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Thought Provoking Bible Studies About Some of the Wonderful Christianity Basics
(developed by Bill Stevenson)
Notes: (1) The following tool is for many years of sermons and group Bible discussions.
(2) The measurements in inches for the “File/Page Setup…” are Top= .65, Bottom= .5, Left= 1.25,
and Right= .75 for 8.5 x 11 paper size. I have used forced Page Breaks. Preview before printing.
(3) The Scripture references are all in the Index at the end of this document. Most of them are in the
logical formatting of ETRSF.
Introduction
One of my main concerns is that most Christian churches don’t have very much Bible teaching. So I have
tried to encourage many to study the Bible more and even begin home group Bible studies. Recently, I have had
opportunities to share about my logical indent method of formatting Scripture with some leaders in a world-wide
denomination and they thought it was good and could help the indicated Bible study revival. In the last part of
August 2007, I re-organized about 140 complete and partial Bible studies for making some MS Word files of
Bible studies which could be used as “springboards” for personal or group Bible studies. Hope that you will
enjoy all that follows and in the rest of this series.
Note: Many of my Bible study courses have special ETRSF (Easy To Read Scripture Formatting), because it
causes reasoning which helps for better retention. Below are my tips for doing good Bible study. After
reading the directions for ETRSF, try your favorite Bible chapter. The man I learned this from even did
his personal letters this way.
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Studying and using Scripture suggestions:
First in responding to any Bible verse or Scripture passage you hear in a sermon,
skim the verse or passage and then check the verses before and after
to make sure that was is being said really relates to the verse quoted.
Sometimes after the sermon and I am at my computer,
I will download any meaningful verses’ passages and at least do the indent formatting to them
to understand better the logic of them.
If you are just typing Scripture without using Bible software to copy/paste from,
be very careful and double and triple check what you have written.
One letter missing or one letter added can change the meaning of a verse.
For each verse, think:
“Does it just tell me something I believe already
or does it indicate something I should change in my life to be more Christ-like?”
If it is the latter, you should copy it onto a 3 x 5 card
in your own words in a commitment form.
For your e-mail and Internet ministries, you can share any of my Bible studies
(which are free for the asking
or downloadable from http://www.humyo.com/9538789-1171401787)
or even uses parts of them in counseling or for your website.
But if you want to develop your own inductive Bible studies or Bible study tools,
following is some advice from me:
Back in 1977-78, I learned to do a special logical formatting.
The above and the below are samples of it.
This method of Bible study
will help the formatter learn new understanding of God’s Word
and can be used
for inductive teaching for Bible study discussion groups and
for easier memorizing of Scripture.
This way of writing Scripture can be done using any translation of the Bible
but please show respect in and capitalize the first letter of
deity pronouns,
Earth (for God’s special planet),
Christian,
and other words that indicate uniqueness (like “Bible” and “Apostle”).
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There are four main choices of this logical formatting:
If a phrase or statement is just a logical continuation or subordinate to the line above,
start it three or four spaces to the right of the starting place of the line above.
Some letters are thinner than other letters, so that is why the 3 or 4 option of spaces.
If a phrase or statement seems to be of equal importance to one of the lines above,
start it three spaces to the right of the starting place of that same importance line above.
A phrase or verse which seems to be just a clarification of a word or phrase in a previous verse
should be indented at least 7 spaces to the right compared to the previous line,
a so that the next line can start as it is a continuation of the previous line.
Such is a parenthetical statement
and could be easily left out and not affect the meaning of the above.
If a phrase or statement ends a definite paragraph
skip a line before starting the next paragraph.
Then sometimes I make the studies better Bible study tools or even courses
by doing the following:
I will bold or/and underline important verses or phrase
or/and I will insert thought provoking questions.
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I have learned much every time I have done the logical formatting.
Isaiah 28:9-10
“Whom shall He teach knowledge?
And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?
They who are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”
2 Timothy 2:15
“Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God,
a workman [or workwoman] who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
Note: For some of the following, there are some answer keys with suggested answers. If needed, just write
request to my e-mail account of for.trusting.God@googlemail.com .
Jeremiah 15:15-16
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.
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.
God said, “So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” [Isaiah 55:11]
Interesting Bible “Coincidences” from the Thompson Chain KJV Bible Helps
(compiler unknown)
the 3:16s--
John 3:16-- Salvation
Proverbs 3:16-- the preciousness of wisdom
Malachi 3:16-- The Lord’s jewels
Luke 3:16-- the two baptisms
Acts 3:16-- the mighty name
1 Corinthians 3:16-- the temple of the Holy Spirit
Colossians 3:16-- the indwelling Word of God
1 Timothy 3:16-- the mystery of Godliness
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the 2:10s--
Luke 2:10-- the Joy Bringer
Ephesians 2:10-- the Character Builder
Philippians 2:10-- the Adorable Name
Colossians 2:10-- the Fulfiller of Life
Hebrews 2:10-- the Captain of our Salvation
Revelation 2:10-- the Crown Giver
Other examples:
1. The seventh chapter of Genesis contains references to the waters of death, while in the seventh
chapter of John, Jesus speaks of the water of life (see verse 37).
2. Three great warning chapters are easily associated together because they all contain the number
3-- Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 33, and Matthew 23.
Memory Attitudes
1. on living-- 2 Thessalonians 5:18 and 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. on learning-- 2 Timothy 2:15
3. on thinking-- Philippians 2:2-5 and 4:8
4. on planning-- James 4:15, Matthew 6:25-34, and Ephesians 5:15-21
Testimony:
I was raised in a beautiful-looking church, but the Bible was not emphasized or taught at all. I loved doing a
lot of free time book reading (my favorites were Science Fiction and Landmark History books), but, except for a
thorough study for writing a 55-page paper on the Gospel of John, I didn’t read or study the Bible at all until
starting in October 1974. And I was a top Sunday school student! -But only “God’s Word does not come back
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void.” 1 Thessalonians 3:15-17 says: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man (or
woman) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” So I had to do some catch-work after
I was unjustly fired from my first Christian school teaching job in 1974. The Holy Spirit had me study straight
through Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and the Epistles of Paul, underlining and making 3 x 5 cards to make some Bible
study tools later. I traded the secular books reading time for time of Bible study and intercessory prayer. I did
also read some Christian books, but never became addicted to do such. Now I have 59 Bible study tools which I
share with others.
On June 25, 2004, I shocked my German wife when I told her that I don’t read and study the Bible everyday
for my new ministry of Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School. Later during the sermon on
Romans 5:1-5, eight ways of relating to the Bible came to my mind. So the ways one should relate to the Bible are
1.) Read, 2.) Study, 3.) Meditate, 4.) Memorize, 5.) Discuss it, 6.) Counsel with it, 7.) Prepare a Bible study tool
or teach it. Frequently living it should be done everyday by Christians, but at least one of the others should be
done too, preferable several.
Reading and study of the Bible should never be done when an individual is not thinking as Proverbs 3:5-8
says. In other words, reading just to read or just because someone else says so will usually not have lasting
results. To me a key is thinking as Proverbs 3:5-8 commands, and then an individual can become sensitive to the
Holy Spirit, Who Jesus said in John 14-16 would be a believer’s convictor, comforter, teacher, and guide. The
following is my translation and logical formatting of those important verses:
Trust in The Lord
with all my heart,
and lean not on my own understanding
or past experiences.
In all my ways acknowledge
(be thankful for) Him,
and He (via the Holy Spirit) shall direct
my thinking and doing.
Do not be wise in my own eyes;
fear The Lord (have awesome respect for)
and depart from evil.
It will be health to my flesh,
and strength to my bones.
But along with the much misusing of Scripture in sermons and publications, there is a lot of false teaching
about how a Christian should relate the Bible:
• I disagree with those saying that Christians should study the Bible every day and should read all of the
Bible from Genesis to Revelation. No where in the Bible is this commanded. The Holy Spirit will guide
each God’s truth seeker in a personal way. Most of my Bible study tools were interrupted in the
development for good reasons and preparation for the rest. So I did not read and study the Bible every
day even when I was focusing on thinking about them. But, every day I try to do at least 3 of the first
seven ways to relate to Scripture.
• Those who brag about reading the Bible one time or more times through who I have met, did not manifest
the fruit of the Spirit in compassion for others. Also, I am turned-off by those who are proud of their
memorizing of Scripture and try to get everyone else in church to do likewise. None of them manifested
the fruit of the Spirit in compassion for others either. I knew a pastor who had a photographic memory
but he never bragged about how much Scripture he knew; he was a humble verse-by-verse Bible teacher.
I pray for the just indicated people because they are misleading others from truly personally relating to the
Bible. To me, living it means doing what it says to do in thinking and acting in relation with others and also
confessing and repenting of bad habits. I enjoy doing either of those. For over 30 years, the Bible has been the
most important (by far) book in my life. I am amazed how I learn new understandings from even my favorite
passages. I never had a dull minute with it. Below are more reasons why the Bible is so important to me and
definitely is Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth:
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Bible Study Suggestions:
A. First in responding to any Bible verse or Scripture passage you are orally given or assigned, skim the verse
or passage and then check the verses before and after to make sure I have included all of the context. I could
be wrong and not have included important context verses.
B. For each verse, think: “Does it just tell me something I believe already or does it indicate something I should
change in my life to be more Christ-like?” If it is the latter, copy it onto a 3 x 5 card and state it in your own
words in a commitment form.
C. When copying Scripture, be very careful, and double and triple check what you have written. Capitalize the
first letter of (a) a deity pronoun, (b) any title of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, (c) Earth and Heaven
respectively meaning the planet we live on and where true Christians hope to go for the time before the New
Earth (d) the words Bible, Scripture, and Christian, (e) the word Law when the context indicates either the
Ten Commandments or God’s Law [not the ordinances, religious rules, and procedures spoken/written by
Moses for only the Israelites in the Old Testament times], and (f) any other proper nouns.
Directions: The following Holy Scripture references, quotes, and paraphrases can be used as “springboards”
for good reasoning and important discussions. If you really believe most of the quotes in this
paper, please note which ones and indicate any questions or doubts you might have about the ones
you don’t. Otherwise, you could write an essay as if you had the opportunity to try to persuade an
individual to become a true Christian.
1. 2 Timothy 2:8-10--
“The Word of God is not bound”
and testifies to the only way of resurrection and Salvation.
2. Romans 10--
the righteousness of God is of faith in Jesus Christ,
“faith comes by hearing,
and hearing by the Word of God.” (vs. 3, 6a, & 17)
3. John 6:63--
Jesus said to His disciples,
“It is the Spirit Who gives life;
the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit,
and they are life.”
4. Psalm 19:7-8--
“The Law of The Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
the testimony of The Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of The Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.
The commandment of The Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
5. Psalm 33--
“For the Word of The Lord is right,
and all His works are done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice....
The counsel of The Lord stands forever,
the thoughts of His heart to all generations.” (vs. 4-5a & 11)
6. Matthew 24:35-- Jesus said,
“Heaven and Earth shall pass away,
but My words shall not pass away.”
7. 1 John 5:4-15--
“He [or she] who believes on The Son Of God
has the witness in himself [or herself].
He [or she] who believes not God has made Him a liar,
because he [or she] believes not the record that God gave of His Son.
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And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life,
and this life is in His Son.” (vs. 10-11)
8. Hebrews 10:7--
a prophesy of David (Psalm 40) about the Messiah
which states that a volume of a book is about Him
9. John 17:8-- The words of God through Jesus should be proof enough that God sent Him.
10. John 20:30-31--
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written, that you might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, The Son Of God;
and that believing you might have life through His name.”
11. Luke 24:25-48--
“And Jesus said unto His eleven disciples,
‘These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the Law of Moses,
and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.’
Then opened He their understanding,
that they might understand the Scriptures”
before preaching repentance and remission of sins
among all nations. (vs. 44-48)
12. 1 Thessalonians 2:13--
“When you received the Word of God which you heard of us,
you received it,
not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth,
the Word of God, which effectually works also in you who believe.”
13. John 1:8-10--
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.…
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,
and His word is not in us.” (vs. 8 & 10)
14. Matthew 22:29--
Jesus said,
“You do err,
not knowing the Scriptures
nor the power of God.”
15. Romans 1:16-17--
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ;
for it is the power of God unto Salvation to everyone who believes.
For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith;
as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”
16. Hebrews 4:12--
“For the Word of God is
living, and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
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17. Romans 16:25-27--
“Now to Him Who is of power to establish you
according to my Gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began,
but now is made manifest,
and by the Scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God,
made known to all nations for the obedience of faith;
to God, only wise, be glory
through Jesus Christ forever.”
18. Ephesians 6:10-17--
Believers are supposed to be strong in The Lord
wearing the whole armor of God which includes
our “loins girded about with truth”,
our “feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel”
and holding “the sword of the Spirit
which is the Word of God”.
Also from the Bible, we are instructed on
how we can recognize spiritual wickedness
against which we must wrestle
(not just protect ourselves from)
and how we can maintain living in
increasing righteousness (the breastplate)
and faith (the shield).
Finally, the Bible makes us confident of our Salvation (the helmet).
19. 1 John 2:14b--
If the Word of God abides in a person,
he or she has strength to overcome the devil.
20. Matthew 4:1-11 or Luke 4:1-13--
Jesus used quotes from the Scriptures, not His own words,
to refute the devil’s temptations.
21. Acts 4:31--
being filled with the Holy Spirit allows us
to speak the Word of God with boldness.
22. 2 Timothy 1:7-10--
a) We should not fear or lack a sound mind
when we are afflicted due to our belief in the Gospel,
b) God is made manifest by Jesus Christ
Who has brought life and immortality to light
through the Gospel.
23. Romans 15:4--
“For whatever things were written in earlier times
were written for our learning,
that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures,
might have hope.”
24. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21--
The Bible is the way to understand
Christian rebirth and the righteousness of God.
“To wit, that God was in Christ
reconciling the world unto Himself,
not imputing their trespasses unto them,
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and has committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.” (vs. 17, 21b, & 19)
25. 2 Timothy 3:16-17--
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness,
so that the man [or woman] of God
may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works.” (See also Ephesians 2:10.)
26. Colossians 3:16--
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,
in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another,
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
singing with grace in your hearts to The Lord.”
27. 1 John 5:19-20--
The Bible should be our source of
a) understanding the human condition of wickedness and
b) knowing Jesus Christ
Whom we should be in because He is true.
28. 1 Corinthians 10:1-15--
Examples in the Bible were written for our admonition
so that we would not lust after evil things
or put Christ to the test.
“Wherefore, let him [or her] who think he [or she] stands
take heed
lest he [or she] fall.” (vs. 11, 6, 9a, & 12)
29. Romans 2:7-10a-- warning against not obeying the truth.
30. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12--
“in flaming fire taking vengeance on them
who know not God,
and who obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 8)
31. Psalm 119--
describes the beauty and excellence of the written Word of God
in a way found nowhere else in the Bible.
It especially states how Scriptures should work on
one who seeks truth and purpose.
32. Hebrews 6:1-2--
We believers must progress from the principals of the doctrine of Christ
towards perfection in Him
by obeying the advice in the Scriptures.
33. James 1:18-27--
“Of His own will begot He us with the Word of truth,
that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.…
Therefore, put away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted Word,
which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the Word and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.” (vs. 18 & 21-22)
The Bible includes “the perfect law of liberty”
which guides one to do deeds that shall be blessed.
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34. 1 Peter 1:22-25--
We can purify our souls by obeying the truth.
We were born again
“not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the Word of God,
which lives and abides forever.”
All things of the flesh will pass away,
“but the Word of God will endures forever.”
35. 1 Peter 2:1-3--
New born-again Christians must lay aside
all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speakings
before they can really desire of and grow by
the pure milk of the Word.
36. John 15:3-- cleaning power of the Word
37. Hebrews 13:22a-- Believers should bear with the word of exhortation.
38. Philippians 2:13-16--
Believers are to obey God,
become blameless and harmless children of God without rebuke,
and hold forth the Word of life.
39. Luke 11:28--
Jesus said,
“Blessed are they who hear the Word of God
and keep it.”
40. 1 John 2:5-6--
“But whosoever keeps His word,
in him [or her] verily is the love of God perfected.
By this know we that we are in Him.
He [or she] who says he [or she] abides in Him
ought himself [or herself] also to walk, even as He walked.”
41. 2 Peter 3:9 & 13-18--
We should read the Bible to learn
and be reminded of all of God’s promises
for those who believe, especially about the things to come.
We also must remember that our Lord would like all to repent
and that He is coming back for those
who are at peace of Him without a spot and blameless.
We should be steadfast in our Salvation
and in the things mentioned in Paul’s Epistles
constantly growing in grace
and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
42. 2 Timothy 1:13--
The Apostle Paul said,
“Hold fast the form of sound words,
which you have heard of me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
43. John 8--
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him,
‘If you continue in my Word,
then are you My disciples indeed;
and you shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.’”
(vs. 31-32)
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44. 2 Timothy 3:13-15--
We must continue in the things
which we have learned from or have been assured
by the holy Scriptures,
so that we will not be deceived
as evil men and seducers become worse and worse.
45. Deuteronomy 30:10-20--
The Word of life is not hidden,
“but the word is very near unto you,
in your mouth, and in your heart,
that you may do it.”
We must obey and cleave to God’s Word
or else be drawn away and end-up serving other gods.
(vs. 11-14, 20, & 17)
46. 2 Timothy 2:15--
“Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman
who needs not be ashamed,
rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
47. 1 Timothy 1:3-11-- The Bible helps us to determine sound doctrine or truth.
48. 2 Timothy 2:22-26--
The Bible should be used
a) to avoid foolish or unlearned faith-testing questions
which breed strifes and
b) to guide those who oppose God or the truth in anyway
towards seeking God’s repentance
to the acknowledging of the truth
(so that they may recover or escape
out of the snare of the devil).
49. Colossians 4:5-6--
The Bible helps us to learn
a) to walk in wisdom toward those who are without and
b) to keep our speech with grace
so that we may know
how we ought to answer every man [or woman].
50. Titus 1:7-11, 13b-14--
Christian leaders must
purify themselves according to the Scriptures,
hold fast to the faithful Word
which will enable them by sound doctrine
to exhort and to convince the opposers,
and to rebuke those who turn or backslide from the Truth.
Note: Try to understand why I formatted the way I did using indenting and bolding. I had good reasons for
each. Also, think about the importance of Jesus Christ.
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[thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest
Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith].
2 faithful He was to Him Who appointed Him [Apostle and High Priest],
as Moses was also faithful in the whole house [of God]. (See Numbers 14.)
3 Yet Jesus has been considered worthy of much greater honor {and} glory than Moses,
just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house [itself]. (See 2 Corinthians 3)
4 For [of course] every house is built {and} furnished by someone,
but the Builder of all things
{and} the Furnisher [of the entire equipment of all things] is God.
5 And Moses certainly was faithful in the administration of all God's house
[but it was only] as a ministering servant.
[In his entire ministry he was but] a testimony to the things
which were to be spoken [the revelations to be given afterward in Christ].
6 But Christ (the Messiah) was faithful
over His [own Father's] house as a Son [and Master of it].
And it is we who are [now members] of this house,
if we hold {fast and firm to the end} our joyful {and} exultant confidence
and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].
13
16 For who were they who heard
{and} yet were rebellious {and} provoked [Him]?
Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
17 And with whom was He irritated {and} provoked
{and} grieved for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned,
whose dismembered bodies were strewn
{and} left in the desert?
18 And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest,
but to those who disobeyed
[who had not listened to His word
and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]?
19 So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest],
because of their unwillingness
to adhere to {and} trust in {and} rely on God
[unbelief had shut them out]. (Numbers 14-15)
What should be your priorities? What should you learn from the past?
What keeps you from doing what these two Scripture chapters say we should do?
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4 And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink.
For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them
[produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality],
and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them,
for they were overthrown {and} strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness.
6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us
not to desire {or} crave {or} covet {or} lust after evil {and} carnal things as they did.
7 Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were,
as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink
[the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb]
and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity).
8 We must not gratify evil desire {and} indulge in immorality as some of them did--
and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell {dead} in a single day!
9 We should not tempt The Lord
[try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him,
and exploit His goodness] as some of them did--
and were killed by poisonous serpents;
10 nor discontentedly complain as some of them did--
and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).
11 Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us];
they were written to admonish
{and} fit us for right action by good instruction,
we in whose days the ages have reached their climax
(their consummation and concluding period).
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands
[who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm],
take heed lest he fall [into sin].
13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin),
[no matter how it comes or where it leads]
has overtaken you {and} laid hold on you that is not common to man
[that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance
and that is not adjusted and adapted
and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear].
But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], {and} assayed
and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted {and} tried
beyond your ability {and} strength of resistance {and} power to endure,
but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out
(the means of escape to a landing place),
that you may be capable {and} strong {and} powerful to bear up under it patiently.
14 Therefore, my dearly beloved,
shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be)
any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).
15 I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men.
Think over {and} make up your minds [for yourselves] about what I say.
[I appeal to your reason and your discernment in these matters.]
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Sower of the seed parable in ETRSF
Matthew 13
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting beside the sea.
2 But such great crowds gathered about Him
that He got into a boat and remained sitting there,
while all the throng stood on the shore.
3 And He told them many things in parables
(stories by way of illustration and comparison), saying,
“A sower went out to sow.
4 And as he sowed,
some seeds fell by the roadside,
and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground,
where they had not much soil;
and at once they sprang up,
because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun rose,
they were scorched, and because they had no root,
they dried up {and} withered away.
7 Other seeds fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew up and choked them out.
8 Other seeds fell on good soil,
and yielded grain--
some a hundred times as much as was sown,
some sixty times as much, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening
{and} let him consider {and} perceive {and} comprehend by hearing.”
18 Listen then to the [meaning of the] parable of the sower:
19 While anyone is hearing the Word of the Kingdom
and does not grasp {and} comprehend it,
the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.
This is what was sown along the roadside.
20 As for what was sown on thin (rocky) soil,
this is he who hears the Word
and at once welcomes {and} accepts it with joy;
21 Yet it has no real root in him,
but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while);
and when affliction {or} trouble {or} persecution comes
on account of the Word,
at once he is caused to stumble
[he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert
Him Whom he ought to trust and obey]
{and} he falls away.
22 As for what was sown among thorns,
this is he who hears the Word,
but the cares of the world and the pleasure {and} delight
{and} glamour {and} deceitfulness of riches
choke {and} suffocate the Word,
and it yields no fruit.
17
23 As for what was sown on good soil,
this is he who hears the Word
and grasps {and} comprehends it;
he indeed bears fruit
and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown,
in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.”
***What have been your experiences in being the different soils in your past life?
***How can you keep being “good soil”?
Note: If you did not read “Two wisdoms-- from 1 Corinthians 1-2” in the previous volume of this series, you can
be downloaded from http://www.humyo.de/9538789/Christian%20basics%20and%20controversies/1a%20My
%20Bible%20study%20tools/1.)%20wonderful%20Scripture%20passages/1--%202%20wisdoms--%20from
%201%20Corinthians%201-2--%20ETRS.doc?a=Uyn_5YPwJXI
Note: Back in 1979,I knew a middle-aged, lifetime, conservative Baptist who was a typist for a Christian
curriculum development ministry, who that she was a born-again true Christian. But when she was typing
1 John, she realized that she was not really saved. I also have read about church elders who attended
Billy Sunday meetings, realized that they were never spiritually born again since they were still selfish
humanists instead of being disciples of Jesus Christ. Please consider all of the following:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you,
which also you have received, and wherein you stand;
by which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless you have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried,
and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law.
But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
18
John 1:10-13
“He [Jesus Christ] was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
He came unto His own [the Jews], and His own received Him not.
But as many as received Him, to them
gave He power to become the children of God, even to them who believe on His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 10:24-31
“Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him,
‘How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly.’
Jesus answered them,
‘I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.
But you believe not, because you are not of My sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me:
And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
My Father, Who gave them Me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.
I and My Father are one.’
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.”
Ephesians 2:4-10
“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins,
had quickened us together with Christ,
(by grace you are saved),
And had raised us up together,
and made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
that in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches
of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God had before ordained that we should walk in them.”
19
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, unmovable,
always abounding in the work of The Lord,
forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in The Lord.”
1.) “‘Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying your heavy loads,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke and put it on you,
and learn from Me,
for I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest.’”
[Matthew 11:28-29]
2.) “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand,
so that He will lift you up in His own good time.
Throw all your worries on Him, for He cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:6-7]
3.) “For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved, through faith.
It is not your own doing, but God’s gift.” [Ephesians 2:8-9]
4.) “‘For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him
may not die but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to be its Judge,
but to be its Savior.’” [John 3:16-17]
5.) “‘For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.’” [Luke 19:10]
6.) “All men have sinned and are far away from God’s saving presence.
