If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the Lord will choose, he may minister in the name of the Lord his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the Lord.

• Deuteronomy 18:6-7

Then I will return to my lair
    until they have borne their guilt
    and seek my face—
in their misery
    they will earnestly seek me.”

• Hosea 5:15

Last week, we looked for the word “laugh” along with derivatives thereof.  The week before, we were popping “P’s”.  Maybe a serious quiz about place names in the New Testament starting with “P”, but the idea of Popping “P’s” is rather silly.  I though we should be more serious, if only for a moment.  The Scriptures in this quiz have a word containing “earnest”, as in “earnestly seek me” in the Hosea Scripture above, or “serious”, “sober”, or “somber.”

I hate being a “Debbie Downer”, but it won’t last long.  I might get really silly when it comes to the videos.

The Questions:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer(s)
1	In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us not to be somber like the hypocrites when we do what?
2	Paul suggests that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but think with what?
3	When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he suggested for us to be prepared for the Day of the Lord.  We should be what and sober?
4	Peter, who called it the “end of all things” used a different word than in question 3, what is it?  Same number of letters and starts with the same letter.
5	Paul tells Titus that young men should show what along with seriousness?
6	Who is the second of Job’s friends to speak, who suggests that Job earnestly seek God and plead with Him?
7	God tells the church at Laodicea that those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines.  He tells them then, to be earnest and do what?
8	Johnathan and David concoct a scheme for David to miss the New Moon festival where King Saul wanted to do David harm.  The excuse for missing the festival was that he earnestly needed to go where to offer a sacrifice?
9	In writing of the prayers of the faithful, James wrote that someone (from the OT) prayed earnestly and it did not rain for three and a half years.  Who?
10	Jesus prayed so earnestly, and under such stress, that He developed a condition called “hematohidrosis.”  But Luke did not use the technical term.  How did Luke describe it?

As Ecclesiastes 3 suggests, there is a time to weep and a time to laugh.  James 1 suggests that we count it great Joy when we suffer various trials.

Living the Christian life is not a bed of roses, but then again, roses is a good example for you must deal with the thorns along the way.

Regardless of how you look at it, when those trials come, they come to test our faith.  We succeed and pass the test when we can truthfully turn to Jesus and ask Him to handle it, showing pure faith.  This does not mean that we are absolved of having to do something ourselves, but the Christian has an advantage over others who face trials.  We have a strong Advocate in the Holy Spirit and we have Jesus by our side.

Bible References:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer(s)
1	In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us not to be somber like the hypocrites when we do what?	Matthew 6:16
2	Paul suggests that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but think with what?	Romans 12:3
3	When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he suggested for us to be prepared for the Day of the Lord. We should be what and sober?	1 Thessalonians 5:6
4	Peter, who called it the “end of all things” used a different word than in question 3, what is it?  Same number of letters and starts with the same letter.	1 Peter 4:7
5	Paul tells Titus that young men should show what along with seriousness?	Titus 2:7
6	Who is the second of Job’s friends to speak, who suggests that Job earnestly seek God and plead with Him?	Job 8:1-5
7	God tells the church at Laodicea that those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines.  He tells them then, to be earnest and do what?	Revelation 3:19
8	Johnathan and David concoct a scheme for David to miss the New Moon festival where King Saul wanted to do David harm.  The excuse for missing the festival was that he earnestly needed to go where to offer a sacrifice?	1 Samuel 20: 6, 28
9	In writing of the prayers of the faithful, James wrote that someone (from the OT) prayed earnestly and it did not rain for three and a half years.  Who?	James 5:17
10	Jesus prayed so earnestly, and under such stress that He developed a condition called “hematohidrosis.”  But Luke did not use the technical term.  How did Luke describe it?	Luke 22:44

Some of these are a bit obscure if you do not know the verses.  The answers to questions 3 and 4 are basically interchangeable.  The attribute in question 5 is a good attribute to have.

But while we should earnestly seek God, earnestly pray, and we should be ready for the End Times of a sober mind, serious, and earnest, we should not forget to be ready to laugh.  For God blesses us and the End Times, regardless of the tribulation, is the sign that Jesus is returning, and we will be in Heaven where there is no tears and no pain.

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The Answers:

#	Question	Bible Reference	Answer(s)
1	In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us not to be somber like the hypocrites when we do what?	Matthew 6:16	Fast
2	Paul suggests that we not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but think with what?	Romans 12:3	Sober judgment
3	When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he suggested for us to be prepared for the Day of the Lord. We should be what and sober?	1 Thessalonians 5:6	Awake
4	Peter, who called it the “end of all things” used a different word than in question 3, what is it?  Same number of letters and starts with the same letter.	1 Peter 4:7	Alert
5	Paul tells Titus that young men should show what along with seriousness?	Titus 2:7	Integrity
6	Who is the second of Job’s friends to speak, who suggests that Job earnestly seek God and plead with Him?	Job 8:1-5	Bildad
7	God tells the church at Laodicea that those He loves, He rebukes and disciplines.  He tells them then, to be earnest and do what?	Revelation 3:19	Repent
8	Johnathan and David concoct a scheme for David to miss the New Moon festival where King Saul wanted to do David harm.  The excuse for missing the festival was that he earnestly needed to go where to offer a sacrifice?	1 Samuel 20: 6, 28	Bethlehem
9	In writing of the prayers of the faithful, James wrote that someone (from the OT) prayed earnestly and it did not rain for three and a half years.  Who?	James 5:17	Elijah
10	Jesus prayed so earnestly, and under such stress that He developed a condition called “hematohidrosis.”  But Luke did not use the technical term.  How did Luke describe it?	Luke 22:44	Sweat mixed with blood

Whether you did well on this quiz or, ummm, not so well, I hinted that there may be something silly in the videos.  Maybe we can start with a classic sketch with John Cleese on Monty Python.

The Ministry of Silly Walks sketch was possibly the most often requested routine in the live performances, so much so that once John Cleese had a hip replacement, the other Pythons suggested that he auction that old hip that had done silly walks.  Do not fear, the hip was discarded in the usual way.  But in the city of Brno, Czech Republic, they have a parade of silly walks each year.  The following is from the 2013 Silly Walk City March.

But, have we gotten too silly?

And why are we to be sober minded and alert or awake?  It’s because The King is Coming.  And not to say anything against any combination of people in the Gaither Vocal Band, my favorite is this combination of Guy Penrod, David Phelps, Mark Lowry, and Bill Gaither.

But until the King returns, how can we live in victory each day?  Celtic Worship offers their version of Because He Lives.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.