A. What is the one key idea of this chapter?
We are called the share the good news of Jesus. We learn about the New Testament letters and the happenings of the early Church to deepen our understanding of the importance of personal integrity and the importance of living a life of faith, commitment, and action in the name of Jesus. We are called to proclaim the values of Jesus through the way we live our lives and how we interact with others. We are called to spread to good news through sharing it with everyone we meet, even just by them seeing the way we act as followers of Christ. We are called to follow the example of the disciples of the early Church by joyfully proclaiming the greatness of Jesus.
B. Write about two major ideas you want to remember. Write a short paragraph on each clearly stating the idea and then telling why you want to remember it.
I think a great concept to strive for and keep in mind from this chapter is the idea of the “I can do” attitude. The book says this means “being able to accomplish great things no matter what happens in life, knowing that the strength one needs is as close as a prayer or the support of Christ.” As I looked through chapter nine for concepts to remember this really struck me. If I had this attitude all the time, I would be a much happier person I think. I don’t think anyone has this attitude all the time; I interpret this as a very idealistic concept. For me, to have the “I can do” attitude would be a great thing to strive for. I would cope with failure better, be a nice person, and probably be more successful if I had the attitude of putting my faith in Jesus and not letting bad things drag me down. I think that striving for this attitude is something I should seriously begin to consider in my life.
I would also like to remember the story of Paul’s ministry in spreading the Word. He was the exact opposite of a Christian when he had his conversion; he imprisoned and killed them! After he opened his life to Jesus, he was a great man! His faith was so deep that he was stoned, beaten, persecuted, and even died for his faith in Christ. He was a role model for the early Church in that he instructed early Christian communities on how to live, and had a strong faith himself that he exhibited in the towns he preached in. His faith must have been contagious, as shown through his successes in some of the towns he went to. I think striving to live a life as Paul did after his conversion is something that could make me a better person, and a better spreader of the message of Christ.
C. One image that captures the chapter for you.
Paul’s Conversion Experience
D. One significant question from the chapter.
How did Paul convert people? What did he say to people in the towns he traveled to that had them so ready to just join the Way? If his message was so contrary to so many Jewish practices, what could he have possibly said that stopped absolutely everyone from attacking him?
E. What is your most favorite passage from an epistle? Copy the passage and tell why it is important to you.
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
I like this passage especially because I feel like more than anything it applies to me today. Some of the lessons in the Bible I feel are almost old-fashioned, like they were meant to apply back in the time of Jesus. I really feel like I can apply this in my life. I feel less alone, less hopeless, and more able to go on through struggles when I think about this passage. No matter what my problems, God is there to help me through and provide a way out of suffering. All trials seem easier when you feel you have someone by your side, and this passage is a reminder to me that I do.