LESSON # 81 (Week ending 11/27/11)

John 1 - 6

John 1:1-18:  The Birth of Christ

Ø  Why is John’s account of Christ’s birth so different than the other Gospels?

Ø  According to our text, who is the Creator?

Ø  To whom did the Word come?  How does that affect us today?

John 1:19-34:  John the Baptizer

Ø  Who did John profess to be?

Ø  What did Jesus saw about John?

Ø  Is there any difference between John’s baptism and the water baptism we do today?

Ø  How did John know that Jesus was the Messiah?  Did he know Jesus before that revelation?

John 1:35-51:  The First Disciples

Ø  What is a disciple?  Did anyone other than Jesus have disciples?

Ø  What happened to two of John’s disciples?

Ø  How did Nathanael come to know Jesus?

John 2:  Jesus’ First Public Ministries

Ø  What does the way Jesus responded to Mary tell us?  Was it a rebuke of His mother?

Ø  What is the significance of this first miracle?

Ø  Why was Jesus so upset about what was happening in the Temple?  How did His actions there set the stage for His future conflicts with the religious leaders?

John 3:1-21:  Nicodemus

Ø  What was Nicodemus’ background?  Significance?

Ø  What does Jesus mean when He uses the phrase “you must be born again”?  Was that only for Nicodemus and the first century?

Ø  According to John 3:16, for whom did Jesus come to die?  Application?

John 3:22-36:  John the Baptizers Testimony

Ø   Where was John at this time in our text?

Ø  Did John understand the limits of his ministry?  Application?

Ø  Did John understand who Jesus really was?

John 4:1-26:  The Samaritan Woman

Ø  What is the significance of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman?

Ø  How did Jesus apply the well water to the true “water”?  Significance?

Ø  Did Jesus reject the woman because of her “colored” past?  Application for us?

John 4:27-54:  Many Respond to Jesus

Ø  Why did the disciples respond negatively to Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman?

Ø  What was His response to the disciples?  Application for us?

Ø  Why did the Samaritan people believe in Jesus at this point?

Ø  How did Jesus first respond to the request for another miracle?  Application?

John 5:1-15:  Healing at the Pool

Ø  How many people did Jesus heal at the Pool of Bethesda?  Significance?

Ø  On what day of the week did Jesus heal the paralytic?  Significance?

Ø  How did the healed man respond to Jesus?  Application for us?

John 5:16-47:  Life Through the Son

Ø  What was Jesus persecuted by the Jews?  Application for us?

Ø  How did Jesus describe His relationship with the Father?  What can we learn from this about our ministries?

Ø  What did Jesus say about the religious leaders understanding of the Scriptures?  What can we learn from this?

John 6:1-15:  Feeding the Five Thousand

Ø  Why were the people following Jesus?  Is there any application for today?

Ø  What did the multiplying of the food indicate about Jesus?

Ø  After seeing the miracle did the people believe in Jesus or simply want a “free lunch”?  Application?

John 6:16-59:  Jesus Walks on the Water

Ø  What happened to the storm when Jesus entered the boat?  Significance?

Ø  What was the response of the disciples at this miracle?

Ø  What, according to Jesus, is the “work of God”?  Application for us?

Ø  How does Jesus describe Himself?  Do you believe that?

Ø  Was Jesus speaking of cannibalism when He described “eating His flesh and drinking His blood”?  To what was he referring?

John 6:60-71:  A Falling Away

Ø  Why did some of the disciples leave Jesus?  What does this teach us about “Christianity” today?

Ø  Does everyone who claims to be a “disciple” fit the description that Jesus gave?  Application?

Ø  Why did Jesus choose Judas Iscariot if He knew that Judas was the one who would betray Him?

LESSON # 80 (Week ending 11/20/11)

1 Kings 12 - 22

1 Kings 12: Israel Rebels

Ø  Why did Rehoboam reject the advice of his father’s advisors?  Application for us when seeking advice.

Ø  What was the end result of Rehoboam’s decision?

Ø  Why did Jeroboam make false idols for the people of Israel to worship?  Is there any application for us today?

1 Kings 13: The Man of God From Judah

Ø  How did God respond to Jeroboam’s false gods and false alters?  What does He think about false gods today?

