WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 2012

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

In His teachings as the True Vine, Jesus maintained that prayers could be answered if the disciples abide in Him. In John 15:7, Jesus says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." The emphasis is on the importance of maintaining a close, intimate relationship with Jesus, through which the disciple can receive and experience the power of the Holy Spirit, and have their prayers answered.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

In his letter to Philemon, Paul emphasizes the theme of forgiveness. The letter is a personal appeal to Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and to receive him back as a brother in Christ. Paul expresses his confidence in Philemon's ability to do the right thing and to show forgiveness, highlighting the importance of extending grace to others. The letter shows how forgiveness and reconciliation are central to the Christian faith and how it can lead to unity and healing within the community. Therefore, forgiveness is the main theme of Paul's letter to Philemon.

Antwortdetails

According to the Sermon on the Mount, God's kingdom would be filled with those who were poor in spirit, meek, mournful, and hungry and thirsty for righteousness. In the Bible, the Sermon on the Mount is a collection of teachings given by Jesus to his disciples and a large crowd of people on a mountain. In this sermon, Jesus describes the qualities of those who are blessed and will inherit the kingdom of heaven. He says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit, who recognize their need for God, and the meek, who are humble and gentle. Jesus also says that those who mourn will be comforted and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. In this way, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility, compassion, and a desire for righteousness in those who seek to follow God and enter the kingdom of heaven.

Antwortdetails

In Corinthians, Paul stated that he was unfit to be called an apostle because he persecuted the Church. This means that he considered himself unworthy of being called an apostle because he had a past of persecuting and killing Christians before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. He recognized that he was a sinner and did not deserve the grace of God, but it was only through God's mercy and forgiveness that he was able to become an apostle and preach the gospel.

Antwortdetails

The virtue exhibited by the Centurion in the healing of his servant was faith. In the story, the Centurion approached Jesus and asked for healing for his servant who was paralyzed and suffering greatly. When Jesus offered to come and heal the servant, the Centurion humbly replied that he was not worthy to have Jesus under his roof and believed that if Jesus simply spoke the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed by the Centurion's faith and declared that it was the greatest faith he had seen in all of Israel. Therefore, it was the Centurion's strong faith in Jesus' ability to heal his servant that resulted in the miraculous healing.

Antwortdetails

When Elijah's sacrifice was consumed by fire at Mount Carmel, the people reacted by saying, "The Lord is God" (1 Kings 18:39). This event occurred during a time when Israel was struggling with idolatry and disobedience to God. Elijah challenged the prophets of the false god Baal to a test of power, and the God of Israel demonstrated His supremacy by consuming Elijah's sacrifice with fire from heaven. The people's response of "The Lord is God" was a recognition of God's power and authority over all other gods. It was a turning point for Israel, as they were reminded of God's faithfulness and provision. This event is significant because it marked a moment of spiritual renewal for the nation and served as a catalyst for the people to turn away from their idolatry and back to God.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

The Philippians showed their solidarity with Paul while in prison by sending gifts to him through Epaphroditus. This is evidenced in Philippians 4:18 where Paul thanks them for the gifts they sent him, saying "I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent." The gifts were not just a material provision but also a show of support and encouragement from the Philippian church to Paul during his difficult time in prison.

Antwortdetails

The statement by Tobias was meant to taunt and ridicule the Jews. Tobias was an enemy of the Jews who opposed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. In this statement, he was expressing his contempt for the Jews' efforts to rebuild the walls by suggesting that their work was so poorly done that even a small and insignificant animal like a fox could easily destroy it. This was meant to discourage and belittle the Jews and make them feel like their efforts were pointless and insignificant.

Antwortdetails

According to Matthew's account of the baptism of Jesus, the voice from heaven said "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This means that the voice from heaven was identifying Jesus as God's beloved Son, who had been sent to earth for a special purpose, and expressing satisfaction with him.

Antwortdetails

God provided water for the Israelites by asking Moses to strike the rock of the Wilderness of Sin. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, they became thirsty and complained to Moses. God instructed Moses to strike a rock in the Wilderness of Sin with his staff, and when he did, water gushed out for the people to drink. This was a miraculous provision of water by God to sustain the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness.

