The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
May 20, 2020
Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-11
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. What is your favorite “rags to riches” story?
2. *What are some of the reasons we call people blessed or fortunate?

Explore It

1. *What are the purposes for which God’s Anointed was sent into the world? (61:1-3)
2. What adornments did Isaiah say God’s people would receive in exchange for “ashes,” “mourning,” and “a spirit of despair”? (61:3)
3. Why did God “plant” His people with great honor? (61:3)
4. What promise did God make concerning the cities that had been destroyed by invaders? (61:4)
5. How would the work force of Israel reflect its power and status? (61:5)
6. *Besides riches, what honor did Isaiah say God would bestow on all His people? (61:6)
7. How is the joy of God’s redeemed people contrasted with their present condition? (61:7)
8. What does God love? (61:8)
9. What does God hate? (61:8)
10. *What will the whole world understand about God’s people? (61:9)
11. How did Isaiah illustrate the honor and intimacy with which God will relate to His people? (61:10)
12. What did Isaiah portray as sprouting like seeds out of soil? (61:11)

Get It

1. *How would you characterize the sorts of people for whom the Messiah came?
2. How do you see the qualities of the Messiah listed in Isaiah 61 illustrated in the life of Jesus?
3. Why is blessing His people an effective way for God to display His splendor?
4. What would it signal about your status with the giver if you were to inherit a “double portion” in his or her will?
5. *Why is it important to God that all nations acknowledge Him?

Apply It

1. *In light of God’s attitudes and purposes, how do you plan to react to those around you this week who are grieving or despairing?
2. What creative idea could you suggest to leaders in your Sunday School or church for giving  special thanks to God for His generous blessings?

The Good News of Salvation

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
Struggling with Sin
May 13, 2020
Scripture: Romans 7:7-25
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. As a child, how did you respond to the commands given to you by your parents?
2. How do you tend to respond to authority?
3. *What sort of bad habits are hardest to break?

Explore It

1. What is the purpose of the Law? (7:7-8)
2. What bad effect does knowing the Law have on a person? (7:7-8)
3. When a person has no knowledge of the Law, what becomes of sin? (7:9)
4. *How does knowing the Law bring the possibility of death to a person? (7:9-11)
5. How does the Law put a person to death? (7:11)
6. What are the characteristics of the Law and the commandment? (7:12)
7. How does the awareness of the Law produce death in a person? (7:13)
8. *What did Paul share about his own attempts to follow the Law? (7:14-16)
9. *What did Paul blame for his continuing failure to do good? (7:17-20)
10. How did Paul describe his own struggle to do what was right? (7:21-23)
11. How did Paul describe himself and his situation? (7:24)
12. To whom did Paul turn for rescue from his agonizing situation? (7:24)
13. What division did Paul acknowledge in his own mind and nature? (7:24)

Get It

1. What are some of the various ways people respond to God’s law?
2. How can reading and understanding God’s law be discouraging to a person?
3. How can a Christian continue to commit sins even though God is his or her master?
4. *How have you experienced a struggle with sin similar to what Paul describes?
5. *What hope do we have of deliverance from sin here on earth?
6. How can we take hold of the power of Christ to overcome sin?
7. What should we do when we become discouraged and confused in our Christian lives?
8. How can knowing that God has achieved the ultimate victory over sin affect your prayers, thoughts, and attitudes?

Apply It

1. *How can you remind yourself each day this week of God’s victory over sin?
2. What recent struggle with sin do you need to hand over to God today?

 

Sin’s Advantage in the Law

⁷ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. ¹² Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Law Cannot Save from Sin

¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. ¹⁷ But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. ¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. ²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
No Confidence In The Flesh
May 6, 2020
Scripture: Philippians 3:1-11
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. *If you were to update your resume today, what recent accomplishment would you want to include?
2. What do you feel are your most valuable skills and gifts?
3. How do you feel when someone is better than you at something you do well?

