Dear Bible Readers,

We are going to be in a lot of places this week: Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, all in the NT, and Daniel in the OT.

Titus was left on the Island of Crete after one of the missionary journeys. This book is Paul's instruction to Titus on how to help organize the church, keep it free from false teachings, and help it grow in faith and right living. It is an easy read and a good reminder that we are mentors and role models to others. REMEMBER: You should be praying about how God wants you to fulfill that role in someone else's life next year.

Philemon is only one chapter long. It is Paul's plea to Philemon to welcome back in love a run away slave, Onesimus, who is now a Christian. Our relationship with God affects all our other relationships too.

Daniel is an interesting book, especially to history buffs. The book if filled with prophecy. The beginning of the book is how Daniel was able to be a witness to the kings and authorities because he consistently followed God. God's name was continually lifted up and glorified through the life of Daniel. His is a good example to follow. God truly is the sovereign God over all other gods and peoples. The end of the book is a series of visions. The prophecies tell what will happen to the then future kingdoms of Babylonian, Medo-Perian, Greek, and Roman. You might want to read this book with a history book on your lap too.

We will just begin the book of Hebrews at the end of the week. This book is a deep book. It was probably written to Jewish Christians as it is filled with references to Jewish ceremonies and OT scripture. After reading Hebrews there is no questions that Jesus was more that just a good man or prophet - he was Supreme, Lord, Savior, Higher than the high priests, Creator, Higher than the angels, and Mediator of the New Covenant. Jesus is God.

Have fun reading this week!

DAY ONE, NOVEMBER 19 - TITUS 1-3
Chapter 1
Who wrote this letter and to whom is it written and why?
What does the truth of God's word bring those who are God's chosen?
What are the qualifications of an elder?
How are you trying to grow those characteristics in your life?
When must a person be rebuked?
Have you ever been guilty of spreading false teaching, knowingly or unknowingly?
How are you trying to live purely?
Chapter 2
What is the responsibility for those who are older or in more of a leadership role?
What are ways that they can teach those who are younger or just learning?
How seriously does Paul take leadership?
How well are you doing at being a role model and mentor to others?
Chapter 3
Describe what God did for us and why?
Did we deserve any of it?
What must our response be?
How does one live a productive life?

DAY TWO, NOVEMBER 20 - PHILEMON 1
Who is Paul writing too and how does he begin by encouraging Philemon?
Who does Paul ask Philemon to be good to and why?
Who is Onesimus, what was he, and what does his name mean?
How does our relationship change with others when they become Christians?
How have you become useful to God and others now that you are a Christian?
How would you feel if you were Philemon?

DAY THREE, NOVEMBER 21 - DANIEL 1-3
Chapter 1
What kind of people was the king looking for to serve in his court?
What kind of preparation and training did he give them?
What are the names of the four men chosen from the tribe of Judah?
What does Daniel want to do?
How do you show that you want to follow God more than be indulged by others?
Why did Daniel succeed in the king's court?
How have you found favor in God's eyes for the situation you are in?
Chapter 2
What does the king require of the astrologers and why?
Can any normal person do what the king is asking of the astrologers?
How does Daniel handle the situation?
Where do you turn in impossible situations?
When you do have success to whom does the credit go?
How does Daniel witness to the king?
How do you take every opportunity to lift up the name of God and witness for him?
What was the dream?
What did it mean?
What is the kingdom that will never be destroyed?
How does the king respond to Daniel and to God?
How do you respond when you receive a new insight from God?
Chapter 3
What does the king build and what does he expect all the people to do?
What are some of the golden statues in your life?
Who refuses to obey the king's command?
Would it have been so wrong to just pretend? Why or why not?
How do you respond when something is placed before you that demand your allegiance?
How does the king respond to those who disobey?
How do Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego show their allegiance to God?
Do they know for sure that God will save them? What if he doesn't?
What happens to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
What would you have done if you were faced with a similar situation?

