Week 12, March 18 - 24, 2018

Sunday, March 18, Deuteronomy 25 - 26, Mark 5

• Deuteronomy 25:15 says, "You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."  Why would honest weights and measures lead to long life?
• Why did God command in Deuteronomy 26 that some of the firstfruits of the land be offered to the Lord?
• Why did the demons in Mark 5 want to be sent into the pigs?
• Why did the people in Mark 5:17 want Jesus to leave their region?

Monday, March 19, Deuteronomy 27, Psalm 35

• In Deuteronomy 27 why would God have the people pronounce a curse on those who broke the Law?
• In Psalm 35:12-16 David speaks of people he had been good to who had become his enemy.  What should your attitude be toward someone who acts like your enemy without cause?

Tuesday, March 20, Deuteronomy 28, Mark 6

• Were the promises in Deuteronomy 28:1-13 made to people individually or to the nation as a whole?
• In Deuteronomy 28, describing the curses that will follow disobedience, God mentions a root cause of disobedience, "Because you did not serve the Lord your God joyfully and gladly" (vs. 47).  Why is serving God joyfully essential to obedience?
• Why would a prophet be without honor is his own town (Mark 6:4)?
• Why did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist in Mark 6?
• In Mark 6:31 Jesus called His disciples away from the crowds to get some rest.  However, in Mark 6:34 He saw the crowd that followed them and had compassion on them.  Why didn't He send the crowd away since they had been trying to get away and get some rest?

Wednesday, March 21, Deuteronomy 29 - 30, Psalm 36

• Deuteronomy 29:29 says, "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 is the benefit of walking in the things that God has revealed while trusting Him with the things He has kept secret?
• What is the significance of Deuteronomy 30:14 saying the word, "is in your mouth and in your heart"?
• David wrote in Psalm 36:8, "you give them drink from your river of delights."  How do you drink from God's river?

Thursday, March 22, Deuteronomy 31, Mark 7

• Moses told the people in Deuteronomy 31:6, "Do not be afraid or terrified because of them."  This is one of many commands in the Bible not to be afraid.  How do you obey a commandment to not be afraid if you are afraid?
• According to Deuteronomy 31:19-22, why did God give Moses a song to teach Israel?
• In Mark 7 the Pharisees and teachers of the Law criticized the disciples for eating without washing their hands.  Why did Jesus tell them there were more important issues they should have been concerned about?
• In Mark 7:27, why did Jesus tell the woman with the demon possessed daughter, "it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs"?

Friday, March 23, Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 37

• What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 32:9, "For the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance"?
• Moses said in Deuteronomy 32:47, speaking of the commandments he had given, "They are not just idle words for you—they are your life."  Do you view God's Word in this way, seeing it as your life?
• Psalm 37:4 commands us to take delight in the Lord.  How do you do that?

Saturday, March 24, Deuteronomy 33 - 34, Mark 8

• Deuteronomy 33 includes blessings for the tribes of Israel, but in Deuteronomy 31:16-17 God had said that the people would forsake Him and that He would forsake them.  Why is Moses pronouncing blessing on people who he knew would turn away from God?
• Why did God bury Moses such that no one knew where his grave was?
• When Jesus asked in Mark 8:17, "Are your hearts hardened?" what was He wanting to see in His disciples?
• In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus touched a blind man.  At first the man could only see partially.  Jesus touched him a second time and he could see clearly.  What should we do if we pray and it seems like our prayer is only partly answered?
• Why did Jesus rebuke Peter in Mark 8:33?

Week 11, March 11 - 17, 2018

Sunday, March 11, Deuteronomy 13 - 14, Mark 1

• In Deuteronomy 13, the penalty for encouraging others to worship other gods was death.  Why was the punishment so severe?  Some people say that all religions are good.  Is this true?
• In Deuteronomy 14:1, the rules for what could be eaten were more strict for Israel than for foreigners living in Israel.  Why did God put stricter limits on Israel?
• What was Jesus's message in Mark 1:15?
• Mark 1:22 says that people were amazed at Jesus "because he taught them as one who had authority."  What does this mean?  How was His teaching different?
• Jesus healed a leper and in Mark 1:44 He told him not to tell anyone.  Why wouldn't Jesus want the man to tell anyone?

Monday, March 12, Deuteronomy 15 - 16, Psalm 32

• Deuteronomy 15:4 says, "there need be no poor people among you."  But, Deuteronomy 15:11 says, "There will always be poor people in the land."  How can these both be true?
• What attitude does Deuteronomy 15 teach us to have toward the poor?
• According to Deuteronomy 16:16 all men were to appear before the Lord three times each year.  None were to appear empty handed.  If you were a man living in Israel, what challenges would you face in obeying this command?
• Psalm 32:9 says, "Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle."  How does God want to lead us?

Tuesday, March 13, Deuteronomy 17 - 18, Mark 2

• Deuteronomy 17:18-19 taught that any future king was to have his own copy of the law and was to "read it all the days of his life."  Is it equally important for you to have a practice of daily Bible reading?
• Deuteronomy 18:19 says, "I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name," but also warns of prophets who speak things God didn't give them to say.  How can a person discern between a false prophet and a true prophet?
• In Mark 2 the teachers of the law accused Jesus of blasphemy because he told a man his sins were forgiven because only God has the authority to forgive sins.  How did Jesus demonstrate his authority to forgive sins?
• In Mark 2:17 why did Jesus say he ate with tax collectors and sinners?

Wednesday, March 14, Deuteronomy 19 - 20, Psalm 33

• Why did God say in Deuteronomy 19:15, "One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed"?
• Deuteronomy 20:1 says, "When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you."  What opportunities do you have to trust God rather than being intimidated by what you see?
• Psalm 33:18-19 say, "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine."  Are you aware of God's eye being on you?  How does that change the way you face challenges?

Thursday, March 15, Deuteronomy 21, Mark 3

• Why was the nearest town required to make atonement for someone found murdered if they didn't know who was responsible?
• In Mark 3:9 why did Jesus want to have a small boat ready?
• Why was Judas Iscariot among the 12 who Jesus appointed in Mark 3?

Friday, March 16, Deuteronomy 22 - 23, Psalm 34

• Deuteronomy 22:4 says, "If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet."  What opportunities do you have for showing concern for your neighbor in a similar way?
• According to Deuteronomy 23:15-16, what were people to do with a fugitive slave?
• Why was it allowable in Deuteronomy 23:24 to eat grapes from your neighbor's vineyard?
• David wrote in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good."  Taste is something each person has to experience for themselves.  What do you need to do to taste what David is talking about?

Saturday, March 17, Deuteronomy 24, Mark 4

• Deuteronomy 24:5 stated that a newlywed man could not be sent to war for one year so he would be free to stay at home and bring happiness to his wife.  Why would God place this much importance on happy marriages?
• There are several commands in Deuteronomy concerning things taken in pledge for a debt.  Verse 6 says not to take millstones because they are a person's livelihood.  Verse 10 says not to go into a person's house for something offered in pledge, but to wait for them to bring it out.  Verse 13 teaches not to keep a cloak in pledge overnight.  Verse 17 commands not to take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.  What do these commands have in common?
• According to Mark 4:17 what does the sun represent in the parable of the sower and the seed?  What do the thorns represent (4:19)?
• Why did Jesus question the disciples' faith in Mark 4:40?

Week 10, March 4 - 10, 2018

Deuteronomy means "second law."  After 40 years in the wilderness a new generation was ready to enter the Promised Land.  Moses reminds them how they got here and what God expects of them.  The last chapters of Romans provide some very important guidance for Christian living.

Sunday, March 4, Deuteronomy 1 - 2, Romans 11

• What is the meaning of the statement in Deuteronomy 1:17, "Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God"?
• God said in Deuteronomy 1:8, "See, I have given you this land."  But He also said about the descendants of Esau, "I will not give you any of their land." (Deuteronomy 2:5).  God says the same about the Moabites (2:9) and the Ammonites (2:19).  Why were there some nations that God would not allow Israel to invade and others that He did?
• According to Romans 11:22 what condition must we meet as believers to not be cut off?

Monday, March 5, Deuteronomy 3 - 4, Psalm 29

• In Deuteronomy 3:26 God not only told Moses that he couldn't enter the Promised Land, but He told Moses to quit asking.  Jesus told us to be persistent in prayer.  Should Moses have continued to be persistent?
• Why does Deuteronomy 4:24 call God a jealous God?
• Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "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."  How do you seek God with all your heart and soul?
• Psalm 29:11 says, "the Lord blesses his people with peace."  How has He blessed you with peace?

Tuesday, March 6, Deuteronomy 5 - 6, Romans 12

• Deuteronomy 5:16 says, "Honor your father and your mother."  How should a person obey this if their father or mother has been dishonorable or abusive?
• According to Deuteronomy 6:6-7, how are parents to impress God's commands on their children?
• Romans 12:2 teaches us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  How do we do that?
• What does Romans 12:7 say to do if your gift is serving?
• Romans 12:11 says to never be lacking in zeal.  What should you do if you find yourself lacking zeal?

