For those of you who are reading the Whole Bible, we will be finishing up with the life of David and II Samuel today. Than we will be jumping to the NT for the book of John.
The book of John is one of the gospels. If you have been reading this with us all year, it is the fourth and last gospel we are reading. The Apostle John (not John the Baptist or one of Jesus' brothers) wrote the book of John. It was probably written when John was in Ephesis about 85-90 BC. It was written in simple, natural Greek. The purpose of the book of John was evangelism. It is good for the new Christian or seeker to read. Some of the key words are see, believe, and live. The key verse is John 20:30-31, "I write these things to you so you may believe in the name of the Son of God and that you may have eternal life." We can have assurance that we are going to heaven if we asked Jesus into our life!
You will notice some interesting things about John in contrast to the other gospels. He leaves out the birth record, genealogy, baptism, temptation, transfiguration, ascension, and great commission. He doesn't include parables or miracles that include casting out demons or healing lepers. Which leads us to believe he knew the other gospels well and felt belief and assurance were important truths to emphasis. He does include seven miracles, however, and six of them are unique to the book of John. He includes seven sermons. Also the seven "I Ams" of Jesus are included. John also introduces us to some significant people such as Nicodemus, the Samaritian Woman, Thomas, Philip, and Lazarus.
This book is deep and profound, yet good for those who don't know a lot about Jesus and the Bible. Have a great time reading this book!
WEEK 20 - THE WB READING:DAY ONE, MAY 14 - II SAMUEL 23-24
Chapter 23
What new insight about God's covenant is revealed in the life of David?
What impresses you about the final words of David?
What impressed you about David's mightiest men and his relationship with them?
What impressed you about the 30 mighty men of David?
What type of people has God put around you to help you and support you?
Chapter 24
How many people were counted in the census?
How did David feel after he took the census, according to verse 10?
Why do you think it was wrong for David to take a census?
In what ways have you let pride and self-effort make it hard for you to give God all the glory for your successes?
What were the three choices of punishment?
Would David rather suffer the hand of man or God? Why?
How have you experienced God's presence and mercy in difficult circumstances?
According to verse 24 what type of offerings does David choose to give to God?
What is the cost to you of the offerings you give to God?
DAY TWO, MAY 15 - JOHN 1-2
Chapter 1
Why do you think this gospel begins with, "In the Beginning" rather than Jesus' birth account?
What facts about the "Word" do you find in this passage?
How would you describe Jesus according to this opening passage?
According to verse 12, how can someone come to know Jesus and be called his child?
Have you ever experienced that "rebirth?" NOTE: if you have not, follow the pattern in verse 12 then tell another Christian.
Who is John the Baptist and how would you describe him?
What is John's purpose?
How are you preparing the way for Jesus in the world today?
What new things did you learn about Jesus' disciples and how they came to follow him?
Are you willing to follow Jesus?
Chapter 2
Where was Jesus during the first half of this chapter?
What happened and what did Jesus do?
Why significance does it have that Jesus used the ceremonial cleansing pots to make the wine in?
What does wine signify in the Lord's Supper?
How does Jesus blood cleanse you today?
What is happening in the temple that makes Jesus angry?
NOTE: They weren't just selling in the Temple, they were cheating people of their money and their sacrifices. There was dishonesty, greed, stealing going on.
What does God call his Temple today? HINT: I Corthinians 16-19.
How do you think he feels about our sin?
How do the people feel about Jesus?
DAY THREE, MAY 16 - JOHN 3-5
Chapter 3
Who came to Jesus by night?
How would you describe Nicodemus?
What did he want to know?
What does Jesus tell him and what does it mean?
How would you describe those who believe in Jesus and describe those who do not? What happens to each one?
What do John the Baptist disciples say about Jesus?
What is John's response?
How well do you point others to Jesus?
Chapter 4
How would you describe the Samaritian woman?
Why do you think it was unusual for Jesus to talk to the woman?
How does Jesus engage the woman in conversation and where does that conversation lead?
What does it mean to you to have Jesus as your living water?
What challenge does Jesus give to the disciples when they return and find Jesus with the woman?
How are you going about the work of harvesting?
What does the woman do with the good news she hears?
Describe the official from Capernaum?
What effect does his faith have on the request he gave Jesus?
When you ask something from Jesus, do you expect to see results? Why or why not?
Chapter 5
Describe the man who had been sick for 38 years.
What does Jesus ask him and what was the man's response?
How would you answer if Jesus asked you if you wanted out of your situation? Are there times you would rather hang on to your situation cause it is familiar to you and have some benefit?
What does Jesus tell the man?
