Posts with the category “study-questions”

Read the text of Psalm 40.Bonus: Listen to the old "U2" song 40, this Psalm put to music. Why do you think the refrain is made up of the line, "How long to sing this song?"1.   What happened to the Psalmist when he waited upon God?Vs. 1:Vs. 2:Vs. 3:Do you ever treat God's delays in help or answering as His denial of help or request? How does this Psalm help you address that?  What does this Psalm ...  Read More

Read Luke 15:11-32What do you observe in 15:25 that describes the immediate context of the older brother with the rest of the characters in the parable?Can you find common ground with the older brother's posture?Can you think of a particular time you were like the older brother? Why does that memory stay with you? Why did you feel/respond that way?"Last week we saw that the grace of God is excessi...  Read More

Read Luke 15:11-24 and pay particular attention to the father's responses in the story.How does it strike you that the father here gives the son his request for an early inheritance?Why would a good father give his child what he asks for even when the father knows the consequences that will follow? Bring Galatians 6:7-8 and 2 Peter 3:9 into your discussion/consideration of this question.What does ...  Read More

Read Luke 15:11-20aAs you read the parable of the prodigal son (particularly this section of the parable - and the story of the youngest son), how does it compare and contrast to the two earlier parables in Luke 15?What adjectives would you use to describe the son’s demand of the father in verses 11 and 12?  Why did you choose the word(s) you did?Dale often quotes this - Sin will take you further ...  Read More

Read: Luke 15:1-10The parable of the lost coin makes a similar point as that of the lost sheep.  Do you see any particular or different emphasis that Jesus is making with each parable?What do you learn about the character of God and the nature of man?How does Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 3:8-9 help you interpret these parables?What do you see as the result of each parable-- how are they the same?How w...  Read More

Read Luke 15:1-7Using a web search or Bible commentary, what can you learn about the origins of the Pharisees?  What is their mission?  How have they evolved into a group so interested in Jesus?The question centers around the idea that association with sinners constitutes an affirmation of sin.  Do you agree?  Discuss this.How has our previous study in Ezra shaped your answer?What does the parable...  Read More

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17Why is communion so important?What did Paul warn against before and during the communion celebration?Why does unity and fellowship in the church matter so much?What was the significance of Christ instituting the Lord’s supper before he was crucified?Is there a future priority to the celebration of communion?...  Read More

Read Ezra 10 and Malachi 2The offense of Ezra 10 revolved around the taking of idol-worshipping wives for the men of Israel who had returned from exile and resettled. This also included giving these women to the sons born during and after this return.Shockingly, what do you learn from Malachi 2:11-16 about the way these women were often obtained?What is the difference between confession and repent...  Read More

Read Ezra 9:1-15What are your initial observations about Ezra's prayer of confession in 9:5-15?How would you divide this prayer in terms of how it moves?Does Ezra ask God for anything?  What does the answer to that say to you?Considering he didn’t participate in this particular sin, why did he keep referring to "we" and "us?"  In what ways did Ezra recount the grace of God given to Israel?What do ...  Read More

Read Ezra 8:21-36Using a favorite resource, how many miles do these exiles travel on their return to Jerusalem? How long does it take this particular wave of returnees?What examples/actions of faithfulness and obedience do you observe in the people here?Contrast the examples of Ezra in 8:22 and Nehemiah in Nehemiah 2:9. What do you make of this?Why do you think fasting goes with prayer? What is yo...  Read More

Read Ezra 8:1-20Ezra 8 is a macro view of the preparation involved with the return of exiles in the second wave. In chapter 7 we had a micro view of the event. We have to keep this in mind since we normally look for a chronological sequencing of events. So think of chapter 7 as zooming in and chapter 8 as moving out in scope.1. Compare the list of names in the second wave (8:1-14) with the names m...  Read More

Read Ezra 7:1-28From chapter 7 to the end of the book Ezra records the second of three returns to Jerusalem. This was 60 years after the first return under Zerubbabel's leadership to rebuild the temple of God.  Most of the people of Judah were still scattered throughout the entire empire/region. Some, like Esther, were still in Babylon. Ezra's purpose is described to us in 7:10.1. Based on Ezra's ...  Read More

Read Matthew 28:18-20 Why is baptism so important? How can we know that baptism is a command?In what way is baptism a comfort to the person being baptized?What does it mean that baptism is a cue to the church?Have you put the same level of importance on baptism that the Scripture does? Why or why not?...  Read More