Wednesday, March 7, Deuteronomy 7 - 8, Psalm 30

• In Deuteronomy 7, why did God tell Israel not to intermarry with the nations they were to drive out of the land?
• Deuteronomy 8:3 says, "man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."  What does it mean for you to live on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord?
• Psalm 30:5 says, "weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."  What opportunities do you have to recognize this truth in the midst of trouble or sorrow?

Thursday, March 8, Deuteronomy 9, Romans 13 - 14

• According to Deuteronomy 9:4 why were the inhabitants of the Promised Land going to be driven out?
• Romans 13 teaches us to be subject to governing authorities.  There are examples in the Bible of people who refused to obey governing authorities.  Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the apostles all refused to obey.  Were they right or wrong?
• Romans 13:11 says, "The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber."  What does this mean and how do you do it?
• Romans 14 teaches us not to judge each other over disputable matters, but not to cause others to stumble because of them.  The examples Paul gives are eating meat and observing special days as holy.  What other issues today would these same principles apply to?

Friday, March 9, Deuteronomy 10 - 11, Psalm 31

• Deuteronomy 10:4 says that God wrote the Ten Commandments on the tablets that replaced the ones Moses broke.  There are many commandments in the Law.  Why were only those ten written in stone?
• How does Moses summarize God's requirements in Deuteronomy 10:12-13?
• God commanded in Deuteronomy 11:18, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds."  What do you need to do to fix God's Word in your heart and mind?
• David says in Psalm 31:1 that he has taken refuge in the Lord.  How do you take refuge in Him?

Saturday, March 10, Deuteronomy 12, Romans 15 - 16

• Why did God command Israel to only offer sacrifices in one place (Deuteronomy 12:5-6)?
• Romans 15:1 tells the strong to "bear with the failings of the weak."  What does it mean to bear with someone's failings?
• Why did Paul say it was his ambition to "preach the gospel where Christ was not known"?
• In Romans 16:20 Paul says, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet."  What does this mean?

Week 9, February 25 - March 3, 2018

Sunday, February 25, Numbers 19 - 21, Romans 6

• Was the water of cleansing described in Numbers 19 used to remove bacteria and was it just for a ceremonial use?
• What did Moses do in Numbers 20 that was so serious God told him that he wouldn't be allowed to enter the Promised Land?
• Jesus drew a comparison between the bronze snake in Numbers 21 and Himself (John 3:14-15).  What did Jesus have in common with the snake that Moses made?
• What does Paul mean in Romans 6:6 when he says, "our old self was crucified with him"?
• Paul says in Romans 6:11 to "count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God."  Are you doing this?
• In Romans 6:23, why does Paul refer to death as wages but eternal life as a gift?

Monday, February 26, Numbers 22 - 24, Psalm 25

• Balak said to Balaam in Numbers 22:6, "For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed."  Where did Balak get that idea?
• If God told Balaam to go with those Balak sent in Numbers 22:20, why was God angry with Balaam when he went (Numbers 22:22)?
• What does Numbers 23:19 say about God?
• What was Balaam speaking about in Numbers 24:17?
• David wrote in Psalm 25:15, "My eyes are ever on the Lord."  What does he mean?  What do you need to do to keep your eyes ever on the Lord?

Tuesday, February 27, Numbers 25 - 27, Romans 7

• What caused the plague in Numbers 25?
• Had the nation grown or shrunk in the years between Numbers 1 and Numbers 26?
• How did God answer Moses's prayer in Numbers 27:16?
• Why does Paul tell us in Romans 7 that we died to the Law?
• Paul says in Romans 7:18, "I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."  Is he describing his life as a Christian or what it was like before becoming a Christian?

Wednesday, February 28, Numbers 28 - 30, Psalm 26

• What do you think was the purpose of the offerings required by Numbers 28 and 29?
• In Numbers 30 why did God allow a vow made by a woman to be overruled by her father or husband?
• In Psalm 26:8 David wrote, "Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells."  What was it about God's house that David loved?

Thursday, March 1, Numbers 31 - 32, Romans 8 - 9

• Numbers 31:16 shows that after Balaam was unable to curse Israel in Numbers 22-24, he advised the Moabites in luring Israel into immorality in Numbers 25.  Why did Balaam alternate between obeying God and rebelling?
• Were the tribes who wanted to receive their inheritance east of the Jordan in Numbers 32 settling for something less than what God wanted for them?
• Paul says in Romans 8:6, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."  What do you need to do to have your mind governed by the Spirit?
• Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."  Do God's promises of eternal glory outweigh whatever suffering you may face?
• What does it mean to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)?
• According to Romans 9:32, how did Israel stumble over the stumbling stone? 

Friday, March 2, Numbers 33 - 34, Psalms 27 - 28

• Numbers 33 lists 41 places the Israelites camped over a 40 year period.  Did the Israelites spend more time travelling or camping during this time?
• Why was the Promised Land to be divided among only 9 1/2 tribes?
• In Psalm 27 David shows that he is free from fear.  Do you have this freedom?
• David wrote, "My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." (Psalm 28:7)  When and how do you experience great joy in the Lord?

Saturday, March 3, Numbers 35 - 36, Romans 10

• In Numbers 35, for whose benefit were the cities of refuge set aside?
• Why did Zelophehad’s daughters marry their cousins?
• According to Romans 10:9, what must a person do to be saved?
• Why do people need to hear the gospel to be saved?

Week 8, February 18 - 24, 2018

Numbers gets its name from the counting of the people of Israel at the beginning and end of their 40 years in the wilderness.  But there is much more to this book than just numbers.  We see the results of obedience and disobedience, of faith and of doubt.  The New Testament tells us, "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us."  (1 Corinthians 10:11)
In the book of Romans Paul gives us a straight forward explanation of the gospel.

Sunday, February 18, Numbers 1 - 3, Romans 1

• In Numbers 1, how many men who were able to serve in the army were counted?  Why weren't the Levites included?
• In Numbers 2 God told Israel how to arrange their camp.  What was in the center of the camp?
• In Numbers 3, the Levites were counted, but they counted all males that were a month old or more.  Why did the count of the other tribes only include males who were 20 or more years old?
• In Romans 1, why did Paul say he wanted to visit the Romans personally?
• Why does Paul call the gospel "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes"?
• In Romans 1:19-20 Paul says that God has made plain His own qualities through the things He created.  Why then are there people who say they don't believe in God?

Monday, February 19, Numbers 4 - 6, Psalm 22

• Why were the Kohathites required to carry the furnishings of the tabernacle, but not allowed to touch them or look at them?
• Numbers 5 includes a lie detector test for a woman suspected of being unfaithful.  Why was this only applied to women?
• Numbers 6 gives the rules for a Nazirite vow, a vow of separation for a period of time.  Numbers 6:2 shows that this vow was voluntary and either a man or woman could make the vow.  This chapter doesn't explain who should do this.  Why would a person want to make a vow of separation?
• Several verses in Psalm 22 make us think of Jesus on the cross.  What would prompt David to write this?

Tuesday, February 20, Numbers 7 - 9, Romans 2

• In Numbers 7 the Levites were given carts to help them transport the tabernacle.  Why weren't the Kohathites given carts?
• According to Numbers 8, in what age range did the Levites serve at the tabernacle?
• What was a person to do if they couldn't celebrate the Passover because they were unclean at the time?
• Why does Romans 2 tell us not to pass judgement on someone else?

Wednesday, February 21, Numbers 10 - 12, Psalm 23

• When were the trumpets in Numbers 10 to be used?
• According to Numbers 10, the Gershonites and Merarites were to travel after the first three tribes of Israel and the Kohathites were to travel after the next three.  The Gershonites and Merarites were to have the tabernacle set up before the Kohathites arrived.  How long do you think it took to set up the tabernacle?
• In Numbers 11, why were the complaints of the people about their hardships a serious issue?
• Why did Miriam become leprous?
• In Psalm 23 David pictures himself as a sheep and the Lord as his shepherd.  What do you need to do to have the peace, provision, and protection that David describes in this psalm?

Thursday, February 22, Numbers 13 - 14, Romans 3 - 4

• Why did Caleb have a different opinion from other spies in Numbers 13?
• In Numbers 14 who did God say would die in the wilderness?  Who would be allowed to enter the Promised Land?
• According to Romans 3, who is guilty of sin?  How can we be justified?
• What does it mean to be "justified by faith apart from the works of the law"? (Romans 3:28)
• What is Paul explaining in Romans 4 when he uses Abraham as an illustration?

Friday, February 23, Numbers 15 - 16, Psalm 24

• Numbers 15:30 says that someone who sins defiantly must be cut off from the people of Israel.  What does it mean to be defiant?  How would a person be cut off?
• Why did people oppose Moses and Aaron in Numbers 16?
• Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it."  How does knowing this affect the way you think, live, and pray?

Saturday, February 24, Numbers 17 - 18, Romans 5

• What was the purpose of the budding of Aaron's staff in Numbers 17?
• What is the meaning of God's statement to Aaron in Numbers 18:20, "I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites"?
• In Numbers 18:26, why did God have the Levites pay a tithe on the tithe they received?
• In Romans 5 Paul says we glory in our sufferings.  Why would we?
• Paul says in Romans 5:8, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Do you look at others, including those who may be far from God, as people for whom Jesus died?