Explore It

1. What did Paul call on believers to do? (3:1)
2. Why did Paul repeat essential truths to the Philippians? (3:1)
3. What did Paul say about certain false teachers? (3:2)
4. Whom did Paul identify as “true”? (3:3)
5. *What autobiographical facts did Paul give? (3:4-6)
6. In what sense was Paul not boasting, even though he was calling attention to his accomplishments? (3:7-9)
7. *Why did Paul view his former accomplishments as “rubbish”? (3:8)
8. *What was Paul’s status in Christ? (3:9)
9. What longings did Paul admit to the Philippians? (3:10-11)
10. What hope did Paul express? (3:11)

Get It

1. What sorts of things tend to draw you away from Christ?
2. *What do you usually boast about?
3. Why do we tend to base our worth as Christians on our performance?
4. *Why should our identity and confidence be in the Lord?
5. How is the Apostle Paul’s commitment to Christ an example to you?

Apply It

1. *What do you need to start counting as rubbish for the sake of Christ?
2. When you face struggles this week, how can you remember to rejoice rather than complain?

 

All for Christ

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

² Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship ^[a]God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, ⁴ though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain^[b] to the resurrection from the dead.

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
Unlawful Sexual Relations
May 6, 2020
Scripture: Leviticus 18:1-30
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. What makes people nervous about going on a blind date?
2. *What parts of American society exploit sex?

Explore It

1. Who did God say He was to the Israelites? (18:1-2)
2. Whose practices did God tell the Israelites not to follow? (18:3-4)
3. What happens to the man who obeys the laws of the Lord? (18:5)
4. Who was allowed to have sexual relations with close relatives? (18:6)
5. *What did God say about having sexual relations with one’s mother? (18:7-8)
6. What was God’s command to the Israelites regarding sex with one’s sister? (18:9)
7. Why were the Israelites not allowed to have sexual relations with grandchildren? (18:10)
8. Who is the daughter of “your father’s wife”? (18:11)
9. *What were the Israelites told about sexual relations with close relatives? (18:12-14)
10. Why were the Israelites not to have sex with daughters-in-law? (18:15)
11. Who is dishonored if an Israelite had sexual relations with his brother’s wife? (18:16)
12. What were some of the regulations regarding sexual relations? (18:17-20)
13. Whose name was profaned when children were sacrificed to Molech? (18:21)
14. What was considered detestable to the Lord? (18:22)
15. *With what were men and women told not to have sexual relations? (18:23)
16. Why did the Lord tell the Israelites not to defile themselves? (18:24-30)

Get It

1. How does God want to protect family members?
2. *What are some of the benefits of honoring God by making good sexual decisions?
3. How is sex such a powerful force in our society today?
4. In what way do God’s laws about sexuality and sexual relations promote a positive view of sexuality?
5. *What types of abuse go on in families who don’t honor God’s laws on sexuality?
6. What makes it important to talk to our children about their sexuality?
7. If people honored God with their bodies, what would they gain?
8. How does God want us to be different from the rest of our world?
9. What does God promise to those who confess their sins to Him?

Apply It

1. *How can you honor God today in the area of your sexuality?
2. Who is someone you can talk to this week to help you be accountable to make God-honoring sexual decisions?

 

Laws of Sexual Morality

18 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. ³ According to ^[a]the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ^[b]ordinances. ⁴ You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. ⁵ You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

⁶ ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord. ⁷ The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. ⁸ The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. ⁹ The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. ¹⁰ The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. ¹¹ The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. ¹² You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father. ¹³ You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. ¹⁴ You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. ¹⁵ You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. ¹⁶ You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. ¹⁷ You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. ¹⁸ Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.

¹⁹ ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity. ²⁰ Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her. ²¹ And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. ²² You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. ²³ Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.

²⁴ ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. ²⁵ For the land is defiled; therefore I visit^[c] the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. ²⁶ You shall therefore ^[d]keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you ²⁷ (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), ²⁸ lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. ²⁹ For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be ^[e]cut off from among their people.