But by the free gift of God’s grace,
they all can be put right with Him
through Christ Jesus, Who sets them free.
God offered Him
so that by His death He should become
the means by which men’s sins are forgiven,
through their faith in Him.
God offered Christ to show
how He puts men right with Himself.” [Romans 3:23-25b]
7.) What is faith?
“Flaming zeal is not faith.
Firm conviction is not faith.
Deep feeling is not faith.
Enduring patience is not faith.
Hope for the future is not faith.
Faith is that which is in Jesus Christ,
the truth.
This truth does not change according to season or place,
for it is not of man but of eternal God.” [Source unknown.]
8.) “Jesus answered Thomas:
‘I am the way,
I am the truth,
I am the life;
no one goes to the Father except by Me.’” [John 14:6]
9.) “When anyone is joined to Christ,
he (or she) is a new being:
the old is gone, the new has come.” [2 Corinthians 5:17]
20
10.) “‘The wind blows wherever it wishes;
you hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going.
It is the same way with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” [John 3:8]
11.) “‘Whoever believes in Me,
streams of living water will pour out from his (or her) heart.’” [John 7:38]
12.) “Do not conform outwardly to the standards of this world,
but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.
Then you will be able to know the will of God--
what is good, and is pleasing to Him, and is perfect.” [Romans 12:2]
13.) “‘I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in Me, and I in him (or her)
will bear much fruit;
for you can do nothing without Me.’” [John 15:5]
14.) “‘If you obey My teaching, you are really My disciples.
You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.’” [John 8:31b-32]
15.) “But the wisdom from above is pure,
first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly;
it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds;
it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.
And righteousness is the harvest that is produced
from the seeds the peacemakers planted in peace.” [James 3:17-18]
16.) “For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid;
instead, His Spirit fills us with the power and unselfish love
and self-control.” [2 Timothy 1:7]
17.) “But The Lord is faithful.
He will make you strong
and keep you safe from the Evil One.” [2 Thessalonians 3:3]
18.) “For God keeps His promise,
and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist.
But at the time you are tempted,
He will give you the strength to endure it
and if necessary provide you with a way out.” [1 Corinthians 10:13]
19.) “‘Do not be worried and upset’, Jesus told them (His disciples).
Believe in God, and believe also in Me.
There are many rooms in My Father’s house,
and I am going to prepare a place for you.
I would not tell you this if it were not so.
And after I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take You to Myself;
that you will be where I am,
you know how to get to the place where I am going.’” [John 14:1-3]
20.) “‘And this small and temporary trouble we suffer
will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory,
much greater than the trouble.
For we fix our attention,
not on thinks that are seen,
but on things that are unseen.
What can be seen lasts only for a time;
but what cannot be seen lasts forever.’” [2 Corinthians 4:17-18]
21.) “He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him,
whose thoughts turn often to The Lord!” [Isaiah 26:3]
21
22.) “Let the Spirit direct your lives,
and you will not satisfy the desires of the fallen nature.
For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants,
and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what fallen nature wants:
the two are enemies,
and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their fallen nature,
with all its passions and desires.
The Spirit has given us life;
He must also control our lives.” [Galatians 5:16-17, 24-25]
23.) “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God;
and whoever loves a father also loves his child.
This is how we know that we love God’s children:
it is by loving God and obeying His commands.
For this is what love for God means:
it means that we obey His commands.
And His commands are not too hard for us,
for every child of God is able to defeat the world.
This is how we win the victory over the world:
with our faith.
Who can defeat the world?
Only he (or she) who believes
that Jesus is The Son Of God.” [1 John 5:1-5]
24.) “Do everything without complaining or arguing,
that you may be innocent and pure, God’s perfect children
who live in a world of crooked and mean people.
You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky.”
25.) “But if we live in the light-- just as He is in the light--
then we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, His Son,
makes us clean from all our sins.” [1 John 1:7]
26.) “Keep your lives free from the love of money,
and be satisfied with what you have.
For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” [Hebrews 13:5]
27.) “‘Give to others, and God will give to you.
You will receive a full measure, a generous helping,
poured into your hands all that you can hold.
The measure you use for others is the one God will use for you.’” [Luke 6:38]
28.) “This is why we have courage in God’s presence;
we are sure that He will hear us
if we ask Him for anything that is according to His will.
He hears us whenever we ask Him;
since we know this is true,
we know also that He gives us what we ask from Him.” [1 John 5:14-15]
22
29.) “Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Because of His great mercy,
He gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.
This fills us with a living hope,
and so we look forward to possess the rich blessings
that God keeps for His people.
He keeps them for you in Heaven,
where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away.
They are for you,
who through faith are kept safe by God’s power,
as you wait for the salvation
which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
Be glad about this,
even though it may now be necessary for you to be sad for a while
because of the many kinds of trials you suffer.
You love Him, although you have not seen Him;
you believe in Him, although you do not now see Him;
and so you rejoice with a great and glorious joy,
which words cannot express,
because you are receiving the purpose of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.” [1 Peter 1:3-6 & 8-9]
30.) “‘Blessed are those who know they are spiritually poor:
the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them!
Blessed are those who mourn:
God will comfort them!
Blessed are the meek:
they will receive what God has promised!
Blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires:
God will satisfy them fully!
Blessed are those who show mercy to others:
God will show mercy to them!
Blessed are the pure in heart:
they will see God!
Blessed are those who work for peace among men:
God will call them His sons!
Blessed are those who suffer persecution because they do what God requires:
the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them!
Blessed are you when men insult you and mistreat you
and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are My followers.
Rejoice and be glad,
because a great reward is kept for you in Heaven.” [Matthew 5:3-12- 31]
31.) “For we know that in all things God works for good with those who love Him
and those whom He has called according to His purpose.” [Romans 8:28]
32.) “Let us not become tired of doing goon;
for if we do not give up,
the time will come when we will reap the harvest.
So then, as often as we have the chance,
we should do good to everyone,
but especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.”
[Galatians 6:9-10]
23
33.) “And such trust have we through Christ toward God,
for there is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doings this work.
The capacity we have comes from God.” [2 Corinthians 3:4-5]
34.) “My life is to trust the will of God.
My walk is to obey His commandments.
I would rather be poor by the divine will, than rich by my own.” [Source unknown.]
2 Peter 3:8-14
“Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that
with The Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord does not delay {and} is not tardy {or} slow about what He promises,
according to some people's conception of slowness,
but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you,
not desiring that any should perish,
but that all should turn to repentance.
But The Day Of The Lord will come like a thief,
and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash,
and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire,
and the Earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved,
what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile]
in consecrated {and} holy behavior and devout {and} Godly qualities,
while you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten)
the coming of The Day Of God by reason
of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved,
and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare {and} melt with fire?
But we look for new heavens and a new Earth according to His promise,
in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.
So, beloved, since you are expecting these things,
be eager to be found by Him [at His coming]
without spot or blemish and at peace
[in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].”
Jude 20-25
“But you, beloved,
build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith
[make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher],
praying in the Holy Spirit;
guard {and} keep yourselves in the love of God;
expect {and} patiently wait for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--
[Who will bring you] unto life eternal.
And on some have mercy who waver {and} doubt.
[Strive to] save others,
snatching [them] out of [the] fire;
on others take pity [but] with fear,
loathing even the garment spotted by the flesh {and} polluted by their sensuality.
24
Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling {or} slipping {or} falling,
and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless)
before the presence of His glory
in triumphant joy {and} exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]--
To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory (splendor), majesty, might {and} dominion, and power {and} authority,
before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity).
Amen (so be it).”
Romans 8:22-30
“We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together
in the pains of labor until now.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves too,
who have {and} enjoy the first fruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come]
groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies
[from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption.
For in [this] hope we were saved.
But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope.
For how can one hope for what he [or she] already sees?
But if we hope for what is still unseen by us,
we wait for it with patience {and} composure.
So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid {and} bears us up in our weakness;
for we do not know what prayer to offer
{nor} how to offer it worthily as we ought,
but the [Holy] Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication
{and} pleads in our behalf
with unspeakable yearnings {and} groanings too deep for utterance.
And He Who searches the hearts of men
knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is],
because the Spirit intercedes {and} pleads [before God]
in behalf of the saints according to
{and} in harmony with God's will.
We are assured {and} know that [God being a partner in their labor]
all things work together {and} are [fitting into a plan] for good
to {and} for those who love God
and are called according to [His] design {and} purpose.
For those whom He foreknew
[of whom He was aware and loved beforehand],
He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them]
to be molded into the image of His Son
[and share inwardly His likeness],
that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
And those whom He thus foreordained,
He also called;
and those whom He called,
He also justified (acquitted, made righteous,
putting them into right standing with Himself).
And those whom He justified, He also glorified
[raising them to a Heavenly dignity].”
25
Philippians 4:6-7 & 13
“Do not fret {or} have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance {and} in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving,
continue to make your wants known to God.
And God's peace
[that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ and contentment],
which transcends all understanding
shall garrison {and} mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Note: In September 1977, the Holy Spirit had continually reminding me about the New Testament use of the
word "let". It usually means for a believer “to allow” and is found in admonitions for commitment. This
list includes many possible "springboards" for good thinking and for Bible study discussions.
C -- Christ, confession
H -- Holy Spirit help
A -- attitudes and actions
N -- needs
G -- good works (Ephesians 2:10)
E -- everywhere for eternity
1.) Law and Faith-- Romans 3:19-28 & 31, 4:13-25, 5:13 & 20, 6:14-23, & 7; Galatians 2:21, & 3-5;
Philippians 3:4a & 7-11 & 14; Colossians 2:8-23; 1 Timothy 1:5-11; Hebrews 7:19 & 28, & 10:1-18.
2.) Works and Faith-- Romans 2:7-10a, 3:21-28, 5, & 6; 1 Corinthians 3:5-17, 9:7-14, 10:31, & 15;
2 Corinthians 5, 8, & 9; Galatians 6; Ephesians 2:8-10 & 6:5-8; Philippians 2:13-16 & 4:13; Colossians 3;
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; 1 Timothy 1:12-17 & 6:6-18; 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 2:15, & 3:16-17; Titus 2 & 3:1-8;
Hebrews 11, 12:28, 13:15-16 & 20-21; James 1:22-27, 2:14-26; 1 John 3:4-11 & 17-24, & 5:10.
3.) Need for Humbleness-- Romans 6:14-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, 2, 3:18-23, 8:1b-3, 9:16-27, 10, 11:27-33,
& 13:12; 2 Corinthians 1:9 & 10, 3:4-5, 4:5-18, 10:7-18, 12:9-10, & 13:4-5; Galatians 6:14;
Ephesians 3:19-21, 4:1-6, & 6:1-9; Philippians 2:2-16, 3:4a, 7-11, & 14-21, & 4:4-13; Colossians 3:12-25
& 4:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-14 & 4:3-9; 1 Timothy 1:12-17, 6:1-2 & 6-18; 2 Timothy 2:24-26, 3; Titus 2
& 3:1-8; Hebrews 13: 7-8 & 17; James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 1:13-16, 2:5-25, 4:12, & 5:5-7.
4.) Rebirth and New Lifestyle-- Romans 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 3:17b-18 & 5:15-21; Galatians 2:20, 5:22-26,
6:7-10 & 14; Ephesians 3:16-21, 4:17-32, 5, & 6:1-17; Philippians 1:20-23, 2:2-4 & 13-16, 3:4a, 7-11, 14,
& 20-21, 4:4-8 & 11b-13; Colossians 1:9b-23, 2:2-17, 3, & 4:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-9 & 12-18,
& 5:1-24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 6:3-18; 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 2:3-4 & 11-16, & 3:13-17;
Titus 1:1-3, 9-11, & 13b-14, 2, & 3:1-8; Hebrews 6:1-2 & 10:19-39; James 1:2-6b, 12, & 18-25, & 4:6-17;
1 Peter 1:2-25, 3:14-18, & 4:1-19; 2 Peter 1:2-11 & 3:11-18; 1 John 3:16-24, 4:5-21, 5:1-3, 10-15, & 18-21;
Jude 20-25.
5.) Freedom from Sin-- Romans 6 & 8; 1 Corinthians 15:32c-34; 2 Corinthians 7:10 & 11; Galatians 2:17-19;
Ephesians 4:17-32, & 5:15-21; Philippians 2:13-16; Colossians 3:l-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:3;
1 Timothy 1:5-11; 2 Timothy 2:15-16 & 19-26; Titus 2, 3:1-8, 4:9, 12, & 16; Hebrews 10:19-39, 12:1-2
& 11-15; 1 Peter 1:13-15 & 22-23, 2:1-4, & 3:8-12; 2 Peter 1:2-11 & 3:11-18; 1 John 1:5-10 & 2:1-8.
28
6.) Contentment-- Romans 5:1-5 & 6; 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, 10:13, 12-14, 15:9-l0 & 56-58;
2 Corinthians 1:3-12, 4:8-18, 11:30, 12:9-10, & 13: 4-9; Galatians 2:20, 5:1 & 5, 6:7-10, 14, & 17;
Ephesians 1:3-14 & 17, & 23, 4:1-7; Philippians 3:4a, 7-11, 14, & 20-21, & 4:4-13; Colossians 1:9b-23;
1 Thessalonians 4:12-18, 5:1-13 & 16-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12, 2, & 3:3-5; 1 Timothy 4:8-10 & 6:6-12;
2 Timothy 2:15 & 19, 3:11-17, 4:1-5, 7-8, & 16-18; Titus 2; Hebrews 4:1-6 & 9-16, 10:19-39, 12:1-15
& 28, 1& 3:5-9; James 5:7-11; 1 Peter 1:7-25; 1 John 2:27-29, 3:1-3, 5:4-15 & 19-20; Jude 20-25.
29
7.) Importance of the Bible-- Romans 1:16-17, 2:7-10a, 15:4, & 16:25-27; 1 Corinthians l0:1-15;
2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Ephesians 6:10-17; Philippians 2:13-16; Colossians 3:16, 4:5 & 6;
1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 1:7-10, 2:8-10, 15,
& 22-26, & 3:13-17; Titus 1:9-11 & 13b-14; Hebrews 4:12, 6:1-2, 10:7, 13:22a; James 1:18-27;
1 Peter 1:22-25 & 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:9 & 13-18; 1 John 1:8-10, 2:5-6 & 14b, 5:4-15 & 19-20.
8.) Judging-- Romans 2:1-16, 12, 14, & 16:17-20; 1 Corinthians 4:3-6, 11:31 & 34; 2 Corinthians 10:12b
& 11:13-15; Galatians 5:10b & 26, & 6:1-2; Ephesians 5:11-13; Philippians 1:9-11 & 14-18, 3:15-19, 4:4-8;
Colossians 2:8-23 & 4:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:4 & 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:15-16 & 19-26,
4:1-5 & 7-8; Titus 1:9-11 & 13b-14, & 3:1-11; James 1:8-10 & 26, 2:1-13, 3:14-18, 4:11-12, 5:9, 16, & 19;
1 John 2:9-11 & 19, & 4; Jude.
9.) Unity-- Romans 12 & 15:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:10, 3:3 & 9, 11:33, & 12; 2 Corinthians 13:11;
Galatians 3:28, 5:13-15 & 26, 6:1-2 & 10; Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16, & 25-32; Philippians 1:27-29, 2:1-5,
3:15-19, & 4:4-8; Colossians 2:1-3 & 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:6-9, & 5:11-24; 2 Thessalonians 2;
2 Timothy 2:15-16 & 19-26; Philemon 4-7; Hebrews 2:9-11, 3:12-13, 10:22-25, & 13:15-16; James 2:1-13,
3:14-18, 4:11-12, 5:9 & 13-20; 1 Peter 1:22-25, 4:7-11, & 5:5; 1 John 1:7, 2:9-11 & 19, 3:13-14 & 16-24,
4:7-13, & 5:1-3; Jude 20-25.
10.) Marriage-- Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7; Ephesians 5:22-33 & 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21;
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Titus 2:4-8; Hebrews 13:4-5; 1 Peter 3:1-12; 1 John 4:7-13.
11.) Ministry Purpose-- Romans 16:25-27; 1 Corinthians 9:7-27; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 3-6, & 10, & 13:7-9;
Galatians 1:10-12 & 2:20-21; Ephesians 4:1-7 & 11-16, & 6:10-20; Philippians 1:14-23, 2:2-4, 3:4a, 7-11,
& 14, 4:4-8 & 11b-13; Colossians 1:21-29, 2, 4:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-14 & 4:23-24;
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12, 2, & 3:1-15; 1 Timothy 1:3-11, 2:1-8, 3-6; 2 Timothy 1:6-14, 2:8-10 & 24-26,
4:1-8 & 16-18; Titus 1:1-3 & 5-14, 2, 3:1-11; Hebrews 5, 10:23-25 & 13:17; James 1:26-27, 3:13, 4:10-11,
& 5:1-4; 1 John 4.
12.) Divine Promise-- Romans 2:7-10a, 3:19-28, 4:13-25, 5, & 6:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 & 12-17, 10:13,
& 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10 & 17-21, & 9:6-10; Galatians 3:21-22 & 28-29, 4:4-7, 5:7-8 & 10b;
Ephesians 4:4-10 & 6:8; Philippians 3:15-21; 4:7 & 19; Colossians 2:9-10, 13-15, & 23-25;
Hebrews 1:1-12, 2:9-18, 3.6, 4:12, 7:23-28, 8:10-12, 9:11-15 & 28, 10:1-18 & 35-39, 11:6, 12:6-7, 9-11,
& 27-28, 13:4-5, 8, & 20-21; James 1:2-5, 12-15, 17-18, 21, & 25, 3:17-18, 4:6-8a, 10, & 12, 5:8, 11,
& 15-16; 1 Peter 1:2-25, 2:24, 3:12, & 5:6-7 & 10; 2 Peter 1:2-11 & 20-21, 2:9-22, & 3:7-18; 1 John 1:7 &
9, 2:1-3, 5-6, 9-11, 15-17, & 24-25, 3:1-3 & 22-24, 4:12b-13 & 15-18, 5:1-4, 6-12, & 18-20; Jude 14-15 &
24-25.
13.) Warnings-- Romans 2, 3, & 6; 1 Corinthians 3:10-21, 10, 15:31-34; Galatians 2:17-21, 4:8-31, 5:13-26,
& 6:7-10; Ephesians 6:1-17; Philippians 2:3-4, 3:2-3 & 15-21; Colossians 2:8-23, 3; 1 Timothy 1:3-11 & 6;
Titus 3:8-9; Hebrews 1:10-14, 2:1-4, 3:7-19, 4:11-13, 6, 10:26-39, 11:6, 12:5b-15 & 25-29, & 13;
James 1:6-10, 13-16, & 19-27, 2, 3:1, 5-8, & 10-18, 4, 5:1-12; 1 Peter 2:6-25, 5:8; 2 Peter 2-3; 1 John 2:9,
11, & 15-29, 3:4-24, 4, 5:19 & 21; 2 John 1:8-11; 3 John 11; Jude 17-25.
14.) Believers' Testing Attitudes-- Romans 4:20-21 & 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, 10:12-13, & 15:58;
Ephesians 6:10-18; Philippians 3:4a & 7-21; 1 Timothy 6:12; Hebrews 12:1-15 & 27-28, & 13:5-9;
James 1:2-4 & 12-14; 1 Peter 1:3-16, 2:1-4 & 11-25, 3:14-17, 4:1-2 & 12-19, & 5:10-11; 2 Peter 3:13-18;
1 John 2:15-17 & 5:4; Jude 17-25.
15.) Stability-- Romans 5:1-11, & 6:11-18; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 5:1 & 6:7-10; Philippians 3:4a & 7-
21; Colossians 2:6-10 & 13-15; 1 Timothy 1:3-11; Titus 2; Hebrews 12:1-2 & 13:1-9; James 1:6-9;
1 Peter 1:13-16, 2:11-12, & 5:10-11; 2 Peter 3:13-18; 1 John 2:10 & 5:19-21; Jude 20-25.
16.) Prayer Attitude--Philippians 4:4-6; Hebrews 13:3, 15, & 20-21; James 1.5-8, 4:3, & 5:13-18; 1 Peter 3:12;
1 John 2:1-2, 3:22, & 5:14-15; Jude 20-25.
Directions: For each part of this study, the Bible verses are formatted in a logical way. Try to determine the
reasons for each line’s indention and relationship to the previous lines. Then answer the questions.
This is a serious topic and action, so do a lot of thinking as just indicated. Write the answers to the
questions after the Scripture passages.
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Mark 1: 1-8
1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Son Of God.
2 As it is written in the Prophets:
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.” [Malachi 3:1]
3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of The Lord; Make His paths straight.’” [Isaiah 40:3]
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness
and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him
and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist,
and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And he preached, saying,
“There comes One after me who is mightier than I,
Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8 I indeed baptized you with water,
but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
1.) The word “gospel” means “good news”. What does the first verse of Mark mean to you?
2.) What two actions was John the Baptist demanding before he baptized an individual? (One is two words
and one is one word beginning with the letter “r”.)
3.) What do each of those mean?
4.) Now personalize the last answer as if you are praying to the forgiving God?
Matthew 3:7-10
7 But when he [John the Baptist] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism,
he said to them, “Brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I say to you
that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
5.) Who were Pharisees and Sadducees?
6.) What were they prideful and boastful about?
7.) What did John the Baptist think they were like?
8.) What did he first command them to do in order to get baptized by him? (Write the 5 words and then tell
what it means.)
9.) What did he indicate would happen if they didn’t do as he commanded?
Matthew 3:11-12
11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will
thoroughly clean out His threshing floor,
and gather His wheat into the barn;
and He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
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Luke 12:50-51
50 “But I have a baptism to be baptized with,
and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on Earth?
I tell you, not at all,
but rather division.”
10.) What was John’s water baptism a public profession of?
11.) What was the baptism to be done by Jesus Christ to involve? Does it involve water? Does it link to His
Salvation?
12.) Why does the spiritual baptism of Jesus Christ cause division?
13.) What do these Bible passages indicate the eventual purpose of the spiritual baptism given by Jesus Christ
to believers of the Gospel?
Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “
Permit it to be so now,
for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized,
Jesus came up immediately from the water;
and behold, the heavens were opened to Him,
and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and alighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying,
“This is My beloved Son,
in Whom I am well pleased.”
14.) Why does this passage indicate that baptism by immersion is important?
15.) What did He do after going completely into the Jordan River?
16.) What do you think witnesses of this special baptism thought?
Luke 3:1-6
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea,
Herod being tetrarch of Galilee,
his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis,
and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,
2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests,
the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of The Lord;
Make His paths straight.
5 Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
and the rough ways smooth;
6 and all flesh shall see the Salvation of God.’” [Isaiah 52:10]
17.) What was another importance of the ministry of John the Baptist?
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18.) What does verse 6 mean? [It became true for some later in the ministry of John the Baptist as described in
the Scripture passage before the above.] Who represented “the salvation of God”?
Matthew 21:23-32
23 Now when He [Jesus Christ] came into the temple,
the chief priests and the elders of the people
confronted Him as He was teaching, and said,
“By what authority are You doing these things?
And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them,
“I also will ask you one thing,
which if you tell Me,
I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25 The baptism of John--
where was it from?
from Heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying,
“If we say, ‘From Heaven’, He will say to us,
‘Why then did you not believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘From men’,
we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus and said,
“We do not know.”
And He said to them,
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28 But what do you think?
A man had two sons,
and he came to the first and said,
‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
29 He answered and said, ‘I will not’,
but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 When he came to the second and said likewise.
And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir’,
but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them,
“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the Kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and harlots believed him;
and when you saw it,
you did not afterward relent and believe him.
19.) Explain the above passage in your own words. How does it indicate that Jesus Christ believed about
being baptized by immersion in water?
Matthew 20:17-28
17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them,
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes;
19 and they will deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify.
And the third day He will rise again.”
20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons,
kneeling down and asking something from Him.
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21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit,
one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink,
and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them,
“You will indeed drink My cup,
and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give,
but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it,
they were greatly displeased with the two brothers.
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you;
but whoever desires to become great among you,
let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you,
let him be your slave--
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
20.) What does Jesus say is a requirement of any Christian disciple?
1 Peter 3:18-22
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh
but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by Whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who formerly were disobedient,
when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was being prepared,
in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--
baptism
not the removal of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 Who has gone into Heaven and is at the right hand of God,
angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
21.) What does this Scripture passages indicate is a requirement for true Christian baptism? Belief and trust
in ____________________________________________________________
Acts 18:24-28
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,
an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of The Lord; and being fervent in spirit,
he spoke and taught accurately the things of The Lord,
though he knew only the baptism of John.
