Week 14, March 31 - April 6, 2019

New Testament
Luke 16

• In Luke 16:1-9 Jesus tells the story of a dishonest manager who acted in his own interest when he was about to be fired.  What does Jesus want us to learn from this story?
• Luke 16:13 says you cannot serve two masters.  What do you need to do to focus your heart and mind so you are only trying to serve God?
• In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of a man who was in torment after he died.  He wanted his brothers to repent so they wouldn't join him in a place of torment.  He wanted Lazarus to rise from the dead to warn them.  Why does Jesus say, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead"?

Luke 17

• Jesus taught us to rebuke our brother or sister if they sin against us (Luke 17:3), but to forgive them again and again when they repent (17:4).  Are you quick to forgive others?
• In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus cleanses ten lepers, but only one came back to thank Him.  Are there things that God has done for you that you take for granted that you should be thanking Him for?
• In Luke 17:20 Jesus says, "the coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed," but in verse 24 He says His coming "will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other."  How can these both be true?

Luke 18

• Jesus teaches persistent prayer in Luke 18:1-8.  Why would He use a widow who kept bothering a judge as an example for us to follow?
• Why did the disciples have a different response to babies than Jesus did in Luke 18:15-17?
• Jesus responded to the question, “Who then can be saved?” (Luke 18:26) by saying, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (18:27)  Why is being saved impossible with man?

Luke 19

• What caused Zacchaeus to change his attitude toward his possessions?
• Why did the Pharisees think Jesus should rebuke His disciples in Luke 19:39?  How did Jesus answer them?
• Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

Luke 20

• Why didn't Jesus answer the question about His authority in Luke 20:1-8?
• Jesus said in Luke 20:25, "give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."  What do we need to give to God?

Old Testament
Joshua 13 - 24

• Did the Israelites occupy all the Promised Land during the lifetime of Joshua?
• In Joshua 14 why did Caleb still think of himself as a warrior at age 85?
• What did Aksah ask her father Caleb for in Joshua 15?
• What challenge did Joshua give the descendants of Joseph in Joshua 17?
• How did the last seven tribes receive their allotment of land?
• Why was Simeon's allotment taken from within the borders of Judah?
• Joshua 20 explains the cities of refuge.  These were for the protection of someone who had killed another accidentally.  If a person killed someone accidentally, why wouldn't they be protected anywhere else in Israel?
• Why was Israel ready to go to war against the tribes east of Jordan in Joshua 22?
• What did Joshua warn Israel to do in chapter 23?  What did he warn them not to do?
• Joshua told the people in Joshua 24:15, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Why does God give us a choice to serve Him instead of just making us serve Him?

Psalms
Psalms 41 - 43

• Psalm 41:1 says that those who have regard for the weak will be blessed.  What opportunities do you have to have regard for the weak?
• In Psalm 42:11 and Psalm 43:5 the psalmist speaks to his own soul not to be downcast but to trust in God.  Are you able to encourage yourself as you turn your attention to God?

Week 13, March 24 - 30, 2019

New Testament
Luke 11

• In Luke 11:5-10 Jesus taught us to pray with persistence.  How do you know when you should keep praying with persistence or when the answer is "No" and you should move on?
• What did Jesus mean by the statement in Luke 11:20, "the kingdom of God has come upon you"?
• What did Jesus do in Luke 11 that caused the Pharisees and the teachers of the law to "oppose him fiercely"?

Luke 12

• In Luke 12:1-3 Jesus warns against hypocrisy and explains that nothing can be hidden.  How can we guard ourselves from being hypocritical?
• Jesus tells a parable in Luke 12:13-21 and concludes by saying, "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."  What does it mean to be rich toward God?  How do you become rich in that way?
• What does Jesus mean in Luke 12:35 saying, "Be dressed ready for service"?

Luke 13

• In Luke 13:10-17 Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath.  What was the cause of her crippled condition?
• Why does Jesus compare the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and to yeast in Luke 13:18-21?
• In Luke 13:34 Jesus says of Jerusalem, "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."  How can you allow the Lord to draw you close like a hen gathering her chicks?

