PDF Thought Provoking Bible Studies

Thought Provoking Bible Studies

Lesson 0359 ? 2011 My Name ___________________________________ Date __________

THOUGHT PROVOKING BIBLE STUDIES are written by Fred D. Whitelaw. Download free of charge but only from our website: bible- Make as many copies as you desire. Use them freely. These lessons are designed to promote independent thought in classroom and individual studies. Hole punch and organize in 3 Ring Binders. Copyright is to preserve integrity. Each lesson must be reproduced in its entirety with no changes or partial reproductions. Unless otherwise noted all quotes are from the KJV for consistency.

NEVER GROW OLD In memory of Barbara Treat (1914-2006) and my dear friend T. Pierce Brown (1923-2008).

1. The Inspiration A Georgia native, James C. Moore (1888-1962), gave us the reassuring words of Never Grow Old around 1914. The first verse reflects why God's people all love this old hymn: "I have heard of a land on the far away strand, 'Tis a beautiful home of the soul; Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die, 'Tis a land where we never grow old." Solomon refers to life beyond as man's "________ home" (Ecclesiastes 12:5), indicating that our earthly tenure is relatively short.

2. Aging All physical life forms experience aging. If we keep living we grow old. Even the Law of Moses is described some 1500 years after its inception as "that which _________ and _______ ____" (Hebrews 8:13). Human curiosity and anxiety cause folks to ask, "What caused her to die?" Your editor has occasionally replied, "Did you ever hear of old age?" Our "earthly ________ of this __________" (2 Corinthians 5:1) will dissolve. The natural man (Hebrews 9:27) will _______ physically.

3. The Fountain Of Youth A long standing myth is that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Le?n was searching for the Fountain of Youth when he travelled to present-day Florida in 1513. Men have long sought ways to stave off physical death. Good king Hezekiah didn't want to die. God miraculously granted him an additional "___________ years" (Isaiah 38:5). External accounts indicate these last 15 years were likely the most distressing and troubling of his entire life.

4. More In the USA alone (Circa 2006) countless billions upon billions of dollars are spent annually, not just for traditional health care, but for everything from plastic surgery to Viagra, untold tens of thousands of pills, potions, and products to make you look, feel and perform better, and we are alluding only to the legal products produced, marketed, bought, sold, and consumed daily. The Apostle said that "________ exercise profiteth ________" (1 Timothy 4:8) compared to godliness.

5. Vanity The Wise Man affirms (5X) in (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 14; 2:17; 3:19; 12:8) that "all is ________." Compared to what? Answer: To the ultimate salvation of one's immortal spirit. Jesus asks: "What shall a man _____ in ___________ for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). How short-sighted can one be not to "put on __________" (Galatians 3:27) in baptism for forgiveness of sins?

6. When Physical Life Is No Longer Precious Remember Paul's words? "For me to ______ is _________, and to _____ is _______" (Philippians 1:21). He wrote from a perspective that Jonah lacked when he despairingly said, "It is _______ for me to _____ than to live" (Jonah 4:3).

7. God's Word vs Man's Philosophy The Psalmist avows: "Precious in the _________ of the ______ is the ______ of his ________" (Psalm 116:15). Frail man's unattainable goal is to never grow old physically. Death (to him) is at best obliteration; at worst an endless journey into unknown darkness fraught with horror, terror, and suffering. But to the faithful child of God it is the prospect of "joy and ________ in _________ that ye may abound in _______" (Romans 15:13), knowing "that ye have in ___________ a __________ and an ___________ substance" (Hebrews 10:34).

8. Why Many Fear Growing Old If you have no plans for eternity and want to doubt that it exists you don't want to think, talk about, or contemplate entering it. The only way to avoid it is to keep living. To do this man must find some kind of magic formula to perpetuate physical life and defy (Psalm

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90:10) the generic "threescore years and ______." Concern for corporeal health and comfort is paramount with many because it's all they've got! They are humanists first, last, and foremost! 9. Why God's Children Shouldn't Fear Growing Old They eagerly anticipate "a ___________ of God, an ________ not made with hands, _________ in the __________" (2 Corinthians 5:1). Paul put it well when he said: "I reckon that the ___________ of this _________ time are not worthy to be compared with the ________ which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). 10. The Christian Hope Humans have the innate will to survive and succor physical life; the knowledge and certainty of physical death is strong within all of us and it's wrong and sinful not to possess "______________" that is practiced and "________ unto all _____" (Philippians 4:5). The Christian hope blunts human dread of physical aging and death. 11. We Die A Little Every Day Life's Railway to Heaven is a grand old hymn, probably written by Eliza Roxcy Snow (1804-1887) with M. E. Abbey, a Baptist minister from Georgia, supplying the chorus. Here's a sample: "Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave; We must make the run successful, From the cradle to the grave; Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; never falter, never quail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail. You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife; See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life; Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail; Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail." Keep this important Scripture in mind: "But though our __________ man ________, yet the _________ man is renewed _____ by _____" (2 Corinthians 4:16). 12. Word Pictures Paul speaks of the saint's physical body and says, "It is _______ a _________ body" then adds that "it is _________ a __________ body" (1 Corinthians 15:44). Now note: "I show you a __________" (V51). That's why it's a word picture, a picture formed in our minds as we read the words. "We shall _____ be __________, In a __________, in the ___________ of an eye" (V51-52). 13. The Resurrection It shall be instantaneous. "The dead shall be raised _____________, and we shall be ___________" (V51). Our new body won't be at all like our old body. "This ________ must put on _____________" (V53). Finite man will now receive a body that won't age and will Never Grow Old. 14. The Proper Priority We must be baptized for remission of sins so we can "walk in __________ of _______" (Romans 6:4), live godly and "walk in the _________" (Galatians 5:25). Always remember to "walk in _________" (Ephesians 5:2) which means to "walk in the _________ (1 John 1:7). This is

to "walk in __________" (3 John 1:4). God asks so little and gives us so very much! 15. Never Grow Old The Holy Spirit has revealed in comforting word pictures what the "saved of God" can

anticipate. We read, "God himself shall _____ ______ them" (Revelation 21:3). What a comforting thought: "And God shall _____away all _______ from their eyes" (V4). The disappointments, toils, and tears of past physical life shall exist no more. "And there shall be no more _________ ----neither_________, nor _______" (Ibid). We won't ache, hurt, experience heartbreak, stress, or worry. "Neither shall there be any more _______: for the _________ things are _________ away" (Ibid). 16. Saving Your Life It's up to you to save or lose it. Jesus said: "Whosoever shall seek to ______ his ______shall lose it; and whosoever shall ______ his _____ shall preserve it" (Luke 17:33). Submit to Christ and be saved; live your life as you please and be lost. The Fountain of Youth is a myth.

"Money can't buy back Your youth when you're old, Or a friend when you're lonely, Or a love that's grown cold." Earthly wealth and fame perish! But gain heaven and you'll Never Grow Old.

Read All Choices And Circle The Best Answer

17. Precious in sight of Lord? fasting and prayer death of saints persecution of church

18. Bodily exercise profiteth? little gastrointestinal functions blood pressure normality

19. The saved of God will receive? fabulous wealth new body

skyline mansion

Memory Verse (Revelation 21:4) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

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