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26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
When Aquila and Priscilla heard him,
they took him aside
and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia,
the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him;
and when he arrived,
he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly,
showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
22.) What does verse 25 say to you? that there is more to becoming a true Christian than
_________________________________________________________________
23.) What do you think Aquila and Priscilla told him?
Acts 19:1-5
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth,
that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus.
And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him,
“We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John's baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance,
saying to the people
that they should believe on Him who would come after him,
that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of The Lord Jesus.
24.) Acts was written after Jesus Christ died for the sins of humankind, was resurrected, and ascended to
Heaven. Why did those who were baptized by John have to be re-baptized?
Acts 8:26-40
26 Now an angel of The Lord spoke to Philip, saying,
“Arise and go toward the south along the road
which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is desert.)
27 So he arose and went.
And behold, a man of Ethiopia,
a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians,
who had charge of all her treasury,
and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning.
And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him,
and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah,
and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
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33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
and who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the Earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said,
“I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this,
of himself or of some other man?”
35 Then Philip opened his mouth,
and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
36 Now as they went down the road,
they came to some water.
And the eunuch said, “See, here is water.
What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said,
“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said,
“I believe that Jesus Christ is The Son Of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still.
And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
39 Now when they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of The Lord caught Philip away,
so that the eunuch saw him no more;
and he went on his way rejoicing.
40 But Philip was found at Azotus.
And passing through,
he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
25.) Write a modern day version of this historical happening.
26.) What does this Bible passage say is a requirement for Christian baptism?
Ephesians 4:4-13
4 There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith,
one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive,
and gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”-- what does it mean but that
He also first descended into the lower parts of the Earth?
10 He who descended
is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping [repairing and preparing] of the saints
for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 until we all come to the unity
of the faith
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and of the knowledge of The Son Of God,
to a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
27.) How many types of “Christian” baptisms are there? What are they?
Romans 6:1-18
1 What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
3 Or do you not know that
as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him
through baptism into death,
that just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this,
that our old man was crucified with Him,
that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that
Christ, having been raised from the dead,
dies no more.
Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 For the death that He died,
He died to sin once for all;
but the life that He lives,
He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves
to be dead indeed to sin,
but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body,
that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin,
but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you,
for you are not under Law but under grace.
15 What then?
Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace?
Certainly not!
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey,
you are that one's slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to death,
or of obedience leading to righteousness?
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17 But God be thanked
that though you were slaves of sin,
yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine
to which you were delivered.
18 And having been set free from sin,
you became slaves of righteousness.
28.) Why did Jesus Christ have to die a horrible death on the Cross? To pay the death penalty of ____ against
God’s commandments.
29.) Who did He die for? all _________________ (past and present)
30.) So what does being immersed in water during baptism mean now? Death to what? Being a slave to
_____.
31.) What does it publicly profess repentance (life change to)? A desire to be ________________.
32.) So do you see how Jesus Christ changed water baptism and why the just mentioned is so important in each
true Christian’s life?
33.) Why will Christian baptism be very important to you?
Colossians 2:6-12
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus The Lord,
so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and
established in the faith,
as you have been taught,
abounding in it
with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world,
and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him,
Who is the head of all principality and power.
11 In Him you were also
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands,
by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,
by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism,
in which you also were raised with Him through faith
in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
34.) What does this passage mean to you?
Directions: For each of these three groups of Bible references, briefly write a phrase or statement about each
Scripture passage. I did it and had a wonderful time. Such is a great depression eliminator.
“Guaranteed or your money back.”
Note: Many of the following indicated Bible verses were from Jack Taylor's “Who We Are In Christ” list.). I
have a one page hand-out which I titled “The Wonderful Children of God”. It includes the references in
the “About Christians” part of the first course and the below.
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1. Divine Assurance-- John 3:16, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25 & 5:11-15; John 10:27-29 & Philippians 4:6-7;
Romans 5:1; Romans 5:10a; Romans 5:17; Romans 6:2-6 & Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:12-14 & 12:1-2;
Romans 8:1, Galatians 2:16-21, Ephesians 2:8-10, & Colossians 1:10-14; Romans 8:28-39;
1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 1:22 & Ephesians 1:12-14; 2 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:6 & Hebrews 12:1-11;
Philippians 1:20; Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14 & John 6; Hebrews 4:1
2. Divine Importance-- Ephesians 1:4-14 & 1 Peter 2:3-10; 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, Romans 6:12-23,
& Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Matthew 18:3-4, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Hebrews 10:19-22,
Ephesians 3:8-12, Exodus 33:11-34:8, 2 Corinthians 4:15-17, Ephesians 2:7-10, Romans 8:28-32,
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 & 9:8, Galatians 2:20b & 5:1, 22-23; Ephesians 2:18-22, 4:13 & 15;
Colossians 3:4 & 24; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 & 7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 3:1; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:14 &
3:5-7; Hebrews 6:4-6 & 10:39, Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 7, 2:5 & 9; 1 John 2:1, 27, 3:1-2, 4:17, & 5:20;
Revelation 1:5-6
3. Divine Help-- Titus 2:14; Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 & 1 John 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:7;
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 & 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 1:9-12; Romans 8:3-6;
Romans 5:17; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 2 Corinthians 2:14;
2 Corinthians 3:5 & Philippians 4:11-12 & 19; Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Philippians 4:6-7;
1 John 5:14-15; Philippians 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 & Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:20-21;
Hebrews 12:7-11; 1 John 2:5, 3:24, & 4:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 12:9-
10 & Philippians 4:13 & 4; Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 1:13-14; Ephesians 1:17-19; 2 Peter 1:2-4; 2 Peter 3:13;
Matthew 11:25-30; Ephesians 3:16-20; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 6:10, 13, & 16; 1 Peter 5:7;
2 Timothy 4:18 & 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 2:16 & Philippians 2:5-8;
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 & Ephesians 6:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; James 1:2-5 & Matthew 5:11-16;
Philippians 3:7-11; Hebrews 6:17-20 & 12:22-24; Jude 24
God-Pleasing Hope
Directions: Thought provoking questions are listed for each subtitle section. Key verses are bolded. For each
section, be sure to carefully read and think about the appropriate Scripture before starting to
answer the questions.
“The Christian’s hope is alive because the One in Whom we have hope is alive.” -- Woodrow Kroll
“Wrong hope is that caused by selfishness or/and coveting.”
“Hope of true Christians in the past stopped at their physical deaths and hope of true Christians alive
when Jesus Christ returns will stop then.”
“Hope will not be needed in Heaven or on the New Earth.”
39
and cause you to return to this place.”
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11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you”, says The Lord,
“thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you”, says The Lord,
“and I will bring you back from your captivity;
I will gather you from all the nations
and from all the places where I have driven you”, says The Lord,
“and I will bring you to the place
from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,
loved us
and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, Who has
17 comfort your hearts
and establish you in every good word and work.
Romans 15:1-4 & 13
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak,
and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good,
leading to edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written,
“The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:15-23
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of
your faith in The Lord Jesus
and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power
toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ
when He raised Him from the dead
and seated Him at His right hand
in the Heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power
and might and dominion,
and every name that is named,
not only in this age
but also in that which is to come.
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22 And He put all things under His feet,
and gave Him to be
head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body,
the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of The Lord, beseech you
to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness,
with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended”-- what does it mean
but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the Earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,
that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping [repairing and preparing]of the saints
for the work of ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity
of the faith and of the knowledge of The Son Of God,
to a perfect man,
to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children,
tossed to and fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men,
in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love,
may grow up in all things into Him
Who is the head-- Christ--
16 from whom the whole body,
joined and knit together
by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working
by which every part does its share,
causes growth of the body
for the edifying of itself
in love.
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Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through Whom also we have access by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.
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6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world,
and is bringing forth fruit,
as it is also among you since the day you heard
7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,
who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Proverbs 23:17-18
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but be zealous for the fear of The Lord all the day;
18 for surely there is a hereafter,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:13-14
13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul;
if you have found it, there is a prospect,
and your hope will not be cut off.
2 Corinthians 3:7-14
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses
because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory,
the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.
11 For if what is passing away was glorious,
what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech--
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face
so that the children of Israel could not look steadily
at the end of what was passing away.
14 But their minds were blinded.
For until this day the same veil remains unlifted
in the reading of the Old Testament,
because the veil is taken away in Christ.
Philippians 1:19-20
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance
through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope
that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but with all boldness, as always,
so now also Christ will be magnified in my body,
whether by life or by death.
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25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the Salvation of The Lord.
Romans 15:8-12
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision
for the truth of God,
to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy,
as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
and sing to Your name.”
10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”
11 And again: “Praise The Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!”
12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse;
and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
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7 O Israel, hope in The Lord;
for with The Lord there is mercy,
and with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalms 119:81-82
81 My soul faints for Your Salvation,
but I hope in Your Word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your Word, saying,
“When will You comfort me?”
Psalms 119:114
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your Word.
Psalms 119:116-117
116 Uphold me according to Your Word,
that I may live;
and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold me up,
and I shall be safe,
and I shall observe Your statutes continually.
Psalms 119:147-148
147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help;
I hope in Your Word.
148 My eyes are awake through the night watches,
that I may meditate on Your Word.
Acts 2:25-36
25 “For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw The Lord always before my face,
for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
moreover, my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
nor will You allow your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
29 Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 Therefore, being a prophet,
and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh,
He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ,
that His soul was not left in Hades,
nor did His flesh see corruption.
32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God,
and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit,
He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens,
but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified,
both Lord and Christ.”
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Acts 24:10-21
10 Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered:
“Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation,
I do the more cheerfully answer for myself,
11 because you may ascertain that it is no more than twelve days
since I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with anyone
nor inciting the crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city.
13 Nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me.
14 But this I confess to you,
that according to the way which they call a sect,
so I worship the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15 I have hope in God,
which they themselves also accept,
that there will be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and the unjust.
16 This being so,
I myself always strive to have a conscience
without offense toward God and men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
18 in the midst of which some Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
neither with a mob nor with tumult.
19 They ought to have been here before you to object
if they had anything against me.
20 Or else let those who are here themselves say
if they found any wrongdoing in me
while I stood before the council,
21 unless it is for this one statement which I cried out,
standing among them,
‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead
I am being judged by you this day.’”
Acts 26:1-8
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa,
because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning
all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions
which have to do with the Jews.
Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth,
which was spent from the beginning among my own nation
at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify,
that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged
for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day,
hope to attain.
For this hope's sake, King Agrippa,
I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought incredible by you
that God raises the dead?”
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1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead,
how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead,
then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen,
then our preaching is empty
and your faith is also empty.
15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God,
because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ,
Whom He did not raise up-- if in fact the dead do not rise.
16 For if the dead do not rise,
then Christ is not risen.
17 And if Christ is not risen,
your faith is futile;
you are still in your sins!
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men the most pitiable.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of The Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of The Lord
will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For The Lord Himself will descend from heaven
with a shout,
with the voice of an archangel,
and with the trumpet of God.
And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with The Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Titus 1:1-4
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ,
according to the faith of God's elect
and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with Godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie,
promised before time began,
3 but has in due time manifested His Word through preaching,
which was committed to me
according to the commandment of God our Savior;
4 to Titus, a true son in our common faith:
grace, mercy, and peace
from God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.
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***What is required for having hope in God***
8. How does one hope in God? What kind of kind of attitudes should he or she have? He or she should learn
and remember God’s (a) __________________ of help for those who believe in Him, (b) _______ Him by
reading the Bible and praying to Him a lot, and should frequently (c) _____________ and be thankful to
God.
Psalms 38:12-22
12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;
those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,
and plan deception all the day long.
13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.
14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth is no response.
15 For in You, O Lord, I hope;
You will hear, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me,
lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”
17 For I am ready to fall,
and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity;
I will be in anguish over my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;
and those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.
20 Those also who render evil for good,
they are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God,
be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!
Psalms 42:1-11
1 To the Chief Musician. A contemplation of the sons of Korah.
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
for the help of His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
therefore I will remember You
from the land of the Jordan,
and from the heights of Hermon,
from the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and billows have gone over me.
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8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
and in the night His song shall be with me--
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me,
while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him,
the help of my countenance and my God.
Psalms 43:1-5
1 Vindicate me, O God,
and plead my cause against an unGodly nation;
oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!
2 For You are the God of my strength; why do You cast me off?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him,
the help of my countenance and my God.
Psalms 71:14-24
14 But I will hope continually,
and will praise You yet more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day,
for I do not know their limits.
16 I will go in the strength of The Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth;
and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God,
do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.
19 Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high,
You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
20 You, Who have shown me great and severe troubles,
shall revive me again,
and bring me up again from the depths of the Earth.
21 You shall increase my greatness,
and comfort me on every side.
22 Also with the lute I will praise you-- and Your faithfulness, O my God!
To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You,
and my soul, which You have redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long;
for they are confounded,
for they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt.
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***Commandments for hopeful living***
9. What does abide in faith, hope, and God’s love mean to you? Give some examples of not living in hope.
10. What does it mean to be “moved away from the hope of the Gospel”? How does this happen, at least
temporarily?
11. How can “Christ in you” be “the hope of glory”? Before answering, think about our society and Romans 12
& 14:17.
12. Why can true Christians be patient in their hope in God’s promises of complete Salvation?
13. What is the responsibility of those who have the hope of the Second Coming instant righteousness
transformation when 1 Corinthians 15:34-56 is fulfilled?
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8 Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease;
whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come,
then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly,
but then face to face.
Now I know in part,
but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
Colossians 1:19-23
19 For it pleased the Father
that in Him [Jesus Christ] all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
by Him, whether things on Earth or things in Heaven,
having made peace through the blood of His Cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--
23 if indeed you continue in the faith,
grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel
which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under Heaven,
of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:27-29
27 To them [the saints] God willed to make known
what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we [the Apostle Paul and others] preach,
warning every man
and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every person perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor,
striving according to His working
which works in me mightily.
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1 Thessalonians 1:2-4
2 We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers,
3 remembering without ceasing
your work of faith,
labor of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
in the sight of our God and Father,
4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
1 John 3:1-3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we should be called children of God!
Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
2 Beloved, now we are children of God;
and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed,
we shall be like Him,
for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself, just as He is pure.
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Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying unGodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 Who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 3:1-8
1 Remind them
to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to obey, to be ready for every good work,
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle,
showing all humility to all men.
3 For we ourselves were also once
foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving various lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us,
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that having been justified by His grace
we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a faithful saying,
and these things I want you to affirm constantly,
that those who have believed in God
should be careful to maintain good works.
These things are good and profitable to men.
1 Peter 1:13-25
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober,
and rest your hope
fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father,
Who without partiality judges according to each one's work,
conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,
from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you
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21 Who through Him believe in God,
Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory,
so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren,
love one another fervently with a pure heart,
23 having been born again,
not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the Word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because “All flesh is as grass,
and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls away,
25 But the Word of The Lord endures forever.”
Now this is the Word which by the Gospel was preached to you.
1 Peter 3:8-17
8 Finally, all of you
be of one mind, having compassion for one another;
love as brothers,
be tenderhearted,
be courteous;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling,
but on the contrary blessing,
knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
10 For he who would love life and see good days,
let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of The Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of The Lord is against those who do evil.
13 And who is he who will harm you
if you become followers of what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake,
you are blessed.
And do not be afraid of their threats,
nor be troubled.
15 But sanctify The Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear;
16 having a good conscience,
that when they defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good conduct in Christ
may be ashamed.
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God,
to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
We have this hope that burns within our hearts, Faith in the promise of His Word.
Hope in the coming of The Lord. We believe the time is here,
We have this faith that Christ alone imparts, When the nations far and near
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Shall awake, and shout and sing People who need our Savior’s love.
Hallelujah! Christ is King! Soon the heavens will open wide,
We have this hope that burns within our hearts, Christ will come to claim His bride,
Hope in the coming of The Lord. All the universe will sing
Hallelujah! Christ is King!
We are united in Jesus Christ our Lord. We have this hope, this faith, and God’s great love,
We are united in His love. We are united in Christ.
Love for the waiting people of the world,
Note: By May 1977, I believed that I was more thankful to God than all of the Christians I knew. But a five
day collapsed lung experience taught me how far short I was from matching God’s desires in this area.
I realized that I should be thankful for every breath I am allowed to take whether I am in a good or bad
situation. Thus, I investigated what the Bible says about this area of appreciation. Try to determine
why I chose each of the following and placed it where I did.
***************************************************************************
Commandments:
3.) “Oh, give thanks unto the LORD,
for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks unto the God of gods,
for His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to The Lord of lords,
for His mercy endures forever.
To Him who alone doeth great wonders,
for His mercy endures forever.” [Psalm 136.1-4]
4.) “Great is our LORD, and of great power;
His understanding is infinite.
The LORD lifts up the meek;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving….” [Psalm 147:5-7a]
5.) “Give thanks unto the LORD,
call upon His name,
make known His deeds among the people....
Glory in His holy name;
let the heart of them rejoice who seek the LORD.
Seek the LORD and His strength,
seek His face continually....
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Remember His marvelous works that He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.
Oh, give thanks unto the LORD,
for He is good;
for His mercy endures forever.” [1 Chronicles 16:8, 10-11, 34 & Psalm 105:1-4]
6.) “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live in Him,
rooted and built up in Him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.” [Colossians 2:6-8]
7.) “Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.” [Colossians 4:2]
8.) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks
be made for everyone--
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all Godliness and honesty.” [1 Timothy 2:1 & 2]
9.) “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to which also you are called in one body;
and be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,
in all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another,
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
singing with grace in your hearts to The Lord.
And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of The Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” [Colossians 3:15-17]
10.) “Always seek after that which is good
for one another
and for all men.
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” [1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18]
11.) “Through Jesus then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
And do not neglect doing good and sharing,
for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” [Hebrews 13:15 & 16]
12.) “Rejoice in The Lord always;
again I will say rejoice!
Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
shall guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:4-7]
**************************************************************************
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19.) “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name;
and deliver us, and
purge away our sins, for Thy name’s sake....
So we, Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture,
will give Thee thanks forever.
We will show forth Thy praise to all generations.” [Psalm 79:9 & 13]
*************************************************************************
“Thank you, God, for everything- the big things and the small,
for every good gift comes from You-- the giver of them all.
And all too often we accept, without any thanks or praise,
the gifts You send as blessings each day in many ways.
First, thank You for the little things that often come our way,
the things we take for granted but don’t mention when we pray.
Then, thank You for the ‘miracles’ we are much too blind to see,
and give us new awareness of our many gifts from Thee.
Finally, help us to remember that the key to life and living is
to make each prayer a prayer of thanks and every day thanksgiving.”
*************************************************************************
I am thankful for:
• The wife who says it's hot dogs tonight, because it means she is giving even more of herself to her family
out of love.
• The husband who is on the computer too much, because it means he is at home instead of being out at
the bars with his friends.
• The children that make too much noise, because it means they are healthy enough to be playful.
• The teenager who is complaining about doing their chores, because it means they are at home, and not
on the streets.
• The taxes i have to pay, because it means i am employed.
• The mess to clean up after my birthday party, because it means i have been surrounded by friends.
• The clothes that fit me a little too snug, because it means i have enough to eat.
• My shadow that watches me work, because it means i am out in the sunshine.
• A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixed, because it means i
have a home.
• All the bad things i hear about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.
• The parking spot i end up with at the far end of a parking lot because it means i am capable of walking
and also have transportation.
• My utility bills each month, because it means i am warm, or cool, and have water when needed.
• My neighbor's diesel truck that wakes me at 12:00am every night, because it means that i can hear.
• The pile of laundry in front of the washer, because it means i have clothes to wear.
• My tired and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means i have been capable of working
hard.
• The alarm that wakes me in the early morning hours, because it means i am alive.
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• And finally, for too much e-mail. Because it means i have friends who are thinking of me.
So take the time to send this to the ones you care about, let them know your thinking of them. I just did.
Live well, laugh often, and always LOVE with all of your heart!
But most of all, take the time to recognize your blessings instead of complaining about them. Just because
something looks bad at the moment does not mean that it really is! Not all of God's blessings are in the obvious,
many are hidden! So, I challenge you here and now to start taking the time to recognize what God has truly
given you, but don't stop there, start Giving God the honor, glory, and praise for them that He so deserves,
AMEN!
• “For what I have received may The Lord make me truly thankful. And more truly for what I have not
received.” --Storm Jameson
• “Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.” --Anonymous
• “Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In
whom his world rejoices...” --Johann Cruger
• “Thou has given me so much... Give me one thing more, a grateful heart.” --George Herbert
Directions: Try to figure out why the verses were put where they are, why they are indented, and why the
underlines. You might want to copy the verses that really “hit you directly” on 3 x 5 cards. How
would you teach the best 3 verses? My underlining might help.
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The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”
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***Jesus Christ is the King/Prince/Lord of peace in the past and forever***
Hebrews 7:1-3
“This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High.
He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.
First, his name means ‘king of righteousness’;
then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace’.
Without father or mother, without genealogy,
without beginning of days or end of life,
like The Son Of God, he remains a priest forever.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
Romans 1:7
“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from The Lord Jesus Christ.”
[See also the introductions to the other Epistles.]
Luke 7:36-38 & 47-50
“Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him,
so He went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town
learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house,
she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping,
she began to wet His feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them
and poured perfume on them….”
“‘Therefore, I tell you,
her many sins have been forgiven for she loved much.
But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’
Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
The other guests began to say among themselves,
‘Who is this Who even forgives sins?’
Jesus said to the woman,
‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”
Luke 8:46-47
“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched Me; I know that power has gone out from Me.’
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed,
came trembling and fell at His feet.
In the presence of all the people,
she told why she had touched Him
and how she had been instantly healed.
Then He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace.’”
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John 14:25-27
“‘All this I [Jesus Christ] have spoken while still with you.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name,
will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’”
John 16:33
“‘I [Jesus Christ] have told you these things,
so that in Me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world.’”
John 20:19-21 & 26
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
After He said this, He showed them His hands and side.
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw The Lord.
Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!
As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’
And with that He breathed on them
and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’….
A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.
Though the doors were locked,
Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
Then He said to Thomas,
‘Put your finger here; see My hands.
Reach out your hand and put it into My side.
Stop doubting and believe.’”
Colossians 3:15-17
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body
you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of The Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
2 Thessalonians 3:13-16
“And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter,
take special note of him (or her).
Do not associate with him (or her),
in order that he may feel ashamed.
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Now may The Lord of peace Himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.”
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***Peace from The Holy Spirit***
Galatians 5:22-26
“But the fruit of The Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Since we live by The Spirit,
let us keep in step with The Spirit.
Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other.”
Ephesians 4:1-5
“As a prisoner for The Lord, then,
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit--
just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
Who is over all and through all and in all.”
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***God’s peace via Salvation***
Isaiah 53:5
“But He [Jesus Christ] was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 54:5-10
“‘For your [Israel’s] maker is your husband,
The LORD Almighty is His name The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
He is called The God of all the Earth.
The LORD will call you back
as if you were
a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit
a wife who married young, only to be rejected,’ says your God.
‘For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you’,
says The LORD your Redeemer.
‘To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the Earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken,
nor My covenant of peace be removed’,
says The LORD, Who has compassion on you.”
Luke 2:13-14
“Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest,
and on Earth peace to men [and women and children] on whom His favor rests.’”
Acts 10:34-36
“Then Peter began to speak:
‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel,
telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all’.”
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom we have gained access by faith
into this grace in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out His love
into our hearts by The Holy Spirit,
Whom He has given us.”
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Ephesians 6:13-18
“Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then,
with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the Gospel of peace.
In addition to all this,
take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of The Spirit,
which is the Word of God.
And pray in The Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind,
be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
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But glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good:
first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
For God does not show favoritism.”
Romans 8:5-8
“Those who live according to the sinful nature
have their minds set on what that nature desires;
but those who live in accordance with The Spirit
have their minds set on what The Spirit desires.
The mind of sinful man is death,
but the mind controlled by The Spirit is life and peace;
the sinful mind is hostile to God.
It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”
Romans 14: 13-19
“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
As one who is in The Lord Jesus,
I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself.
But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
If your brother is distressed because of what you eat,
you are no longer acting in love.
Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,
but of righteousness, peace and joy in The Holy Spirit,
because anyone who serves Christ in this way
is pleasing to God and approved by men.
Let us therefore make every effort to do
what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit.”
Philippians 4:4-9
“Rejoice in The Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--
think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--
put it into practice.
And The God of peace will be with you.”
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Hebrews 12:7-11
“Endure hardship as discipline;
God is treating you as sons [and daughters].
For what son (or daughter) is not disciplined by his (or her) father?
If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline),
then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us,
and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best;
but God disciplines us for our good,
that we may share in His holiness.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace
for those who have been trained by it.”
Isaiah 57:2
“Those who walk uprightly enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.”
Revelation 1:4-5
“John to the seven churches which are in Asia, Grace and peace to you
from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the Earth….”
