There is a lot of variety in reading this week! The week begins with us finishing up the book of Job. After Job we will begin and complete the reading of II Corinthians. We will end the week as we begin reading the Psalms.
The middle of the week we will be reading from II Corinthians. You already know some of the background for this city from the previous reading. It seems there has been correspondence between Paul and the Corinthian church between the two letters. It also seems as if someone is trying to persuade the Corinthian church that Paul is not really what he says he is, he is using their collection money for himself not needy Christians, and that he doesn't care about them. Therefore, the book of II Corinthians is to remind the people that he really one of Christ's apostles, he cares about them, he is truthful with them, and he wants the best for them. If some of the writing seems a little defensive that is why. So Paul is defending himself, challenging them to see Christ's evidence for themselves, addressing some of the previous problems, and spurring them on to greater growth. It is not an easy book to read but there are a lot of important truths to be gathered for us in our every day life.
As you begin the reading in Psalms, there will be instruction on what to do as you are reading each Psalm. The book is not an educational, doctrinal, or theological book as much as a prayer and praise book. It is experiential, not factual. It is poetry. Therefore, you will not be asked specific questions about each Psalm but a pattern to help you daily praise God and pray to him. This book will probably touch your heart and soul more than any other book in the Bible. You may truly sense a time of worship as you read this book. Enjoy!
WEEK 34 WB READING:DAY ONE, AUGUST 20 - JOB 35-37
Chapters 35-37
Elihu's speech continues here.
How does Elihu describe God?
How accurate do think his description is?
According to Elihu, does God listen to man and care for him?
Do you agree with this?
How does Elihu view the relationship between God and man?
What would you say to that?
DAY TWO, AUGUST 21 - JOB 38-39
Chapters 38-39
Now God speaks.
What questions does God give to Job? Why?
What is God saying about himself?
Why do you think God continues to ask questions for two chapters?
How do you feel after reading these two chapters?
DAY THREE, AUGUST 22 - JOB 40-42
Chapters 40-41
God continues to speak.
What questions does God ask of Job?
What is Job's reply and what attitude to you feel from his response?
What more does God challenge Job with?
How do you feel about God as creator?
Do you want a God like this as your God? Why or why not?
Chapter 42
Job's reply to God.
Job did not do the things his friends accused him of. He was not one of the wicked in whose category they tried to place him.
Job knew he didn't deserve the trouble he was having as some kind of punishment for wickedness. Yet Job repents here.
What is Job repenting of, what sin is he guilty of?
Have you ever resisted being put in the category of "wicked" only to realize you still where guilty of some sin before God?
What does God say about Job's friends?
Why was God angry with Job's friends?
How did Job's relationship with God differ from his friend's relationship with God?
Do you know God or do you just know about God?
How does God bless Job?
DAY FOUR, AUGUST 23 - II CORINTHIANS 1-4
Chapter 1
Who is this letter from and to whom is it addressed?
What do you remember about Corinth?
What is Paul saying about comfort and suffering?
What comfort do you get from those words?
What is the result of suffering?
According to verse 11, how can we help others even when we are not with them?
According to verse 21, what can we be confident of?
Chapter 2
What do verses 5-11 say about forgiveness and church disciple?
Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive?
Is there anyone in your life that you need to stop holding punishment over his/her head?
What should others "smell" on us?
How can that happen?
Chapter 3
How can we be a "letter" in this world?
What does Christ have to do with this?
What do you think it means that "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life?"
How have you seen that in your own life?
After reading verses 16-18, how easy should it be for others to tell that we are Christians? Why?
Chapter 4
From what "darkness" have Christians turned?
Why can't many in the world seem to see the light of the gospel?
How have you seen that truth evident in today's world?
According to verses 7-12, what treasure is within us and how is that seen in our lives when we are in hard times?
What hope do we live for?
DAY FIVE, AUGUST 24 - II CORINTHIANS 5-9
Chapter 5
What does this chapter say about our physical earthly condition?
What does this chapter say about our heavenly destination?
How do you think heaven will be in comparison to earth? Are you looking forward to that time?
To whom should we live and why?
How well are you living for Jesus or are you better at living for self?
