Chapter 2 Questions

[JCsMomma]

I am going to do this chapter's questions a little bit differently. I am going to post one or two a day and then we can reply or respond accordingly.

1. According to chapter two, list three areas in which God matures women.

2. Define the term "doctrine." Give two examples.
Do you consider yourself to be doctrinely mature?
If not, what could you do to remedy the situation?

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3.Take a few minutes to think about the areas in your character in which God desires to mature you. List them here.

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4. Make a list of the ways in which you are serving the Lord.

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5. The Lord Jesus said in John 15:8, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit..." (emphasis added). In order for you to bear fruit, what must happen first? Read John 15:1-6.

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6. Pray and ask God to prune you so that you may bear fruit for Him.

End of Chapter 2! We start Chapter 3 Monday! Have a blessed weekend Ladies!!!!

[Mom2boys]

1. Doctrine, Character, Ministry.

2.Doctrine defined:
A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent.
A statement of official government policy, especially in foreign affairs and military strategy.
Archaic. Something taught; a teaching.

Hmmm. That's a good question. Being quite melancholy, I tend to be very hard on myself and never think that I am mature enough. I feel like I am a constant work in progress , constantly being crushed, constantly falling on my face and having to get back up and dust myself off. I think God likes to see us like this because we are learning and striving to be better.

I have a friend who is an awesome female Pastor and when I just "knew her from afar" , I always thought that she had it all together. Now, that I know her personally, I am learning that she also "struggles with being human".

I don't know that any of us can say that we are doctrinally mature. I believe that happens when we go home ( to heaven ) and truly become perfect.

So, my answer is that, no I am not mature.

How can I change that? My answer would be "keep on keepin'on" I don't mean that lacsidasically. I mean that I need to keep doing what I'm doing. Reading my word, serving in ministry, finding new things to do for Him etc. When I stop falling on my face and being crushed, I need to press in more. Keep it all about Him and one day.....I'll be mature and he'll take me home

[JCsMomma]

1. Doctrine, Character, and Ministry
2. Doctrine is what is taught in the Bible about a certain subject.
Two examples would be the Crucifixion and the Return of Christ.
I do not consider myself doctrinally mature. I know enough scripture to be dangerous KWIM? Doing this study has really been a learning experience for me on so many levels. This is the first step in becoming more rooted in the word.
3. I believe that the areas that the Lord would like to mature my character are numerous (but we are all in the same boat, right?) but that His grace and mercy allow us to only see a bit at a time so that we are not overwhelmed and become discouraged. Right now I know that the Lord is working on my need for people's approval in spite of knowing what I should and need to be doing. I have a horrible habit of "people pleasing" and then I end up regretting not going with my gut and it turns out to be a HUGE mess. Part of this is not standing up for what I know and believe to be the right thing for my children and myself. God is really working in my life right now to "clean house" and my part of that is cooperating and doing my part by being truthful and direct but in a loving way. Not only that but also becoming a woman of excellence, not perfection. To do my absolute best at all that I put my hand to... and then letting it be. It does not have to be perfect. I have found such a release in this over the last few days. I am only one person.. but I am strengthened by the Lord and am able to do all things through Him.. I just need to rest in that and do all I can on my part.

[Mom2boys]

3. Wow , this is a hard one. I know where He wants to mature me, but I hate admitting it.

One place is that He wants me to learn to have healthy confrontations. I need to learn to stay calm, stand on His word and help the flock grow when I am put in a position of correction. I hate confrontation and tend to run from it or get very sick when I have to do it, but I see that I am getting stronger the more I have to do it.

Another area is learning to speak truth to my friends when they come to me to complain or tell me what is new in their lives. Sometimes, in my head , I am thinking "But that is wrong, the Bible says......." and I don't speak it out because I don't want to offend.

He also wants to mature me spiritually. I need to be in my word more than I am . For the past two days, I have spent an hour with Him each morning and my day goes so much better. Maybe we need an accountability thread for that one......

[laura]

1. According to chapter two, list three areas in which God matures women.
Doctrine / Character / Ministry

2. Define the term "doctrine."
Doctrine in Greek is didache, and the meaning is: "denotes teaching either that which is taught, or the act of teaching / instruction".

3.Give two examples.

Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:2-7 Teaches us the "signs" of the Coming Messiah, Jesus!!
Matthew 1:1-25 Teaches us that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, because He fullfills the Old Testament Scripture in Isaiah!

As a new Christian, I too read the Word day and night along with hundereds of books / tapes / studies / commentaires. But, as I have grown older, I am finding that all I need is Scripture and prayer and my Greek / Hebrew translations. I rely less and less on what other men 'think' about Scripture, and rely more and more on God's still small Voice to lead and guide me thru His Word.