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For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” [See Matthew 5:5]
Isaiah 25:8-26:4
“He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the Earth.
The LORD has spoken.
In that day they will say,
‘Surely this is our God;
we trusted in Him, and He saved us.
This is The LORD; we trusted in Him;
let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.’
The hand of The LORD will rest on this mountain;
but Moab will be trampled under Him as straw is trampled down in the manure.
They will spread out their hands in it, as a swimmer spreads out his hands to swim.
God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.
He will bring down your high fortified walls and lay them low;
He will bring them down to the ground, to the very dust.
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
‘We have a strong city;
God makes salvation its walls and ramparts.
Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.
You will keep in perfect peace him [or her] whose mind is steadfast,
because he [or she] trusts in You.’
Trust in The LORD forever,
for The LORD, The LORD, is the Rock eternal.’”
Directions: Try to figure out why the verses were put where they were and why the underlines. You might
want to copy the verses that really “hit you directly” on 3 x 5 cards. How would you teach the
best 3 verses? My underlining might help. I also used some of the verses that have “rejoice”,
“rejoices”, and “rejoicing” in the MKJV software of E-sword.
There is a prophecy about Christ’s joy in Psalm 45:7-- “Therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your
companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.” Joy is promised by Jesus Christ for all believers in Him, His
love, and His commandments. Jesus Christ spoke of His joy in John 15:10-11 and 17:13 in which He claimed
the ability or power to bestow His joy into His believers. Joy is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit for believers
(Galatians 5:22-23). Jesus Christ’s followers should be joyful people. It is the best testimony about the
wonderfulness of being a Christian: that one is able to be very positive in a very negative world. So many
individuals are usually sad or indifferent; just surviving. If you would work for someone who is joyful,
wouldn’t you probably become joyful? Luke 10:21 tells us that Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit
after seventy-two disciples returned from to witness. If we have the same joy, we will want to praise God.
Jesus Christ did in that verse. No one will be the same as before after committing his or her whole being to
Jesus and knowing Him as personal Savior and Master.
It is not easy to describe this joy which the Apostle Peter referred to in 1 Peter 1:8 as an “inexpressible and
glorious joy”. It is far more than the happiness which relationships with humans and animals can give.
Certainly there are legitimate pleasures in the world that can be enjoyed more fully when one has the joy of the
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Holy Spirit. But the joy of the Holy Spirit is set apart from all the levels of purely human joy. It is the result of
faith in God. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Divine joy is much better than the best
happiness in secular situations/activities. In English, the word “happiness” is not in the KJV Bible and the
twenty-five verses with the word “happy” give no indication that happiness is from the Godhead. Doesn’t that
sound exciting to you? Don’t settle for less than joy just because you are lonely. God’s best for us is always
worth waiting for.
Joy from the Holy Spirit is not dependent on our outward circumstances. Also knowing about the joy in
Heaven should help all Christians to tolerate any kind of persecution. Also, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus
Christ’s hope for future joy in Heaven sustained Him in His painful crucifixion. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus
“endured the cross for the joy set before Him”. The Apostle Paul recognized this when he wrote to the
Thessalonians: “In spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit”.
Spiritual joy endures even in hardships, because it is developed from within by the Holy Spirit. In Philippians
4:4, just before he was to be beheaded for teaching Christianity, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Rejoice in The Lord
always, and again I say rejoice.” When I share that tough command, I add, “In any situation, things could
always be worse and there is always something to be thankful for, right?” So having joy is a matter of choice
and proper relationship with God. A famous anagram is appropriate:
J-- Jesus
O-- Others
Y-- Yourself
{in that order chronologically}
God’s timing is the best and the study I did on the “joy”, “joyful”, and “joyfulness” verses in the Bible is an
excellent example of this. I was not ready for the wonderful conclusion of it for seven months. God even had
me experience a lot of joy with a special woman in that non-Bible study time. Joy is different than what is
usually meant for happiness or good feelings; it is from God and requires unselfishness by humans. I learned
more about joy when I formatted the Scripture in ETRSF (logical indenting) in 2003. And then in April of 2010,
the Holy Spirit helped me find mistakes of sorting and lacks of proper contexts and even the first two groups
were missing. I was embarrassed because this was one of the most popular Bible study tools I had shared with
many for about 6 years. I also added the best verses about the rejoicing aspect of joy. (There over 200 verses
for me to consider; many of them in the Old Testament were identical or similar, so I just chose the best rejoice
commandments.) The Holy Spirit had given me seven topic areas for putting the verses and passages in logical
order. Read these bolded category headings first. After you do that, read each of these wonderful Bible verses
in the order I have placed them with the goals of trying to determine why I put each where it is and how a
teacher would teach it. This could easily take several “sittings” to complete, but I guarantee you will be blessed
as much as I was in developing this inductive teaching tool.
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Blessed is the man (or woman) who hears me,
watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors.
For whoever finds Me finds life,
and shall obtain favor from Jehovah.
But he (or she) who sins against Me wrongs his (or her) own soul;
all who hate Me love death.”
Psalms 104:31
“The glory of Jehovah shall endure forever;
Jehovah shall rejoice in His works.”
Deuteronomy 28:58-63
“If you will not observe to do all the words of this Law that are written in this book,
that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, JEHOVAH YOUR GOD,
then Jehovah will make your plagues remarkable,
and the plagues of your seed great and persistent plagues; with evil and long-lasting sicknesses.
Also, He will bring on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid.
And they shall cling to you.
Also, every sickness and every plague which is not written in the book of this Law,
Jehovah will bring them on you until you are destroyed.
And you shall be left few in number,
whereas you were as the stars of the heavens for multitude,
because you would not obey the voice of Jehovah your God.
And it shall be, as Jehovah rejoiced over you to do you good and to multiply you,
so Jehovah will rejoice over you to destroy you and to bring you to nothing.
And you shall be plucked from off the land where you go to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 30:6-11 & 14
“And Jehovah your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed,
to love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
so that you may live.
And Jehovah your God will put all these curses on your enemies,
and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
And you shall return and obey the voice of Jehovah,
and do all His commandments which I command you today.
And Jehovah your God will make you have plenty in every work of your hand,
in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your land, for good.
For Jehovah will again rejoice over you for good,
as He rejoiced over your fathers;
for you shall listen to the voice of Jehovah your God,
to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law,
and if you turn to Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
For this commandment which I command you today is not hidden from you,
neither is it far off.”
“But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart,
so that you may do it.”
Psalms 118:19-24
“Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I will go into them and I will praise Jehovah.
This is the gate of Jehovah into which the righteous shall enter.
I will praise You; for You have heard me,
and are my salvation.
The Stone which the builders refused has become the Head of the corner.
This is from Jehovah;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which Jehovah has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
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Matthew 18:11-13
Jesus said,
“For The Son Of Man has come to save that which was lost.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays,
does he not leave the ninety and nine and go into the mountains and seek the straying one?
And if it happens that he finds it, truly I say to you,
he rejoices more over it than over the ninety and nine which did not stray.
Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven
that one of these little ones should perish.”
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Luke 19:35-38
“And they brought him to Jesus.
And they threw their garments on the colt.
And they set Jesus on it.
And as He went, they spread their clothes in the way.
And when He had come near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives,
all the multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice
for all the mighty works which they had seen,
saying, ‘Blessed is The King coming in the name of The Lord!
Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!’”
2 Corinthians 1:12-14
“For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience,
that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God,
we have had our conduct in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
For we write no other things to you than what you read or recognize,
and I trust you shall recognize them even to the end,
even as you have recognized us in part,
that we are your rejoicing,
even as you also are ours in the Day of The Lord Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 2:3-4
“And I wrote this to you,
lest when I came I should have sorrow from the ones of whom I ought to rejoice;
having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
For out of much trouble and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears,
not that you should be grieved,
but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.”
Romans 5:1-5 & 10-11
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God.
And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also,
knowing that afflictions work out patience,
and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope.
And hope does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out
in our hearts through The Holy Spirit given to us.”
“For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Romans 12:9-16
“Let love be without hypocrisy, shrinking from evil, cleaving to good;
in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor.
As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving The Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, steadfastly continuing in prayer,
distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality.
Rejoice with rejoicing ones, and weep with weeping ones;
minding the same thing toward one another,
not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly.
Do not be wise within yourselves.”
Philippians 1:14-18
“And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds,
are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.
Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife,
and some also of good will.
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Those, indeed, preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely,
supposing to add affliction to my bonds.
But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel.
What then?
Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.
And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.”
Colossians 2:5-7
“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit,
rejoicing and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus The Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him,
and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
“For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Are you not even to be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
For you are our glory and joy.”
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
“But now when Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love,
and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us (as we also you),
then, my brothers, we were comforted over you, through your faith,
even in all our affliction and needs;
for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
For what thanks can we render to God again for you,
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,
night and day praying exceedingly for me to see your face
and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?”
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Psalms 90:13-17
“Return, O Jehovah! How long?
And give pity to Your servants.
Satisfy us early with Your mercy,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days of our affliction,
the years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their sons.
And let the beauty of Jehovah our God be on us;
and establish the work of our hands on us;
yea, the work of our hands, establish it.”
Jeremiah 31:10-13
“Hear the Word of Jehovah, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands afar off.
And say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
For Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of the one stronger than he.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
and shall flow together to the goodness of Jehovah,
for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the sons of the flock and the herd.
And their soul shall be as a watered garden;
and they shall not pine away any more at all.
Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”
Psalms 126:5-6
“They who sow in tears
shall reap in joy.
He (or she) who goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his (or her) sheaves with him(or her).”
Isaiah 25:8-9
“He will swallow up death in victory;
and The Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from all faces.
And He shall take away from all the Earth the rebuke of His people. For Jehovah has spoken.
And one shall say in that Day, Lo, this is our God.
We have waited for Him, and He will save us.
This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him,
we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
Isaiah 35:10
“And the ransomed of the LORD will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Psalms 149:1-2
“Praise Jehovah! Sing to Jehovah a new song,
His praise in the congregation of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker;
let the sons and daughters) of Zion be joyful in their King.”
Romans 15:12-13
“And again Isaiah says, ‘There shall be a root of Jesse,
and He who shall rise to reign over the nations,
in Him shall the nations trust.’
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit.”
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Proverbs 10:28
“The hope of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.”
Proverbs 12:20
“There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but joy for those who promote peace.”
Luke 1:13-17
“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not fear, Zacharias.
For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name “John”.
And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink.
And he shall be filled with The Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
And he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
to make ready a people prepared for The Lord.’”
John 4:34-38
“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
Do you not say, “It is yet four months, and the harvest comes?”
Behold, I say to you, “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white to harvest already.
And he who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to life eternal,
so that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”
And in this is the saying true, “One sows and another reaps.”
I sent you to reap that on which you bestowed no labor.
Other men labored, and you have entered into their labor.’”
John 16:20-24
“‘I [Jesus] tell you [His disciples] the truth,
you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.
You will grieve,
but your grief will turn to joy.
The woman has grief when she bears, because her hour has come.
But when she brings forth the child, she no longer remembers the anguish,
because of the joy that a man is born into the world.
So with you now is your time of grief,
but I will see you again and you will rejoice,
and no one will take away your joy.
And in that day you shall ask Me nothing.
Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you shall ask The Father in My name, He will give you.
Before now you have asked nothing in My name;
ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.’”
Isaiah 65:17-19
“‘For, behold, I create new heavens and a new Earth,
and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create,
for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people;
and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.’”
***Sources of joy***
Psalms 65:5-8
“By awesome things in righteousness You will answer us,
O God of our salvation; who are the hope of all the ends of the Earth and the sea, of those far away.
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The mountains are established by Your strength, banded together with might,
Who stills the noise of the sea, the roar of their waves, and the uproar of the peoples.
And the inhabitants of the furthermost places are afraid of Your signs;
You make the beginning of the morning and the evening rejoice.”
Psalms 105:39-45
“He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.
They asked, and He brought quail, and satisfied them with the food of heaven.
He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
For He remembered His holy word
and promise to Abraham His servant [Genesis 15:14].
And He brought forth His people with joy,
and His chosen with gladness;
and gave them the lands of the nations;
and they inherited the labor of the people,
so that they might take heed to His precepts and keep His laws.
Praise Jehovah!”
Psalms 5:11
“But let all those who put their trust in You rejoice;
let them ever shout for joy,
because You defend them.
Let them also who love Your name be joyful in You.”
Psalms 86:4
“Give joy to your servant,
for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.’”
Psalms 16:11
“You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me
with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”
Psalms 43:3-4
“Oh send out Your light and Your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacles.
Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
yea, on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.”
Psalms 51:8 & 10-12
“Make me to hear joy and gladness,
that the bones which You have broken may rejoice.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence,
and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalms 149:5
“Let the saints be joyful in glory;
let them sing aloud on their beds.”
Isaiah 9:3
“You have multiplied the nation.
You have not increased the joy.
They rejoice before You according to the joy in harvest,
and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.”
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Isaiah 23:12
“And He said, ‘You shall rejoice no more, O crushed one, virgin daughter of Sidon.
Arise, pass over to Chittim; also there you shall have no rest.’”
Isaiah 29:18-21
“And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
and the eyes of the blind shall see out of their gloom and darkness.
And the meek shall increase joy in Jehovah,
and the poor among men shall rejoice in The Holy One Of Israel.
For the terrible one is brought to nothing,
and the scorner is destroyed,
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;
those who make a man guilty by a word,
and lay a trap for the reprover in the gate,
and turn aside the just for a worthless thing.”
Jeremiah 25:8-10
“Therefore so says Jehovah of Hosts, ‘Because you have not heard My Words,
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north’, says Jehovah,
‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant;
and will bring them against this land,
and against its people and against all these nations all around.
And I will completely destroy them,
and make them a waste, and a hissing, and everlasting ruins.
And I will take from them the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness,
the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride,
the sound of the millstones and the light of the candle.
And this whole land shall be a ruin and a waste.
And these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”
Jeremiah 31:10-14
“‘Hear the Word of Jehovah, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands afar off.
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
For Jehovah has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of the one stronger than he.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
and shall flow together to the goodness of Jehovah,
for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the sons of the flock and the herd.
And their soul shall be as a watered garden;
and they shall not pine away any more at all.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their affliction.
And I will fill the soul of the priests with fatness,
and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness’, says Jehovah.”
Jeremiah 32:37-42
“‘Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands where I have driven them in My anger,
and in My fury and in great wrath.
And I will bring them again to this place,
and I will cause them to dwell safely.
And they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
And I will give them one heart and one way,
that they may fear Me forever, for their good and for the good of their sons after them.
And I will cut an everlasting covenant with them
that I will not turn away from them, to do them good.
But I will put My fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from Me.
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good,
and I will truly plant them in this land with all My heart and all My whole soul.’
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For so says Jehovah: ‘As I have brought all this great evil on this people,
so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them.’”
Zephaniah 3:11-20
“In that day you shall not be ashamed for all your doings in which you have transgressed against Me;
for then I will withdraw from your midst those who rejoice in your pride,
and you shall never again be proud in My holy mountain.
I will also leave in your midst a poor and weak people,
and they shall trust in the name of Jehovah.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies,
and a deceitful tongue shall not be found in their mouth;
for they shall feed and lie down,
and none shall make them afraid.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel;
be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Jehovah has turned off your judgments;
He has cast out your enemy.
The king of Israel, Jehovah, is in your midst; you shall not fear evil any more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem,
‘Fear not! Do not let not your hands droop, Zion.
Jehovah your God is mighty in your midst;
He will save,
He will rejoice over you with joy;
He is silent in His love; He rejoices over you with joyful shout.’
‘I will gather the afflicted ones from the appointed place;
they were from you, a lifting up of reproach over her.
Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you.
And I will save her who is lame, and gather her who was driven out.
And I will give them for a praise and for a name in all the land of their shame.
In that time I will bring you, even in the time that I gather you;
for I will give you for a name and for a praise among all the peoples of the Earth,
when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says Jehovah.”Lamentations 2:17
“Jehovah has done what He has purposed:
He has fulfilled His Word which He commanded from the days of old.
He has thrown down and not pitied.
And He caused your hater to rejoice over you;
He has set up the horn of your foes.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
“Behold that which I have seen:
It is good and right for one to eat and to drink,
and to see good in all his (or her) labor
that he (or she) labors under the sun
all the days of his (or her) life which God gives him (or her),
for it is his (or her) portion.
Also every man (or woman) to whom God has given riches and wealth,
and has given him power to eat of it and to take his (or her) portion,
and to rejoice in his (or her) labor; this is the gift of God.
For he (or she) shall not much remember the days of his (or her) life,
because God answers him (or her) in the joy of his (or her) heart.”
Psalms 19:7-8
“The Law of Jehovah is perfect, converting the soul;
the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making the simple wise.
The Precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart;
the Commandments of Jehovah are pure, giving light to the eyes.”
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Psalms 40:16
“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You,
and the ones loving your salvation always say, ‘Let Jehovah be magnified.’”
Psalms 105:3-4
“Glory in His holy name;
let the heart of those who seek Jehovah rejoice.
Seek Jehovah and His strength;
seek His face evermore.”
Psalms 107:17-22
“Fools are afflicted because of their rebellion, and because of their iniquities.
Their soul hates all kinds of food, and they draw near the gates of death.
Then they cry to Jehovah in their distress,
and He saves them out of their troubles.
He sent His Word and heals them,
and delivers them from their pitfalls.
Let them praise Jehovah
for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the sons (and daughters) of man!
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and declare His works with rejoicing!”
Psalms 71:23-24b
“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You,
and my soul, which You have redeemed.
My tongue also shall muse on Your righteousness all the day long;”
Proverbs 27:9
“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart;
so does the sweetness of one's friend by advice from the heart.”
Luke 2:8-11
“And in the same country there were shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of The Lord came on them, and the glory of The Lord shone around them.
And they were grievously afraid.
But the angel said to them [the shepherds near Bethlehem], ‘Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, Who is Christ The Lord.’”
Romans 14:17
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,
but of righteousness, peace, and joy in The Holy Spirit.”
Acts 13:49-52
“And the Word of The Lord was carried throughout all the country.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief ones of the city,
and raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. And they threw them out of their borders.
But shaking the dust of their feet off on them, they came into Iconium.
And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with The Holy Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, welcoming the Word in much affliction,
with joy of The Holy Spirit,
so that you were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia. (See verses 8-10 for how.)
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2 Corinthians 7:9-16
“Now I rejoice,
not that you were grieved,
but that you grieved to repentance.
For you were grieved according to God,
so that you might suffer loss by nothing in us.
For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation,
not to be regretted,
but the grief of the world works out death.
For behold this same thing (you being grieved according to God);
how much it worked out earnestness in you;
but also defense; but also indignation; but also fear;
but also desire; but also zeal; but also vengeance!
In everything you approved yourselves to be clear in the matter.
Then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong,
nor on account of the one who suffered wrong,
but for the sake of revealing our earnestness on your behalf, for you before God.
Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort,
and we rather rejoiced more abundantly over the joy of Titus,
because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
For if I have boasted anything about you to him, I was not ashamed.
But as we spoke all things to you in truth,
even so our boasting as to Titus became truth.
And his tender feelings are more abundant toward you,
remembering the obedience of you all,
as you received him with fear and trembling.
Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.”
Jude 24-25
“To Him Who is able to keep you from falling
and to present you before His glorious presence
without fault
and with great joy,
to the only wise God, our Savior,
be glory and majesty and might and authority,
even now and forever. Amen.”
1 Peter 1:3-6
“Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who according to His great mercy has regenerated us again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you
by the power of God,
having been kept through faith to a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time;
in which you greatly rejoice, yet a little while, if need be, grieving in manifold temptations;
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And there you shall bring
your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and heave offering of your hand,
and your vows, and your free-will offerings,
and the first-born of your herds and of your flocks.
And there you shall eat before Jehovah your God,
and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to,
you and your households in which Jehovah your God has blessed you.”
“And you shall rejoice before Jehovah your God;
you, your sons, your daughters, your menservants, your female servants,
and the Levite that is within your gates (because he has no part nor inheritance with you).”
Deuteronomy 16:10 & 15
“And you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to Jehovah your God
with a measure of a free-will offering of your hand,
which you shall give according as Jehovah your God has blessed you.
Seven days you shall keep a solemn feast to Jehovah your God in the place which Jehovah shall choose.
Because Jehovah your God shall bless you in all your increase and in all the works of your hands,
therefore you shall surely rejoice.”
Deuteronomy 32:43
“Rejoice, O, nations, with His people,
for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His foes
and will be merciful to His land, to His people.”
1 Chronicles 16:10-13
“Then on that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brothers
in order to thank Jehovah:
‘Give thanks to Jehovah, call on His name, make known His deeds among the people.
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, talk of all His wondrous works.
Glory in His holy name, let the heart of those who seek Jehovah rejoice.
Seek Jehovah and His strength; seek His face continually.
Remember His marvelous works which He had done, His wonders,
and the judgments of His mouth,
O seed of Israel His servant, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.”
Hosea 9:1
“O Israel, rejoice not for joy, like the peoples.
For you have gone lusting away from your God;
you have loved a reward on every grain floor.”
1 Chronicles 16:31-36
“Let the heavens be glad,
and let the Earth rejoice.
And let them say among the nations,’ Jehovah reigns.’
Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it.
Let the fields rejoice, and all that is in them.
Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of Jehovah,
because He comes to judge the Earth.
O give thanks to Jehovah, for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.
And say, ‘Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations,
so that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.’
Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel forever and ever.
And all the people said, ‘Amen, and praised Jehovah.’”
2 Chronicles 20:27
“And they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in front of them,
to go again to Jerusalem with joy.
For Jehovah had made them to rejoice over their enemies.”
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Nehemiah 12:43
“And that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced.
For God had made them rejoice with great joy.
And the wives and the sons rejoiced,
so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.”
Joel 2:18-23
“Then Jehovah will be jealous for His land and pity His people.
Yes, Jehovah will answer and say to His people,
‘Behold, I will send you grain, wine, and oil,
and you shall be satisfied with it.
And I will no more make you a curse among the nations.
But I will remove the northern army far from you,
and will drive him into a barren and deserted land,
with his face toward the eastern sea and his rear toward the western sea.
And his stench shall come up, and his ill odor shall come up,
because he was doing monstrous things.’
Fear not, O land;
be glad and rejoice.
For Jehovah will do great things.
Do not be afraid, beasts of the field;
for the pastures of the wilderness grow green;
for the tree bears its fruit,
and the fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
Be glad then, sons (and daughters) of Zion,
and rejoice in Jehovah your God.
For He has given you the former rain according to righteousness,
and He will cause the rain to come down for you,
the former rain and the latter rain in the first month.
And the floors shall be full of wheat,
and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.”
‘And I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten,
the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm,
My great army which I sent among you.
And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied,
and praise the name of Jehovah your God,
Who has dealt with you wonderfully;
and My people shall never be ashamed.’”
Isaiah 49:13
God the Father said,
“Sing, O heavens;
and be joyful, O Earth;
and break out into singing, O mountains
for The LORD has comforted His people,
and will have mercy on His afflicted.”
Psalms 2:10-12
“And now be wise, O kings;
be instructed, O judges of the Earth.
Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss The Son, lest He be angry,
and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled in but a little time.
Blessed are all who put their trust in Him.”
Psalms 32:11
“Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, you righteous;
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”
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Psalms 33:1
“Rejoice in Jehovah, O righteous ones;
praise is becoming for the upright.”
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
Like the loving deer and pleasant doe,
let her breasts satisfy you at all times,
and be ravished always with her love.”
Proverbs 24:17-20
“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and do not let your heart be glad when he (or she) stumbles;”
lest Jehovah see, and it displease Him,
and He turn away His wrath from him.
Do not fret yourself because of evil ones,
nor be jealous of the wicked;
for there shall not be a hereafter to the evil;
the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.”
Isaiah 66:10-14
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all who love her.
Rejoice for joy with her all who mourn for her,
that you may suck and be satisfied with her comforting breasts,
that you may milk out and be delighted with the fullness of her glory.
For so says Jehovah,
‘Behold, I will hold out peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream.
Then you will suck,
you will be carried on her sides and be dandled upon her knees.
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.’
And you see this, your heart will rejoice,
and your bones will flourish like the grass.
And the hand of Jehovah will be known toward His servants,
and His fury toward His enemies.”
Zechariah 9:9
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem;
behold, your King comes to you.
He is righteous and victorious, meek and riding on an ass, even on a colt, the son of an ass.”
Psalms 98:1-4
“A Psalm.
O sing to Jehovah a new song, for He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have saved for Him.
Jehovah has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has unveiled to the eyes of the nations.
He has remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel;
all the ends of the Earth have seen the salvation of Jehovah.
Make a joyful noise to Jehovah,
all the Earth; breakout, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Psalms 100
“A Psalm of praise.
Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all you lands.
Worship Jehovah with gladness;
come before His presence with singing.
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Know that Jehovah, He is God.
He has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise;
be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For Jehovah is good;
His mercy is everlasting;
and His truth endures to all generations.”
Matthew 5:10-14
Jesus said,
“Blessed are they who have been persecuted for righteousness sake!
For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you,
and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great.
For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the Earth,
but if the salt loses its savor, with what shall it be salted?
It is no longer good for anything,
but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Luke 6:22-23
Jesus said,
“Blessed are you when men shall hate you,
and when they shall cut you off,
and when they shall reproach you and shall cast out your name as evil,
for the sake of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy.
For behold, your reward is great in Heaven.
For so their fathers did according to these things to the prophets.”
Read Acts 5:38-42 & 16:19-25 before going on.
James 1:2-4
“My brothers [and sisters], count it all joy,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
knowing this: that the trying of your faith works patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
1 Peter 4:12-13
“Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you,
as though a strange thing happened to you,
but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ's suffering,
so that when His glory shall be revealed,
you may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
Romans 15:8-11
“And I say, Jesus Christ has become a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God,
to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
and that the nations might glorify God for His mercy,
as it is written, ‘For this cause I will confess to You in the nations,
and I will praise Your name.’ (2 Samuel 22:50 & Psalms 18:49)
And again He says, ‘Rejoice, O nations, with His people.’ (Deuteronomy 32:43)
And again, ‘Praise The LORD, all the nations, and praise Him, all the peoples.’” (Psalm 117:1)
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1 Corinthians 12:24-26
“For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together,
giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
that there not be division in the body,
but that the members should have the same care for one another.
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;
if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.”
2 Corinthians 13:11
“Finally, brothers (and sisters), rejoice.
Perfect yourselves;
encourage yourselves;
mind the same thing;
be at peace.
And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Philippians 3:1-3
“Finally, my brothers (and sisters), rejoice in the Lord.
To write the same things to you is indeed not grievous to me, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus
and have no confidence in the flesh;”
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
“Now we exhort you, brothers (and sisters),
warn those who are unruly,
comfort the faint-hearted,
support the weak,
be patient toward all.
See that none gives evil for evil to anyone,
but always pursue the good,
both towards one another and towards all.
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Hebrews 3:6
“But Christ was faithful as a son over his own house;
Whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
Revelation 19:7-8
“Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him.
For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white.
For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
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Proverbs 31:25-28
“Strength and honor are her clothing;
and she shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom;
and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her sons rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her.”
Proverbs 28:12
“When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory;
but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.”
Proverbs 29:2-3 & 6
“When the righteous increase,
the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule,
the people mourn.
Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father;
but a companion of harlots wastes wealth.”
“In the sin of an evil man there is a snare;
but the righteous sings and rejoices.”
John 3:26-30
“And they came to John and said to him,
‘Rabbi, He who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness,
behold, He baptizes and all come to Him!’
And John answered and said, ‘A man can receive nothing unless it is given to him from Heaven.
You yourselves bear witness to me that I said, “I am not the Christ”, but that “I am sent before Him.”
He who has the bride is the bridegroom,
but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him
rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice.
Then my joy is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease.’”
Luke 8:13
“Those on the rock are the ones
who receive the Word with joy when they hear it,
but they have no root.
They believe for a while,
but in the time of testing they fall away.”
3 John 3-4
“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about
your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Matthew 25:13-26
Jesus Christ said,
“Therefore watch,
for you do not know either the day or the hour in which The Son Of Man comes.
For it is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods.
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability.
And he went abroad at once.
And going he who had received the five talents traded with them, and made another five talents.
And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two.
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver.
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After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them.
And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying,
‘Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five talents above them.’
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful over a few things;
I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.’
He also who had received two talents came and said,
‘Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them.’
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful over a few things,
I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.’
And he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew that you were a hard man,
reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours.’
His lord answered and said to him, ‘Evil and slothful servant!’”
Luke 10:1-3 & 17
“And after these things the Lord appointed seventy others,
and He ordered them two and two before His face
into every city and place where He was about to come.
Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.
Therefore pray to The Lord of the harvest
that He may send forth laborers into His harvest.
Go! Behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.’”
“The seventy-two returned with joy and said,
‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.’”
Matthew 28:5-8
“And the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not fear, for I know that you seek Jesus who was
crucified.’
He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead.
And, behold, He goes before you into Galilee.
There you shall see Him. Lo, I have told you.’
And they quickly departed from the tomb with fear and great joy,
and ran to bring His disciples word.”
John 15:10-11
Jesus said,
“If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love,
even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
I have spoken these things to you so that My joy might remain in you
and your joy might be full.”
1 John 1:4-7
“And we write these things to you
so that your joy may be full.
And this is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,
that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
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Philippians 2:12-18
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,
cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings,
so that you may be blameless and harmless, the children of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.
Among these you shine as lights in the world,
holding forth the Word of Life,
so that I may rejoice with you in the Day of Christ,
that I have not run in vain nor labored in vain.
Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,
I joy and rejoice with you all.
And you also rejoice in the same, and rejoice with me.”
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Psalms 97:10-12
“You who love Jehovah, hate evil;
He keeps the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in Jehovah, righteous ones;
and give thanks at the memory of His holiness.”
Proverbs 13:9
“The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.”
Proverbs 15:23
“A man (or woman) finds joy in giving an apt reply
and how good is a timely word!”
Proverbs 21:15
“It is joy to the just to do judgment,
but ruin shall be to the workers of iniquity.”
Habakkuk 3:12-19
“You march into the land in fury;
You thresh nations in anger.
You went forth for the salvation of Your people, for salvation with Your anointed.
You struck the head from the house of the wicked, to bare the foundation to the neck. Selah.
You pierced the head of his warriors with his shafts;
they storm out to scatter me;
their rejoicing is to devour the meek in a secret place.
You trod in the sea with Your horses, the foaming of many waters.
When I heard and my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice.
Rottenness entered into my bones,
and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the Day of Trouble,
for the coming up of the people who invades us.
Though the fig tree shall not blossom, and fruit is not on the vines;
the labor of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food.
The flock is cut off from the fold, and no herd is in the stalls;
yet I will rejoice in Jehovah,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Jehovah the Lord is my strength,
and He will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and He will make me to walk on my high places.
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”
Habakkuk 3:16-19a
“I heard and my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice.
Rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble;
to come up against the people; he cuts him off.
Though the fig tree shall not blossom, and fruit is not on the vines;
the labor of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food.
The flock is cut off from the fold, and no herd is in the stalls;
yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Jehovah the Lord is my strength,
and He will make my feet like hinds' feet,
and He will make me to walk on my high places.”
Isaiah 64:5a
“You meet him (or her) who rejoices and works righteousness,
those who remember You in Your ways.”
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2 Corinthians 6:6-10
“in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness,
in The Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
in the Word of Truth, in the power of God,
through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
through glory and dishonor,
through evil report and good report; as deceivers and yet true;
as unknown and yet well known;
as dying and, behold, we live;
as chastened and not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.”
Hebrews 12:1-4
“Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before (in the future) Him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and sat down at the right of the throne of God.
For consider Him Who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and faint in your minds.
You have not yet resisted unto blood,
striving against sin.”
Philippians 1:1-6
“Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ,
to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and from The Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine making my request for you all with joy
for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now;
being confident of this very thing,
that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it
until the Day of Jesus Christ,”
Romans 15:30-33
“But I exhort you, brothers (and sisters),
for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and for the love of The Spirit,
that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
that I may be delivered from those disbelieving in Judea,
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted by the saints;
so that I may come to you with joy by the will of God,
and may be refreshed with you.
Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
1 Peter 1:7-9
“so that the trial of your faith
(being much more precious than that of gold that perishes, but being proven through fire)
might be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen, you love; in whom not yet seeing,
but believing in Him you exult with unspeakable joy,
and having been glorified,
obtaining the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
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Basics For Christian Living-- Short Answer Version
Directions: First look up and read the referred to Scripture in the 2nd paragraph of the Introduction. Then, in
the main part of the course, use the indicated Bible passages to carefully answer all of the
questions and requests for personal responses.
Introduction
The Bible should be the textbook for every Christian. It should be the most read book by every Christian. No
book has lasted so long. Several attempts were made to destroy it. It will never be out-sold by any other book.
The Word of God will not return void. Properly studying and living it will always produce good. If you haven’t
memorized the order of the books in the Bible, make a copy of the Table of Contents in your Bible. Then you
can easily see which page each book starts for faster look-up of Bible verses. The best guide for living properly
is the Bible. God’s commandments in it are the best advice we can have. Someone wrote: “My life is to trust
the promises and will of God. My talk and walk is to obey His commandments. I would rather be poor by the
divine will, than rich by my own.”
First read and briefly tell me how you appreciate the following Bible verses--
Matthew 11:28-29; 1 Peter 5:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 3:16-17; Luke 19:10; Romans 3:23-25b;
John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:8; Romans 12:2; John 7:38; John 15:5; John 8:31b-32;
James 3:17-18; 2 Timothy 1:7; Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:13;
John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Isaiah 26:3; Galatians 5:16-7 & 24-25; 1 John 5:1-5;
Philippians 2:14-15; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 13:5; Luke 6:38; 1 John 5:14-15; 1 Peter 1:3-9;
Matthew 5:3-12; Romans 8:28; Galatians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 3:4-5.
The following Bible study was made from Jack Taylor’s “Who We Are In Christ” list of Scripture references.
I learned from it that I was not just “a sinner saved by grace”. The Holy Spirit gave me three categories for the
non-controversial Bible verses: “Divine Assurance”, “Divine Importance”, and “Divine Help”. Try to
determine why I put each Scripture reference in its category. Multi-letters in bold within parenthesis indicate
number of answers expected. Before beginning any part of this course, ask God for understanding. Expect a lot
of encouragement from God’s Word as you read the specially selected Scripture and answer the questions.
Then ask God to help you share with others.
1. a.) What does John 3:16 say our world received and why? (Don’t answer from other knowledge and Bible
verses.)
b.) Read Samuel 1, Exodus 1:8-2:10, and 1 John 4:9 & 10. If you had only one child and could not
have any more, how much love would you have to have for someone in order to give him or her
that special child to for even just 34-40 years (the approximate amount of time Jesus Christ was
in human form on Earth and away from God the Father’s Side)?
c.) What characteristics or qualifications would that foster parent have to have?
d.) Read Mark 15:6-20. What kinds of people were in the world when Jesus Christ was born in a
manger in Bethlehem, having to leave God the Father’s side in Heaven?
e.) What kind of a person was Barabbas?
f.) Would you let your only child die so such a person could remain living?
g.) What about for Pilate, the Jewish chief priests, and the crowd who yelled for Barabbas to be
freed?
h.) Would you want to die for such people?
i.) Read Matthew 26:24-28 & 36-54. What kind of love does Jesus have?
j.) Read Isaiah 53. What kind of love does this Scripture passage say that God the Father has?
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Reread the five different characteristics of divine love. This same love is given to all who believe in
Jesus Christ as the Savior from eternal condemnation for disobeying God’s laws. Read Romans 5 & 6
and 2 Corinthians 5:17-6:1 before going on.
2. Reread John 3:16.
a.) What else does God give to true Christians?
b.) What is a main horror of headline news besides politics and crime?
c.) Do you fear about the just indicated happening to you?
d.) How many different ways could it happen to you tomorrow?
e.) How many different ways could it happen to you within the next hour?
f.) What would you rather think about? Read Romans 6:23, John 10:22-29, 2 Corinthians 1:22 & Ephesians
1:3-14, and 1 John 2:22-26.
g.) What does 1 John 5:11-15 mean to you? What kind of confidence or assurance can you have?
The divine gifts in the last two answers can eliminate worry and stress about death and bring wonderful
peace to a true Christian’s mind. Reread Romans 5:1-11.
h.) Read Philippians 4:4-8, which the Apostle Paul wrote just before he was beheaded for his Christian
beliefs and lifestyle. Can you do such in all, most, or few situations?
i.) List as many specific things you can think, say, and do which would satisfy Philippians 4:4-8 commands
contrary to human nature. Examples: from-the-“heart” compliments to a “significant other” in your life
and compliments to an “enemy” or someone who irritates you a lot. Doing the latter will make you feel
better even if you never are able to speak them to the enemy or antagonist. Read Matthew 5:7-16 & 38-
48 to find out why.
3. Are you encouraged and revived yet? Proper courage for living the best you can requires being assured by
what you know of the 100% promise keeping loving God and what He desires you to think and do. Review
the first two groups of questions, answers, and Bible verses before going on. You might even make a list of
what God’s advice is for the best ways to think and to relate to others. For the first one, don’t just say
“believe in Jesus Christ”. Write all of the things the referred to Bible verses state or imply about believing in
and on Jesus Christ. You won’t regret this review time. You will be encouraged spiritually as much as your
review effort is. This really is one of the most important parts of this course.
4. Read Ephesians 2:1-10, Matthew 22:36-39, Psalm 37, 1 John 4:7-5:3, and Romans 14:17-19.
a.) What does God want to show through true Christians?
b.) Read Galatians 5:13-6:10 and Romans 12. Who should we want to live for and not to live for? Read
Galatians 2:20 and Proverbs 3:5 & 6. When on Earth in human form, Jesus Christ lived the last referred
to Old Testament commandments. This can be said to be the faith of Jesus Christ. See John 5:30-36.
c.) What goes into living Matthew 22:36-39?
d.) Read Romans 8. Write a list of specific compliments and actions for encouraging/helping others that
you would like the Holy Spirit to urge you to say or do. [Be warned, all apparently good statements and
actions are not Holy Spirit urged or God-pleasing. Compliments said for selfish reasons can encourage
recipients to become more prideful (which can even lead to divorce by encouraging independence
thinking by one spouse). So think before you say or do anything. Ask yourself, why should you say or
do it? Afterwards, could you say “to God be the glory”? Will God be pleased and give you joy and
peace feelings? Read Colossians 1:9-11 and Romans 15:1-7.]
5. Reread Romans 8. One successful, well-known, week-long Christian living seminar speaker has
recommended many times to his audiences to memorize all of Romans 8. It is full of divine assurances.
Romans 8:28 is my favorite and has maintained hope in my mind many, many times. I usually think of the
assurance-- all situations eventually working out for the good for those who love God. Every promise that
God has made to believers in the Bible requires loving Him, humbleness (no pride), or/and righteousness
(heeding to the commandments we know).
a.) What do verses 1, 38 & 39 mean to you?
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b.) Don’t we usually put more conditions on those individuals we make promises to?
c.) What are the most encouraging verses in Romans 8 for you? Please copy or paraphrase them.
d.) Read 1 Corinthians 15:58. What guarantee is stated?
e.) What fantastic assurances do Philippians 1:6, 1 John 3, and 1 John 1:28 indicate?
The main thought problem that pauses or stops this divine work in a Christian is coveting (wanting what
others’ have) or thinking things aren’t fair.
f.) Read Psalm 37, James 4, Hebrews 13, Romans 8:28-29, and Philippians 4:11-19. What verses gave
or/and give you assurance that you don’t need to covet or be jealous of wrong-doers? Please copy or
paraphrase them.
6. Read all of 1 Corinthians 15 carefully.
a.) What is the most important promise in the Christian Gospel?
b.) Read Philippians 3 and Hebrews 3:6 & 14. What does the Apostle Paul indicate Christians should have
as a top priority and why?
c.) Should a true Christian have fear of physical death? Read Hebrews 12:1-3 and 1 John 4:15-18.
Divine Importance
18. a.) What does Romans 14 tell you about God’s will for a Christian to understand others?
b.) How can you improve understanding others better?
c.) What different religious traditions and beliefs of relatives and friends should a Christian not condemn?
(Just mention general areas of possible concern.)
d.) What ideas and habits of others should a Christian tolerate?
e.) How do 1 Corinthians 13 and Philippians 4:8 relate to the last two questions/answers?
Hebrews 10:38-39
38 But the just shall live by faith;
and if he [or she] draws back {and} shrinks in fear,
my soul has no delight {or} pleasure in him [or her].
39 But our way is not that of those who
draw back to eternal misery (perdition)
and are utterly destroyed,
but we are of those who believe
[who cleave to and trust in and rely on God
through Jesus Christ, the Messiah]
{and} by faith preserve the soul.
Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation) of the things hoped for,
being the proof of things [we] do not see {and}
the conviction of their reality
[faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
2 For by [faith-- trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men [and women] of old
had divine testimony borne to them {and} obtained a good report.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed
(fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose)
by the Word of God,
so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
4 [Prompted, actuated] by faith
Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain,
because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous
[that he was upright and in right standing with God],
and God bore witness by accepting {and} acknowledging his gifts.
And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.
5 Because of faith Enoch was caught up {and} transferred to Heaven,
so that he did not have a glimpse of death;
and he was not found, because God had translated him.
For even before he was taken to Heaven,
he received testimony [still on record]
that he had pleased {and} been satisfactory to God.
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6 But without faith
it is impossible to please {and} be satisfactory to Him.
For whoever would come near to God
must [necessarily] believe
that God exists
and that He is the rewarder
of those who earnestly {and} diligently seek Him.
7 [Prompted] by faith Noah,
being forewarned by God
concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign,
took heed {and} diligently {and} reverently
constructed {and} prepared an ark
for the deliverance of his own family.
By this [his faith which relied on God] he
passed judgment {and} sentence on the world's unbelief and
became an heir {and} possessor of righteousness
(that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).
8 [Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called,
obeyed and went forth to a place
which he was destined to receive as an inheritance;
and he went, although he did not know
{or} trouble his mind about where he was to go.
9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident
in the land which was designated in the promise [of God]
in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
fellow heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was [waiting expectantly and confidently] looking forward
to the city which has fixed {and} firm foundations,
whose Architect {and} Builder is God.
11 Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child,
even when she was long past the age for it,
because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise
to be reliable {and} trustworthy {and} true to His word.
12 So from one man, though he was physically as good as dead,
there have sprung descendants whose number is
as the stars of heaven and
as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.
13 These people all died controlled {and} sustained by their faith,
but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God's] promises,
only having seen it {and}
greeted it from a great distance by faith,
and all the while acknowledging {and} confessing
that they were strangers {and} temporary residents
{and} exiles upon the Earth.
14 Now those people who talk as they did
show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).
15 If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of
that country from which they were emigrants,
they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.
16 But the truth is that they were yearning for {and} aspiring to
a better {and} more desirable country, that is, a Heavenly [one].
For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God
[even to be surnamed their God-- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob],
for He has prepared a city for them.
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17 By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test
had already brought Isaac for an offering;
he who had gladly received {and} welcomed [God's] promises
was ready to sacrifice his only son,
18 Of whom it was said,
“Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.”
19 For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him] up
even from among the dead.
Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead
[potentially sacrificed],
he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.
20 [With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future,
invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.
21 [Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying,
blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.
22 [Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life,
referred to [the promise of God for] the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt
and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.
23 [Prompted] by faith
Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents,
because they saw how comely the child was, and
they were not overawed {and} terrified by the king's decree.
24 [Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity {and} become great,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships]
{and} bear the shame of the people of God
rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.
26 He considered the contempt {and} abuse {and} shame [borne for]
the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come)
to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt,
for he looked forward {and} away to the reward (recompense).
27 [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him,
being unawed {and} undismayed by the wrath of the king;
for he never flinched
{but} held staunchly to his purpose {and} endured steadfastly
as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.
28 By faith (simple trust and confidence in God)
he instituted {and} carried out the Passover
and the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts],
so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch
those [of the children of Israel].
29 [Urged on] by faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land,
but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing
they were swallowed up [by the sea].
30 Because of faith the walls of Jericho fell down
after they had been encompassed for seven days [by the Israelites].
31 [Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed
along with those who refused to believe {and} obey,
because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].
32 And what shall I say further?
For time would fail me to tell
of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
of David and Samuel and the prophets,
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33 who by [the help of] faith
subdued kingdoms,
administered justice,
obtained promised blessings,
closed the mouths of lions,
34 extinguished the power of raging fire,
escaped the devourings of the sword,
out of frailty {and} weakness won strength {and}
became stalwart, even mighty {and} resistless in battle,
routing alien hosts.
35 [Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection.
Others were tortured to death with clubs,
refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith],
so that they might be resurrected to a better life.
[1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:25-37]
36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging
and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned to death;
they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith];
they were sawn asunder;
they were slaughtered by the sword;
[Others] had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats,
utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated--
38 [Men and women] of whom the world was not worthy--
roaming over the desolate places and the mountains,
and [living] in caves {and} caverns and holes of the earth.
39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith,
did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,
40 because God had us in mind {and} had something better
{and} greater in view for us,
so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come
to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].
Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore then,
since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
[who have borne testimony to the Truth],
let us strip off {and} throw aside
every encumbrance (unnecessary weight)
and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly)
clings to {and} entangles us,
and let us run with patient endurance {and} steady {and} active persistence
the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
2 looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus,
Who is the Leader {and} the Source of our faith
[giving the first incentive for our belief]
and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].
He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him,
endured the cross, despising {and} ignoring the shame,
and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners
such grievous opposition {and} bitter hostility against Himself
[reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials],
so that you may not grow weary {or} exhausted,
losing heart {and} relaxing {and} fainting in your minds.
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***How does the Bible help you live by faith like you have just read about?
***How should you share and teach Scripture from the Bible?
Note: The following is from the 32 Christian Character Traits I took from two lists from two ministries. I had
even used them for a positive way of class discipline in three Christian Elementary school classes I
taught. After hearing a Bible teaching about patience, I decided to choose the traits that I felt were the
most important for the current challenges in what appears to be the ending of the Age of Grace. The
Scripture is from the KJV Bible and slightly updated. I did the logical indenting of the supporting Bible
verses/passages that I had found in July of 2006. Bolding is added for emphasis. I have inserted
thought-provoking questions after each Scripture. But also for each character trait group, try to figure
out the location reasons of the verses and passages.
1. Respectful: desire to be reverent to God, and proper authorities, and other people.
Matthew 22:37-40
“Jesus said to him,
‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,
and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.”
***How do those two commandments indicate respect?
Psalm 145:3-5
“Great is The LORD and greatly to be praised,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
and shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will speak of the glorious honor of Your majesty,
and of Your wondrous works.”
***How can you show more respect to God?
Psalm 119:6-8 & 13-16
“Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect for all of Your commandments.
I will praise You with uprightness of heart,
when I shall have learned Your righteous judgments.
I will keep Your statutes; Oh forsake me not utterly….
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.
I will meditate in Your precepts, and have respect unto Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your Word.”
***What is necessary in order to respect God fully?
1 Corinthians 12:20-27
“But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you;
nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.
And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable,
upon these we bestow more abundant honor;
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need, but God has tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked,
that there should be no schism in the body;
but that the members should have the same care one for another.
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And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
***In what ways can you respect the Church more?
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
“And we beseech you, brethren [and sisteren],
to know them who labor among you and are over you in The Lord,
and admonish you,
and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
And be at peace among yourselves.”
***What is proper respect for leaders?
Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)
that it may be well with you,
and that you may live long on the Earth.”
***What is your definition of “honor” and how does such relate to respect?
1 Peter 3:1 & 7-8
“Likewise, wives be in subjection to your own husbands,
that if any obey not the Word,
they also may without the word be won by the behavior of the wives;
Likewise, husbands dwell with them according to knowledge,
giving honor to the wife as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life,
that your prayers be not hindered.
Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren [and sisteren],
be pitiful, be courteous.” See also Philippians 2.
***What is proper respect between couples?
1 Peter 2:17
“Honor all men [and women].
Love the brotherhood [and sisterhood]..
Fear God.
Honor the king.”
***How would you teach what these respect commandments mean?
1 Timothy 2:1-2
“I urge, then, first of all,
that requests, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for everyone--
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty.”
***How should one respect and pray for even wicked or bad national leaders?
Romans 13:7
“Render therefore to all their dues:
tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
***How does this verse indicate the need for respecting others?
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Know therefore that The LORD your God,
He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and mercy
with them who love Him and keep His commandments
to a thousand generations;
and repays them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them;
He will not be slack to him [or her] who hates Him,
He will repay him [or her] to his [or her] face.”
***In what ways is God faithful and will be faithful in the future even in judging?
1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful,
by Whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
***What does this fact mean to you?
1 Corinthians 10:13
“There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man,
but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able,
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that you may be able to bear it.”
***How is God faithful in when our faithfulness is being challenged?
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He Who called you, Who also will do it.” (See also Jude 24-25.)
***In what other ways is God faithful?
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins,
He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
***What does this mean to you and why does it require honesty? Remember Romans 6?
Hebrews 3:1-6
“Therefore, holy brethren [and sisteren], partakers of the Heavenly calling,
consider The Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Who was faithful to Him who appointed Him,
as Moses also was faithful in all His house.
