Old Testament: 2 Kings 1 - 13
Why did the angel have Elijah go with the third group of 50 men after God sent fire down on the first two groups?
In chapter 2, why did Elisha refuse to stay behind as Elijah went from one place to another?
Why did Elisha call for a harpist in chapter 3?
In chapter 4 God did a miracle through Elisha for a widow. Why do you think God chose to use something the woman already had (the oil) and something she had to get from friends (the vessels) to do something only God could do?
Why was Naaman going away angry in 5:11 after Elisha gave him simple directions for how he could be cleansed of leprosy?
What was wrong with what Gehazi did in chapter 5?
In 6:16 Elisha declared, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." This is similar to what John wrote in 1 John 4:4, "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." How does knowing this change the way you look at challenges?
In 7:9 one of the four men with leprosy recognized that it would be wrong for them to keep good news to themselves. Who should you be sharing good news with?
In chapter 8 when Elisha could see all the evil that Hazael would do, why wasn't there something Elisha could have done to stop him?
Who killed Jezebel?
Why were the "guardians of Ahab’s children" willing to execute all of Ahab's sons in chapter 10?
How did Jehu put a stop to Baal worship in chapter 10?
Why did Jehoiada crown Joash at shift change? How old was Joash when he was crowned king?
In chapter 12 why did the priests collect money intended for the repair of the temple, but fail to repair the temple?
Why was Elisha angry in 13:19?
Psalms 64 - 66
David wrote in 64:9, "The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him." How can you keep yourself rejoicing and taking refuge in the Lord?
David wrote, "When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions." (Psalm 65:3) How does recognizing God's forgiveness change the way you look at yourself and at others?
66:18 says, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." How does holding onto sin, refusing to repent, impact your prayer life?
New Testament: Luke 9 - 12
9:10 says that Jesus and the disciples withdrew by themselves, but 9:11 says the crowds followed and Jesus welcomed them. When the disciples wanted to send the crowd away to get something to eat, Jesus told the disciples to feed them. What attitude should you take toward the needs of those around you when they conflict with your own desire to be left alone?
Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." What do you need to do to take up your cross today?
In 10:2 Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Are you praying this prayer?
After Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan He said, in 10:37, "Go and do likewise." What opportunities do you have to obey this command?
In chapter 11 Jesus told a parable of a person who couldn't get their neighbor to get up and help them without being persistent. Jesus used this parable to teach us to be persistent in prayer. In the same chapter, in verses 11 through 13, He shows that the Father can be expected to give His children the good things that they ask for. Should we expect quick answers to prayer or should we expect to have to be persistent?
In 12:15 Jesus said, "life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." What is most important in life? Are you putting first things first?
What does Jesus' warning in 12:58, "try hard to be reconciled on the way" mean?
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Week 21, May 21 - 27, 2017
Old Testament: 1 Kings 12 - 22
In chapter 12 the elders advised Rehoboam to be a leader who serves the people. His young friends advised him to be harsh and demanding. Why did he reject the advice of the elders?
Why did the prophet in chapter 13 refuse to go home and eat with Jeroboam?
In chapter 14 Abijah son of Jeroboam died. Verse 13 says that he was the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord found anything good. Why then did he die?
Why did God keep Jerusalem strong during the reign of Abijah even though Abijah was not a good king?
What did Ahab do in chapter 16 that was worse than what other bad kings before him had done?
In 17:9 God told Elijah, "I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." When Elijah spoke to the widow in verses 10 and 11, she gave him the reasons she wouldn't be able to help him. When God says He had directed the widow, does this means He had been speaking to her but she hadn't yet accepted what God had been saying?
Part of Elijah's prayer in 18:36 was, "let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command." How does God want to work through you to make Himself known to others?
How could Elijah be so bold in chapter 18 and then be afraid and running for his life in chapter 19?
What was Ahab meant to learn in chapter 20?
Why did Naboth refuse to sell his vineyard in chapter 21?
How did God respond to Ahab's repentant attitude at the end of chapter 21?
