Prayer

Re-affirming our Faith

1. Read : 2^nd Samuel 7: 18-29, 1^st Kings 8:22-54,
1^st Chronicles 29: 10-19, Matthew 6: 5-13, Luke 18:1, Romans 8: 26&27, Jude 24&25
2. The Basics
     A. What is prayer?
     B. When do we pray?
     C. Where do we pray?
3. The process
     A. Where do we find the words?
     B. How do we pray?
     C. Who do we pray for?
     D. What do you pray for?
4. The Questions
     A. Will God hear our prayers?
     B. Does God answer prayers?
     C. How do we know?
The Challenge
     A. This week, pray for every single person on one of the following lists:
a. your face book friends list     d. the church directory
b. those on your cell phone        e. members of your club
c. your Christmas card list         f. members of your lodge
     B. What was it like to pray for all these people?
     C. Did you notice anything as a result of these prayers?

(an independent Study)

Week 8, Prayer

 

The answers for week 7 were all personal observations.

Service

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 7, Service

1. Read: 1^st John 3: 17-18 and John 13: 33-17
2. Serving
A.We are called to serve in word and deed. Which method do you feel most comfortable using?
B. How do you serve others?

3. Being served
A. What does it mean to be served?
B. Do you allow others to serve you?4. Together
A. How does your congregation work together in serving others?
B. What is your roll in this service?

5. Individually
A.  As Christians, we are called to serve others. Who do you serve?
B. How do you determine who you will serve?
　
　
　
　
　
　

　

Week 6, Worship / Why Church

　Answers

2.Tools
A.the  lectionary is a three year schedule of readings
B. using a lectionary helps people walk through the Bible without focusing in only one reading or concept.
C. the seasons of the church year: I. Advent, II. Christmas, III. Epiphany, IV. Lent V. Easter, VI Pentecost, VII. Ordinary Time
D. we observe the seasons to help us walk though the life of Christ
E. the colors and symbols of the seasons include: I. Advent, Purple, Candles wreaths II. Christmas, White, candles III. Epiphany, green, light, star, wise men IV. Lent Purple, lamb, V. Easter, White, lily empty cross, empty tomb VI Pentecost, red, dove, flame VII. Ordinary Time, green, crown
F. What are some other symbols of our faith? Various crosses, the fish

3. Worship
A. worship is the praising and glorifying of God
B. attending formal “church” services helps to strengthen the community and is a place to support one another in our faith journeys.worship is the praising and glorifying of God
C. Do we “worship” outside our churches? If so, where and how? (this is a personal observation)
D. What are the parts of meaningful worship? Are these the same for everyone? (this is a personal observation)

4. The Trinity
A. The Trinity is God in the form of the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit..

B. How do you experience God the parent(Father)? God the Christ(Son)? and God(the Holy Spirit)?(this is a personal observation)

Answers for week 5

Answers Week 5

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.What are some of the challenges (costs) you have faced in your practices? (this is a personal observation)
6.What are some of the positive results (joys) you have experienced in your practices? (this is a personal observation)
　
7. Do the costs and Joys of your discipleship balance? (this is a personal observation)What practices do you currently employ specifically because you are a Christian? (this is a personal observation)What are the actions you observe of a person you perceive as a “practicing Christian”? (this is a personal observation) What does it mean to be a disciple? According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary a disciple is one who accepts and assists in the spreading of the teachings of another; a convinced adherent of a school or individual.As believers in Christ what are our responsibilities? (Love One Another, go and make disciples of all nations baptizing and teaching remembering that God is with us always, and keep the 10 commandments.

Worship / Why Church?

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 6, Worship / Why Church

Worship occurs in many places and in even more forms. This week we shall examine some of these.
1. Read Matthew 4:10, John 4:20, and John 21:15-18
2.
A.
B. Why use a lectionary?
C. What are the seasons of the church year?
D. Why do we observe the seasons of the church year?
E.
VI Pentecost, VII. Ordinary Time
F. What are some other symbols of our faith?
3. Worship
A.
B.
C. Do we “worship” outside our churches? If so, where and how?
D

4. The Trinity
A.
B. How do you experience God the parent(Father)? God the Christ(Son)? and God(the Holy Spirit)?What is the Trinity?. What are the parts of meaningful worship? Are these the same for everyone?Why attend to formal “church” services?What is worship?What are the colors and symbols of : I. Advent, II. Christmas, III. Epiphany, IV. Lent V. Easter, ToolsWhat is the lectionary?