For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses,
inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.
For every house is built by someone,
but He Who built all things is God.
And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant,
for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,
but Christ as a Son over His own house,
Whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing
of the hope firm to the end.”
***What does this passage teach about faithfulness?
Daniel 6:4
“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom,
but they could find none occasion nor fault,
forasmuch as he was faithful,
neither was there any error or fault found in him.”
***How did Daniel show faithfulness to God and his friends?
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Psalm 101:6-7
God said,
“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with Me;
he [or she] who walks in a perfect way,
he [or she] shall serve Me.
He [or she] who works deceit shall not dwell within My house;
he [or she] who tells lies shall not tarry in My sight.”
***How can you be considered by God as being of “the faithful on Earth”?
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faithfulness, meekness, temperance [self-control]:
against such there is no law.”
***Why do you think faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit and not just easily human created?
Proverbs 18:24
“A man [or woman] who has friends must show himself [or herself] friendly;
and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” (See also Proverbs 17:17.)
***How are you faithful to friends? Is such only for a spouse and other best friends?
Proverbs 14:5
“A faithful witness will not lie;
but a false witness will utter lies.”
***Which is more common and why?
Hebrews 4:14-16
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
Who is passed into the heavens, Jesus The Son Of God,
let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.”
***Whose faithfulness does this passage indicate and what does this mean to you?
Psalm 37:3-6
“Trust in The LORD and do good;
so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed.
Delight yourself also in The LORD
and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to The LORD;
trust also in Him,
and He shall bring it to pass.
And He shall bring forth
your righteousness as the light
and your judgment as the noonday.”
***Whose faithfulness does this passage indicate and what does this mean to you?
Revelation 17:12-14
“And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet;
but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with The Lamb,
and The Lamb shall overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings;
and they who are with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”
***Why would one be “called and chosen and faithful”?
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3. Forgiving: desire to feel sorry and to be considerate.
Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive men [and women] their trespasses,
your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you forgive not men [and women] their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
***Has this scared you in the past and would you ever rebuke someone with it?
Matthew 18:15-16
“Moreover if your brother [or sister] shall trespass against you,
go and tell him [or her] his [or her] fault between you and him alone;
if he [or she] shall hear you, you have gained your brother [or sister].
But if he [or she] will not hear you, then take with you one or two more,
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
***What is the main requirement in this which goes contrary to gossiping?
Luke 17:3
“Take heed to yourselves, if your brother [or sister] trespass against you,
rebuke him [or her];
and if he [or she] repent,
forgive him [or her].
Note: An example of forgiveness is of Joseph for his brothers in Genesis 37 & 45.
***How did Joseph obey this commandment? How have you done such?
2 Corinthians 2:4-11
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears;
not that you should be grieved,
but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
But if any have caused grief, he [the man who had committed fornication] has not grieved me,
but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted by many.
So that contrariwise you ought rather to forgive him and comfort him,
lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him.
For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you,
whether you be obedient in all things.
To whom you forgive any thing, I forgive also;
for if I forgave any thing,
to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ,
lest Satan should get an advantage of us,
for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
***What does the last verse say about forgiveness and compassion?
Galatians 6:1-2
“Brethren, [and sisteren], if a man [or woman] be overtaken in a fault,
you who are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
***What does this say about forgiveness and compassion? What do you think is the law of Christ?
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but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,
Who is The Head, even Christ:
from Whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplies,
according to the effectual working
in the measure of every part,
makes increase of the body
to the edifying of itself in love.”
(See also 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.)
***How can you and others be more cooperative in church times?
6. Righteous: desire to be like Jesus Christ was when He was on Earth in human form.
1 Peter 1:13-15
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,
and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He Who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
***What is required in order for one to be righteous?
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Zephaniah 2:3
“Seek the LORD all you humble of the land,
you who do what He commands.
Seek righteousness,
seek humility;
perhaps you will be sheltered on the Day of The LORD's anger.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Proverbs 2:20-22
“Thus you will walk in the ways of good men [and women]
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright shall dwell in the land,
and the perfect shall remain in it.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the Earth,
and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” (See Psalm 37.)
***What do the words “good”, “righteous”, “upright”, and “perfect” mean to you?
What does Psalm 37 mean to you?
Proverbs 4:14-19
“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men [and women].
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.
For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.”
***Why is the path or way of the righteous like the dawn and becomes brighter?
How has righteousness been ridiculed in your life? How have you avoided the unrighteous?
Matthew 5:6 & 16-20
Jesus Christ said,
“Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled….
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, until Heaven and Earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law until all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so,
he [or she] shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven;
but whosoever shall do and teach them,
the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,
you shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
***How would you explain the passage to someone? How does it go against legalism in churches?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man [or woman] of God may become perfect,
thoroughly furnished to all good works.”
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***How does righteousness relate to the two underline phrases?
What is the significance of the word “all” in that passage?
Ephesians 2:8-10
“For by grace are you saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man [or woman] should boast.
For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
***What does verse 10 (which is bolded) mean to you?
Luke17:20-21
“Now when He [Jesus Christ] was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
He answered them and said,
‘The Kingdom of God does not come with observation;
nor will they say, “See here!” or “See there!”
For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.’”
***How was the Pharisees legalism wrong? (Before answering, read Matthew 23.)
Romans 14:16-19
“Let not then your good be evil spoken of,
for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink,
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in The Holy Spirit.
For he [or she] who in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God,
and approved of men [and women].
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace,
and things wherewith one may edify another.”
***How does this relate to the previous passage? Think of the definition of the Kingdom of God as in
circular chronological order. How would you teach about such? What is righteousness according to
the rest of the passage?
Galatians 5:19-26
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in The Spirit, let us also walk in The Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory,
provoking one another, envying one another.”
***How does one live and walk in The Holy Spirit?
2 Timothy 2:22-26
“Flee the evil desires of youth
and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,
along with those who call on The Lord out of a pure heart.
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments,
because you know they produce quarrels.
And the Lord's servant must not quarrel;
instead he [or she] must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Those who oppose him [or her],
he [or she] must gently instruct in the hope that
God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,
who has taken them captive to do his will.”
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***How do you pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace? How do you have make your “heart” pure?
(Before answering, see Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 4:2).
What else does this passage teach about righteousness?
Ephesians 5:1-17
“Be you therefore followers of God as dear children,
and walk in love as Christ also has loved us
and has given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you as becomes saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient,
but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man [or woman], who is an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words,
for because of these things cometh the wrath of God
upon the children of disobedience.
Be not therefore partakers with them.
For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in The Lord;
walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
proving what is acceptable to The Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light:
for whatsoever does make manifest is light….
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is”
***What does this passage say righteousness is and what it is not?
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
“Now we exhort you, brethren [and sisteren], warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak,
be patient toward all people.
See that none render evil for evil to any man [or woman];
but ever follow that which is good,
both among yourselves and to all people.”
***What does this passage say righteous living is and what it is not?
Ephesians 6:12-14
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Note: For more information about being righteous, see Romans 1-6, Philippians 2, and Ephesians 4-5.
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7. Thorough: desire to do everything necessary for success.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
“Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,
for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave where you go.”
***What does “do it with your might” mean?
Colossians 4:12-13
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers,
that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
For I bear him record, that he has a great zeal for you
and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”
***How will you be able to “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God”?
(Before answering, read John 14-17 and Jude.)
Colossians 2:6-10
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him:
Rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ.
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
And you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power.”
***How can you become rooted, built up, and complete in Jesus Christ, and established in the faith? How
does such require thoroughness?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
that the man [or woman] of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished to all good works.”
***How do these verses relate to thoroughness?
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”
***How does this verse relate to thoroughness?
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John 14:26, 15:26, & 16:7-14
Jesus Christ said,
“But The Comforter, Who is The Holy Spirit, Whom The Father will send in My name,
He shall teach you all things
and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said to you.”
“But when The Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from The Father,
even The Spirit Of Truth, Who proceeds from The Father,
He shall testify of Me:”
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away,
for if I go not away, The Comforter will not come to you;
but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
And when He is come,
He will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment:
of sin, because they believe not on Me;
of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see Me no more;
of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when He, The Spirit Of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He shall not speak of Himself,
but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak;
and He will show you things to come.
He shall glorify Me, ,
for He shall receive of Mine and shall show it to you.”
***What are the ways that the Holy Spirit ministers to seekers of truth and righteousness?
How can you determine what are urgings from the Holy Spirit and what are just feelings or opinions
that come to your mind?
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also,
knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience;
and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by The Holy Spirit which is given to us.”
***How does this passage relate to Ephesians 5:18-21 (which is earlier in this section)?
Romans 15:13-14
“Now The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope through the power of The Holy Spirit.
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren [and sisteren],
that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge,
able also to admonish one another.”
***What do these verses mean to you? What do they encourage you to desire?
Philippians 2:1-5
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of The Holy Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his [or her] own things,
but every man [or woman] also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:”
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***How do you fellowship with The Holy Spirit? Why does submitting to Him result in the indicated
unselfishness. When Jesus Christ was in human form, how did He submit to God the Father and the
Holy Spirit?
Titus 3:3-7
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy,
hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us,
by the washing of regeneration and renewing of The Holy Spirit,
Who He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
that being justified by His grace,
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
***How are true Christians washed, regenerated, and renewed by The Holy Spirit?
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
“But as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God has prepared for them who love Him.’
But God has revealed them to us by His Holy Spirit,
for The Holy Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
For what man knows the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so the things of God knows no man, but The Holy Spirit Of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but The Holy Spirit Who is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man's wisdom teaches,
but which The Holy Spirit teaches,
comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man [or woman] receives not the things of The Holy Spirit Of God,
for they are foolishness unto him [or her];
neither can he [or she] know them because they are spiritually discerned.
But he [or she] who is spiritual judges all things,
yet he [or she] is rightly judged by no man [or woman].
For who has known the mind of The Lord that he [or she] may instruct Him?
But we have the mind of Christ.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Romans 8:1-15
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after The Holy Spirit.
For the law of The Holy Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has made me free from the Law of sin and death.
For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh,
but after The Holy Spirit.
For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they who are after The Holy Spirit the things of The Holy Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
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Because the carnal mind is enmity against God,
for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh, but in The Holy Spirit,
if so be that The Holy Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man [or woman] has not The Holy Spirit of Christ, he [or she] is none of His.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin,
but The Holy Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if The Holy Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
He Who raised up Christ from the dead
shall also liven your mortal bodies by His Holy Spirit Who dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren [and sisteren], we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if you live after the flesh, you shall die;
but if you through The Holy Spirit
do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live.
For as many as are led by The Holy Spirit Of God,
they are the sons [and daughters] of God.
For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you have received The Holy Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit
that we are the children of God.
And if children, then heirs:
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ:
if so be that we suffer with Him,
that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.”
***What kind of lifestyle does this indicate and what kind of submission is required?
Galatians 5:16-25
“This I say then, walk in The Holy Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against The Holy Spirit, and The Holy Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other,
so that you cannot do the things that you would.
But if you be led of The Holy Spirit, you are not under The Law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like;
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of The Holy Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance;
against such there is no law.
And they who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in The Spirit, let us also walk in The Holy Spirit.”
***What kind of lifestyle does this indicate and what kind of submission is required?
1 Corinthians 12:3-13
“Wherefore I give you to understand,
that no man speaking by The Holy Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed;
and that no man can say that Jesus is The Lord, but by The Holy Spirit.
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Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Holy Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God Who works all in all.
But the manifestation of The Holy Spirit is given to every one to the profit of all.
For to one is given by The Holy Spirit the word of wisdom,
to another the word of knowledge by the same Holy Spirit,
to another faith by the same Holy Spirit;
to another the gifts of healing by the same Holy Spirit;
to another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy;
to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues;
but all these work that one and the selfsame Holy Spirit,
dividing to every man [or woman] severally as He will.
For as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body;
so also is Christ.
For by one Holy Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Holy Spirit.”
***How many times are the capabilities or powers of the Holy Spirit implied in this passage?
2 Corinthians 13:14
“The grace of The Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God,
and the communion of The Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
Amen.”
***What does “communion of The Holy Spirit” mean to you?
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The fear of The LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
***Why does wisdom require effort? Before answering, read 1 Corinthians 1-2 about the two kinds of
wisdom.
Proverbs 3:5-8
“Trust in The Lord with all of your heart,
and lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes:
fear The Lord and depart from evil.
It shall be health to your navel and marrow to your bones.”
***How can you “be not wise in your own eyes”?
Proverbs 8:33
“Hear instruction and be wise,
and refuse it not.”
***How does wisdom increase from instruction?
Proverbs 10:14
“Wise men [or women] lay up knowledge;
but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.”
***How does one “lay up knowledge”?
Proverbs 15:7
“The lips of the wise disperse knowledge;
but the heart of the foolish does not so.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Proverbs 16:21-24
“The wise in heart shall be called prudent;
and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him [or her] who has it;
but the instruction of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise teaches his [or her] mouth, and adds learning to his [or her] lips.
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and health to the bones.”
***What does this passage indicate about being wise?
Proverbs 14:1
“Every wise woman builds her house;
but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.”
***In what ways can a wife be wise? In what ways can a wife be unwise?
Proverbs 14:16
“A wise man [or woman] fears and departs from evil;
but the fool rages and is confident.”
***How does one fear and depart from evil?
Proverbs 9:8-12
“Reprove not a scorner lest he [or she] hate you;
rebuke a wise man [or woman], and he [or she] will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man [or woman], and he [or she] will be yet wiser;
teach a just man [or woman], and he [or she] will increase in learning.
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
For by wisdom your days shall be multiplied and the years of thy life shall be increased.
If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself;
but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.”
***What is an unwise individual? What are the qualities of a wise individual?
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Proverbs 29:11
“A fool utters all his [or her] mind,
but a wise man [or woman] keeps it in until afterwards.”
***What is an unwise individual? What is another quality of a wise individual?
Proverbs 10:19
“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
but he [or she] who refrains his [or her] lips is wise.”
***What is another quality of a wise individual?
Proverbs 17:27-28
“He [or she] who has knowledge spares his [or her] words;
and a man [or woman] of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Even a fool, when he [or she] holds his [or her] peace, is counted wise;
and he [or she] who shuts his [or her] lips is esteemed a man [or woman] of understanding.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath,
but grievous words stir up anger.
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright;
but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Proverbs 11:30
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
and he [or she] who wins souls is wise.”
***What does this indicate about evangelists?
Proverbs 24:5
“A wise man [or woman] is strong;
yes, a man [or woman] of knowledge increases strength.”
***Why is a wise individual strong and getting stronger?
Proverbs 3:35
“The wise shall inherit glory;
but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
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Revelation 2:11
“He [or she] who has an ear, let him [or her] hear what The Spirit says to the churches;
He [or she] who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Similar is found in Revelations 2:17 & 29, 3:6, 13, & 22.
***How can Christian churches be much more attentive to The Holy Spirit?
Revelation 22:16-19
“I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
And The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let him [or her] who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let him [or her] who thirsts come.
And whosoever will, let him [or her] take the water of life freely.
For I testify to every man [and every woman]
who hears the words of the prophecy of this Book:
if any man [or woman] shall add to these things,
God shall add to him [or her] the plagues that are written in this Book;
and if any man [or woman] shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his [or her] part
out of the Book of Life and out of the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this Book.”
***What does this passage mean to you in relation to being attentive?
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Colossians 2:6-8
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him;
rooted and built up in Him,
and established in the faith as you have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
***What does this passage mean to you in relation to thankfulness?
Colossians 3:15-17
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body;
and be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and The Father by Him.”
***Why and how should you be thankful?
Colossians 4:2
“Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.”
***What does this verse mean to you in relation to thankfulness?
1 Timothy 2:1-2
“I urge, then, first of all,
that requests, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for everyone--
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty.”
***How and why should these verses be lived by true Christians?
1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18
“Always seek after that which is good, for one another and for all people.
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks,
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
***What does this passage say about the wideness of thankfulness? How can you be more thankful?
Psalm 79:9 & 13
“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Your name’s sake....
So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever.
We will show forth Your praise to all generations.”
***What does this passage say about what should be the extent of thankfulness?
Hebrews 13:15-16
“Through Jesus then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
***How would you teach this in a Christian church with the desire to encourage better worship?
Psalm 97:10-12
“You who love The LORD, hate evil;
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in The LORD, you righteous;
and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”
***For what reasons do you give thanks to God? Why is there an emphasis of believers’ righteousness in
this passage?
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Ephesians 5:3-4
“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you,
as becomes saints, neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient;
but rather giving of thanks.”
***What does this passage mean to you in relation to thankfulness?
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3 John 3
“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell
about your faithfulness to the truth
and how you continue to walk in the truth.”
***Have you experienced such? If so, how? If not, what do you hope for that would give you “great joy”?
Isaiah 29:18-20
“And in that Day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book,
and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
The meek also shall increase their joy in The LORD,
and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
For the terrible one is brought to nothing,
and the scorner is consumed,
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:”
***What does this passage mean to you?
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Romans 8:23-25
“Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in this hope;
but hope that is seen is not hope,
for why does one still hope for what he [or she] sees?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
***What hope did Apostle Paul write about?
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
Now hope does not disappoint
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by The Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”
Galatians 5:5
“For we through The Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Romans 15:4 & 13
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
“May The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Romans 12:10-13
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
***How does a true Christian rejoice in hope?
1 Thessalonians 5:8-10
“But let us who are of the day be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God did not appoint us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ Who died for us,
that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
***What does “everlasting consolation and good hope by grace” mean?
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father,
Who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”
***What do these verses mean to you?
Titus 1:1-2
“I Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to
the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with Godliness,
in hope of eternal life which God, Who cannot lie, promised before time began;”
***What other religions promise eternal life? Why are they wrong?
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Colossians 1:21-23
“And you, who were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now has He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight,
if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under Heaven,
of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
***What is “the hope of the Gospel”? In what ways can an individual move away from it?
Hebrews 3:6
“but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are
if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
1 Peter 1:13-15
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,
and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient children,
not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
***How would you teach this passage to an adult Bible study class? And how would you respond to an
individual who says that one is just saved by God’s grace and accepting the Gospel?
1 John 3:1-3
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we should be called children of God!
Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children of God,
and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed,
we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him
purifies himself [or herself] just as He is pure.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
1 Peter 3:15-17
“But sanctify The Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers,
they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good life in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing,
than for evil doing.”
***How can you “sanctify The Lord God in your hearts”? How can you be ready to defend your faith
and hope in God?
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Romans 2:5-11
“But according to your hardness and impenitent heart, do you treasure up wrath for yourself
in the Day of Wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Who will render to every man [or woman] according to his [or her] deeds;
to them who were patient in well doing
seeking for glory and honor and immortality,
eternal life;
but to them who are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish
upon every soul of man [or woman] who did evil,
of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
but glory, honor, and peace, to every man [or woman] who works good,
to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile,
for there is no respect of persons with God.”
***How can you be “patient in well doing” looking ahead for immortality and eternal life?
Romans 8:23-25
“Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of The Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
For we were saved in this hope,
but hope that is seen is not hope,
for why does one still hope for what he sees?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”
***How do we eagerly wait? What does the bolded last statement mean to you?
Hebrews 6:11-12
“And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope to the end,
that you be not slothful,
but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
James 5:10-11
“Take, my brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the name of The Lord,
for an example of suffering affliction and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job,
and have seen the end of The Lord,
that The Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.”
***How can you be a better example of patience? What was “the patience of Job”?
2 Timothy 3:10-12
“But you have fully known my [Apostle Paul’s] doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions,
which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra;
what persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Yes, and all who will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
***In what ways was the Apostle Paul patient?
Revelation 1:8-9
“‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending’, says The Lord,
‘Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come,
The Almighty.’
‘I John, who also am Your brother and companion in tribulation,
and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos,
for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.’”
***Why did John say that he was “in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ”?
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Hebrews 12:1-4
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself,
lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
***How can we “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and
Finisher of our faith”?
Luke 21:16 & 19
Jesus Christ said,
“And you shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren [and sisteren],
and kinsfolks and friends;
and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
In your patience possess your souls.”
***After betrayals or other upsets, how can you “in your patience possess your souls”?
Romans 12:10-15
“Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope;
patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer;
distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality.
Bless them who persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them who do rejoice, and weep with them who weep.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
2 Thessalonians 3:5
“And the Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God,
and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
James 5:7-8
“Be patient therefore, brethren [and sisteren], to the coming of the Lord.
Behold the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
and has long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be also patient;
establish your hearts for the coming of The Lord.”
***How can you have the indicated patience?
Hebrews 10:35-36
“Cast not away therefore your confidence which has great recompense of reward.
For you have need of patience,
that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”
***What is the indicated confidence and why does it help a true Christian to be patient?
1 Timothy 6:10-12
“For the love of money is the root of all evil,
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
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But you, Oh man [or woman] of God, flee these things
and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto you are also called
and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
***How can you follow after patience while following the other important character traits?
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
“Now we exhort you, brethren [and sisteren], warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak,
be patient toward all people.
See that none render evil for evil to any man [or woman],
but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all people.”
***How can you be patient towards all kinds of individuals? Which are the hardest to be patient with?
2 Timothy 2:24-25a
“And the servant of The Lord must not strive; but be gentle to all people,
apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Titus 2:2
“That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate,
sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
***How can an individual be sound in patience?
1 Timothy 3:2-3
“A bishop [overseer or pastor] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife,
vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;”
***In what ways should a church leader be patient? What should he or she not be patient about?
16. Decisive: desire to discern right and wrong according to God's Word.
Psalm 25:10-12
“All the paths of The LORD are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Your name's sake, Oh Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.
What man [or woman] is he [or she] who fears The LORD?
He shall teach him [or her] in the way that he [or she] shall choose.”
***What should be considered before an individual makes a choice? What does fearing God mean?
Proverbs 1:28-30
“Then they shall call upon Me and I will not answer;
they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find me;
For that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of The LORD:
They would have none of My counsel;
they despised all My reproof.”
***In what ways do the mockers of God make wrong decisions? How did you do such before you were
born again?
Isaiah 7:14-15
“Therefore The LORD Himself shall give you a sign:
behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call His name ‘Immanuel’.
Butter and honey shall He eat,
that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.”
***How would you teach these two verses?
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Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Romans 13:12-14
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand;
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armor of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day,
not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness,
not in strife and envying.
But put on The Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
***What decisions are indicated?
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faithfulness, meekness, temperance [self-control];
against such there is no law.”
***In what ways do “temperance” and “self-control” require decision making?
Colossians 3:8-17
“But now also put off all these:
anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another,
seeing that you have put off the old man [or woman] with his [or her] deeds,
and have put on the new man [or woman],
which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of Him Who created him [or her];
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision,
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free,
but Christ is all and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
forbearing one another and forgiving one another,
if any man [or woman] have a quarrel against any,
even as Christ forgave you, so also you do.
And above all these things put on charity [love], which is the bond of perfectness.
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also you are called in one body;
and be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to The Lord.
And whatsoever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of The Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God The Father through Him.”
***What does this passage mean to you for good decision making?
1 Peter 1:13-16
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober,
and rest your hope fully upon the grace,
that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
***What does this passage mean to you for good decision making?
1 Peter 3:8-17
“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another;
love as brothers [or sisters], be tenderhearted, be courteous;
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing,
knowing that you were called to this,
that you may inherit a blessing.
For he [or she] who would love life and see good days,
let him [or her] refrain his [or her] tongue from evil,
and his [or her] lips from speaking deceit.
Let him [or her] turn away from evil and do good;
let him [or her] seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
And who is he [or she] who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.
And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear;
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good
than for doing evil.”
***What does this passage mean to you for good decision making?
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***What can good health be attributed to? What kind of attitudes about yourself and about God should
you have?
Proverbs 4:20-23
“My son [or daughter], attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes;
keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and health to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it are the issues of life.”
***Relate to the last passage as if it was God “speaking” to you, what are the indicated needs to help you
endure living now?
Proverbs 12:17-19
“He who speaks truth shows forth righteousness,
but a false witness deceit.
There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
***How does this passage speak about endurance? Also consider Philippians 4:8 and Ephesians 6:14
and how they indicate the importance of truth.
3 John 3
“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth,
and how you continue to walk in the truth.”
***How can you be faithful to God’s wonderful truths and continue to live according to them?
Revelation 14:12
“Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they who keep
the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Proverbs 16:24
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and health to the bones.”
***Why do you think this is a true fact?
Romans 5:1-5
“Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through Whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
Now hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
by The Holy Spirit Who was given to us.”
***What does this passage mean to you? How should it help you to endure tougher times ahead?
Romans 12:9-13
“Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good.
