God
Finish this sentence. We are made in the XX of God.
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Name three ways of describing the Holy Spirit.
wind, fire, breath, a dove, creative energy, friend, advocate.
Name three characteristics of John the Baptist.
Lived in the wilderness, wore clothes of camel's hair, ate locusts and honey, looked wild, was the cousin of Jesus, always pointed towards Jesus as the one to follow.
Paul was a missionary. What is a missionary?
Typically a member of a religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people.
Jesus lived as a refugee in which country?
Egypt.
Name four characteristics of God.
merciful, generous, loving, all-powerful, all-knowing, never ending, forgiving.
Name four fruits of the Spirit.
The fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
This man was a tax collector who cheated his own people. He was short. Some called him "wee." He climbed a tree to see Jesus when he came to town.
Zacchaeus
True or False: according to Paul, the eye is more important than the ear in the human body.
False. Paul was saying that all parts of the body have their unique function that makes the body work as a whole, just like the church relies on different people's gifts and perspectives to serve the world (rather than rejecting them).
Joseph was planning on dismissing Mary quietly after learning she was pregnant before they were married. Who changed his mind?
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
Jesus crosses many social boundaries, hanging out with women and Samaritans, eating with tax collectors, etc. What does Jesus' boundary-crossing tell us about what God cares about?
God loves everyone, even the ones society has rejected. God is inclusive, not exclusive. No one is unimportant to God.
What are three ways we can experience the presence of the Holy Spirit today?
in nature, in music, through other people, through prayer, in quiet time, when listening.
When Moses came down from the mountain with the 10 Commandments, what were the people worshipping?
A golden calf.
Why did Paul write letters to the newly established churches?
To clarify issues that had arisen in the community (conflict, dissention, etc.), to keep instructing them on the new faith. Also because he was always traveling and there was no email.
Why might Jesus have been angry in the temple, flipping tables and scattering everything?
Merchants had turned the temple into a marketplace and were profiting off the poor.
What might the 12 baskets of leftover food after Jesus feeds the 5000 (from 5 loaves and 2 fish) tell us about God's character?
Shows God's abundance, no scarcity, there is plenty to go around.
What happened to the disciples at Pentacost?
And tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (flames on their heads is an acceptable answer)
Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo refused to worship the statute of King Nebuchadnezzar because they only worshipped God. Name three things people worship today instead of God/three modern idols?
money, power, influence, beauty, youth, athletic performance, etc.
What does Paul mean when he tells the church at Ephesus to "speak truth in love?"
to be honest, but to do so in a way that isn't mean, that preserves the relationship, that builds the person/community up.
What were the three temptations the "Devil" offered to Jesus in the wilderness?
1) stones into bread/food - people do not live on bread alone, not focused material goods over obedience;
2) throw yourself off the temple - do not test the Lord your God, it's not a magic show it's a relationship of faith.
3) Give him all the kingdoms of the world, but worship Satan - you shall worship only the Lord, even at the expense of gaining great power and influence.
When Jesus and the disciples are praying in the garden after the Last Supper, Judas arrives with a large crowd with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus. In the heat of the moment, Peter cuts off one of the men's ears. Jesus heals the man's ear and says "no more of this." What could Jesus' response to Peter's action tell us about who God is?
It could mean that God does not embrace violence and retribution as a way of solving conflict.
What can we do to help us stand up to pressure, especially when we are asked to do something we might not want to do?
Listen for the Holy Spirit via prayer, the advice of parents and friends, with the help of your church community.
Why is it significant that Mary and Martha are angry with Jesus for waiting to come help Lazarus when he falls ill?
Because they had faith - they believed that if Jesus had come in time, he could have healed Lazarus.
Name two things that the early church often fought about. What was Paul's response?
food rules and circumcision. Paul thought they were not necessary for faith/to be a part of the community.
involve the community/bring it to the church