by Rick Marin | Dec 20, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
Can condemned exiles win souls for Jesus?
(Daniel 3:13-30; 6:1-9; Esther 2:1-10; 3:1-15; 4:1-14; 9:1-12) Blog 17-23 Dec. 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God reaches out to save humanity and asks us to work with him for the salvation of others. We are to reach all classes of society in all parts of the world. This brings disciples into God’s church who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
In Exile
1. If you are an exile, refugee, prisoner, or condemned does that prevent you from reaching others for Jesus? No, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, & Paul all witnessed to the people of other nations who condemned or imprisoned them (Gen. 39:1-3, 20-22; Dan. 6:16; Est. 4:7; Phil. 4:22).
2. How did Joseph witness to his master, Potipher, in Egypt? Joseph served God & his master faithfully in everything even in not touching Potipher’s wife (Gen. 39:7-9).
3. When wrongfully cast into prison how did Joseph witness? In prison Joseph found favor with the prison keeper & was given charge of all the prisoners because God was with him. He also helped the prisoners in their trials (Gen. 39:21-23; 40:2-13).
4. When Daniel’s three friends were accused of breaking the king’s command how did they witness for the true God? They openly confessed the power of their God & their willingness to be loyal to him though it meant death (Dan. 3:17-18).
5. How had Daniel’s life under Darius influenced the king when Daniel was condemned to the lion’s den? King Darius spent all day trying to find a way to deliver Daniel from being cast into the lion’s den for he had observed Daniel’s excellent spirit (Dan. 6:3, 14).
6. While a prisoner in Rome did Paul cease being a witness to those around him? No, even some of Caesar’s household were converted to Christianity while Paul was a prisoner in Rome (Acts 28:16-17; Phil. 4:22).
At the Persian Court
7. What act of Mordecai brought his good behavior to the attention of King Ahasuerus? Mordecai reported & thwarted a plot against the king’s life (Est. 2:21-23; 6:1-3).
8. When Haman threatened to destroy all the Jews in Medo-Persia, what did Mordecai ask Esther to do? Mordecai asked Esther to go in before the king & request deliverance for her people (Est. 4:8).
9. What great problem did Esther face if she was to talk to the king? King Ahasuerus was holding court & the law of Medo-Persia decreed death to anyone who should interrupt him there (Est. 4:11).
10. How did Esther respond when Mordecai told her that it was likely she was in her position for the very reason of preserving her people? Esther responded by asking all the Jews in Shushan to fast & pray for three days & then she would enter the king’s court against the law, hoping to find mercy from him (Est. 4:16).
11. What may we conclude from the fact that the king showed mercy and extended his scepter to Esther when she entered his courtroom uninvited? We may conclude that Esther had always behaved respectfully to her husband, the king, & that he respected & loved her (Est. 5:1-3).
12. What resulted from Esther’s bravery as an intercessor for her people? By Esther’s bravery and tactfulness, the king was persuaded to make a way of escape for the Jews, Haman was hanged, Mordecai was made prime minister, the Jews were victorious over their enemies, & many people of the land became Jews (Est. 8:2, 8, 17; 9:1).
Lessons for the Displaced and Condemned
13. How did Joseph react when sold into slavery and confined to prison? Although very sad, Joseph determined to serve his God in every situation in which he found himself (Gen. 39:2, 21).
14. Did Daniel’s three friends resist arrest and being cast into the fiery furnace? No, rather they left us an example of non-resistance when falsely accused & they were honored of God giving witness to Nebuchadnezzar (Gen. 3:21).
15. What should we learn from Daniel’s response to the decree that Darius made? By continuing to pray before an open window three times a day, Daniel showed that his God was more to be feared than any earthly ruler (Dan. 6:10).
16. When condemned to death what did Mordecai and Esther do? They humbled themselves, sought deliverance from God, & made kindly petition to the king that their lives might be spared (Est. 4:1-3, 15-17; 5:3-4; 7:3-4).
17. Besides being a witness to Caesar’s household while a prisoner in Rome what other form of witness did Paul have? While a prisoner in Rome Paul wrote letters to the churches he had planted & these letters preserved in our Bibles have brought conversion & blessings to many in the ages that have followed (Eph. 4:1; 2 Tim. 1:8).
