Quick & Powerful – Bible Study

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9–12. What do Solomon’s words tell us about working together? How might these words be helpful to you in other settings?

In the business world a best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark. If there were such a thing for life, Solomon is sharing it with us. Doing things together is a best practice for life. Solomon gives several examples where two are better than one. When considering this in the context of ministry. It is better when you are ministering that you have someone with you or have someone to mentor you. This will keep you encouraged and balanced when you are ministering. In Solomon’s own words two are better than one.

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Read Psalm 139. Why did David ask God to search His heart? What lessons are here for us, not just for witnessing but for our walk with the Lord, in general? What can we take away from this psalm for ourselves right now? What comfort, hope, and encouragement is there for you? At the same time, what does it say to you about the changes that you need to make in how you live?

David was in touch with the fact that the human heart is difficult to understand. Jeremiah was also in touch with this fact that is why he said “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17.9). When we search our own hearts we may miss something, but when God searches our hearts He does so understanding completely who we are. We must also understand that God is greater than our hearts even when our heart does condemn us (1 John 3:20).

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Read John 1:37–42. Why do you think Andrew told his brother about finding the Messiah before he told anyone else?

Andrew found the Messiah, this was tantamount to wining the lottery in our day. Andrew went to the person who was closest to him and immediately shared with him the good news. In the same way we should share with those closest to us the good news of the gospel. When we start with those closest to us we can look for greater success.

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Read Acts 4:13-14. What do these verses reveal about the relationship that Peter and John had with Jesus and what this connection enabled them to accomplish? Think through what was meant when it says that “they realized that they had been with Jesus.” What does that mean? What should a person who has just “been with Jesus” be like?

There is something about being in the presence of Jesus that changes a person. Jesus is such a magnificent person that you can not come in contact with Him and be the same. People realized that the disciples had been with Jesus because He rubbed off on them. They demonstrated the same power and authority that Jesus had. In the same way people should notice that there is something different about us because we have been in the presence of Jesus. The strength of our witnessing comes from spending time in the presence of Jesus. There is no other way to gain power for effective ministry.

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Read the parable of the sower and Jesus’ explanation in Luke 8:4–15. What challenges does this parable bring to us in regard to nurturing to maturity the seed that falls on good ground? See also John 16:7-8, 13.

When we think of humans as soil, not all soil is similar.  Some people will hear the gospel and gladly receive it and others will hear it and reject it. Some will hear and only accept it for a little bit.  We must understand that soil where we are planting the gospel seed. Some are simply not ready and some are. We should not get discouraged when we do not see the results we expect , but only remember that people are at different places in the evangelism process.

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Look up the following verses and consider why a God who knows everything would ask such questions. Gen. 3:9, 13; Matt. 16:13–15; 22:41–46; Mark 9:33; Luke 2:46. What does this tell us about how asking questions can be a powerful tool for helping people grow in God’s grace?

Questions provide a window into the way a person is thinking or feeling at any given moment. When God asks Adam where are you this was not a geographical question. Also when you ask a question in the right way it can help a person understand something that they might have not seen before. Jesus used questions , and Jesus was asked questions. Using questions can even be manipulative as we see against Jesus.  The amazing thing is that directed by the Spirit Jesus always had a response that cut to the heart of what people were dealing with.

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John 6:54–66 shows that some people turned away from Jesus when they faced a testing truth. Why did some who had followed Jesus eventually turn away? What lesson is here for us personally? What “testing truths” still, perhaps, challenge your commitment to Jesus?

All during our lives we are weiging the costs of the things that we do ,or do not do. At this point the diciples weighed the cost of following Jesus and decided that it was too much to pay. To be fair it also could be that they did not undestand what Jesus was trying to tell them. They took Jesus literally when he was trying to share with them something figuratively.  It could have been that they just were there for what Jesus can do or them and not how he could transform them.  There comes a time when truth seperates us and tests us. Jesus wants to know whos side are you on for real. In the midst of financial challenges many are tested by money, in the midst of lonliness many are testing by relationships. We must stand on our principles and trust God no matter what.

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Compare 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 and 1 Peter 2:2. What do you think Paul and Peter were specifically referring to when they spoke of milk and solid food and the need to grow? In your mind, what is theological milk as opposed to solid food?

These passages milk can mean a couple things. Theological milk is for those who are babes in Christ. Milk is the precious truths of the gospel such as the love of God, salvation, forgiveness of sins, ect. These are the basic things you learn when you accept Christ. Solid theological food would be bible prophecy and understanding present truth for this age. As we mature spiritually, our spiritual diet should change in order to support our growth. In the same manner that babies are fed baby food and milk and as they grow and mature eat solid meat and foods, We as Christians are to nourish ourselves according to our “development and growth.” We do not want to be malnourished Christians or Christians with arrested development.

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Read Luke 9:11. What does this verse indicate regarding Jesus’ desire to heal both physically and spiritually? In our spheres, how can we seek to do the same thing for those whom we are trying to reach?

Jesus was able to provide a comprehensive ministry for those whom He ministered to. Jesus not only met the physical needs of the people but he also met the spiritual needs of the people. Jesus preached the kingdom of God and He also healed the people. The passage uses the word need. As we minister to others we must be aware of their needs. We can learn from Jesus’ example by also providing a comprehensive ministry meeting both physical needs and spiritual needs.

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Examine closely John 17:11–19. What do these verses reveal about the Christian’s place in the world? See also Col. 4:2–6.

We have a closeness to the world while we have a distance from the world. Jesus has sent us into the world in order that His message may spread to all. Our distance from the world is that we are not to pattern ourselves after the world. We must remember that we are to pattern oursleves after our heavenly kingdom and not the earthly kingdom.

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