a2f Blue of Gracepoint Fellowship Church, Berkeley

Hey guys,  we’re going to put Bible study summaries, questions and answers to questions here.

Pastor William Kang
acts2fellowship
Gracepoint Fellowship Church

December 6,2008 – “Bread of LIfe”

Question: If Christians already believe, what is the point of god putting them through all the trials?  Doe she not want as many believers in his church?  You discussed Christians whose lifestles did not reflect Christian practices, what would you characterize them as then?  Also, why does God not help shape their lives when they are so devout?

Answer: This is a good question.  Now we know that trials happen, but we don’t why they happen.  We know that we live in a fallen world, and so we’re not safe.  None of us, Christians and non-Christians, are impervious to trails and suffering.  Because God is powerful, good and loving, one would think that he would protect those who are in the church.  But we know that this is not always the case.  Sometimes he lets trials happen to Christians.  We know God redeems these difficult situations though.  They are opportunities for Christians to grow in patience, trust, hope, love, perseverance, etc.  God wants all of his followers to be like Christ, and He will often use difficult situations to sanctify his children.  Christ himself had to learn obedience through suffering, and if no student is above his teacher, then we will need to learn to be like Christ through trials and suffering as well.

Yes, God does want as many people in his church.  Protection from trials isn’t necessarily the best way to grow the church.  If you look at church history, the grew fasted during moments of persecution (e.g. 1st century in the Roman Empire) and modern day China.

As for Christians who do not reflect Christian practices…well, God wants them too.  So do other Christians who do their best to live out what they believe.  God is trying to shape them, but He won’t force them to change.

Question: What’s [the] consequences of not admitting Jesus is divine if you live by Jesus’ word?

Answer: Well, if you live by Jesus word, then you’re going believe that he is divine.  Also, I would only live by Jesus’ word if I believed he was divine.  If believed he was just another man, then I would would take no more place in my life than lessons from a good book or a good teacher.    Are you asking if you need correct theology?  Theology is important, but you don’t need to know theology to get into heaven.  All you need is to trust in God’s salvation plan.

September 19,2008 – “Water into Wine”

Text: John: 2:1-11

Question: Can you explain to me about why Jesus said, “My time has not come yet,” again, including the significance when Jesus mentions about time?

Well, Jesus could have turned the water into wine without saying anything.  But he chooses to use this opportunity to mention “his time” and that “his time hasn’t come yet.”  Jesus’ time (or the hour) is a theme in John, and it refers to the hour of his glorification, namely his death and resurrection on the cross.  When Jesus is crucified he will be glorify God by drawing all men to himself.  And so any mention of time is an inference to Jesus glorifying the father.  And so what Jesus is trying to communicate when he says “my time has not yet come yet” is the fact that the turning of water into wine is a sign, a sign that reveals who Jesus really is (the son of God, the messiah, the lamb of God, etc).  This is confirmed in v.11 of the text, where John writes that the turning of water into wine was the first miracle that Jesus did and that all his disciples put their faith in him.”  Hope that answers your question.

Question: “I don’t quite understand the point about Jesus addressing Mary formally, because he can only act on god’s authority.”

Well, Jesus could have simply did what his mother, Mary asked him.  But he says this strange thing, “Woman, why do you involve me.”  You and I would never address our own mothers as Ma’am, but that is what Jesus essentailly did.  Now why did he do it?  Well, he wanted to send a message that what he’s about to do, turning water into wine, is done out of his own authority, and not Mary’s authority or request.  It’s a weak explanation that makes sense, but is not all that compelling.  But that’s what scholars think, since “acting on God’s authority” is a theme in the book of John.

Question: How do we differentiate between figurative and literal language in the Bible?  Is the water into wine account a parable or a real life event?  both?  How do we know?

Good question.  How can we tell between figurative and literal language?  Well, it all depends on the genre of the text.  Psalms, which is know as poetic literature, uses a lot of imagery and metaphors.  Psalm 19:1, says “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  We can understand this to be figurative.  You and I know that the heavens (the skies) don’t declare or say anything, and yet the author personifies them to communicate the beauty that God’s creation seems to communicate (or declare) to the beholder.  In the Bible, there are different types of literate: law, poetry, history, etc.  The book of John is known as a gospel and it is understood to be a historical account of what actually happened.  Jesus does say parables (and you can tell when he does), but in general, especially in the story about water into wine, the events are historical narratives.  In other words, they actually happened.  John writes at the end of the gospel that everything that happened is true and they were written so that you and I may believe and find life in his name.  The events in chapter describe real things; Cana, a wedding, stone jars, master of the banquet, servants, bridegrooom, etc.  You don’t see any metaphors, similes, synecdoches, or other poetic devices being used in this narrative.  We can assume that the events actually happend.  Now just because there’s a miracle (changing of water into wine), people assume that it’s a mythological account.  Such people presuppose that there’s no supernatural power (and that’s another issue). But the bible presumes that there is a supernatural power, and so the bible is consistent in it’s account of history and it’s worldview.  We should not be surprised to see miracles happening when there is a miracle maker.  And last, just because the events are literal, we’re not to draw just literal conlcusions or applications.  We can draw lessons from historical events. Just as a single rock can make a ripple in the water, so can one man make a ripple in history.  Just as wine runs out of a wedding, so does joe or happiness run out of things in our lives. And so just as Jesus changed water into wine, so to can he renew your life.  I hope this helps.