18. If condemned exiles can win souls for Jesus, what excuse do free people in their own homeland have for not witnessing? We have no excuse, but rather have every advantage to witness to others (especially to refugees & prisoners) (Est. 4:1-3, 15-17; 5:3-4; 7:3-4).
by Rick Marin | Dec 13, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
How can we overcome our fear?
(Matthew 8:10-13; 15:22-28; Mark 7:24-30; Acts 10:8-34) Blog 10-16 Dec. 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Just as God has reached out to us, we are to reach out to others. Church members prepare for mission by praying, counseling together, organizing, & agreeing on a Bible-based plan. God works with them to reach all classes of society in all parts of the world. This brings disciples into his church who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
Gospel Extension
1. How far did Jesus commission his disciples to extend their ministry? Jesus told his disciples to preach the gospel “unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Mar. 16:15; Acts 1:8).
2. To what regions closer to home did Jesus commission his disciples to witness? Jesus told his disciples to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, & Samaria before going to the uttermost part of the world (Acts 1:8).
3. What difficulties did the disciples have in witnessing in Jerusalem and Judea? Although filled with the Holy Spirit, doing miracles, & blessed with thousands of converts, the disciples were threatened, imprisoned, beaten, & killed by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem & Judea (Acts 4:21; 5:18, 40; 7:58; 8:1-3).
4. What difficulties did the disciples have in witnessing in Samaria? Although filled with the Holy Spirit, doing miracles, & blessed with attentive hearers, Philip, the deacon, together with Peter & John had to deal with Simon the sorcerer who for years had bewitched the people of Samaria (Acts 8:9, 22-23).
5. How did the Gospel first extend beyond Judea and Samaria? God told Philip to go south to the desert in Gaza where he evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch who carried the Gospel to his foreign homeland (Acts 8:35-37).
6. Who did God especially call to be a missionary to the Gentiles? God called Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:10-16; Gal. 2:7-8).
7. What difficulties did Paul have in witnessing to the gentiles? Although filled with the Holy Spirit, doing miracles, & blessed with converts, Paul experienced threatenings, imprisonment, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, hunger, & cold (2 Cor. 11:23-28).
8. What should we expect when carrying the Gospel to foreign cities? We should expect threats, persecution, mob riots, privations, & the opposition of evil spirits (Acts 8; 14; 16; 19; 21).
Gentile Cities
9. What did Jesus try to teach his disciples when he took them to the foreign cities of Phenicia? Jesus wanted his disciples to overcome their prejudice against non-Jews (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30).
10. What upset the disciples in Phenicia? The disciples were upset because a Syrophenician women kept asking Jesus for mercy (Matt. 15:22-23; Mark 7:27-30).
11. How did Jesus show the disciples that they should show mercy to those they despised? First Jesus pretended to ignore the Syrophenician woman as a demonstration of the disciples attitude toward foreigners, then he healed her daughter showing them that even foreigners can believe & be saved (Matt. 15:23-28; Mark 7:25-26).
12. How did the Syrophenician mother show her great faith? By persistently asking for mercy & acknowledging her unworthiness the Syrophenecian mother showed her great faith (Matt. 15:22-23; Mark 7:25-26).
13. What other prominent pagan also showed great faith in Jesus? The Centurion with a sick servant also showed great faith in Jesus (Matt. 8:8-10).
14. What prominent disciple needed repeated lessons to teach him not to regard foreigners as unclean? Peter needed a triple vision & the voice of the Holy Spirit to teach him that he should call no one common or unclean, for God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:8-20, 28, 34).
Our Mission to Foreign Cities
15. What motivated Jesus to reach out to the multitudes? It was Jesus’ love & compassion for humanity that led him to help the multitudes (Matt. 9:36).
16. When Jesus saw the multitudes scattered and fainting, for what did he tell us to pray? Jesus told us to ask God to send more workers to help gather people to himself (Matt. 9:37-38).
17. What attitudes of ours hinder God’s mission to foreign cities? Our fear of strange places, persecution, & privation is one factor that hinders outreach to foreign cities. Our lack of love for the Lord & for our fellow men is another. And our lack of faith in God’s resources is a third (Matt. 6:30; 10:25-31; Luke 18:8).
