Queen's Road Cell

 4. a. What do the disciples learn about Jesus in 8:22-25? In Mark the disciples rebuke the Lord "Do you not care if we perish?" Mk 4:38) and in Matthew they call out to Jesus to save them (Mt 8:25). Jesus rebuked the wind as God rebuked the Red Sea (Ps 106:9) and ruled over the waters (Ps 89:9) The point Luke wants his readers to note is "Who then is this?" (v.25). Mastery over the forces of nature is authority of a higher order than authority over illness. In the presence of Jesus' power the disciples are again 'afraid' (Gk. phobeo ) cf. Mt 8:25 b. What do they learn about themselves?   "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" are also Jesus' questions to us. The disciples had shown fear (Gk deilos ) rather than faith. They knew Jesus could help but did not see that His mere presence with them already assured their safety although he was asleep in the boat. They learned that they did not know Jesus well enough.  What did the...

We covered some basic questions that Joshua's BB boys asked him at devotions. If God is all-powerful, why doesn't He make everybody worship Him? I now cannot remember who said what! I think Joshua said he framed this in terms of relationship. Relationships cannot be forced. You can't force someone to love you. On reflection this may be slightly simplistic. God, being God, would have the ability to make us sincerely and truly love Him. Even so, we who are made in the image of God have the ability to choose to love Him. I did not mention this, but we are held responsible for our moral choices (e.g. to love God or not). This is not to be confused with 'free will'. Our wills are bound by sin and we are spiritually dead. And so we are told that we cannot love God and come to Him unless he enables us to do so. But that is probably a bit much to throw at Sec 1 boys all at once. Why is there a hell? This is a tough question because teaching that non-believers go t...