Antwortdetails

According to Paul in 2 Thessalonians, one of the signs of the second coming of Christ would be the revelation of the man of lawlessness. This man is described as one who opposes and exalts himself above everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Therefore, the man of lawlessness is a symbol of evil, and his appearance would signal the end times and the imminent return of Christ.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Abram was 99 years old when God appeared to him the second time. God's appearance to Abram is recorded in Genesis 17, where He promised to establish an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants. At the time of this encounter, God also changed Abram's name to Abraham, which means "father of many nations," and promised him a son through his wife Sarah, despite their advanced age. This appearance was significant because it renewed God's promise to Abraham and served as a reminder of God's faithfulness. Despite Abraham's doubts and uncertainties, God fulfilled His promises and blessed Abraham and his descendants.

Antwortdetails

On the fourth day of creation, God created the two great lights - the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night - as well as the stars. This is recorded in Genesis 1:14-19. The sun and the moon were created by God to be a source of light and to divide the day from the night. The stars were also created to give light on the earth and to be signs for seasons, days, and years.

Antwortdetails

When Stephen said that "yet the most high does not dwell in houses made with hands," he was arguing that God cannot be confined to a physical structure or temple made by humans. He was emphasizing that God is not limited by space or time, and that He is everywhere and in everything. Therefore, Stephen's defense suggests that God is omnipresent, meaning that He is present everywhere at the same time.

Antwortdetails

The words "Tabitha, arise" were said by Peter during the raising of Dorcas from death. Dorcas, also known as Tabitha, was a disciple who was known for her good works and acts of charity. After she died, her friends prepared her body for burial and sent for Peter, who was in a nearby town. When Peter arrived, he went into the room where Dorcas' body was laid out, and after praying, he said, "Tabitha, arise." Miraculously, Dorcas came back to life, and many people in the town believed in the Lord as a result.

Antwortdetails

The first directive given to man after God had created him was "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." This means that God commanded Adam and Eve to procreate and populate the earth with their offspring, and also to take care of the earth and all that was in it. This directive implies that God's original plan was for humans to be in charge of the earth, taking care of it and all the living things in it.

Antwortdetails

Jesus demonstrated his compassion for humanity in all the listed miracles except for the healing of the centurion's servant. In this miracle, Jesus healed the servant of a Roman centurion who had shown great faith in Jesus' ability to heal without physically being present. Although Jesus was willing to heal the servant, this miracle did not directly involve Jesus showing compassion for humanity in the way that the other miracles did. In contrast, the feeding of the five thousand and the four thousand demonstrated Jesus' compassion by feeding the hungry crowds, and the healing of the paralytic demonstrated Jesus' compassion by healing someone who was physically and socially marginalized.

Antwortdetails

This statement, "He saved others, he cannot save himself," was said by the crowd of people during the crucifixion of Jesus. The statement is a taunt to Jesus, implying that since he was known for performing miracles and saving others, he should also be able to save himself from his current situation. However, the statement also has a deeper meaning as it relates to Jesus' mission on earth, which was to sacrifice himself for the salvation of others. Therefore, he could not save himself because he had to fulfill his purpose of saving humanity from sin.

Antwortdetails

In the first creation story, the major difference between man and all other living things was that man was created in the image of the creator. This means that man was given a unique status and role in creation, different from all other living things. This image of God in man is what distinguishes him from all other creatures, and it is the basis of his special relationship with God. This also means that man has a special responsibility to care for and steward the rest of creation as God's representative.

Antwortdetails

According to Daniel, the command of Nebuchadnezzar to worship the golden image amounted to idolatry. This is because idolatry is the worship of idols or images as gods, and in this case, Nebuchadnezzar had commanded that everyone should worship the golden image he had set up.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Joseph named his first son "Manasseh" because God made him forget his hardship. According to the Bible, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and was taken to Egypt. In Egypt, he faced many hardships, including being falsely accused of a crime and spending time in prison. However, God helped him interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he was eventually made a powerful ruler in Egypt. When Joseph's first son was born, he named him Manasseh, which means "to forget" in Hebrew, because he wanted to forget all the hardship and suffering he had endured in his past. Therefore, the name "Manasseh" symbolizes the idea of moving on from the past and looking towards the future with hope and gratitude for the blessings of God.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

In the Transfiguration, Jesus took with him three of his disciples: Peter, James, and John. They went up to a mountain, and there Jesus was transfigured before them, with his face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming as white as light. Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked with Jesus. This event was a significant moment in the Gospels, revealing Jesus' divine nature to his closest followers and foreshadowing his eventual glory.

