Dear Readers,

The reading in I Corinthians is quite deep isn't it? I hope you are learning a lot from it and struggling with God's truths.

The end of the week we will begin reading from the book of Job. We will be back in the Old Testament. The book deals with human suffering. The book offers a dialog between God and Satan, showing that God is still in control and sets limits. Also there is a dialog between Job and his friends. Each of them offers suggests to his sufferings that fall short. They are very human suggests that many of us have heard from others or used ourselves: the sufferer is not spiritual enough and has hidden sin, the sufferer didn't follow the traditions of the previous generation, and the sufferer does understand and practice the truths of God. But what each friend fails to realize is they don't fully know the mind of God and can't possibly know the reason for the suffering. Their friendship doesn't ease the pain. Job comes to realize that it isn't in the questioning of God that he finds answers but IN GOD. God, the person, is the answer to our personal troubles. He is there and loves us. Through all your suffering, I pray this book will give you insight and comfort.

Have a good week reading!

DAY ONE, AUGUST 6 - I CORINTHIANS 7-8
Chapter 7
Thinking back to last week's opening letter, what do you think Paul is talking about in verse 2 and how is that similar today?
What are Paul's instructs to a married couple?
How does Paul view his singleness? Why?
What are some of your thoughts on singleness after reading this passage?
What are Paul's thoughts on a couple in which both partners are not Christians?
What is God's protection for covenant Children?
If you do not have a believing spouse, where is your first mission field?
Do you think this passage is really about marriage and singleness, or serving God wholeheartedly and contentment?
What principles do you find in this passage that are helpful for you?
Chapter 8
Why do you think Paul starts this passage out with talking about the effects of knowledge and love? What do they have to do with eating food to idols or any other controversial issue we might have?
According to verse 9, how can our freedom cause another to sin?
What is our responsibility to others, especially younger or new Christians?
What could be the consequences of our example to a weaker Christian? Are you willing to refrain from controversial actions so as not to cause another to fall?
How do you feel knowing that you are to curb your actions to help others?

DAY TWO, AUGUST 7 - I CORINTHIANS 9-11
Chapter 9
What does Paul say he has the right to do?
What has he given up his rights to?
Why has he given up his rights?
What is Paul's reward in giving up his rights?
According to verse 19, what farther action is Paul willing to do in order for people to come to a saving knowledge of Christ?
What rights are you having a hard time giving up?
To what lengths are you willing to go so that other can know Christ?
If all Christians were willing to make the sacrifices that Paul is making what kind of a church would there be in the world today?
Chapter 10
Note: the end of chapter 9 Paul says he wants to live his Christian life in such a way as to not get disqualified. Chapter 10 begins with the examples of some of the Israelites who assumed on God's blessing and lived their life for themselves and where disqualified.
What are some of the blessings that Paul mentioned they received from God?
What behavior and attitude did some of the Israelites exhibit that showed their selfishness and unwillingness to live in accordance with God's teaching?
What warning do you take from these passages?
What hope and encouragement to you gain from verse 13?
What things arouse God's jealousy?
What principles for freedom in Christ are presented in verses 23-33?
Who's good must we seek?
How hard is it for you to put others first and not yourself?
Chapter 11
Who's example does Paul tell others to follow?
If someone were following your example would that lead him or her to Christ?
NOTE: This chapter is hard to understand and the meaning is not easy either. Some people misuse this passage for their own benefit. I think there is also some cultural issues here that we do not understand completely either. Try to look for principles here as opposed to legalism. This chapter is in the Bible so it is important and therefore we need to struggle with it and try to find some principles that are consistent with the rest of the Bible and helpful for us today.
NOTE: Head often means honor and respect.
If head is to mean honor and respect, what principles can you see here in regard to worship and our relationship with God and others?
NOTE: The hair issue is probably in contrast to the way people worshipped in the temple of Aphrodite.
If that is true, what is God saying our worship of him must be in contrast to false worship?
How must the way we conduct ourselves be unique and genuine enough to show in contrast to the world's conduct and behavior?
How must our worship and celebration of the Lord's Supper be a confession of what we believe and an example to the world of God's love?