Week 7, February 11 - 17, 2018

The second half of Leviticus has more instructions for priests, but also includes commands for the whole nation similar to some found in Exodus.  In chapter 26 God gives the nation promises for obedience and warnings for disobedience.  The last few chapters of Matthew describe the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Sunday, February 11, Leviticus 15 - 16, Matthew 25

• Leviticus 15:31 says, "You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean."  Was God primarily concerned with good hygiene to keep the people healthy or with keeping pure in the sight of God to maintain a good relationship with Him?
• According to Leviticus 16 how often was the priest to enter the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the people?
• In Matthew 25 Jesus told the parable of the 10 virgins and concluded by saying, "Therefore keep watch..."  What should you be doing to keep watch since Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour of His coming?
• In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  What opportunities do you have to help the "least of these"?

Monday, February 12, Leviticus 17 - 18, Psalm 19

• Leviticus 17:11 says, "it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."  What does this mean?
• Leviticus 18 forbids sexual relationships with close relatives and is specific about which relatives are too close.  Some of these are blood relationships which could be forbidden to prevent inbreeding.  However, some of the relationships are not blood relationships.  What was God's purpose in forbidding these?
• The commands in Leviticus 18 begin and end with the statement, "I am the Lord your God."  Why is it important to accept God's authority in matters of sexual morality?
• The first half of Psalm 19 begins with, "The heavens declare the glory of God."  The second half begins with, "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul."  What can you learn about God from His creation?  What can you only learn from His revealed Word?

Tuesday, February 13, Leviticus 19 - 20, Matthew 26

• Leviticus 19:9-10 instructs people not to reap to the edges of a field, go over it a second time, or gather grapes that have fallen.  What principles in these verses are relevant to the way you manage your life?
• Leviticus 19:18 tells people not to seek revenge or bear a grudge.  How should a person let go of the desire for revenge if they have been wronged?
• Leviticus 20 prescribes severe punishment for several offenses.  Why were these punishments so severe?
• In Matthew 26:6-13 a woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus.  Why did the disciples think this was a waste?
• Why did Peter think he would never disown Jesus?
• When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane, why were His disciples unable to stay awake and pray with Him?

Wednesday, February 14, Leviticus 21 - 22, Psalm 20

• Why wouldn't God allow a descendant of Aaron who had a defect serve as a priest (Leviticus 21)?
• In Leviticus 22:32 God says, "I am the Lord, who made you holy."  What does it mean to be holy?
• David wrote in Psalm 20:7, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."  In America today, how would you complete the statement, "Some trust in..."?  What do you need to do keep your trust focused on God?

Thursday, February 15, Leviticus, 23 - 24, Matthew 27

• What purpose do you think God had in the annual festivals He required in Leviticus 23?
• Who was to eat the bread set before the Lord in Leviticus 24?
• If Judas was "seized with remorse" (Matthew 27:3) why didn't he repent and find forgiveness rather than committing suicide?
• If Jesus planned to go to the cross and was silent when accused, why did Pilate's wife have a dream and warn her husband?  Was that dream from God?
• Why would Pilate wash his hands, but then turn Jesus over to be crucified?
• Why was the curtain in the temple torn in two (Matthew 27:51)?

Friday, February 16, Leviticus 25 - 26, Psalm 21

• Why were Israelites commanded not to sow or prune during the seventh year.  Was this for the benefit of the people or of the land?
• In Leviticus 25, the Lord commands three times that Israelites that sell themselves because they have become poor are not to be treated ruthlessly (vs. 43, 46, and 53).  What would a person need to do to obey this command to not be ruthless?
• What promises did God make in Leviticus 26 to the nation if they were obedient?
• Psalm 21:6 says, "Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."  What do you need to do to have the joy of God's presence?

Saturday, February 17, Leviticus 27, Matthew 28

• Leviticus 27 establishes rules for things that people have dedicated to the Lord through a vow.  Why would a person make such a vow?  Why would the Lord want to hold them to it?
• In Matthew 28, why were the chief priests and elders willing to pay the soldiers to lie about what happened to Jesus?  Since Jesus had risen from the dead, shouldn't they have wanted to repent?
• Where did Jesus say to go make disciples?

Week 6, February 4 - 10, 2018

Leviticus is not the easiest book in the Bible to read and apply because much of it explains how Old Testament priests and Levites were to do their job.  When reading Leviticus it is helpful to keep in mind the New Testament Scripture Hebrews 10:1, "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship."  The sacrifices made at the tabernacle reminded Israel that God is holy and we are sinful, but that God makes a way for us to draw near to Him.  The New Testament teaches us, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."  (Hebrews 10:19, 22)

Because Psalm 18 is longer than most Psalms, we have only one Psalm in the schedule this week.

In Matthew 24 Jesus tells us what to expect in the end times.

Sunday, February 4, Leviticus 1 - 2, Matthew 21

• Leviticus 1:3 and 1:10 required that burnt offerings be "without defect."  Why would a defect matter if an animal was just going to be burned up?
• According to Leviticus 2:13, what did all grain offerings have to include?
• When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Matthew 21, why were the crowds so enthusiastic?
• In Matthew 21:22 Jesus taught, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."  How can we develop the faith that Jesus was telling us we can have?
• In Matthew 21:33-40 Jesus told a parable of tenants who were behaving as though they were owners.  What attitudes should we have toward our lives and our possessions if we think of ourselves as tenants and the Lord as the owner?

Monday, February 5, Leviticus 3, Psalm 18

• Leviticus 3:16-17 says, "All the fat is the Lord’s. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood."  Why do you think fat and blood were forbidden?
• After talking about God delivering him from his enemies, David wrote, "He brought me out into a spacious place," (Psalm 18:19).  A spacious place would be somewhere he wouldn't fear ambush and would know that attack from an enemy is not imminent.  What would give you the feeling of being in a spacious place?
• David wrote in Psalm 18:27, "You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty."  What does it mean to be humble?  Why does the Lord save the humble?

Tuesday, February 6, Leviticus 4 - 5, Matthew 22

• Why are the sin offerings in Leviticus 4 different for a priest, a leader, and a member of the community?
• Leviticus 5:7 makes provision for someone who is unable to bring a lamb.  The New International Version says, "Anyone who cannot afford a lamb..."  The King James Version says, "And if he be not able to bring a lamb..."  If God tells you to give something, how do you determine if you can "afford" to?
• Jesus told a parable in Matthew 22:1-14 that describes the invitation to the king's banquet going out to all, "the bad as well as the good."  When you look around at people you know, are you aware that the Lord wants them all invited to come to Him?
• In Matthew 22:21 Jesus said to give, "God what is God’s."  What are we supposed to be giving to God?
• In Matthew 22:29, what did Jesus say was the root reason for the Sadducees error?

Wednesday, February 7, Leviticus 6 - 7, Matthew 23

• According to Leviticus 6 when a person makes restitution for cheating their neighbor, how much do they need to add to the amount they are restoring?
• Leviticus 7:18 says, "If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, the one who offered it will not be accepted."  God was very specific about what made an offering acceptable.  However, Hosea wrote, "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."  Jesus quoted from Hosea in Matthew 9:13.  If God is more interested in our heart than on sacrifices, why was God so specific in telling the priests how to offer sacrifices?
• Jesus describes the root of hypocrisy in Matthew 23:5, "Everything they do is done for people to see."  How can you avoid worrying about what people think and live your life only for the Lord?
• Jesus rebuked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.  While they were diligent in giving a tenth even of their spices, Jesus said they neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness.  What opportunities do you have for exercising justice, mercy and faithfulness?
• In Matthew 23:37 Jesus said, "how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."  What do you need to do to allow Jesus to "gather" you in the way He describes?

Thursday, February 8, Leviticus 8 - 9, Matthew 24

• How long did the ordination of Aaron and his sons last in Leviticus 8?
• In Leviticus 9 how did the glory of the Lord appear to all the people?
• In Matthew 24 what did Jesus say would happen before the end comes?
• According to Jesus, who knows the day and hour of His return?
• In Matthew 24:42 Jesus commands us to keep watch.  What does this mean?  Are you doing it?

Friday, February 9, Leviticus 10 - 12

• Why were Nadab and Abihu's actions in Leviticus 10 so wrong that they died?
• What was the purpose of the dietary restrictions in Leviticus 11?
• Why was the time required for purification after childbirth, described in Leviticus 12, longer if the baby was a girl than if it was a boy?

Saturday, February 10, Leviticus 13 - 14

• Leviticus 13 provides rules for examining skin conditions and designating people as unclean who have contagious skin diseases.  Why were people with skin diseases required to live outside the camp?
• After a person had been healed of a skin disease, why did they still need to go through a ceremonial cleansing and present sacrifices, as described in Leviticus 14?

Week 5, January 28 - February 3, 2018

The last half of Exodus includes some of the commands the Lord gave Israel and the description He gave Moses for building the tabernacle.  At the end of Exodus the tabernacle is completed and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  In Matthew the disciples saw Jesus perform miracles and show compassion, while He taught them about forgiveness and Christian leadership.

