BARNABAS

FELLOWSHIP

Biblical Encouragement in the name of Jesus Christ

P.O. BOX 158

VICTOR, NY 14564

TOPICAL

BIBLE

STUDIES

Rev. Gene Mullen                                                        8/08        

SALVATION

John 3:16, 18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that            whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  Whoever believes       in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already      because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

John 1:12,13 “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave       the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of           human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still             sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ       Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 10:10-13 “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is `     with your mouth that you confess and are saved.   As the Scripture says, "Anyone       who trusts in him will never be put to shame."   For there is no difference between            Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on             him,   for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Ephesians 2:8.9 “ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not          from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

BIBLE STUDY

1.Who is a sinner?_________________________________________________________

2.Who is condemned for their sin?___________________________________________

3.What are the wages of sin?________________________________________________

4. Who is not condemned for their sin?________________________________________

5. What did God’s Son, Jesus Christ, do to secure our salvation?____________________

_______________________________________________________________________

6. What can we do to deserve or earn our salvation?______________________________

7. What must we do to be saved?_____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

            SINNERS’ PRAYER

Dear God, I confess I am a sinner who has broken your law and deserve your eternal wrath.  I repent of my sin.  Please forgive me.  I believe that Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin.  I confess Jesus as my Lord.  Give me strength to live for Him.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

John 10:27-29 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

            I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out    of my hand   My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one          can snatch them out of my Father's hand.”

Romans 8:1,2:  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ        Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from      the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:38,39:  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor         demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor    depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love       of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will            carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I Peter 1:5: “who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the            salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I John 1:6: “ If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and   do not live by the truth.”

I John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and    purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him       out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.   My dear children, I write         this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who             speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

I John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so       that you may know that you have eternal life.”

BIBLE STUDY

1- Who are Jesus’ sheep?___________________________________________________

2.  Which of the following reactions describe the biblical view of what happens when a   believer sins?

            A. He has lost his salvation and needs to be saved again.____________

            B. He can ignore his sin because he has eternal security._____________

            C. He has offended his God and strained his fellowship with Him.______

3. These Scriptures tell us that Jesus, Himself, protects believers from losing their           salvation.  Why then do some Christians believe you can lose your salvation?

_______________________________________________________________________

4. What according to I John 1:6 is the consequence of a Christian’s sin?______________

________________________________________________________________________

5. I John 1:9  instructs us that even as Christians, we will still sin.  How are we as           believers to deal with our sin?

                                          _________________________________________________

LORDSHIP

Psalm 37:4-5: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your          heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:”

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things         will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and         with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest   commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

            All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."”

Luke 6:46: “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”

Luke 14:27: “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my           disciple.”

John 8:31: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,      you are really my disciples.”

John 14:15,21: "If you love me, you will obey what I command.  Whoever has my   commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be         loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he    will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Romans 12:1,2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your      bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of           worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be        transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and          approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,        who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you            were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. List the action verbs in the above verses that indicate what our attitude toward the Lord         should be.  (Example: delight, commit,etc.)

________________________________________________________________________

2. Matthew 22:37-40 says that loving God is the most important commandment.  How do         we show our love for God?

                                                            __________________________________________

3. What plan do I have for “holding to Jesus’ teaching”,  John 8:31 ? (Bible study)

________________________________________________________________________

4. What must I do differently to make my body a more suitable “temple of the Holy       Spirit”?

                        ____________________________________________________________

GOD’S WILL

Deuteronomy 29:29:  “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things          revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the    words of this law.”

Romans 12:1,2 “1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your   bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of           worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be        transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and          approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Ephesians 1:11 “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the      plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”

Ephesians 5:17 “ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”

Phillipians 1:9,10  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in     knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best         and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,”

I Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid     sexual immorality;”

I Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in        Christ Jesus.

I Peter 2:13-15 “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted            among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who      are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do          right.  For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

I Peter 4:19 “So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves             to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us that there are certain secret things in God’s will they we will not know but the important things are “revealed’ to us.  Where do we find the revealed will of God?

            ____________________________________________________

2.According to Ephesians 5:17 what is the opposite of doing God’s will?