DAY FOUR, NOVEMBER 22 - DANIEL 4-6
Chapter 4
How does the king give praise to God?
Do you think the king is really a follower of God at this point?
Have you known anyone like this?
What is the dream the king has about the tree?
What does the dream mean?
How does Daniel feel about the dream and why?
When does the king get his sanity back?
How does living in our sinful nature make us act insane sometimes?
How is following God like having sanity?
Chapter 5
Who is the king now?
What were the cups from the temple used for?
How have you dishonored something (this could be a person, attitude, place, worship, thing, etc.) that God has set apart as holy and for his purposes?
What happens?
Why does Daniel not insist on the gifts for interpreting for the king?
What is the message to the king and how is it fulfilled?
Chapter 6
Who is the king now?
What couldn't be found in Daniel?
Could the same thing be said of you?
What did Daniel do when he heard the law was signed?
Would you have been so brave?
How do you stand up for God even at the risk of danger to yourself?
What happened to Daniel?
Who didn't sleep that night and who probably did? What does that say about peace that comes from God?
How many kings have ruled and Daniel remains faithful to God?
How have you showed faithfulness to God through the various stages of your life?

DAY FIVE, NOVEMBER 23 - DANIEL 7-9
Chapter 7
How would you describe Daniel's vision?
What did the beasts represent?
How are kingdoms that are set up by man and not God, finite and cruel in many ways?
CHALLENGE: How does that contrast to God's kingdom?
Who do you think the Ancient of Days is? Why?
Who do you think the Son of Man was? Why? Where have you heard that title before?
What does the vision mean for the kingdom of God?
Chapter 8
How would you describe this vision?
How does it sound similar to previous visions or historical events?
Who tells Daniel the meaning of the vision?
Had any of these event happen yet or this kingdoms existed yet?
How can that give you hope that God knows your future too?
Do we need to worry if we don't understand the future?
Chapter 9
What was Daniel studying?
How well do you study God's word?
What does Daniel pray for?
On what grounds does Daniel ask God to act?
What does verse 23 say?
How do you know that as soon as you begin to pray, God works and will answer us?
HINT: Some people have tried to predict things based on the numbers in Daniel. They might or might not be literal. Seven is often used to refer to "completeness," therefore, the right amount of time for God. Don't get hung up on exact numbers here as much as the fact that God is encouraging Daniel that he is working and his will is going to be accomplished in the end.
What do you find interesting about this chapter?
After reading the first nine chapters in Daniel, what are some of the characteristics of Daniel you would like to have in your life? What can you learn from Daniel's life?

DAY SIX, NOVEMBER 24 - DANIEL 10-12
Chapters 10 and 11
Describe the man that Daniel saw.
What did Daniel do so that his requests were heard in heaven?
Can the same thing be said of you?
Why didn't the man arrive right away?
NOTE: Some think these verses give insight into spiritual warfare. What things might we learn from them?
How can just knowing God loves us give us strength?
NOTE: Some of these verses in the last three chapters of Daniel are used to defend various views of the millennium and end times. It is good to study the Bible to form your own view of the end times, but remember two other things are more important than insisting on your view point: 1) Jesus is returning and you need to be ready at all times regardless of what view of end times is correct, 2) your focus needs to be more on how you live in obedience today than how the end will come in the future.
What was the truth told to Daniel? (HINT: If you have a study Bible or a concordance the notes will help you know that happened in the course of history that coincides with this vision - if you are a history buff this is probably fascinating to you)
How do we know it is truth?
How do you know God's word is truth in your life?
Chapter 12
What do you think it means to have your name written in the book?
Is your name in the book? NOTE: If your name is there than we are assured of the final victory in the end times!
What hope can be found in this chapter for the believer?
What comfort is found here for us that still wonder exactly how the end will come?

DAY SEVEN, NOVEMBER 25 - HEBREWS 1-2
Chapter 1
How is Jesus introduced in the beginning of this book?
How is Jesus greater than the angels?
What are some of the characteristic often thought of for God the same ones given to the Son?
How does this show that Jesus is truly God?
NOTE: This chapter is a good chapter to use when talking to someone who believes Jesus is just a good person or a god, not God who receives worship.
What is the job of the angels?
How have you felt ministered to in an unexplainable way?
Chapter 2
What must we do if we do not want to drift away from the truth?
Why must we becareful not to put to much hope, emphasis, and trust in angels?
After reading this chapter, can you say that Jesus was made fully man?
Why was he made a man?
How did Jesus becoming a man help you personally?
What comfort do you receive knowing that Jesus can understand everything about 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.