This week you will be finishing the book of Jeremiah. It sure is an emotional book!
At the end of the week we will be jumping ahead to the NT again. We will be reading in the books of I & II Timothy. The books are great books for young people to read. Paul really encourages the younger Timothy. Paul reminds him that he has what it takes to be used by God. And Paul challenges Timothy to rise to the occasion. The books were written by Paul while he was in prison and lonely. But Paul wanted to encourage Timothy, remind him to deal with false teachings right up front, to pick good leaders for the church, to preserver in the time of persecution, and to live in a way that is worthy of being a Christian.
The books of I & II Timothy would also be good to read with a younger Christian who really wants to grow in Christ and be used by him. Now might be a good time to think about how you can mentor, encourage, and work with another person to help him/her to grow up in Christ. We are almost finished reading through the whole Bible. Perhaps next year you would like to do it with a new or less mature Christian and help him/her discover God's truths. Begin praying about how God wants to use you to help someone else next year.
Enjoy you reading this week.
THE WB READING FOR WEEK 44:DAY ONE, OCTOBER 29 - JEREMIAH 32-35
Chapter 32
What did God tell Jeremiah to do?
What message of hope did this action carry with it?
What does Jeremiah say in his prayer that shows he believes that God is a God of miracles and everlasting love?
How is God your God of miracles and everlasting love?
Is there something that seems outside the realm of possibility in your life right now but you are praying God will make happen in the future?
Reread verses 38-42, what words of comfort and hope do you find in these words?
How do these words speak to you?
Chapter 33
According to verse 3, what do we need to do if we want to know what God is doing?
Have you asked God recently what he is doing and how you can work along with him?
According to verse 9, how will people respond to God?
How have you responded to God in one of those ways?
According to verse 14, God always keeps his promises; however, he might delay them due to sin and a desire to have people grow first.
How have you seen God keep his promises in your life?
When did you have to wait for a promise due to your sin or need to grow first?
How does it make you feel knowing that God doesn't abandon his people?
Chapter 34
How do you see God's love and mercy for King Zedekiah even as judgment is coming?
How have you felt God's loving but firm hand on you when you have needed discipline?
How do you see God's desire for redemption and salvation as he deals with the issue of slavery?
How have you felt freedom in God in your life?
Chapter 35
What does God tell Jeremiah to do with the Recabites?
What does this show about them?
How does God honor them?
How have you tried to live in obedience like the Recabites?
DAY TWO, OCTOBER 30 - JEREMIAH 36-39
Chapter 36
What is God's desire for the people by having Jeremiah write down all that God said?
How do the officials respond to the written word?
How does God's written word sometimes convict you and work in your heart?
What does Jehoiakim do with the written word?
How have you seen others reject God's words?
How does God protect Baruch and Jeremiah?
How does God still allow some things to be visible and some not in order that his purposes be accomplished?
Chapter 37
What happens to Jeremiah?
How do some people handle God's truth when they don't want to hear what it says?
How does Zedekiah treat Jeremiah?
Looking back on chapter 34:1-7, why do you think God still allowed Zedekiah some dignity in the end?
How have you seen God honor even small attempts at caring for His own?
Chapter 38
What did the officials do to Jeremiah under the excuse of saving moral?
What kinds of rationalization measures have you seen people go to in order to not face the truth?
Why did the king call for Jeremiah?
How hard would it be if you were a king to listen to God's instruction on this issue?
Why do you think Zedekiah wants to know what God has to say?
Chapter 39
Did Zedekiah listen to God's words given through Jeremiah?
What happens to Zedekiah?
What instruction does King Nebuchadnezzar give regarding Jeremiah?
How do you think King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon knew about Jeremiah?
What promise does God give to Ebed-melech and why?
How does God care for his own?
DAY THREE, OCTOBER 31 - JEREMIAH 40-45
Chapter 40
Where did they find Jeremiah, what options did they give him, and where did he choose to go?
Has God placed you somewhere that isn't pleasant and how can you serve him there?
Who were left in Judah after the exile?
What were their fears?
Chapter 41
Describe the kind of person Ishmael was and what he did.
What happened to Ishmael?
How safe did the people [who killed Ishmael's men] feel and why?
Have you ever felt you were in an unsafe place?
Chapters 42 and 43
Where did the people go who were living in fear?
Where do you go when you are living in fear?
Can you make the statement from verse 6 that the people made? Why or why not?
What does God tell the people to do and why?
Are you willing to follow God even when it seems illogical?
