Women of Grace Spring Semester ‘04

With the Master in the Upper Room

Homework for Lesson Fifteen: John 15:17-21

The World’s Twofold Response to Christians:
Hatred and Persecution

Your Homework is Not Only to Sharpen Your Understanding of the Bible but a Ministry to Others in Your Small Groups! Be Faithful to Give Careful Thought to Each Answer with the Expectation of Sharing with Others What You have Discovered.

 

Memory Work-John 15:18

 

1) Read John 15 and list all the warnings that Jesus gives the disciples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) (a) Jesus told the disciples that the world hated Him before they hated them. What kind of hatred did Jesus endure and what was His response according to the following verses? John 1: 10,11

 

 

John 5:16-18

 

 

John 6:66

 

 

John 7:1

 

 

John 7:30-32

 

 

John 8:40

 

 

John 8:59

 

 

John 10:31-39

 

 

John 11:57

 

 

3) (a) Jesus prepares the disciples by telling them they will be persecuted ( John 15:20). Read the following verses and write down what kinds of persecution some New Testament saints endured. Also, if it is recorded, note the attitudes which accompanied their sufferings.

Acts 5:40-42

 

 

Acts 7:54-60

 

 

Acts 8:1-4

 

 

Acts 12:1-4

 

 

Acts 16:16-34

 

 

I Cor. 4:11-14

 

 

II Cor. 4:8-11

 

 

II Cor. 11: 23-28

 

 

Gal. 6:17

 

 

(b) How does this compare to your sufferings and your attitudes when suffering?

 

 

 

 

 

4) (a) Read Matthew 5:13-16 and II Timothy 3:12, and list some possible reasons why some Christians may not be receiving the persecution that Jesus promised would happen?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) What would be your definition of a closet Christian?

 

 

 

(c) How does your life make an impact on the world?

 

 

 

 

 

(d) How do believers become "salt that is worthless" or "lamps that have been placed under a bushel"?

 

 

 

 

 

5) (a) How does the world today manifest hatred towards Christians?

 

 

 

(b) Has the world become more Christianized, or have Christians become worldlier? Explain your answer.

 

 

 

 

6) How have you prepared those whom you disciple, your children, and those you teach, that persecution and hatred will indeed happen to them?

 

 

 

 

 

7) (a) Share a time when you were hated or persecuted because you were a Christian.

 

 

 

(b) Were you able to rejoice?

 

 

 

(c) What did you learn about Christ, about the world, and about yourself during that time?

 

 

 

 

8) Are you currently being persecuted because of your faith? How can we pray for you? If not, how might we pray to prepare you for when or if those times of persecution come? ("All those who live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution" II Timothy 3:12.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come with a request so that we might pray for you.