Dear Bible Readers,

Keep up the good work! God will honor your faithfulness in reading. He will continue to reveal to you the truths of his word and the goodness of his love. You are over 1/5 of the way through the whole Bible if you are doing the whole Bible challenge. If you are just doing the New Testament challenge you are beginning to see the consistency of Jesus' ministry while he was here on earth.

For those reading the whole Bible, we will be finishing up Mark. That went fast didn't it! On day four we will go back to the OT and begin reading in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy means, "Second Law." Before you groan too loudly, this book has a little bit different approach then some of the other "law" books. Deuteronomy 5 is the second time the law is found in the Bible. Some people think that Deuteronomy is second rate because it is the "Second Law" but it really is an important book in understanding how God relates to his people. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more frequently than any other OT book so, that right there show the importance of the book.

Deuteronomy is in the pattern of a Near Eastern political treaty. It demonstrates the importance of a covenant relationship with God. It will help in understanding the book of Deuteronomy, if one knows the pattern. It has six important sections. Section One (Dt. 1:1-5) is the preamble. It states that the people are entering into a treaty with Almighty God and Moses is the spokesman for God. Moses is the most important character in the development of the book. Section Two (Dt. 1:6 - 4:43) is the historical prolog which gives the immediate historical background to the book. It is Moses recollection of the events of the past 40 years. He states God as the Warrior King who fights for and protects his people, therefore the people don't need to have weak faith. Section Three (Dt. 4:44-11:26) is the general laws or principles by which the treaty will be governed. It is like a Bill of Rights. The laws are an expression of God's love to the people. Section Four (Dt. 12-26) is the specific and detailed principles. These are like the Constitution. The details of this section show that nothing is outside the care and concern of God. Section Five (Dt. 27-28) is the blessing and curses. They detail the consequences of obedience and disobedience. Section Six (Dt. 29-34) is the witnesses. It tells who confirms this treaty and makes it legitimate.

Deuteronomy is really a beautiful book, demonstrating God love and covenant with his chosen people. It is far from being a legalistic book. God has the best in mind for his people.

DAY ONE, MARCH 12 - MARK 10-11
Chapter 10
What does God say about divorce?
What law does Moses give about divorce? Why?
Is there anything in your life that you are trying to justify? Are you even using culture, church, pastor's counsel, and friend's advice as a way to justify your choices while knowing in your heart this is not God's best for you?
What is Jesus' attitude toward the rich man?
What did Jesus ask of the rich man?
What did this reveal about his heart and priorities?
What do you think Jesus was really saying to him?
What would Jesus ask you to give up that is taking higher priority in your heart than him?
Who will be greatest and least in the kingdom of God?
What does it mean to be a servant of God?
Chapter 11
Describe the event of the Triumphal Entry recorded here.
What do you think the people were looking for in Jesus?
Hosanna means "Save now." What do you think they wanted to be saved from?
What do you want to be saved from?
Why do you think Jesus didn't stay inside Jerusalem at night during most of this week?
What did Jesus do to the temple and why?
What is your body called in the Bible (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)? Is there anything God needs to clean out of your temple?
What principles about prayer and faith does God teach here?

DAY TWO, MARCH 13 - MARK 12-13
Chapter 12
What is the story about the farmer and vineyard saying?
Does this mean there are some people who will "hear" and "see" God but not believe in him or his son?
How does Jesus handle the people who are trying to trick him?
What do you think about the religious leader that asked Jesus about the greatest commandment?
Compare him to the leaders at the beginning and end of the chapter.
How does God measure our giving according to the last few verses of the chapter?
Chapter 13
What future events are Jesus describing here (HINT: look back on your reading in Matthew about "soon and not yet")? What hope do you find in these verses?
What words of warning do you find in these verses?
According to verses 33, 36, 37, what are God's instructions for you personally in this chapter?

