They need to respect each other’s views, knowing that as humans, we might be wrong and not offend each other with the issues they disagree on. This means that they need to agree to publicly acknowledge their differences in interpretation as well as the areas of agreement, and give each other room and space for the Holy Spirit to enlighten…

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We can come to an interpretation that resembles the authoritative Word of God by (a) treating it as God’s word and asking its author to enlighten us, (b) reading it with a view to understanding what it says while acknowledging our biases and preconceptions i.e. exegesis and (c) interpreting the Bible with the Bible in the overall context of…

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Yes I agree. As stated in 1 Cor. 2: 14, spiritual truths are spiritually discerned. Before I got born again, i attended Church but could not read or understand or explain scripture. Within days of asking God to confirm that He was God and Jesus His son, I found myself doing just that-reading the Bible and understading it. I had become…

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The notion of fairness, right and wrong, in mankind, in a universal way or code confirms that we originate from a moral being i.e. God and hence to God’s existence though we may wish to deny his existence because of the existence or unfairness in the world.

The diversity and complexity of nature and anatomy and the technical perfection is what is baffling and amazing.” it just had to be God”, is my view on this. We as humans, though we may understand, will try to replicate but will never attain it.

I constantly hear friends and even close relatives whose parents go to church bring up criticisms about the church. The course gives us a good formula: live the biblical standard you know and hold each other to account.

It would mean that Jesus was not who he claimed he was i.e. he was Just dying like all men die and our sins are therefore still with us, unforgiven, and there is no hope for us, still.

I don’t remember ever doubting but first approached it to find out whether it was plausible or not that it could come from God. Then I observed that other religious or ‘spiritual’ non-Christian authors referred to passages from it to support some of their beliefs. I read it and found the parts that i understood plausible and insightful. Also,…

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i have not completely doubted God’s existence but on occasion i have questioned the basis for my faith for example found myself asking myself “what if God did not exist?” However, interestingly, I have found myself answering it is the only thing that makes sense or gives purpose to life. So I created a placard on which it is written “Jesus…

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The first I can think of was when I was a teenager. I used to go for catechism. A school mate asked me what God have ever done for me. Whether God existed. I felt foolish and the thought haunted me until I found Jesus many years later. Ever since, I had on multiple occasions had to defend my faith. I am not sure how well I have fared but I…

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I have, I have listened and responded more or less appropriately because, one is tempted to rebuff ‘wrong’ arguments. Also, one wonders to what extent ones gentle/considerate disposition is appropriate. The example of Philip and the eunuch is a good model. I will confidently only go as far as my ‘audience’ is willing to go and will keep in…

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Experience has been good overall and has helped me find opportunity to learn, make supportive friends and grow through the teaching of the word and some conflicts and not always pleasant encounters with other Christians. Through these I have also learned self-awareness, tolerance, how to apologise and receive apology.

If any of these were removed from my prayers my time of prayer would feel incomplete/insincere as each of these ‘items’ naturally would fit into any interaction between man and God. When we consider his holiness, greatness and love for us and the way we fail we can only but acknowledge our shortcomings, his majesty and dependency for…

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I have read through the Bible in a year, selected books for study in the year or used devotionals (briefly). I will read the Bible again in a year at some point in the future.

Prayer is about talking to God, Bible study is about listening to God and fellowship is about communicating with other christians i.e. teaching each other about Christ

God’s voice is making me make conscious choices to become more like Jesus in thought speech and deed. It is shaping my attitude to things (tangible and intangible), to people and to society (its norms and practice). It warns me against ungodliness but encourages me to be steadfast and Christ centred regardless of what society thinks.

This is the implicit communication equally has a purpose and an expected response which we might miss because of the implicit nature of the communication. Our ability to discern the implications in a passage support accurate understanding of God’s nature, ways and expectations of us; they enable us to provide an appropriate response to God…

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It helps to breakdown the passage and makes our reading and understanding more effective i.e. we consider the words spoken, their purpose (promise/encourage, warn, command) and the response to give or that was given, and how much it matches the purpose of the word

It provides useful context which is important for accurate interpretation and understanding of God’s person and character. That is essential for ‘true worship’ and a Christ-centred life that pleases God,

I don’t know how i read it. I just read it. Sometimes I see similarities and patterns across different books. Other times I struggle to understand how it fits together, hence my enrolling on this course.

Well I thought God was like ‘Multiman’. He can take any form(s) He likes and be in many places separately at the same time. Therefore, He can be three persons at the same or different places at the same time.

