LESSON # 66 (Week ending 04/24/11)

Deuteronomy 18-34

Chapt. 18:1-26:19 – More Requirements

Ø Who was to care for the Priests and Levites? Application for us?

Ø There are “detestable practices” that heathens practice. What are some of these and why is God so opposed to them? Is God still against these practices and is there any application for us today?

Ø Why was there a need for cities of refuge and multiple witnesses? Do you see any correlations with our laws today?

Ø Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the inhabitants of the land? How can we apply that to the “inhabitants” in our land?

Ø Is there a contradiction between destroying everyone living and taking a captive woman as your wife? Explain.

Ø Notice the various requirements listed in 21:1 thru 25:19. Is there a general theme that runs through these requirements? What do these God given requirements teach us about the nature of God?

Chapt. 27:1-30-20 – Mount Ebal; Blessings and Cursings

Ø What was the significance of Mt. Ebal? Application for us?

Ø Notice the exchange between the people facing each other on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. The curses are a result of actions against whom? Jesus put this passage in the positive in Matthew 22:37-40!

Ø What happened when the Israelites were obedient? Application?

Ø What happened when the Israelites were disobedient? Application?

Ø What, if anything, does this section teach about God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility?

Ø Since blessings follow obedience, what message does this send to the unbelievers who may witness the interaction? Application?

Ø Was what God required of the Israelites to difficult or beyond their ability to obey? Application?

Chapt. 31:1-34:12 – Transition and Farewell

Ø Why was Joshua chosen to succeed Moses and how was he trained for the position?

Ø How did Moses handle the transition? Application?

Ø What did Moses do with the people before he died?

Ø Spend some time reading and meditating on Moses’ Song. How does it speak to you?

Ø What adjectives are used to describe Moses in verses 34:5-12? Is that a legacy to which we all ought to aspire?

LESSON #65 (Week ending 04/17/11)

Deuteronomy 1-17

NAME: The Hebrew title for the book, which literally means “these are the words” or “words,” was taken from the opening line of 1:1. Later, the translators of the Greek Septuagint descriptively entitled the book “second law,” from 17:18, which says, “copy these laws.” It was then rendered in the Latin Vulgate as Deuteronomium and in the English versions as Deuteronomy. The English title, which comes from the Latin title meaning, “second law,” reflects an incorrect understanding of the words in 17:18. They are best translated “copy of the law,” rather than “second law,” which suggests that the book of Deuteronomy contains something new and distinct from the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai. (Tyndale Bible Dictionary)

Purpose. Moses was preaching the Law to Israel to impress God’s Word on their hearts. His goal was to get the people to renew the covenant made at Sinai, that is, to make a fresh commitment to the Lord. Only by unreservedly committing themselves to the Lord could the people hope to enter the Promised Land, conquer its inhabitants, and then live in prosperity and peace. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Themes:

Ø The main focus in Deuteronomy is the heart relationship between God and his people, just as between shepherd and sheep, father and son. . . As the great Shepherd of the sheep, the Lord leads, protects, and provides for his people. As a Father, he cares for his children and instructs them in the way in which they should walk. In all these relationships, he not only corrects and disciplines his wayward people, but also heals and restores the contrite in heart.

Ø “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts” (6:4–6).

Ø “And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commandments and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (10:12–13).

Ø The people of Israel are especially chosen by God to be his people, yet not because of any greatness in themselves, but only because of the love of God. Deuteronomy reveals that left to themselves, the people of God will tend toward rebellion and apostasy.

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Chapt. 1 -- Review

Ø Why did God test Israel in the wilderness? Application for us?

Ø Why did Moses appoint leaders from each tribe?

Ø Why did the people rebel against the Lord?

Ø Why was Moses not allowed into the Promised Land?

Chapt. 2:1-3:29 – Traveling from Kadesh to the Plains of Moab

Ø Did the Hebrews ever lack anything during the 40 years of wandering? Application?

Ø What had to happen before the Israelites could cross over the Jordan to begin the conquest of the Promised Land?

Ø Why was it necessary for the complete destruction of men, women, and children? Application?

Ø Why did some of the Israelites desire to stay on the trans-Jordan? Was this in God’s plan?

(over)

Chapt. 4:1-5:33 – Remember the Commands

Ø Why did Moses have to reiterate the laws and commands that were given earlier? Application?

Ø Why was there such an emphasis on false idols?

Ø Is it important for us today to review and learn from biblical history and teach it to our children? Why or why not?

Chapt. 6:1-8:20 – Obedience

Ø Why is it imperative on the Israelites to hear and obey? Application?

Ø What was the first and foremost command given to the Israelites? Has anything changed for us?

Ø Do we, as the Israelites did, have a responsibility to teach our children about the Lord?

Ø Why was Israel given the Land? Application?

Chapt. 9:1-10:22 – Self-Centeredness

Ø Is the “me” generation that permeates our society anything new?

Ø Why was Moses so careful to recount the Golden Calf sin?

Ø What did the Lord require of the Israelites? Application?

Chapt. 11 – Love and Obey

Ø Why did Moses stress the need for obedience at this point in time?