Ø  What does the account of the prophet and the false prophet teach about obedience? 

Ø  Are all who claim to be prophets of God true prophets?

1 Kings 14:1-20: Prophesy Against Jeroboam

Ø  Why was the Lord’s judgment so harsh on Jeroboam?

Ø  Which party of the covenant between God and David broke that covenant?  Application?

1 Kings 14:21-15:24: Kings of Judah

Ø  When Rehoboam was king of Judah (at the same time Jeroboam was king of Israel) was he any more obedient and righteous than Jeroboam?

Ø  What were the sins of Rehoboam?

Ø  What are the “gods” we set up today in place of the true God?

1 Kings 15:25-16:34: Kings of Israel

Ø  The Kingdom is now divided and we see in these verses a list of kings that served in Israel (Northern Kingdom). 

Ø  What was the terse description of each of the kings of Israel?

Ø  Whenever a nation turns its back of God what is the trend from that point; upward or downward?  Application?

1 Kings 17:1-19:21: Elijah

Ø   Does God ever leave His people without a voice to direct them?

Ø  Notice how God protects His faithful servant Elijah.  What is the application for us?

Ø  What does the Lord’s servant Obadiah represent as a type?

Ø  What is the significance of the events that occurred on Mount Carmel?

Ø  What does Elijah’s fleeing from Jezebel tell us about Elijah?  Application?

1 Kings 20: Ben-Hadad and Ahab

Ø  King Ahab was disobedience to the Lord yet God gave him victory over Ben-Hadad.  Why?

Ø  How did Ahab handle the victory that God gave him?  Application?

1 Kings 21:  Naboth’s Vineyard

Ø  What was the significance of Naboth refusing the king’s request for his land?

Ø  David took Uriah’s wife by murder and deceit. Ahab took Naboth’s field by murder and deceit.  God responded differently with each of them.  Why?  Application?

Ø  Notice the comparison between David and Ahab.  Thoughts?

1 Kings 22:  More Turmoil and More Evil Kings

Ø  Ahab tried to disguise his identity while going to war against God’s will.  Do you ever try to “disguise” your identity from God and others when you are doing something God has told you not to do?

Ø  What description was given Jehoshaphat?  Did he do everything that God commanded?  Application?

Ø  How did the writer describe Ahaziah, King of Israel? 

Ø  Generally speaking, the kings of Judah were considered “good” kings and the kings of Israel were considered “evil” kings.  Why?

LESSON # 79 (Week ending 11/13/11)

1 Kings 1 - 11

BACKGROUND

First and 2 Kings provide a record of Israel’s history from the beginning of the movement to place Solomon on David’s throne through the end of the reign of Zedekiah, Judah’s last king. Zedekiah ruled until the surviving Southern Kingdom was taken captive and Babylonian governors were placed in charge of affairs in Palestine.

Three major periods of Israel’s history can be distinguished in Kings: (a) the united monarchy (during which time Israel and Judah remained united under Solomon as they had been under Saul and David); (b) the divided monarchy (from the rebellion of Israel against the rulership of Judean kings until Israel was carried off into captivity by the Assyrians); and (c) the surviving kingdom (the record of Judah’s affairs from the deportation of Israel to Judah’s own defeat and exile by the Babylonians).^[1]

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1 Kings 1:1-27:  Adonijah Sets Himself Up As King

Ø  Why did Adonijah set himself up as king?  Do men still assume positions that are not rightfully theirs?

Ø  How did God orchestrate the establishment of the person he wanted as king?  Who is ultimately in control?

1 Kings 1:28-2:46: David Passes Kingship to Solomon

Ø  What is the significance of God ordaining Solomon as king considering the method
David used to obtain Bathsheba as his wife?  What does this teach us about God?

Ø  What is the significance of how Solomon responded to Adonijah the first time?  How about the second time?

Ø  What was David’s charge to Solomon?  Who is the ultimate fulfilling of the Davidic Covenant, the One who is on the throne forever?

1 Kings 3:1-4:34: Wisdom

Ø  Why is Solomon’s response to the Lord, requesting wisdom, so significant?  For what would you have asked if you were Solomon?