Luke 14

• In Luke 14:7-11 Jesus taught us not to try to honor ourselves.  Does this come naturally for you or do you often try to seek honor?
• In Luke 14:12-14 Jesus taught us to show kindness to others who are not able to pay us back.  What opportunities do you have to do this?
• In Luke 14:28-33 Jesus uses the examples of a builder and of a king estimating the cost of something before starting.  What does He say is the cost of being a disciple?

Luke 15

• Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7 to emphasize God's love for one lost person.  Is there someone you know that is like a lost sheep?  What would God have you do about it?
• The lost coin still had value even though it was lost.  What value do people keep even though they are lost?
• What does the parable in Luke 15:11-32 show about God's love?

Old Testament
Joshua 1 - 12

• In Joshua 1, God told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous.  What do you have to do to be strong and courageous?
• Why did Rahab help the spies that Joshua sent to Jericho?
• In Joshua 3:6 the ark of the covenant was to go in front of all the people into the Jordan River.  This is different from the arrangement in Numbers 2:17 where the tabernacle and all the Levites were in the middle of the tribes when they traveled.  Why did the ark go first in Joshua 3?
• What was the purpose of taking 12 stones from the Jordan River in Joshua 4?
• When and why did the Lord stop providing manna?
• Why did God have Israel march around Jericho for seven days?
• Why were the consequences of Achan's sin so severe?
• Why did Joshua read the Law in Joshua 8:34?
• In Joshua 9 the Gibeonites lied to the Israelites and tricked them into making a treaty.  Did God want Israel to keep their word after they made this treaty?
• In what ways did God intervene in the battle in Joshua 10:1-15?
• According to Joshua 12 how many kings did Joshua defeat west of the Jordan?

Psalms
Psalms 38 - 40

• Psalm 38 is a cry for help in a time of trouble.  David describes health problems, people who avoid him, and enemies who hate him.  But in verse 15 he says, "Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God."  Why was David confident that God would answer him?
• David wrote in Psalm 39:4, "Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is."  What is the value of recognizing that our lives are fleeting?
• David says, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." (Psalm 40:3)  How does God put a song in your mouth?

Week 12, March 17 - 23, 2019

New Testament
Luke 6

• Why did the Pharisees think it was wrong to heal a man on the Sabbath?
• In Luke 6:22-23 Jesus taught His disciples to rejoice when they were hated and insulted for being followers of Jesus.  Are you able to have this attitude?
• Jesus taught, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31)  Is this the way you live?
• Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you." (Luke 6:38)  What should you be giving?

Luke 7

• In Luke 7:4 Jewish elders wanted Jesus to heal the servant of a centurion and said, "This man deserves to have you do this."  But the centurion said in verse 6, "I do not deserve to have you come under my roof," and in verse 7, "I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you."  Did Jesus heal the servant because the centurion deserved it?
• John the Baptist had been sent to point people to Jesus.  How could he reach a point where he asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19)
• Luke 7:36-50 is the story of a woman who poured perfume on Jesus's feet.  The Pharisee in the story saw a sinful woman.  What did Jesus see?

Luke 8

• What does Luke 8:2 say about Mary Magdalene's background?
• Jesus tells a parable in Luke 8:5-8 and interprets it in verses 11-15.  What does the seed represent? the birds? the thorns?
• Luke 8:26-39 tells the story of a man who had been tormented by demons, so much that he lived among the tombs, didn't wear clothes, and couldn't be held by chains.  When Jesus cast out the demons, the man was clothed and in his right mind.  Why did this cause the people in the area to be afraid and want Jesus to leave?

Luke 9

• In Luke 9 Jesus sent out the twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God.  Verse 6 says they were "proclaiming the good news."  When we think of good news, we focus on the fact that Jesus died for our sins.  In Luke 9 Jesus hadn't died yet.  What good news were the disciples proclaiming?
• Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  What does it mean for you to deny yourself?
• Why did Jesus have a little child stand beside Him in Luke 9:47?

