Dear Bible Readers,

We will finish up Hebrews this week and read two other books in the OT.

The final readings in the OT are the Minor Prophets. They are not minor in their content, only in their length. That is why they are named "Minor." It is not the easiest part of the Bible to read. The fullness of the sin of Israel is getting so great and the pending judgment near. Therefore, the reading almost gets sickening. I think that is how God must have felt about the sins of his chosen people too. Remember that these prophets coincide with the times of the kings that we read about in I & II Kings. We are getting more insight into what life was really like during the times of the kings and the exile.

Hosea is a book that shows us how devastating our sin is to our relationship with God. God likens his relationship with Israel to a husband whose wife lives like a prostitute. It really brings to light how hurtful sin is to God. Sin is turning from God just like an adulterous wife turns from her husband. It also shows in a graphic way how that lifestyle destroys the very person who is trying to live out from under the protection of God. Sin can destroy a person!

We will finish the week off with Joel. This is a short book that talks about the Day of the Lord and judgment. We will also see the promise of the Holy Spirit in that book.

I hope this week's reading really challenges you to think deeper about your relationship with God. WEEK 48 OF THE WB READING:

DAY ONE, NOVEMBER 26 - HEBREWS 3-4
Chapter 3
Why is Jesus greater than Moses?
According to verse 4, who is the writer of Hebrews claiming Jesus is?
How do we know if we are part of God's household?
What is the warning for us in this chapter?
What did Moses and the people do because if their disobedience?
If we follow Jesus, do we think disobedience will be treated any less harshly?
Chapter 4
Who can enter God's rest?
How have you felt God's rest in your life?
What is the description of the word of God here?
How does it expose us?
Who is our high priest and what benefit does that give us?
How have you been able to have confidence before God even though you are sinful?

DAY TWO, NOVEMBER 27 - HEBREWS 5-7
Chapter 5
What is the role of a high priest and how does one become one?
How is Jesus our high priest?
What does that mean for you personally?
How did Jesus learn obedience?
What new insight does that give you into suffering today?
What rebuke does the writer give to the listener in verses 11-14?
In what ways are you still on spiritual milk?
In what ways can you grow up now?
Chapter 6
Is the writer saying that the basics are not important? Why or why not?
What is the writer's caution really against?
What is the hope, encouragement, and challenge found in verses 9-12?
How can people become dull and indifferent (lazy) spiritually?
What is the confidence that anchors our souls?
How does Jesus as the High Priest help us with issues of this chapter?
Chapter 7
How does Jesus resemble Melchizedek in name, character, and position?
How is Melchizedek greater than Abraham, Moses, and the Levis?
How is Jesus better than Melchizedek?
How does having Jesus as your High Priest affect you personally?

DAY THREE, NOVEMBER 28 - HEBREWS 8-10
Chapter 8
Describe the place were Jesus ministers as High Priest compared to where priests minister on earth?
How is the New Covenant different from the Old Covenant?
What is the OT passage found that is quoted in this chapter? HINT: look at the foot-notes usually found at the bottom of the page, cross references often found in the margin or center of the page, or chain reference found in the back of your Bible if you have any of those tools.
Chapter 9
What does the old form and rituals of worship illustrate (HINT: verse 9)?
How do people still try to find cleansing by doing the right "ceremony?"
What does blood represent (Christ's blood specifically)?
How is the New Covenant mediated by Jesus, and why is it better?
Describe how God is our mediator, sacrifice, advocate, and redeemer. What does that mean for you personally?
Chapter 10
How did a repeated sacrifice make the people feel?
How do you feel knowing that your sins have been taken care of once and for all times?
How do we become holy?
Was the New Covenant known about in the OT? Why or why not?
How do you feel knowing that when you accept Jesus sacrifice for you, God does not remember your sins?
How do we respond to the knowledge that our sins are forgiven?
How does the Holy Spirit respond to someone who minimizes the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf?
How do new Christians act and how are we supposed to imitate that same enthusiasm?
Does becoming a Christian mean our life will be easy cause we trust in God? Why or why not?

DAY FOUR, NOVEMBER 29 - HEBREWS 11-13
Chapter 11
How would you describe faith?
What do you learn about faith from reading this chapter?
What is the connection between faith, righteousness, obedience, confidence, hope, and growth?
What person of faith really stands out to you and why?
How have you experienced God's approval?
Did most of the people mentioned in this chapter see the final promise during their lifetime?
What can you learn from this chapter?
Chapter 12
How does the analogy of the race help you understand how to live this life?
Where must our eyes be focused?
What should our attitude toward discipline be? Why?
What are some of the additional instruction given to the believer at the end of this chapter?
How is it better to come to Zion now then at Mt Sinai?
According to verse 28, how should we worship God?
Chapter 13
What additional words of encouragement and instruction are recorded in this chapter?
Which one is particularly meaningful to you?
How has this book affected your understanding of Jesus and what it means to live in obedience to him?

