Wow! This is another week of a lot of intense reading ahead. There is so much to learn from this week's reading. You will finish the book of Isaiah. The references and prophecies concerning Jesus are incredible. I hope you enjoy seeing the continuity of the OT and NT.
In the middle of the week we jump to the NT in I and II Thessalonians. The church in Thessalonians had very little outside support in the midst of persecution. He wrote mainly to encourage the church due to the persecution and to call them to godly living. There seemed to be some confusion about Christ's return and end times. Some Christians had seem to stop working because they felt the end was near and they needed to be encouraged to work and live their daily lives. Some were wondering what would happen to those who dead before Christ's return, and needed reassurance that they would be raise with Christ. Others were afraid Christ's return had come and they missed it. Paul gives them encouragement, reassurance, and signs to look for so they would live their life prepared.
The last day of the week we will go back to the OT and begin reading in the book of Jeremiah. Parts of this book may seem strange but if you think through some of the illustrations they will make sense. The book isn't really in chronological order but illustrations of what God wants to say to various people. The message of Jeremiah is that judgment is certain. Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet" because his message was sorrowful due to the coming judgment on Jerusalem in her final hour. Jeremiah was from a priestly family, he was called at a young age (probably about 21), he knew the last kings of Judah, and he was not accepted by his family or allowed to marry. This might be an easy book to read but you will learn a lot.
WEEK 42 OF THE WB:DAY ONE, OCTOBER 15 - ISAIAH 49-51
Chapter 49
NOTE: The reading of this chapter (especially the first 13 verses) might be difficult, as it seems to be talking of three servants, Isaiah, the nation of Israel, and the Messiah. See if you can see where various phrases fit one or more of these servants.
How can verse 1 refer to both Isaiah and Jesus (see Rev. 1:16 for more hints)?
According to verse 3, what is the purpose of Israel?
How is that our purpose also?
How does verse 6 show God's love to the nations, his missionary heart, and the fact he always wanted more than just the nation of Israel?
What verses or phrases seem to speak mostly about the nation of Israel?
What verses or phrases seem to speak mostly about Isaiah the prophet?
What verses or phrases seem to speak mostly about Jesus the Messiah?
What verses speak to you personally?
Chapter 50
Why has God allowed the captivity?
Do you feel as if you are being held captive because of your sins?
Who do you think verse 4-11 is talking about? Why?
What call to repentance do you find in verses 10-11?
What spoke to you from this chapter?
Chapter 51
What comfort and promise is found in turning to God and trusting him?
What are some examples from this chapter of how God does give?
What is the only thing that will last forever?
Are you living for the temporary or the permanent?
DAY TWO, OCTOBER 16 - ISAIAH 52-57
Chapter 52
What is the hope and joy for Israel?
What does it mean that the name of God will be known again?
What does it mean for you that God reigns?
How comforting is it to you to know when God goes with you he is in front of you and behind you?
How do you see the prophecy of Jesus in the final verse of this chapter?
Chapter 53
This whole chapter is a prophecy about Jesus. As you read it try to picture the times in Jesus life that are being describe here.
How do you feel knowing Jesus did this just for you?
How do you feel knowing this was prophesied in such detail hundreds of years before his birth (or yours)?
Chapter 54
NOTE: Israel (later the church in the NT time and now) is often referred to as the bride of God (of Jesus in the NT time and following).
How do you see that mediphore used here?
How does it feel to be cared for by a perfect, loving, compassionate, all-powerful husband?
Chapter 55
How many phrases or ideas that are also shared in the NT can you find in this chapter?
Who gives you rest, who is the living water, who is the bread of life, and who must you seek first?
How do you feel after reading this chapter?
Chapter 56
How is God saying that these promises are just as much for the gentile and outcast as they are for Israel?
How does that make you feel?
How is God calling all peoples of the earth to worship him?
Chapter 57
How is idolatry like adultery to God?
When does God not accept someone's good deeds (verse 12)?
How is life different for the righteous and the wicked?
DAY THREE, OCTOBER 17 - ISAIAH 58-62
Chapter 58
Why is God angry with these people?
How is what they present to the world and what they really are different?
What does God really want from them and what does that mean?
How does God honor those whose hearts are in tune with him?
Chapter 59
Why isn't God listening to the people?
Have you ever felt God wasn't listening to you?
Could it be that there is sin in your life?
According to verses 20-21, when God redeems who else will not leave?
How have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?
Chapter 60
NOTE: Again, this chapter probably has more that one fulfillment; soon and distant, literal and spiritual, and for Israel and for the church age.
What prophesies have been fulfilled?
What things do you think are yet to come?
How do you see God's desire for all nations to worship him together in this chapter?