Sunday, January 28, Exodus 21 - 23, Matthew 17

• In Exodus 21, why did God limit a Hebrew who was purchased as a servant to 6 years of service?
• Why did God command in Exodus 22:21, "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner"?
• In Exodus 23:11 God commanded that fields be left unplowed and unused during the 7th year.  Does this principle apply to you?  If so, how?
• In Matthew 17:11-12, Jesus said, "Elijah comes..." and "Elijah has already come."  How are these statements both true?
• Jesus provided a simple method for Peter to get four drachmas to pay the temple tax for Peter and Jesus.  Does God's ability to provide for you free you from worry and allow you to be generous?

Monday, January 29, Exodus 24 - 26, Psalm 15

• Exodus 24:16 says that on the 7th day that Moses was on the mountain God called to him.  If you had been Moses, what would you have been doing for the first six days?
• What was the purpose of the sanctuary God begins to describe in Exodus 25?
• Exodus 26 describes a series of curtains for the tabernacle.  Why did God have them build a movable tabernacle instead of getting to the promised land and building a permanent structure?
• Psalm 15 says that the person whose walk is blameless can live in God's presence.  What hope is there for us since the Bible teaches that we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?

Tuesday, January 30, Exodus 27 - 29, Matthew 18

• Exodus 27:21 says that the priests were to keep lamps burning all night.  Why would God require this?
• Why was the priest required to wear bells that could be heard when he was in the Holy Place (Exodus 28:35)?
• In Exodus 29:45 God says, "Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God."  What does it mean for God to be your God?  What do you need to do to have Him dwell with you?
• In Matthew 18:3 Jesus told us we need to become like little children.  What does this mean?
• Matthew 18:15 teaches that if there is a sin you need to confront someone about you must first speak just between the two of you.  Why is this important?
• In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus tells a parable of someone who was forgiven a huge debt and then refused to forgive someone else a small debt.  Jesus told this story to show us how foolish and wrong it is for us to refuse to forgive others.  Is there anyone you need to forgive?

Wednesday, January 31, Exodus 30 - 32, Psalm 16

• In Exodus 30 God told how to make a sacred anointing oil to be used to anoint the articles in the temple and the priests.  Why did God command that no one was to use this oil for other things or to make their own oil using this formula?
• In Exodus 31 God explains that He had given Bezalel and Oholiab and other skilled workers the ability to make the things that God had told Moses to have made.  Do you trust the Lord when He tells you to do something to also make a way for it to happen?
• In Exodus 32 the people of Israel became impatient waiting for Moses and got Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship.  Why would anyone want to worship something that was made by human hands?
• David wrote in Psalm 16:4, "Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more."  What other gods could people be tempted to pursue today?

Thursday, February 1, Exodus 33 - 35, Matthew 19

• Moses said to God, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."  (Exodus 33:15)  Why did Moses consider God's presence to be essential?
• Why did God tell Moses in Exodus 34 that Israel was not to make a treaty with those who lived in the land He was giving to Israel?
• According to Exodus 35 where did the materials for making the tabernacle come from?
• How would you summarize God's definition of marriage from Matthew 19:4-6?
• What do you think the disciples were thinking in Matthew 19:13 when they rebuked those who were bringing children to Jesus?
• Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, "with God all things are possible."  Do you believe this when you pray?

Friday, February 2, Exodus 36 - 38, Psalm 17

• In Exodus 36 the people were stopped from bringing materials for making the sanctuary.  Why weren't the extra materials used for something like making the sanctuary bigger?
• Why did the ark, the table, and the altar of incense described in Exodus 37 and the altar of burnt offering described in Exodus 38 all have poles?
• What three metals were used in building the tabernacle?
• What is David praying for in Psalm 17?

Saturday, February 3, Exodus 39 - 40, Matthew 20

• When Moses inspected items for the tabernacle at the end of Exodus 39, what was he looking for?
• What was the importance of the cloud that covered the tabernacle in Exodus 40?
• What is the point of the parable in Matthew 20:1-16 where a landowner hired people the last hour of the day and paid them the same as those who had worked all day?
• According to Matthew 20:25-28, how should leadership among Christians be different from leadership as it is known in the world?
• In Matthew 20:32, why did Jesus ask the two blind men what they wanted?  Shouldn't it have been obvious?

Week 4, January 21 - 27, 2018

The name Exodus means departure.  The book describes the remarkable story of the departure of the descendants of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  It begins with the birth and unique preparation of Moses, who became the one who led the people out of bondage.  In Matthew 13 Jesus begins a series of parables.  The other chapters in Matthew this week describe some key events that shaped the lives of the disciples, including the feeding of the 5000 and the 4000, Jesus walking on water, and Peter recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah.

Sunday, January 21, Exodus 1 - 3, Matthew 13

• Exodus 1:17 says, "The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do."  They could have had reason to fear Pharaoh, but feared God more.  What does it mean to fear God?  How does this impact the way you live?
• Exodus 2:23 says, "During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God."  If God was hearing their cry for help, why was there a "long period" of slavery?
• Why did Moses object, in Exodus 3, to what God was calling him to do?
• In Matthew 13 Jesus speaks of four kinds of soil.  What do you need to do to be like good soil?
• What does the pearl of great value in Matthew 13:46 represent?

Monday, January 22, Exodus 4 - 6, Psalm 11

• In Exodus 4:13 Moses asked God to send someone else.  Have you ever been called by God to do something and wish that someone else would do it?
• There is a puzzling story in Exodus 4:24-26.  Why hadn't Moses circumcised his son before this?
• In Exodus 5, when Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, things got worse for the Israelites.  How should you respond if you obey the Lord and things get worse?
• In Exodus 6:1-8 God renewed His promises to Moses and reminded him of the big picture of what He was doing. When Moses passed this along to the Israelites in 6:9, why didn't they accept it?
• Psalm 11:4 says, "He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them."  Why does it sometimes seem slow for God to judge evil and injustice?

Tuesday, January 23, Exodus 7 - 9, Matthew 14

• In Exodus 7, Moses turned water into blood.  Why did the magicians do the same thing?
• In Exodus 8:10, why did Pharaoh choose to spend one more night with frogs?
• God had Moses tell Pharaoh in Exodus 9:16, "I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."  How was this purpose fulfilled through Pharaoh?
• Why was John the Baptist put in prison?
• How was Peter able to walk on water?  Why did he start to sink?

Wednesday, January 24, Exodus 10 - 12, Psalm 12

• In Exodus 10:7 even Pharaoh's officials advised him to let the Israelites go.  Why wouldn't he?
• What plague did God say in Exodus 11 would be the last?
• What did Israelite families have to do to be spared the death of the firstborn?
• Why do you think the Lord commanded in Exodus 12:46, "It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house"?
• Psalm 12:6 says, "And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times."  Do you think of God's Word this way when you read it?

Thursday, January 25, Exodus 13 - 15, Matthew 15

• According to Exodus 13, why didn't God lead Israel on the shortest road to the promised land?  Do you see examples of God leading you in ways that recognize what you're ready for?
• In Exodus 14, at the first sign of difficulty the Israelites complained to Moses and questioned why he had brought them out of Egypt.  He answered, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." (Exodus 14:13)  In what situations do you need to stand firm and not fear?
• After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in Exodus 15, they sang of their deliverance from the Egyptians.  However, by Exodus 15:24 they were grumbling again about the lack of good water.  Why was their confidence in God so weak?  How can you avoid having weak faith in God?
• In Matthew 15:18 Jesus said, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them."  What do you need to do to have a pure heart?

Friday, January 26, Exodus 16 - 17, Psalm 13 - 14

• In Exodus 16 God provided manna in a way that required simple trust on the part of the people.  He only gave them enough for that day except the day before the Sabbath.  Jesus taught us not to worry about what we will eat, but to trust God to provide it.  Do you exercise simple faith in trusting God to provide your needs?
• In Exodus 17:11 Moses was in a situation where he had to ask for or accept help from others.  Why would God put him in that situation?  Is there help you need to ask for or accept that you have been trying to get by without?
• Psalm 13 begins with, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" and ends with, "I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me."  How could David both feel forgotten and praise God for His goodness?
• Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”  What effect does telling oneself there is no God have on a person?

Saturday, January 27, Exodus 18 - 20, Matthew 16

• If Moses was a man who heard from God, why did he need his father-in-law to tell him that what he was doing wasn't good in Exodus 18:17?
• In Exodus 19:5-6, what did God say He wanted to do with Israel as a nation?
• Why does God say in Exodus 20:5 that He is a jealous God?
• In Matthew 16, who did Jesus say had revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah?  Why did Jesus order His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah?
• How could Peter have God-given revelation of who Jesus is and later in the same chapter (Matthew 16) be called a stumbling block by Jesus?

Week 3, January 14 - 20, 2018

This week's readings in Genesis tell the story of Joseph and how the descendants of Israel came to live in Egypt.  This week's chapters in Matthew include some of the teaching and healing that Jesus did and describes Him sending out the twelve to heal the sick and drive out demons.

