January 13-19, 2013

January 13 – 19, 2013

Old Testament, Genesis 20-33

How could Abraham trust God in some areas that required great faith and then tell a lie about Sarah being his sister because he was afraid? Why did Sarah say that everyone who heard about her having a son in her old age would laugh with her?  What has God done in your life that is cause for laughter? Why would God tell Abraham to sacrifice his son?  What has been the hardest thing you needed to do to obey God? Abraham was insistent that his son, Isaac, not marry a Canaanite from where they were living.  But he was just as insistent that Isaac not be taken back to where they used to live.  Why did he want a daughter-in-law from among his own people, but not want his son to live or even go there? Why was Esau willing to give up his birthright for some stew?  What examples can you think of where someone has given up a great deal for short-term satisfaction? Why did Rebekah and Jacob think of Isaac’s blessing as something that could be taken by deception? In chapter 28, God made promises to Jacob that essentially repeated promises He made to Abraham.  Why did God need to renew or repeat these promises He had already made to Jacob’s grandfather? Look at Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32:9-12.  He was fearful of his brother Esau, but what was in his prayer that helped move him from fear to peace?

Psalms 6-8

In Psalms we find high praise, such as “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (8:1) and desperate complaint, such as, “My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?”  Why are these extremes both included in the Psalms? How would you answer the question in Psalm 8:4, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

New Testament, John 5-7

Why did Jesus ask the man at the pool if he wanted to get well?  Shouldn’t that have been obvious? In chapter 5, the Jews wanted to kill Jesus because they said he was making Himself equal with God.  Was He? In John 6:26 Jesus told people they were following him for the wrong reason.  What motivates you to follow Jesus? In John 6:47 Jesus states very simply, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.”  Have you received this free gift of eternal life? What are the streams of living water Jesus spoke of in chapter 7?  What do you need to do to have springs of living water?