Friday, June 20, 2008

Genesis 5 - Ezra 5 - Matthew 5 - Acts 5

Genesis 5

-None of the men mentioned were in Jesus' genealogy because it started with Abraham not Adam.

-Only the first born sons are mentioned in each genealogy.

- Enoch was the only one mentioned who "walked with God" and he never officially died.

-Methuselah was the oldest man in the genealogy at 969 years old before he died.

- Noah was 500 years old when he had his sons. His father lived 595 years after his birth.

- When was the flood chronologically after Noah had children?

Ezra 5

-Haggai and Zechariah are prophets in Jerusalem at this time.

-Zerubebel's faith was strong and he continued to rebuild the temple, others followed.

- This angered the governor and he asked them why they were rebuilding. They said that God was angry and had destroyed the temple but God has spoken to King Cyrus who ordered the Jews to rebuild the temple.

Matthew 5

- The Beatitudes emphasize the humble and give hop to those who lack in various areas. They also give increasing rewards comfort, inheriting the earth, mercy, seeing God, reward, sons of God, and a great reward.

- Christians are to show the world what they know through good works and glorifying God

- (v. 17 - 20) -You must keep all the laws perfectly, breaking even one loses you heaven.

- God looks at the heart not just the actions therefore being angry with someone is the same as murdering him and looking lustfully at someone is the same as committing the act. Thinking these things is still sin in God's eyes.

-Divorce is only okay if there has been sexual immorality.

-You should not make oaths or promises, just simply say yes or no and keep your word. This honors God.

- Resist retaliation - How and when is it okay to protect myself from harm?

- Love you enemies and pray for them. This makes a Christian different from the world. It is also a harder command to follow because it involves sacrificing and loving someone you don't want to. Hating them is easier, but not glorifying to God.

- Is anger okay in response to an action? If so, when?

Acts 5

- Ananias and Sapphira were the first people in the new church not to share everything. Peter said they had lied against God not against men and they died. Lying is first and foremost an act against God.

- Peter asked why Ananias had listened to Satan and tried to lie (similar to Adam and Eve)

- Fear filled all the people who witnessed these things.

-Sadducees were jealous because they were charged with Jesus' death, and they put apostles in prison. An angel released them without opening the gates which were guarded. Angel told them to teach "this Life". Life is capitalized so must be talking about Christ and the Gospel.

- Peter said they had to obey God rather than men.

- Gamaliel was a Pharisee who said that the Sadducees shouldn't do anything because if the apostles' plan was not from God it would fail but if their plan WAS from God it could not be stopped and the Sadducees might be found "opposing God".

- The apostles were still beaten and rejoiced for suffering for the name of Christ.

- Why isn't the power of Jesus name as evident today as it was during the early church? or How is the power of Jesus name evident today?

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