MEMORY VERSE SELECTIONS

I John 3:22 “And whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

Luke 11:9-11 “And I say unto you, Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?”

SCRIPTURE READING

Deuteronomy 28 - Observe the consequences of blessings and curses that come upon God’s people because of their choices.

Proverbs 1 - Calamity results from not listening.

Luke 10:1-8 - There are lessons to learn - even from the lives of unjust people.

CHAPTER 23 QUESTIONS

1. 1. What is better than obedience?
   

2. 2.  According to I John 3:22, what must we do to have our prayers answered? (two answers)
   

1. a)keep the Lord’s commandments 
   

2. b)attend regular church services
   

3. c)pray continually
   

4. d)please Him with our manner of living
   

5. e)join with many others in prayer
   

3. 3.  Why do newly saved Christians seem to have their prayers answered so easily?
   

4. 4.When we are sure God is telling us to play video games we should
   

1. a)rebuke Him.
   

2. b) have our hearing checked by a professional. 
   

3. c)play video games.
   

4. d) fast and pray.
   

5. 5. Why are little acts of obedience so important?  Use Noah as an example to illustrate your answer.
   

6. 6. We are Jesus’ disciples if we
   

1. a)play video games 
   

2. b)do whatever He commands us to do 
   

3. c)pray the sinner’s prayer and weep a little 
   

4. d)are born into a Christian family
   

7. 7. Obedience is an offering that feels like a cross experience, a sacrifice.  T     F 
   

8. 8. Good deeds make up for disobedience.  T    F 
   

9. 9. Friendships can be conditional, even with Jesus.  In John 15:14, Jesus said, “You are my friends if______________________________________.
   

10. 10.  What constitutes a spiritual offering? 
    

1. a)giving God the excess of our good things 
   

2. b)nobody really knows 
   

3. c)giving God that which is most valuable to us 
   

4. d)offering an oversized bull, ox or pregnant sheep
   

11. 11. Isaiah 65:24 is exciting: “And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”  Why do we often have to wait for God to answer our prayers? 
    

12. 12.  God’s heart is won with persistence, the “never-give-up” attitude.  T    F
    

13. 13.  Does God ever answer our prayers before we have a chance to ask anything of Him?  Yes    No
    

14. 14.  What are the names of the two elderly folks who persisted in prayer looking for the Messiah, Jesus Christ?
    

15. 15.  Which one of the following Bible characters do we admire for their persistence in seeking God? 
    

1. a)Titus 
   

2. b)Jacob 
   

3. c)Pharisees
   

4. d)Jonah
   

16. 16.  Why do you think Jesus directs our focus to such downcast people like the Canaanite woman and the rude man who wakes his friend in the middle of the night?
    

17. 17. Never underestimate the power and eternal affects
    

1. a)of the almighty dollar
   

2. b)of human strength
   

3. c)of the power of the moment 
   

4. d)of the influence of heredity
   

18. 18.  Time is our spiritual money, therefore.... (Complete this sentence.)
    
    

RESOURCES

CHALLENGES

Knowing how much God responds to those who are obedient and persistent, try an experiment under His watchful eyes.  Dare yourself to take an outlandish step of obedience in a needed area of your life.  Try it to see what happens in your heart, your attitude and the people around you.  This is especially daring to try at home where you are surrounded by those who know you so well. 

JOURNAL:

Journal your answers to these questions after your experiment:

1. 1. Did you find new grace that empowered you to do the right thing - to obey God when you didn’t have to?
   

2. 2. How did your obedience affect your heart attitude toward God, others and yourself?
   

3.  Did your persistent obedience affect those around you?  If not, perhaps they were distracted.  Be assured that the Lord is always watchful, and we don’t behave to be seen and rewarded by people.  Amen!