Ø  What was the first indication that Solomon had indeed been granted special wisdom?

Ø  Did anyone at the time (or has anyone since) measured up to the wisdom that God gave Solomon?

1 Kings 5:1-6:38: The Temple

Ø  Why did God allow Solomon to build a temple when He would not allow David to do so?

Ø  What does the amount of time that elapsed from the Exodus to the building of the temple teach us about God’s time-table?

Ø  What promise of God was connected to this temple?  (6:11-13)

Ø  What can we learn about God from the detailed descriptions /instructions given concerning the temple?

1 Kings 7:1-12: Solomon’s Palace

Ø   It took almost twice as many years to build Solomon’s palace as it did to build the temple and it was considerably larger than the temple.  Thoughts on this?

Ø  How many structures did Solomon build for the Lord?  How many for himself and his wives?  Can we draw any conclusions from this comparison?

1 Kings 7:13-51: Furnishing the Temple

Ø  Why does the author give such detail concerning the furnishings of the temple?

Ø  Notice the craftsmanship in the details.  Thoughts?

1 Kings 8:1-21:  Return of the Ark

Ø  What was in the Ark when it was placed in the Holy of Holies?  What happened to the other items that were in it earlier?

Ø  What happened when the priests withdrew from placing the Ark in the temple?

Ø  Why do we not still worship in the temple today?  Where is the temple today?

1 Kings 8:22-66:  Dedication of the Temple

Ø  Notice David’s prayer.  What can we learn from this prayer?

Ø  What did the festival of Booths represent for the Israelites?

Ø  What is the significance of the number of animals that Solomon sacrificed after the dedication of the temple?  Application for us?

1 Kings 9:  The Lord Appears to Solomon

Ø  What was the covenant that God made with Solomon?  Is there any application for us?

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1 Kings 10-11:  The Queen of Sheba/Solomon’s Wives

Ø  What is the significance of the account of the Queen of Sheba?

Ø  What is the significance of Solomon’s wives?

Ø  Why did the Lord raise up an adversary to Solomon? (11:14)

Ø  What was the end result of Solomon’s sin?  Application for us?

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^[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:483). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

LESSON # 78: Psalms 52-72 (Week ending 11/06/11)

PSALMS 52-72

Psalm 52:  David’s Response to Doeg the Edomite (1 Sam. 21:17)

Ø  What is the boast of the “ungodly”?

Ø  What is the boast of the “godly”?

Ø  Who is the ultimate Judge?  Application?

Psalms 53: “The Fool”

Ø  What is the perspective of the fool?

Ø  Is there anyone on earth who really understands and seeks after God?

Ø  Who is the true Seeker?

Psalm 54-55: God Is My Help

Ø  Who are the “strangers” that attack us today?

Ø  How does David counter the attacks he feels?  Application?

Ø  How should we respond when we are fearful?  From whom does fear come?

Ø  To whom does David turn in times of fear?  Application?

Psalm 56-57: God Deliver Me! Have Mercy!

Ø  When David was pursued by evil men, what was his response?  What can we learn from this?

Ø  In whom does David place his trust; man or God?  How about you?

Ø  How does David describe God’s mercy?  Have you ever sensed God’s presence that way?

Ø  In his struggle, what does David end up doing?  Do you praise God in your struggles?

Psalm 58: Wicked Rulers

Ø  How do you respond to David’s description of evil rulers? 

Ø  How does this relate to Romans 13?

Ø  Who is the ultimate ruler?

Psalm 59: God the Deliverer

Ø   Does David rely on his own strength to fight his battles?  How about you?

Ø  What does it mean to allow God to fight your battles for you?

Ø  Which is more effective in fighting our battles; fighting ourselves or praising God and allowing Him to fight for us?

Psalm 60 – 61: Where is God?

Ø  When David feels estranged from God, what is his response?  How about us, what is our response?

Ø  Are there times when God allows bad things to happen to good people?  Why or why not?

Ø  Notice David’s prayer, what can we learn from it?

Psalm 62 - 64:  Sweet Rest

Ø  In what or in whom is ultimate rest found?  Why do we seek it in other places?

