Keep up the good work. Reading through either the NT or the WB is worth the time and effort. God will bless your efforts
After finishing the book of Joshua we will jump again to the NT in the book of Luke. Luke, who was a physician and traveled often with Paul on his missionary journeys, wrote the book. It seemed Luke researched many of the events in Jesus life to test the accuracy. His main audience was gentile people. Luke also wrote with compassion with regards to women, the poor, and the sick. This seems to be a man who understands people. Luke is also a man who knows the intimate secrets of people as their physician. That sensitivity really comes out in his writing.
Happy reading!
THE 14TH WEEK OF WB READING:DAY ONE, APRIL 2 - JOSHUA 18-21
Chapter 18 - 21
What does Joshua say to the people in 18:3?
Why do you think the people are taking so long to claim what God has given them?
Again, using the map where is the land that the last tribes get?
Can you find the cities of refuge and the cities for the levites? Don't be discouraged if you can't find a lot of them.
What does 21:45 say?
What encouragement do your receive from that verse?
DAY TWO, APRIL 3 - JOSHUA 22-24
Chapter 22
When was Reuben, Gad, Manasseh released from their responsibilities to help Israel conquer the land?
What did the three tribes do?
What did they mean it to represent?
What did the rest of Israel think that it meant?
What did they name the altar?
How are you a witness to others that the "Lord is God?"
Chapter 23
What words of comfort and encouragement does Joshua give the people?
Why are the people so powerful (verse 9-11)?
How is that true for you?
What words of warning does Joshua give to the people?
Chapter 24
What is Joshua remembering?
Why do you think it is so important to God that the people remember some of the things of the past?
Can you remember a time you felt like you were in bondage to another, that you worshipped another god, that you wondered around in an emotional or spiritual wilderness, or had to stand against a great foe?
How did you see God's faithfulness, protection, love, and guidance through it all?
What choice does Joshua present to the people in verse 14-15?
In a sense you are presented that same choice. What will you choose?
What warning in verse 22 does Joshua give to those who choose God?
Do you have witnesses and accountability partners that will help you keep your covenant with God?
DAY THREE, APRIL 4 - LUKE 1-2
Who is the book written to? What do you think the name means (HINT: what does "Theo" mean? What does "Phili" mean?
Are you "One who loves God?"
Does the fact that Luke really researched these accounts make you feel he has more credibility?
Describe Zechariah and Elizabeth.
What does the angel say about John?
How do you think you would have reacted to this news?
What must Mary have felt like when the angel first appeared to her?
What promise is in verse 37?
What is Mary's response to God through the angel?
Can you say the same thing then God asks you to step out of your comfort zone and do the impossible for him?
Why is Mary blessed according to verse 45?
Can the same thing be said for you?
Take some time and write a song of praise to God for what he has done in your life.
How did John grow up?
Have you asked God to make you strong in Spirit?
Chapter 2
This is a very familiar passage. Read it slowly and ask God to reveal anything new to you or to touch your spirit in a special way.
Did anything speak to you in a new way? If so, what?
Describe Simon?
Do you look with anticipation towards the workings of God?
Describe Anna?
What about Anna impressed you?
Describe Jesus young years according to verse 39-40 and 51-52?
What do you think about Jesus' time in the temple?
DAY FOUR, APRIL 5 - LUKE 3-4
Chapter 3
Describe John the Baptist and his message?
What can we learn from that today?
Describe Jesus' baptism.
How is the Trinity represented here?
How is this genealogy similar and different from the one in Matthew 1? NOTE: some think the difference show that Luke is emphasizing the lineage of Mary more than Joseph.
What do you think the sentence in verse 23a means?
Chapter 4
What can we learn about resisting temptation from the event of the temptation of Jesus?
What is said about Jesus' power?
Do you think the Holy Spirit gives people power today?
How is Jesus accepted in his own town?
How do people respond to Jesus today?
With what authority does Jesus speak?
What is your authority?
DAY FIVE, APRIL 6 - LUKE 5-7
Read all three chapters and answer the following questions:
How does Jesus reveal himself to Peter and the others?
What is their response?
How is God asking you to be his disciple?
What does Jesus do to the man with leprosy?
CHALLENGE QUESTIONS: How does that go against Levitical laws?
What does Jesus do according to verse 16?
If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to pray; then we must even more! How often do you spend time with God?
Many of these recorded events were also recorded in the other gospels that you have read. Are there any new insights?
What does Jesus do before choosing his disciples?
What can you learn from Jesus' example regarding making big decisions?
There is another recording of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Compare that to this recording found in Luke. What are the differences and similarities?
What new insights did you get from the rest of the teachings in chapter 6?
The story of the women anointing Jesus feet is similar to the account of Mary anointing Jesus recorded in the other three gospels. This is a different woman. Describe her and the act of worship she shows Jesus.
Check the Table of Contents in your Bible for the list of charts. See if you have a chart that lists all the miracles of Jesus and where they are found. How many of the miracles and teachings of Jesus that you are reading about in Luke, are found in Matthew and Mark?
If you have a Bible with cross-references in the margins (or bottom of the page) it will help you also locate the other places in the Bible that an event is also recorded. It is often good to compare the events to note the similarities and differences. One often describes a story from their personality. Each telling can add insight, depth, and understand to the teachings and events of the Bible.
DAY SIX, APRIL 7 - LUKE 8-9
Read both chapters and answer the following questions:
What women were named here and what was their role in Jesus' ministry?
How valuable were the contributions of the woman?
What valuable warning is given in 8:18?
What lessons and insights did you remember anew as you read the events in these two chapters? What events recorded here are similar to ones found in Matthew and Mark?
What warning in 9:26, is a reminder that God wants wholehearted Christians that are willing to risk for him?
What encouragement do you get from 9:45, when you are having a hard time understand some of the Bible?
What was Jesus attitude as he faced the last weeks of his life knowing he would die for us (HINT: 9:51)?
What is Jesus saying to you about the cost of following him and having right priorities (9:57-62)?
DAY SEVEN, APRIL 8 - LUKE 10-11
Read both chapters and answer the following questions:
What is more important, what God does through you or your relationship with Jesus (HINT: 10:20)?
How does one know or "see" the things of God?
How should one feel and treat the things that God has shown?
Who does Jesus says a neighbor is?
How can you show God's mercy to others today?
How is that "loving your neighbor as yourself?"
What is "the one thing" that Mary is concerned about?
How is that different from Martha?
How do you live your life, like Mary or Martha?
How does Jesus say we should ask for something from God and why?
What do you need to ask of God?
Will you persist for it in prayer?
What happens to an "empty" space in our life if we don't fill it with God (HINT: 11:24-26)?
What does God expect over an above hearing the word (HINT: 11:28)?
How are you putting the words of God into practice in your life?
What are the warnings Jesus gives to the people who misuse the word of God for their benefit?
| DAY ONE | Apr-2 | John 12 |
| DAY TWO | Apr-3 | John 13 |
| DAY THREE | Apr-4 | John 14 |
| DAY FOUR | Apr-5 | John 15 |
| DAY FIVE | Apr-6 | John 16 |
| DAY SIX | Apr-7 | John 17 |
| DAY SEVEN | Apr-8 | John 18 |
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.