Sunday, April 29, 2 Samuel 1 - 2, Psalm 50
- The Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1 lied to David about killing Saul. Why did he misjudge how David would react?
- Why did Israel have two kings in 2 Samuel 2 and fighting between two groups of warriors?
- Why does God say in Psalm 50:12, "If I were hungry I would not tell you"?
- In Psalm 50:15 God says, "call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." What opportunities have you had to obey the command to call on God in the day of trouble?
Monday, April 30, 2 Samuel 3 - 4, 2 Corinthians 1
- What prompted Abner to try to help David in 2 Samuel 3?
- Who killed Ish-Bosheth? Why did they do it? What happened to them?
- 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." What opportunities do you have to comfort others in trouble?
- It's common for people to say, "God won't give you more than you can handle." Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:8, "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure." Why would he be under this much pressure?
- What does Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 1:22 saying that God's Spirit is given to us as a deposit?
Tuesday, May 1, 2 Samuel 5 - 6, 2 Corinthians 2
- In 2 Samuel 5, why did the Philistines attack when they heard that David had been anointed king over all of Israel?
- 2 Samuel 6:9 says that David was afraid of the Lord. How should you react if you face circumstances that are more harsh than you were expecting?
- What caused Michal to despise David?
- Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2:17, "Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God." How can you maintain the sincerity that Paul speaks about?
Wednesday, May 2, 2 Samuel 7 - 8, 2 Corinthians 3
- In 2 Samuel 7 Nathan the prophet first told David to do what he had mind in building a temple. However, he later heard from the Lord who said that David's son would be the one to build the temple. How should you distinguish between a wise opinion of a godly person and a word from the Lord?
- In 2 Samuel 7:16 God told David, through Nathan, "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me." If you were David would this make you more determined to seek and obey the Lord or would you feel like your future was secure and that you didn't need to seek God diligently?
- What does 2 Corinthians 3:6 mean, saying, "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life"?
- Paul says we are "being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory." (2 Corinthians 3:18) How does this happen? Is it happening in your life?
Thursday, May 3, 2 Samuel 9 - 10, 2 Corinthians 4 - 5
- Why did David show kindness to Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9?
- Why did Israel go to war against the Ammonites and Arameans in 2 Samuel 10?
- Why does Paul call his troubles "light and momentary"? (2 Corinthians 4:17)
- How can you fix your eyes on what is not seen? (2 Corinthians 4:18)
- Why does Paul say in 2 Corinthians 5 that he would prefer to be away from the body?
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. What changes when you become a Christian?
Friday, May 4, 2 Samuel 11, Psalm 51 - 52
- In 2 Samuel 11 David made a series of bad decisions; not being with his men, asking about Bathsheba, sending for Bathsheba, sleeping with Bathsheba getting her pregnant, trying to cover it up, and having Uriah killed. How is it possible that someone who had been in the habit of obeying the Lord could make this series of decisions?
- In Psalm 51:1 David asks God to blot out his transgressions. What does it mean to have your transgressions blotted out?
- David wrote in Psalm 52:5, "Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin." Who will be brought to everlasting ruin?
Saturday, May 5, 2 Samuel 12, 2 Corinthians 6 - 7
- In rebuking David for his sin with Bathsheba God said, "And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more." (2 Samuel 12:8) This shows that God is the one who wants to fill our lives. How can we avoid getting our eyes off of God and thinking that other things would satisfy us more?
- Why does Paul refer to himself as "having nothing, and yet possessing everything"? (2 Corinthians 6:10)
- What does it mean in 2 Corinthians 6:14 to be yoked together with unbelievers?
- How does 2 Corinthians 7:10 distinguish between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow?
Sunday, April 22, 1 Samuel 14 - 16, 1 Corinthians 11
- In 1 Samuel 14 why was Jonathan willing to attack the Philistines with only his armor-bearer?
- In 1 Samuel 15 why did Saul say he had obeyed the Lord while Samuel said Saul hadn't?
- According to 1 Samuel 15:24 why did Saul say he sinned?
- 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Why is the condition of your heart important to God?
- Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that the head of the woman is man. However he also says in Galatians 3:28 that in Christ there is neither male or female. How are these both true?
- What were the Corinthians doing wrong to cause Paul to say that their "meetings do more harm than good" (1 Corinthians 11:17)?
Monday, April 23, 1 Samuel 17 - 19, Psalm 48
- In 1 Samuel 17 the army of Israel went out to battle, shouting the war cry, but repeatedly became afraid of Goliath and fled. Why would they repeat this pattern?
- Where did David get the confidence to face Goliath?
- Why did the song in 1 Samuel 18:7 make Saul angry?
- What is the "evil spirit from the Lord" in 1 Samuel 19:9?
