influences our choice?

B9 Who is the leader of our way? Who is the leader of God's way? Read 1 John 3:10.

B10 In Galatians 5:16, What is the effect of walking in the Spirit? (We will not do the desires of the flesh).

B11 Can we live God's way without God's help?

B12 Can an unbeliever live God's way?

B13 (From the book) In what ways do we see this conflict going on around and within us?

B14 (From the book) How can we stop focusing on past failure and learn to live under the control and influence of the Spirit?

B15 Speaking about addictions?

C1 What is an addiction?

C2 Give some examples? (Money, pornography, drugs, laziness, cursing, etc.)

C3 Is coffee an addiction?

C4 How does one overcome an addiction?

C5 What is the danger of addictions?

C6 What do we do with the scars of addiction (family, health, etc.)?

C7 If we have, with God's help, overcome an addiction, what is the danger?

C8 How can we help other who is addicted to whatever?

B16 What is the environment and rules of God's kingdom in heaven?

B17 What is the basis for the rules in God's kingdom? (God's character. He does not lie, commit adultery, practice sorcery, etc.).

B18 How do we walk in the Spirit? Is it obeying dreams, visions, and voices?

B19 In Galatians 5:18, what does led by the Spirit mean? (God's way or my way ). Is this important? Read Romans 8:10-16.

But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brothers, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you shall die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the practices of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Romans 8:10-16, EMTV)

B20 Examples

C1 I am hungry and want to steal that candy bar. How do I know what to do? The answer is God's way or my way. God's way is not to steal. My way would be to steal. If we are led by the Spirit, then we will not steal the candy bar even if we are hungry.

C2 I am caught doing something wrong. How do I know what to do? Do I lie to (try) get out of being punished, or do I not lie? God's way is to tell the truth, so if I am led by the Spirit, I will not lie.

B21 From the teacher's manual ("Fusion Study Guide").

C1 What are some ways we see the works of the flesh in our society?

C2 How have I seen the work of the Holy Spirit in my life?

C3 How do we see the fruits of the Spirit increasing in our lives? We have to

D1 Know God's way. This is done by reading and studying the Bible.

D2 Confess our sin.

D3 Repent of doing a sin, thus wanting and striving to do things God's way.

B22 Are the works of the flesh only actions we do? No, we may do these things in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Sin comes out of the heart (But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man." (Matthew 15:18-20, EMTV)), which means premeditation before performance.

B23 What is the best way to see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?

C1 Regular Bible reading and study.

C2 Regular Bible teaching from the pulpit.

C3 Regular prayer for others and our self for God to help us.

C4 Regularly encouraging one another.

C5 What else?

B24 Why don't the people of the earth live and do the fruit of the Spirit? Wouldn't the world and society be better off? The reason they do not is because they don't have the Spirit. What should we do about this?

Sunday School Lesson—6 December 2015

D-6 Fusion 6 December 2015


(Our Sunday School Class is now studying out of the D-6 Fusion series).


A Different Kind of Temple




Theme: The Holy Spirit lives in us.


Text:

Isaiah 63:10-14

Psalms 139:7

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Introduction:

Holy Spirit exists (understood).

Holy Spirit is omnipresent.

Lesson:

Holy Spirit present and active in the Old Testament

Isaiah 63:10-14

What are the terms of personality showing the Holy Spirit to have personhood?

How was the Holy Spirit active in the life of Israel?

Psalms 139:7-12

Can anyone hide from the Holy Spirit?

In Psalms 139:10, is the Holy Spirit interested and active in the lives of believers?

In the lives of Judge Samson and King Saul, we see the Holy Spirit working in them to accomplish tasks that God wanted them to do. It appears that the Holy Spirit did NOT permanently indwell believers.

For more about the Holy Spirit see here and here.

Believers do have permanently the indwelling Holy Spirit and are the Temple for the Holy Spirit.

In 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 we see the glory of God in the Temple.

This is after Solomon's prayer of dedication. This is an illustration of God's presence in His church, which is the New Testament body of believers.

Believers in the Old Testament met at a physical building, but New Testament believers can gather wherever they are located.

1 Corinthians 3:16 tells us that we are the temple of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16 is that the church is God's temple. 1 Corinthians 6:19 the individual believer is God's temple.

1 Corinthians 3 deals with our service to God. The first 15 verses mainly deal with service and rewards. Starting with 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul speaks of the temple of God being all believers.

The word you is plural. The word refers to these believers specifically but in application to all believers of the New Testament dispensation.

In the warning passage (verse 17), how do we destroy this temple? Sin destroys this temple. The word for destroy is φθείρω phtheiró. It means destroy as in corrupt, deteriorate, and used figuratively for moral deterioration and the "corrupting influence of sin."

How does sin destroy this temple?

How does God destroy this person?

How does sin destroy the church?

What are we to do to prevent this destruction?

What is the state of the church today?

Let each ask him/herself, "What state is my temple in?"

What is the importance of forgiveness?

1 Corinthians 6:19

The Greeks and many today feel that the spirit of a person is different from the body, so if I sin with my body, it does not stain my soul. The Bible teaches the opposite. It teaches that we are a whole, so if I sin with my body, it does stain my soul. Moreover, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

The word your in this passage is singular, while in 1 Corinthians 3:16, it is plural.

What does the Holy Spirit do in an individual believer's life?

Is He always with us?

Is He the Helper, Comforter, the one who chastens, strengthens, guides?

According to 1 Corinthians 6:20 what is one of the biggest motivators why we must live as God wants us to?

Are there any rules in the New Testament for believers?

Interestingly the words "and in your spirit, which are God's" are not in most translations but are in 96.3% of all Greek manuscripts. Just saying!

Why do we need the Holy Spirit's help? (He teaches, counsels, comforts, strengthens, inspires (as in the writers of the Bible), convicts of sin, and intercedes in prayer). He also exalts Jesus, regenerates believers, lives in us, seals us, gives us strength to witness, and helps us to understand the Bible.

Is temptation sin? Matthew 4:1, Hebrews 2:18, Hebrews 4:15 Read 1 Timothy 1:12 (For which cause I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I have been persuaded that He is able to guard that which I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:12 EMTV) and Jude 1:24 (Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 1:24 NKJV).

Other questions

Where do you (I) need His help the most?

How are we to know He is helping us?

How will knowing these things helps us this week?

How does the Holy Spirit help the church (the people)?

Does that make a difference in how we, the church, minister?

Is this different then applying the world's business practices to grow the church?

What are some things that hinder the work of the Holy Spirit? (Sin in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds).

How can God be glorified here?

What can we do to be a healthy church and healthy Christians?

Since the Holy Spirit lives in us, how should we live this week? Will we need to make any changes?