In chapter 22 Jehoshaphat insisted on hearing from a prophet of the Lord. Why did he still go to battle after Micaiah prophesied that they would not be successful?
Psalms 60 - 63
Why does David say in 60:11, "human help is worthless."
In 61:5 David wrote, "you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." What is the heritage that David is speaking about?
David said in 62:5, "Yes, my soul, find rest in God." What does it mean to find rest in God? How do you do it?
David wrote in 63:1, "my whole being longs for you." How can you nurture that kind of hunger for God?
New Testament: Luke 5 - 8
In 5:10 Jesus told His first disciples that they would fish for people. Is this something He has called you to do?
5:16 says, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Do you do this? Where are you able to go to be alone with the Lord?
What did Jesus do the night before He chose the 12?
What opportunities do you have to apply 6:36, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"?
John the Baptist's job was to point people to Jesus. Why did he reach a place in 7:19, where he wanted to ask, "Are you the one who is to come?"
Why did the people of the region of the Gerasenes want Jesus to leave after He cast demons out of man and restored him to his right mind?
In chapter 12 the elders advised Rehoboam to be a leader who serves the people. His young friends advised him to be harsh and demanding. Why did he reject the advice of the elders?
Why did the prophet in chapter 13 refuse to go home and eat with Jeroboam?
In chapter 14 Abijah son of Jeroboam died. Verse 13 says that he was the only one in the house of Jeroboam in whom the Lord found anything good. Why then did he die?
Why did God keep Jerusalem strong during the reign of Abijah even though Abijah was not a good king?
What did Ahab do in chapter 16 that was worse than what other bad kings before him had done?
In 17:9 God told Elijah, "I have directed a widow there to supply you with food." When Elijah spoke to the widow in verses 10 and 11, she gave him the reasons she wouldn't be able to help him. When God says He had directed the widow, does this means He had been speaking to her but she hadn't yet accepted what God had been saying?
Part of Elijah's prayer in 18:36 was, "let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command." How does God want to work through you to make Himself known to others?
How could Elijah be so bold in chapter 18 and then be afraid and running for his life in chapter 19?
What was Ahab meant to learn in chapter 20?
Why did Naboth refuse to sell his vineyard in chapter 21?
How did God respond to Ahab's repentant attitude at the end of chapter 21?
In chapter 22 Jehoshaphat insisted on hearing from a prophet of the Lord. Why did he still go to battle after Micaiah prophesied that they would not be successful?
Psalms 60 - 63
Why does David say in 60:11, "human help is worthless."
In 61:5 David wrote, "you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name." What is the heritage that David is speaking about?
David said in 62:5, "Yes, my soul, find rest in God." What does it mean to find rest in God? How do you do it?
David wrote in 63:1, "my whole being longs for you." How can you nurture that kind of hunger for God?
New Testament: Luke 5 - 8
In 5:10 Jesus told His first disciples that they would fish for people. Is this something He has called you to do?
5:16 says, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Do you do this? Where are you able to go to be alone with the Lord?
What did Jesus do the night before He chose the 12?
What opportunities do you have to apply 6:36, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful"?
John the Baptist's job was to point people to Jesus. Why did he reach a place in 7:19, where he wanted to ask, "Are you the one who is to come?"
Why did the people of the region of the Gerasenes want Jesus to leave after He cast demons out of man and restored him to his right mind?
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Week 20, May 14 - 20, 2017
Old Testament: 1 Kings 1 - 11
Why did David make Solomon king while David was still living?
In chapter 2, why did David give Solomon the responsibility of taking vengeance on Joab and Shimei?
How did Solomon decide between two women who claimed the same baby?
4:20 describes the conditions in Israel during Solomon's reign, "they ate, they drank and they were happy." 4:25 says the people, "lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree." Are these ideal conditions?
What did Hiram and Solomon exchange in chapter 5? Solomon told Hiram "I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set." This was a simple transaction. Today when companies make transactions like this, lawyers draw up contracts that are many pages long. Why were Solomon and Hiram able to keep it simple?
As Solomon was building the temple, what did God say in 6:11-13 were the conditions under which He would live among the Israelites?