- Psalm 48:12-13 says, "Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation." What should you be taking note of to tell the next generation?
Tuesday, April 24, 1 Samuel 20 - 22, 1 Corinthians 12
- Why did Saul hurl a spear at his son Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20?
- Was David right or wrong to eat consecrated bread in 1 Samuel 21?
- Why did David pretend to be insane in 1 Samuel 21?
- Why did Saul have priests killed in 1 Samuel 22?
- According to 1 Corinthians 12:7 what is the purpose of the manifestation of the Spirit?
- In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes Christians as a body. He warns against anyone thinking they are unneeded or unimportant like the foot saying, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body." (verse 15) He warns against anyone looking at others as unneeded like the head saying to the feet, "I don't need you." (verse 21) How are you to find your place in the body of Christ, doing what others need from you and receiving what you need from others?
Wednesday, April 25, 1 Samuel 23 - 25, Psalm 49
- 1 Samuel 23:16 says that Jonathan helped David find strength in God. How would you help someone else find strength in God?
- David had a good opportunity to kill Saul in 1 Samuel 24. Why didn't he?
- In 1 Samuel 24 David didn't take the opportunity to kill Saul, who was trying to kill David. But in 1 Samuel 25 David was ready to kill Nabal and all the males in his household in an act of vengeance. Why such a difference in David's in these two chapters?
- Psalm 49 includes the hope of eternal life, but concludes with the statement, "People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish." What do you need to do to live your life with the understanding that everything in this life is temporary, but that we have been promised eternal life?
Thursday, April 26, 1 Samuel 26 - 27, 1 Corinthians 13
- In 1 Samuel 26:21 Saul admits that he has been acting like a fool and doing wrong. If he understood this, why did he repeatedly try to kill David?
- In 1 Samuel 26 Saul said he would not harm David and David expressed his faith in God to protect him. Why, then, did David decide in 1 Samuel 27 to go live with the Philistines?
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love keeps no record of wrongs. Are there wrongs that have been done to you that you need to forget?
Friday, April 27, 1 Samuel 28 - 29, 1 Corinthians 14
- In 1 Samuel 28, Saul turned to a medium when he couldn't get an answer from the Lord. What should he have done when he couldn't get an answer from the Lord?
- Achish told David in 1 Samuel 29:6, "I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army." Why then did he give in to his commanders and send David back?
- In 1 Corinthians 14 what limits does Paul place on the use of tongues during a meeting of Christians?
Saturday, April 28, 1 Samuel 30 - 31, 1 Corinthians 15 - 16
- David reached one of the lowest points in his life in 1 Samuel 30, but verse 6 says, "But David found strength in the Lord his God." How do you find strength in God when you are at a low point and there is no one to encourage you?
- How did Saul die?
- Why does Paul call himself "the least of the apostles" in 1 Corinthians 15:9?
- Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Why would Christian faith be useless if Christ has not been raised?
Sunday, April 15, Ruth 1 - 2, 1 Corinthians 6
- In Ruth 1, why did Naomi urge her daughters-in-law not to go with her back to Bethlehem?
- How did Boaz show kindness to Ruth in chapter 2?
- Why does Paul say, in 1 Corinthians 6, that it would be better to be wronged than to go to court against a fellow believer in front of a non-Christian judge?
- In 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul says, "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified." What do these words mean?
- Why does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "You are not your own"?
Monday, April 16, Ruth 3 - 4, Psalm 46
- Based on Ruth 3, how did Naomi show confidence in Boaz?
- How were Boaz and Ruth related to David?
- Psalm 46:2 says, "Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea." Do you have this kind of fearless faith in God?
Tuesday, April 17, 1 Samuel 1 - 3, 1 Corinthians 7
- If you had the opportunity to speak to Hannah when she was weeping in 1 Samuel 1:7, what would you say?
- What was wrong with what Eli's sons were doing in 1 Samuel 2:13-16?
- Why didn't Samuel recognize that it was the Lord speaking the first three times the Lord spoke to him in 1 Samuel 3?
- Why does Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7, advise people to stay unmarried if they can, but instructs the married to stay married?
- In I Corinthians 7:29-31 what attitude does Paul teach us to take because the time is short?
Wednesday, April 18, 1 Samuel 4 - 6, Psalm 47
- In 1 Samuel 4 why did the Israelites think that taking the ark of the covenant into battle would help them? Why didn't it?
- Why did the Philistines want to send back the ark after they captured it?
- 1 Samuel 6:6 shows that the Philistines knew about what God did to Egypt when Moses was alive, about 400 years earlier. How would the Philistines know about this?
- Psalm 47:6 commands us to sing praises to God. What if you can't sing?