______________________________________________________________________

3.According to Romans 12:1,2 how do we test and approve God’s will?

______________________________________________________________________

4.What Bible verses say the following are examples of doing God’s will:

            Avoiding sexual immorality______________________________

            Giving thanks in ALL circumstances________________________

            Submitting to civil authority_______________________________

5. According to Philippians 1:9, 10 how do we prepare ourselves to discern what is BEST not just good?

                        __________________________________________________________   

GOD’S FORGIVENESS

Psalm 32:5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said,   "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my        sin. Selah”

Psalm 103:12 “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our          transgressions from us.”

Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and     renounces them finds mercy.”

Hebrews 4:15,16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our             weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we            are--yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with         confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of             need.”

I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and    purify us from all unrighteousness”

I John 2:1 “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody      does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the           Righteous One.”

BIBLE STUDY

1- How do we become free from guilt?­­­­­­­­­________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2.What happens if we do not repent and confess our sins?_________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3. Who is our “Defence Attorney” when we sin? ________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

4- I have asked God to forgive me for:_________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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FORGIVING OTHERS

Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I   forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus          answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Luke 17:3,4 “So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents,     forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes      back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are           doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as   in Christ God forgave you.”

Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have      against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

BIBLE STUDY

1- Why should we forgive others? ________________________________________

2- How do we receive forgiveness of sins?__________________________________

3- I need to forgive the following people:  (list why)__________________________

__________________________________________________________________

COMMENTS

1- Forgiveness is not a feeling.  Forgiveness is an act of faith and faith is not based on    feelings.

2-Forgiveness is not forgetting.  You can forgive someone and still not trust him until you            see fruit that gives evidence of a changed person.  Forgiveness does not mean you   have to give a person another opportunity to take advantage of you.  However,         sincere forgiveness can restore a relationship.

3- Forgiveness does not elimninate the consequences of a sin.  The person seeking        forgiveness must repent and seek appropriate restitution.  The person giving          forgiveness may not receive an appropriate act of repentance or restitution, but       still must forgive and leave it in the Lord’s hands.  We can still forgive and hold people responsible.

4. Failing to fogive will eat a person up.  It leads to bitterness and self-pity

5- We forgive because Christ forgave us.  You will not experieince forgiveness for         yourself or really understand forgiveness until you have repented of your sins and       believed in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And     God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But    when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up         under it.”

II Corinthians 2:14 “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession     in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of         him.”

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the           sinful nature.”

James 1:13-15 “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God           cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted   when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire        has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to      death.

I John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one    who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

I John 5:3-4 “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not        burdensome,  for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory           that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

BIBLE STUDY

1- According to James 1:13-15, where does temptation begin and how does it grow?

____________________________________________________________________

2.What promises and helps has God given us to resist temptation?_________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. What is our responsibility in resisting temptation?___________________________

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NOTE: Only those who have assurance of Christ in them (I John 4:4) have God’s power within them.

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Read Matthew chapter 4 and see how Jesus resisted temptation.  List His key words:

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THE CHURCH

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with          them."

John 13:34,35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so      you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if        you love one another."

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the             breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of            Christ.”

Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some     to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  to prepare God's people   for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach      unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,             attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave        himself up for her”

Colossians 1:18, 24 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and    the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the      supremacy.  Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh         what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body,          which is the church.”

Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,     but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day            approaching.”

BIBLE STUDY

1.  Since Christ is the HEAD of the church, what should be our commitment to the church?

            _______________________________________________________

2. According to Ephesians 411-13, what is the purpose of the gifts Christ has given to the church?

            _____________________________________________________________

3. According to Acts 2:42, what are the activities of a church to be? ______________

___________________________________________________________________

4. How are the members of a church supposed to relate to one another?____________

___________________________________________________________________

5.  What Scripture says we are to meet together regularly?______________________

THE BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD

Jeremiah 36:2  "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you      concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking      to you in the reign of Josiah till now.”

Matthew 5:18  “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest       letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law             until everything is accomplished.”

II Timothy 3:16,17  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,     correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the man of God may be          thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

I Peter 1:25  “but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was        preached to you.”

