This week we complete the book of Chronicles. The book focuses on the Southern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom set a path against God and didn't return, where as the Southern Kingdom cycled through times of rejecting God to repentance. The book really brings to light the turning from God and the returning to God over and over. It is through God's love and mercy and our repentance that we can be restored to him.
The book ends with the exile. During the exile the people felt distanced from God. But the exile was also a blessing in that it allowed for rest. The rebellion of the people after the exile was not in turning to others gods. They seemed to learn that lesson (others they might not have learn). We all seem to go through times of exile but God still works in those times. We must return to him. The people are released from exile to rebuild the temple. We all must do rebuilding in our lives. God desires his presence to be with us.
This book really reminds us that God wants a relationship with us. We can see it over and over again in his dealings with the Jews.
WEEK 28 OF THE WB:DAY ONE, JULY 9 - II CHRONICLES 19-20
Chapter 19
What does God say to Jephoshaphat through the prophet Jehu?
Why was it a mistake to align with Israel seeing they were also God's chosen people originally?
With whom are you hanging out with that you shouldn't be?
What type of consequences might that bring on you?
What warning is given to the judges and priest?
How can we take that to heart for us too?
Chapter 20
What is the problem?
What lesson did Jephoshaphat learn and how does he handle this situation?
How have you learned from past experiences in your life?
What promises does God give through the prophet Jahaziel?
What can we learn from this?
How do we participate in the battles of our life when God is on our side and we have consulted him?
On whom is the focus of the king and people?
On whom do you place you spiritual eyes?
What do you notice about the various stages of Jephoshaphat's, when he is focusing on God or focusing on men?
What can we learn from that?
DAY TWO, JULY 10 - II CHRONICLES 21-23
Chapter 21
Why didn't God destroy Judah even though Jehoram was so wicked?
What were some of the wicked things Jehoram did?
What is the effect on his life and reputation?
Chapter 22
What kind of king was Ahaziah?
Who were some of the people who encouragement him in his wickedness?
Who are some of the people who encourage you in your life?
What kind of counsel and influence are they giving you?
Chapter 23
Who was the godly influence in the land that stood against Athaliah and evil?
How does he execute his plan?
How can you as one person make a difference?
Who are the people you need to align with?
DAY THREE, JULY 11 - II CHRONICLES 24-25
Chapter 24
What kind of an influence does Jehoiada continue to have with Joash?
What are the good things Joash does?
What honor does God give to Jehoiada for his godly influence in Judah?
When the godly influence in Jehoiada died, what happened to the people?
How important is it in your life to have at least one godly influence?
Chapter 25
What was the evaluation of Amaziah?
Prove that evaluation from the events of the rest of the chapter?
Describe Amaziah's heart, character, and attitude.
Are there people you know today that are like him?
DAY FOUR, JULY 12 - II CHRONICLES 26-28
Chapter 26
According to verse 5, what kind of a king was Uzziah?
According to verse 16, what led to Uzziah's down fall?
How does pride affect you and how do you need caution to resist it?
Chapter 27
What does verse 6 credit Jotham's success from?
Could the same be said of you?
Chapter 28
What kind of king was Ahaz?
How evil was he?
How does God use Israel against Judah, yet also protect Judah from the full wrath of Israel?
According to verse 22, how did Ahaz handle the trouble he was in?
Does hardship bring you closer or farther from God?
DAY FIVE, JULY 13 - II CHRONICLES 29-30
Chapter 29
What is Hezekiah's first act as king?
What is your first priority when beginning something new?
NOTE: Hezekiah's pattern is confession, counting the cost, calling for commitment, commanding into action, consecration, and carrying over into other areas of life.
What is your pattern when you need to renew your relationship with God?
Chapter 30
What important celebration did they celebrate?
Challenge: what does the Passover represent for the modern day Christian?
What other region beside Judah did Hezekiah sent couriers and calls the people back to God?
How many from Israel came to celebrate?
Does numbers or heart matter more to God?
How does Hezekiah intercede on behalf of the people who were ceremonially unclean but in the right heart condition?
What does that mean for us?
How were both God and the people blessed?
DAY SIX, JULY 14 - II CHRONICLES 31-33
Chapter 31
How does the heart condition of the people affect how they give?
What was the result in the temple?
How are you giving to God right now? Why?
How is the heart of Hezekiah summarized in verse 20-21?
What would be the summery of your life in one or two sentences?
Chapter 32
When Sennacherib shows interest in Judah what was the first practical thing Hezekiah does?
What are some practical things you need to do to strengthen your life against the enemy?
Then, what words of encouragement show the heart and trust of Hezekiah (verse 7-8)?
How do you encourage others with the truths you know about God?
What lies did Sennacherib try to get the people to believe?
What lies do you need to be delivered from in the power and name of God?
What was Hezekiah's downfall?
How often do we see pride pulling people down?
How is the pride factor in your life?
Chapter 33
What was Manasseh like? Explain.
Did God warn Manasseh?
How did Manasseh respond to God?
How well do you listen to God?
What was the end of Manasseh's life like?
Did it have any affect on the people or his children?
What do you say to people who say they have a lot of living to do and will turn to God later?
DAY SEVEN, JULY 15 - II CHRONICLES 34-36
Chapter 34
What was Josiah like?
How does God use even youths to serve him and have a godly influence?
What are the good things that Josiah did?
Did he do them all at once?
What can we learn from this example?
How difficult do you think it was for Josiah to know that due to his repentance and leadership God was only going to delay the disaster he was going to bring to the nation, but not stop it all together (verse 28)?
How hard is it to live with the consequences of sin?
Chapter 35
How does this celebration sound a lot like the one under the leadership of Hezekiah?
Who, along with Judah, celebrated the Passover (verse 18)?
What did you learn from the life of Josiah?
Chapter 36
How would you describe the last years of the period of the kings?
Who is the main prophet during this time?
According to verse 15 why was God patient and sent them many warnings?
How have you seen God's patience in your life?
How could the exile be seen as a blessing too?
How long did the exile last?
When were the people released from exile?
Why were they released from exile?
In what ways have you felt like you were in exile?
Why did (will) God release you?
| DAY ONE | July-9 | PHILIPPIANS 4 |
| DAY TWO | July-10 | COLOSSIANS 1 |
| DAY THREE | July-11 | COLOSSIANS 2 |
| DAY FOUR | July-12 | COLOSSIANS 3 |
| DAY FIVE | July-13 | COLOSSIANS 4 |
| DAY SIX | July-14 | I THESSALONIANS 1 |
| DAY SEVEN | July-15 | I THESSALONIANS 2 |
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.