Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, May 17th, 2009.
1) Micah 3
How does Micah describe the leaders and prophets of his day? What is their motivation? How is the content of their messages decided?
Is there any areas of your life you are misusing or abusing your power? (work, friendships, family life, etc.)
2) Micah 3:4-6, 12
What are the judgments awaiting them?
Deuteronomy 31:14-22
What warning did God give Moses for the people? What would the consequences be?
1 John 3:21-24
What are the blessings of obedience listed here?
Have you ever felt God became silent with you? If so, what did you do in response?
3) Ezra 7:10, 25
Ezra was an example from the time period after the exile of how a priest/leader should act. Skim Micah 3 once again. How did Israel’s and Judah’s leaders/priests match Ezra’s example?
Matthew 7:15-23 How does Jesus’ teaching about false prophets help us identify them? Why is it important to identify false prophets?
4) Micah 3
Pray for our leaders, that they would seek the Lord, seek justice and speak the truth, no matter the cost. Pray for leaders at every level of your life: church, work, home, city, state, federal government, world.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
For Sunday, May 10, 2009
Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, May 10th, 2009.
1) Micah 1:1-2
Who is this message to? Who is it from? When was it given? (Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah.) Who is it about?
Is the Lord for them or against them?
Micah 1:8-9
How did Micah feel about delivering this message? What can we learn about him through his description of this experience of being a prophet?
2) Micah 1:1-7
What are the geological and environmental results of God walking on earth in judgment? Why was He judging them?
What was God’s opinion of their religious sites (Jerusalem and Samaria)?
When faced with sin, where do we lay the blame?
What would be the end results of the judgment?
3) Micah 2:1-5
What was the Lord’s plan in judgment?
Who was He targeting? (Note: These evil plotters had the power to carry out their plans.)
What was their sin?
Psalm 36
What does this Psalm teach us about those who choose a lifestyle of sinfulness and wickedness?
What does it teach us about the character of God?
What is the difference between how God uses His power and how people use theirs?
4) Micah 2:6-11
What kind of prophet did the people want?
2 Timothy 4:1-5
How does this description fit with Micah’s prophecy?
How does it fit today?
What are we to do in these situations?
Micah 2:12-13
What was promised? Would there be any hope for them?
1) Micah 1:1-2
Who is this message to? Who is it from? When was it given? (Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah.) Who is it about?
Is the Lord for them or against them?
Micah 1:8-9
How did Micah feel about delivering this message? What can we learn about him through his description of this experience of being a prophet?
2) Micah 1:1-7
What are the geological and environmental results of God walking on earth in judgment? Why was He judging them?
What was God’s opinion of their religious sites (Jerusalem and Samaria)?
When faced with sin, where do we lay the blame?
What would be the end results of the judgment?
3) Micah 2:1-5
What was the Lord’s plan in judgment?
Who was He targeting? (Note: These evil plotters had the power to carry out their plans.)
What was their sin?
Psalm 36
What does this Psalm teach us about those who choose a lifestyle of sinfulness and wickedness?
What does it teach us about the character of God?
What is the difference between how God uses His power and how people use theirs?
4) Micah 2:6-11
What kind of prophet did the people want?
2 Timothy 4:1-5
How does this description fit with Micah’s prophecy?
How does it fit today?
What are we to do in these situations?
Micah 2:12-13
What was promised? Would there be any hope for them?
Monday, April 27, 2009
For Sunday, May 3, 2009
Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, May 3rd, 2009.
1) Isaiah 55
Is this a positive or negative prophecy?
What is God offering in this passage?
According to this passage, what is required for people to receive what God is offering?
What stands out to you most in this chapter?
2) Isaiah 55:1-2
Who is invited? What are they invited for?
What kinds of things do we chase after that don’t really satisfy?
John 4:4-26
How did Jesus describe the water of life He gives?
When the Samaritan woman asked for the water, what did Jesus say to her next? What did she need to do to receive the water of life?
3) Isaiah 55:6-9
What does a person have to do to receive the blessings God is offering?
How is God different from humans?
Psalm 103:1-18; 1 Corinthians 1:25
What do these passages say about how God is different than humans?
4) Isaiah 55:10-13
What does this passage teach us about the power of God’s Word?