Luke 10

• Why did Jesus tell the 72 not to move around from house to house (Luke 10:7)?
• Why did Jesus tell the 72 in Luke 10:20 not to rejoice that the demons submitted to them?  What did He tell them to rejoice about instead?
• In Luke 10:21 Jesus spoke of things that are hidden from the wise and learned but revealed to little children.  What do we need to do to be like children and have God's truth revealed to us?
• How did the story of the good Samaritan answer the question, “And who is my neighbor?”
• Are you more like Mary or Martha in the story in Luke 10:38-42?

Old Testament
Deuteronomy 25 - 34

• Deuteronomy 25:15 commands people to have accurate and honest weights and measures.  This is so that people deal fairly with one another.  In what ways do you have the opportunity to deal fairly with other people?
• Deuteronomy 26:18 refers to God's people as "his treasured possession."  How will it affect you to think of yourself as God's treasured possession?
• In Deuteronomy 27 Moses instructed the people, after they entered the Promised Land, to have half the tribes stand on a mountain and pronounce curses for sins.  Verse 26 says, “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”  What was the value of publicly proclaiming a curse on disobedience?
• Who is promised blessing in Deuteronomy?  Who is promised curses?
• Moses said in Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law."  What do you need to do to follow the "things revealed"?
• What did Moses mean in Deuteronomy 30:14 saying, "No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it"?
• What was the purpose of the song in Deuteronomy 32?
• How old was Moses when he died?

Psalms
Psalms 35 - 37

• David wrote in Psalm 35:10, "My whole being will exclaim, 'Who is like you, Lord?'"  How would you exclaim with your whole being?
• David writes of the wicked in Psalm 36:2, "In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin."  How can you avoid being righteous in your own eyes when there are things God wants you turn from?
• Psalm 37:4 promises, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  How do you take delight in the Lord?

Week 11, March 10 - 16, 2019

New Testament
Luke 1

• According to Luke 1:17 what was John (the Baptist) called to do?
• What happened when Mary greeted Elizabeth?

Luke 2

• Why would the angels pick a group of shepherds to tell the good news that a Savior had been born?
• Why was Simeon in the temple courts when Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus to present Him to the Lord?

Luke 3

• In Luke 3:8 John the Baptist said, "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."  What specific examples of fruit in keeping with repentance did he give in verses 11-14?
• Why was John the Baptist locked up in prison?

Luke 4

• Luke 4:1 says that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  While He was there He was tempted by the devil.  What was the purpose of this temptation?
• The book of Isaiah was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born.  What did Jesus claim to fulfill from what Isaiah had written?
• Luke 4:29 says that people were mad enough at Jesus to try to throw Him off a cliff.  What made them so angry?

Luke 5

• Why was Peter telling Jesus to go away in Luke 5:8?
• People normally tried to avoid anyone with leprosy.  Why did Jesus touch the man with leprosy in Luke 5:13?
• Luke 5:16 says, "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."  Do you need to follow this example?  How "often" do you need to get alone to pray?  Where can you find a place to be alone?
• Why did Jesus say He ate with tax collectors and sinners?

Old Testament
Deuteronomy 13 - 24

• Why was the punishment in Deuteronomy 13, for turning away to other Gods, so severe?
• Deuteronomy 14:24-26 allowed people who lived far from the temple to sell animals and then use the money to buy other animals when they got to the temple.  If this was provided for in the Law, why was Jesus angry at those who were exchanging money and selling animals in the temple courts in Matthew 21:12-13?
• What attitude toward the poor is commanded in Deuteronomy 15:7-8?
• Why does Deuteronomy 15:4 say, "there need be no poor people among you," while verse 11 says, "there will always be poor people in the land"?
• Deuteronomy 16:16 commanded all the men in Israel to appear before the Lord three times each year.  Why did God add, "No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed"?
• In Deuteronomy 17:19 how often was a king expected to read from the Law?  If the king needed a daily practice of reading God's Word, do you?
• Deuteronomy 18 teaches Israel never to listen to someone practicing divination or sorcery, but to listen to a prophet that God raises up.  How are you to distinguish who you should or shouldn't listen to?
• Why does Deuteronomy 19:15 say one witness is not enough to convict someone of a crime?
• In Deuteronomy 21 why did God require a sacrifice for an unsolved murder?
• In Deuteronomy 23:5, how did God turn a curse into a blessing?
• What does Deuteronomy 24:5 show about the importance of happy marriages?