Sunday, January 14, Genesis 34 - 35, Matthew 9

• Jacob was unhappy with what Simeon and Levi did in Genesis 34.  What should they have done in response to their sister being raped?
• In Genesis 35:2 Jacob had his household get rid of their foreign gods.  Why hadn't he done this sooner?  What would be a similar action on your part?
• Why did the teachers of the law in Matthew 9 think it was blasphemy for Jesus to forgive sin?
• In Matthew 9:30 why did Jesus tell the blind men He had healed not to tell anyone? Why did they spread the news anyway?
• In Matthew 9:38 Jesus told His disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.  Should we be praying this now?  Are you?

Monday, January 15, Genesis 36 - 38, Psalm 8

• According to Genesis 36:6-7, why did Esau move his family away from Jacob?
• What three reasons does Genesis 37 give for Joseph's brothers hating him?
• Genesis 38 tells the story of how Judah became the father of Perez by Tamar.  Perez is in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:3, which also mentions Tamar.  Matthew only mentions a few women in Matthew, chapter 1.  Why would he draw our attention to Tamar?
• In Psalm 8 David marvels over the fact that God is mindful of human beings.  Why is He?

Tuesday, January 16, Genesis 39 - 40, Matthew 10

• Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers, but Genesis 39:2 says, "The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered."  He was then unjustly thrown into prison, but 39:20-21 says, "But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him."  When you face adversity how can you avoid feeling like a victim while keeping your trust in the Lord?
• In Genesis 40 where did Joseph get the confidence that he could interpret dreams?
• As Jesus sent his disciples out to heal the sick and drive out demons He told them in Matthew 10:8, "Freely you have received; freely give."  How does that command apply to you?
• Jesus told his disciples not to worry about what to say when they would be brought before governors and kings, saying "it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:20)  Under what circumstances should you expect the Holy Spirit to speak through you?
• In Matthew 10:31, Jesus said, "So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  Why does Jesus want us to think of ourselves as valuable?

Wednesday, January 17, Genesis 41 - 43, Psalm 9

• In Genesis 41:51 Joseph named his son Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household."  What should our attitude be toward past suffering that has been overshadowed by God's blessing?
• Why did Jacob say, "Everything is against me!" in Genesis 42:36?  Was he right?
• When Joseph was eating with his brothers in Genesis 43, what caused him to leave and find a place to weep?
• Psalm 9:18 says, "But God will never forget the needy."  How does God respond to the needs of people around the world?

Thursday, January 18, Genesis 44 - 45, Matthew 11

• What was Joseph's purpose in putting his silver cup in Benjamin's sack of grain in Genesis 44?
• Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 45:8, "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."  Are you able to see God in control of your life, even when you face difficulty?
• Why did Joseph tell his brothers in Genesis 45:24, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”?
• What evidence did Jesus point to in Matthew 11 to answer the question John the Baptist was asking when he was in prison?
• Why did Jesus say it would be more bearable on the day of judgement for Sodom than for Capernaum?
• Jesus's invitation in Matthew 11:28 is, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  How does a person find rest in Jesus?

Friday, January 19, Genesis 46 - 48, Psalm 10

• What promises did God make to Jacob in Genesis 46, when he was moving his family to Egypt?
• What promise did Jacob insist that Joseph make to him before Jacob died?
• Why did Jacob cross his arms when he blessed Manasseh and Ephraim in Genesis 48?
• Psalm 10:4 describes the wicked, "in all his thoughts there is no room for God."  How does making room in your thoughts for God change the way you live?

Saturday, January 20, Genesis 49 - 50, Matthew 12

• In Genesis 49, where did Jacob say he wanted to be buried?
• In Genesis 50:20 Joseph told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."  Why wasn't Joseph bitter toward his brothers?
• What is the meaning of Jesus's statement in Matthew 12:8, " the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath"?
• Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, "whoever does not gather with me scatters."  What does it mean to gather with Jesus?  Are you?

Week 2, January 7 - 13, 2018

This week's readings in Genesis focus on the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  God made promises to bless Abraham that were repeated to his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Chapter 5 through 7 of Matthew are the "Sermon on the Mount", where Jesus shows us how very different our thoughts and actions are when we live for Him with eternity in mind.

Sunday, January 7, Genesis 19 - 20, Matthew 5

• In Genesis 19, why would Lot be more protective of his guests than of his daughters (offering them to the mob outside in place of the two angels)?
• In Genesis 19:16, Lot hesitated to leave and had to be led by the hand out of the city.  Why would he hesitate?
• In Genesis 20 Abraham again lied about Sarah being his sister.  This, however, was during the time between the promise that Sarah would become pregnant and the birth of Isaac.  How did God protect Sarah from being taken by Abimelek?
• Jesus said, in Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peacemakers."  What do you have to do to be a peacemaker?
• Why did Jesus say you are blessed if people insult you and persecute you?
• Matthew 5:23-24 emphasizes the importance and urgency of reconciliation.  Is there anyone you need to be reconciled with?

Monday, January 8, Genesis 21 - 22, Psalm 5

• Genesis 21:17 says of Ishmael, "God heard the boy crying."  This was after Abraham had sent Ishmael and his mother Hagar away.  What does this show you about God?
• The name for God, "Jehovah-Jireh" or "The Lord Will Provide" comes from Genesis 22:14.  What had God provided?
• David wrote in Psalm 5:3, "in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."  What does it mean to wait expectantly?  What attitude should we have if the wait is longer than expected?

Tuesday, January 9, Genesis 23 - 24, Matthew 6

• Why did Abraham buy a cave from Ephron when Ephron offered to give it to him?
• God had given Abraham and his descendants a destiny in the Promised Land.  If Isaac married a Canaanite, there was a risk that Abraham's descendants would blend with the Canaanites and lose their identity.  If Isaac went back to the land of Abraham's relatives to get a wife, he might get comfortable and never go back to the Promised Land.  This led to the unusual arranged marriage story in Genesis 24.  How has God's purpose for your life guided your decisions?
• Why does Jesus say in Matthew 6 that if you give to the needy you shouldn't announce it to others?
• In Matthew 6:5-7, in what two ways did Jesus tell us not to pray?
• Jesus commands us in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."  What do you need to do to obey this command?

Wednesday, January 10, Genesis 25 - 26, Psalm 6

• Why did Esau trade his birthright for stew?  His decision is mentioned in Hebrews 12:16.  Why was this so significant that it would be used as an example for us of what not to do?
• In Genesis 26 God repeated promises to Isaac that He had also made to his father Abraham.  What mistake did Isaac make in this chapter that was a repeat of a mistake his father had made?
• In Psalm 6 David asks God for mercy.  Why can we ask God for mercy?

Thursday, January 11, Genesis 27 - 28, Matthew 7

• In Genesis 27 Jacob stole Esau's blessing.  If "Every good and perfect gift is from above," (James 1:17) how can someone steal a blessing?
• Why did Esau marry Mahalath?
• At the end of Genesis chapter 28 Jacob made a conditional promise to tithe.  What were the conditions?  Should your tithe be conditional?
• In Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus warns us not to judge lest we become like a person offering to remove a speck from someone's eye while they have a plank in their own eye.  How can you avoid being judgmental in the way Jesus is warning about?
• Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  Are there things you should be asking for or seeking that you have failed to?
• In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus compares the wise and foolish man.  What do you need to do to be like the wise man?

Friday, January 12, Genesis 29 - 30, Psalm 7

• Why did Laban deceive Jacob by giving him Leah as his wife instead of Rachel?
• Why did Leah have children before Rachel?
• Why did Bilhah and Zilpah have children with Jacob?
• David refers to the Lord as, "the righteous God who probes minds and hearts."  Are you comforted and encouraged knowing that God knows your thoughts and motives?

Saturday, January 13, Genesis 31 - 33, Matthew 8

• In Genesis 31, why did Jacob and his family move away from Laban?
• Why did Jacob and Laban have such different views of who had wronged the other?
• Who was Jacob wrestling with in Genesis 32?  What was the point of this confrontation?  Why did Jacob go away limping?
• Esau had once wanted to kill Jacob.  Why was his attitude different in Genesis 33?
• Why was Jesus amazed in Matthew 8:10?
• In Matthew 8:26 Jesus rebuked His disciples for lack of faith when they were afraid they were going to drown.  Is this because they should have known that Jesus wasn't going to let them drown or that they would go to heaven if they did drown?
• Why did the people in Matthew 8:34 plead with Jesus to leave?

Happy New Year! Week 1, December 31 - January 6, 2018

We want to encourage you to keep a daily habit of reading the Bible and to read the entire Bible.  If you follow the studies listed here you will read the Bible through in a year.  Our schedule includes some Old Testament and New Testament reading each week and spreads the reading of the 150 Psalms over the year.  This week's reading includes parts of Genesis, Psalms, and Matthew.  The first 18 chapters of Genesis describe God's creation, the flood, and the covenant with Abraham.  These chapters are an important foundation for the rest of the Bible.  The first 4 chapters of Matthew describe the birth of Jesus to the virgin Mary, Jesus's baptism, His temptation, and the calling of His first disciples. Here is a suggested schedule for this week and questions to get you thinking about what you read:

Sunday, December 31, Genesis 1 - 3, Matthew 1

• What commands did God give man when he was created in Genesis, chapter 1?
• Why did God tell man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (in chapter 2)?
• What is the first thing the Bible mentions that God saw and said it wasn't good?
• Sometimes people add rules to God's commands.  The rules may be intended to help people obey God, but they may confuse what God actually said.  In Genesis 3:3, what had been added to what God said?
• In Matthew, chapter 1, what kept Joseph from divorcing Mary?

