Ephesians 3
- In Ephesians 3:6 what mystery does Paul say has been revealed?
- Ephesians 3:12 says, "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Do you approach God with freedom and confidence? What is that freedom based on?
- What does Paul say in Ephesians 3:16-19 he is praying for the Ephesian Christians?
- Paul says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3) What kind of effort is needed to keep unity?
- According to Ephesians 4:13-16, what does God want us to become?
- In Ephesians 4:22-23, Paul tells us to put off the old self and put on the new self. How do we do this?
- What does Ephesians 4:29 say we should do with our ability to speak?
- Ephesians 5:10 says, "and find out what pleases the Lord." How do you find out what pleases the Lord?
- Ephesians 5:18 tells us not to get drunk on wine. What are we told to do instead?
- In what way are husbands told to love their wives?
- What are children taught to do in Ephesians 6:1?
- Ephesians 6:11-17 teaches us to put on the full armor of God. How do you do this?
- Paul says he is praying for the Philippians and says, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." How does confidence that God will continue to work in you impact your desire to know and obey the Lord?
- Why does Paul say to die is gain?
Job 22 - 42
- Eliphaz and his friends assumed that bad things happened to Job because he had been bad. In Job 22:5-9 Eliphaz starts naming specific sins that he assumes Job has committed. Why did Eliphaz feel a need to condemn Job?
- Job says in Job 23:10, "when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." What did he base this confidence on?
- In Job 24:1 Job wonders, "Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment?" He then describes many injustices that take place in the world that seem to go without punishment. How would you answer Job's question in verse 1?
- Bildad asks in Job 25:4, "How then can a mortal be righteous before God?" What is the answer to his question?
- Job said, "I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it." (Job 27:6) He was disagreeing with his friends who thought his problems were the result of his sin. Was Job right in saying this?
- In chapter 28 Job describes wisdom as harder to find than precious metals that are mined far below ground. This seems to contrast with Proverbs 9:1-6 which depicts wisdom calling out from the highest point of the city, inviting everyone to come. Which view of wisdom is most accurate?
- In chapter 29 Job remembers the days when he was deeply respected and in chapter 30 he describes being mocked now that he is suffering. How can you keep a consistent love for God and understanding of His purpose when people's opinions of you may change?
- "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. (Job 31:1) What does it mean to make a covenant with your eyes?
- In Job 31:15 Job gives the reason he must treat his servants with justice. "Did not he who made me in the womb make them?" Do you look at others with this understanding and treat others the way you would like to be treated?
- In chapter 32 Elihu speaks up after Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar because, "not one of you has proved Job wrong." (Job 32:12) Why did he want to prove Job wrong?
- It troubled Elihu for Job to claim to be innocent and like the three men before him, Elihu assumed that Job's problems were the result of his sin. "Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked." (Job 34:7-8) Why were these men unable to believe Job's claim to being innocent?
- Elihu thought that Job merely needed to repent to be set free from his suffering, "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food." (Job 36:16) Elihu didn't understand what was really happening. What should we do when we want to encourage someone whose situation we don't fully understand?
- In chapter 38 God begins to speak. He says in verse 4, "Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?" He then begins to describe some of the complexity of creation. What value is there in remembering that God knows infinitely more than we do and that He created everything we see?
- How did Job answer God in Job 40:3-5?
- God says in Job 41:11, "Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me." Why is it important for us to recognize that God owns everything?
- Job said to Eliphaz in Job 42:7, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has." At times Job complained and wanted to die. Some of the things that Eliphaz and his two friends said are true. Why does God summarize by saying that Eliphaz and his friends did not speak the truth and Job did?
- What happened after Job prayed for his friends?
Psalms 89 - 90
- Psalm 89 has these themes
- verses 1-18, God is great and mighty
- verses 19- 37, God made great promises to David
- verses 38-45, We are defeated and in trouble
- verses 46-52, a prayer for God's intervention, Why does this psalm begin by declaring God's greatness and remembering His promises, when it was written in a time of great trouble?
- Psalm 90 shows that God is eternal, "from everlasting to everlasting you are God," (Psalm 90:2). It also shows that our lives are short by comparison, "Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures." (Psalm 90:10). Moses prayed, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) What does it mean to number your days? What is the benefit?
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