DAY THREE, AUGUST 8 - I CORINTHIANS 12-14
Chapter 12
Who receives a spiritual gift from God?
What is the purpose of spiritual gifts?
How many Spirits are there and from whom does he come? Who is Paul talking about when he says Spirit?
What is the body that Paul is talking about?
What comfort and reassurance do you get from reading this passage on the body of Christ?
What do you think your spiritual gift is?
How will you use it for the kingdom of God?
Chapter 13
What are the characteristics of love?
What doesn't love do?
How well do you exhibit the characteristics of love in your life?
Have you asked God to build that into your life?
Who's reflection should we see when we look into the mirror? (Hint: When one becomes a Christian who lives in him/her?)
Why is that reflection cloudy now?
When will we not look in a mirror but "see face to face?" And who's face will it be?
Chapter 14
What gifts build the church up?
Why is that important?
Which gifts should we desire?
How important is the mind and thought in our spiritual growth?
What are you doing to strengthen your mind?
According to verse 33 what type of God do we have and how is that to be reflected in our worship?
NOTE: verses 34-35 has cause a lot of divisions in churches about women in office. The best thing to do, if this topic interests you is to really study it. Keeping in mind that God's truths will have supporting principles through out the Bible and one can't proof text something to make it true for him/her. Also it is important to remember that God expects people to use the gifts he/she has been given from Him. The passage is about order in worship and not causing divisions, this issue should be dealt with in such a way as to maintain the same standard as the passage's intent. And study cultural norms of that time to understand the meaning for the Christians at that time. The NIV study Bible has a number of possible interpretations of that passage.

DAY FOUR, AUGUST 9 - I CORINTHIANS 15-16
Chapter 15
What are the saving truths of the gospel according to verses 3-5?
When did Jesus appear to Paul (Hint: Acts 9:1-8
Why would our faith be useless if Jesus hadn't been raised from the dead?
Why was it important that a man dies for our sins and be raised up again?
What must Christ destroy and what is the last enemy?
What warning is there in this passage against sin and those who choose to live in sin?
Describe what you know about the new body after we are raised?
From whom does our victory come?
What promise is there for those who work for the Lord in their everyday lives?
Chapter 16
What does Paul say here about offerings in the church?
How consistent are you in your giving?
What charge does Paul give in verse 13?
How well do you try to live by that charge?

DAY FIVE, AUGUST 10 - JOB 1-2
Chapter 1
What do you know about Job?
Who present themselves before God?
What has God put around Job?
What do you think that means?
Have you ever prayed for God to put a hedge of protection around you?
What does Satan predict will happen to Job once God's blessing have been removed from Job?
Who still has control and sets limits over Satan?
What comfort do you receive from that?
What does Satan do to Job and his family?
How does Job respond?
How do you respond in the face of hardship?
Chapter 2
What does God say about Job and his character?
Can God say the same thing about you?
What permission does God give Satan and what limitations?
Why does God allow Satan to test Job?
How does Satan use Job's wife against him (like he used Eve against Adam)?
Has someone close to you ever been used to tempt you (or have you been used to tempt another)?
How are you trying to resist that?
How does Job respond?
How have you been guilty of only wanting good from God and not trouble?
Who are Job's friends?
What did they come to do?

DAY SIX, AUGUST 11 - JOB 3-7
Chapter 3
What does Job curse and why?
How is he feeling?
Have you ever felt like Job?
Chapter 4 - 5
Who is the first friend to speak?
What do you think he is trying to say to Job?
Has anyone ever told you that you weren't pious enough or spiritual enough and that is why God was punishing you? Or have you ever been guilty of implying that to another person?
Could Eliphaz possibly know what God's reason was for this situation in Job's life?
How often have we assumed on God?
Chapter 6-7
What is Job's reply?
What is Job's attitude?
How does Job feel towards his friend?
Have you ever wished your friends would just be friends but keep their mouths closed?
What is Job's feelings toward God?

DAY SEVEN, AUGUST 12 - JOB 8-10
Chapter 8
What friend is talking now?
What is this friend saying?
Have you ever been told that the teaching of traditions and past generations is the right way and will make your life right - that tradition is more important than a relationship with God?
Chapter 9-10
What does Job say about God?
Can Job see the greatness and power of God in his life and be blessed by it?
Have you known the truths of God in your head but been unable to feel them in your heart?
Do you ever feel that God is not reachable by you?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

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.