Living in the Image of God

Human Effort Plus Miracle to Accomplish Goal

Living in the Image of God M05S07

Peter’s escape from Herod’s prison conveys understanding that God provides miracles to combine with human effort to accomplish his goals. He freed Peter from prison but left him to complete his escape from King Herod by human effort. Also, through his interactions with disciples during two storms on Sea of Galilee, Christ conveys understanding of human relationship with God regarding faith, human effort, and miracles. In the first storm, the disciples panicked and shifted focus from work to seeking Jesus. He released a miracle to end the storm, then scolded the disciples for lack of faith. In the second storm, the disciples focused on work but were distracted by the glory of Jesus walking on water. He encouraged them to keep working and released a miracle to end the storm. The examples convey understanding that God sees your human effort, encourages you to keep working, and will intervene with miracle when and how he chooses. Therefore, focus on doing what you can humanly do in every endeavor.

Human Effort Plus Miracle to Accomplish Goal 18:53

In this bible study, we discuss examples from the bible to understand that God provides miracles to combine with human effort to accomplish his goals.

First, we discuss Peter’s escape from Herod’s prison. An angel freed Peter from prison, but left him at a short distance from the prison, where Herod’s people could easily recapture him if he stayed there. Therefore, Peter still needed human effort to complete his escape from Herod. That is, a combination of miracle plus human effort occurred to accomplish the goal of “Peter’s escape from Herod.”

Second, we discuss Christ interactions with disciples during two storms on Lake Galilee. In the first storm, the disciples panicked as they feared that Jesus was not aware of their struggle with the storm. They shifted focus from human effort to seeking Jesus to intervene. He released a miracle to end the storm and scolded the disciples for lack of faith. In the second storm, the disciples focused on human effort but were distracted when they saw Jesus walking on water. He encouraged them to keep working. Then he entered the boat and released a miracle to end the storm.

The accounts help us understand that God has given us capabilities to accomplish every goal that he has established for us, calls every person to apply their capabilities in every situation, and will determine when and how to intervene with miracles as needed. Therefore, focus on doing what you can humanly do. God sees your effort and will choose when and how to provide a miracle.

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Living in the Image of God

Mission Accountability Example from Peter

Living in the Image of God M05S06

We discuss Peter’s interactions with Jewish believers in Jerusalem, regarding his meeting with Gentiles in Caesarea: to understand that every participant in a mission is accountable to the mission objectives and other mission participants. “Accountable” implies an obligation to obtain necessary permission and seek other participants’ understanding regarding actions that can affect performance of the mission objectives. In the example from Peter, Jewish believers in Jerusalem questioned his interactions with Gentiles and Peter responded to them in detail, respectful of their right to demand explanation. They were satisfied with his response. Further, they accepted his message that every person is entitled to receive the Gospel and their mission included spreading the Gospel to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Mission Accountability Example from Peter 21:43

This bible study focuses on understanding mission accountability. To begin, we recall that every mission belongs to God, if the mission objectives and methods and procedures are consistent with Living in the Image of God. Whether the mission is by a single person or group of persons, every member is accountable to the mission objectives and to other mission participants.

We discuss an example from Apostle Peter, based on his address to Jewish believers in Jerusalem, regarding his meeting in Caesarea with Cornelius and other Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews). The Jewish believers had questioned Peter’s interactions with the Gentiles: “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them’” [Acts 11:2–3]. He responded to them in detail and through his response showed he respected and honored their right to demand explanation.

The Jerusalem believers were satisfied with Peter’s response. Further, they accepted his message that every person is entitled to receive the Gospel and their mission included spreading the Gospel to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike: “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life’” [Acts 11:18].

Peter’s response to the Jewish believers illustrates mission accountability: that every participant in a mission is accountable to the mission objectives and other mission participants.

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Living in the Image of God

Receiving God Guidance and Directive

Living in the Image of God M05S05

The bible provides understanding that God can communicate with an individual using several methods and chooses the method that is effective for a person and circumstance. In one example, he sent an angel to Philip to deliver a directive regarding interaction with an Ethiopian and, later, provided a second instruction directly to Philip through the Holy Spirit. In a second example regarding the Peter-Cornelius meeting; God sent an angel to Cornelius in a vision to deliver a directive that he should invite Peter to his home; interacted with Peter in a vision to convey a message that Gentiles are entitled to receive the Gospel; and later informed Peter through the Holy Spirit to accept an invitation from three men that had arrived to see him. In the interactions, God used two different methods to communicate two messages of different complexity to the same person. The study includes Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: that every person can receive the Holy Spirit; who connects directly to the Spirit of God, receives instructions from God, and interprets the instructions to provide God guidance and directives.

