Kingdom's Edge (16 page)

1. Cedric and some of the Knights of the Prince are hiding in Barrett's shop after the Prince dies. Find verses in the Bible that show what this represents.

2. The resurrection of Christ is depicted in this chapter when the Prince appears to Cedric and a few of the other knights. Why is the Resurrection such an important part of the gospel?

3. Cedric and the other knights were afraid after the Prince was killed. What gave them courage to take up the mission the Prince had given them? What gives you courage to stand up for Jesus?

1. Cedric and William embark on a mission to another city to recruit followers of the Prince. Here
they are challenged by a group of men that nearly kills them. In a moment of peril Cedric cries, “The King reigns—and His Son!” Who comes to their aid? Can you find a Bible passage where a disciple receives help from an angel of God?

2. Can you think of a time in your life when you knew that God intervened to help you out of a difficult situation?

1. Keef, a Silent Warrior, tells Cedric a story about the Dark Knight and his rebellion against the King. What does this story represent biblically, and where do you find it in Scripture?

2. Keef tells Cedric another story about the great sword fight between the Prince and Lucius. What does this represent, and why is the symbolism of the sword important in this scene? Find Scripture to back up your answer.

3. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God promises to provide a way out of every temptation we face. Using this verse and the example of Jesus, what should we do to overcome temptation?

1. In this chapter, Cedric and William find themselves caught up in a battle between Silent
Warriors and Shadow Warriors. What do they learn from the Silent Warriors, and how does this apply to us today?

2. What are you doing to ensure that you are prepared when Jesus returns?

1. Cedric, William, and Rob help a man bitten by a snake and then tell him about the Prince. This story changes the man's heart. What does this represent, and what Bible verse talks about such a transformation in a person?

2. Jesus has called all of His believers to share the Good News of salvation with others. Sometimes this takes courage and boldness. Have you ever been given the opportunity to share the transforming story of Jesus with anyone? What did you do? God will provide the opportunity and the courage if you ask Him.

1. In this chapter, Cedric and his friends come face-to-face with the Dark Knight and his Shadow Warriors. Cedric finally realizes that he should not give up, but fight with the sword that the Prince gave him. What Bible verse tells us how to fight the devil?

1. At the end of the book, the Knights of the Prince are all secretly taken out of the kingdom. What does this represent, and what Scripture passages back up your answer?

2. Cedric meets the Prince at the docks and kneels before Him. He craves to hear the words “Well done!” These are the same words Jesus uses in a parable to explain the kingdom of heaven. Find that parable and the words Jesus spoke.

3. Later, in the Epilogue, Cedric arrives in the kingdom across the sea. What do you think this represents?

4. Jesus said in Matthew 7:14, “Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” The Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven, and that is through believing on Jesus Christ. In Romans, there are seven verses that explain what and why we must believe in order to be saved. These verses are listed at the end of the answers to the discussion questions. Would you like to ask Jesus to come into your life and save you for all eternity?

1. The Pharisees.

2. Luke 18:9–14. Jesus clearly states that public displays of piety are hypocritical. This is also explained in Luke 11:42–43.

3. The sword represents the Word of God, so this represents the four hundred years of God's silence between the prophecies of Malachi and the coming of John the Baptist.

4. This man is the Prince, the son of the King; He represents Jesus Christ. The reference to His eyes, which “burned like fire” is a foreshadowing of His second coming (see Revelation 19:11–16).

1. The Dark Knight represents Satan.

2. John 8:1–11. This event also represents the transition from the age of the law to the age of grace. Jesus' reaction to the woman caught in adultery is indicative of this shift.

3. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Find more verses that address our need to read and study God's Word.

4. Jesus calling the Pharisees hypocrites (see Matthew 23:13–29).

5. In this specific instance, Cedric represents all of the disciples of Jesus. The Prince asks Cedric to be a Knight of the Prince, just like Jesus asks the disciples to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–18). In a broader sense, Cedric symbolizes all followers of Christ, including you.