Monday, January 1, Genesis 4 - 6, Psalm 1

• In Genesis, chapter 4, God didn't look with favor on Cain's offering.  What should Cain have done rather than murder his brother?
• Of the people who are named in Genesis, chapter 5, who lived the longest?  What is the meaning of the statement in verse 24, "God took him away"?
• Genesis, chapter 6, says that God regretted having made mankind.  What caused this regret?
• According to Psalm 1, what does a person need to do to become a like a tree planted by streams of water?

Tuesday, January 2, Genesis 7 - 9, Matthew 2

• How did Noah collect the animals that were on the ark?
• What is the first thing the Bible mentions Noah doing after he came out of the ark?
• What new direction did God give Noah and his family in Genesis, chapter 9?
• What was the difference between what Ham did in Genesis 9:22 and what Shem and Japheth did in 9:23?  How does this difference apply to you?
• Does Matthew, chapter 2 say that the Magi were kings?  Does it say there were three of them?
• Which Old Testament prophet did the teachers of the Law quote when they said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?

Wednesday, January 3, Genesis 10 - 12, Psalm 2

• Why did God confuse people's language in Genesis, chapter 11?  (The Hebrew word "balal" means to mix.)
• Which of Noah's three sons did Abram descend from?
• Where did God send Abram in Genesis, chapter 12?  What promises did He make?
• Why did Abram say that Sarai was his sister?
• What does it mean to "Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling"?  (Psalm 2:11)  Who is that verse spoken to?

Thursday, January 4, Genesis 13 - 14, Matthew 3

• Why did Abram and Lot go separate ways?  What effect did this have on Lot?
• Why was Abram willing to rescue Lot in Genesis, chapter 14?
• Of the things that Abram recovered in Genesis, chapter 14, how much did he give Melchizedek?  How much did he keep for himself?
• Why did John try to stop Jesus from being baptized in Matthew, chapter 3?

Friday, January 5, Genesis 15 - 16, Psalm 3 - 4

• Why did God have Abram look up at the stars in Genesis, chapter 15?  Is there something you should do to get a bigger picture of God's purpose in your life?
• Even though God had promised to give Abram many descendants, Sarai and Abram devised a plan to help God keep his promises by Abram fathering a child through Hagar.  This brought turmoil to Abram's home.  Are there promises of God that are difficult for you to wait for?  What do you need to do to trust God?
• David wrote in Psalm 3:5, "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me."  He wrote this while recognizing in verse 1 that he had many enemies.  Do you recognize that life is a gift and we live each day because the Lord sustains us?
• Similarly, in Psalm 4:8 David wrote, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."  What does a person need to do to have peaceful sleep?

Saturday, January 6, Genesis 17 - 18, Matthew 4

• In Genesis 17 God changed Abram's name to Abraham, changed Sarai's name to Sarah, and told Abraham that he and Sarah would have a son together.  How did Abraham react when God said that he and Sarah would have a son?
• In Genesis 18 Sarah also laughed at the promise that she would give birth to a son.  God said in verse 14, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"  Are there things you don't believe God could do because you've never seen them?
• Abraham interceded with God because he was concerned that God's judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah would result in the death of the righteous along with the wicked.  He said in Genesis 18:23, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?"  Did God also have this concern?
• Matthew 4:1 says, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into a place of temptation?
• Why do you think Simon (Peter) and Andrew were willing to leave their nets and follow Jesus?

Week 52, December 24 - 30, 2017

Old Testament: Zechariah 1 - 14, Malachi 1 - 4
Zechariah 1:3 says, "‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty."  How does a person return to God?  What does it mean for God to return to us?

Zechariah 2:7, "for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye."  Why does God love His people?

In Zechariah 3:8 God told Joshua the high priest that he and those with him were "men symbolic of things to come."  What were they symbolic of?

In Zechariah 3:9 God says "I will remove the sin of this land in a single day."  How was this fulfilled?

In Zechariah 4:6, God is encouraging Zerubbabel, "“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty."  How does this encouragement apply to you?

In Zechariah 5:3 God declares a curse on every thief and on everyone who swears falsely.  What do those two sins have in common?

In Zechariah, chapter 7, the people were asking if they should continue to fast during the fifth month of each year as they had during the 70 years of the captivity.  The Lord's answer extends through chapters 7 and 8.  What was the Lord more interested in than fasting?

What prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 did Jesus fulfill?

Zechariah 10:12 says, "I will strengthen them in the Lord."  What does this mean?

Why did God have Zechariah throw thirty pieces of silver to the potter in chapter 11?

When will the mourning described in Zechariah 12:10 take place?

In Zechariah 13:4, what will cause prophets to be "ashamed of their prophetic vision"?

In chapter 14 Zechariah prophesies that the Lord's "feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west," (14:4) and "The Lord will be king over the whole earth." (14:9)   Why hasn't this happened yet?

In Malachi, chapter 1, God says that Israel was bringing blind, lame, or diseased animals as sacrifice.  What was wrong with that?

Malachi 2:7 says, "the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge."  Who's job is it now to preserve knowledge and how is it done?

Married men are warned in Malachi 2:15, "be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth."  What does a man need to do to be on his guard?

Why does God say that those who fail to bring their tithes are robbing God?  What promises does He make to those who tithe?

Who does God refer to as His treasured possession in Malachi 3:17?

What does God say Elijah will do "before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes"?

Psalms 147 - 150
147:3 says, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  How does God heal a broken heart?

Psalm 148 calls for heaven and earth to praise the Lord, including, "you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds."  How can trees and wild animals praise the Lord?

149:5 encourages God's people to "sing for joy on their beds."  Why would a person's bed be a place that they would sing for joy?

150:6 says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."  When and how should you be praising the Lord?

New Testament: Revelation 15 - 22
Chapter 15 describes seven angels with the seven last plagues and says that with them God's wrath is completed.  What is the purpose of God's wrath and why will it be completed?

16:14 describes three demonic spirits that go out to gather the kings of the world to the battle of Armageddon.  What role would demons play in gathering kings for war?

Chapter 17 pictures a prostitute sitting on a beast with seven heads and ten horns.  Verse 16 says the beast will hate the prostitute.  What does verse 18 say the prostitute represents?

Chapter 18 describes the lament over the destruction of Babylon ("Babylon the Great" was written on the forehead of the prostitute in 17:5).  How do you obey the command, "Come out of her, my people"? (18:4)

Why did the angel refuse to be worshiped in chapter 19?

What happens to the beast and the false prophet in chapter 19?

What happens to Satan in chapter 20?

20:12-15 describes "books" and "another book."  What are people judged for?  Who is not thrown into the lake of fire?

What things does 21:4 say won't exist anymore after God's dwelling is with man?

Why does the city John describes in chapter 21 not have a temple, a sun, or a moon?

In 22:17, who is invited to take the free gift of the water of life?

Week 51, December 17 - 23, 2017

Old Testament: Nahum 1 - 3, Habakkuk 1 - 3, Zephaniah 1 - 3, Haggai 1 - 2
Both Jonah and Nahum focus attention on Nineveh.  Jonah preached in Nineveh, they repented, and God spared them.  But generations passed and Nahum prophesied destruction for Nineveh about 150 years after Jonah.  Nahum 1:3 says, "The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished."  How do God's actions toward Nineveh demonstrate His mercy and His judgement?

Why does Nahum 2:1 tell Nineveh, "Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!" when Nahum 2:7 says, "It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away"?  (Though Nahum prophesies against Nineveh, it is also a warning to Judah to trust God and not run to Assyria or Egypt for help.)

Why does Nahum, chapter 3, describe the destruction of Thebes?

What does Habakkuk complain about in the first 4 verses of chapter 1?

Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."  When and how will this be fulfilled?

Habakkuk says in 3:17-18, "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Can you trust God and rejoice in Him even when you aren't seeing evidence of His blessing?

Zephaniah 1:18 says that God will "make a sudden end of all who live on the earth."  When will this happen and why will God do it?

What is commanded in Zephaniah 2:3 and what hope is offered?

How does Zephaniah 3:12-13 describe the remnant that God says He will leave?

According to Haggai, chapter 1, why weren't Israel's harvests matching their expectations?

According to Haggai 2:3 those who could remember the temple before it was destroyed were not impressed with the temple that was being rebuilt.  Why do you think this was?

Psalms 144 - 146
What is David asking for in 144:5 when he says, "Part your heavens, Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke"?

Psalm 145:18 says, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."  What do you need to do to have God be near to you?

Why does Psalm 146 teach us not to put our trust in human beings?