How has God made His Word prosper in and through your life?
In what ways has God replaced thorn bushes with cypress trees in your life?
John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12
What else do we learn about the power of God’s Word from these verses?
Thank God for revealing Himself through His Word.
1) Isaiah 55
Is this a positive or negative prophecy?
What is God offering in this passage?
According to this passage, what is required for people to receive what God is offering?
What stands out to you most in this chapter?
2) Isaiah 55:1-2
Who is invited? What are they invited for?
What kinds of things do we chase after that don’t really satisfy?
John 4:4-26
How did Jesus describe the water of life He gives?
When the Samaritan woman asked for the water, what did Jesus say to her next? What did she need to do to receive the water of life?
3) Isaiah 55:6-9
What does a person have to do to receive the blessings God is offering?
How is God different from humans?
Psalm 103:1-18; 1 Corinthians 1:25
What do these passages say about how God is different than humans?
4) Isaiah 55:10-13
What does this passage teach us about the power of God’s Word?
How has God made His Word prosper in and through your life?
In what ways has God replaced thorn bushes with cypress trees in your life?
John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12
What else do we learn about the power of God’s Word from these verses?
Thank God for revealing Himself through His Word.
Monday, April 20, 2009
For Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, April 26th, 2009.
1) Isaiah 54:1-10
After reading this passage, what questions are you left with?
What kinds of comparisons are made in this passage? What did Isaiah compare Israel to? What other time period did God compare this to?
In terms of time, how does God’s punishment compare to God’s love?
2) Isaiah 54:1-17
This was a prophecy made to Judah before they were sent into exile. What did this prophecy say about their past? What did is say about their future?
What does this prophecy describe about God’s character?
Praise God for these attributes today.
3) Luke 15:11-32
How does this story relate to God’s message in Isaiah about the punishment and restoration of Israel and Judah?
What do we learn about God’s view of forgiveness and God’s character in this story?
4) Psalm 103
What does this Psalm teach us about God’s character? What does it teach us about God’s kind of forgiveness?
What verse or phrase in this Psalm is most meaningful or encouraging to you in your life right now? Spend time meditating on it today.
1) Isaiah 54:1-10
After reading this passage, what questions are you left with?
What kinds of comparisons are made in this passage? What did Isaiah compare Israel to? What other time period did God compare this to?
In terms of time, how does God’s punishment compare to God’s love?
2) Isaiah 54:1-17
This was a prophecy made to Judah before they were sent into exile. What did this prophecy say about their past? What did is say about their future?
What does this prophecy describe about God’s character?
Praise God for these attributes today.
3) Luke 15:11-32
How does this story relate to God’s message in Isaiah about the punishment and restoration of Israel and Judah?
What do we learn about God’s view of forgiveness and God’s character in this story?
4) Psalm 103
What does this Psalm teach us about God’s character? What does it teach us about God’s kind of forgiveness?
What verse or phrase in this Psalm is most meaningful or encouraging to you in your life right now? Spend time meditating on it today.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Act of Kindness gathering
Join us for an act of kindness gathering Saturday, April 25th, at 10am at the church. Among other things, we will be planting flower pots to deliver as encouragement gifts. If you have any questions, please comment on the blog, or contact Leanne or Joy.
Monday, April 13, 2009
for Sunday, April 19, 2009
Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, April 19th, 2009.
1) Isaiah 45:1-13
Cyrus was the future kind of Persia, who became the world power after Babylon. What was prophesied about him in this passage? What was God’s purpose in this plan? What was surprising about this plan?
Proverbs 21:1; Romans 9:17
What do these verses teach us about God’s role in world events? Who can stand against God?
2) Isaiah 45:1-13
What do these verses say about God’s power?
Psalm 19
What does this Psalm teach us about God’s power? What do these verses teach about God’s sovereignty? Use Psalm 19:12-14 as a prayer today.
3) 2 Chronicles 36:15-23: Ezra 1:1-4
How was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? Why was Cyrus a seemingly unusual person for God to use this way?
Psalm 73:23-28
How can these verses be an encouragement in light of bad or scary national or world news? What do these verses add to your faith in God’s sovereignty?