Antwortdetails

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel for his farewell address at Shechem. According to Joshua 24:1, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel. There, he recounted the history of Israel and reminded the people of God's faithfulness to them. He then challenged them to choose between serving the Lord or serving other gods, declaring "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Shechem was an important city in ancient Israel, located between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and was a significant site for the Israelites.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

The phrase "Son of Man" emphasizes the humanity of the prophet Ezekiel. This phrase indicates that despite being a prophet, Ezekiel was a mere mortal, just like any other human being. It highlights his humble nature and reminds him of his place before God. The phrase "Son of Man" was also used by Jesus in the New Testament to emphasize his humanity and his role as a mediator between God and humanity.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

Solomon showed lack of wisdom in marrying foreign wives. Despite being warned by God not to marry foreign women who would turn his heart away from God, he still married many wives from different countries. This resulted in him turning away from God and worshipping foreign gods, which ultimately led to the division of Israel after his death.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

The last words of Jesus on the cross were "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." These were the final words that Jesus spoke before he died on the cross. They are recorded in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 23, verse 46. Jesus had been crucified and was experiencing intense physical suffering, but he remained faithful to his mission and trusted in God until the very end. He spoke these words as a statement of surrender, entrusting his spirit to the care of his heavenly Father. This statement is a powerful example of Jesus' unwavering faith and devotion to God, even in the face of death.

Antwortdetails

Prior to the day of Pentecost, the members that constituted the early Church were 120. This is recorded in Acts 1:15, which says, "In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)...." These 120 members of the early Church were mostly Jewish followers of Jesus who had witnessed his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. They were gathered together in Jerusalem, as Jesus had instructed them, to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They spent their time praying, studying the Scriptures, and preparing themselves for the mission that Jesus had given them to spread the gospel to all nations. After the Holy Spirit came upon them on the day of Pentecost, their numbers grew rapidly as many people were converted to the faith. The 120 members of the early Church became the foundation of a worldwide movement that would eventually grow to millions of followers over the course of two thousand years.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

In Ezekiel 3:8-9, God promised to make Ezekiel's forehead hard like a diamond and stronger than flint, so that he could stand firm against the rebellious Israelites. This meant that God would strengthen and equip Ezekiel with the courage and resilience he needed to endure the difficulties he would face as a prophet. The hardening of his forehead symbolizes the mental and emotional toughness he would need to stand firm in the face of opposition and rejection from the people he was called to speak to. Essentially, God was promising to provide Ezekiel with the strength and determination he needed to fulfill his prophetic mission.

Antwortdetails

On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues. This means that they were able to speak in languages they did not previously know, and the people from different regions who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost were able to hear the message of the gospel in their own languages. This event was significant because it marked the beginning of the spread of Christianity to different parts of the world, and it fulfilled the prophecy of Joel that God would pour out his Spirit on all people.

Antwortdetails

When Jesus arrived at Jacob's well, he was tired and thirsty from his journey, and he asked the Samaritan woman who had come to draw water for a drink. This request by Jesus was the beginning of a conversation between him and the woman. The woman was surprised that a Jewish man would speak to a Samaritan woman, and Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach her about the true nature of worship and salvation. He told her that the time was coming when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and in truth, rather than in a specific physical location such as the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus also revealed to the woman that he was the Messiah, which he had not yet openly declared to the Jewish people. He revealed to her that he was the living water, and that anyone who drank of this water would never thirst again. The conversation continued as Jesus exposed the woman's past, revealing that she had been married several times and was currently living with a man who was not her husband. This revelation convinced the woman that Jesus was a prophet, and she went on to tell others in her community about him. In summary, Jesus initiated the conversation with the Samaritan woman by asking for water to drink, which opened the door to a deeper conversation about worship, salvation, and Jesus' identity as the Messiah.