Thursday, April 19, 1 Samuel 7 - 9, 1 Corinthians 8
- What was the meaning of the stone that Samuel named Ebenezer in 1 Samuel 7?
- Why did Israel want a king instead of following Samuel's sons?
- In 1 Samuel 9 Saul went to Samuel for help finding his donkeys. Samuel spoke to Saul instead about the calling God had on Saul's life. Are there times when you are praying about small things and God wants to speak to you about bigger things?
- What does Paul teach in 1 Corinthians 8 about food sacrificed to idols? Is it okay to eat it or not?
Friday, April 20, 1 Samuel 10 - 11, 1 Corinthians 9
- What change was Samuel speaking of in 1 Samuel 10:6?
- Why was Saul hiding in 1 Samuel 10:22?
- What did it mean in 1 Samuel 11:14 to renew the kingship?
- According to 1 Corinthians 9, is it right for preachers to be supported financially?
- Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:22, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." Who do you have the opportunity to reach out to in the way Paul did?
Saturday, April 21, 1 Samuel 12 - 13, 1 Corinthians 10
- What was the purpose of the thunder and rain in 1 Samuel 12:18?
- What was wrong with Saul offering a burnt offering in 1 Samuel 13?
- In I Corinthians 10 Paul says that the stories of the Israelites who died in the wilderness are given to us as examples of things we should avoid. What do you need to do to keep from repeating the mistakes Paul speaks of?
- What promises does God make concerning temptation in 1 Corinthians 10:13?
Sunday, April 8, Judges 1 - 3, 1 Corinthians 1
- Judges 1 describes several areas where Israel did not drive out the Canaanites, but lived among them. Why was this not what God wanted Israel to do?
- Judges 2:11-19 summarizes the cycles described in the book of Judges. The nation would do evil, be oppressed, cry out in prayer, be set free for a while, and do evil again. How can you avoid a cycle that is based on crying out to God only when you are in trouble?
- When God raised up Othniel, Judges 3:10 says, "The Spirit of the Lord came on him." What does this mean?
- The book of 1 Corinthians has a lot of correction for things that the church in Corinth was doing wrong. Yet, Paul begins by calling the Christians in Corinth "sanctified in Christ Jesus" (1:2) and "enriched in every way" (1:5), and says, "you do not lack any spiritual gift." (1:7). How can Christians be sanctified, enriched, and gifted, and still need correction?
- Why would Paul say, "Christ did not send me to baptize"?
Monday, April 9, Judges 4 - 6, Psalm 44
- Judges 4:17 says that there was an alliance between Jabin and Heber. Why then do you think Jael, Heber’s wife, kill Sisera, Jabin's army commander?
- In the song of Deborah in Judges 5, she recognizes the "willing volunteers," (Judges 5:9) and questions those who wouldn't fight, "Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back." (Judges 5:7) In what ways today do Christians need to be willing volunteers?
- In Judges 6:13 why did Gideon question whether the Lord was with him?
- What is Psalm 44 asking for?
Tuesday, April 10, Judges 7 - 9, 1 Corinthians 2
- Why did God want Gideon to reduce the size of his army in Judges 7?
- God gave Israel a great victory through Gideon, but Gideon then made an ephod of gold (an ephod is a sleeveless garment) that Israel began to worship and "it became a snare to Gideon and his family." (Judges 8:27) How can you keep God first in your life in both hard times and good times?
- What was the point of the parable that Jotham shouted in Judges 9:7-15?
- Why does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 2 that he did not want to speak with wise and persuasive words?
- What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 2:16 when he says, "we have the mind of Christ"?
Wednesday, April 11, Judges 10 - 12, Psalm 45
- Judges 10:16 says that God "could bear Israel’s misery no longer." What caused God to intervene?
- Why, in Judges 11, did Jephthah go from being driven away from his family to being invited to lead in Gilead?
- Why did the Gileadites have the Ephraimites say, "Shibboleth"?
- Who is being spoken to in Psalm 45:7?
Thursday, April 12, Judges 13 - 15, 1 Corinthians 3
- In Judges 13 an angel gave Samson's parents some direction and prophecy concerning their son before he was born. The angel then ascended and did not appear to them again. If you were Samson's parents what attitude would you have toward raising Samson?
- Why was Samson's wife given to someone else in Judges 14?
- Based on Judges 15:11, how would you describe the attitude in Israel toward the oppression by the Philistines? (Judges 13:1 says, "the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.")
- In 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul calls the Christians in Corinth "worldly" and "infants." What were they doing that caused him to say this?
- In 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul says, "we are co-workers in God’s service." He explains why there shouldn't be jealousy or rivalry among Christians. What attitude do you have toward other believers?
- Why does Paul call us God's temple in 1 Corinthians 3:16?