Not really that bad but I did have frustrations with my Dad. I did not feel abandoned by God but I wondered whether He existed at all.

God’s answer in my heart, in a time of difficulty, to the prayer “If you are God and Jesus is your son, show me” convinced me that the Bible is God’s word and worthy of all my study and attention.

There is a constant battle in me; to understand why sometimes my experience and scripture do not match and to make sure that I understand what a passage really means and align myself to it. My beliefs are initially aligned at all with scripture.

It means acknowledging that this is God’s plan that we all be different members of one body, all serving, for the body to become mature, growing in Godliness and Christlikeness. It means upholding this purpose and respecting, allowing and treasuring our differences in Christ , as God-given to the body i.e. giving every member of the body…

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Romans 6 tells us that because through our union with Christ we have died, been buried and resurrected out of Adam’s realm of sin and death, sin has no power over us, and we do not identify with Adam and that life, anymore; we have now been transferred into Jesus realm of peace, righteousness. We should therefore live in that awareness…

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The one thing I learned is that our Salvation and (good) works, come from God who (1) made us alive and raised us up with Christ (new birth and ascension to heavenly realms) out of love, and (2) made us His ‘workmanship/handiwork, created in Christ to do certain good works he had already prepared in Christ for us to walk in.

Union seems easiest because it can be described by analogy to ‘marriage’. The concepts are well explained but ‘Participation’ sounds quite deep in that it associates us with events that took place in Christ’s life in His past; which is amazing yet deep and needs dissecting.

…and depending on Him in all things

It means listening to him and seeking to know him more; giving him thanks and intentionally, actively cultivating a relationship with him

If Elijah stopped praying, nothing would have happened

Elijah understood that the fulfilment of God’s promise required him to pray in faith and persevere until God, whom he knew to be faithful and loving, fulfilled his promise

Because requests and answers are just transactional us and God is a relationship. He gave before we asked and sometimes he takes away or withholds. However in all, we know he loves us and knows what is best so we will persevere in the relationship regardless and be content with the actual answer he gives without making one up for Him.

I have. I feel closer to God, better able to pray and more in tune with God for a while until it begins to wane and I then fast and pray again.

I have seen healings (even of non Christians), employment being found (after prolonged periods of lay-off) and increased number of spiritual conversations, when out on evangelism

Committing, with another, to pray a scriptural prayer for each other, for a defined period of time. That sounds great!

Business. I feel pressured to rush through or feel too tired when ‘God time’ arrives. I have been more or less successful so far; these things sometimes keep me awake at night and prevent me from falling asleep again. However, I will apply this strategy and I believe it will work: ‘turn it into a prayer’.

I think the Lord’s prayer has been that for me. It gives me confidence to ask for the things mentioned in the prayer and be real with all my needs, struggles and temptations.

Ask, just ask, for anything, as nothing is too big or small; have God/kingdom motives and trust in your asking Him accordingly and not in the length or quality of your speech or the impression you make on others who may be seeing you.

Not a new insight but a verse that drives home clearly and explicitly the principle that we do not pray to seek his hand or strength only, but to seek his face (1 Chr. 16:11). This connects to my experience in that, scripture and sermons can be ‘theoretical’ however our relationship with God and his word become real as we respond first in prayer.

I think what t means to me is that to the extent that God is my friend and father I will run to him with my fears pain and need for comfort. I think I agree with him. In so doing I will get closer to him.

Difficult but possible. Weeping and complaining will come more naturally. Praising God and trusting in him and his plan for a however sounds like the only solution. What’s better to do?

Social support system were not entirely lost. However, the quality of interactions changed by doing everything online or by phone. The frequency of contacts was, on the other hand, easier to increase because the amount of travel required to stay.in touch reduced

Fortunately, I did not. I set reminders on my phone, to stay in course. I spent more time in devotion as I sought to take refuge in him.

Because of the emotional impact and how overwhelming it can be. Also, it is a fact that one can’t change the mind of another of personally restore what has been lost.Helplessness therefore is a natural realisation until hope in something equally good or better arises

None that I can remember.With time, however, through experience s, answered prsyer, bible reading, fellowship I grew out of the state of worrying

I can’t remember the stage I was stuck in but I do remember asking existential questions, bargaining and not accepting that what was happening was true. I experienced anger too when funeral land were being held bsck. Ultimately,my faith was born from this experienc e. The hope I now have too.

Support, regulation of emotions. It is more bearable and less frightening when we find out that we are not alone