Ø Is the recounting of history important to successive generations? Why or why not?

Ø Notice the conditional statement in verses 22-25. Is there any application for us in this passage?

Chapt. 12:1-17:20 – Requirements

Ø In a covenant relationship God requires certain things. Why was the place and method of worship so important? Application for us?

Ø Why is God a jealous God? Application for us?

Ø Why were the “clean and unclean” food laws given? Were these laws ever rescinded? If so, where?

Ø What is the significance of Jubilee and the freeing of servants? How does Jesus’ death on the cross relate to these commands?

Ø What did the Passover celebrate? How does that apply to us?

Ø What is the danger of choosing a king like the other nations have? Application for us?

LESSON# 64 (Week ending 04/10/11)

MARK 10-16

10:1-52: More Teachings of Jesus

Ø Who wrote the OT “law” concerning divorce? What is God’s position on divorce? Has that position changed for the church today?

Ø Why did the disciples react like they did to the little children? Was Jesus teaching that the Kingdom of God belongs to little children?

Ø Why did Jesus respond the way He did when the rich man called Him “good teacher”? What emotion did Jesus show toward the rich man? Did the rich man respond to Jesus when He reached out to him? Why or why not/

Ø What did Jesus mean by using the analogy of the “eye of the needle”? How did the disciples respond to this analogy? How did Jesus respond to them?

11:1-11: The Triumphal Entry

Ø What is the significance of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey?

Ø Was the Triumphal Entry what the people of Jerusalem were expecting from their Messiah? Application for us?

Ø Where did Jesus go when He entered Jerusalem? Is there any significance to this action?

11:12-19: Clearing the Temple

Ø What is the significance of the fig tree being cursed?

Ø Why did Jesus react the way He did with those buying and selling within the temple walls? Did this take place in the Holy Place or the Holy of Holies?

Ø Why did the religious leaders conspire against Jesus?

11:20-26: The Fig Tree

Ø What was the lesson for the disciples taught by the fig tree?

Ø What does this passage teach us about prayer?

Ø Does this passage teach that God will give us whatever we want, when we want it? Explain.

11:27-33: Authority Questioned

Ø Why did the religious want to know by whose authority Jesus was ministering? Application for us?

Ø What was significant about the way Jesus responded to the question?

Ø Why did Jesus refuse to tell the leaders from whom He received His authority?

12:1-44: More Teachings

Ø To whom was the parable of the vineyard directed? What does it teach? Who do the characters in the parable represent?

Ø What was Jesus’ teaching about paying tribute to Caesar?

Ø When questioned by the Sadducees was Jesus responding to marriage or to resurrection?

Ø What, according to Jesus, is the greatest commandment? What is the second greatest commandment? How are we doing on those two?

Ø What was the significance to those listening to Jesus when He spoke of David referring to the Christ as Lord?

Ø What was Jesus’ warning about religious leaders? Application for us?

Ø What is the significance of the widow’s small offering? What does this teach us about sacrificial giving?

13:1-37: Signs

Ø To whom did Jesus direct His remarks about the end times?

Ø Have all the things Jesus predicted come to pass? What does this teach us?

Ø To what does Jesus refer when He speaks of the “abomination of desolation”?

Ø Has the Son of Man come in the clouds with great glory?

Ø When Jesus talks about “this generation” not passing away until all He predicted has taken place, what does He mean?

Ø Why was it important for those listening to Jesus to keep watch? Application for us?

14:1-15:47: His Last Days

Ø What was the purpose of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus?

Ø Why did Judas decide at this time to betray Jesus?

Ø What was the response of the disciples when Jesus indicated that one of them would betray Him? How come they could not figure out the one to whom Jesus referred?

Ø When Jesus celebrated that first communion with His disciples, notice that it was He Himself who broke the bread representing His body and it was He himself who offered the cup. What does this teach us about His death?

Ø What emotions did Jesus demonstrate while praying at Gethsemane? What does that teach us about His humanity? What does it teach us about His commitment to his Father?

Ø How did the disciples handle Jesus’ request for them to pray for Him? Application for us?

Ø Why were those against Jesus finally able to arrest Him?

Ø Was the trial of Jesus legal? How did Jesus respond to the charges against Him? How did the religious leaders respond to His answer to their question? What did they understand Him to be saying?

Ø Why did Peter disown Jesus? Application for us?

Ø Did Pilate find Jesus guilty? Why did he give in to the crowd?

Ø Read Isaiah 53 to see the significance of the mockery Jesus withstood at the hands of the soldiers. Why couldn’t Jesus carry His own cross?

Ø Why was there darkness for three hours? Had the reason for the darkness ever happened before or since?

Ø What is the significance of the curtain of the temple being torn in two?

Ø Why did Jesus die in a relatively short time period? Was His death caused from the beatings and wounds?

16:1-20: Victory!

Ø What is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus?

Ø Why do we meet to worship on Sunday rather than on the Sabbath (Saturday)?

Ø What is the “good news” of the Easter story? PTL!

Ø 16:9-20 may have been added to Mark at a later date.