Ø  Psalm 63:1-5 describe David’s heart.  Have you ever desired God in this way?

Ø  When David is threatened to whom does he turn?  Application?

Psalm 65 – 67:  Praise God!

Ø  List the things for which David praises the Lord in these Psalms.

Ø  What is the response that David encourages in light of God’s blessings?  Application?

Ø  Notice David’s benediction in Psalm 67.  When God’s people praise Him and thank Him how does He respond?

Psalm 68 – 69:  Messianic Psalms

Ø  List the Messianic references in these two Psalms.

Ø  David was looking ahead to a Messiah/Savior.  We have the advantage of hindsight and history.  How accurate was David’s description?

Psalm 70 – 71:  Deliverance

Ø  Who is David’s help?  Application?

Ø  Who is David’s refuge?  Application?

Ø  Who is David’s hope?  Application?

Ø  Notice David’s prayer in 71:19-24.  Is this also your prayer?

Psalm 72:  Request for Blessing and Prosperity

Ø  For whom is David pleading?

Ø  Does David trust in his own judgment to accomplish the ministry which God has given him?

Ø  According to David, who is ultimately in control even though he is Israel’s earthly king?  Application?

LESSON #77: 2 Samuel 13-24 (Week ending 10/30/11)

2 Samuel 15 - 24

Chapt. 15:1-12 Absalom’s Conspiracy

Ø David’s family situation was a result of his sin. What can we learn about the consequences of our personal sins from David?

Ø Why did Joab conspire to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem?

Ø How would you rate David as a father?

Chapt. 15:13-17:29: David Flees

Ø How did Absalom turn the people’s heart away from his father? What was his motivation for doing so?

Ø What can we learn about ourselves from Absalom and from the people who followed him?

Ø In 2 Sam. 15:30 we read that David was weeping. How does this compare to the passage in Matthew 23:37-39?

Ø Why did Ahithophel advise Absalom to sleep with his father’s concubine? Does sin ever accomplish what it is promising to accomplish?

Chapt. 18: Absalom’s Death

Ø Why did Absalom marshal his forces to fight against David’s?

Ø As David prepared for battle, what was his biggest concern? While the father loved his son, were the feelings mutual? Why or why not? Application?

Ø Absalom’s long hair became his downfall. What was the reason he had long hair? Application?

Ø Why was David tolerant of all that Joab did? Application?

Chapt. 19-20: David Returns/More Rebellion

Ø David almost lost the confidence of his victorious troops by not encouraging them in his grief. Application?

Ø David treated several of those who had opposed him with forgiveness and grace. What does this teach us?

Ø Did David manage to unite the divided kingdom? Why or why not?

Chapt. 21:1-14: The Gibeonites

Ø What was the reason for the severe famine? What does this teach us about the consequences of sin?

Ø What do you think about the “remedy” that the Gibeonites requested to avenge Saul’s sin? Was this something God required or was it a cultural/traditional type of payment? In either case, what can we learn from this?

Chapt. 21:15-22: The Philistines

Ø Why did David have a continual struggle against the Philistines?

Ø What does this teach us about putting sin out of our lives?

Ø Is it possible for us to stand against sin and Satan?

Chapt. 22: David’s Song of praise

Ø What does David’s praise song teach us about how David related to God? Application for us?

Ø When we think about our Heavenly Father, do we consider the same attributes that David did?

Ø Do you agree with David’s description of God? Can you borrow this for your praise and worship of Him?

Chapt. 23: David’s Last Words

Ø The words of David here foreshadow the reign of whom?

Ø The Davidic Covenant finds its fulfillment in whom?

Ø What is the end result of the Davidic Covenant and has that taken place yet?

Ø What do you see as the significance of David’s mighty men?

Chapt. 24: David’s Last Actions

Ø David’s humanity is evident again in this chapter. Why did his calling for a census so anger the Lord?

Ø How was the Lord appeased? (See Exodus 30:11-16)

Ø Would you rather place yourself at the mercy of God or the temperament of man? Application?

LESSON # 76: 2 Samuel 1-14 (Week ending 10/23/11)

2 Samuel 1-14

Background:

1^st and 2^nd Samuel are one book in the original. In our English Bibles 2nd Samuel continues the narrative of 1^st Samuel. Saul and his sons are dead, the throne is passed to David, and we see God consolidate and unify His Kingdom.

