January 6-12, 2013

January 6 – 12, 2013

Old Testament, Genesis 1-19

Genesis clearly teaches that God spoke things into existence.  He created the heavens and the earth.  You may meet people who don’t believe in a Creator, or at least they may say they don’t.  Why do you believe in a Creator? How does believing that you are created change the way you live? Where does the idea of marriage come from?  What do you learn from Genesis, chapter 2, about what God had in mind when He made us male and female? What caused Adam and Eve to hide from God?  What makes you want to draw near or turn away from God? The first murder recorded in the Bible is Cain killing Abel.  What was his motive?  What should he have done instead?  Are there times that you are angry with another person when the real issue is that you need to obey God? Genesis 6:6 says, “The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”  How is it possible that our behavior can cause God pain? Abraham did some unusual things in obedience to God.  How willing are you to obey God, even if He tells you to do something others might think was unwise? In Genesis 15:1, God spoke a simple message of encouragement to Abram, ““Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”  How would this message change your life if you took it to heart? Why did God change Abraham and Sarah’s names? Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah? If you could be Lot, what choices would you want to make that would be wiser than the ones he made?

Psalms 1-5

What does it mean to take refuge in the Lord? (Psalm 2:12, and 5:11) Are you able to lie down and sleep in peace?  (Psalm 4:8)  Why or why not?

New Testament, John 1-4

Who or what is “the Word”?  How do you know? John 1:12 says that has given the right to become children of God to those who have received Jesus.  Have you received Jesus?  When and how? What does it mean to be born again? What does chapter 3 say will happen to those who don’t believe in Jesus? According to Jesus in 4:10, what were the only two things in the way of the Samaritan woman having living water? In 4:35, Jesus tells us to open our eyes.  What does this mean and how do you do it?