18. How can we overcome our fear, lack of love, and lack of faith so foreign cities can be reached? Only by looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith who suffered, bled, & died that we might live will we be enabled to reach out to foreign cities (Heb. 12:1-3).
19. If God desires people in foreign cities to believe on him, what will we carry to those cities? Since faith comes by hearing the Word of God, we must carry Bible truth to inspire faith in foreign cities (Rom. 10:13-17).
by Rick Marin | Dec 6, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
What did the Epicureans believe?
(Acts 17:10-34; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 2:2) Blog Dec. 3-9, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Church members prepare for mission by praying, counseling together, organizing, & agreeing on a Bible-based plan. God works with them to fill his church with disciples who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
Starting in a Strange City
1. When arriving in a new city where did Paul first begin to work? Almost always Paul began his ministry in a new city where the Jews gathered for Sabbath worship (Acts 13:5, 14, 46; 14:1; 16:13; 17:1-2, 10, 17).
2. After fleeing Thessalonica and Berea, where was Paul taken? Brethren took Paul to Athens in Greece (Acts 17:15).
3. What was Athens like? Athens was a metropolis filled with intelligent, cultured heathen who loved to spend their time telling or hearing new things. It had numerous works of art & culture & numerous gods (Acts 17:16, 21).
4. What motivated Paul to reach out to the unreached in Athens? Paul was stirred in his spirit by the masses wholly given over to idolatry & any mission to the unreached should start with an overwhelming sense of the need of the people to be reached (Acts 17:16).
5. Besides the Jewish synagogue where else did Paul begin his labors in Athens? Paul also spoke in the marketplace to those who would listen, including some Epicureans & Stoics (Acts 17:17).
6. Who accompanied Paul as he ministered in Athens? Paul worked alone in Athens, having only God & angels at his side (Acts 17:15; 1 Thes. 3:1).
7. What did the Epicureans believe? The Epicureans were materialists who believed that matter was eternal & had no creator, that God did not become involved in the affairs of men, that natural law made thing happen, & that the chief end of man was the avoidance of pain (Acts 17:18; The MacArthur Study Bible).
8. What did the Stoics believe? The Stoics were pantheists who believed that God was a part of everything & could not have created himself. They believed in self-mastery & that the goal of man was to reach a place of indifference to pleasure or pain (Acts 17:18; The MacArthur Study Bible).
An Invitation to Speak
9. When invited to speak on Mars’ Hill how did Paul begin? Paul began by speaking of the gods of the Athenians & of one they worshipped ignorantly (Acts 17:22-23).
10. How did Paul’s opening statement on Mars Hill catch the attention of the Athenians? The Athenians prided themselves on their intelligence & Paul caught their attention by referring to their ignorance (Acts 17:22-23).
11. How did Paul next appeal to the Athenians’ desire to hear some new thing? Paul told them about the God of whom they were ignorant (Acts 17:24-25).
12. When approaching unchurched pagans with what subject did Paul begin? While not attacking their religion, Paul began with the obviousness of creation by which we are all surrounded (Acts 14:15; 17:24; Rom. 1:19-22).
13. How then did Paul demonstrate the uselessness of all the Greek temples surrounding Mars’ hill? Paul argued that if God made all things & is Lord of heaven & earth then he needs no manmade temple to dwell in nor gifts to sustain him (Acts 17:24-25).
14. Who was Paul quoting when he said, “dwelleth not in temples made with hands”? Paul was quoting Stephen, from whom he learned the gospel (Acts 7:48; 17:24).
How to Approach the Unchurched
15. What is Paul saying in Acts 17:26-27? Paul is saying that no race of men is superior & all societies, including Athens, have their time & space limits, so all should seek to know his God who is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:26-27).
16. What is Paul doing in Acts 17:27-28? Paul is using the Athenians own cup to give them a drink of truth, for he quotes phrases from their own poets showing that if we are God’s offspring then he cannot be an inanimate idol for we are living, moving beings (Acts 17:27-28).
17. To what crucial point does Paul return in verse 30? Paul again highlights the ignorance of the Athenians but offers them hope in repenting of their errors & embracing the God he presents (Acts 17:30).