³⁰ ‘Therefore you shall keep My ^[f]ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God.’ ”

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
God’s Wrath Against Mankind –
April 29, 2020
Scripture: Romans 1:18-32
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. *If God were to deliver a “state of the world” speech for all of us to hear, what do you think He would say?
2. How do people today distinguish between right and wrong?
3. Why do a high percentage of people today say they believe in God?

Explore It

1. *What is God’s response to the people who ignore and disobey Him? (1:18)
2. How does God reveal Himself to people? (1:19-20)
3. *What makes all people accountable to God? (1:20)
4. What is the primary problem people have in their relationship with God? (1:21)
5. What happens to the hearts and minds of people who reject God? (1:21-22)
6. When people deny God, what do they often put in His place? (1:21-23)
7. *How does God respond to people who ignore and deny Him? (1:24, 26)
8. How are attitudes toward sexuality affected when a person denies God? (1:24, 26-27)
9. What lie do people naturally believe by denying the truth? (1:25)
10. When thoughts of God are pushed out, what evil attitudes and actions replace them? (1:28-31)
11. Instead of fearing God, what attitude do people naturally have toward Him? (1:32)

Get It

1. What is the real barrier between us and God?
2. *How can God hold us responsible for breaking His laws?
3. How do people today suppress the truth about God?
4. In what ways is our thinking futile and our mind darkened?
5. *What examples can you list of how we worship created things rather than the Creator?
6. How common in our world are the specific sins listed in the passage?
7. What is God’s attitude toward promiscuous heterosexual activity and homosexuality?
8. How can God be so angry with us and still love us?
9. How does God want us to respond to Him?

Apply It

1. In what ways can you lessen your dependence on the things you are tempted to “worship” and serve more than God?
2. How can you glorify God and give thanks to Him this week?
3. *Who among your friends is caught in this trap of rejecting God and needs your prayers of intercession this week?

 

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who ^[a]suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is ^[b]manifest ^[c]in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and ^[d]Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like ^[e]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their ^[f]women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the ^[g]men, leaving the natural use of the ^[h]woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, ^[i]sexual immorality, wickedness, ^[j]covetousness, ^[k]maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ^31 [l]undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, ^[m]unforgiving, unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
August 10, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. What are some ways we label or categorize others?
2. Why is the belief in heaven and hell waning, while the belief in reincarnation becomes more popular?
3. *What are some common examples of separating clean from dirty, fresh from spoiled, or good from bad?

Explore It

1. How did Jesus describe His Second Coming? (25:31)
2. Where will all the nations be at Christ’s return? (25:32)
3. According to Jesus, how will the people of the earth be divided? (25:32-33)
4. How will Jesus divide humanity? (25:33)
5. *What will Jesus say to those on His right? (25:34-36)
6. Why will the group on Jesus’ right be blessed? (25:35)
7. *How will the “sheep” respond to Jesus’ words on that day? (25:37-39)
8. *What criterion will Christ use to judge people? (25:40)
9. What will Jesus say to the “goats” on His left? (25:41)
10. Why will the goats be judged? (25:42)
11. What will cause the goats to be judged? (25:42-43)
12. What defense will those on Christ’s left use to justify themselves? (25:44)
13. What will hell be like? (25:46)

Get It

1. *How do people usually determine whether they will be nice to somebody?
2. *How would your behavior change if you treated each person in your life as if he or she were Jesus?
3. In what way does this parable motivate you to tell your friends about Christ?
4. How would you counter the idea that this passage teaches salvation by good works?
5. What change does true faith make in a person’s life?
6. In what specific ways has your faith in Christ changed you?
7. Who are the needy people around you?
8. What resources do you have available to you for serving the needs of others?

Apply It

1. *What act of kindness or mercy toward the needy can you do today?
2. In what practical, realistic way can you begin today to treat each person you meet as though he or she were Jesus Himself?
3. Without being overbearing or pushy, how can you serve your non-Christian friends this week?