DAY FIVE, NOVEMBER 30 - HOSEA 1-6
Chapter 1
What kind of wife is Gomer?
How is that like Israel and Judah?
What is the name of the first son and what does it mean?
What is the name of the next child and what does it mean?
What is the name of the third child and what does it mean?
Chapter 2
This chapter shows the parallel of Israel to God and Gomer to Hosea.
What does Israel do that affects her relationship with God?
What was she going to do in verse 7?
What is her attitude toward her husband?
How does her husband respond?
Is he justified in his response?
Does the woman respond to her husband in love?
What is the husband's next tactic in verse 14 and following?
Is the woman deserving of any of the love and affection given to her by her husband?
In what way have you acted like Gomer/Israel toward God?
How has God loved you anyway?
Chapter 3
This chapter is God's instruction to Hosea again.
What does Hosea have to do to get his wife back?
How were you bought back from slavery and made whole and free?
What is Gomer to do before becoming the full wife of Hosea again?
How do you handle times of testing - do you turn to another god or wait for a full relationship with God?
Chapter 4
This chapter is about the relationship between God and Israel.
What is the three-part charge against Israel in verse one?
Have you ever lacked faithfulness, love, and knowledge of God in your relationship with Him?
According to verse 1, 6, 11, 14; what do the people lack?
How have you grown in your knowledge and understanding of God and acknowledge him as your God, or have to slipped into the ways of Israel?
Chapter 5
How are the people like prostitutes and harlots, like Gomer?
What are some of the other sins of the people?
What is God's attitude and reaction to the people?
Do you think he is acting justly? Why or why not?
Chapter 6
Did Israel think God's anger would last long against them?
Do you think they were sincere in their repentance? Why or why not?
What does God want from his people?
What does God want from you?

DAY SIX, DECEMBER 1 - HOSEA 7-14
Chapter 7
In the opening verse God says he wants to heal Israel so why isn't he?
How are the people like an oven?
What is burning in your heart - sin or a passion for God?
If Israel were a person, how would you describe her?
Chapter 8
The trumpet of judgment is sounded, what are the main sins you find in this chapter (HINT: verse 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 11)
What would modern day equivalents of these sins look like?
How susceptible are people to these same sins to day?
Chapter 9
According to verse 7 what is at hand and why?
What did God first see when he looked at Israel?
What does God see when he looks at you - delight or repulsion? REMEMBER - if you believe in Jesus, God views you with delight. Sometimes our sin can separate us for a period of time but God is repulsed with Israel because of continued, long-term, complete turning away from him. It takes a lot of "work" to get to where Israel is right now in this book.
Chapter 10
Who was Israel living for - self or God?
Do you get sick of reading about the sin of Israel and her adultery?
Do you wish they would just stop being stupid?
Are you about ready to quit reading because it is becoming so redundant?
How do you think God feels after all these hundreds of years of the same thing?
Chapters 11-13
What has Israel failed to realize about how they grew up and were protected?
How are God's sadness, mourning, compassion, and love shown in these chapters?
Does that surprise you about God after hearing the way Israel treats God?
What surprises you about how God feels about you?
Chapter 14
What is Israel being called to do?
What sins do you need to acknowledge?
How do you need to return to God's words and his ways?
What phrases show that Israel will grow and be a blessing to others again?
How do you need to grow and be a blessing to others?

DAY SEVEN, DECEMBER 2 - JOEL 1-3
Chapter 1
What does the land look like and how did it get that way?
Sometimes when we don't use the things of God for God, he takes them away. How might this be true here?
What is Joel calling for the people of Judah to do?
What do you think "The Day of the Lord" represents?
Are you prepared for the final Day of the Lord?
Chapter 2
The trumpet represents warning. What are some of the warning signs today for the coming "Day of the Lord?"
What does Joel tell the people to do?
Even in our sin, why is it safe to turn to God?
Have you been assuming on God's compassion, love, graciousness, and patience to anger?
How is Joel appealing to God's name and reputation as he deals with the people?
How does God respond to repentance?
How has God restored your wasted years due to sin?
What does God do after he restores?
How have you seen the Holy Spirit poured out in your life?
Chapter 3
What is God going to do to the nations?
Were only Judah and Israel suppose to live in obedience to God?
What does God expect from ever nation even today?
What is God for those who are his people?
How has God been your refuge and stronghold?

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.