DAY THREE, MARCH 14 - 14-16
Chapter 14
According to verse 2 when DIDN'T the religious leaders want to arrest Jesus?
According to what you know already, when DID Jesus get arrested?
How does this show that every detail of Jesus' life and death was under God's control?
What extravagant gift and show of affection did the woman give Jesus?
How extravagant is your love for Jesus?
What does Judas, one of Jesus' disciples, do of his own accord?
Describe the Last Supper account as recorded here in John. What are the similarities and differences from the Matthew account?
Notice how many things are recorded in this chapter and how quickly the events change. What must it have been like living through that time?
What is happening to Peter during all this time? Describe his personality, actions, emotions, and feelings.
Can you relate to Peter in any way?
Chapter 15
What do the religious leaders do with the crowd?
Do you think all the people really knew what was going on or was this mob hysteria?
What do the Roman soldiers do to Jesus?
Who is Simon and what does he do for Jesus?
How do you respond when you hear about all the mockery and false worship Jesus had to endure?
What happened to the curtain in the temple when Jesus died?
Think back to your OT reading about the building of the tabernacle. How big was the curtain and from what material was it made? Could the curtain rip from top to bottom without divine help?
Where was the curtain placed? What did people now have access into?
What is the meaning of the curtain being torn?
Who buried Jesus body?
Chapter 16
Only the first eight verses are sure to be included in Mark's original account. Verses 9-20 are found only in later manuscripts. They do have the quick tell abbreviated style of Mark but there are some questions as to its authorship.
Describe the events following the resurrection according to Mark. How are they similar and different from the Matthew account?

DAY FOUR, MARCH 15 - DT. 1-2
Chapter 1:1-5
Where were the people when they heard these words and what all had happened prior to this? NOTE: Remember this was a new generation of people who had not been at Mt Sinai when God gave the law to the people the first time.
How intent is God that every person should hear what he has to say to him/her?
How long would it have normally taken a person to travel from Mt Sinai to where they were now? NOTE: It seems that all the Israelites stuck together for 40 years and didn't go out on their own for the 11 day trip. What does that say about the people and their relationship with God?
Chapter 1:6-2
This begins the historical account, which concludes at 4:43. What things does Moses recall?
What events that Moses records do you find interesting?
How important is it to God that we remember the lessons he has taught us along the way in our lives?

DAY FIVE, MARCH 16 - DT. 3-4
Chapter 3-4:43
What events does Moses recall and retell in this section?
What events do you find interesting?
What is something from your life where you see God's protection, direction, and leading?
According to 3:23-28, what gift did Moses receive from God even though he was unable to into the Promised Land?
How have you seen God's love and compassion in your life even when you had to endure the consequences of your sin?
According to 4:5-8, what evangelism benefit is there in obeying God's laws?
How responsible do you feel about being an example to other around you?
What does 4:20 say? How can you relate that to today?
What are some of the things that Moses says for the people to remember?
Chapter 4:44-49
This section begins the general laws or Bill of Rights of the book of Deuteronomy. This section continues through chapter 11.

DAY SIX, MARCH 17 - DT. 5-7
Chapter 5
Compare this chapter with Exodus 20. What are the similarities and differences?
Verse 31 says that God give these commands so the people can obey them in the land that God gave them. Why is it fitting that Moses would be reviewing them with the people now?
What are some ways that a person's life can be long and prosperous when he/she obeys God?
Chapter 6
What good instruction is given here in verse 4-9?
What are practical ways that these can be lived out today?
Verse 12 is a reminder not to forget God in times of prosperity and good. Why did God give this warning and how is it still applicable today? How does this relate to the reading earlier in the week about the rich man in Mark?
Chapter 7
What warning against compromise is Moses giving here?
Why is God so concerned that the people don't make treaties or get involved with the people that aren't God's people?
How is God's love to his chosen people demonstrated in this chapter?
What comfort do those words give to you?

DAY SEVEN, MARCH 18 - DT. 8-11
Chapter 8
What help do you get from these verses when you are going through hard times?
How are you seeing your character being developed?
How is that a loving thing?
Can you think of any NT verses that show how Jesus is the bread of life, which is being talked about in verse 3?
What warning about prosperity and our attitude toward it, is found in this chapter?
Chapter 9
Why does God drive out the pagan people from the promise land?
Does it have anything to do with how good or bad the Israelites are (look especially at verse 26)?
How is this similar to our salvation? (Is our salvation due to our righteousness or just to Jesus?)
Chapter 10 and 11
What does the Lord require of his people (verse 12f)?
Has that requirement changed for us today?
What does the Lord do for his own?
According to 11:26, what is the choice?
What are the stipulations and results of the choices?
Are they the same today?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

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.