 

King James Version – Matt 25:31-46

The description of the last judgment

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
The Fellowship of the Believers
March 11, 2017
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. *What possessions do you have that you enjoy sharing with others?
2. Which of your belongings would you not want to share with anyone else? Why?
3. How would you describe your life-style: self-centered, family-centered, or others-centered?

Explore It

1. *What were the activities of the early church? (2:42)
2. How did the new believers approach what they did? (2:42)
3. *What unusual deeds did the apostles do? (2:43)
4. *How did people respond to what was going on? (2:43)
5. What life-style did the early believers adopt? (2:44-45)
6. Why might the early Christians have had “everything in common”? (2:44)
7. How were the goods distributed among the early believers? (2:45)
8. How often did the believers meet? (2:46)
9. Where did the early believers meet? (2:46)
10. How did the early Christians meet together? (2:46-47)
11. What did the Christians do when they met together in homes? (2:46-47)
12. What was the spirit of the believers in all they did? (2:46-47)
13. What was the growth of the early church like? (2:47)

Get It

1. What were the early believers actually doing when they “broke bread”?
2. How do the activities of the early church compare with the activities of your church?
3. *How do you think your church should be more like the early church?
4. *In what ways should your church be different from the early church? Why?
5. The early church was joyful, victorious, and full of praise. How would you describe the spirit of your church?
6. When do you most enjoy spending time with other believers?
7. Would you describe your church as self-centered or others-centered?
8. How is the celebration of Communion meaningful to you?
9. What “miracles” have you witnessed in your church fellowship?
10. In what ways do you see your church growing?

Apply It

1. *What can you do to help your church be more like the early church?
2. How can your daily prayers help bring about spiritual renewal in your church fellowship?

 

Acts 2:42-47 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ ^[a]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ⁴³ Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and ^[b]sold their possessions and goods, and divided^[c] them among all, as anyone had need.

⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added ^[d]to the church daily those who were being saved.

 

 

 

 

 

Believers Life Style Bible Study
September 2, 2017
The Dead Are Judged
Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. What is your favorite book? Why?
2. What is one time you remember getting in trouble as a child?

Explore It

3. What particular vision begins this portion of John’s revelation? (20:11)
4. How will creation react to the “great white throne” judgment? (20:11)
5. What will be the effect of God’s presence on “earth and sky” at the great white throne judgment? (20:11)
6. Where will the final judgment of all people take place? (20:11-12)
7. Who will be involved in the final judgment? (20:12)
8. What records will be used to judge everyone? (20:12)
9. How does God keep track of what people do in this life? (20:12)
10. On what basis will people be judged at the end of time? (20:12-13)
11. From what diverse places will the dead assemble for this judgment? (20:13)
12. What will happen to death and Hades? (20:14)
13. How did John describe the lake of fire? (20:14)
14. What will hell be like? (20:14)
15. What will happen to those whose names are not found in the Book of Life? (20:15)
16. Who will be thrown into the lake of fire? (20:15)

Get It

17. How does a person get his or her name recorded in the Book of Life?
18. How is it significant that earth and sky fled from the presence of the one seated on the throne of judgment?
19. What is the “lake of fire”?
20. What does it mean that death and Hades “were thrown into the lake of fire”?
21. What does it mean that “the lake of fire is the second death”?
22. What is the only way we can escape the lake of fire?
23. Who are the people whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life?
24. What is the value in knowing that we will be judged for the way we live?
25. Why should the certainty of future judgment affect the way we live?
26. How should the certainty of future judgment affect the way we live?

 

Apply It

27. What can you do to remind yourself of the reality of a future judgment?
28. What step do you need to take today to ensure that your name is written in the Book of Life?
29. How can you help a friend or family member avoid a future in the lake of fire?

 

King James Version – Rev 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Supporting Scripture:

“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thes. 1:9).

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6).

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:9).

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:10-11).

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever….And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10, 15).

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).

“Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup” (Psalm 11:6).

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14).

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24).

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Malachi 4:1).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
A Prophet Without Honor
July 8, 2017
Scripture: Matthew 13:53-58
Presented by Michael Webb

 Open It

1. What do you like best and least about your hometown?
2. What would your family say you were like as a little kid?
3. How would your high school or college friends react if they heard you were in a serious Bible study?
4. What former classmate has surprised you since you graduated from high school? Why?

Explore It

5. What did Jesus do when He finished telling His parables? (13:53)
6. Where did Jesus go? (13:54)
7. What did Jesus do in His hometown? (13:54)
8. Where exactly did Jesus preach? (13:54)
9. What was the public response to Jesus’ message? (13:54)
10. What kinds of questions were the folks in Nazareth asking? (13:55)
11. What family ties did the townspeople of Nazareth recognize Jesus as having? (13:55)
12. How did the people feel about “one of their own” saying wise things and doing amazing miracles? (13:57)
13. How did Jesus explain their reaction to Him? (13:57)
14. What did Jesus not do in Nazareth—at least in any great amount? Why? (13:58)
15. What caused Jesus to refrain from doing miracles in Nazareth? (13:58)

Get It

16. How would you react if a guy from your neighborhood started doing miracles and claiming to be God?
17. What are some ways we limit the work of Christ by our unbelief?
18. Why are we more often impressed by people we don’t know than by people we do know?
19. Why do we have a tendency to downplay the accomplishments of people we are close to?
20. How did your family react when you placed your trust in Christ?
21. In what ways do you struggle to live down your past?

Apply It

22. What are three things you need to trust Christ for in the coming week?
23. How can you strengthen your faith in Jesus during this time so that He can work in and through you?
24. What family members or old friends will you commit to visit or call in the next month to tell them about the change Christ is making in you?

 

Christ is condemned by His own countrymen

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

The Believers Life Style Bible Study
Presents
Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:11 – 6:2
November 5, 2016
Presented by Michael Webb

Open It

1. When have you seen someone change in a significant way?
2. What about you is most difficult for your acquaintances to understand or accept?

Explore It

3. Why did Paul try to persuade others to follow Christ? (5:11)
4. Why was Paul concerned about justifying his ministry to the Christians at Corinth? (5:12)
5. How were Paul’s opponents building themselves up at his expense? (5:12)
6. What motivated Paul? (5:14)
7. Why did Christ die for everyone? (5:15)
8. How did Paul change the way he looked at people? (5:16)
9. What is true about every person in Christ? (5:17)
10. What happened when God sent His Son to earth? (5:18)
11. What does God do with our sins when we are reconciled to Him? (5:19)
12. How is a Christian an ambassador? (5:20)
13. Why did Paul try to persuade the Corinthians to respond to God’s Word? (6:1)
14. Why should we listen carefully to the message about Christ? (6:1-2)

Get It

15. How do Christians sometimes take pride in ministries that give them attention and popularity?
16. How is it possible for us to be motivated both by the fear of the Lord and Christ’s love?
17. Why was it necessary for Christ to die in order for us to be reconciled to God?
18. In what ways do people today receive the grace of God in vain?
19. In what ways are all Christians new creations?
20. For what other Christians are you concerned?
21. How can you encourage your Christian friends to listen to God’s Word?
22. How did God make His reconciliation with you?
23. How can you personally be involved in the ministry of reconciliation?
24. What difference does it make that Christians are counted as Christ’s ambassadors?
25. Where is your ministry of reconciliation?
26. To whom are you an ambassador?

Apply It

27. What is one way you can represent Christ to your friends and coworkers this week?
28. What Christian friend can you encourage to listen to God’s Word? How?

 Scripture Text for Lesson:

 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NKJV)

 ¹¹  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
¹²  For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
¹³  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
¹⁴  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
¹⁵  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
¹⁶  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
¹⁸  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
¹⁹  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
²⁰  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
²¹  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.