IBC Richmond

The goal we are presenting is to be a church ruled by Christ, governed by members, led by elders, served by deacons.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What, if any, is the significance that Mordecai was a Jew and Haman was an Agagite? • How did God use Mordecai and Esther’s positions for good? How can your position and influences be used for good? • Is randomness like casting lots (Esther 3:7) antithetical to God’s sovereignty? Why or why not? • How must God’s people receive persecution in light of his providence?

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • Carefully read Esther 2. Is Esther's behavior righteous or sinful? • Who is Mordecai? What is his relationship to Esther? • How has God's grace exceeded your personal sin (Rom. 5:20b)? • Is God willing to use sinners to accomplish his purposes? How does this shape an understanding of providence?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does King Ahasuerus request of Vashti? Why does she refuse? • What part does alcohol play in the story? How does this view of alcohol influence your celebrations? • Is the prince's feared outcome (vs. 17) valid? Describe a better way for a husband to gain a wife's respect. • Do you live with the same moral integrity as Queen Vashti? How has it caused good or bad conse...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • Who is Ahasuerus? Where is he found in the book of Daniel? Why is this significant? • Describe the times of Xerxes. How does a person discern the times in which they live? • Is a 6 month celebration after a 3 year reign excessive celebration? Identify areas of personal excess. • How was God at work in the first 3 years of Xerxes' reign and 6 month celebration? Is God simil...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does "form" mean? What is a "form of evil"? • How does a person know what is evil? • In what way does 1 Thessalonians 4:3 help define the word "abstain"? • What is the purpose of abstaining? What good does it produce?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does it mean to "test everything"? Test by what standard? • Describe what it means to "hold fast." How does one hold fast to truth? • How important is decisiveness in the Christian life? Are there dangers to indecisiveness? • Who determines what is good? Why?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What is the purpose of prophecy according to 1 Corinthians 14:1-6? • What distinctions are noticeable between prophecy and tongues (1 Cor. 14:1-6)? • What does “Do not despise prophecy" mean (1 Thess 5:20)? • Where does the church find and receive prophecy today?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What specific ways does the New Testament describe the Holy Spirit’s ministry to a believer? • Describe the word “quench." What does it mean? Why is it dangerous to quench the Holy Spirit? • How does the Holy Spirit minister with God’s Word? • Is the local church receptive to the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • How critical is trusting God to thanking God? • What causes you discontentment? What can you thank God for in your deepest discontent? • Find the simplest Bible verse that encourages thankfulness and commit it to memory. What is the verse? • Is peer-to-peer comparison a valid way to find thankfulness?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • How do you choose the things you pray about? Is there a biblical reason for that prayer? Are your prayers balanced between personal and group needs, physical and spiritual needs, etc.? • What does "without ceasing" mean? Are you faithful to it? • Give a reason why God would ask believers to pray without ceasing. • What emphasis does communion with God have in prayer? Pleas...

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does it mean to rejoice? • How does rejoice "always" fit in the rhythm of everyday life? • How does the future return of Christ inform a theology of suffering? • Who is the most joyful person you know? What is their source of joy?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does the word “repay” assume? • List 2-3 ways evil can be suppressed and 2-3 ways good can be encouraged. • Are there boundaries around “to one another” and “to everyone”? Please describe. • Why is it necessary to apply these two commands to a church?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What situation or person needs more patience from you? • Why is patience with people particularly difficult, especially close family and friends? • Identify examples of waiting in the Bible. What can you learn from their patience? • Name a few spiritual blessings of patience.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What is weakness? How would you identify a person as weak? • Recall a time of personal weakness and share how someone helped you. • Where does a spiritual desire to help the weak originate? How can you cultivate this desire? • What is the church’s responsibility to help the weak in the church and in society?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does it mean to be fainthearted? How have you experienced this recently? • What is gospel-defined hope? • Describe the church member's responsibility to "encourage the fainthearted." • How should Christians view pain (physical or emotional)? What biblical examples of pain inform your conclusions?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • Who “admonishes” who according to 1 Thessalonians 5:14? • What does it mean to admonish? Have you given it or received it lately? • Share examples of idleness. • In what regular ways can a church “admonish the idle”?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • To what "day" is Amos referring (Amos 9:11, 13)? • What specific words in Amos 9:11-15 refer to restoration? Are the fulfillments figurative or literal? • Since verse 13 speaks of God’s abundant blessings, list ways in God his blessed you abundantly. • Since God preserves a remnant of Israel today, how should Christians value Israel as a people group and as a nation?

Resurrection Sunday!

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What is an altar and what does it represent? • How do you want to be perceived? Since no one can hide from God (Amos 9:2-4), how does God perceive you? • Does it comfort or scare you that God sees all things (Amos 9:8)? Why? • Amos 9:8 says, “I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, declares the Lord”. What does that tell you about God’s character?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • Do you work well with a deadline? Why or why not? • What advantage is there in Scripture warning of looming judgment? • Read the account of Israel’s dishonest (vs. 4-6). How can you grow in honesty? • Is there a famine for God’s Word today? Support your conclusion with examples.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: • What does “relent” mean? How can God, who is immutable, change his mind? • Looking at Amos 7, how effective is prayer? • What is an appropriate balance between interceding for spiritual needs and health needs? • List simple ways to pray for forgiveness and against wickedness.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4