Correct Answer: D. James, John and Peter

Explanation

(a) David reactions to the assassination of Abner:

(i) Abner (the son of Ner) was sent to David at Hebron.

(ii) He was to tell him that all Israel and Benjamin had agreed to make him king over the united Israel.

(iii) At the gate, Joab took Abner aside and killed him:

(iv) This was to avenge for the blood of Asahel, his brother.

(v) When David heard it he said, "he and his kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner".

(vi) He remarked that the blood of Abner fall upon the head of Joab and all his father's house.

(vii) David ordered Joab and his people to rent their clothes, gird on sack-cloth and mourn for Abner.

(viii) And king David followed the bier to the grave of Abner questioning whether Abner should die as a fool dies.

(ix) David expressed surprise that Abner's hands were not bound nor the feet fettered.

(x) David mourned for him, refusing to eat.

(xi)All the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day.

(xii) But David vowed not to eat until sunset.

(xiii) All the people took notice of it and were pleased.

(xiv)All Israel understood that day, that it had not been the kings will to slay Abner, the son of Ner.

(xv) The king declared that a prince and a great man had fallen in Israel.

(xvi) Though he was now the announced king over Israel, Abner's death destabilized him.

Lessons:

(i) Abner had the spirit of reconciliation to be emulated.

(ii) Joab's treachery should be condemned because he acted contrary to God's commandment.

(iii) David's humility.

(iv) David's open-mindedness.

(v) David's sense of justice.

(vi) David's fear of God.

(vii) Need to appreciate/acknowledge people's worth.

(viii) Need to forgive enemies.

Correct Answer: B) The wheat and the tares

Explanation

This question is asking which parable in the Bible illustrates the Day of Judgement. The options are A) The sower, B) The wheat and the tares (which is the correct answer), C) The mustard seed, and D) The leaven.

In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus tells a story about a farmer who sows good seed in his field, but at night, an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. The farmer decides not to pull out the weeds because he fears he may uproot the wheat as well. Instead, he lets both grow together until the harvest when the wheat will be separated from the tares. The wheat represents the righteous people, while the tares represent the wicked. The parable illustrates that there will be a final judgement day when the wicked will be separated from the righteous, and they will receive their rewards or punishment.

To learn more about this, please read the relevant sections of the recommended textbooks.

Explanation

(a) The believers' communal living was such that the Christians shared their possessions in common. Ananias and Sapphira sold their own piece of land, but brought only a part of the money to the Church. This was strictly against the spirit of communal life of the Christians. Peter asked Ananias why satan had led him to lie to the Holy Spirit, telling him that the land and the proceeds were theirs and they were free to handle them the way they wished. But by declaring publicly that they were handing over the entire proceeds, they had not lied to man but to God. When Ananias heard these words of rebuke from Peter, he fell down and died. Young men later carried away his body for burial. His wife / Sapphira came in, unaware of what had happened to her husband. Peter asked her whether they had sold the land for the amount surrendered, she affirmed it. Peter asked her why she conspired with her husband to tempt the spirit of God telling her to listen to the approaching footsteps of those who had gone to bury her husband: Immediately she heard this she fell down and died. Her body was carried away by the same young men who had earlier carried her husband for burial. Great fear came upon the Church and upon all who heard the news.

(b) Lessons: Ananias and Sapphira were misguided into thinking that they could serve both God and Mammon at the same time. One can deceive a fellow man, but cannot deceive God who reads the heart of man. The Church was established by God and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Members must work in accordance with guidelines set up by the Holy Spirit. God punishes sin of disobedience and His judgment is certain. We should give with sincerity / honesty.

Correct Answer: A. proclaim liberty to the captives

Correct Answer: C. Zechariah

Correct Answer: B. toil, labour and work to earn a living

Correct Answer: D. drove out all who sold and bought

Correct Answer: B. Life

Correct Answer: C) mercy

Explanation

The question is asking what the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant with Noah implies. In the Bible, after the flood, God made a covenant with Noah that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood. As a sign of this covenant, God set the rainbow in the sky. The question is asking what this rainbow signifies.

The correct option is Option C, which is mercy. The rainbow is a symbol of mercy. It represents God's mercy towards humanity. In the Bible, God could have destroyed the earth completely because of the wickedness of humanity, but He chose to show mercy and spare Noah and his family. The rainbow is a reminder of God's mercy and His promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again.

It is important to note that while the rainbow is a symbol of God's mercy, it does not mean that God condones sin. In fact, the Bible teaches that sin has consequences, and that God will judge sin. However, the rainbow is a symbol of God's promise to show mercy to those who repent and turn to Him.

To summarize, the rainbow as a sign of God's covenant with Noah implies mercy. It is a symbol of God's mercy towards humanity and His promise to never destroy the earth with a flood again.