Psalms
Psalms 32 - 34

• Psalm 32:3-4 describes David's experience when he refused to confess his sin.  Verse 5 describes what happened when he confessed.  If God freely forgives sin, why is anyone slow to confess their sin to God?
• Psalm 33:1 is a command to sing joyfully.  What should you do if you can't sing?  What should you do if you aren't joyful?
• David wrote in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."  What does this mean and how do you do it?

Week 10, March 3 - 9, 2019

New Testament
Revelation 18

• There is a command in Revelation 18:4 for God's people to "come out" of Babylon.  What should you do to obey that command?
• What does Babylon represent in chapter 18?

Revelation 19

• Who is the bride in Revelation 19:7?
• Who is the rider in Revelation 19:11?

Revelation 20

• Why will Satan be released after being locked up for 1000 years (Revelation 20:3)?
• What will happen to Satan after the 1000 years, according to Revelation 20:10?
• According to Revelation 20:12, what will the dead be judged for?
• Who will be spared from the lake of fire (20:15)?

Revelation 21

• What does Revelation 21:4 say will no longer exist when the dwelling of God is with people?
• What does Revelation 21:8 call the second death?
• Why does the New Jerusalem not have a temple or a sun or moon?

Revelation 22

• What does Revelation 22:2 say the leaves of the tree of life are for?
• Revelation 22:17 gives an invitation to those who are thirsty.  How does a person respond to this invitation and "take the free gift of the water of life"?

Old Testament
Deuteronomy 1 - 12

• In Deuteronomy 1:43, Moses describes an attempt by Israelites to attack and possess the Promised Land.  This was after the people had refused to possess the land because of their fear of its inhabitants.  Why was the attempt in 1:43 described as "arrogance" and not sincere repentance?
• In Deuteronomy 2, why did God tell Israel that He would not give them any land belonging to the descendants of Esau (verse 5), nor the Moabites (verse 9) nor the Ammonites (verse 19), but that He was giving them the land of Sihon the Amorite (verse 24)?
• In Deuteronomy 4 God warned that if Israel was disobedient after possessing the Promised Land they would be scattered.  But He also promised in verse 29, "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Are you seeking God with all your heart and soul?
• The commandment in Deuteronomy 5:21 is a basic rule for people living as neighbors, "You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."  If people are commanded not to want anything that belongs to a neighbor, why was Israel commanded to enter the Promised Land and take it away from those who were living there?
• Deuteronomy 6:5 gives a command that Jesus quoted when He was asked what is the greatest commandment in the Law.  What do you need to do to obey the command to love the Lord?
• Why did God want Israel to destroy the seven nations He names in Deuteronomy 7:1?
• Moses said in Deuteronomy 8:3 that the purpose of Israel becoming hungry and being fed by manna was "to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."  How do you learn to live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?
• What reason does Deuteronomy 9:4 give for God being willing to drive out the nations that lived in the Promised Land before Israel arrived?
• Moses commanded the people in Deuteronomy 10:16, "do not be stiff-necked any longer."  How do you stop being stiff-necked?
• Deuteronomy 11:18 says, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds."  How do you fix God's Word in your heart and mind?
• Deuteronomy 12:8 says that the inhabitants of the Promised Land "do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates."  What specific thing is then mentioned that they did?

Psalms
Psalms 29 - 31

• Psalm 29:3-9 speaks of the power of the "voice of the Lord."  Why is the Lord able to do great things with His voice?
• Psalm 30:5 says, "weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."  In what ways has rejoicing overtaken weeping in your life?
• David wrote, "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord," in Psalm 31:24.  How do you "take heart"?