II Peter 1:21  “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from    God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Revelation 22:18,19  “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in   this book.  And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will      take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are        described in this book.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. What makes the Bible different from all other books? ______________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. According to Matthew 5:18, what did Jesus say to those who believe the Bible has errors?

            _____________________________________________________________

3. What did the Lord say in Revelation 22:18,19 would happen to those who add or subtract words from the Bible?

                                                ____________________________________________

4. What is the purpose of studying the Bible?

                                                                        _________________________________

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SUMMARY

We believe the Bible is God’s holy word, that both the Old and New Testaments in their entirety are given by Divine inspiration.  We believe that God so directed the human authors, that without destroying their individuality, literary style or personal interests, they recorded God’s complete revelation to man in words without error in the original manuscripts.  The Bible is therefore the supreme authority for faith and practise.

MEMORIZING THE WORD

Joshua 1:8  “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day   and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will          be prosperous and successful.”

Psalm 19:8-11  “The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The   commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the       LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and    altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;      they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant      warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 119:11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 119:105  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:97  “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

Colossians 3:16  “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.”

Hebrews 4:12  “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged             sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges     the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

DEFINITIONS

LAW-In general, it refers to any part of the Bible that reveals God’s Holiness and mankind’s sinfulness in order to have us seek forgiveness through the blood of Christ.

PRECEPTS- Principles intended to produce action based on God’s word, the Bible.

            Example:  “Love not the world” because we are to grow in holiness.

COMMANDS-That part of God’s law that demands absolute obedience.

            Examples:  the Ten Commandments

ORDINANCES- regulations and ceremonies designed to help us focus on our relationship with the Lord.

            Example:  Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

MEDITATES- Dwells on a verse by going over it time and again in your mind and         thinking about the meaning of every word

ADMONISH-Using the truth of God’s word to shed light on a person’s situation. 

HOW TO MEMORIZE A VERSE

1-First memorize the reference:  JOHN 3:16.  Say the reference at the beginning and the            end of quoting the verse.

2-Next, break the verse into sections and learn each section at a time.  Move on to the next section only after you have the previous section firmly memorized.

3-Repeat, repeat and repeat saying the verse until it becomes part of you.

ADVERSITY

Job 1:21 “And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered    the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

            Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no             one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and             shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him     to ruin him without any reason."  "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give     all he has for his own life.”

Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Romans 5:3,4 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that     suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character,       hope.”

Romans 8: 28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

II Corinthians 4:8,9 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but     not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

II Corinthians 4: 16,17 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and      momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them     all.”

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

            Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not    lacking anything.”

I Peter 1:6-8 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had   to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith--of greater      worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved    genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him         now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”

I Peter 4:19 “So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves             to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. What is to be the Christian’s reaction to suffering?__________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. What good can come from enduring adversity?_____________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. Why does I Peter 1:6 refer to earthly suffering as “for a little while”?

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GOD’S DIVINE CARE

Psalm 34:19  “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him          from them all;”

Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the    righteous fall.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right   hand.”

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass       through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,     you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give       you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble     in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy and my    burden is light."

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you             have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

BIBLE STUDY

1.It is natural for Christians to have fears, anxieties and troubles.  What promises has God given us to comfort us in the midst of these trials.    

                                                                                    ____________________________

___________________________________________________________________                     

2. I need to go to the Lord to give Him the concerns of my heart that I have listed below:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3.  Realizing the Lord is with me, what steps can I take to handle the problems I have listed above?

                        ________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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PRAISE AND PRAYER TO GOD

II Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves         and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from         heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Psalm 50:23 “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so     that I may show him the salvation of God."

Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;”

Psalm 69:30,31 “I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

            This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and     hoofs.”

Psalm 106:1 “Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:8 “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful   deeds for men,”

John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and           petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually;  give thanks in all       circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may             receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

James 4:2,3 “You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have            what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask       God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. What things could keep our prayers from being heard?          _______________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2. What should be our attitude when we pray?_________________________________

3. Praise is telling God how great He is.  What words can you use to describe God’s greatness?

            ______________________________________________________________

4.  Make a list of things to give thanks for and of people who need your prayers:

___________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

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GENEROSITY

I Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only     what comes from your hand.”

Proverbs 3:9,10 “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

            then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with      new wine.”