Antwortdetails

According to Peter, doing the right thing is a way of expressing our faith in Christ. In 1 Peter 2:15-16, he encourages believers to live as free people, but to use their freedom not as a cover-up for evil, but to do good and honor God. He emphasizes that doing what is right is pleasing to God, and it is a way of showing that we trust in Him and believe in His goodness. As Christians, we believe that our salvation is a gift from God, and we are called to respond to this gift by living a life that honors Him. This includes doing what is right and just, even when it is difficult or goes against the norms of society. When we live in this way, we demonstrate our trust in God's plan for our lives and our confidence in His ability to guide us. Overall, Peter teaches that doing the right thing is not just a matter of morality, but it is a way of expressing our faith and trust in Christ. It is a way of demonstrating our gratitude for God's love and grace, and it is a way of honoring Him in all that we do.

Antwortdetails

Paul believes that spiritual gifts are of great advantage to the Church because they promote growth in diverse ways. Spiritual gifts are special abilities that Christians receive from the Holy Spirit to help them serve God and others. These gifts enable Christians to edify, encourage, and strengthen the Church, thereby promoting its growth. Moreover, each Christian has a unique spiritual gift that he or she can use to help others, and when Christians exercise these gifts, the Church is built up and strengthened.

Antwortdetails

In the book of Galatians, Paul teaches that Christians become sons of God by having faith in Jesus Christ. He argues that it is not by observing the law or by any human effort that one can become a child of God. Instead, it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified and become heirs of God's promise to Abraham. In Galatians 3:26-27, Paul writes: "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Thus, it is through faith in Jesus Christ and being baptized into him that we become children of God.

Antwortdetails

Antwortdetails

The Jewish religious sect which did not believe in resurrection were the Sadducees. The Sadducees were a wealthy and powerful group of Jews who were closely associated with the Temple and the priesthood. They rejected many of the traditional Jewish beliefs and practices, including the belief in resurrection, the existence of angels and demons, and the authority of the Oral Torah. The Sadducees believed that only the written Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, were authoritative, and they rejected the teachings of the prophets and the writings of the rabbis. They also rejected the idea of an afterlife, and believed that human beings were simply physical beings who ceased to exist after death. This belief in the non-existence of an afterlife and the lack of belief in resurrection put them at odds with other Jewish groups, such as the Pharisees, who believed in both.

Antwortdetails

The Israelites under Barak defeated the Canaanite troops led by "Sisera". This story is found in the Book of Judges in the Bible. According to the story, the Canaanite king Jabin had oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Deborah, a prophetess and judge in Israel, summoned Barak to lead the Israelite army against the Canaanites. Sisera was the commander of Jabin's army, which had 900 iron chariots and a large number of soldiers. However, with God's help, the Israelites, led by Barak, were able to defeat Sisera and his troops. Sisera fled the battlefield and sought refuge in the tent of a woman named Jael. However, while he was sleeping, Jael drove a tent peg through his temple, killing him. The victory of the Israelites over the Canaanites was seen as a result of their faith in God and their obedience to His commands.

Antwortdetails

(a) The trial of Jesus before Pilate (Matthew 27:11-26)

• Jesus was brought bound before Pilate the governor. Pilate asked Him, Are you the King of the Jews? and Jesus answered, You have said so.
• When the chief priests and elders accused Him, He gave no answer, so that the governor was greatly amazed that He made no defence to a single charge.
• At the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd. He had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas, so Pilate asked, Whom do you want me to release, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? for he knew it was out of envy that they had delivered Him.
• While Pilate sat on the judgment seat, his wife sent word, Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.
• But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus. When Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, they all cried, Let him be crucified.
• Pilate asked, Why, what evil has he done? but they shouted all the more. Seeing that he was gaining nothing and that a riot was beginning, Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves. All the people answered, His blood be on us and on our children.
• Then Pilate released Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered Him to be crucified.

(b) Two reasons why Pilate was wrong to condemn Jesus

1. He knew Jesus was innocent, for he found no fault in Him and even publicly declared himself innocent of His blood, yet he still handed Him over to death.
2. He acted out of cowardice and fear of the crowd rather than justice, sacrificing an innocent man to avoid a riot and to please the mob, thereby betraying his duty as a judge.