What motivates you to action - fear or obedience to God?
Do the people listen to God?
Chapter 44
What sins do the people repeatedly fall into?
What do you think the tone of God's voice and his feelings are as he says verse 7?
NOTE: The people left in Judah had the opportunity to be God's chosen remnant to rebuild the nations but instead chose to do what they wanted to do. Are you missing an opportunity that God has placed before you because you are being too selfish and self absorb to act on it?
Chapter 45
What words of encouragement are given to Baurch?
How has God encouraged you recently?
DAY FOUR, NOVEMBER 1 - JEREMIAH 46-49
NOTE: In case you are very confused and didn't remember, the book of Jeremiah is not written in chronological order.
Chapters 46-49
What is God's warning to the various nations - Egypt, Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus, etc.?
How does God show he is the one true God?
How does God brake down things that people trust in other than the one true God?
What is God's mercy to his people?
DAY FIVE, NOVEMBER 2 - JEREMIAH 50-52
Chapters 50-52
What is God's message to Babylon and Jerusalem?
What is interesting to you about what God has said?
What was interesting to you about some of the details of the last years and during the time around the exile?
Where do you still find hope?
How have you been able to hope in God through many difficult times in your life?
DAY SIX, NOVEMBER 3 - I TIMOTHY 1-6
Chapter 1
Who wrote this book and to whom?
Who is Paul speaking against and why?
How do you find people like that today?
Why is Paul thankful to God?
How does Paul see God's mercy and grace in this life?
How do you see God's mercy and grace in your life?
What specific instruction does Paul give to Timothy?
How does it also apply to you?
Chapter 2
How and what should we be praying for all the people we know?
How does this renew your desire to pray for your neighborhood and city?
What specific instructions does Paul give to women?
What are really the things that make a woman attractive?
If you are a woman - are you putting more time into inner beauty or outward beauty?
What emphasis are you putting on being a learner of God?
Chapter 3
What are the characteristics of a leader in the church?
How important is it to be a godly example in the world and in the church?
What are you doing to become the kind of person that God can use in leadership?
How seriously do you take the fact that others are looking to you to see how you live and witness for God?
NOTE: here is one of the first creeds of the Bible. Do you know what you believe and can you articulate it?
Chapter 4
What are some of the false practices that will become more evident as the end gets closer?
How do you see many of those things happening today?
What are some of the benefits of "spiritual fitness?"
What are some ways we can "exercise" spiritually?
How diligent are you at "working out" for God?
What encouragement is there here for young people?
Chapter 5
What advice does Paul give here about taking care of each other?
How do you feel responsible for helping care for others?
How are we to be accountable to each other in the church?
What are some of the other common sense suggestions that Paul gives in this chapter?
Chapter 6
What information does Paul give about false teaching and quarrelsome persons?
What warning does Paul give about liking (and even trusting in) money?
What are Paul's final instructions to Timothy?
What of those instructions speak directly to you?
DAY SEVEN, NOVEMBER 4 - II TIMOTHY 1-4
Chapter1
From whom did Timothy get his early instruction?
How important is it that kids learn the truths of God lived out in the home?
How are we to use the power, love, and self-disciple that come from the Holy Spirit?
What words of encouragement are found here on the importance of being faithful to what we learned?
Chapter 2
According to verse 2, how are we to mentor others around us?
How is a Christian like a soldier?
What are some things that help one become a useful instrument to God?
What type of a teacher and servant must a Christian be?
What are some of the teachings in this chapter that really speak to you?
Chapter 3
What will the last days be like?
What warning is there for all of us?
What charge do you find in this chapter to remain faithful to God's truth?
Where do we find the truth?
What is the Bible used for?
How do we become equipped for the work God called us to do?
Chapter 4
How important is it to preach the word of God always? Why?
What can Paul say about the way he served God?
Can the same thing be said about you?
| DAY ONE | Oct-29 | MARK 1 OR PSALM 68&69 |
| DAY TWO | Oct-30 | MARK 2 OR PSALM 70,71&72 |
| DAY THREE | Oct-31 | MARK 3 OR PSALM 73&74 |
| DAY FOUR | Nov-1 | MARK 4 OR PSALM 75,76&77 |
| DAY FIVE | Nov-2 | MARK 5 OR PSALM 78&79 |
| DAY SIX | Nov-3 | MARK 6 OR PSALM 80,81&82 |
| DAY SEVEN | Nov-4 | MARK 7 OR PSALM 83,84&85 |
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.