4) Jeremiah 50:1-3; 11; 15; 18-20; 29; 33-38
God used Babylon to judge Judah’s unfaithfulness to Him, just like He had used Assyria to judge Israel’s idol worship. What do these verses tell us about Babylon’s later fate? Why were they being judged? What would be the end result of the judgment for Judah and Israel?
1) Isaiah 45:1-13
Cyrus was the future kind of Persia, who became the world power after Babylon. What was prophesied about him in this passage? What was God’s purpose in this plan? What was surprising about this plan?
Proverbs 21:1; Romans 9:17
What do these verses teach us about God’s role in world events? Who can stand against God?
2) Isaiah 45:1-13
What do these verses say about God’s power?
Psalm 19
What does this Psalm teach us about God’s power? What do these verses teach about God’s sovereignty? Use Psalm 19:12-14 as a prayer today.
3) 2 Chronicles 36:15-23: Ezra 1:1-4
How was Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled? Why was Cyrus a seemingly unusual person for God to use this way?
Psalm 73:23-28
How can these verses be an encouragement in light of bad or scary national or world news? What do these verses add to your faith in God’s sovereignty?
4) Jeremiah 50:1-3; 11; 15; 18-20; 29; 33-38
God used Babylon to judge Judah’s unfaithfulness to Him, just like He had used Assyria to judge Israel’s idol worship. What do these verses tell us about Babylon’s later fate? Why were they being judged? What would be the end result of the judgment for Judah and Israel?
Monday, April 6, 2009
For Sunday, April 12th, 2009
Reading Selections and Questions for Sunday, April 12th, 2009.
1) Matthew 28:1-10
How would you have felt if you had experienced this story first-hand? How was this a life-changing moment for the ladies who were eye witnesses? The disciples? How has Jesus’ resurrection changed your life?
Matthew 28:11-17
Why were the officials so eager to control the news about these events? What was the impact of their lie? What can you do to help someone who has accepted a false report about Jesus to reconsider the truth?
2) Matthew 28:1-17
What details in the story stand out to you most? What special plans are you making to celebrate the resurrection this Easter? How can you make the celebration of the truth of the resurrection part of your everyday life?
Matthew 28:18-20
What role did the truth of the resurrection have in Jesus’ followers obeying His command in these verses? What role does the command of these verses have in your life today?
3) Luke 24:1-12, 36-53
When all these events were first taking place, how much understanding did the disciples have? How did that change for them in the following days?
Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:17-19
What had Jesus done and taught them to prepare for His death and resurrection? Is there anything Jesus is teaching you and preparing you for right now that you may have missed or don’t fully understand yet? Say a prayer of willingness for the preparation.
4) 1 Corinthians 15:35-57
What is the mystery of resurrection? Why did Jesus have to die and be resurrected? What if Jesus wasn’t resurrected? How would your life be different?
1 Corinthians 15:57
Are you living like you have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ? If God, whose Son conquered death, is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-32)
1) Matthew 28:1-10
How would you have felt if you had experienced this story first-hand? How was this a life-changing moment for the ladies who were eye witnesses? The disciples? How has Jesus’ resurrection changed your life?
Matthew 28:11-17
Why were the officials so eager to control the news about these events? What was the impact of their lie? What can you do to help someone who has accepted a false report about Jesus to reconsider the truth?
2) Matthew 28:1-17
What details in the story stand out to you most? What special plans are you making to celebrate the resurrection this Easter? How can you make the celebration of the truth of the resurrection part of your everyday life?
Matthew 28:18-20
What role did the truth of the resurrection have in Jesus’ followers obeying His command in these verses? What role does the command of these verses have in your life today?
3) Luke 24:1-12, 36-53
When all these events were first taking place, how much understanding did the disciples have? How did that change for them in the following days?
Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:17-19
What had Jesus done and taught them to prepare for His death and resurrection? Is there anything Jesus is teaching you and preparing you for right now that you may have missed or don’t fully understand yet? Say a prayer of willingness for the preparation.
4) 1 Corinthians 15:35-57
What is the mystery of resurrection? Why did Jesus have to die and be resurrected? What if Jesus wasn’t resurrected? How would your life be different?
1 Corinthians 15:57
Are you living like you have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ? If God, whose Son conquered death, is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-32)
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