You might want to have a pen and notepad with your Bible. That way you can write down any insights that God is teaching you. Don't be afraid of writing things in the margin of your Bible too as you grow and learn. It is fun to go back and read what God is revealing to you.
For those of you who are reading the New Testament here are your reading suggestions:| DAY ONE | Jan-1 | Matthew 1 |
| DAY TWO | Jan-2 | Matthew 2 |
| DAY THREE | Jan-3 | Matthew 3 |
| DAY FOUR | Jan-4 | Matthew 4 |
| DAY FIVE | Jan-5 | Matthew 5 |
| DAY SIX | Jan-6 | Matthew 6 |
| DAY SEVEN | Jan-7 | Matthew 7 |
Here are some questions you can use for the NT or if you would like to use them on the Whole Bible reading instead of my reflection questions, please fill free to do so. They will be included in every e-mail. They are good standard questions that will help you apply the Bible to your own life. The Bible is real and relevant for today. I hope you will see that as the year progresses!
What ever questions you use are just to help you focus on the meaning of the passage. They are not in depth Bible study. They don't necessarily need to be written out. It is just there to help you think about the mean. Write things down just to help you remember what God is teaching you.
Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.
Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
E - Errors to avoid?
T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.
We will begin our reading of the whole Bible in Genesis. The book was written by Moses after the Isrealites escaped from Egypt. They had been used to a culture that worshipped many gods. They had felt abandoned and lonely. Genesis is written with the purpose of reminding the Isrealites of true worship of the one true God. It is not a science book but a relationship book. It is to remind the people of God the creator, protector, provider, and redeemer. The book show a cycle of sin, God's justice, God's grace/redemption, until sin intensifies to a maximum at the tower of Babel there we see no immediate grace. God's grace comes in the promise of a seed through the line of Abraham. The rest of the Bible shows that development. It will be fulfilled in Jesus.
DAY ONE, JANUARY 1 - GENESIS 1-2
Chapter 1
Where do you see the trinity?
Who is the creator of the universe?
What does God way about his creation?
What was mankind to do?
What was the "pattern" for mankind?
What did God think about his creation of mankind?
How should this make us feel about ourselves?
Chapter 2
What is God's feelings of the 7th day (Sunday)?
How do you think of Sunday?
Vs 3 and following recaps creation from a different perspective.
What different emphasis do you see?
What were God's provisions for mankind?
What value does God place on marriage?
How does this chapter show God's love for his people?
DAY TWO, JANUARY 2 - GENESIS 3-5
Chapter 3
What are the steps to the fall?
Where was Adam?
How are both of them responsible for the fall?
What can we learn from this example?
What did sin make them feel and do?
What did sin do to mankind's relationship with God?
What is the result of sin (God's punishment)?
How did God provide for man? What grace do you see in this chapter?
Chapter 4
What do you know about Cain and Abel?
What did God approve of?
What sin do we see here?
What grace do we see here?
What can we learn from this?
What do you know about Lamech and his family?
What sin is here?
What grace is here?
What happened during the lifetime of Enosh?
Chapter 5
What was Enoch like and what happens to him?
Who was Lamech's (not the same Lamech as the last chapter) son and grandson?
DAY THREE, JANUARY 3 - GENESIS 6-9
Chapter 6
What was the earth like at that time?
How did God feel?
Who found favor in God's eyes and how does God show grace here?
What is God's punishment for sin and wickedness?
How does God protect those who are obedient to him today?
Chapter 7
How do you think God felt having to destroy the beautiful creation he made?
How do you see God's justice and mercy in this chapter?
Chapter 8
Vs 1 says, "God remembered Noah." How do you know God remembers you too?
How long was Noah and his family in the arc?
What did Noah do when he left the arc?
What is a modern day equalent of building an altar and sacrificing to God?
How ell do you remember to give God all the glory and praise?
What is God's promise?
Chapter 9
How do God's commandments in VS 1-7 show how much God values humanity?
What does God promise in this chapter?
How trustworthy are God's promises?
What can we learn from the end of the chapter?
DAY FOUR, JANUARY 4 - GENESIS 10-11
Chapter 10
Were there any people who peaked your interest in this list?
How does this show God as a God of detail, order, knowledge?
Chapter 11
How did the people disobey God's commands to ALL mankind?
Whom did the people wish to honor? What was the sin here?
What was God's punishment to the people? How was this a punishment?
Did you see any of God's grace here?
What can we learn from this? What is the main family we are know introduced to?
DAY FIVE, JANUARY 5 - GENESIS 12-14
Chapter 12
What is Abe to do?
What was God going to do for him?
How does he respond?
Why did Abe con't past Canaan?
How does God protect Abe and Sarai even in their disobedience?
How often do you let fear control your responses and choices?
Chapter 13
Look in the back of your Bible or Bible atlas and find a map and route out Abe's travels.
Seeing the land was promised to Ave and his descendants, how did he show graciousness?
How do you react when others are making life difficult for you?
How swell do you trust God to fulfill his promises?
Chapter 14
How many kingdoms where fighting against each other?
According to the last chapter who was living near Sodom and Gomorrah and was captured?
How many men did Abe have?
How many kingdoms was he against?
How is being few and on God's side better than having great might?
How is Abe's good example of giving God the glory for success and not being greedy needed for you today?
In what areas of your life have you learned that lesson?
DAY SIX, JANUARY 6 - GENESIS 15-17
Chapter 15
This chapter is God's making a covenant (promise) with Abe. It is within the style of the times. You don't have to understand the ritual to see aspects of God's love and care and Abe's obedience.
What does Ave believe about God's promises?
What does God declare Abe due to the fact that he believed God's promises?
Can God call you righteous because you believe him?
What does God promise to do for Abe?
Does God keep his promises?
When have you known God to keep his promises in your life?
Chapter 16
This seems like a weird chapter. It was a custom of the day if you didn't have children, the women's servant could sleep with the husband and the children with be man and his wife's children. Just because something is a custom of the time doesn't make it right. Watch the next few chapters to see problems it causes.
How did Abe and Sarah temporarily forget God's promises?
What were the consequences?
have you ever tried to take matters into your own hands? What were the consequences?
How do we see God's protection of Hagar, even in the middle of the sin?
When have you seen God's protection of you even in the middle of sin?
What name did Hagar call God?
How can you find comfort in the fact "God sees me?"
Chapter 17
What new information does God give Abe?
How does God gradually reveal his promises to you?
What does Ave have to do?
How does God expect obedience from us today?
How old are Abe and Sarah?
How has God been the God of the impossible in your life?
DAY SEVEN, JANUARY 7 - GENESIS 18-19
Chapter 18
What was Sarah's attitude to the news of having a baby?
Consider memorizing vs 14a. How can you gains comfort from this verse?
What can we learn about asking God for things in this chapter?
Does God listen to his people today?
Who do you need to interceed for on their behalf?
Chapter 19
What is God's view of sin?
How did God provide a way out for those who belonged to him?
What happened to Lot's wife and why?
The last 1/2 of the chapter is very strange. We must becareful as to how we view sin and self-effort. God allows the Bible to show all sides of humanity - the good, the bad, and the ugly.