Receiving God Guidance and Directive 27:01

In this bible study, we discuss several examples to understand that God communicates with individuals using several methods. He chooses the method of communication that is effective for a person and circumstance.

We discuss an example regarding interactions between the apostle Philip and the Ethiopian Minister of the Treasury, when Philip received God guidance and directive to meet and interact with the minister, for the purpose of delivering the Gospel to him. God provided the instructions to Philip using two methods of communication, for the same person in different circumstances. First, he sent an angel to Philip to deliver the initial directive. Second, he delivered an instruction to Philip directly through the Holy Spirit.

In a second example, we discuss interactions regarding a meeting between Peter and Cornelius, when God sent Peter to deliver the Gospel to Cornelius. To prepare Cornelius for the meeting, God sent an angel to him in a vision to deliver a directive that he should invite Peter to his home. Thereafter, God used two encounters to prepare Peter. First, he interacted with Peter in a vision to convey a philosophical message that Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews) are entitled to receive the Gospel. Second, he informed Peter through the Holy Spirit that three men had arrived to deliver an invitation to him, the invitation was of God, and he should accept. In the interactions with Peter, God used two different methods to communicate two messages of different complexity to the same person.

The study concludes with information from Paul’s letter to Corinthians, regarding communication with God through the Holy Spirit. He informed the Corinthians, and us today, that every person can receive the Holy Spirit. Further, the Holy Spirit connects directly to the Spirit of God, receives instructions from God, and interprets the instructions to provide God guidance and directives to the person. Thus, every person can receive and follow God guidance and directives. Please watch the video discussion for more information regarding communicating with God through the Holy Spirit.

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Living in the Image of God

Recognizing Wolves Among the Sheep

Living in the Image of God M05S04

The account of Simon the Sorcerer illustrates Christ teaching that there could be wolves among the sheep: people that embed themselves among followers of Christ but are motivated by a selfish and dangerous purpose. Given time and opportunity, they will show themselves through interactions with others. Simon the Sorcerer was hungry for personal power and embedded himself among members of the early church in Samaria, pretending to be one of them. He was, however, motivated by envy for the power he saw in the apostles and desired to acquire similar power for personal greatness. His intention was not recognized initially but revealed itself when he offered money to buy the power of God he saw in the apostles. Peter rebuked him and advised him to repent and pray for forgiveness.

Recognizing Wolves Among the Sheep 21:21

We discuss the account of Simon the Sorcerer to advance understanding of Christ teaching regarding wolves in sheep’s clothing: people that embed themselves among followers of Christ but are motivated by a selfish and dangerous purpose. The teaching provides a two-part message. First, he warns that there could be wolves among the sheep. Second, he calls for patience regarding the wolves, because they will show themselves through interactions with others, given time and opportunity. The message calls for cautious vigilance regarding motivations among the Christian family: those living to follow Jesus and love people and others seeking camouflage for a selfish and nefarious motivation.

The account of Simon the Sorcerer provides an excellent illustration of wolves in sheep’s clothing. He was a widely admired magician in Samaria that embedded himself among Christian followers of the apostle Philip, during the early history of the church there. Several members of the early church in Jerusalem left after the death of Stephen. One of them, Philip, arrived in Samaria and began to grow the church there. Simon the Sorcerer embedded himself among followers of Philip and pretended to be one of them. However, his motivation was that he admired the power he saw in Philip and sought to gain similar power for personal greatness. The Christians did not recognize his intentions initially.

Later, Peter and John arrived in Samaria to assist with growing the church there. They led people to receive the Holy Spirit by laying hands on them. Simon the Sorcerer offered money to Peter and John to purchase the power to give the Holy Spirit. Through this action, he revealed his real motivation for following along with the Christians: he was seeking personal greatness that he hoped to achieve by acquiring the power he saw in the Apostles. Peter rebuked him and advised him to pray for forgiveness, for seeking to buy the power of God with money.

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Living in the Image of God

By the Name and Power and for a Purpose of Jesus

Living in the Image of God M05S03

In an interaction with the Sanhedrin (council of Jewish rulers, elders and teachers of the law), Peter and John explained their healing a lame man as an act of compassion motivated by care and accomplished by the name and power of Jesus. That is, human actions of Peter and John by faith of the name and power of Jesus led to a miracle that healed the lame man. Their explanation conveys a message: that an act of compassion motivated by care of the needy fulfills God’s purpose and will be accomplished by the name and power of God. Therefore, in a call to compassion (when you are alerted to provide goods or service to benefit others in need), focus on doing what you can humanly do; because your task belongs to God and he will work through your human effort to accomplish his goal.