New Testament: Revelation 8 - 14
In chapter 8, why are the prayers of God's people pictured as being offered to God along with incense.  What does this tell you about prayer?

Chapter 9 closes by saying that the people who were not killed by the plagues so far still did not repent.  What can cause a person to stubbornly refuse to repent?

Why was John told not to write what the seven thunders said?

What will the two witnesses in chapter 11 be sent to do?

According to 12:12 why is Satan filled with fury?

Chapter 13 describes the "beast."  Many people have tried to guess who this might be and those guesses have included world leaders including several US presidents.  What information does this chapter give that would help identify the beast?

Chapter 14 warns against worshiping the beast and taking his mark.  14:12 says, "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus."  Where will people get the faith and strength to exercise patient endurance?

Week 50, December 10 - 16, 2017

Old Testament: Obadiah, Jonah 1 - 4, Micah 1 - 7
What is the meaning of the statement in verse 15 of Obadiah, "your deeds will return upon your own head"?

If Jonah knew God well enough to know that He had given Jonah a message for Nineveh, why did he think he could run away from God?

In chapter 2 Jonah prays from inside the fish.  Does his prayer include asking God to let him out?  What is he saying in his prayer?

Why did the people of Nineveh, including the king, believe the message from Jonah and repent of their sin?

Why was Jonah angry when God showed mercy to Nineveh?

Micah 1:5 says, "All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel."  What was being prophesied because of the sins of Israel?

Micah 2:12 says, " I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel." Who is God calling a remnant?

Micah, in 3:11, rebukes leaders, priests, and prophets for being motivated by financial gain.  How can a Christian leader stay free of being influenced by money?

When will the promise of peace in Micah 4:3-4 be fulfilled?

When Herod asked the chief priests and teachers of the Law where the Messiah would be born, they quoted from Micah 5:2.  If they were familiar with Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah why weren't they better are recognizing the Messiah when He came?

What three things does Micah 6:8 say the Lord requires of us?

Micah 7:18-19 says, "You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."  In light of God's mercy what should our attitude be toward our past sins?

Psalms 141 - 143
David prayed in 141:3, "Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."  Why would anyone need a guard over their mouth?

David wrote Psalm 142, "when he was in the cave."  Verses 4 and 5 say, "I have no refuge; no one cares for my life.  I cry to you, Lord; I say, 'You are my refuge.'"  Are you able to call on God and trust Him when it seems like there is no one else around to help?

143:6 says, "I thirst for you like a parched land."  What benefit is there in having such a thirst for God?

New Testament: Revelation 1 - 7
According to 1:7 who will see Jesus when He returns?

What do the stars and the lampstands in chapter 1 represent?

What does the Lord tell the church in Ephesus to do about the fact that they had forsaken their first love?

What command does the Lord give the church in Smyrna?

In 3:1 the Lord tells the church in Sardis, "you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."  How can there be such a difference between reputation and reality?

Why does the Lord tell the church in Laodicea that they are lukewarm?

What do the four living creatures in chapter 4 do all day?

5:9 says, "with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation."  What does this show you about Jesus' command to preach the gospel in every nation?

Why were "those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained" told to wait when they cried out for God to avenge their blood?

There is a great multitude described, beginning in 7:9.  Where did they come from?  Where were they when John saw them?

Week 49, December 3 - 9, 2017

Old Testament: Joel 1 - 3, Amos 1 - 9
Joel, chapter 1, describes an invasion of locusts and the consequences that followed.  What does verse 14 call for in response?

Joel 2:13 says, "Rend your heart and not your garments."  What does it mean to rend your heart?

What does Joel, chapter 2, say will happen, "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord"?

Joel 3:16 says, "But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel."  What does it mean for God to be a refuge and a stronghold?

What was Amos's occupation?

In Amos chapter 1 and 2 Amos prophesies of God's judgement on Damascus (the Syrians), Gaza (the Philistines), Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab.  He then prophesies of judgement on Judah and Israel.  What is different about the reasons for judgement on Judah and Israel, compared to the reasons for judgement on their neighbors?

Amos 3:7 says that God does nothing without revealing His plan to prophets.  Why does God choose to reveal what He is going to do?

Amos, chapter 4, includes the phrase, "yet you have not returned to me" five times.  What was happening that should have caused Israel to return to God?

Why does God say in Amos 5:21, "I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me"?

Amos, chapter 6, confronts the complacent who sleep comfortably, eat well, enjoy music, etc., but "you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph."  In America today, how do we avoid becoming equally complacent?

What is the purpose of the plumb line mentioned in Amos, chapter 7?

How did Amos answer Amaziah when he told Amos to go back to Judah to do his prophesying?

Amos 8:11 foretells a "famine of hearing the words of the Lord."  What is the cause of this famine?

At the end of Amos, chapter 9, God promises to restore the nation of Israel.  Why is He willing to do this?

Psalms 138 - 140
138:6 says, "Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly."  Why does God care about the lowly?

Psalm 139 shows that God knows everything about us and that there is no where we could hide from Him.  This can be a cause for comfort or fear depending on whether you are trying to draw near to God or hide from Him.  What do we need to do to wholeheartedly draw near to God?

What is David asking for in Psalm 140?

New Testament: 1 John 1 - 5, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
How can we have fellowship with God if we have all sinned, and 1 John 1:6 says, "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie.."?

What do we need to do to be forgiven for sin?

1 John 2:1 describes Jesus as our advocate.  What does this mean?

1 John 2:15 says "If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."  What does it mean to love the world?

Why does John say, "you do not need anyone to teach you" (1 John 2:27)?

Why does John say in 1 John, chapter 3 that a person born of God cannot go on sinning?

1 John 3:18 commands us, "let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."  What opportunities do you have for putting love into action?

How does perfect love drive out fear?

1 John 4:20 states, "whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen."  It seems easier to love God who is perfect than our brother who is not.  Why can't you love God without loving your brother?

According to 1 John 5:11-12, who has eternal life?

1 John 5:13 shows that God wants us to know that we have eternal life.  How can we know?

2 John, verse 9, says, "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God."  What does it mean to run ahead of the teaching of Christ?  (KJV translates "runs ahead" as "transgresseth."  The Greek word "parabainō" can also be translated "oversteps.")

What does John say motivated Diotrephes to do the things he did?

Jude urges believers to "contend for the faith."  What two errors does he specifically warn about in verse 4?

Week 48, November 26 - December 2, 2017

Old Testament: Hosea 1 - 14
1:10 says, "In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’"  How and when would this be fulfilled?

Chapter 2 speaks of Israel's unfaithfulness, comparing it to adultery.  The chapter goes on to describe God bringing Israel back to a place of faithfulness.  2:19-20 says, "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.  I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord."  How can you maintain the love relationship with God that He wants to have with us?

What did Hosea's reconciliation with his wife in chapter 3 represent?

In 4:1 God says through Hosea, "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land."  How could this condition be corrected?

What does this statement in 5:4 mean, "Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God"?

6:3 says, "let us press on to acknowledge him."  What can you do to "press on" to know God better?

What is the meaning of the statement in 6:6, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice"?

In chapter 7 God says of Ephraim, "none of them calls on me" (vs. 7), and "he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him" (vs.10).  Verse 11 says, "Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless - now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria."  Why would a person keep looking everywhere but to God for help?

What does it mean to "sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" (8:7)?

9:7 says, "Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac."  Why would a person's sin make them less able to recognize or accept a true prophet?

God, speaking though Hosea, describes lawsuits as a symptom of the spiritual condition of the nation.  "They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field."  What is the root cause of lawsuits?  Why are they like poisonous weeds in a plowed field?

10:12 says, "break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."  How would you obey the command to break up your unplowed ground?

In chapter 11 God is speaking about Israel and says in verse 3, "but they did not realize it was I who healed them."  How can we avoid taking God's blessings and provisions for granted?

12:6 says, "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always."  God says in 13:9, "You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper."  Why do people turn away from God?

In chapter 14, what promises does God make to Israel if they repent and turn to God?

Psalms 135 - 137
135:6 says, "The Lord does whatever pleases Him."  Why does the Lord give us the opportunity to turn to Him or turn away from Him?

136:23 says, "He remembered us in our low estate."  Are you able to trust God when you are at a low point in your life?

137:4 says, "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"  Why wouldn't exiles sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land?

New Testament: 1 Peter 1 - 5, 2 Peter 1 - 3
What does it mean to be "shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5)?

In 1 Peter 1:15-16 we are called to be holy.  How do we obey this?

1 Peter 2:2 tells us to "crave pure spiritual milk."  How do we develop that craving?

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:11 that sinful desires war against our soul?  What do we need to do to keep our soul healthy and strong?

What does it mean for a husband to be considerate of his wife (1 Peter 3:7)?

1 Peter 3:15 commands us to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."  Are you prepared?  If not, what do you need to do to be prepared?

Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:7 to "be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray."  What do we need to be alert to and what should we be praying about?

1 Peter 4:10 teaches that we are all gifted and that we should use our gift to serve others.  What is your gift?  How are you using it to serve others?

In 1 Peter 5, what three things does Peter tell elders not to do?