Antwortdetails

(a) Philip's missionary activities in Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4-40)

• After the martyrdom of Stephen, a great persecution scattered the believers from Jerusalem. Philip, one of the seven deacons, went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed Christ to them.
• The crowds gave heed to what he said when they heard him and saw the signs he did. Unclean spirits came out of many, crying with a loud voice, and many paralysed and lame people were healed, so there was much joy in that city.
• Philip's preaching converted many, including Simon the magician, who had previously amazed the people with sorcery. Simon himself believed and was baptised and continued with Philip, marvelling at the signs and miracles.
• When the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word, they sent Peter and John, who prayed and laid hands on the converts so that they received the Holy Spirit.
• An angel of the Lord then directed Philip to go south toward the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the queen (Candace), reading the prophet Isaiah in his chariot.
• Guided by the Spirit, Philip ran to him, and beginning with that Scripture, told him the good news of Jesus. When they came to some water, the eunuch was baptised. The Spirit then caught Philip away, and he was found at Azotus, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

(b) Three problems facing the work of evangelism in my country

1. Religious rivalry and intolerance, sometimes leading to persecution or violence against evangelists.
2. Materialism, false prophets and commercialisation of religion, which discredit the gospel and mislead people.
3. Poor funding, bad roads and insecurity that make it difficult to reach rural and remote communities.

Antwortdetails

(a) The healing of the man at the pool called Bethzatha (John 5:1-18)

• Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. By the Sheep Gate there was a pool, called in Hebrew Bethzatha (Bethesda), which had five roofed colonnades.
• In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame and paralysed, who waited for the moving of the water, believing that whoever stepped in first after the water was stirred would be healed.
• One man had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and knowing he had been there a long time, asked him, Do you want to be healed?
• The sick man answered, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred, and while I am going another steps down before me.
• Jesus said to him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. At once the man was healed, took up his bed and walked.
• Now that day was the Sabbath, so the Jews objected that it was unlawful for the man to carry his bed. He explained that the one who healed him had told him to do so, but he did not yet know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn into the crowd.
• Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said, See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. The man told the Jews it was Jesus, and they began to persecute Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.

(b) Two reasons why Jesus performed healing miracles

1. To show compassion and relieve human suffering, meeting the physical needs of the afflicted out of love.
2. To reveal His divine power and authority as the Son of God, confirming His teaching and leading people to faith in Him.

Antwortdetails

(a) How Moses became the son of Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:1-10)

• Pharaoh had commanded that every male Hebrew child be cast into the Nile, because the Israelites had multiplied and he feared them.
• A man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she bore a son. Seeing that the child was beautiful (a fine child), she hid him for three months.
• When she could hide him no longer, she took a basket of bulrushes, daubed it with bitumen and pitch, placed the child in it, and laid it among the reeds at the river's edge. His sister stood at a distance to watch.
• The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. She saw the basket among the reeds, sent her maid to fetch it, and when she opened it the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
• The child's sister then asked whether she should go and call a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. Pharaoh's daughter agreed, and the girl went and called the child's own mother, who was paid to nurse him.
• When the child grew, he was brought to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, Because I drew him out of the water.

(b) Three ways this prepared Moses for his future leadership roles

1. Palace education and training. Growing up in Pharaoh's court, Moses was instructed in the wisdom, learning and administration of Egypt, equipping him to lead and organise a great people.
2. Knowledge of his own Hebrew roots. Nursed by his own mother, he learned of his people and their God, so he never lost his identity and later chose to suffer with the Israelites rather than enjoy Egypt's privileges.
3. Familiarity with authority and the court. Living close to Pharaoh gave Moses understanding of royal power and courage to stand before kings, which he later needed when demanding Israel's release.

Antwortdetails

(a) Paul's teaching that Christians are children of God through Christ (Galatians 3:26-4:7; Romans 8:14-17)

• Paul declares, In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Sonship is received not by natural birth or by the works of the Law but by faith in Christ.
• He explains that as many as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ, so that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. Whoever belongs to Christ is Abraham's offspring and heir according to promise.
• Formerly, mankind was like a child under guardians and trustees, and enslaved under the elemental principles of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law so that we might receive adoption as sons.
• Because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So through God we are no longer slaves but sons, and if sons, then heirs.
• In Romans Paul adds that all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. We did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

(b) Three implications of the doctrine of sonship

1. Believers enjoy a close, personal relationship with God, able to call Him Father and approach Him in confidence and love, free from the fear of slaves.
2. They are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, sharing in His inheritance, glory and eternal life.
3. As one family in Christ, all distinctions of race, class and gender are removed, so Christians must live in unity, holiness and brotherly love worthy of God's children.