6. Cedric chose to believe in the Prince and then followed Him. That is what God requires of us as well. Jesus said in Mark 10:21, “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.' ”

1. Answer based on personal experience.

2. Jesus teaching the disciples using parables, Old Testament Scripture, and Himself, since Jesus is the Word in the flesh (John 1:1–3).

3. One example is John 3:19–20.

4. Revelation 19:11–16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18.

5. Angels.

6. This represents the prophecies of the coming antichrist and his rule on earth.

1. This event first portrays when the disciples fail to cast out a demon but Jesus succeeds (Matthew 17:14–21). The second biblical event is when the demons recognize Jesus and beg not to be destroyed (Matthew 8:28–29).

2. Pray; read, memorize, and quote Scripture; sing praises to God.

3. Mark 6:7; Ecclesiastes 4:9.

1. The armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10–18.

2. This event portrays the times when the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into violating the Law. One instance is recorded in Matthew 22:15–22.

3. Caiaphas, the head Pharisee (Matthew 26:3).

4. Nicodemus (John 3:1–21).

1. When Jesus lays hands on and blesses children in Mark 10:13–16.

2. This event has dual meaning. First, this event directly parallels the feeding of the five thousand as told in Matthew 14:14–21. This event also symbolizes Jesus feeding them spiritually by giving them the truth of salvation (Matthew 4:4.)

3. Answer based on personal experience.

1. (1) The Last Supper (Luke 22:19–23); (2) the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39–46); (3) the disciples fleeing (Matthew 26:56).

2. Jesus' silence during His trials (Mark 15:3–5).

3. Answer based on personal experience (Matthew 5:44).

1. The irony is that the Pharisees (the Noble Knights) were responsible for killing Jesus (the Prince), God the Father's Son (the King's Son), and yet they thought they were serving the Father because they believed Jesus was committing blasphemy by claiming to be the Father's Son. In their pride and ignorance, the Pharisees had become a tool of Satan (the Dark Knight).

1. In John 20:19 the Bible says that the disciples were in a room with the doors shut for fear of the Jews.

2. It shows God's supreme power by overcoming even death.

3. Seeing the Prince overcome death and understanding that everything He said was true.

1. Two Silent Warriors come to their aid. Peter is freed and led out of prison by an angel in Acts 12:5–12. Also, Paul and Silas receive help when an earthquake opens the jail doors and their chains fall off (Acts 16:26).

2. Answer based on personal experience.

1. This represents when Satan rebelled against God in heaven and convinced a third of the angels to follow him. Michael and the holy angels overcame Lucifer and the demons, and they were cast out of heaven. This is found in Isaiah 14:12–17 and Revelation 12:3–12.

2. This represents when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). The symbolism of the sword is important in that there was a tremendous spiritual sword fight between Jesus and Satan. Satan quoted Scripture erroneously to try to tempt Jesus, but Jesus quoted the true Word of God to defeat Satan in all of the three temptations. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:17 that the only offensive weapon we have against the devil is the Word of God.

3. Look for the way out that God has provided, and quote Scripture to defeat the devil, just as Jesus did.

1. They learn that something significant is about to happen and that they should all be ready. Jesus warns us to be ready through a parable found in Matthew 25:1–13.

2. Answer based on personal experience.

1. This represents sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a nonbeliever. Second Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

2. Answer based on personal experience.

1. James 4:7–8: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

1. This is the rapture of the Church as described in Matthew 24:39–41; 1 Corinthians 15:52; and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18.

2. Matthew 25:21: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' ”

3. The saints' arrival in heaven.

4. The following Bible verses explain what a person must understand and believe to be saved:

·  Romans 3:10—“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one.' ”

·  Romans 3:23—“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

·  Romans 5:12—“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

·  Romans 5:8—“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

·  Romans 6:23—“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

·  Romans 10:13—“Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

·  Romans 10:9—“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”