Lesson 9 (Aug 22-29, 2020), Developing a Winning Attitude

 Receptivity to the Gospel

1. What makes some people more ready to listen to religious talk than others?
2. If approached correctly is everyone receptive to the gosple?
3. Why did Jesus begin his ministry in Israel rather than Samaria? When entering a new city should Adventists witness to Christians first?

An Attitude Adjustment

1. How important is it to maintain the standards that critics in the church might be striving to uphold? How much should the weaknesses of members be tolerated?
2. Which is preferable, baptizing new members only after lengthy demonstration of interest or letting them join as soon as they desire?
3. How can we develop a sincere interest in the salvation of others?

Presenting the Truth in Love

1. How can we love people we don't know? Or even people whom we might be prejudiced against?
2. Is it all right to make new friends with the intention of converting them eventually?
3. How can we cultivate a habit of giving compliments without seeming fake?

The Foundation of Acceptance

1. How important is it for us to learn that a person we know to be guilty has confessed and been forgiven?
2. How can we know when the time is right to address a friend's wrong actions?
3. Does accepting a person mean tolerating their weaknesses?

Truth Lovingly Presented

1. How can truth be presented lovingly in public evangelism? How can it be presented unlovingly?
2. What is the difference in being a citizen of a Christian country, a member of a Christian denomination, and being a follower of Christ?
3. How should one go about pointing out the faults of others?

Lesson 8 (Aug 15-21, 2020), Ministering Like Jesus

 Jesus' Attitude toward People

1. Why was Jesus not concerned about his reputation, associating with the rejects of society? Do we need to be concerned about our reputation more than Jesus needed to be?
2. Why did the Pharisees and Sadducees avoid certain classes of people? 
3. As "salt of the earth" is it possible to make things too salty? If so, how?

Jesus' Treatment of People

1. Why are people not complimented enough? Do compliments cost anything? 
2. What makes people unconcerned about the feelings of others?
3. Are the qualities of grace and kindness inherited or cultivted?

Jesus Healing Ministry --1

1. Did Jesus discern people's needs through His divinity? How easy is it for us to sense people's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs?
2. How easily do people reveal their needs? How can they be encouraged to do so?
3. Is it possible to meet needs in others that are not fulfilled in our own lives?
4. Why did Jesus heal individuals and not crowds of sick in mass healing services?
5. How did Jesus decide whom to heal and whom to leave unhealed?
6. Among the three teaching, preaching, and healing, what was the priority of Jesus?
7. What is the relationship to healing and preaching? Why do several evangelists and churches engage in both?

What Matters to Jesus

1. Does the parable of the separation of the sheep and goats teach that doctrines are unimportant if we have love and compassion?
2. In real life what is it that the five foolish virgins do not have enough of?
3. How safe/risky is it to be kind to strangers? 

Lesson 7 (Aug 8-14), Sharing the Word

 Symbols of God's Word

1. In what ways is the Bible like a light?
2. Why did Jeremiah liken the Word to a fire and hammer? In what ways do the serve the same function?
3. After narrating His parable when Jesus explained that the seed was the Word of God, what did He mean by "Word of God?"
4. When Jesus said "Man shall not live by bread alone?" what did He mean?

The Creative Power of God's Word

1. Did God have to say "Let there be . . . " or would just thinking have been enough?" What does the psalmist mean when he wrote that the heavens were created by the "word of the Lord?"
2.  In what ways is Jesus like the Bible? Why are they both called the "Word?"
3. How can it be said that God sustains the world in the same way He created it?

The Benefits of Studying God's Word

1. Can a person know enough of God's word for salvation from listening in church?
2. Does the Bible have instruction for each dilemma? Can one open the Bible at "random" with prayer and get an answer?
3. How much time should one spend studying the Bible?

Applying God's Word

1. How does God actually help us overcome temptation? Does He chase the tempter or does he strengthen us?
2. How do promises enable a person to endure?
3. Why does God work through promises rather than immediate help?

Sharing the Word

1. Are sharers born or is that trait cultivated?
2. What characteristics are required for one to be a sharer with strangers?
3. Can one go to heaven without sharing?