18. Why is Paul so concerned that the Athenians embrace the true God? Paul tells the Athenians that the true God has assigned a future day in which Jesus will judge every one of them in accord with his standard of righteousness (Acts 17:31).
19. In what way is the resurrection of Jesus a proof of a future, investigative judgment? By resurrecting Jesus, God acknowledges that his work of salvation for all men is complete thus making necessary a final examination to demonstrate who has accepted this salvation & who has not (Acts 17:31; Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:10)..
20. Why did many of the Athenians mock Paul when he mentioned the resurrection of the dead? The Greeks believed in the natural immortality of the soul & that matter was not necessary to continued living (Acts 17:32; 2 Tim. 1:10).
21. What can we learn about reaching unchurched pagans from Paul’s experience in Athens? Upon arriving in a new city we should survey the territory; find those of like faith; speak of Jesus to those who will listen; accept any invitation to speak to a larger audience; begin with points on which there is agreement; & tactfully lead your hearers to understand sin, righteousness, & judgment to come (Acts 17:16-34; John 16:8; Rom. 1:19-22).
by Rick Marin | Nov 29, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
By what means was Naaman healed?
(Daniel 4; 2 Kings 5:1-19; Matt. 19:16-22; Luke 19:1-10; John 3:1-12; 19:38-42) Blog: Nov. 26-Dec. 02, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: The mission of the church is to call everyone, be they friends or not, to come to Jesus Church members prepare for mission by praying, counseling together, organizing, & agreeing on a Bible-based plan. God works with them to fill his church with disciples who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
Employees and Prisoners
1. Who did God place in the court of Babylon as a witness to Nebuchadnezzar? God placed Daniel & his three friends in Nebuchadnezzar’s court as witnesses for the true God (Dan. 1:6).
2. Through what events did God try to win Nebuchadnezzar to himself? God used the dream of Daniel 2, the fiery furnace experience of Daniel 3, & the dream of Daniel 4 to bring the king to himself (Dan. 2, 3, & 4).
3. In what way was Daniel prepared to so quickly interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree? It was because Daniel believed God’s interpretation of the dream in Daniel 2 that he was able to interpret the dream of the tree so quickly (Dan. 4:19; 2 Chron. 20:20).
4. What was revealed in Daniel 2 that helped Daniel interpret the dream of the tree? God told Nebuchadnezzar that the birds & beasts were under his rule, that brass represented worldwide rule, that iron represented strength, & Daniel studied the book of Kings where kings are compared to trees (Dan. 2:38-40; 4:12, 15; 2 Kings 14:9).
5. What does Nebuchadnezzar’s seven-year insanity and recovery tell us about God? God can use extreme measures for the conversion of a soul (Dan. 4:33).
6. By what means was Nebuchadnezzar restored to sanity? It was by lifting the eye of faith to the God of heaven that Nebuchadnezzar was restored (Dan. 4:34; Psa. 123:1-4; Eph. 2:8).
7. Who did God supply as a witness to mighty Naaman in Syria? God provided a captive maid who only commented about God’s prophet in Samaria. She must have had a reputation for honesty (2 Kings 5:3).
8. By what means was Naaman healed from his leprosy? It was by faith in the word of God’s prophet that Naaman was healed (2 Kings 5:13-14; Luke 17:19).
9. What should we learn from the way both Nebuchadnezzar and Naaman were brought to faith in the true God? Both were brought to faith by the words of a captive employee. Those with powerful employers should take courage & speak boldly to their boss when an opportunity arises & prisoners with their jailers (Acts 4:31; Eph. 6:20).
10. How did Paul, the prisoner, win some of mighty Nero’s household to faith in Jesus? Paul must have been a living testimony in behavior & speech to those who guarded and visited him while a prisoner in Rome (Phil. 1:20; 4:22; 1 Cor. 9:22).
Religious Leaders
11. What brought Nicodemus to Jesus? The miracles that Jesus did prompted Nicodemus to go to Jesus (John 3:2).
12. Was Jesus a friend of Nicodemus before their night interview? No, friendship is not necessary before telling a person the truth about Jesus (John 3:1-2).
13. What did Jesus determine that the law-abiding Nicodemus needed? Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again: right doctrine alone will save no one (John 3:7; Phil. 1:15-16).
14. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus that he would have to do before he could be born again? Jesus told Nicodemus that he must believe in the crucified Savior in order to receive the Holy Spirit & be born again (John 3:14-18; Gal. 3:2, 14).
The Rich
15. Was Joseph of Arimathea already a believer in Jesus before Jesus was crucified? Yes, he is called “Jesus’ disciple” when he came to the cross (Matt. 27:57; John 19:38).
16. Why is it so hard for rich people to follow Jesus? Those who are rich usually trust in their riches rather than in God (Matt. 13:22; 19:21-26; 1 Tim. 6:17).
17. How did Zaccheus demonstrate that he believed in Jesus? Zaccheus showed his faith by his works for he gave half his wealth to the poor & to anyone he had cheated he returned fourfold (Luke 19:8-9; Jam. 2:17-18)
18. Did Jesus have many friends among the mighty? No, most of Jesus’ friends were humble fishermen or despised women (John 15:14; 1 Cor. 1:26).
by Rick Marin | Nov 18, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
Who is my neighbor?
(Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 3:19-23; 1 John 4:20-21) Blog Nov. 12-18, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God calls every believer in Jesus to invite others to come and see the love of God expressed for them. What God did for us in Jesus is their message. They prepare for mission by praying, counseling together, organizing, & agreeing on a Bible-based plan. God works with them to fill his church with disciples who fellowship together and continually desire to learn more about God.
A Serious Question
1. When a lawyer asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life, how did Jesus respond? Jesus pointed the lawyer to what was written in the law (Luke 10:25-26).
2. What does the law have to do with eternal life? God gives eternal life to those who obey him (Gen. 2:17; Lev. 18:5; Eze. 20:11; Luke 10:28; Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:12).
3. Was the lawyer correct when he said that love to God and to one’s neighbor is what God requires in order to inherit eternal life? Yes, Jesus commended him for giving the right answer, for love is the fulfilling of the law (Luke 10:28; Rom. 13:10; Gal. 5:14; 2 John 6).
4. How much love does God require in order that we might obtain eternal life? Moses, David, Micah, Jesus, & Paul all agree that God requires perfect obedience in order to inherit eternal life: to become children of God (Deut. 28:9; Psa. 15:1-2; Mic. 6:8; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 2:13).
5. Who then can be saved if we all fall short of perfect obedience? Eternal life is a gift from God for in Jesus he has given humanity a perfect human obedience, even perfect love ((Matt. 5:17; Luke 18:18-27; Rom. 3:19-23; 1 John 5:11-12).
A Serious Command
6. If believers in Jesus have perfect obedience to the law in Jesus their Substitute, should they care about showing love to their neighbors? They most assuredly should, for since they have salvation in Jesus they are now free to occupy themselves in saving others (John 14:15; Gal. 3:25-26).
7. What attitude do believers in Jesus have towards the law of God? Believers love God’s law & meditate on it continually because they love God who first loved them (Psa. 119:97; Rom. 7:12; 1 John 4:10-11).
8. If believers love God and his law, what will this motivate them to do? Those who love God & his law will put forth diligent effort to obey his commands & demonstrate his love to God & to others (Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:11, 20-21).
9. In Luke 10, how did Jesus show who our neighbor is? With the story of the good Samaritan Jesus shows us that anyone we meet with a need is our neighbor (Luke 10:30-37).
A Serious Response
10. When someone asks a question that may seem like an attack, how should we respond? We should use every question, whether sincere or not, as an opportunity to reach a soul for Jesus. We should point to Scripture for the answer, so God’s Spirit has access to the heart of the questioner (Luke 10:26; 2 Tim.3:16; 1 Pet. 3:15).
11. From the story of the good Samaritan, what should we learn about relating to others in need? We should learn to overcome our prejudices. The ethnicity of the person, the seriousness of the need, or their social distance from us may make us think that it is not our duty to help (Luke 10:30-37).
by Rick Marin | Nov 8, 2023 | 2023 4th Quarter
Why did Jesus rebuke his disciples_
(Luke 24:1-49; Acts 1:12-26; 2:1-41; 1 Corinthians 11:1) Blog Nov. 5-11, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God calls every believer in Jesus to leave their comfort zone and invite others to come and see the love of God expressed for them. What God did for us in Jesus is their message. By willingly submitting to God’s call, they go where he wants them to go and say what he wants them to say to whom he sends them. God works with them to fill his church with disciples who continually desire to learn more about God.