Proverbs  11:24,25 “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds            unduly, but comes to poverty.   A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes     others will himself be refreshed.”

Acts 20:35 “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help             the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed       to give than to receive.'"

II Corinthians 9:6,7 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,        and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.   Each man should give           what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Ephesians 4:28 “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing        something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with          those in need.”

BIBLE STUDY

1.The idea of firstfruits is to give to the Lord His share before all of the harvest (income) is received.  How can you apply this principle to your life?

                                                                                                _______________________

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2. Why are we to give generously to the Lord’s work?__________________________

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3.  Why are we to help the weak?__________________________________________

4. How can you give to the Lord by helping others in ways that don’t require money?

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NOTE:  Ephesians 4:28 instructs us that it is not enough just to replace sinful habits with hardwork and earn our own keep. but we are to also earn so we can help others.

HUMILITY

Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take            advice.’

Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 22:4 “Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.”

Proverbs 29:23 “A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”

Isaiah 66:4 “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?"            declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in            spirit, and trembles at my word.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in    me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and     gave himself for me.”

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

James 4:6,10 “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the   proud but gives grace to the humble."  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and         he will lift you up.”

    BIBLE  STUDY

DEFINITIONS:

Humility = The strength to follow the instructions of the Bible out of a love for God.

            It is based on a desire to be totally identified with the Lord in all things.

            Humility is controlled strength not a weakness and not a fear of others.

Pride = The weakness of putting self first even ahead of God.  It is based on a desire to             find significance and importance in self rather than  in the Lord.

1. What is the opposite of humility?________________________________________

2. What does pride produce in a person?____________________________________

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3. What does godly humility produce in a person?_____________________________

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4 What did the Apostle Paul mean when he said in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ”?

            ______________________________________________________________

HONESTY

Proverbs 11:1,3 “The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.......The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are    destroyed by their duplicity.”

Proverbs 12:13,17 “An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes             trouble......A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings            healing.”

Proverbs 12:22 “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.”

Matthew 5:37  “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this        comes from the evil one.”

Romans 12:17 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the       eyes of everybody.”

II Corinthians 4:2 “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use     deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth    the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of        God.”

Colossians 3:9 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its      practices”

Hebrews 13:18 “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to     live honorably in every way.”

I Peter 2:12 “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of         doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits            us.”

BIBLE STUDY

1.What is the Lord’s reaction to those who lie or cheat?

                                                                                                _______________________

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2. Why does the Lord condemn lying and cheating when it seems everybody does it?

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3. Since overcoming the temptation to lie and cheat is a sign of spiritual growth, why is this so hard for so many people?

                                                            ________________________________________

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4.Pray for the Lord to show you any area of your life that needs improvement in the matter of integrity.  Memorize Colossians 3:9.

OUR HEARTS

Psalm 44:20,21 “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a     foreign god, would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the     heart?”

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Psalm 139:23.24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious   thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way       everlasting”.

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can   understand it?”

Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require    of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Matthew 23:12 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles           himself will be exalted.”

Mark 7:20-23 “He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'

            For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft,            murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and          folly.All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

BIBLE STUDY

1. Jeremiah 17:9 lets us know we all start life with a sinful heart and it is beyond our ability to change it.   How can we “cure” our hearts?

                                                                                    ____________________________

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2.  How are we to guard our hearts?________________________________________

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3. When we become aware of our sin, what steps should we take to cleanse our hearts?

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4. Psalm 44:21 tells  us that God knows the secrets of our hearts.  Pray Psalm 139: 23,24 to the Lord.

OUR TONGUES

Proverbs 12:18,25 “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing......An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him         up.”

Proverbs 13:3 “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will           come to ruin.”

Proverbs 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

Ephesians 4:15 “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into         him who is the Head, that is, Christ.’

Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only         what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit        those who listen.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

James 3:7,8 “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being            tamed and have been tamed by man,  but no man can tame the tongue. It is a       restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

I Peter 3:10 “For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from            evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. Have you ever been wounded by reckless words?  As you think about it, how could the

person have made his point  without being so aggressive?

                                                                                                ______________________

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2.How can we “season” our conversation with God’s grace?