Why do you think Solomon's palace was larger and took more time to build than the temple?
What was in the ark of the covenant when it was brought into the temple that Solomon built?
Solomon prayed in 8:27, "The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" What then was the purpose of the temple?
In chapter 9, what did God say would happen to the temple if Israel turned away from God?
What impressed the Queen of Sheba when she visited Solomon in chapter 10?
According to 11:3-4, what led Solomon astray? If he had great wisdom, how could he act to unwisely?
Psalms 56 - 59
In 56:8 David wrote, "Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll." Why does David want these things recorded and remembered? How does this compare with Isaiah 65? "For the past troubles will be forgotten" (65:16) "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." (65:17)
Psalm 57 was written when David had fled from Saul into a cave. He wrote in verse 9, "I will praise you, Lord, among the nations." How was he able to praise God in such challenging circumstances? Are you able to praise God when you are in difficulty?
What is David asking for in Psalm 58?
In 59:16 David wrote, "I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love." How would doing this regularly impact your life?
New Testament: Luke 1 - 4
What is Luke's stated purpose for writing this book?
In 1:37 the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "For no word from God will ever fail." (The King James Version says, "For with God nothing shall be impossible.") Do you have this truth in your heart? How does it change the way you live?
Why do you think the birth of Jesus was made known to the shepherds but to few others?
Why was John put in prison in chapter 3?
Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted?
In chapter 4 Jesus read from Isaiah and said the anointing that Isaiah wrote about was on Jesus. Is this something that is unique to Jesus or can this same anointing be on you?
Why did David make Solomon king while David was still living?
In chapter 2, why did David give Solomon the responsibility of taking vengeance on Joab and Shimei?
How did Solomon decide between two women who claimed the same baby?
4:20 describes the conditions in Israel during Solomon's reign, "they ate, they drank and they were happy." 4:25 says the people, "lived in safety, everyone under their own vine and under their own fig tree." Are these ideal conditions?
What did Hiram and Solomon exchange in chapter 5? Solomon told Hiram "I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set." This was a simple transaction. Today when companies make transactions like this, lawyers draw up contracts that are many pages long. Why were Solomon and Hiram able to keep it simple?
As Solomon was building the temple, what did God say in 6:11-13 were the conditions under which He would live among the Israelites?
Why do you think Solomon's palace was larger and took more time to build than the temple?
What was in the ark of the covenant when it was brought into the temple that Solomon built?
Solomon prayed in 8:27, "The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!" What then was the purpose of the temple?
In chapter 9, what did God say would happen to the temple if Israel turned away from God?
What impressed the Queen of Sheba when she visited Solomon in chapter 10?
According to 11:3-4, what led Solomon astray? If he had great wisdom, how could he act to unwisely?
Psalms 56 - 59
In 56:8 David wrote, "Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll." Why does David want these things recorded and remembered? How does this compare with Isaiah 65? "For the past troubles will be forgotten" (65:16) "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." (65:17)
Psalm 57 was written when David had fled from Saul into a cave. He wrote in verse 9, "I will praise you, Lord, among the nations." How was he able to praise God in such challenging circumstances? Are you able to praise God when you are in difficulty?
What is David asking for in Psalm 58?
In 59:16 David wrote, "I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love." How would doing this regularly impact your life?
What is Luke's stated purpose for writing this book?
In 1:37 the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "For no word from God will ever fail." (The King James Version says, "For with God nothing shall be impossible.") Do you have this truth in your heart? How does it change the way you live?
Why do you think the birth of Jesus was made known to the shepherds but to few others?
Why was John put in prison in chapter 3?
Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted?
In chapter 4 Jesus read from Isaiah and said the anointing that Isaiah wrote about was on Jesus. Is this something that is unique to Jesus or can this same anointing be on you?
Sunday, May 07, 2017
Week 19, May 7 - 13, 2017
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 13 - 24
How did Absalom become a fugitive?
In 14:14, the wise woman of Tekoa said that God "devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." Is this true?