Read: Ezra 4:1-24; 2 Kings 17:32-34 and Philippians 1:28-30How does the deception of the adversaries in Ezra 4 relate to modern-day situations where people or circumstances might not be what they seem?How does 2 Kings 17:32-34 help you understand what is behind the tension here?What can we learn from the response of the Jews when their adversaries offered to help them in their task?How does the st...  Read More

Read Ezra 3:1-13The focus of the returning exiles was the massive project of rebuilding the LORD's temple.Why would think that the returning party would rebuild the altar of the temple first?Why would the Festival of Shelters feel particularly appropriate in light of their circumstances? How would this activity likely energize them?Contrast Ezra 3:1-6 with Hebrews 10:1-14 For the Christian, what f...  Read More

Read Jeremiah 29:4-14; Ezra 1:1-6; 2:64-70From the prophecy in Jeremiah 29 to the fulfillment in Ezra, what do you learn about the power and character of God in Ezra 1:1-6 and 2:64-70?How does Proverbs 21:1 correlate to God's work in Ezra 1?How does this help you pray through an election year as we have in 2024?How does this truth help you "keep your head" in an election year like 2024?Old Testame...  Read More

Consummation is not a common word used in everyday language. Consult a dictionary definition of the term and discuss why you think it is used to describe the closing events of human history? Take a few moments before you read these passages to discuss what heaven means to you? What themes rise to the top?Read Revelation 21:1-5 and 22:1-6We often don't think of our experience of heaven being on the...  Read More

Read: Isaiah 53:1-6 and Colossians 1:15-20Using a study bible or commentary, how many years before the arrival of Christ did Isaiah write these words about "the servant" of the LORD.According to Colossians 1:15-20, Jesus was God's "agent" in Creation and Salvation. Was Jesus merely an "agent?"If someone asked you, "Where can I go to see God?" How would you answer them and why? How does John 14:6-9...  Read More

Because of Sin's ______________, we see increasing ________, not progressive _____________. (Genesis 6:1-5)  God's patience with sin is ________ but not _____________. (Genesis 6:3, 6-7)2 Peter 3:8-98 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some peo...  Read More

Read Genesis 6:1-9:17; Matthew 24:37-39; 2 Peter 2:5Last week we addressed the issue of these earliest characters being historical figures. What do the Matthew 24 and 2 Peter 2 passages help us believe?What does Genesis 6:3 say about what is coming in the verses that follow?  What does it say about God's character?What does Genesis 6:5 tell us about humanity's capacity for evil?List some things yo...  Read More

Read Genesis 31. The temptation narrative is very insightful and timeless. Satan uses the same themes in differing variations even today.In his conversation with Eve, Satan offers a character as well as an allure to his presentation.In verses 1-5, what is he trying to convince Eve of concerning the character of God?In verse 6 we see three aspects of the allure, what are they?2. When Adam and Eve s...  Read More

Read Genesis 1-2“If God is omnipotent and omniscient, why didn’t hestart the universe out in the first place so it would comeout the way he wants? Why is he constantly repairing andcomplaining? No, there’s one thing the Bible makes clear:The biblical God is a sloppy manufacturer. He’s not good atdesign, he’s not good at execution. He’d be out of businessif there was any competition” (Carl Sagan, C...  Read More

Read Philippians 3:21-231. Why is it important to greet one another? What makes a good greeting? Give examples of how certain greetings (or lack thereof) have impacted you positively/negatively.2. What is the significance of those in Caesar's household giving their greetings? How does this example give us encouragement? (Hint: the gospel reach is as far externally as it is internally)3. What is ou...  Read More

Read Philippians 4:10-20In our last lesson, we looked at the imperative force (commands) of the text. In our reading today, there is no imperative force. Paul isn't commanding us to do anything, but there are examples to follow. Can you find 2 examples to follow from Paul? Can you find 2 examples to follow from the Philippians?According to 4:17, Paul is trying not to sound ungrateful for the gift....  Read More

Read Philippians 4:1-9From verses 1-9, how many commands (imperatives) do you count?The command in 4:1, "stay true to the Lord" is a hinge command that connects the previous teaching on dealing with external opponents (3:2-21) to the teaching that follows on dealing with internal conflict (4:2-9).   How do these sections link to "stay true to the Lord?"What does the command involve in 4:8?What doe...  Read More

In Philippians, Paul demonstrates for us the essence of his reasoning. His logic flows like this: "On the basis of this........Do this..."Return to a reading of Philippians 2:1-11 then read 4:1-3.How do you experience the essence of Paul's reasoning from this particular comparison How does 4:2 connect us with 2:5?How is the "nearness" of the Lord, or the "Lord's return" reinforce what Paul has sta...  Read More