What does Jesus do after the man is healed and disappears without really knowing who Jesus was?
How has God come back to you again and again to reveal more of himself to you?
What are the religious leaders harassing Jesus about?
What does Jesus say to them?
What hope, comfort, joy to you have in these truths?
DAY FOUR, MAY 17 - JOHN 6-7
Chapter 6
How many people were on the hillside that needed nourishment?
Who does Jesus single out to ask about providing for the hungry?
What do you think Jesus was trying to teach him?
Can you recall a time when God was trying to single you out to teach you lesson?
How does Jesus show his thankfulness to God for being their provision?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Bread of Life?
What hope, provision, joy, comfort do you find in the teaching on Jesus being the Bread of Life?
What were the responses of people when they realized they needed to believe in Jesus?
How is that like today?
Chapter 7
What is Jesus' brothers' reaction to him right now?
Do you have family members who do not yet believe in Jesus?
Are you praying for them and living a godly witness for them?
How do the religious leaders react to Jesus?
What do you think the phrase, "His time had not yet come" mean?
How does that show Jesus' divinity?
NOTE: through out the book of John a choice is continually presented - to believe Jesus is the Messiah or believe he is just a man causing trouble. How do we see people today struggling with that same question?
Which person from chapter 3 speaks up to defend Jesus?
What might that say about how he responded to Jesus earlier?
DAY FIVE, MAY 18 - JOHN 8-10
Chapter 8
Where was the person who was caught in adultery with the woman?
How does this show that the leaders were trying to set Jesus up?
What might Jesus have written in the dirt?
What does Jesus say to the woman?
What is God expectation for us when he forgives us?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Light of the World?
Who is the only one who is able to judge?
What prediction does Jesus give about himself in verse 28?
How is a person to know the truth and who is the truth?
What benefits are there in knowing the truth?
What is the characteristic of Satan?
How much value do you place on truth?
Chapter 9
Are defects always the result of sin, if not what other purpose might they have?
What does Jesus do for the blind man?
In what ways have you been blind and what did Jesus do for you?
What proclamation of faith does the once blind man give to the religious leaders?
Chapter 10
What does it mean that Jesus is our Good Shepherd?
In what ways do you hear his voice and follow him?
How is Jesus the Gate?
What happens to those who come in through the gate?
Who would you say are some of the hired men, wolves, thieves, and robbers this passage is talking about?
What are some of the false shepherds in your life?
What comforts to you receive from verse 28-30?
Again, what are the various responses to Jesus?
DAY SIX, MAY 19 - JOHN 11-12
Chapter 11
Who are the members of the family in this chapter and what is happening to them?
What does Jesus do when he receives the news?
What is the purpose of this event according to verse 4?
What does Martha say to Jesus? Do you think she understood exactly what she was saying?
What does it mean that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life?
What is Jesus response when he sees Mary and the others?
How do you see Jesus divinity and his humanity in this chapter?
What happened to Lazarus?
How have you experienced new life and freedom from the bondage of grave clothes in the person of Jesus?
What unintentional prophecy does Caiaphas make in verse 50-51?
Chapter 12
What does Mary do for Jesus?
What are the various reactions to this unselfish act?
What was one unselfish action that you have done to show Jesus how much you love him?
What new insights do you gain into the triumphal entry from this passage?
What does Jesus tell the people about his upcoming death?
What confirmation is given to this?
Did most of the people believe or not?
DAY SEVEN, MAY 20 - JOHN 13-14
Chapters 13-19 take place in one day.
Chapter 13
What does Jesus know about Judah Iscariot?
What does Jesus say his disciples are to do?
How well do you follow Jesus example?
What choice did Judah make when he accepted the bread from Jesus and how did that affect him?
What does Peter want to do and what does Jesus predict Peter will do?
CHALLENGE QUESTION: Why do you think Peter was unable to carry out what he wanted to do? HINT: Luke 22:31-32.
Chapter 14
Where does Jesus say he is going?
Who does Jesus say he is in verse 6?
What promises does Jesus give the disciples here even though they don't fully understand?
What do we learn about the Holy Spirit here?
What is the gift that Jesus is leaving them?
How do you experience God's peace in your life?
| DAY ONE | May-14 | ROMANS 5 |
| DAY TWO | May-15 | ROMANS 6 |
| DAY THREE | May-16 | ROMANS 7 |
| DAY FOUR | May-17 | ROMANS 8 |
| DAY FIVE | May-18 | ROMANS 9 |
| DAY SIX | May-19 | ROMANS 10 |
| DAY SEVEN | May-20 | ROMANS 11 |
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.