By the Name and Power and for a Purpose of Jesus 18:21

We discuss Peter-and-John explanation of their healing a lame man: to understand their message of compassion, that an act of compassion motivated by care of the needy fulfills God’s purpose and will be accomplished by the name and power of God. Peter and John were brought to the Sanhedrin (council of Jewish rulers, elders and teachers of the law) to explain their healing a lame man [Acts 4:7]: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

They explained that the healing was “an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame” [Acts 4:9] and accomplished “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” [Acts 4:10]. That is, human actions of Peter and John by faith of the name and power of Jesus led to a miracle that healed the lame man.

Their explanation to the Sanhedrin conveys a message that an act of compassion is a task of God and will be accomplished by the name and power of God, through a combination of human effort and miracles. Therefore, in a call to compassion, focus on doing what you can humanly do, because your task belongs to God and he will work through your human effort to accomplish his goal.

As we discuss previously under Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion (M05S02), a call to compassion means that God alerts a person to the need of another and calls the person to recognize the need and needy, care about the needy, commit to providing goods or service to alleviate the need, and persevere in seeking to do so. Peter and John recognized the lame man’s need, cared about him, committed to doing what they could to alleviate his need, and persevered by faith of the name and power of God to accomplish the objective.

We discuss their interactions with the man as a series of step-by-step human actions that culminated in a miracle healing of the lame man.

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Living in the Image of God

Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion

Living in the Image of God M05S02

Peter and John encountered a lame beggar at the temple gate in Jerusalem. The man was there to solicit financial help and expected money from them. However, they could not offer money but recognized they could offer him healing in the name of Jesus. They managed his expectation, by explaining to him that the nature of what they could offer differed from what he expected. Managing beneficiary expectation in a call to compassion is important, to enhance beneficiary appreciation and prepare them for their responsibility of propagating the benefit of the service through others in need. Having modified the man’s expectation, Peter and John offered him a helping hand, which he accepted and was healed instantly. He showed appreciation by following the apostles through the temple court; jumping, dancing, and praising God; in a public testimony regarding his healing.

Managing Expectation in a Call to Compassion 19:41

In this bible study, we discuss managing expectations in a call to compassion, based on Peter-and-John interactions with a lame man they healed in Jerusalem. Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer when they encountered a lame beggar at the temple gate. The man was there to solicit financial assistance and expected a gift of money from them. They, however, realized they could not offer money but instead could offer him healing in the name of Jesus. They managed the man’s expectation, by explaining that the nature of what they could offer him differed from what he expected.

Managing beneficiary expectation in a call to compassion is important: to help the beneficiary understand what is being offered and prepare them to appreciate the offer better. Beneficiary appreciation is important to prepare themselves for their responsibility of propagating the benefit of the human service through others in need.

The lame man understood what they were offering him before accepting their offer. They offered him a helping hand, which he accepted knowing that the hand was not presenting an offer of money. He was healed instantly. He showed appreciation by following the apostles through the temple court; jumping, dancing, and praising God; in a public testimony regarding his healing.

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Living in the Image of God

Extra Mile for Peace—Understanding Peacemaker Responsibility

Living in the Image of God M05S01

The first bible study for our 2024 program year focuses on understanding what God expects of a person in living in peace with others. Christ declares the peacemaker responsibility and promise of blessing in the seventh Beatitude and provides details in the gospel to explain the responsibility. Through the gospel, he conveys a message that the peacemaker responsibility entails doing better than required under the law and custom, to respond peacefully and invite others to do the same, in every interaction with others. The peacemaker responsibility entails going an extra mile for peace by responding with love, irrespective of how the other party feels about you or what they do or fail to do. Disarm aggression by finding a path to peace; love your enemy, be good to them, and give to them without expecting refund; recognize every opportunity for non-commercial giving of goods or service as a call to compassion and provide what you can to alleviate the need. God will accept as peacemakers and children of the Most High, those that he judges as fulfilling the responsibility.

Extra Mile for Peace 26:15

This study begins the 2024 program year of bible studies by the Banking Blessings Ministry. We look forward to an enriching program to advance our understanding of God’s purpose for human interactions and relationships and share the understanding more effectively to an increasing population. In this session, we discuss Christ teaching to understand what he expects from a peacemaker.

The discussion begins with the seventh Beatitude, where Christ declares the peacemaker responsibility and promise of blessing. The discussion continues with his explanations of the responsibility, based on the gospel according to Matthew and the gospel according to Luke. Through the explanations, Christ conveys a message that the peacemaker responsibility entails doing better than required under the law and custom, to respond peacefully and invite others to do the same, in every interaction with others.

We discuss the Extra-mile teaching and several examples from his teaching on overcoming evil with good. The examples include a comparison of the “eye for eye” custom against God’s expectation for peace: Love your enemy, be good to your enemy, assist those in need without expecting refund, and do for others as you would expect others to do for you.

