The New Christian’s Handbook Part 6

B2 The 2 Question method, which is what I use in my 3-year Bible study. It goes through the Old Testament in 3 years and the New Testament 1 time each year for a total of 3 times in 3 years). The answers don’t must be in detail, but the main idea. Try to concentrate on one or more of the verses for a few minutes. Examples:

C1 Questions

D1 What does this mean?

D2 How do I apply this to my life?

C2 Example 1

MORNING

Reading: 2 Kings 11
What does this mean?
- Athaliah attempts to kill all the royal family, reigns for 7 years, then dies. She killed all the descendants of the king except one–Joash.
How do I apply this to my life?
- God hates sin.

EVENING

Reading: Luke 18
What does this mean?
- The persistent widow (persistent prayer), the Pharisee and tax collector, blessing of the children, the rich, young ruler, Jesus predicts His death (3rd time), and Jesus heals the blind beggar,
How do I apply this to my life?
- God doesn’t like quitters. God doesn’t approve of braggarts. God loves children. God wants to be the first priority in our lives. Jesus has compassion and can do miracles.

C2 Example 2

D1 MORNING of 3 Apr 19

Reading: 2 Kings 16
What does this mean?
- Ahaz rules in Judah; he was evil. If he wasn’t evil enough, he imitated the Assyrian gods, which doomed him.
How do I apply this to my life?
- If you see rebels being punished for the words and deeds, then do not do those same things, yet unfortunately most do.

D2 EVENING of 3 Apr 19

Reading: Luke 23
What does this mean?
- The Lord Jesus is taken to Pilate, who finds nothing criminal in him, but he sends Him to Herod. The Lord Jesus didn’t answer the questions, because it wouldn’t have done any good. This is seen by the mockery, and how Jesus was despised. Herod and Pilate find nothing worthy of death in Jesus. The Jewish leaders and their followers’ lust for Jesus’ death. Pilate gives in to them and orders Jesus’ death. Two others are crucified with Him. In verse 34, maybe the Father did forgive them and maybe not. Note, this is a prayer, not a judicial decision. Most people at the crucifixion of Jesus mock Him, hating God, hating Messiah, for which they are today paying serious consequences. One criminal believes. Jesus died willingly, not from His wounds. Jesus is buried with the women watching.
How do I apply this to my life?
- There are times when we should not answer questions. Be thankful that He did this for us.

Prayer

B1 What is prayer?

C1 Talking to God, our God, in Jesus’s name.

C2 Examples

D1 By evil spirits: Matthew 8:30-32 NKJV Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” 32 And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. [Edited by me]

E1 The evil spirits: demons begged Him, saying

E2 Their prayer: “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.”

E3 The Lord Jesus gave them their request, but they were destroyed along with the pigs. God gives no blessing to evil.

D2 By both evil and good people: Luke 18:9-14 NKJV Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” [Edited by me]

E1 The “holy” man, the Pharisee, talked to God, but he was rejected and not justified by God.

E2 The truthful man, the tax collector, talked to God, but he was accepted and justified.

D3 By good people:

E1 Formal prayer by King Solomon: see 1 Kings 8:12-53.

E2 Informal prayer by Peter: Matthew 14:30 NIV But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!“

B2 Principles

C1 Prayer is talking with God.

C2 God cannot be manipulated with special language, ritual, following some author’s plan, flattery, talking for a long time, etc.

C3 God will not answer us at all if we

D1 Treat our wife badly (1 Peter 3:7)

D2 Refuse to forgive someone (that is, not to seek revenge. If they have committed a crime, they must, MUST, be reported, for there is no such thing as forgive and forget. Forgive and forget is used by abusers to silence people) Matthew 18:35, Colossians 3:13, etc.

D3 To satisfy our evil lusts (James 4:3)

D4 If we are evil (Proverbs 15:29)

D5 If we have unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2, John 9:31, Psalm 66:18)

D6 Hate the Bible and refuse to obey anything in it (Israel has the ~613 laws of the Old Testament, while Christians have over 1,000 rules in the New Testament, for example, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 NLT Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. [Emphasis is mine. In the passage, in there are 14 rules]

D7 If we doubt His existence or His ability to answer (James 1:6-7).

C4 He will answer our prayer in his time and IF it is His will (1 John 5:14). Some prayers He will answer for sure as:

D1 Asking for forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9)

D2 If we ask for wisdom (James 1:5). He does not say WHEN he will answer, but that He WILL answer.

D3 For salvation (Romans 10:13)

B3 Questions

C1 What is prayer?

C2 Do we must follow a formula?

C3 Does God always answer prayer? (This is a trick question).

C4 Name some reasons God does not answer prayer?

C5 If prayer becomes boring, what should we do?

C6 Is praying with others important?

B4 For further study on prayer see here. Here is a general list of prayer verses.

B5 An answer to the question—Does God always answer prayer? God always answers prayer. This answer might be yes, no, wait, or something different than we expect.

Fellowship

B1 Question: Why did God create us? Answer: To have fellowship with God and serve Him forever. (Fellowship: 1 John 1:3, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 1:9, also see here and here. Serve Him: Colossians 3:23-24, John 12:26, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, also see here).