4. Take a few minutes to think about the areas in your character in which God desires to mature you. List them here.

Character= A combonation of qualities or features that distinguishes a person or group or thing from another. The moral or ethical nature of a person or group. Moral or ethical strength; integrity and fortitude.

Areas for maturity:

1. Patience. Patience to see the "big picture" not just the here and now.
2. My mouth. It is my greatest weakenss.
3. My understanding of Who He Is. The depth of my commitment too Him. My desire to grow with Him daily.

5.Do you consider yourself to be doctrinely mature?
NO!
I have SO much to learn, so far to go......I have the 'basics', but I have SO far to grow.

Remedy?
Daily walking with Him. Daily talking with Him. Scripture reading, praying and fasting so I can hear Him speak too me. Staying FAR away from "false teachers, and false teachings" so that my mind and my heart are not clouded with satans sweet sounding lies.

Laura

[laura]

Today, I was listening to my teaching C/D by Dr. SM Davis entitled "How to teach your children character".

The word "Image" in Greek is: charakter. And the meaning of this word is:
Denotes firstly a "tool for graving" / cut into.
THEN, "a stamp" or "impress" like on a coin or a seal, in which case teh seal or die which makes an impression BEARS THE 'IMAGE' produced by it. All the features of the "image" corresponds respectively with those of the instrument producing it.

Here's what this says too me:

To produce a character is an act of "chipping away all that is not good or nessacary". You will need a tool to do this. That tool, is the Word of God.

The Character that we are to strive for, is that of our Maker, the one that "stamps" us / "seals" us with His Holy Spirit. Our goal is to become like the One with whom we are CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF!!!!!

I Love God's Word.

www.visionforum.com

That is where I bought the C/D I was listening too!!!!

God is so good to me.

Laura

[JCsMomma]

4. The ways that I am serving the Lord are:
a. Taking care of my boys. Making sure they are taken care of and their needs are met, physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually.
b. This study
c. Leading a special needs support group
d. Teaching the special needs Sunday school class
e. Being willing and open to counsel and minister to other women who are going through similar experiences that I have had.

[Mom2boys]

[4. Make a list of the ways in which you are serving the Lord.

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5. The Lord Jesus said in John 15:8, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit..." (emphasis added). In order for you to bear fruit, what must happen first? Read John 15:1-6./quote]

I am serving the Lord by being a Mom to my boys and taking the time to stop and correct them and help them find God and what He would want in their behavior, dress, attitude, interaction with friends etc. I serve Him by ministering to my husband and being a woman to Him. That is a struggle for me recently. I'm so busy that being a wife has been hard. I plan to put that first from now on.

I serve Him in ministry and could just cry right now as I reflect on what He did through me just yesterday. What a priveledge to be chosen by Him to be wife to my husband, mother to His children and shepherd of His flock. I am in awe.

5. We must keep running to His word and remain in his prescence. Sometimes, in my life it's like being attached to a bungee cord. I bounce out of bounds only for God to pull me back to Him and cut off one of my nasty traits. Sometimes I bounce away again, but the distance from Him gets shorter and shorter.....

Thanks for doing this study Cherise. I am really getting a lot from it.
Tina

[laura]

jcsmomma said:

4. Make a list of the ways in which you are serving the Lord.

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5. The Lord Jesus said in John 15:8, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit..." (emphasis added). In order for you to bear fruit, what must happen first? Read John 15:1-6.

The ways I am serving my Lord:

(1) I am a keeper of the home. Wife and Mother.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

(2) We are in our 3rd year of home education our kids
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

(3) I share my Lord and His Ways with my friends, family, and the kids I work with through spoken word, deed and through my actions.

Colossians 4:5-6
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

(4) I constantly talk about the Lord with my kids

Deuteronomy 11:18-21
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,
21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

These 4 things are where God has me in this season of my life. If I were to take on anything else, no matter 'how good' or 'worthy' it may be......I would not be able to fullfill the above 4 things God has called me too!!


***In order to bear fruit, what must happen 1rst***

I must remain in Him. I must stay connected too Him.
The word in my Bible is "Abide". When I looked that word up in my Greek dictonary, it told me to look up the words: Continue / Dwell / Endure / Remain / Stand / and Tarry........

Let's say I am a tree. There are 3 things I need to live.
Water, Food, and Sunshine. I can get by on water and food, and artificial sun. But I will not grow right. I can get by on water, sunshine, and artificial food......but still, I will not grow right. I cannot live without water.

I need the Living Water, I need Manna--The Bread of Life, and I need the Son to shine Truth into my life.
Only then, will I grow right. Without these 3 things, I will die.

That's why He says to stay connected with Him.
Prayer, is my "extention cord" to the power source.
Study of His Word, is the Truth, that sets me free!!!

Jesus, is Amazing!

Laura