1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  Do you make a habit of casting your anxiety on the Lord?  What is the result?

Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life."  What are the things He has given us that we need to live the way He wants us to?

In 2 Peter 1:10 we are commanded, "make every effort to confirm your calling and election."  How do you do that?

2 Peter, chapter 2, warns of false prophets and false teachers.  How do you avoid being misled by false teachers?

In 2 Peter 3, Peter talks about people who scoff at the return of Christ.  What does he say they are deliberately forgetting?

Why is the second coming of Christ taking so long?

Week 47, November 19 - 25, 2017

Old Testament: Daniel 1 - 12
Was the diet of vegetables and water that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah had in chapter 1 actually better for them or did God intervene to make them healthier even while eating an inferior diet?

What was God's purpose in having the dream in chapter 2 interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar?

Why were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) not willing to bow down to the image Nebuchadnezzar had built?

In chapter 4, what needed to change in Nebuchadnezzar before his sanity could be restored?

In 5:22, Daniel reminds Belshazzar that he knew how Nebuchadnezzar had been humbled. "But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this."  Why did Belshazzar fail to learn the importance of being humble before God?

Why wasn't Darius able to repeal his own decree in chapter 6?

Chapter 7 describes a dream that depicts four great kingdoms on the earth.  What is the final outcome in this dream?

What do the ram and the goat in chapter 8 represent?

What was Daniel asking for in his prayer in chapter 9?

In chapter 10, why was the response to Daniel's prayers delayed for 3 weeks?

Some refer to chapter 11 as the most detailed prophecy in the Bible.  Much of it refers to the conflict between the "King of the North" and the "King of the South."  The Jewish people who returned from exile were in the middle of the rivalry between Egypt and Syria, so this conflict impacted them.  Verse 35 says, "Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end."  What are the most important things for a believer to do in times of great conflict?

Daniel didn't fully understand his own book, "because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end." (12:9)  However, he was given this promise, "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (12:13)  What should our attitude be toward things we don't fully understand?

Psalms 132 - 134
How has God fulfilled the promise of 132:11?

In Psalm 133 David says it is good and pleasant when God's people live together in unity.  What is needed for God's people to be in unity?  Do they all have to agree about everything?  Do they have to agree about some things?  How should they settle their differences?

Psalm 134 is written to those who attended the house of the Lord during the night, encouraging them to praise the Lord.  What would your attitude be if you were assigned to work nights in the temple when the crowd was gone and it was mostly quiet?

New Testament: James 1 - 5
Why does James tell us to consider it joy when we face trials?

What is the source of temptation, according to 1:14?

How can you become a person who is "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (1:19)?

Why does James say, in 2:10, that if you stumble in one point you are guilty of breaking the whole Law?

James says that faith without works is dead, but Paul says in Ephesians 2:9 that our salvation is "not by works, so that no one can boast."  How can both of these statements be true?

James says, "Not many of you should become teachers." (3:1)  Paul says in Romans 12:7 "if it [your gift] is teaching, then teach."  How do you know whether you should be teaching?

In 4:2 James says, "You do not have because you do not ask God."  Why would God wait to be asked if there was something He was willing to do for you?

4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God."  What does that mean and how do you do it?

Why does 5:1-6 rebuke the rich?  Is it wrong to be rich?

5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."  What do you need to do to have a powerful and effective prayer life?

Week 46, November 12 - 18, 2017

Old Testament: Ezekiel 33 - 48

God told Ezekiel that He had made him a watchman.  What did God say was the watchman's responsibility?  What was not his responsibility?

33:31-32 shows that people liked to listen to Ezekiel, but not to heed what he said.  Why would someone enjoy listening to him, but not want to take his words seriously?

Based on 34:4, what is the job of a shepherd?

God says in 36:26-27, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."  How can a person today get a new heart and a new spirit?

What do the bones in chapter 37 represent?

Chapter 38 describes an invasion of Israel by a coalition of nations.  This will happen "after many days"..."in future years" (vs. 8).  What does God say will happen to this invading army?

In 39:28 God says of Israel, "for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land."  What is the importance of Israel possessing their own land?

In chapter 40, after the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed, God gave Ezekiel a vision of a temple.  What was the purpose of this vision?

According to 42:14, the priests had to change clothes before going from the sanctuary to the outer court.  What was the purpose of this requirement?

How does Ezekiel describe the glory of God in 43:2?

In 43:10 God told Ezekiel, "Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins."  Why would the description of the temple make someone ashamed of their sin?

What is the meaning of the statement in 44:28, "I will be their possession"?

What does God accuse the Israel's princes of in 45:9?

What do you think is the purpose of the requirement in 46:9, "No one is to return through the gate by which they entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate"?

What does the water flowing from the sanctuary in chapter 47 represent?

What is the name of the city that Ezekiel concludes his book describing?

Psalms 128 - 131

Psalm 128 promises blessing to those who fear the Lord and walk in obedience to Him.  How can you maintain a life of obedience?

129:2 says, "they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me."  What is the benefit of seeing yourself as a victor, despite oppression, compared to seeing yourself as a victim?

130:6 says, "I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning."  What does it mean to wait for the Lord in this way?

David wrote, "But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother." (131:2)  What is the value of calming and quieting yourself and how do you do it?

New Testament: Hebrews 8 - 13

8:6 says that "the new covenant is established on better promises."  What are these better promises?

According to 9:7, who entered the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle and how often?  How does this contrast with what 9:12 says about Jesus entering the Most Holy Place?

Why does 9:22 say, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"?

If "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (10:4) why did the Old Testament Law require animal sacrifices?

Why does 10:25 urge us not to give up meeting together?

Why is it impossible to please God without faith (11:6)?

12:1 teaches us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  What do you have to do to obey this?  How will you know what has been marked out for you?

12:7 commands us to "endure hardship as discipline."  Should a person facing hardship pray for God to remove the hardship or should they just accept the hardship as discipline?

How have some "shown hospitality to angels without knowing it"? (13:2)

13:4 says, "Marriage should be honored by all."  How do people honor marriage?

What basis for contentment do we have in 13:5-6?

Week 45, November 5 - 11, 2017

Old Testament: Ezekiel 17 - 32
What is the point of the parable in chapter 17 involving two eagles and a vine?

What is the meaning of the statement in 18:4, "everyone belongs to me"?

In 18:30 God calls the people of Israel to "Repent! Turn away from all your offenses," and in 18:31 to "get a new heart and a new spirit."  Why is God willing to forgive our sins and to change our heart?

Why does God say, "I will not let you inquire of me," in 20:3 and 20:31?

Why did God tell Ezekiel to groan in chapter 21?

In 22:30 God says, "I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."  What does it mean to stand in the gap?

What is the point of the allegory in chapter 23 of the two prostitutes named Oholah and Oholibah?

Why was Ezekiel not to mourn openly when his wife died?

In chapter 25, what did God say was going to happen to Ammon?  Why?

27:12-24 describes the nations that Tyre traded with and what they traded for.  27:33 says, "When your merchandise went out on the seas, you satisfied many nations; with your great wealth and your wares you enriched the kings of the earth."  Why did this come to an end?

According to 28:5, what did wealth do to the heart of the king of Tyre?

Chapters 25-28 are prophecies of judgement on four nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia) and two cities (Tyre and Sidon). Based on 28:25-26, what is the reason for God bringing judgement on these neighbors of Israel?

Chapter 29 speaks of Babylon's conquest of Tyre and Egypt.  What does God say, "he and his army did it for me" (29:20)?

Chapter 31 is aimed at Pharaoh king of Egypt, but it speaks mostly of what happened to "Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon" (31:3).  What was the point of speaking to Egypt about what happened to Assyria?

32:10 says that Egypt's destruction will cause "many peoples" to be appalled and fearful.  Why would others outside of Egypt be afraid after hearing of Egypt being conquered?

Psalms 124 - 127
Psalm 124:2-3 says, "if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive."  The psalm goes on to say in 124:7, "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped."  This shows that God's provision is not always an overwhelming victory, but can be more like a small tear in a net, just enough to allow a bird to escape.  Do you thank God for small, simple victories?

125:1 says, "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever."  How do you build a trust in the Lord that will not be shaken?

126:5-6 says, "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."  What are you sowing that may be challenging and even sorrowful now that will result in joyful reaping later?

How should the principle in 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain," impact the way you pursue goals in your life?

New Testament: Hebrews 1 - 7
Based on chapter 1, who is Jesus and what are angels?

2:17 says that Jesus became fully human.  1:3 says, "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."  How can both of these views of Jesus both be true?

2:18 says, "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."  How does Jesus help us when we are being tempted?

3:1 commands, "fix your thoughts on Jesus."  How do you do that?

Why are we told in 3:13 to encourage one another daily?  Do we need encouragement every day?

4:16 teaches us to "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence."  Why are we able to do this?  What do we have to do to maintain that confidence?

5:12-14 contrasts milk and solid food.  What does a person need to do to be ready for solid food?

What is the anchor referred to in 6:19?

Based on chapter 7, what is the most important difference between Old Testament priests and Jesus our High Priest?