I find the books of Ezra and Nehemiah wonderful books. I hope you do too. The books really give a picture of how after being away from God due to sin, he returns his people to himself, restores his presence, his protection, and provision in their lives. There is a balance between God's work and a person's responsibility in that process.
Ezra and Nehemiah are the literal stories of God's people's return from exile after their sin. Ezra talks of the restoration of the temple (God's presence and forgiveness) in their lives. Nehemiah talks of the restoration of the wall (God's protection and provision) around Jerusalem.
In both accounts we can identify with needing to be restored to God and renew our relationship with him after times we have felt distances from Him. I hope you enjoy this week's reading as much as I did!
WEEK 30TH OF THE WB:DAY ONE, JULY 23 - EZRA 4-6
Chapter 4
When you begin reading the chapter do you think the people around Judah really want to help?
After reading a little farther, what behaviors of the local people showed that the people of Judah were right in not letting the local people help them?
What might have happened if the locals helped?
Can you remember a time when something appeared good at first but you found out it wasn't done or said with godly motives?
What did the local people do that completely thwarted the rebuilding efforts?
Can you remember a time in your life when others worked that hard against you when you were trying to do God's work?
Chapter 5
Who were the two prophets mentioned here?
Looking in the table of contents in your Bible. Can you find those names anywhere else? What do you thing that means?
What began again?
Who did the workers on the temple claim to be and what did they say their purpose was according to verse 11?
How can the same answer be giving by you when others ask who you are?
How are you rebuilding the temple today?
What other information about the building of the temple did they give for the report?
When have you taken the opportunity to give a complete report about God's work to another person?
Chapter 6
What new instructions does King Darius give to the leaders of the Trans-Euphrates concerning the temple and their role in helping it to be built?
What does this say about God and his work?
What encouragement does this give to you in your present situation?
What do the people do in verse 16?
At the completion of some a project do you give God the credit and have a celebration for him?
Where did the joy of the people come from (hint: verse 22)?
From where does your joy come?
Why did the King of Assyria cooperate with the people of Judah?
What hope does that give you as you deal with difficult people today?
DAY TWO, JULY 24 - EZRA 7-8
Chapter 7
What was special about Ezra?
According to verse 10 what are some of the things that Ezra practiced that may have been a factor in God's favor on him?
How well are you reading and obeying God's word?
How well do you sharing God's truth and witness to others in a genuine and authentic way?
What amazes you about the attitude of the leaders of Babylon and Persia at that time?
How does Ezra respond to all of God's blessings?
How responsible are you with all of the blessings God has given in your life, with friends, and family?
Chapter 8
About how many people acted on this opportunity to return to Jerusalem?
How do the people prepare to leave and why do they humble themselves this way?
When have you sought God's protection in your life?
How great was the offering received to bring back to Judah?
How generous are your with offerings to God and his work?
DAY THREE, JULY 25 - EZRA 9-10
Chapter 9
What were the people, including some of the leaders, doing?
Why was this a bad thing?
If it were left to continue what cycle would they begin repeating?
How does Ezra respond at this news?
Have you ever confessed before God for the sins of a group of people?
Chapter 10
How did people response who joined Ezra in prayer and confession?
What decision was made regarding this matter?
NOTE: The issue wasn't the fact these women were foreign as we have numerous examples of foreign women being engrafted into the nation. The issue was that the foreign women kept their gods and didn't begin worshipping the One True God.
How important is it to cut out sin from our lives?
From the book of Ezra, how do you see God's protection, provision, and the way he preserves his Word and people?
DAY FOUR, JULY 26 - NEHEMIAH 1-3
Chapter 1
What does the wall represent to a city?
In what ways are you often left defenseless against the enemies in your life?
What are some of the elements that Nehemiah includes in his prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, petition, etc.)?
What specifically does Nehemiah ask God for in prayer?
How specific are you in your prayer requests to God?
Chapter 2
How did Nehemiah feel before the king and in asking the king for a favor?
What does Nehemiah do before completely his request?
How specific is Nehemiah in his details and planning?
Why does the king grant Nehemiah's request?
According to verse 12, where did Nehemiah's burden and vision for this project come from?
How much time, energy, and detail does Nehemiah put into this project?
After all Nehemiah's planning and work to whom does he give the credit for success according to verse 20?
What can we learn from Nehemiah so far?
Chapter 3
How was the work divided up on the wall repair?
What would happen if one group didn't do their work?
How is this division of labor like today as we are building the kingdom of God?
How well are you carrying out your responsibility in building the kingdom of God?
DAY FIVE, JULY 27 - NEHEMIAH 4-6
Chapter 4
What do Sanballat and Tobiah do as the people work on the wall?
Have you ever felt taunted and ridiculed for doing God's work?
How do the people respond to the threats?
What two things did they do (one on the spiritual front and one on the physical front)?
How do you deal with attacks in a spiritual and a practical way?
The people were ready if necessary, but according to verse 15, how does God intervene?
How does this chapter show the importance of finishing the wall?
Challenge: How can you "build" a wall around you for "protection" so you will be prepared and ready for what threatens to come along?
Chapter 5
NOTE: the previous chapter talked of external opposition. This chapter talks about internal opposition.
What is the problem now?
Have you ever felt taken advantage of by someone whom you thought should be on your side?
What kind of an example was Nehemiah to the people?
What kind of an example are you to others?
Chapter 6
Is Nehemiah willing to stop the work of God for any reason?
How well do you preserver in the work of the Lord?
What do the enemies try to do this time?
Have you ever had others make up lies to try and intimidate and discredit you?
What does Nehemiah do?
What can we learn from Nehemiah's example?
How long did it take to rebuild the wall?
How did this show that it was the work of God?
DAY SIX, JULY 28 - NEHEMIAH 7-8
Chapter 7
Why were Hanahiah and Hanani given responsibility according to verse 2?
How are you showing yourself to be a person of "integrity and fear God more than most?"
What is listed in the end of the chapter?
How much comfort do you receive knowing that God knows all your comings and goings just like the people of Israel?
Chapter 8
What does Ezra do now?
How do the people respond?
What does Ezra do beside just read the law, according to verse 8?
Are you faithful in going to church to study God's word so you can understand it better?
According to verse 10, where does our strength come from?
How are you taking joy in the Lord today?
DAY SEVEN, JULY 29 - NEHEMIAH 9-11
Chapter 9
What kinds of things did the people do when they came together this time?
How are you including some of those same elements into your life today?
What strikes you about the psalm written here?
What would your psalm look like if you wrote one to God about his workings in your life?
Chapter 10
What did the people agree to do?
What do they promise not to neglect?
How are you following through with your responsibilities before God?
Chapter 11
What do the people resume again?
How have you resettled into the things that God has given you, use them to his glory, and restored your relationship with him?
| DAY ONE | July-23 | I TIMOTHY 2 |
| DAY TWO | July-24 | I TIMOTHY 3 |
| DAY THREE | July-25 | I TIMOTHY 4 |
| DAY FOUR | July-26 | I TIMOTHY 5 |
| DAY FIVE | July-27 | I TIMOTHY 6 |
| DAY SIX | July-28 | II TIMOTHY 2 |
| DAY SEVEN | July-29 | II TIMOTHY 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.