...to accept the Costs and Joys of discipleship

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 4, to accept the costs and joys of discipleship

We are now moving into the part of this study that some may refer to as “the real meat” of the matter. I hope this week’s study is challenging, pleasing and thought provoking for you.

Read Matthew 28:16 -20

1. As believers in CHrist, what are our responsibilities? (Matthew 22: 36-40, Exodus 20:1-17, and Matthew 18-20)
2. What does it mean to be a disciple?

In many statements of faith, Christians say that they accept the costs and joys of discipleship.
3. What are the actions you observeof a person you perceive as a "practicing Christian""
4.  What practices do you cuurently employ specificaltly because you are a Christian?

5.What are some of the challenges (costs) you have faced in your practices?

6.What are some of the positive results (joys) you have experienced in your practices?

7. Do the costs and Joys of your discipleship balance?What practices do you currently employ specifically because you are a Christian?What are the actions you observe of a person you perceive as a “practicing Christian”? What does it mean t be a disciple? As believers in Christ what are our responsibilities? (Matthew 22: 36-40, Exodus 20: 1-17, and Matthew 28: 18-20)

The Sacraments

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 4, The Sacraments

In this weeks lesson, it is hoped that you will rediscover meaning in congregational practices and personal preferences as to the practice of baptism and communion. Answers to the questions can be found in your church's constitution, from the church elders, your family members and your minister.
I. Baptism
A Biblical Speaking1. Read Matthew 3:1-17 and Matthew 28: 16-20. 1.
2. Summarize these readings.
B. Look at your certificate of baptism.1. What information is contained on your certificate?
2. At what age were you baptized?
3. Who baptized you?
4. By what method were you baptized?
C. Your church’s practices1. What is the method of baptism used in your church?
2. Who is involved?
3. When and where do baptism occur?
4 What are/were the promises made for/by the person being baptized?
5. What are the promises made by others present?
6. What was changed at your baptism?
　
　
　
　
　
　
II. Communion
A. Biblically Speaking1. Read Luke 22: 1-20
2. What were the elements of the first communion?
3. How was the first communion shared?
B. Your communions1. When did you partake of your first communion?
2. By what method did you partake of the elements?
C. Your Church practicesCommunion is shared in many ways.
1. How does your church share communion?
2. How often do you do this?
3. Where do you take communion?
4. What are the elements?
D. Requirements to take communion1. What must one do in order to receive communion?
2. When does your church believe it is appropriate for someone to receive communion?
E. MemoriesDescribe one of your most memorable communions which you have shared.
Who was there?
What were the elements?
What made it memorable for you?

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 3, The New Testament

Section A:
The following are questions that can be answered with information found in the Old Testament. Helps can be found in parentheses following the questions.1. Who prevented his jailer from killing himself? ( Acts 16:20)
2. What was Jesus’ first recorded miracle? (John 2:1-11)
3. What does the word gospel mean?
4. Who initially resisted allowing Christ to wash his feet? (John 13:8)
5. What is the collective name of the stories Jesus told?
6. What did the Holy Spirit look like when the disciples received it? (Acts 2:3)
7. What did Jesus say were/are the 2 greatest commandments? (Matthew 22: 36-40)
8. What is the “great commission?” (Matthew 28: 18-20)
9. When and where was the first communion? (Matthew 26: 26-28)
10. What is the purpose of the scriptures? Romans 15:4
11. Often when Jesus performed a miracle he told the people not to tell anyone what they had seen. Why do you think he has done this?
12. Who were/are Christ’s disciples? Matthew 10: 2-4
Section B:
1.
2. Read the book you have chosen.
3. Option one: Write a brief summary or reflection of the book.
Option two: Discuss the book with a friend.
　Again, chose a book from the New Testament(Remember there are 27, if the one you have chosen does not catch your attention, try another)

(an independent Study) Answers Week two

1.  6 days and a day to rest

Re-affirming our Faith
(an independent Study)
Answers Week two

2. Worship no God but me
3.  They were jealous of his relationship with his father.
4.  He took care of them.
5. He showed him the promised land. But because he been unfaithful.
6. A promise to never destroy all the earth’s living creatures by water.
7.The plagues sent to Egypt were to convince the king to send the Israelites out of Egypt.
1 Water was turned to blood
2 Frogs
3. Gnats
4. Flies
5. Egyptian Animals died
6. A hail storm killed livestock and people outside
7. Locusts
8. Darkness
9. Death of the first born sons, cattle


8. They were promised a son. They were very old.
9. Saul
10. Literally: those whom God has rescued will travel to Jerusalem. Figuratively: Children of God to Heaven.
11. 12
12. The Lord- the Lord alone is our God.
13.  (Joshua)
14.  They tell Delilah to learn it for them.
15. Ruth was a Moabite
16.  Solomon
17. Solomon
18. Wisdom
19.  He didn’t want to answer God’s call to go to Nineveh.
20. Solomon
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Repeat them, tie them oin your arms, wear them on your foreheads, write them on your doorposts and gates.

