Most of this week we will be reading in the book of Psalms. Continue to work on your chart and titles as you go. I promise, it will be helpful to you in the future.
One day this week we will be jumping to the NT and reading the book of Galatians. Paul wrote the book to the churches in Galatia. The book was to refute the influence of the Judaizers (Jewish Christians) who were binding the NT church and the gentiles to OT laws. A very legalistic form of Christianity was immerging. Paul is reminding the Christians that faith is a gift from God through belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus for our sins. That is the only way! It is a very passionate book.
For those doing the NT reading, you will begin the book of Revelation this week. Don't get all catch up in the views of the end times. The book is really a book of hope, comfort, and worship. The book reminds us of the character of God as our judge, protector, savior, and victor. Look for ways to worship God as you read this book.
Enjoy for reading this week!
WEEK 36 OF THE WB READING:Continue to follow the pattern set in last week's reading. For review it is:
1) Read each Psalm and fill in column two and three on the chart you have made.
2) Write the title of the Psalm next to the corresponding Psalm
3) Consider also any of the following activities with each Psalm
a. Seeing most of the Psalms are prayers, you can personalize them and pray it back to God.
b. Write out the Psalm while personalizing it.
c. Turn the Psalm into a song of praise to God.
d. Memorize the Psalms, or parts of Psalms that really speak to you as a prayer or a praise to have on the tip of your tongue and in your mind as situations arise.
DAY ONE, SEPTEMBER 3 - PSALMS 58-66
DAY TWO, SEPTEMBER 4 - PSALMS 67-72
DAY THREE, SEPTEMBER 5 - GALATIONS 1-6
We are going to take a break from the Psalms for a day and read the book of Galatians. This book reminds us that it is not what we do on the outside but what is on the inside that is important to God. We need to please God, not people!
Chapter 1
Find a map of the Paul's missionary journeys. Where is Galatia and on what missionary journey were these churches founded? (Hint: Galatia is a region with many cities and areas - Acts 13-14)
From whom does Paul's call come? Why is that important to state?
What is happening to the Christians in Galatia?
How have you seen that happen in the world today?
Who is Paul trying to please?
How is that an example for us?
What happens when we try to please people?
Why is it important that Paul stresses that he studied for three years with God has his teacher, not people?
In what way has God, through the Holy Spirit, taught you as you have read the Bible?
Chapter 2
What were the false teachers telling the gentiles they had to do in order to be a Christian?
Is Paul saying that all traditional observance is wrong?
Challenge: What is the truth of the Good News? (Hint: 2:16-21)
How are you living out the Good News in your life?
Chapter 3
What foolishness were the Galatians turning to?
How have you tried to use good works and legalism to make you feel better and closer to God?
How is that like turning your back on the Holy Spirit?
Who are the real children of God (verse7)?
Was the OT message about faith in God the same as the NT message? Why or Why not?
How is the Holy Spirit working in you?
What promise of God is irrevocable?
What is the purpose of the law?
How have you seen the law show us our guilt, be our guide, and also protect us?
Why can we claim the promises of God?
Chapter 4
What are the benefits of being God's child?
What are the gentiles reverting back to?
Why does that make Paul afraid?
Have you ever felt afraid for someone who didn't completely grasp what God's word says?
What do Hagar and Sarah and their children represent?
Which child are you living like?
Chapter 5
Using this passage, how would you define freedom?
Using this passage, how would you define grace?
What is really important?
What can one person do to a group of people who are easily swayed?
How are protecting yourself from wrong influences?
What does a life look like that follows the sinful nature?
What does a life look like where the Holy Spirit is in control?
What does you life look like?
Chapter 6
How much responsibility do we have to help others?
What is our responsibility for our own life?
What encouragement is there in this chapter for someone who is tired of doing God's work?
According to verse 15, what is the one thing that counts now?
What did you learn new after reading the book of Galatians?
DAY FOUR, SEPTEMBER 6 - PSALMS 73-77
DAY FIVE, SEPTEMBER 7 - PSALM 78-83
DAY SIX, SEPTEMBER 8 - PSALM 84-91
DAY SEVEN, SEPTEMBER 9 - PSALM 92-102
Back to top| DAY ONE | Sep-3 | I JOHN 4 |
| DAY TWO | Sep-4 | I JOHN 5 |
| DAY THREE | Sep-5 | II JOHN 1 |
| DAY FOUR | Sep-6 | III JOHN 1 |
| DAY FIVE | Sep-7 | JUDE 1 |
| DAY SIX | Sep-8 | REVELATION 1 |
| DAY SEVEN | Sep-9 | REVELATION 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.