The study continues with a discussion of Paul’s explanation of the individual responsibility regarding peace: that is, his explanation of what God expects of a peacemaker. The study concludes by presenting the peacemaker message as a charge and promise; or do{}-then{} promise, where the do{} clause is the charge and the then{} clause is the promise.

The study video provides more-friendly conversation, from our living room to yours, consisting of a focused and concise message presentation followed by an open discussion of the message. The open discussion for this session focuses on the role of apology in the peacemaker responsibility.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility Regarding Christ Teaching

Living in the Image of God M04S21

Christ teaching leads to understanding that the purpose of the word of God is to guide people through living and interacting with others in accordance with God’s purpose revealed through his word. That is, to guide people through Living in the Image of God. People that receive Christ teaching and apply the message in their living are followers of Christ (i.e., Christians). The others either fail to receive his teaching or receive but fail to apply the message in their living. Those are not followers of Christ, even if they invoke his name frequently. Thus, a Christian is a person that has received Christ teaching (the word of God) and applies the message in his or her living.

Image for M04S21 Individual Responsibility Regarding Christ Teaching
M04S21 Individual Responsibility Regarding Christ Teaching

This bible study discusses Christ teaching to understand the contrast between followers of Christ (i.e., Christians) and non-followers, based on a person receiving Christ teaching and applying the message in their living. His teaching defines a binary categorization of people. One category consists of those that receive his message and practice what he says: “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like” [Luke 6:47]. The other category consists of people that either fail to receive Christ message or receive but fail to practice what he says [Luke 6:46]: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” The second category are not followers of Christ, even if they invoke his name frequently.

This study marks the end of our 2023 program year. We thank you for sharing with us this year and look forward to beginning our 2024 program during the second week of February.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Mary-Joseph Childhood of Jesus Individual Responsibility Honor-Support Family Leadership

Living in the Image of God M04S20

God called Mary-Joseph to a ministry of parenting the Messiah through pregnancy, childhood care, and transition to adulthood. Mary was called as Mother of the Messiah and Joseph to lead the ministry as the earthly father of the Messiah. As overall leader, Joseph received family-care instructions: such as the escape to Egypt, return to Israel several years later, and redirection to Galilee instead of Judea. Their interactions in the events illustrate unity in parenting through honor and support for family leadership. Further, their unity and purpose in parenting showed through annual trips to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover; which provided opportunity for the child to develop community sensitivity, as he mingled and interacted freely with friends and relations during the celebrations and long trek to and from the festival. The study indicates that God calls every husband-wife union to a parenting ministry and provides them family-care instructions: such as seeking unity in parenting through honor and support for family leadership; teaching same to the children through their observation of parents; and exposing the children to community sensitivity by honoring customs and practices important to their people in fulfilling God’s purpose for the community, similar to the Festival of the Passover in the case of Jesus.

Mary-Joseph Childhood of Jesus Individual Responsibility Honor-Support Family Leadership 22:51

This study is the second of two segments on the Mary-Joseph ministry as earthly parents of the Messiah, in continuation of the bible study series on understanding the individual responsibility regarding family leadership. The series is based on bible examples of husband-wife interactions and relationships: including the Shunammite couple; Adam and Eve; Abraham-Sarah; Isaac-Rebekah; and Mary-Joseph, the parents of the Messiah.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Mary-Joseph Pregnancy and Individual Responsibility Honor-Support Family Leadership

Living in the Image of God M04S19

God called Mary-Joseph to accept pregnancy with Jesus and begin a husband-wife ministry of parenting the Messiah, thus fulfilling his promise by sending the Messiah through a natural human family. Mary was called to be the Mother of the Messiah and Joseph called to be the earthly father. They would face difficulties due to the unusual pregnancy, but their love for each other and love of God prepared them to understand and accept responsibilities regarding the ministry. This two-part study of the ministry begins with Mary as the leader and Joseph the supporter. Mary’s initial responsibility was to accept pregnancy with Jesus and Joseph’s was to support Mary by accepting her as his wife despite the extraneous pregnancy. Subsequently, the second part of the study will show that Joseph’s support for Mary began his responsibility as overall leader of the husband-wife ministry.

Mary-Joseph Pregnancy Individual Responsibility Honor-Support Family Leadership 20:25

We discuss the call of Mary-Joseph as earthly parents of the Messiah, in continuation of the bible study series on understanding the individual responsibility regarding family leadership. The series is based on bible examples of husband-wife interactions and relationships: including the Shunammite couple, Adam and Eve, Abraham-Sarah and Isaac-Rebekah.

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