A Gentle Defense

Wednesday, October 21, 2015
1 Peter 3:13-18 KJV 

13 And who [is] he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy [are ye]: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For [it is] better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What question does the Apostle Peter ask his readers in this passage of Scripture? (v.13)
2) How should those who suffer for "righteousness sake" feel? Why? (v.14a)
3) Whom should those who suffer for well doing fear and what should they do instead? Why? (v.14b-18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever suffered for well doing? If so, briefly describe what happened.

LIFE LESSONS
5) "All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution!"

God's Love Prevails

Monday, October 12, 2015
Romans 8:31-39 KJV 

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. 34 Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What questions does the Apostle Paul ask the readers in this passage of Scripture? What  (v.31-35)
2) What does Paul conclude about the trial that we suffer in this life? (v.36-38)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) What, if anything, can seperate you from the love of God?

LIFE LESSONS
4) There is no trial, hardship, or suffering that is able to separate from God's love. Not even death!

This is Eternal Life

Friday, January 9, 2015
John 17:1-5 KJV

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did our Lord Jesus' initially ask the Father to do for Him in the Garden of Gethsemane? Why? (v.1)
2) What had the Father given the Son power over? Why? (v.2)
3) What did our Lord say that eternal life is? (v.3)
4) What had Jesus finished? (v.4)
5) What was Jesus final request of the Father in this prayer? (v.5)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How do you know that you have eternal life?
7) How have you glorified the Father in your own life?

LIFE LESSONS
8) As believers in the Lord Jesus, we are guaranteed eternal life with our Lord, when our earthly life is done.
9) Eternal life enables us to have relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
10) The Father was ultimately glorified through the life of Christ by the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ.
11) The Father is most glorified in our lives when we die to our selves and follow Jesus. 

Why is my Pain Unending?

Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Jeremiah 15:10-18 

10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me. 11 The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee [well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction. 12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel? 13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders. 14 And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you. 15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is Jeremiah's complaint to the mother who bore him? (v.10)
2) What is the Lord's response to Jeremiah? (v.11-14)
3) How did Jeremiah respond to the Lord? (v.15-17)
4) What does Jeremiah ask the Lord? (v.18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever questionned why you have endured as much trouble as you have? If so, please describe one such instance.
6) If you know, what do you think may be the root cause of your trouble(s)?
7) What is the Lord's counsel to you, from His word?

PRINCIPLES
8) The enemy often lies to us about our value to God and to others.
9) The truth of God's word is greater than any lie that the enemy tells you about yourself.
10) The Word of God not only saves us but it heals and delivers us.

11) At times, the Lord allows us to endure hardship despite our obedience to His will.

Standing Fast in God's True Grace

Thursday, August 14, 2014
1 Peter 5:8-14

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. 
11 To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 
13 The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son. 
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace [be] with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why should disciples of Christ be sober and vigilant? (v.8)
2) What are we supposed to do when we are afflicted and why? (v.9)
3) What will God do for believers who endures suffering for a season? (v.10)
4) What belongs to God eternally? (v.11)
5) What enables believers to stand in the midst of adversity? (v.12)
6) How are we to treat one another as Christian brothers and sisters? (v.13-14)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) When you are faced with troubles, who do you attribute them to and why?
8) Does it help you to know that your brothers and sisters are also suffering, as you do? Why, or why not?
9) What typically happens in your life, after you have suffered temptation for a season? 

PRINCIPLES
10) The devil is powerful, but he is not more powerful than our Creator.
11) When tempted to do anything that will compromise your witness, fight or flee from the situation.
12) God's grace (enabling power) will always enable us to endure tremendous temptations, when we ask for it.

Sharing Christ's Sufferings and Glory

Wednesday, August 13, 2014
1 Peter 4:12-19

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 
16 Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? 
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are believers not to consider strange? (v.12)
2) Why should we rejoice when we face trials and other difficulties? (v.13)
3) What rests on you when you suffer reproach for Christ and how do others respond to God? (v.14)
4) Do we receive the Lord's blessings when we are persecuted for wrongdoings that we have committed? (v.15)
5) How should we respond if we suffer because of what we do as Christians? (v.16)
6) Where does judgement begin? (v.17a)
7) What will happen to the ungodly and the sinner? (v.17b, 18)
8) What shall we do if we suffer according to God's will? (v.19)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Have you ever been persecuted because of your faith in Jesus Christ? If so, please describe one such time.
10) Have you ever suffered because of your own wrong doing? How does that differ from suffering as a Christian?
11) Have you ever felt that the Lord was keeping you from sinning, even when you wanted to? Please explain.

PRINCIPLES
12) The Lord allows us to suffer to strengthen our faith, suspend our pride, or surrender to His rule!
13) God is glorified when we suffer as Christians!
14) God is rejected by those who do not understand Him, or the suffering He allows!
15) God will never allow His people to suffer beyond what we are able to bear!