                                                                                                ______________________

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3. What blessings from God are there for all who speak wisely?

                                                                                                            _________________

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4. Think of someone who needs a kind word and share it with him.

NOTE:  Ephesians gives us two principles:

            A- Speak the truth in love.

                 It is not enough to speak the truth but to do so in LOVE!

            B- Speak only those words which build others up.

                 This applies to confronting people with wrongful behavior as well as

                  encouraging those who are doing right.

ANGER

Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Proverbs 16:32  “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper       than one who takes a city.”

Proverbs 19:19 “A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will      have to do it again.”

Proverbs 22:24,25 “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,”

Proverbs 29:22 “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits          many sins.”

Mark 3:5 “He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn      hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand   was completely restored.”

Ephesians 4:26,27 "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are    still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

James 1:19,20 “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,     slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about            the righteous life that God desires.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. Sometimes anger is justified (Mark 3:5) and it is not always sinful (Ephesians 4:26,27).

How are we to handle our anger?

                                                _____________________________________________

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2. What should be our reaction when we encounter an angry person?

                                                                                                            _________________

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3. What is the results of a person who cannot control his temper? ________________

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4. Make a list of things that make you angry and ask the Lord to help you  overcome them.  Memorize Proverbs 15:1.

GUILT

Psalm 38:3,4 “Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no       soundness because of my sin.  My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too            heavy to bear.”

Psalm 103:11,12 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our   transgressions from us.”

Romans 5:9-11 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!   For if, when we were God's enemies,   we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having         been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we        also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now            received reconciliation.”

Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ             Jesus,”

I Timothy 1: 12-16 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he       considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.  Even though I was once a       blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I           acted in ignorance and unbelief.  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me             abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.   Here is a         trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the             world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was            shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his             unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive             eternal life.”

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty             of breaking all of it.”

I John 1:8,9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in      us.   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and           purify us from all unrighteousness.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. If you are a Christian and are dealing with guilt for sins committed before you were saved ask yourself  these questions:

            A- Have I confessed them, apologized to anyone offended and made restitution?

            B- Have I trusted in the blood of Christ for forgiveness?

            C- Am I able to forgive others who offend me?

If you are still dealing with this kind of guilt,  list any problems you feel are unresolved and take the above steps.  I need to deal with........

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2.Since Christians still sin after salvation, how are we to handle the guilt from those sins?

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Underline those words in the above verses which assure us of deliverance from guilt.

SEX

Proverbs 6:24 “keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the       wayward wife.”

Matthew 5:28 “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already         committed adultery with her in his heart.”

I Corinthians 5:9 “ I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral    people--”

I Corinthians 6:18-20 “18  Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not      know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have        received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore             honor God with your body.”

I Corinthians 7:9 “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is            better to marry than to burn with passion.”

I Thessalonians 4:3 “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid     sexual immorality;”

II Timothy 2:22 “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.”

Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for     God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. Is there ever a case where sex outside of marriage is allowed by God?_____________

2. What was Timothy’s advice when faced with sexual temptation (II Timothy 2:22)?

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3.What does it mean, your body is not your own?_____________________________

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4. What is God’s opinion of people living together outside of marriage?_____________

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5. What is the best way to avoid the sexual temptations of television, movies, books and

the internet?

                        _________________________________________________________

6. What commitment are you willing to make to God for sexual purity?____________

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WORTHLESSNESS

Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who    loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor       demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor      depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love    of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of            yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober     judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

I Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was       not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace       of God that was with me.”

Philippians 3:13,14 “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But      one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

            I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me     heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

II Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love   and of self-discipline.”

I Peter 1:18,19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or        gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from       your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or      defect.”

BIBLE STUDY

1. Which of the following is true for a Christian?

            A- My worth is based on my money.                                        _________

            B- My worth is based on my influence over others.                    _________

            C- My worth is based on my possessions.                                 _________

            D. My worth is based on my relationship with Christ.     _________

2. What is meant by the phrase, “We are more than conquerors”? ________________

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3. What specific gifts do we receive from God that gives us worth?________________

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4. What prize are we to pursue? __________________________________________

5. What was the price paid by Christ to give us worth in Him?____________________

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