Way to stick with your Bible reading. It is a good discipline in which you are participating! Keep up the good work. Remember to pray before reading to ask God to reveal his insights to you.
For those of you reading the whole Bible, this week we will finish up the book of Luke and begin the book of Judges.
The book of Judges gives the history of the time between the elders and the time of the kings. The principle phrase is, "Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of...raiders." There is a repeated pattern during this time of the people turning from God, God allowing oppression, the people crying out to God for deliverance, the people repenting, God hearing the people, and God sending delivers. Unfortunately, this is an all too common pattern for people through all time. The people recognized God as their savior when they were in crisis but they didn't accept him as Lord for the whole of their life. The lesson of Judges is the same today: Apostasy brings judgment while repentance brings relief. As you read, note the covenant faithfulness of God to his people even when they turn their back of God. We have a patient and faithful God!
Many people think the priest, Samuel, wrote the book but the actually authorship is unknown.
WEEK 15 OF THE WHOLE BIBLE READING:DAY ONE, APRIL 9 - LUKE 12-13
Chapter 12
What warnings does Jesus start this chapter with?
What insights do you gain from these words?
What is real life not measured by?
What is a rich life measured by?
How have you been measuring your life?
What other truths does Jesus give about material things?
What must we be ready for and how are we to be ready?
What is God requiring of you and why? (HINT: verse 48)
In what way will there be strife and divisions because of Jesus?
Chapter 13
What is more important to God: the severity of your sin or the condition of your heart in repentance? Why?
How does the illustration of the fig tree apply to this principle?
How did the Pharisees have more regard for the good of an animal then the soul and body of a person?
How do we see this today?
What is the Kingdom of God like?
What sadness does Jesus have over Jerusalem?
DAY TWO, APRIL 10 - LUKE 14-16
Chapter 14
Why do you think Jesus questioned the Pharisees before he did the miracle?
What could be their response after the miracle happened?
What teaching does Jesus give about pride and humility?
What does Jesus parable of the great wedding banquet mean?
What type of invited guest are you to the wedding feast?
What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
Have you counted the cost of being a disciple of Jesus and what is your answer?
Chapter 15
What is Jesus trying to teach about the story of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son?
What is the response in heaven to someone who has been found?
How does the oldest son respond to his brother being "found?"
Who do you identify with more: the younger son or the older son?
How do you respond when others come back to God, especially someone who you don't think really deserves it?
Chapter 16
What can we learn from worldly shrewdness?
For what purpose does God tell Christians to use their resources?
What can we learn from the way people handle money?
What are some of the truths of the story about Lazarus and the rich man?
DAY THREE, APRIL 11 - LUKE 17-18
Chapter 17
What warning is there in the first few verses about temptation?
What is the lesson about forgiveness that is found here?
What is being taught about faith?
What can one learn about being a servant?
What should be learned about thankfulness?
How are we living similar to the time of Noah and Lot?
Chapter 18
What does the story of the persistent widow teach us about prayer?
What does the story of the persistent widow teach us about God?
What does the story about the Pharisee and the tax collector teach us about prayer?
What does this story teach us about thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought to think?
Who will get into the Kingdom of Heaven?
Why do you think the disciples couldn't understand Jesus' teachings?
What did the beggar want from Jesus?
What do you want from Jesus?
Have you asked him for it?
What is your response when Jesus answers you?
DAY FOUR, APRIL 12 - LUKE 19-20
Chapter 19
What does Jesus call Zacchaeus?
Have you heard Jesus calling your name?
How does Zacchaeus respond to Jesus?
How do you respond to Jesus?
Who are the characters in the story of the 10 servants and what did each one of them do?
What do you think is represented by this story?
What have you done with what God has given you?
Verse 28 begins the last week of Jesus' life. Describe what happens that Sunday.
Chapter 20
How does Jesus handle those who are trying to trick him?
Sometimes there are people who just don't want to believe. How do you feel about that?
What does the story of the evil farmers mean?
Who do the evil farmers represent today?
How do you see the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus as he deals with the people?
Who is God the God of (HINT: verse 37-38)?
What do you think of the Sadducees and the Pharisees?
Who do you think they are like today?
What warning does Jesus give about people like that?
DAY FIVE, APRIL 13 - LUKE 21-22
Chapter 21
How does God measure our giving: amount, percentage, sacrifice, and/or attitude?
NOTE: remember these verse have a soon and not yet prophesy to them. What were conditions like when Jerusalem fell in 70 AD and what will they be like at the end-times?
What will the Holy Spirit do for those who are accused (verse 14-15)?
What warning at the end of this chapter does Jesus give about the end times?
Chapter 22
What festival was taking place?
What happened to Judas Iscariot and what did he do?
How do you think Jesus knew were to have the Passover?
Describe the Passover supper Jesus had with the disciples.
What event is alluded to here with the conversation about servanthood but not described in this section?
What does Jesus say about Peter?
What does Jesus do for Peter and what words of encouragement does he give Peter?
What comfort does that give you, as you are tempted?
According to verse 40 and 46, what does Jesus tell the disciples to do and for what purpose?
How is that applicable today?
Describe Peter's denial of Jesus.
Remembering back to Levitical law, how many witnesses did they need to convict someone? How many did they have to convict Jesus?
DAY SIX, APRIL 14 - LUKE 23-24
Chapter 23
NOTE: This is the only gospel that records Jesus going before Herod.
Describe the court scene before Herod.
How would you describe Herod?
How would you describe Pilot?
How would you describe Simon?
What were the other criminals like who were crucified with Jesus?
How do you see Jesus caring for others even was he is being crucified?
How do some in this chapter see the innocence of Jesus?
What was done with Jesus body after he died?
Chapter 24
Describe what the women must have seen and felt like on Sunday morning.
How do you think they felt not being believed?
How do you feel when you tell others about Jesus and they don't believe?
NOTE: The story of the two from Emmaus is only told in detail here. Mark just alludes to it.
What do you find interesting about this account?
What does verse 30 remind you of and why do you think that event might have helped open their eyes?
What commission does Jesus give his followers at the end of this chapter?
How is that same commission applicable to you?
How well are you fulfilling the commission?
DAY SEVEN, APRIL 15 - JUDGES 1-2
Chapter 1
Which tribe was given leadership in finishing the conquest of the land?
Do you remember which tribe Jesus was to come from?
Do you remember who Caleb was (HINT: the spies that checked out the Promised Land shortly after leaving Egypt)?
How well did Caleb do at clearing out the land?
How well did Judah, Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan do at clearing out the land?
What do you think will be the result of not completely fulfilling God's instructions?
Chapter 2
What did the angel of the Lord say to the people?
What was the people's response?
How old was Joshua when he died and where was he buried?
How long did the people follow God after Joshua's death?
What happened to the people in their disobedience?
God had every right to be angry with the people. How was his compassion also evident?
What was the reason given in verses 22-23 for allowing other nations to remain in the Promised Land?
How well does Israel handle the test?
| DAY ONE | Apr-9 | John 19 |
| DAY TWO | Apr-10 | John 20 |
| DAY THREE | Apr-11 | John 21 |
| DAY FOUR | Apr-12 | ACTS 1 |
| DAY FIVE | Apr-13 | ACTS 2 |
| DAY SIX | Apr-14 | ACTS 3 |
| DAY SEVEN | Apr-15 | ACTS 4 |
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.