Do not make false idols
Do not worship idols
Do not use God’s name in vain.
Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy
Respect your father and mother.
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal.
Do not accuse anyone falsely.
Don’t want other peoples stuff.

Re-affirming our Faith

(an independent Study)

Week 1,

The Bible

Solution Page

Sect. A1. Where are the histories and stories of our faith collected together into written form? (What is its title?) The Bible

2. What are the two main divisions of the book referred to in number one? The Old Testament (OT) and The New Testament (NT)

3. How many books are contained in each of the two main divisions of the Bible? There are 39 books in the OT and 27 in the NT.
4. The Bible is also divided into categories such as History. What are these divisions and which books of the Bible belong to each division?

5. Place the following Biblical events in order earliest to latest:
A. The Conquests F. The Exodus
B. The Rainbow Covenant G. The Peaceable Kingdom
C. Time of Judges H. The Covenant with Abraham and Sarah
D. The Creation I. The Desert Blossoms
E. The Exile J. The People demand a king
D, B, H, F, A,C, J, E, G, I
1. Chose a book from the Old Testament.
Section B
2. Read the book you have chosen.
3. Option one: Write a brief summary or reflection of the book.
Option two: Discuss the book with a friend.
The only way to get any of section B incorrect is to not try to complete it.　　                                                             Re-affirming our FaithThe following are questions that can be answered with information found in the Old Testament. Helps can be found in parentheses following the questions.
1. How long did it take God to create the world according to the bible? (Genesis)
2. What are the 10 Commandments and list them. (Exodus 20: 1-17)
3. Why did Joseph’s brothers want him removed from the family? (Genesis)
4. How did Joseph respond to all that he had endured when he found his brothers in his presence? (Genesis)
5. What did God show Moses just before Moses died? Why was Moses not permitted to experience it? (Deuteronomy 32: 48-52)
6. What was the Rainbow Covenant? (Genesis 6:5-9:19)
7.What and why were the plagues sent into Egypt? (Exodus 7)
8. What did God promise Abraham and Sarah? Why did it seem so strange? (Genesis: 1-21)
9. Who did Samuel anoint as the new king to lead God’s people? (1 Samuel 9-10:27)
10. Who travels “the Road of Holiness” and where does it lead, both literally and figuratively? (Isiah 35:1-10)
11. How many tribes of the people of Israel left Egypt? (Numbers 1)
12. What is the “Great Commandment”? How are we to remember it? (Deuteronomy 6:1-9)

13. Who was the successor of Moses, leader of the Israelites? (Joshua)
14. How did the Philistine Kings learn what Samson weak as an ordinary man? ( Judges 16)
15. From where was Ruth? (Ruth)
16. What did David name his 2^nd son with Bathsheba? (2^nd Samuel 12:24)
17. Whom did David name as his successor to the throne? (1^st Kings 32-35)
18. What did Solomon ask to receive from God? (1^st Kings 3:9)
19. Why did Jonah get swallowed by a big fish? (Jonah 1)
20. Who is credited with the wisdom of the book of Proverbs? (Proverbs 1)

(an independent Study)

Week 2, The Old Testament

The Old Testament was first handed down by the art of storytelling by the Hebrews. Around 1100 BCE, these stories were written (in Hebrew). In 400BCE the work of determining the books that were sacred and authoritative began. These books would come to be called the Cannon.
　

Week 1, The Bible

Section A

Answer the following questions

1. Where are the histories and stories of our faith collected together into written form? (What is its title?)

2. What are the two main divisions of the book referred to in number one?

3. How many books are contained in each of the two main divisions of the Bible?

4. The Bible is also divided into categories such as History. What are these divisions and which books of the Bible belong to each division?

5. Place the following Biblical events in order earliest to latest:

A. The Conquests
B. The Rainbow Covenant
C. Time of Judges
D. The Creation
E. The Exile
F. The Exodus
G. The Peaceable Kingdom
H. The Covenant with Abraham and Sarah
I. The Desert Blossoms
J. The People demand a king


Section B

1. Chose a book from the Old Testament. (Remember there are many. If you begin one and it is not holding your interest, chose another and try it.)

2. Read it.

3. Option one: Write a brief summary or reflection of the book.
    Option two: Discuss the book with a friend.