Antwortdetails

(a) King Nebuchadnezzar's attack on Judah (2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36)

• Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Judah during the reign of Jehoiakim, who became his servant for three years and then rebelled.
• When Jehoiachin (Jehoiakim's son) reigned, Nebuchadnezzar's servants besieged Jerusalem, and the king himself came against the city. Jehoiachin surrendered, and Nebuchadnezzar carried him captive to Babylon along with his mother, officials and mighty men.
• Nebuchadnezzar looted the treasures of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and cut in pieces the gold vessels which Solomon had made. He carried away into exile all Jerusalem, the princes, the mighty men of valour, the craftsmen and the smiths, about ten thousand captives, leaving only the poorest people of the land.
• He made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah. But Zedekiah also rebelled against Babylon.
• In Zedekiah's ninth year Nebuchadnezzar returned with all his army and besieged Jerusalem, building siegeworks around it. The famine grew so severe that there was no food for the people.
• The city wall was broken through; Zedekiah fled but was captured near Jericho. His sons were slain before his eyes, then his eyes were put out, and he was bound and taken to Babylon.
• Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, burned the temple, the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem, broke down the walls, and carried the rest of the people into exile, leaving only some of the poor to be vinedressers and farmers.

(b) Four effects of war on a nation

1. Loss of many lives and destruction of families through killing and captivity.
2. Destruction of property, homes, cities and places of worship.
3. Famine, poverty and economic collapse as farms, trade and industry are ruined.
4. Displacement of people, exile and refugees, with loss of freedom and national dignity.

Antwortdetails

(a) Jesus' encounter with the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

• Jesus and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gerasenes. As He stepped ashore, a man with an unclean spirit met Him coming out of the tombs.
• The man lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him, not even with chains, for he had often been chained but had wrenched the chains apart and broken the fetters. Night and day he cried out among the tombs and on the mountains, and cut himself with stones.
• Seeing Jesus from afar, he ran and fell before Him and cried with a loud voice, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.
• Jesus asked, What is your name? and he replied, My name is Legion, for we are many, begging Jesus not to send them out of the country.
• A great herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. The demons begged to be sent into the pigs, and Jesus gave them leave. The unclean spirits entered the pigs, and the herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned.
• The herdsmen fled and told it in the city. The people came out and found the man sitting, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. They then begged Jesus to depart from their region.
• The healed man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him, Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you. He went away and proclaimed in the Decapolis what Jesus had done, and all marvelled.

(b) Two ways society can improve the conditions of mental patients

1. By providing well-equipped hospitals, trained specialists and free or affordable treatment so that the mentally ill receive proper medical and psychological care instead of neglect.
2. By showing compassion and removing stigma, welcoming recovered patients back into the community with love, employment and acceptance rather than fear or rejection.

Antwortdetails

(a) Paul's advice to the Thessalonians on idleness (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)

• Paul commanded the believers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who was living in idleness and not according to the tradition they received.
• He reminded them of his own example: he was not idle among them, nor did he eat anyone's bread without paying, but worked night and day with toil and labour so as not to burden anyone.
• Though as an apostle he had the right to support, he gave up that right to set an example for them to imitate.
• He laid down the rule while he was with them, If anyone will not work, let him not eat.
• He had heard that some among them were living in idleness, doing no work but acting as busybodies, meddling in the affairs of others.
• Such persons he commanded and exhorted in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living (to eat their own bread).
• He urged the rest not to grow weary in doing good, and said that if anyone refused to obey, they should note that person and not associate with him so that he would be ashamed, yet not treat him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.
• He also encouraged them to aspire to live quietly, mind their own affairs and work with their hands, so as to be dependent on no one and command the respect of outsiders.

(b) Three consequences of idleness in society

1. It breeds poverty and want, since the idle cannot provide for themselves or their families.
2. It leads to crime and immorality, as idle hands turn to stealing, gossip and other vices.
3. It hinders national development and burdens others, since idlers depend on the labour of the productive members of society.

Antwortdetails

(a) The qualities of the New Life in Christ (Colossians 3:1-17)

Paul teaches that those raised with Christ must seek the things above and put off the old self, clothing themselves with a new character.