While David is called a “man after God’s own heart”, he was also a man who struggled with sin like we do and he suffered the consequences of his sin.

“The Davidic covenant is the theological centerpiece of the book (chap. 7). God promised David and his heirs an eternal lineage that would rule over an everlasting kingdom (7:12–16). The Davidic king was God’s adopted son who ruled in the name of the Lord and enjoyed God’s providential care. This covenant promise became the messianic hope of God’s people (see Psm. 2; 110). The messianic expectation was a source of great comfort in Israel’s darkest days (see Isa. 9:1–7; 11; Amos 9:11–15; Zech. 9:9–13). This promise is fulfilled by David’s Greater Son, Jesus Christ (Luke 1:31–33).”^[1]

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Chapt. 1: David Learns of Saul’s Death

Ø Why did David have the Amalekite killed after bringing him the news of Saul’s death? Is there any application for us?

Ø Why was David so grieved over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan? Knowing that he would succeed them to the throne; wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to be rejoicing? Application?

Ø Notice how David describes Saul and Jonathan; what does this tell us about David’s character?

Chapt. 2-4: David is Anointed King of Judah

Ø Does the coronation of David take place without incident? How did Satan try to thwart God’s plan? Is Satan still at work today trying to disrupt God’s plan?

Ø How do the hostilities end? Is David’s reign over Judah finally established?

Ø Think about how many lives would have been saved if the people had not clamored for “a king like the nations”!

Chapt. 5: David is Anointed King of Israel

Ø What is the significance of David being anointed king over Israel and Judah?

Ø What is the significance of David capturing Jerusalem from the Jebusites?

Ø Once the Kingdom is united, David’s armies are able to defeat the Philistines. Think about how things may have turned out if the Hebrews had totally rid the land of the inhabitants as they were instructed to do by God when they took possession of the land. How does that apply to us?

Chapt. 6: The Ark is Returned to Jerusalem

Ø Where has the Ark been and why?

Ø Why did the Lord strike Uzzah dead for keeping the Ark from tipping over? What does this teach us about God? Application for us?

Ø Why did Michal rebuke David and what was the consequence of her actions? Application?

Chapt. 7: The Davidic Covenant

Ø God granted an unconditional covenant to David. What does it mean when God gives an unconditional covenant?

Ø Why did God not allow David to build a temple?

Ø What was the covenant that God promised to David? What was David’s response? Application?

Chapt. 8-10: David’s Victories

Ø How are the nations that David defeats? Why was it necessary for David to defeat them? Application?

Ø Who is Mephibosheth and what is the significance of this account?

Ø Why was David so incensed over the response he received from Hanun, when he expressed his sympathy over Hanun’s father’s death?

Chapt. 11: David’s Sin

Ø What factors lead to David’s sin with Bathsheba?

Ø Instead of owning up to his sin and facing the consequences, what did David do? What can we learn from this?

Ø It appeared as though David and going to “get away” with his sin but someone else was very aware of his actions? Is there ever a time when our sin is not before God? Is there ever a time when our sin does not affect the lives of many other people?

Chapt. 12: Nathan Rebukes David

Ø David is the king of the United Kingdom, a very powerful individual, and Nathan is sent by God to confront him. Would you have been willing to do what Nathan was called to do? Did Nathan run from his task? How did he confront David? Application?

Ø What was the consequence of David’s sin? What was David’s response? Application?

Chapt. 13-14: David’s Failing as a Father

Ø What can we learn from the actions of David’s children in this chapter? As a parent, where is our first responsibility/mission field?

Ø Notice how the sin of Amnon escalates? Is there ever such a thing as a “secret sin”?

Ø Is deceit ever the way to reconciliation? How difficult is it to “mend” family disputes? What is the solution to family disputes that get out of hand?

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^[1] Mathews, K. A. (1998). The Historical Books. In D. S. Dockery (Ed.), Holman concise Bible commentary: Simple, straightforward commentary on every book of the Bible (D. S. Dockery, Ed.) (121). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.