January 20-26, 2013

January 20 – 26, 2013

Old Testament, Genesis 34-50

Do you think Jacob’s sons did right or wrong in chapter 34?  Why? God calls Himself by a variety of names in the Bible, often names that emphasize His relationship with us.  Why do you think, when talking to Jacob in 35:1, He calls Himself “God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau”? Why did Joseph’s brothers want to kill him? Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brothers.  What does is mean in 39:2, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered”?  What does 39:21, when Joseph was in prison, mean saying “the Lord was with him”? In 41:51-52 Joseph names his sons.  By this time in his life he had experienced unusual favor and unusual suffering.  The names he chose for his sons show that he was still thinking of his suffering, but thanking God for favor.  Do you think Joseph was healed from the pain of being sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned?  What do you think it takes to be healed from past hurt? In 42:36 Jacob says, “Everything is against me.”  This was far from true.  God had made great promises to Jacob and was working to fulfill them. What do you need to do to keep your eyes on God’s promises and plan in the face of adversity? What was Joseph’s motive in chapter 44 for having his cup put in Benjamin’s sack? In chapter 44 Judah offers to become a slave in place of his brother Benjamin.  Back in chapter 37 Judah was the one who introduced the idea of selling Joseph into slavery.  How had he changed? Why was Joseph able to forgive his brothers?  We are commanded to forgive as the Lord forgave us.  Is there anyone you need to forgive?

Psalms 9-11

David says, “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart.”  What does it mean to praise the Lord with all your heart? In Psalm 10, the psalmist wonders why God doesn’t intervene when wicked men are leaving God out of their lives.  He says, “in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”  What should your attitude be toward people who seem to be ignoring God?

New Testament, John 8-10

What does Jesus’ response to the woman caught in adultery show you about His attitude toward sin and mercy? What did Jesus mean when He said the truth would set us free?  What do we have to do to be set free by the truth? Why did the disciples assume that the man in chapter 9 was born blind either because of his sin or his parents’ sin? What does Jesus say is the distinct characteristic of His sheep?