What does this chapter say about reconciliation?
What is our responsibility in the ministry of reconciliation?
What must you change in your life to be Christ's ambassador in this ministry?
Chapter 6
Are you assuming on God's grace?
Why is it wrong to be a stumbling block to others?
In what way have you been a stumbling block recently?
What does Paul say about Christians having strong relationships with nonChristians?
Is this an area in your life that you need to pray about and seek God's guidance and help?
What other principles in the Bible have you read about that can shed light on this truth in your life?
Chapter 7
What do we learn from Paul about how difficult it is to challenge Christians when they are not living true to God's principles, yet how necessary it is to do at times (verses 8-13 might help)?
What does this chapter say about repentance and living holy before God?
What do you learn from this chapter?
Chapter 8
What does Paul tell us about the generosity of the Macedonian church?
What does the phrase "excel in the grace of giving" (verse 7) mean to you?
According to verse 12, when is a gift acceptable?
What are you learning new about God's desire for giving?
What do verses 16-24, say about accountability and encouragement among Christians?
Chapter 9
What does verse 2 say about the excitement of giving that one person (or church) can have on others in this matter?
How have you seen this in your own life?
What blessing are seen from generous giving?
How is giving an act of obedience?
Where and what is God asking you to give?
DAY SIX, AUGUST 25 - II CORINTHIANS 10-13
Chapter 10
What weapons does God give us to fight "spiritual warfare?"
What part does our mind play in this?
How well are you protecting your mind and keeping it "sharp" for God's purposes?
According to verse 15, as one's faith increases what happens to his/her ministry?
Has your ministry increased as a result of your spiritual growth?
Chapter 11
According to verse 1-6, what are some standards of discernment to know if something that is preached is true or from a false teacher?
What is that saying about many of the beliefs and religious tolerance of today's world?
What does verse 14 call Satan?
Have you prayed for God's light so as not to be deceived by Satan and his hosts?
In all the list of Paul's credentials in ministry, what is his greatest credential (verse 30)?
Why is human weakness a good trait to have (the next chapter will answer that question if you can't answer it right now)?
Chapter 12
What "humbling tool" did Paul have?
Why didn't God take it away even though Paul prayed for it to be taken away?
How is God's power shown through weakness in Paul's life?
What comfort do you receive from reading these words?
What is Paul willing to do for the salvation and growth of others (verse 15)?
When have you seen this modeled in your life or lived this way yourself?
How do you see Paul's huge burden for the Corinthian Christians?
When has God given you such a love and burden for another person's life and character?
Chapter 13
If you were put to the test, would others witness the power of Christ Jesus in your life?
What part of Paul's final appeal in verse 11 speaks to you in your situation?
DAY SEVEN, AUGUST 26 - PSALMS 1-9
The book of Psalms is a book of prayer and praise. This section of Bible reading will be more experiential, than educative and thought provoking. There are a few things that you will be asked to do with each Psalm and then title each Psalm. The beauty of each psalm is that they will speak to your heart and spirit at different times. You will want to find certain psalms back when you are in various moods. These activities will help you do that.
In the back of your Bible or in a small notebook make a chart with three (3) columns. At the top of the first column (subject heading) write "The Number of the Psalm." At the top of the second column (subject heading) write "Emotion or Attitude I feel when I read this Psalm." At the top of the third column (subject heading) write "The Title I would give this Psalm." Under the subject heading in the first column you can number down 1-150, as there are 150 Psalms. The next two columns you will fill in as you read each Psalm. In this way you can go back and find the Psalm that fits your emotional and spiritual need at a given time. I also put the title I give the Psalm in my Bible right under the Psalm number. This helps me as I am paging through the Psalms.
Psalms 1-9| DAY ONE | Aug-20 | JAMES 3 |
| DAY TWO | Aug-21 | JAMES 4 |
| DAY THREE | Aug-22 | JAMES 5 |
| DAY FOUR | Aug-23 | I PETER 1 |
| DAY FIVE | Aug-24 | I PETER 2 |
| DAY SIX | Aug-25 | I PETER 3 |
| DAY SEVEN | Aug-26 | I PETER 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.