How did Absalom steal the hearts of the people of Israel? Politicians do these kinds of things regularly. Why would Scripture refer to this as stealing?
Why did David put up with Shimei cursing him and throwing rocks and dirt at him?
Why did Ahithophel hang himself?
Why do you think Ahimaaz was so eager in chapter 18 to run and tell David only part of the story?
In 19:29, David said to Mephibosheth, "I order you and Ziba to divide the land." Either Ziba or Mephibosheth had lied to David. Why did David decide to give each half, rather than find out who was telling the truth and who was not?
Why did the people of Abel Beth Maakah kill Sheba in chapter 20?
In chapter 21 God forced David to let the Gibeonites be avenged for Saul breaking the treaty with them. The treaty had been made by Joshua approximately 400 years earlier. The Gibeonites had made the treaty through deception. Joshua would not have made the treaty if he had prayed about it. What does this tell you about how God looks at the commitments we make to each other?
In 22:28 David said, "You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low." This is consistent with many other verses in the Bible, including James 4:6, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." Why does God help us when we're humble? What do you need to do to remain humble before God?
Why didn't David drink the water his warriors brought him in chapter 23?
In chapter 24 David bought the threshing floor of Araunah, which later became the site of the temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). Why did David need to offer sacrifices in this chapter?
Psalms 53 - 55
53:3 says, "Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Why has everyone turned away?
Why would David ask God to destroy his enemies in 54:5?
David wrote in 55:17, "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice." How does "evening, morning, and noon" compare with your prayer life?
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 8 - 13
Paul says in 8:21, "For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man." Why should he care about doing right in the eyes of man?
In 9:7 Paul wrote, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Are you able to give cheerfully obeying what God has put in your heart?
What does 10:4 mean, saying, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"?
Why does Paul warn in chapter 11 about false apostles?
God told Paul in 12:9, "my power is made perfect in weakness." What opportunities do you have to see God's power revealed in your weakness?
Paul told the Corinthians in 13:5, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." How would you do this?
How did Absalom become a fugitive?
In 14:14, the wise woman of Tekoa said that God "devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him." Is this true?
How did Absalom steal the hearts of the people of Israel? Politicians do these kinds of things regularly. Why would Scripture refer to this as stealing?
Why did David put up with Shimei cursing him and throwing rocks and dirt at him?
Why did Ahithophel hang himself?
Why do you think Ahimaaz was so eager in chapter 18 to run and tell David only part of the story?
In 19:29, David said to Mephibosheth, "I order you and Ziba to divide the land." Either Ziba or Mephibosheth had lied to David. Why did David decide to give each half, rather than find out who was telling the truth and who was not?
Why did the people of Abel Beth Maakah kill Sheba in chapter 20?
In chapter 21 God forced David to let the Gibeonites be avenged for Saul breaking the treaty with them. The treaty had been made by Joshua approximately 400 years earlier. The Gibeonites had made the treaty through deception. Joshua would not have made the treaty if he had prayed about it. What does this tell you about how God looks at the commitments we make to each other?
In 22:28 David said, "You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low." This is consistent with many other verses in the Bible, including James 4:6, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." Why does God help us when we're humble? What do you need to do to remain humble before God?
Why didn't David drink the water his warriors brought him in chapter 23?
In chapter 24 David bought the threshing floor of Araunah, which later became the site of the temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). Why did David need to offer sacrifices in this chapter?
Psalms 53 - 55
53:3 says, "Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Why has everyone turned away?
Why would David ask God to destroy his enemies in 54:5?
David wrote in 55:17, "Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice." How does "evening, morning, and noon" compare with your prayer life?
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 8 - 13
Paul says in 8:21, "For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man." Why should he care about doing right in the eyes of man?
In 9:7 Paul wrote, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Are you able to give cheerfully obeying what God has put in your heart?
What does 10:4 mean, saying, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"?
Why does Paul warn in chapter 11 about false apostles?
God told Paul in 12:9, "my power is made perfect in weakness." What opportunities do you have to see God's power revealed in your weakness?
Paul told the Corinthians in 13:5, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." How would you do this?
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