Friday, April 13, Judges 16 - 18, 1 Corinthians 4
- How much was Delilah offered by the rulers of the Philistines in Judges 16 to betray Samson?
- Why did the Lord leave Samson after his head was shaved?
- In Judges 17:13 Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will be good to me." He had paid a silversmith to make an idol, made a shrine, and hired a Levite to be his personal priest. Why did he think this was going to bring God's blessing?
- In Judges 18 the Danites stole Micah's idols and his priest. Why did they think there was any value in idols that could be stolen?
- Why does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 4:3 that he cares very little how he is judged by humans, including himself?
Saturday, April 14, Judges 19 - 21, 1 Corinthians 5
- How did the Levite in Judges 19 happen to arrive at Gibeah after sundown?
- In Leviticus 20:28 God promised Israel victory after they had two days of significant losses. They were trying to avenge a terrible sin that had been committed in Gibeah. Why was it so difficult for them to gain victory?
- The book of Judges ends with this statement in Judges 21:25, "everyone did as they saw fit." What examples are there in Judges of people making bad decisions?
- In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul instructs the church to put a man out of their fellowship. How would a church do this?
Sunday, April 1, Joshua 13 - 14, Mark 13
- Why did God, in Joshua 13, tell Joshua to allocate land among the tribes of Israel that had not been possessed in Joshua's lifetime?
- Why did Caleb think of himself as a warrior when he was eighty-five years old?
- Jesus said in Mark 13:7, "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed." What would you have to do to avoid becoming alarmed?
- Jesus told His disciples when they were arrested, "Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." Under what circumstances have you experienced the Holy Spirit speaking through you?
- In Mark 13:35 Jesus commanded us to "keep watch." Are you doing this?
Monday, April 2, Joshua 15 - 16, Psalm 41
- Who married Caleb's daughter Aksah? Why?
- David wrote in Psalm 41:1, "Blessed are those who have regard for the weak." What opportunities do you have to have regard for the weak?
- Some of David's writings about his own adversity were fulfilled in the life of Jesus. In Psalm 41:9 he wrote, "one who shared my bread, has turned against me." In John 13:18, John speaks of this as prophecy that was fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus. How was David able to write things that describe the life and death of Jesus?
Tuesday, April 3, Joshua 17 - 18, Mark 14
- Why did Zelophehad's daughters inherit land?
- What attitude should the descendants of Joseph have had toward the Canaanites having "chariots fitted with iron"?
- In Joshua 18:3 Joshua said, "How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?" This implies that the tribes were not as quick as they should have been in settling in land that had already been conquered. What keeps a person staying in place when they should move forward?
- In Mark 14 some people thought it was a waste when a woman poured perfume on Jesus. Did they value the perfume too much or value Jesus too little?
- Why could Peter insist that he would never disown Jesus but then disown Him?
- Why was Jesus silent when He was being accused? Why was he not silent when He was asked if He was the Messiah?
Wednesday, April 4, Joshua 19 - 20, Psalm 42
- After the land was divided among the tribes of Israel, why was Joshua given his own allotment?
- Joshua 20 lists the cities that were designated as cities of refuge. The responsibilities of the cities included, "admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them." (Joshua 20:4) If you lived in a city of refuge, what would your attitude be toward providing a fugitive a place to live?
- Psalm 42:2 says, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." Do you have a thirst for God? What are you doing about it?
Thursday, April 5, Joshua 21, Mark 15
- In giving towns to the Levites in Joshua 21, all six of the towns that had been designated as cities of refuge were given to the Levites. Was this because the other tribes didn't want the responsibility of the cities of refuge?
- The conquest of the Promised Land is summarized in Joshua 21:45, "Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." What promises of God do you base your life on?
- Why did Pilate release Barabbas in Mark 15?
- What convinced the centurion in Mark 15:39 that Jesus was the Son of God?
Friday, April 6, Joshua 22 - 23, Psalm 43
- In Joshua 22 what caused the other tribes to be ready to go to war against the 2 1/2 tribes that were returning to the east side of the Jordan River?
- In Joshua 23 what did Joshua urge the Israelites to do?
- In Psalm 43:5 the psalmist is speaking to his own soul, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God." Are you able to encourage yourself?
Saturday, April 7, Joshua 24, Mark 16
- In Joshua 24:15, Joshua told the people, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." Why was he presenting this as a choice? Shouldn't this choice have already been made when they first came into the Promised Land?
- Joshua also said, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." What does it mean to you to serve the Lord?
- In Mark 16:15 Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." The Joshua project website shows just under 7.5 billion people in the world and just over 3 billion of them belonging to unreached people groups. An unreached people group is one that does not include a group of Christians large enough to reach the rest of the group. They are in need of outside help. What should you be doing to help fulfill the Lord's command?