Informed Faith
1. When did Jesus’ disciples begin to grasp the depth of their message to the world? When they grasped the meaning of Christ’s resurrection the disciples began to grasp the depth of their message to the world (Matt. 17:9; 26:31-32; Mark 9:9-10; John 2:19-22; Acts 2:29-32; 17:2-3; 1 Cor. 15:14-17).
2. What did the women that came to Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning demonstrate? The women demonstrated that while they loved Jesus, they either did not understand or didn’t believe God’s prophets nor Jesus’ own words (Luke 24:1-3).
3. What did the women tell Christ’s disciples when they came running from the empty tomb? The women told the disciples what the two angels told them: that Jesus was risen just as he had promised (Luke 24:4-9).
4. How did the disciples receive the report from the women that said Jesus was resurrected? The disciples thought the women were making up stories & did not believe them (Luke 24:11).
5. What was Jesus’ response to two unbelieving disciples on the road to Emmaus? Jesus rebuked the unbelieving disciples for not believing what the prophets had spoken (Luke 24:25-26).
6. When Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples why did he rebuke them? Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief, their hardness of heart, for not believing the women, & for not recognizing his mission as foretold in the Old Testament (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:44-46).
7. What should these stories about those who first heard of Christ’s resurrection teach us about preparation for mission? These stories should teach that we cannot go out to evangelize others until we have first believed in the risen Christ & understand why he had to die & what his resurrection signified (Matt. 16:21; Acts 13:32-34; Rom. 4:24-25; 10:9).
Putting Things in Order (mutual agreement: no meetings – just sheets – right in his own eyes)
8. Upon returning to Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension what did the disciples do first? They gathered in the upper room (Acts 1:12-13).
9. What does Luke mean when he writes “These all continued with one accord”? The 120 believers gathered in the upper room must have counseled together & agreed on how to face the future (Josh. 1:2; Acts 1:14; 15:25).
10. For what were the 120 believers in the upper room praying? Most likely their prayers were thanksgiving for a resurrected Savior, for the forgiveness of their unbelief, for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, for wisdom on how to proceed, & for boldness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus (Acts 1:14; 4:24-30; Zech. 10:1; Jam. 1:5).
11. With what other activity did the disciples in the upper room occupy themselves as they waited for the gift of the Spirit? The disciples occupied themselves with church organization: with choosing a new leader to replace Judas (Acts 1:15-26).
12. On what basis did Peter stand up and initiate the selection of a replacement for Judas? Peter, as recognized leader of the early church moved to choose a replacement for Judas based on Holy Scripture (Acts 1:20; Psalm 69:25; 109:8).
13. What should the events in the upper room teach us about preparation for mission? They demonstrate the need to pray, to counsel together, to organize, & to agree on a Bible-based plan before entering our mission (Prov. 15:22; 1 Cor. 14:40; Rom. 10:13-15; Jam. 1:5).
14. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost did the disciples wait for further instructions from heaven? No, they already knew that they were to be witnesses to the wonderful works of God & immediately proclaimed the gospel of Christ’s life, death, & resurrection (Acts 2:1-40; 1 Cor. 11:1).
15. What activities strengthened the new believers in the early church? The believers were baptized, continued learning doctrine, fellowshipped & prayed with other believers, helped one another economically, & continually praised God while observing his miracles (Acts 2:41-47).
Motivation
16. What motivated the disciples of Jesus to leave their comfort zones and go on missions? Primarily Jesus’ love for them moved the disciples into mission service. Next, their love for Jesus prompted them to serve. Finally, their love for others motivated them to go in search of lost human beings (1 Cor. 10:33; 2 Cor. 5:13-15; 1 John 4:10-11, 19).
17. How can we develop a love for Jesus? Only by contemplating what Jesus has done for us can we develop a love for him (John 17:3; Rom. 5:6-8).
18. What can we learn about preparation and motivation for mission from what we studied this week? We have often each done what was right in his own eyes without counseling, organizing, & agreeing on a mission strategy. Let’s apply what we have learned (Acts 1:14-26).