B2 Are some types of fellowship wrong? Consider

C1 1 Corinthians 10:20 NKJV Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.

C2 2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJV Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

C3 Ephesians 5:11 NKJV And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

B3 Some things about fellowship (Manser Theme #7025) Study the passages in one of the following topics and share something you have learned.

7025 — church, unity and fellowship of
The church is one in essence, because it is founded on one gospel, united to one Lord and indwelt by one Spirit. Its unity is under constant threat because of the tendency to division that is inherent in fallen humanity, and needs to be continually maintained and actively expressed in fellowship.
The unity of the church
The church is one Romans 12:5 See also 1 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:25
The church transcends all barriers Colossians 3:11 See also John 10:16; Acts 10:28-29, Acts 10:47; Acts 15:8-9; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14-16; 3:6 The great divide threatening the first Christians was between Jew and Gentile, but the church was able to unite the two into one body in Christ.
The church’s unity reflects the unity within the Trinity Ephesians 4:4-6 The unity of the church is built around the persons of the Trinity: one Spirit, one Lord, one Father. See also John 17:11; Romans 3:29-30; Romans 10:12-13; Galatians 3:27-28
The church’s unity is the work of the Trinity Ephesians 2:16-18 See also John 11:52; Acts 10:45-47; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:22; Ephesians 4:3
The purpose of the church’s unity
- To lead others to faith John 17:23 See also John 17:21
- To lead believers to maturity Ephesians 4:13
The nature of the church’s unity Philippians 2:1-2 Emphasis is placed on an inner unity of mind and spirit rather than external uniformity. See also 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 2:2
Appeals for unity in the church Ephesians 4:3 See also Romans 12:10; Romans 15:5, Romans 15:7; 1 Corinthians 12:25; Colossians 3:14; 1 Peter 3:8
The church’s unity is expressed in fellowship
- Fellowship with God 1 Corinthians 1:9 See also 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 1:3,
- Fellowship expressed by meeting together Acts 2:46 See also Acts 2:1, Acts 2:42; Acts 5:12; Acts 6:2; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 10:25
- Fellowship expressed through sharing resources Acts 2:44-45 See also Acts 4:32, Acts 4:34-37; Acts 11:27-30; Romans 15:26; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:2-5, 2 Corinthians 13-14; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Philippians 4:14-18
- Fellowship through suffering Revelation 1:9 See also Romans 8:17; 2 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 3:10; Philippians 4:14; Hebrews 10:33-34; Hebrews 13:3
- Fellowship through shared spiritual blessings 1 Corinthians 9:23 See also Romans 11:17; Philippians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 5:1; Jude 1:3
Specific actions which express fellowship and unity in the church
- Sharing in the Lord’s Supper 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 See also Acts 2:46; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:33
- Baptism as an expression of unity Ephesians 4:4-6 See also 1 Corinthians 12:13
- Extending hospitality Acts 28:7; Romans 12:13; Romans 16:23; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 4:9; 3 John 8
- Greeting one another Acts 18:27; Romans 16:3-16; 1 Corinthians 16:19-20; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:17
- Welcoming former opponents Acts 9:26-27; Galatians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8
Divisions in the church
- Causes of division in the NT church
- Personal ambition: Mark 9:34; Mark 10:35-41 pp Matthew 20:20-24
- Ethnic tension: Acts 6:1
- Differences of opinion: Acts 15:37-40; Philippians 4:2
- Troublesome heretical leaders: Romans 16:17; Jude 19
- Partisan spirit: 1 Corinthians 1:11-12; 1 Corinthians 3:3-4
- 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 litigation and disputes
- Greed: 1 Corinthians 11:18, 1 Corinthians 11:20-21; James 4:1-3
Warnings against divisions in the church 1 Corinthians 1:10 See also Romans 12:16; Romans 16:17; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:31; James 4:11
Acceptable differences in the church
- In secondary matters of conscience, Christians are to respect rather than judge each other. These things need not impair the essential unity that is in Christ: Romans 14:1-3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13
- In varieties of spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:14-25; Galatians 2:7
Necessary divisions in the church
- Between the true gospel and heretical alternatives: 2 Corinthians 11:2-6, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:16-19; 1 Timothy 4:1-6; 1 John 2:18-19; 2 John 9-11; Jude 1:18-20
- Between those truly committed to Jesus Christ, and those apparently part of the church but living sinful lives: 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:2-9; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Revelation 2:20, 24; Revelation 3:1, 4
- Over essential gospel principles: Acts 15:2, Acts 15:5-6, Acts 15:19; Galatians 2:11

1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Adam Clarke writes concerning this passage:

…they had these privileges that they might show forth the praises of Him who had thus called them; αρετας, the virtues, those perfections of the wisdom, justice, truth, and goodness of God, that shone most illustriously in the Christian dispensation. These they were to exhibit in a holy and useful life, being transformed into the image of God, and walking as Christ himself walked.

Posted by Choco in 2019 at 04:52

Labels: Handbook, New Christian

The New Christian’s Handbook Part 6

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