13.04.2021

How should a Christian respond to persecution?

Preamble:
Christians experience persecution in different ways and from different individuals. Some aggravating than others, putting believers in a difficult situation in how to deal, interact or co-exist with their persecutor and their persecution. [Read More…]

Why is “the devil made me do it” not a valid excuse?

Preamble: 
We often experience people after committing sin or doing something extremely evil claiming that is not their fault but “the devil made them do it”.

Bible passages: 
Genesis 3:13, Genesis 3:12, Genesis 6:5, John 13:2, 27, John 12:5-6, John 13:27, Matthew 9:22, 1Peter 5:8, James 1:14-15, 1Corinthians 10:13, 1John 4:4, Ephisians 5:18, James 4:7, Luke 18:1-5, Phil 1:6, Ephisians 6:10, Exodus 20:20, 2Timothy 2:22, James 1:19, Psalm 119:11, Ephisians 4:20, Joel 3:10, 2Timothy 2:25-26.

Discussion:
God came on earth to show us how to cope with sin. [Read More…]

What does it mean to be a fruitful Christian? John 15:5

Bible passages: 
John 15:5, Proverbs 11:30, Acts 2:14-15, 42, Titus 3:1-2, John 15:16, 2Corinthians 6:3-4, Ezekiel 33:1-6.

Discussion:
Fruitful means producing much fruit, reproduction or being fertile. In John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. [Read More…]

09.02.2021

Is the Christian life supposed to be boring?

Bible passages: 
James 1:17, Galatians 6:8, Galatians 5:16-26, Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Romans 14:17, Psalm 34:8, Romans 8:28, John 10:10.

Discussion:
Boring is a relative word, dictionary describes boring as “something or someone that is tedious, dull, and lacking in interest”.

If we try to examine what the world grouped as exciting, it includes:
- drunkenness 
- substance misuse / “being high”
- adultery / fornication
- stealing / forgery / false witness
- wild parties / smoking
- breaking the law
Other examples are in Galatians 5:19-21. [Read More…]

01.02.2021

Does the Bible tells us to forgive and forget?

Question:
There is a popular evangelical phrase “Forgive and Forget”, many  Christians struggle with this phrase in their development in faith and biblical study. Does the Bible tells us to forgive and forget?

Bible passages:  
Hebrew 8:12, Isaiah 43:25, Psalm 51:1-3, Matthew 10:16, 1Samuel 24, 1Samuel 26:7-25, Romans 12:17-21, Matthew 18:23-25

Discussion:
The Bible study commenced by reading these passages: Hebrew 8:12 and Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Common comments on the topic are:
- It is easy to forgive but it is difficult to forget;
- Though you have forgiven, painful memories might stay or remain;
- One need to safeguard oneself against being hurt by people that has the nature of offending others;
- It is easy to forgive and forget your spouse because you have become one union - one flesh;
- It is easy to forgive and forget your children or siblings if they offend you because of love.
Going back to Heb 8:12 “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

God forgives when we repent and remember our sins no more.  At the same time if we sin, it makes God remember our wrong doings of the past. [Read More…]