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Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly [or sisterly] love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints,
given to hospitality.”
***Why are the two groupings and the indentations logical?
What are the indicated needs for endurance?
1 Corinthians 1:5-8
“That in every thing you are enriched by Him [God],
in all utterance and in all knowledge;
even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
so that you come behind in no gift;
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who shall also confirm you unto the end,
that you may be blameless in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
***How would you teach the above passage to a class of adult Christians?
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance [self-control];
against such there is no law.”
***What does “longsuffering” mean? How does it relate to the other fruit of The Spirit?
Colossians 1:21-23
“And you who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy and blameless,
and above reproach in His sight—
if indeed you continue in the faith,
grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under Heaven,
of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
***What do “continue in the faith”, being “steadfast”, and “not moved away” mean to you?
1 Timothy 6:12
“Fight the good fight of faith,
lay hold on eternal life,
whereunto you are also called,
and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
***What does the last verse mean to you?
Hebrews 6:9-12
“But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you,
yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love
which you have shown toward His name,
in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end,
that you be not slothful,
but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
***What does that passage mean to you?
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Ephesians 4:1-3
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness,
with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace.”
***How was the Apostle Paul “the prisoner of the Lord? What do the exhortations mean to you?
Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He Who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
**What should happen in Christian churches which helps for enduring faith and righteousness?
Hebrews 10:35-39
“Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which has great recompense of reward.
For you have need of patience,
that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.
For yet a little while and He Who shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith,
but if any man [or woman] draw back,
My soul shall have no pleasure in him [or her].
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition,
but of them who believe to the saving of the soul.”
***What does this passage mean to you?
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things
through Christ Who strengthens me.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
Hebrews 12:12-13
“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
and make straight paths for your feet,
lest that which is lame be turned out of the way;
but let it rather be healed.”
***What do these two verses mean to you in relation to endurance?
1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober, be vigilant,
because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour;
whom resist (by being) steadfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren [and sisteren] who are in the world.”
***What does spiritual warfare mean to you? In what specific ways can you be sober and vigilant in
resisting the spiritual enemy (remember that Satan is not all knowing and everywhere like God)?
18. Generous: desire to pray and give anything.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“If there be among you a poor man [or woman] of one of your brethren [and sisteren]
within any of your gates in your land which The LORD your God given you,
you shall not harden your heart,
nor shut your hand from your poor brother [or sister];
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but you shall open your hand wide to him [or her],
and you surely lend him [or her] sufficient for his [or her] need,
in that which he [or she] wants.”
***What are requirements in being generous?
Deuteronomy 16:17
“Every man [or woman] shall give as he [or she] is able,
according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.”
***What does this verse mean to you?
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
“Moreover, brethren [and sisteren], we make known to you the grace of God
which has been given among the churches of Macedonia;
how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded to the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yes,
and beyond their power they were willing of themselves,
praying for us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift,
and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped,
but first gave their own selves to The Lord,
and to us by the will of God.”
***What was so special about the churches of Macedonia?
2 Corinthians 9:6-11
“But this I say,
he [or she] who sowed sparingly
shall reap also sparingly;
and he [or she] who sowed bountifully
shall reap also bountifully.
Every man [or woman] according as he [or she] purposed in his [or her] heart,
so let him [or her] give; not grudgingly or of necessity,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may abound to every good work (see Ephesians 2:10);
(As it is written, ‘He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor;
His righteousness remained for ever. (Psalm 112:9)
Now may He Who ministered seed to the sower
both minister bread for your food,
and multiply your seed sown,
and increase the fruits of your righteousness’.);
being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness,
which caused through us thanksgiving to God.
For the ministry of this service
not only supplies the things lacking of the saints,
but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God;
through the proof of this ministry
they glorify God
for your freely expressed submission to the Gospel of Christ
and for your liberal distribution
to them and to all men [and women],
and in their prayer for you, who long after you
because of the exceeding grace of God on you.
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”
***How would you teach the previous passage to a class of adult Christians?
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19. Kind: desire to be friendly and considerate.
Luke 6:35-36
“But love your enemies,
and do good and lend, hoping for nothing back,
and your reward shall be great,
and you shall be the children of the Highest:
for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
***What surprised you about what the last passage indicates about being kind?
Romans 12:10-13
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving The Lord,
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
***What surprised you about what this passage indicates about being kind?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love suffers long, and is kind;
love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, do not behave itself unseemly,
seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
***How do is agapè love kind? How do the other meanings of agapè love indicate kindness?
Ephesians 4:31-32
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking
be put away from you with all malice;
and be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.”
***What is not kindness and what do these verses indicate are required in order to be kind?
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For if our heart condemn us,
God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,
then have we confidence toward God.”
***What was the greatest compassionate action? So what does that mean to you?
What have been the most difficult compassionate actions that you have done?
Galatians 6:1-10
“Brethren [and sisteren], if a man [or woman] be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness,
considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.
For if a man [or woman] think himself [or herself]
to be something when he [or she] is nothing,
he [or she] deceived himself [or herself].
But let every man [or woman] prove his [or her] own work,
and then shall he [or she] have rejoicing in himself [or herself] alone, and not in another.
For every man [or woman] shall bear his [or her] own burden.
Let him [or her] who is taught in the Word
share with him [or her] who teaches in all good things.
Be not deceived, God is not mocked;
for whatsoever a man [or woman] sowed, that shall he [or she] also reap.
For he [or she] who sowed to his [or her] flesh
shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he [or she] that sowed to The Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing,
for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to them who are of the household of faith.”
***In what ways can you show more compassion doing the indicated actions in the above passage?
doing the indicated actions in those two verses?
Ephesians 4:1-3
“I, therefore, the prisoner of The Lord,
beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace.”
***In what ways can you do the last two commands in the above passage?
1 Peter 3:8-9 & 15
“Finally, all of you be of one mind,
having compassion one of another,
love as brethren [and sisteren],
be pitiful, be courteous.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,
but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that you are thereunto called,
that you should inherit a blessing.”
But sanctify The Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason
for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
***What does this passage say that compassion involves?
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Philippians 2:1-5
“If there be therefore any encouragement in Christ,
if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of The Holy Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
fulfill you my joy, that you be likeminded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Look not every man [or woman] on his [or her] own things,
but every man [or woman] also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:”
***What are the ways of compassion in this passage?
What is the mind of Christ and how was He a wonderful example of frequent compassion?
Proverbs 15:23 & 30
“A man [or woman] finds joy in giving an apt reply
and how good is a timely word!…
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.”
***In what ways can you show more compassion
Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He Who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
**What should compassion should happen in Christian churches?
C -- Christ-likeness, unselfish concerns, & consideration
O -- observations
M -- mercy & money sharing
P -- perseverance, prayer, & patience
A -- attentiveness
S -- specific needs fulfilling
S -- spiritual reasons
I -- ideas & inspiration
O -- obedience to the Holy Spirit
N -- necessary or needed attitudes, actions, & aspirations
***How would you teach the previous anagram to a class of adult Christians?
Jude 20-23“But you, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit,
keep yourselves in the love of God,
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference;
and others save with fear,
pulling them out of the fire,
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
***What ways can you be a lot more compassionate? What does the warning in the last line mean?
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PFHL Course 402-- God Wants (Study of the Philippians Epistle)
Directions: Use Philippians and other indicated Scripture verses to carefully answer the questions and fill in
the blanks. Figure out why I bolded and italicized certain words and phrases. Each short answer
line is usually for just one answer each. Use separate paper for your answers. Copy all
questions and the fill-in-the-blank sentences. Carefully label the answers. I have an answer key
done in that way. After you complete the course, write an essay about what you learned. This
assignment is worth 4 units, so write at least 7 quality pages (single spaced lines).
Introduction
You are about to read and react to a love letter from God. This study in Philippians is to encourage and
guide you to make good changes in your life. Answer all of the questions as directly as possible. For some of
the groups of fill-in-the blank exercises, there are answer possibility lists. “v.” means “verse” and “vs.” means
“verses”. Most of the Scripture quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
Philippians 1
v. 1} In this very important letter which was written in the early 60’s A.D., the Apostle Paul was writing to
Christians who were spreading (sharing) the new Gospel. Paul was unable to freely preach at that time,
being under arrest and imprisoned for the second time by the Roman government. What should every
true Christian (even a great leader/teacher like Paul) mainly be? a ____________ of __________
_____________. The name “Paul” from the Latin language means “little” and the name “Timothy”
from the Greek language means “he who honors God”. The word “saint” means “set apart one”. What
does it mean to be the type of person the first answer indicates?
v. 2} The Greek word for “grace” means “kindness that is beyond expectation and therefore commendable”.
The word “peace” in classical Greek means “to bind together”. What do grace and peace mean to you?
How do you get this “grace” and “peace”?
vs. 3-5} Like Paul, a true Christian should be __________ ful for and ____________ ful with _____
for Christian friends far away. The Greek word for “fellowship” here means “a joint-participation” or
“in partnership with”. Do you have such fellowship with prisoners and/or missionaries and/or church
leaders? What can you do today for a Christian friend who is far away from you?
v. 6} What is the most important fact in this verse? ______ ______ ____________ begins a _______
________ in each true _____________. How does Hebrews 12:1-2 relate to this verse? ________
________ is the __________ and ______________ of his or her faith. Like Paul, Christians should
have this hope for other Christians, not just for themselves. In other words, we should be optimistic
about others’ consecration to God rather than skeptical, unless there is obvious evidence of sinful
beliefs or activities.
Philippians 2
vs. 1 & 2} The word “if” is the translation of a Greek conditional particle which would be best understood as
“in view of the fact” or “since”. Therefore, this verse has four factual conditions. The word
“consolation” means “exhortation”, “admonition”. Look at 1 John 2:5-6 for the meaning of “in
Christ”: “But whosoever _________ His Word, in him truly is the love of God being
_________________; by this we __________ that we are _____ Him. Anyone who says that he
lives ______ Him should also walk _______ ____ _____ walked.” (Pronouns for Jesus Christ
should be capitalized to indicate deity.)
How does an individual live as Christ lived in human form on Earth?
Now explain how “living in Christ” should have exhorted or influenced the Philippian Christians
to want the unity described in Philippians 2:2.
How can comfort in God’s love encourage Philippians 2:2 type of church unity?
How can fellowship with the Holy Spirit encourage Philippians 2:2 church unity? (Romans 8:1-
4 & 14-17 may help you answer this question.)
How can “tenderheartedness” (remember the teaching for Philippians 1:8 about the meaning of
“bowels”) and “compassionate yearnings and actions” (mercies) encourage church unity?
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How could living as Christ, being comforted by God’s wonderful love, heeding to Holy Spirit
guidance, and being tenderhearted help you maintain and increase unity with your spouse, a
relative, or a true friend?
How can you be like-minded with, have the same love, and have heart agreement with that
special person?
How could improving the relationship with this special person in your life bring much joy to a
person like the Apostle Paul or your pastor or another close friend?
How could improving personal relationships in our churches bring good changes in our
communities?
v. 3} Now Paul begins to tell the practical ways to get the church unity described in the previous verse. But
first he reminds us about negative behavior of human nature. What are two ways in which things are not
to be done? in __________ and _______________
What does this mean in your words?
How can you lessen strife in your family, in school or at work, and in church?
How can you avoid vain glory in your mind and in relating to others?
How have you esteemed others recently?
v. 4} The word “look” is from a Greek word meaning “to fix the attention upon with desire for and interest in”.
“Things” means “activities and interests”. Now what does this verse suggest you do in your daily living?
Give some detailed examples from recent past experiences.
v. 5} The word “let” means “permit” in this context. What do you think are interests and concerns in the
mind of Christ?
vs. 6-8}What are the two most important character traits Jesus exemplified on Earth in human form? a.)
________________ and b.) _______________
How does your mind relate to those two qualities?
How can you be a similar example as Jesus Christ in the places you go?
How could a Christian be “obedient to death”?
vs. 9-11} What does “the name of Jesus” mean to you?
How can one share with others the importance of the name of Jesus?
*** Answers for vs. 9-11 fill-in-the blank exercises:
all (2) for Lord resists
cares God may should (2)
Christ grace mighty subject
due humble (2) new submit
every humility older time
exalt Jesus proud upon
“_________ knee _________ bow... __________ tongue confess that ________ _________ is
_______.”
What does “Lord” mean to you?
1 Peter 5:5-7 tells how faith in God's care and Christ-like humility go for future exaltation of true
Christians. “In like manner, you ________ Christians __________ yourselves unto the ________
Christians. Yes ______ of you be _________ one to another and be clothed with ____________,
for God _________ the ________ and gives ________ to the __________. __________
yourselves therefore, under the _________ hand of _______, that He ______ _________ you in
______ _________, casting _______ your care (concerns, worries, or anxieties) ________ Him, for
He _________ ______ you.”
How does 1 Peter 5:5-7 relate to Philippians 2:9-11?
When would God exalt a person?
v. 12} Did you usually obey the proper rules and advice your parents had given you, even when they or other
adults were not around? _______ Paul apparently received good reports from visitors about the
righteous living of the Philippian Christians. Would someone else receive such a report about you
most of the time? _______
The Philippian Christians didn’t have Paul around watching them, yet they still served the Lord. Since
God is everywhere, how much more should we want to obey Him?
Where are His proper rules and advice found? _____ ______ ________
149
Find a hymnal and look at the words of the song “Trust and Obey”. It emphasizes that the happiest
way to live is to trust God and obey His Word. Scripture teaches that true Christians should
obey God’s commandments because of His great love for them.
Much controversy has been made about the last phrase of this verse (Philippians 2:12). The Greek
word from which: “work out” was translated from actually means “to carry out to the goal, to carry
to its ultimate conclusion”. An example of this is a student working on an arithmetic problem. He or
she carries the problem to its ultimate conclusion, the right answer. Thus, Paul is exhorting Christians
to carry their salvation to its ultimate conclusion, Christ-likeness. The salvation referred to in this
verse is sanctification, victory over (deliverance from the control or influence of) sin and the living of
a life pleasing to God. Because God is holy and nothing that is not holy can be in fellowship with Him,
a true Christian should have a proper fear of God and keep in Jesus Christ by heeding to the Holy
Spirit’s guidance. The word phrase “fear and trembling” means “with wholesome caution, self
distrust, humility, tender conscience, and vigilance against temptation”. Read I Corinthians 10:12
& 13.
Now, write in your own words what “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” means.
v. 13} In verse 12, the human responsibility for obedience to God’s Word was mentioned and in this verse
the diving enabling is mentioned. The Greek word from which “worketh” comes from means “to
energize, to work effectively”. “To will” means “to desire”. This desire should come from one’s will
and emotions, not from human logic. The Greek word from which “to do” has a construction implying
habit. A Christian should be habitually doing God’s will as he or she learns more about it from the
Bible.
This verse does not mean “let go and let God”; it means “take hold with God”. Imagine being on a
long, long roller coaster. You are in a cart on it going up and down, up and down, up and down, to the
“mountain top” (success) and “valley” (failure and tribulation) experiences (not representing emotions)
of life. In your cart, the safety guard bar is in front of you for you to hold on to for “dear life” and in
the seat next to you is Jesus Christ. He wants to help you by holding the safety bar down with you, as
well as holding you down and giving you peace for overcoming and replacing any fears which
come to mind. Is this a good illustration of your life now? ______
What is God’s good pleasure?
v. 14} “Do ______ things ____________ murmurings and disputings.”
What are murmurings and disputings to you?
v. 15} The word “that” means “so, with the result of, with the purpose of”. What does the word “blameless”
mean to you?
The Greek word from which “harmless” means “unmixed”, “unadulterated” (not corrupted or
impure), and “guileless” (without deceit). The Greek word from which “sons” comes from means
“children or born ones”. “Without reproof” means “not being justly criticized for faults and sins”.
Now, what does verse fifteen mean to you?
v. 16} What is “the Word of life”?
The Greek word from which has been translated “holding forth” means “offering attention to”. How
can a Christian hold forth the Word of life?
The Greek word from which in verse sixteen is translated “rejoice” actually means “boast”. Give an
example of a proper boasting about someone else.
“The Day of Christ” means the time that true Christians individually meet their Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ face to face. “In vain” means for “no worth”. The word “labored” is from the Greek word
meaning “worked to the point of exhaustion”. How was Paul working for Christians far away while he
was a prisoner?
How would his disciples live so that Paul’s writing would not be in vain?
Like Paul, how could you help others you are concerned for?
vs. 17 & 18} Paul indicates his soon to be martyrdom, being killed for his Christian faith. He uses the words
“joy and rejoice” twice in consecutive verses. That means he believes such an attitude is very
important, even in times of impending tragedy. Could you have joy and rejoice in such a
situation? Why or why not?
Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” [Things could
always be worse.]
150
v. 19} Why do you think that Paul used the phrase “I trust in the Lord Jesus” before he stated his hope of
sending Timothy to Philippi?
Paul thought of Jesus Christ when he had the desire to send Timothy to Philippi. He did not just have a
selfish desire for more news about the Philippian Christians. Do you just do things on impulse or
just because you feel like it, or do you think of God or Jesus Christ immediately when the thought
of an action comes to mind?
Briefly describe a recent hope you had which was not a selfish one and relied on your faith in the
Lord.
It is hard for us to imagine how it was to live in the days of Paul. There was no postal service,
telephones, telegram service, radio, television, newspapers, or other communication means. So the
main way of communicating was to send a letter and a messenger for a written and verbal report about
what was happening in a city or church far away.
What kind of news about the Philippian Christians was Paul hoping for?
What kind of news do you like to receive about other people?
What kind of news do you usually give about yourself and others, even when you are just conversing at
church?
v. 20} The compound word “like-minded” comes from two Greek words which together mean “having a
equal or similar soul”. In other words, Paul felt that no other person had as many of his feelings,
beliefs, and concerns as Timothy did. The Greek word from which “naturally” comes from means
“genuinely, faithfully, and sincerely”· Do you look for dependable friends like Timothy? ______
How can you be like Timothy to your pastor, spouse, a relative, or a friend?
v. 21} What is Paul saying about human nature in this verse?
151
on ________ things, but ________________ with the ____________. Do _______ be wise in
your own ____________.”
What words indicate that Epaphroditus was a hard worker in Christian ministry? (The phrase is in
two of the verses.) He was “________ _______ _________”.
Paul had great appreciation and compassion for him as well as for the Philippian Christians. He
wanted the Philippian Christians to ____________ and to receive Epaphroditus back with
_____________.
The Greek word which is translated “reputation” means “to hold one dear or in honor, to value
highly, to prize, to deem precious”. Have you ever received anyone in church or back into you
home thinking in the just mentioned ways? ______
Conclusions: What was the theme or Paul’s main purpose for writing this chapter of his letter to the
Philippian Christians?
Philippians 3
*** Answers for vs. 1-3 fill-in-the blank exercises:
(Not all of these words will be used.)
flesh Lord putting themselves
Gospel no rejoice true
hands off sins trust-believing
humble others Spirit without
in prideful the yes
v. 1} The Greek words translated by the word “finally” literally means “as for the rest”. Paul switches the
direction of the letter to warn about the Judaizers-- Jewish Christians still wanting to live the Old
Testament rules instead of heeding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have many similar such
people today in most churches, those who emphasize church rules following and obey God. What advice
does Paul first give to the Philippian Christians? “____________ ______ ______ _________!”
How would this go against false religious teaching which encourages boasting about successful
religious accomplishments to Old Testament and man-made rules? Christians would not want to rejoice
about _______________ and not or __________. They would also be __________ and not
_____________ because of God’s desires.
In the rest of this verse, Paul indicates that he doesn’t mind warning the Philippian Christians for their
welfare and safety from false “Christian” teaching. Have you ever had an experience in which you were
glad to take time to warn a close relative or friend by writing a long spiritual letter? _______
v. 2} The word “beware” is from a Greek word meaning “constantly” observing with a view to avoiding”. In
Paul’s time, the word “dog” was used to label a reckless man or a shameless woman. We know that
Paul was calling the false-teaching Judaizers “dogs” and “evil workers” because the later mention of
circumcision that was a minimum requirement of the Judaizers for the Gentile Christians. The word
“concision” literally means “a cutting off”. Circumcision requires a cutting of the flesh for males and
was an Old Testament requirement in relation to the Abrahamic Covenant. It was the Jewish way of
acknowledging believing in God just as water baptism is the Christian way to acknowledge what the
New Testament teaches for having a right relationship with God. Read Galatians 6:12-13. Some
religious leaders today try to demand others to speak, give, or behave in certain ways in order to prove
their listeners are “Christian”. In view of Paul’s strong language against the Judaizers and their false
religious emphasis, what do you think might be a reason for there being so many religious false
“Christian” preachers, especially on television and radio?
v. 3} The word “circumcision” literally means to cut around. Colossians 2:11 states that true Christians are
circumcised with the circumcision made ____________ _________ (not by any doctor) in Jesus
Christ. This circumcision of the spiritual heart is done with the ____________ _____ of the
_________ of the ___________ when accepting and the ___________________ the ________
__________. What three ways does Paul give for not being influenced by Judaizer-type religious rule-
keepers or legalists?
a.) We should ………………………………………………………………………………….
b.) We should ………………………………………………………………………………….
c.) We should ………………………………………………………………………………….
152
In what ways can you do each of Paul’s suggestions?
vs. 4-6}How would you explain Paul’s testimony about his religious life before he accepted Jesus Christ as the
Messiah?
vs. 7-12} How would you explain Paul’s testimony after his conversion from religious-law-living to
Christianity?
v. 8} What should be the top learning priority of every Christian? learning about and of _________
__________ How can you do this?
v. 9} How does an individual “win Christ” and “be found in Him”?
How did Paul or how does anyone stop living his or her own righteousness self-effort?
v. 10} How can one know the power of Christ’s resurrection? Ephesians 2:1-7 will help you answer this
question as well as the four following questions.
From what is a true Christian resurrected or raised above?
How should a Christian suffer as Christ Jesus did and does now (two different forms of suffering,
mental and physical)?
What did Jesus die for? See Isaiah 53:4-6 also.
vs. 7 & 12a} Galatians 6:14-- “But God forbid that I should _________ except in the Cross of our
_________ _________ __________, ______ Whom the _________ is ________________
unto _______, and _____ unto the _________.
See also 1 John 2:15-17.
What do verses 7 & 12 of Philippians 3, Galatians 6:14, and 1 John 2:15-17 personally mean to
you?
vs. 8, 9, & 12b} How can you follow after Jesus Christ without being humanistic or legalistic?
v. 13} What do you think Apostle Paul didn’t fully understand in verses nine through twelve? (Ephesians
1:17-2:7 may help you to answer this question.)
Do you have the same or similar thoughts?
What memories do you think you should forget or not think about again?
How can you reach forth to possibilities of the future?
v. 14} The word “press” means “pursue”. “Toward” come from the Greek preposition meaning “down” and
has the idea of “bearing down upon”. “Mark” means “a target or goal”· What do you think is “the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”?
Now rewrite the verse in your own words as if you are writing someone else about your commitment:
vs. 15 & 16} Again Paul writes an exhortation for proper Christian unity. The word “perfect” in this
context does not mean to accomplish sinless perfection, but it implies having a relative, high
level of spiritual maturity where there is room for development and growth. Paul is telling
the spiritually mature Philippian Christians to “be thus minded”. What do you think “be thus
minded” refers to? (Remember your previous answers for verses thirteen and fourteen.)
Paul goes on to indicate how spiritually mature Christians should react to new or wrong-
thinking Christians. He teaches that it should be God only Who ___________ who is
otherwise minded (not spiritually mature). Especially in churches that emphasize Bible
believing, much disunity and anger has occurred because the “spiritually mature” Christians
reacted too quickly and strongly (judgmentally) to words that were said to them by new or
confused Christians. In James 1:19, there is a good word of advice-- “Wherefore, my beloved to
brethren, let every man be __________ to _______, _______ to ________, ________ to
________.”
Paul is thinking of the reported Philippian Christians’ spiritual progress when he writes
“whereto we have already attained”. The verb “walk” means “to direct one’s life”. What do
you think Paul means by “let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing”?
v. 17} How can you be a proper follower of a Christian teacher and leader like Paul?
The word “mark” is from the Greek verb that means “to fix the attention upon with a desire for or
interest in; to observe intently”. What kind of Christians do you think Paul is telling us to pay
attention to?
What of them are we supposed to observe intently?
How can you tell if you are following a good example?
153
vs. 18 & 19} How can an individual be an enemy of the Cross of Christ?
What is the end of such a person if he or she doesn’t confess wrong and repent before physical
death?
How can an individual make his or her belly a god?
How can one’s glory be in his or her shame?
In what ways do you mind (or pay attention to) the things of this world?