• Put to death earthly vices. Believers must put to death sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• Put away sins of speech and temper. They must rid themselves of anger, wrath, malice, slander and foul talk, and not lie to one another.
• Put on compassion and kindness. As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, they should clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.
• Forbearance and forgiveness. They must bear with one another and forgive each other, as the Lord has forgiven them.
• Love above all. Above these they must put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
• Peace and thankfulness. The peace of Christ should rule in their hearts, and they should be thankful.
• The word of Christ and worship. The word of Christ should dwell in them richly, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
• Doing all in Christ's name. Whatever they do in word or deed, they should do in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(b) Four qualities of a genuine Christian

1. Love and compassion toward others.
2. Honesty and truthfulness.
3. Humility and patience.
4. A forgiving and peaceable spirit.

Antwortdetails

(a) How Christian leaders should relate to their followers (1 Peter 5:1-4)

Peter, as a fellow elder and witness of Christ's sufferings, gives charge to the leaders (elders) of the Church concerning their conduct toward those under their care.

• Shepherd the flock willingly. They are to tend the flock of God that is among them, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, as God would have them.
• Serve without greed. They must not lead for shameful gain or dishonest profit, but eagerly and out of genuine devotion.
• Lead by example, not by force. They are not to lord it over those in their charge (not to domineer), but to be examples to the flock in conduct and character.
• Care for the whole flock. As shepherds they must guide, feed, protect and watch over the people entrusted to them, seeking their welfare.
• Look to the reward from Christ. When the Chief Shepherd (Christ) appears, faithful leaders will receive the unfading crown of glory. Their motive is service to God, not human praise.

(Peter also urges the younger to submit to the elders, and all to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.)

(b) Three problems that confront Christian leaders today

1. The temptation of greed, love of money and misuse of church funds for personal enrichment.
2. Pride, abuse of authority and lording it over members instead of serving humbly.
3. Division, false teaching and rivalry, along with worldly pressures and immorality that threaten the unity and integrity of the Church.

Antwortdetails

(a) David's sin against Uriah (2 Samuel 11)

• In the spring, when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab and the army to besiege the Ammonites at Rabbah, but David himself remained in Jerusalem.
• One evening David walked on the roof of his palace and saw a very beautiful woman bathing. He enquired and learned she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his soldiers.
• David sent for her, lay with her, and she conceived and sent word to him, I am with child.
• To cover the sin, David summoned Uriah from the battlefront and urged him to go home to his wife, but Uriah, loyal to his comrades, refused to enjoy such comfort while the ark and the army were in the field, and slept at the palace gate. David even made him drunk, yet Uriah would not go home.
• David then wrote to Joab, ordering that Uriah be set in the forefront of the hottest battle and then abandoned, so that he would be struck down and die.
• Joab carried out the order, and Uriah the Hittite was killed in battle. When Bathsheba had mourned for her husband, David brought her to his house and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

(b) Two lessons Christians can learn

1. Sin often begins with a small failure and grows; David's idleness and lustful look led to adultery, deceit and murder, so we must guard our thoughts and shun the first step into sin.
2. No sin is hidden from God, and no rank exempts anyone from His judgment; even a king was called to account, so Christians must live uprightly and repent, knowing that wrongdoing always displeases God and brings consequences.

Antwortdetails

(a) Three criticisms Isaiah made against Israel's system of worship (Isaiah 1:10-17)

1. Meaningless multiplication of sacrifices. God asked, What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? He was full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of beasts and took no delight in the blood of bulls and goats, because they were offered without sincerity.
2. Empty attendance at the temple and festivals. Their coming to appear before Him He called the mere trampling of my courts, and their new moons, sabbaths and solemn assemblies had become an iniquity He could not endure. He hated their appointed feasts, which had become a burden to Him.
3. Hypocritical prayers from bloodstained hands. When they spread out their hands in prayer, God hid His eyes; even when they made many prayers He would not listen, because their hands were full of blood, that is, injustice and oppression.

(b) Three suggestions Isaiah gave for Israel's return to God (Isaiah 1:16-17)

1. Repentance and moral cleansing. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil.
2. Learn to do good and seek justice. They must correct oppression and pursue what is right.
3. Defend the weak. Bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause, caring for the helpless and oppressed.

(c) Three ways my country can return to God

1. By turning away from corruption, bribery and injustice, and practising honesty in public and private life.
2. By defending the poor, the orphan and the widow, ensuring fair treatment and social justice for the weak.
3. By sincere worship and repentance, seeking God in truth rather than in mere religious show and ceremony.