Chapter 61
The book of Isaiah was written in a time when Judah was rejecting God. They were about to be captured and brought to exile. Isaiah was pleading with the people to change from their evil ways. He knew destruction was eminent. How do you think Isaiah felt as he wrote this chapter from what God had revealed to him?
What kind of hope and joy would this news bring him knowing what the immediate future was for Israel and Judah?
Chapter 62
According to verse 1, what is Isaiah motivated to do?
What motivates him to prayer?
Have you seen the end, the possibilities in those around you? Do you love those you meet?
Are you willing to pray with fervor for the glory and salvation of God to be real in the lives of those you meet, in your city, in your world?
What would be the results of that kind of prayer?
DAY FOUR, OCTOBER 18 - ISAIAH 63-66
Chapter 63
Again, can you see the references to salvation through Jesus?
Where do you see reference to the Holy Spirit and His work in this chapter?
How do you see the fullness of God displayed in this chapter with His love, mercy, vengeance, anger, compassion, holiness, glory, suffering...?
Chapter 64
According to verses 6-7, what is the condition and the ability of mankind on her own?
How is God like the potter?
How are we like the clay?
Chapter 65
What is said about some of the people who find God?
Did you look for God or did he find you?
What will the new heaven and new earth be like?
CHALLENGE: Where else in the Bible do you find that description?
Chapter 66
Why can God not be contained in a small space or small idea?
How big is God to you?
How is God calling to come and worship him?
How have you responded to God in worship?
DAY FIVE, OCTOBER 19 - I THESSALONIANS 1-5
Chapter 1
Who wrote this book and to whom?
Why do Paul and friends thank God for the Thessalonians Christians?
How did the Thessalonian Christians know that the gospel Paul preached was true?
What are the Thessalonians looking forward too?
How are you looking forward to Christ's return?
Chapter 2
Who is Paul trying to please?
Who are you trying to please?
How have the Thessalonians shared the same condition as other Christians of the time (verse 14)?
How have you suffered because you are a Christian?
Why hasn't Paul been back to see them again?
How have you seen opposition from Satan in your life?
Chapter 3
Why was Timothy sent to the Thessalonians?
How have you been used as a Timothy in the lives of discouraged Christians?
How has a Timothy been used in your life?
How can you use the words from verses 12-13 to pray for others?
Chapter 4
What are some of the ways Paul encourages the people to live?
What is God speaking to you about these behaviors?
What will be the results if you live this way (verse 12)?
How have others seen God in the way you live?
How will Christ's return be?
Chapter 5
When will Christ come?
Will you be ready?
How can you be ready?
What are Paul's final instructs in this letter?
What do you need to take to heart from these instructions?
DAY SIX, OCTOBER 20 - II THESSALONIANS 1-3
Chapter 1
What is life like for many of the Christians?
How does Paul encourage them in their persecution?
How do those same words encourage you?
What additional things does Paul pray for them?
Have you asked for God's power to help you live a life worthy of the call God gave you?
Chapter 2
What does Paul say the end will be like?
How would you describe the man of lawlessness? Who is he?
What/who is holding the man of lawlessness back?
What comfort do you receive from that?
What warning is there about this time of lawlessness?
What are you doing to prepare so you will not be deceived?
Chapter 3
What does Paul ask for prayers for?
Are you praying that prayer for today?
What words of warning does Paul give to those who are lazy and living off from others?
DAY SEVEN, OCTOBER 21 - JEREMIAH 1-3
Chapter 1
When were these words written?
What was Jeremiah's response to God's call?
What promises did God give Jeremiah?
How has God promised you something similar?
What two things does God show Jeremiah and what do they mean?
Chapter 2
What are God's accusations against Israel?
What two evils summarize it all (verse 13)?
How have you seen this same thing today?
How foolish do the sins and desires of Israel sound?
How foolish are the actions and desires of people today?
What do the people say in verse 35?
How do people today reject any responsibility in their actions?
Chapter 3
According to verse 1, how merciful is God's action to call his people back to him?
What warning and example did Judah reject?
Are you rejecting a warning you see in others that God wants you to learn from?
When God calls Israel and Judah back who else comes (verse17)?
| DAY ONE | Oct-15 | MATTHEW 16 OR PSALM 34&35 |
| DAY TWO | Oct-16 | MATTHEW 17 OR PSALM 36&37 |
| DAY THREE | Oct-17 | MATTHEW 18 OR PSALM 38,39&40 |
| DAY FOUR | Oct-18 | MATTHEW 19 OR PSALM 41,42&43 |
| DAY FIVE | Oct-19 | MATTHEW 20 OR PSALM 44&45 |
| DAY SIX | Oct-20 | MATTHEW 21 OR PSALM 46,47&48 |
| DAY SEVEN | Oct-21 | MATTHEW 22 OR PSALM 49&50 |
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.