Growing in Christ

The Redemption

1. Is it sometimes possible for one to be strong enough to resist temptation with human strength or is it always possible only through divine power?
2. Is it fair or unfair for Christ to suffer in our place?

Slaves Set Free

1. If we find ourselves powerless to help ourselves at times, who's power is holding us? Does there have to be a power?
2. We've all seen other people enslaved to something like a bad habit: Have we experienced that helplessness in our own lives?

Principalities and Powers: Part 1

1. On what grounds could Jesus assist humans in the battle against evil before the cross?
2. How do Satan and his angels make us do what they want us to do?

Principalities and Powers: Part 2

1. Is evil a personal or impersonal force? what is the difference? 
2. What are the various means that Satan uses to frustrate human attempts to do good?

A Murderer Revealed

1. If Jesus gained victory over evil at the cross why is Satan still fooling around with us? Is the victory not complete? If not, what remains?
2. What are the "weapons" that Satan and Jesus use in their conflict?
3. Is there any difference in (a) being given strength to resist temptation, and (b) the removal of temptation? Which is preferable

Salvation: The Only Solution

The Scope of the Problem

1. How big is the problem for God considering that sin is only on one planet among millions in the universe and for a few thousand years compared to eternity?
2. How seriously did God take the problem of sin?

God's Provision: Part 1

1. what came first, sin or the Saviour?
2. Does God's foreknowledge prevent any change?

God's Provision: Part 2

1. If people still had to kill a lamb for each sin, would there be less sinning?
2. What is the difference between sanctification and daily justification? Why did Paul say "I die daily?"

The Experience of Salvation: Part 1

1. What causes a person to feel repentant?
2. Describe the feeling of guiltiness and the feeling of having been forgiven?
3. What do think of this statement: "God will not take to heaven a forgiven rebel?"

The Experience of Salvation: Part 2

1. Is there any sin that is too serious to be forgiven? What is the unpardonable sin?
2. Why is conversion termed a new birth?

Mankind: God’s Handiwork

Creation and Human Origins

1. What do you consider more incredible, the miracles of the creation week or the millions of items that had to be just right for evolution?  Why?
2. Why would people attempt to explain Adam as a legendary figure?

The Image of God: Part 1

1. Why do you think the author of the creation story used the word image (literally, “statue”) to describe the similarity between man and God?
2. Do humans still have dominion over the rest of creation?  Why is the lion called the king of the jungle, and not man?

The Image of God: Part 2

1. Why do you think that God used the plural pronouns in saying “Let us make man in our image?” How do humans reflect that plurality?
2. On a scale of 1-10, how much do humans reflect the one-ness of God?

A Defiled Image

1. How would you as a creationist explain all the primitive-looking humans described as Neanderthal man, etc.?
2. How much of God’s image do you think humans have retained?

Restoration

1. How much of the image of God do you think can be restored before the second coming?
2. How much application to the this restoration does the saying have "By beholding we become changed?" how much change can be effected by beholding, and what does beholding involve? 

Revelation and the God Revealed in It

1. Does nature teach us anything about God which the Bible does not?

The Doctrine of Scripture

1. What are some reasons why God would want to communicate to humans?
2. We train dogs to understand our words instead of trying to learn theirs, then why does God try to speak to us humans in our language rather than teach us His? 
3. Is the Bible the Word of God, or does it contain the Word of God?  What is the difference?

The Nature of Inspiration

1. What is the difference in the authors of the Bible being inspired rather than the words?
2. If it is only the thoughts that are inspired why should we learn scripture word for word?
3. Why do you think God did not dictate the Bible word for word?

The Mystery of the Triune God

1. How would you explain the trinity to person who accuses Christians of having three gods?
2. Should we always address our prayers to the Father only, or may we pray to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus?

The Attributes of Our Creator

1. How would a God who created us relate differently to us than a God who found us?
2. Can we know about God from personal experience alone without the Bible?

The Activities of God

1. If you were God, how would you try to interact with your created beings?
2. Will God help one who does not believe in Him?

The Great Controversy

Are Adventists more obsessed with the cosmic conflict than non-Adventists? If so, what could be the reason?

The Controversy and Its Players

1. How would you respond to someone who insisted that the cosmic battle was only in the mind?
2. What impact, if any, would polytheism have on the doctrine of the great controversy? 

Lucifer’s Fall

1. How can we tell when a description is going beyond the literal and into the metaphorical – such as from the king of Babylon or Tyre to a description of Lucifer?
2. Is it wrong to be proud of something good?

God’s Weapon

1. What could God have meant when in addressing the serpent, he said, “your seed?”
2. How do we know that God was not referring to literal snakes when he mentioned bruising the head and the heel?

Satan’s Fight

1. How is the great controversy taught through the sacrificial system, and how did Satan pervert the teaching to suit him?
2. Is it possible to be aware of the work of Satan in our minds?  If so, how?

Destinies

1. Is it possible to be neutral in the conflict between good and evil?  Why or why not?
2. Can you think or want to be on one side but end upon the other side?  How could this happen?

Keeping the Church Faithful

Is it possible for a church to be static or does it have to either grow or die?

Faithful by God’s Choice

1. If some who are “chosen” for salvation by do not end up being saved, what is the significance of being “chosen?”
2. What is the value of holding on to traditions?  What are the dangers of hanging on to traditions?

Confidence in the Face of Evil

1. How much is Satan to blame for the wrong we do? How much are other people to blame? How much are we solely responsible for?
2. Would God prevent us from being tempted if we ask Him, or will He only strengthen us so that we need not yield to it?  What is preferable?

Scripture and Tradition

1. Can you have a religion without scripture?
2. Which is more authoritative and why – written scripture or oral tradition passed on from the Master through his disciples?
3. Is it appropriate or inappropriate for a church administrator to be fed and taken care of by the local church and leaders?  Why did Paul always insist on paying for the food he ate?

Working and Eating

1. What drives some people to be more interested in another person’s work more than in their own?  For example when a couple is making a bed, do we notice wrinkles on the other person’s side more easily than on our own side? Do we notice the mote in another person’s eye quicker than we detect a beam in our own?
2. What tastes better, food that you have sweated for, or food that is provided free?

Tough Love

1. Why would someone come to church and yet be a rebel?
2. What could Paul mean when he advises members not to associate closely with such people?
3. What could Paul mean when he advises members to treat such a person as a brother or sister, and not an enemy?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of dis-fellowshipping a member in discipline? What are other ways a church can show its displeasure?

The Antichrist

The Problem

1. Why has the church in every age believed they were the last generation?
2. Why did Jesus have to wait so long to return to earth?
3. Why do people fall for rumours instead of checking things out for themselves?

Paul’s Short Answer

1. Why does God allow the Antichrist to come to deceive honest people?  Could it be that some sincere people will be misled?
2. If the elect cannot be deceived, what will Satan get out of impersonating Christ?

The Restrainer

1. Who is responsible for the delay (if there is any) in Christ’s return, God, Satan, humans?
2. Does a delay bring in more people to the fold, or cause some to backslide, or both? What is gained by a delay?

The Antichrist

1.  How can we communicate our teaching to Catholics on the antichrist?
2. Can Satan work miracles?

Truth and Lies

1. Why do people reject truth and accept lies?
2. Can and should God do more to unmask the work of Satan?
3. If God were to expose the work of Satan, would more people join His side?