Read: Philippians 3:12-4:11. From a pastoral perspective, why do you think it was important to Paul to elaborate on what he explains in 3:12-14?2. Why might Paul consider it a mark of maturity to recognize your own imperfection?3. What is one way Paul describes those who are enemies of the cross? How is that contrasted with believers in this passage?4. Some people accuse Christians of being so “he...  Read More

Read Philippians 3:1-11 and Romans 3:19-22In 3:1, Paul talks about the necessity of repetition of instruction in matters of faith and practice. Why is this so important?Since our faith is objective, based on a relationship with Jesus Christ, what challenges to the relationship do you face in keeping it fresh but also familiar? Perhaps draw from the experience of other relationships you have where ...  Read More

Read: Philippians 2:1-18Notice how verses 12-18 flow from what Paul has taught us from Christ's example in the previous verses. We can call the outcome Paul is identifying here "spiritual formation" (Galatians 4:19).According to v 12, why is it important to pursue this sort of formation in partnership with others as much as we can. What might happen in Paul's absence from the Philippians?Using the...  Read More

Read: Philippians 2:1-18Notice how verses 12-18 flow from what Paul has taught us from Christ's example in the previous verses. We can call the outcome Paul is identifying here "spiritual formation" (Galatians 4:19).According to v 12, why is it important to pursue this sort of formation in partnership with others as much as we can. What might happen in Paul's absence from the Philippians?Using the...  Read More

Read: Philippians 2:1-11 and Isaiah 45:18-251. Last week Paul reminded us that our citizenship is in heaven. Our Lord and loyalties lie with that location and economy.  What does it say to you about the love of God for Jesus to leave his position there to reside with us, and rescue us??2. Why would we need to be told to be humble and not selfish? What is the goal of self-exaltation?  What typicall...  Read More

Read Philippians 1:27-301. What should be our top consideration when it comes to the proclamation of the gospel? (v27).2. What is the difference between living a life worthy of the gospel and living a life to merit the gospel? (v27)3. How does living a life worthy of the gospel impact others in the church, the lost, and even yourself? How have you seen this play out? (v27-30)4. How could suffering...  Read More

Read: Philippians 1:12-26Have you ever been through a bad experience where you were confident that God was working through the mess of it? Our normal response is to question God as to why we are in the mess and appeal to Him for deliverance immediately. What are your thoughts about this?Read Genesis 50:16-20  Knowing this story well, how might Paul understand his own current situation with that of...  Read More

Read:  Acts 16: 6-40 and Philippians 1:1-2In the greeting that begins this letter, Paul wastes no time in showing us where the source of our joy in life originates-- in grace and peace.What is it about grace and peace that is so important to joy? (hint: consult a Bible dictionary for the biblical understanding of grace and peace)What is the difference between happiness and joy?According to Philipp...  Read More

In Genesis 22:1-8, God tested Abraham's faith by commanding that he sacrifice his son, Isaac. With several opportunities for his faith to collapse, Abraham obeyed even when Isaac recognized there was no sacrifice for the fire.How do you process thoughts and emotions around these verses?Why would God use Abraham in a demonstration to sacrifice he beloved son and heirAccording to verse 8, what did A...  Read More

Read Genesis 181. What does Abraham's hospitality example tell you about your attitude toward serving others?  (cross-reference with Titus 1:8; Hebrews 13:1-2)2. Compare Sarah's attitude here with Hebrews 11:11. What does this say to you about how faith in God grows?  3. What are you desiring in your life that seems too impossible even for God? (Go back and look at how God reveals Himself to Abrah...  Read More

Read Genesis 16 and 17.Contrast the natures of these chapters. Were you shocked by how Abraham and Sarah acted? How do you feel for Hagar?Read Hebrews 11:8-13.Are you able to read this New Testament passage with a fuller understanding and appreciation for the lives of our faith heroes? Does this give you hope for your own family?Abraham and Sarah wait for over 20 years to have a son of their own. ...  Read More

Read: Genesis 15:1-211. Take some time and consider the ceremonial opportunities we engage. Some are once in a lifetime (weddings) and others are more regular (the Lord's Supper).  Why are ceremonies important to us?    Have you grown tired of some ceremonial activities?  2. What questions does this covenant ceremony address for Abram?3. What two particular promises is God addressing in the covena...  Read More