The last phrase of this verse, “who mind Earthly things”, is the “seed” (or beginning) from
which people (even professing “Christians”) become “enemies of the cross of Christ” “whose
glory is in their shame”, “whose god is their belly”, and “whose end is destruction”.
How can you not let your remaining interests in worldly things influence you to become such a
person? Or, how can you change your life from minding the secular world?
v. 20} The word “conversation” is from the Greek word which means “commonwealth or place of
citizenship”. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:4-6, “But God, Who is _________ in _________, for His
___________ ________ wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in _________, has
_________________ us together with ___________ (by _________ you are ________), and has
__________ us up together, and __________ us sit together in Heavenly places in _________
________.” Notice that all of the emphasized verbs in the just quoted passage are past tense. What
should this mean to Christians and why should they be looking for Jesus Christ?
v. 21} The word “vile” means “of small worth”, “morally base”, and “wicked”. The word “subdue” means “to
conquer or bring into subjection (or under authority of another)”. What are the promises listed that
Jesus Christ will do for those who know Him as Lord and Savior?
Can you imagine how these glorious changes will take place?
Philippians 4
*** Answers for vs. 1-8 fill-in-the blank exercises:
anxious for mind salvation
any God no same
anything heart of good report stand
(or nothing) help opinion supplication
ask honest other thanksgiving
become in overcome the
beloved Jesus Christ passes truth
Christians just peace understanding
differences keep praiseworthy virtuous
eternal life prayer worse
every longed pure yes
everywhere Lord rejoice
fast lovely restore
v. 1} How does Paul think of the Philippi Christians?
a.) _____________ b.) ___________ ________
What should a Christian be encouraged to do? c.) ___________ _________ in the ________
What does that mean?
vs. 2 & 3} Euodias and Syntyche were apparently good examples of hard-working church workers,
but they weren’t getting along with each other. The word “beseech” means “exhort or beg”.
“entreat” means “request”. Clement was apparently one of many humble servants of Jesus
Christ in Philippi. What do these verses encourage church members to do?
a.) ____________ petty ___________________ of _______________ and “_______ of
the ___________ _________”.
b.) _______ _________ _______________, especially in _______________ settling
Galatians 6:1 says that if any person is overtaken in any sin, a true Christian should
__________ him or her in a spirit of __________________, but being careful not to be
___________ to sin likewise.
What sin were Euodias and Syntyche committing? (1 John 3:14 & 4:11 will help you
answer this question.)
154
How could you be encouraged to do likewise by either of them?
How would you help or counsel those two dedicated ladies?
How would you help church workers/Gospel promoters like Clement?
What is “the Book of Life”? (Revelation 21:27 & 13:5-8 will help you answer this
question.)
*** Refer to the answer words on the previous page for the following fill-in-the-blank exercises·
v. 4} What should a Christian always be able to do? Why?
a.) _____________ ______ _______ ________! (God would not command anything of His
children which they could not do without the Godhead’s help.)
b.) An individual could think, “The situation could be _________.” or “It’s great to have
______________ and ____________ ________ because of believing on Jesus Christ
and the Gospel!”
v. 5} “Moderation” is from the Greek word meaning “being satisfied with less than one’s due, sweet
reasonableness, forbearance”. How can an individual obey this verse?
Why should you be kind to everyone you meet? God is _______________. [an attribute
mentioned earlier]
v. 6} What should you do and not do? a.) In ___________ thing, I should ________ ________ in
___________ and _________________ (for others’ personal needs) with ________________.
b.) I should not be ___________ (KJV-- “careful”) about _______________.
v. 7} What will God do if you obey verse 6?
a.) He will give me His __________ which ________ all _____________________.
b.) He will ________ (guard) my _________ and my ________ through ________
_________. Give an example.
v. 8} What eight types (or kinds) of things did Paul urge the Philippian Christian to think about?
a.) _________ b.) _________ c.) ________ d.) ________ e.) ____________
f.) ______ _________ ___________ g.) ____________ h.) __________________
Give some examples of how you might apply this.
v. 9} What is being suggested that the Philippian Christians do with Biblical teaching and examples?
v. 10) What could we be doing for our Bible teachers? Give some way that you have or can do this.
155
vs. 15-18} As a Christian, how should you react to and use financial gifts?
a.) Be truly (not superficially) __________________ and ______________ with them.
b.) Use them only for _________
v. 19} What will God satisfy for a true Christian? _______ of his or her ________
v. 20} What should God always get? _________ How can you give Him that?
v. 21 & 22} What did Paul exhort each Philippian Christian to desire to do? ________ with respect
________ _______________ he or she meets and think about other ______________
who are not present. How can you be an example of this attitude?
v. 23} What is with every true Christian? the _________ _____ _________ _________
Give an example.
Please copy a verse from Philippians 4 which includes a goal or goals for you.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
To conclude this study, reread Philippians to find a key word and main idea for each chapter.
Philippians 1: ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
Philippians 2: ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
Philippians 3: ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
Philippians 4: ___________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
__
What is the most often used verb in Philippians (found at least once in each of the chapters)? ________
I hope that you will do this in the Lord for what you learned about God’s wants from this Philippians
course.
Index
1 Chronicles 16\.................... 5-8............................140 26-32..........................27
10-13..........................85 9 106 1 Corinthians 12\..................
31-36..........................85 1 Corinthians 10\.................. 20-27........................104
34..............................123 1-15......................10, 15 24-26..........................89
8, 10-11, 34 & Psalm 12-13..........................26 3-13..........................117
105\............................. 13........................21, 106 1 Corinthians 13\..................
1-4..........................60 2 27 4-7............................143
1 Corinthians 1\.................... 6-10............................27 6 125
27-31..........................27 1 Corinthians 11\.................. 8-13............................54
156
1 Corinthians 14\.................. 1 Peter 2\............................... 12................................27
33................................63 1-3..............................11 1 Timothy 6\..........................
40................................27 17..............................105 10-12........................135
1 Corinthians 15\.................. 1 Peter 3\............................... 12..............................140
1-4..............................18 1 & 7-8.....................105 6-11..........................129
12-19..........................51 1-4..............................27 6-8..............................26
55-57..........................18 15-17........................132 2 Chronicles 20\....................
58................................20 18-22..........................34 27................................85
1 Corinthians 16\.................. 8-12............................27 2 Corinthians 1\....................
13-14..........................26 8-17....................58, 138 12-14..........................76
1 Corinthians 2\.................... 8-9 & 15...................144 2 Corinthians 13\..................
9-16..........................116 1 Peter 4\............................... 11..........................63, 89
1 Corinthians 3\.................... 10-11..........................26 14..............................118
10-13a.........................26 12-13..........................88 2 Corinthians 2\....................
18-21a.........................26 16 & 19.......................26 3-4..............................76
1 Corinthians 5\.................... 1 Peter 5\............................... 4-11..........................108
8 27 6-7..............................20 2 Corinthians 3\....................
1 Corinthians 7\.................... 8-9............................141 4-5].............................24
17 & 20.......................27 1 Samuel 2\........................... 7-14............................45
21-24..........................26 1-2..............................75 2 Corinthians 4\....................
1 James 1\............................. 1 Thessalonians 1\................ 17-18..........................21
2-4............................127 2-4..............................55 2 Corinthians 5\....................
1 John 1\............................... 6-7..............................83 17................................20
4-7..............................92 6-8............................127 17-21............................9
7 22 1 Thessalonians 2\................ 2 Corinthians 6\....................
9 106 13..................................8 16b-7\.............................
1 John 2\............................... 17-20..........................56 1 27
14b................................9 19-20..........................77 6-10............................95
24-25..........................26 1 Thessalonians 3\................ 2 Corinthians 7\....................
5-6..............................11 6-10............................77 9-16............................84
1 John 3\............................... 1 Thessalonians 4\................ 2 Corinthians 8\....................
1-3......................55, 132 13-18..........................51 1-5............................142
16 & 18.......................26 1 Thessalonians 5\................ 20-22........................110
16-21........................143 12-13........................105 2 Corinthians 9\....................
1 John 4\............................... 14-15................113, 136 6-11..........................142
7 27 14-18..........................89 6-8..............................26
1 John 5\............................... 15b-18................60, 124 2 John 1\...............................
1-5..............................22 16-24..........................63 1-3..............................67
14-15..........................22 23-24........................106 2 Peter 1\...............................
19-20..........................10 6 27 1-2..............................67
4-15..............................7 6-10............................48 2-8............................133
1 Peter 1\............................... 2 Peter 3\...............................
8 27
13-15................110, 132 8-10..........................131 8-14............................24
13-16........................137 1 Timothy 1\.......................... 9 & 13-18...................11
13-25..........................57 2 Thessalonians 1\................
3-11............................12
22-25..........................11 1 Timothy 2\.......................... 3-12............................10
3-5..............................44 2 Thessalonians 2\................
1 & 2...........................60
3-6..............................84 1-2....................105, 124 1-3..............................26
3-6 & 8-9....................23 1 Timothy 3\.......................... 16-17..................41, 131
7-9..............................95 2 Thessalonians 3\................
2-3............................136
8 125 1 Timothy 4\.......................... 13-16..........................66
157
3 21 6-10..........................114 1-7............................109
5 135 6-12............................38 11-16........................109
2 Timothy 1\.......................... 6-8......................60, 124 25-27, 29, 31-32.........27
13................................11 Colossians 3\......................... 31-32........................143
7 21 12-15........................109 4-13............................36
7-10..............................9 15-17......26, 60, 66, 124 Ephesians 5\..........................
2 Timothy 2\.......................... 16--.............................10 1-17..........................113
15............................4, 12 23..............................110 1-4..............................61
22-26..................12, 112 8-17..........................137 15-21..........................61
24-25a.......................136 Colossians 4\......................... 18-21........................114
8-10..............................7 12-13........................114 24-25 & 33.................27
2 Timothy 3\.......................... 2 60, 124 3 27
10-12........................134 2 & 5-6.......................27 3-4............................125
13-15..........................12 5-6..............................12 6 27
16-17..........10, 111, 114 Daniel 6\................................ Ephesians 6\..........................
3 John 3..................128, 139 4 106 10-17............................9
3 John 3-4.........................91 Deuteronomy 12\.................. 12-14........................113
Act 8\..................................... 5-7 & 12.....................84 13-18..........................69
35-40..........................89 Deuteronomy 15\.................. 2-3............................105
Acts 10\................................. 7-8............................141 Galatians 5\...........................
21-22 & 33...............122 Deuteronomy 16\.................. 1-10............................44
34-36..........................68 10 & 15.......................85 16-17, 24-25...............22
Acts 13\................................. 17..............................142 16-25........................117
42-44........................122 Deuteronomy 28\.................. 19-26........................112
49-52..........................83 58-63..........................74 22-23. 83, 107, 127, 137,
Acts 18\................................. Deuteronomy 30\..................
140
24-28..........................34 10-20..........................12
Acts 19\.................................
22-26..........................67
6-11 & 14...................74 25-26..........................27
1-5..............................35 Deuteronomy 32\..................
Acts 2\................................... 5 131
43................................85 Galatians 6\...........................
25-36..........................49 Deuteronomy 7\....................
36................................26 1-10..........................144
8-10..........................105
Acts 24\................................. 1-2............................108
Ecclesiastes 3\.......................
10-21..........................50 10-12..........................93 6 & 8-10.....................27
Acts 26\................................. Ecclesiastes 5\....................... 9-10............................23
1-8..............................50 Habakkuk 3\.........................
18-20..........................82
Acts 4\................................... Ecclesiastes 7\....................... 12-19..........................94
31..................................9 7-9............................132 16-19a.........................94
Acts 8\................................... Ecclesiastes 9\....................... Hebrews 1\............................
26-40..........................35 10..............................114 9 127
Acts 9\................................... Ephesians 1\.......................... Hebrews 10\..........................
31................................69 15-23..........................41 19-25 & 35-39............56
Colossians 1\......................... Ephesians 2\.......................... 22-25..........................27
10..............................110 10..............................114 23..............................132
19-23..........................54 4-10............................19 23-25................141, 145
21-23................132, 140 8-10..........................112 35-36........................135
27-29..........................54 8-9..............................20 35-39........................141
3-8..............................44 Ephesians 4\.......................... 7 8
9-11..........................133 1-16............................42 Hebrews 12\..........................
Colossians 2\......................... 1-3....................141, 144 1-3..............................27
5-7..............................77 1-5..............................67 1-4......................95, 135
158
12-13........................141 13................................86 Jeremiah 32\.........................
2 125 Isaiah 53\.............................. 37-42..........................81
28................................26 5 68 Job 6\.....................................
7-11............................71 Isaiah 54\.............................. 10................................93
Hebrews 13\.......................... 5-10............................68 Joel 2\....................................
1 27 Isaiah 55\.............................. 18-23..........................86
15 & 16.......................60 11..................................4 John 1\..................................
15-16..................26, 124 Isaiah 57\.............................. 10-13..........................19
22a..............................11 2 71 8-10..............................8
4-6............................129 Isaiah 61\.............................. John 10\................................
5 22, 26 10................................77 24-31..........................19
Hebrews 2\............................ Isaiah 64\.............................. 25-30........................121
1 27, 122 5a94 John 12\................................
Hebrews 3.........................12 Isaiah 65\.............................. 26................................26
Hebrews 3\............................ 17-19..........................79 John 14\................................
1-6......................55, 106 Isaiah 66\.............................. 1 26
6 89, 132 10-14..........................87 1-3..............................21
Hebrews 4.........................14 Isaiah 7\................................ 25-27..........................66
Hebrews 4\............................ 14-15........................136 26, 15\.............................
12..................................8 Isaiah 9\................................ 26, & 16\:7-14......115
14-16..................26, 107 3 80 27................................26
Hebrews 6\............................ 6-7..............................65 6 20
1-2..............................10 James 1\................................ John 15\................................
1-3..............................26 13-14..........................27 10-11..................92, 126
11-12........................134 18-27..........................10 3 11
9-12..........................140 19..............................122 5 21
9-20............................55 19-20..........................27 John 16\................................
Hebrews 7\............................ 2-4................26, 88, 133 20..............................127
1-3..............................65 5-6..............................26 20-24..........................79
Hosea 9\................................ 9 26 33................................66
1 85 James 3\................................ John 17\................................
Isaiah 12\.............................. 13-17..........................27 8 8
1-6..............................77 17-18....................21, 67 John 18\................................
Isaiah 23\.............................. James 5\................................ 37..............................121
12................................81 10-11........................134 John 20\................................
Isaiah 25\.............................. 13-14..........................27 19-21 & 26.................66
8-26\............................... 7-8............................135 30-31............................8
4 72 Jeremiah 15\......................... John 3\..................................
8-9..............................78 15-16............................4 16-17..........................20
Isaiah 26\.............................. 16........................90, 126 26-30..........................91
3 21 Jeremiah 17\......................... 3-7 & 16-18................19
Isaiah 28\.............................. 12-18..........................46 7-8..............................27
9-10..............................4 5-8..............................46 8 21
Isaiah 29\.............................. 7-8............................130 John 4\..................................
18-20........................128 Jeremiah 25\......................... 34-38..........................79
18-21..........................81 8-10............................81 John 5\..................................
Isaiah 32\.............................. Jeremiah 29\......................... 24..............................120
17-18..........................69 8-14............................39 John 6\..................................
Isaiah 35\.............................. Jeremiah 31\......................... 63..................................7
10................................78 10-13..........................78 John 7\..................................
Isaiah 49\.............................. 10-14..........................81 37-38..........................26
159
38................................21 15..............................133 6 & 16-20.................111
John 8...............................11 46-47..........................65 Matthew 6\............................
John 8\.................................. Luke17\................................. 14-15........................108
31b-32........................21 20-21........................112 19-34........................128
47..............................120 Mark 1\................................. Matthew 7\............................
Jude 20-23......................145 1-8.............................31 24-27........................121
Jude 20-25........................24 Mark 10\................................ Nehemiah 12\........................
Jude 24-25........................84 13-16..........................26 43................................86
Judges 6\............................... Mark 4\................................. Philippians 1\........................
23-24..........................63 23-24..........................26 1-6..............................95
Lamentations 3\.................... Mark 7\................................. 14-18..........................76
21-24..................46, 130 14-16..........................27 19-20..........................45
Leviticus 23\.......................... Mark 8\................................. 27................................27
40................................84 34................................26 Philippians 2\........................
lms 43\................................... Matthew 10\.......................... 1-5............109, 115, 145
1-5..............................53 35-38........................143 12-18..........................93
Luke 1\.................................. Matthew 11\.......................... 13-16..........................11
13-17..........................79 28-29..........................20 3-4..............................27
Luke 10\................................ Matthew 13.......................17 Philippians 3\........................
1-3 & 17.....................92 Matthew 13\.......................... 1-3..............................89
17..............................127 8-9............................121 16................................27
Luke 11\................................ Matthew 18\.......................... Philippians 4\........................
28........................11, 121 11-13..........................75 11..............................129
Luke 12\................................ 15-16........................108 13..............................141
50-51..........................32 Matthew 19\..........................
Luke 17\................................
4 89
5-6..............................27 4-7........................26, 60
3 108 Matthew 20\..........................
Luke 18\................................ 4-9..............................70
17-28..........................33
11................................59 Matthew 21\..........................
6-7 & 13.....................26
Luke 19\................................ Philippians Epistle..........146
23-32..........................33 Proverbs 1\............................
10................................20 Matthew 22\..........................
35-38..........................76 1-7............................118
29..................................8
47-48........................120 28-30........................136
37-40........................104 Proverbs 10\..........................
Luke 2\.................................. Matthew 24\..........................
13-14..........................68 14..............................119
35..................................7
8-11............................83 19..............................120
Matthew 25\..........................
Luke 21\................................ 13-26..........................91 27-28..................43, 130
16 & 19.....................135 21 & 23.....................110 28........................79, 126
Proverbs 11\..........................
34-36........................122 Matthew 28\..........................
Luke 24\................................ 5-8..............................92 30..............................120
Proverbs 12\..........................
25-48............................8 Matthew 3\............................
Luke 3\.................................. 11-12..........................31 17-19........................139
1-6..............................32 13-17..........................32 20........................79, 127
Luke 6\.................................. Proverbs 13\..........................
7-10............................31
22-23..........................88 Matthew 4\............................
9 94
Proverbs 14\..........................
35-36........................143 1-11 or Luke 4\...............
38................................22 1 119
1-13..........................9
Luke 7\.................................. 16..............................119
Matthew 5\............................
36-38 & 47-50............65 10-14..........................88 29-30..........................71
Luke 8\.................................. 3-12- 31......................23 5 107
13................................91 Proverbs 15\..........................
37................................26
1 120
160
23................................94 Psalm 105\............................ Psalm 85\..............................
23 & 30.....................145 1-5............................123 8-10............................69
28-30..........................90 Psalm 106\............................ Psalm 94\..............................
30..............................127 1-3..............................61 19..............................125
7 119 Psalm 107\............................ Psalm 97\..............................
Proverbs 16\.......................... 43..............................118 10-12........................124
21-24........................119 Psalm 119.........................10 10-12.........................61
24..............................139 Psalm 119\............................ Psalms 100........................87
Proverbs 17\.......................... 111............................126 Psalms 104\...........................
14................................27 165..............................69 31................................74
27-28........................120 6-8 & 13-16..............104 Psalms 105\...........................
Proverbs 18\.......................... 81-82, 114, 116-117, 3-4..............................83
24..............................107 147-148, & 166....129 39-45..........................80
Proverbs 2\............................ Psalm 130\............................ Psalms 107\...........................
20-22........................111 5 130 17-22..........................83
Proverbs 21\.......................... Psalm 133\............................ Psalms 118\...........................
15........................94, 127 1-3............................108 14-15..........................90
Proverbs 23\.......................... Psalm 136.1-4...................59 19-24..........................74
15-19 & 24-35............90 Psalm 140\............................ Psalms 119\...........................
17-18..................45, 130 12-13..........................61 111..............................90
Proverbs 24\.......................... Psalm 145\............................ 111 & 162...................75
13-14..........................45 3-5............................104 114..............................49
17-20..........................87 Psalm 147\............................ 116-117......................49
5 120 11..............................130 147-148......................49
Proverbs 27\.......................... 5-7a.............................59 166..............................48
9 83 Psalm 149\............................ 49................................39
Proverbs 28\.......................... 4-5............................125 81-82..........................49
12................................91 Psalm 19\.............................. Psalms 126\...........................
Proverbs 29\.......................... 7-8........................7, 118 3 & 5.........................125
11..............................120 8 126 5-6..............................78
2-3 & 6.......................91 Psalm 25\.............................. Psalms 13\.............................
Proverbs 3\............................ 10-12........................136 3-6..............................75
13 &17........................67 Psalm 28\.............................. Psalms 130\...........................
35..............................120 7 125, 126 5-8..............................48
Psalm 29\.............................. Psalms 146\...........................
5-6............................114
5-8........................6, 119 11................................69 5-10............................43
Psalm 30\.............................. Psalms 147\...........................
7-8............................138
Proverbs 31\..........................
4-5..............................61 6-11............................47
Psalm 33.............................7 Psalms 149\...........................
25-28..........................91 Psalm 33\.............................. 1-2..............................78
Proverbs 4\............................
18-21........................129 5 80
14-19........................111 Psalm 37\..............................
20-23........................139 Psalms 16\.............................
3-6............................107 11................................80
Proverbs 5\............................
7-11............................71 8-11............................43
18-19..........................87 Psalm 43\.............................. Psalms 19\.............................
Proverbs 8\............................
4-5....................125, 138 7-8..............................82
27-36..........................73
5 129 Psalms 2\...............................
33..............................119 Psalm 71\..............................
Proverbs 9\............................ 10-12..........................86
23..............................125 Psalms 28\.............................
8-12..........................119 Psalm 79\.............................. 6-9..............................75
Psalm 101\............................
9 & 13.................62, 124 Psalms 32\.............................
6-7............................107
161
11................................86 3 122 13-14................115, 126
Psalms 33\............................. 4-5..............................71 30-33..........................95
1 87 8-9............................134 4 9
12-22..........................47 Revelation 14\....................... 4 & 13.......................131
18-22..........................93 12..............................139 8-11............................88
20-21........................138 Revelation 17\....................... 8-12............................47
Psalms 35\............................. 12-14........................107 Romans 16\...........................
9 93 Revelation 19\....................... 17-20..........................71
Psalms 38\............................. 7-8..............................89 25-27............................9
12-22..........................52 Revelation 2\......................... Romans 2\.............................
Psalms 39\............................. 11..............................123 5-11..........................134
7-13............................45 7 122 6-11............................69
Psalms 40\............................. Revelation 22\....................... 7-10a...........................10
16................................83 16-17..........................26 Romans 3\.............................
Psalms 42\............................. 16-19........................123 21-25 & 28.................18
1-11............................52 Revelation 3\......................... 23-25b........................20
Psalms 43\............................. 19-21........................121 Romans 5\.............................
3-4..............................80 Romans 1\............................. 1-5 43, 68, 115, 131, 139
Psalms 5\............................... 16-17............................8 1-5 & 10-11................76
11................................80 21................................59 Romans 6\.............................
11-12..........................90 7 65 1-18............................37
Psalms 51\............................. Romans 10..........................7 11-12..........................27
8 & 10-12...................80 Romans 12\........................... Romans 8\.............................
Psalms 65\............................. 10-13................131, 143 1-15..........................116
5-8..............................79 10-15........................135 16-25..........................48
Psalms 68\............................. 12..............................127 22-30..........................25
1-3..............................90 2 137 23-25................131, 134
3 126 2] 21 28................................23
Psalms 70\............................. 9-12............................27 5-8..............................70
4 90 9-13....................44, 139 Timothy 2\.............................
Psalms 71\............................. 9-16............................76 14-16-19.....................27
14-15........................129 Romans 13\........................... Titus 1\..................................
14-24..........................53 1 27 1-2............................131
23-24b........................83 12-14........................137 1-4..............................51
Psalms 85\............................. 12b-14........................27 7-11, 13b-14...............12
4-6..............................77 7 105 Titus 2\..................................
Psalms 86\............................. Romans 14\........................... 11-14..........................57
11-12..........................93 1-3..............................27 2 136
4 80 13................................27 Titus 3\..................................
Psalms 89\.............................
16-17..........................27 1-8..............................57
15-17..........................93 16-19................112, 126 3-7............................116
Psalms 9\...............................
17................................83 Zechariah 9\..........................
1-2 & 11-14................75
Psalms 90\.............................
19................................27 9 87
13-19.........................70 Zephaniah 2\.........................
13-17..........................78
Romans 15\........................... 3 111
Psalms 97\.............................
10-12..........................94 1-2..............................27 Zephaniah 3\.........................
1-4 & 13.....................41 11-20..........................82
11..............................126
Psalms 98\............................. 1-6............................133
1-4..............................87 12-13..........................78
Revelation 1\......................... 13................................70
162
163