Gracious Generosity

Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Ephesians 2:1-10 KJV

1 And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who has God quickened (made alive)? (v.1)
2) How did we walk (live) in the past? (v.2-3)
3) What did God do for us in our former sinful condition and why? (v.4-7)
4) How were we saved and why? (v.8-9)
5) Now that we are saved what are we to God and what were we saved for? (v.10)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What "good works" has God ordained for you to live out??

LIFE LESSONS
7) God has a plan and a purpose for every born-again believer.

Faithful Sacrifice

Friday, December 11, 2015
Hebrews 11:4-16 KJV 

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why does the writer of Hebrews include Abel and Enoch among God's faithful people? (v.4-5)
2) What is impossible to do without faith? (v.6)
3) Why are Noah, Abraham and Sara listed among God's patriarchs of the faith? (v.7-12)
4) How did these people of faith depart this life and what did they think of themselves? (v.13)
5) What did the patriarchs of faith seek and what did the Lord prepare for them as a result of their faith in Him? (v.14-16)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What are you believing that the Lord will do in your life?
7) Will your faith remain in the Lord even if you never see what He has promised you?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Our faith is not simply in the promises of God, but in the faithfulness of God Himself.

Peter Takes a Risk

Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Matthew 14:22-33 KJV 

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After feeding the five thousand, what did Jesus constrain his disciples to do? (v.22)
2) What did Jesus do after the multitudes departed? (v.23)
3) What was happening to the ship that the disciples had boarded? (v.24)
4) How and when did Jesus go to them and how did they respond when they saw Him? (v.25-26)
5) What did Jesus say to them to calm them? (v.27)
6) What did Peter say to the Lord? (v.28)
7) How did the Lord respond and what did Peter do? (v.29)
8) Why did Peter begin to sink and what did the Lord do in response? (v.30-31)
9) When did the wind cease and what did the disciples do and say to the Lord, in response? (v.32-33)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
10) What do you do when everything seems to be going wrong in your life?
11) What risks are you willing to take, to draw closer to our Lord, in faith?

LIFE LESSONS
12) Our first response during troubling times should always be to pray to the only One who has the power to assail our fears and to right whatever is troubling us.
13) The Lord allows storms in our lives to test our faith in Him.
14) The Lord expects us to hold fast to our faith in Him, no matter how dire our circumstances may appear to be.
15) When we keep our focus on the Lord, we will not be overwhelmed by the trials and troubles of this life.

Knowledge of the Truth

Thursday, April 30, 2015
Hebrews 10:23-27 KJV

23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are Christians to "hold fast" to? Why? (v.23)
2) What else are we to do and when? (v.24-25)
3) What remains for those who sin willfully? (v.26-27

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever been willfully disobedient to the Lord? If so, why?

LIFE LESSONS
5) Those who know of the tremendous sacrifice that was made for our sins, by our Lord Jesus, cannot willingly or knowingly sin against Him.

The Canaanite Woman's Faith

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Matthew 15:21-28 KJV 

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

OBSERVATIONS QUESTIONS
1) The Lord had just taught His followers about defilement following an altercation with the religious leaders. According to Matthew, where did the Lord go next and who did he encounter? (v.21-22a)
2) What did the woman ask of the Lord? (v.22b)
3) How did the Lord and His disciples respond to the woman? (v.23-24)
4) What did the woman do and say in response? (v.25)
5) How did the Lord respond to her? (v.26)
6) What did the woman say to Jesus and what was His final response to her? (v.27-28)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever refused a petition that you made to Him, in faith?
8) If so, why do you believe that our Lord refused your request.

LIFE LESSONS
9) The Lord is always willing to respond affirmatively to our petitions to Him, when we ask Him in faith (believing that He will provide our needs).
10) At times, our Lord does not respond to us exactly as we would like Him to, but He always responds for the good of all and for His glory

Faith Must Express Itself in Works

Monday, February 2, 2015
James 2:14-26 KJV 

14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does James ask us concerning our faith and our works? (v.14)
2) What example does James provide of a professing believer who is not operating in faith? (v.15-17)
3) According to the James, what proves our faith? (v.18)
4) What else does the apostle write concerning believing and doing the works of God? (v.19-20)
5) What human examples of works of righteousness, wrought through faith, does James provide? (v.21,23,25)
6) How else does James explain faith and works to his readers? (v.22, 24, 26)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How is your faith in God manifested through your works?
7) Have you ever failed to do anything for the Lord because of a lack of faith? If so, please describe one such time.

LIFE LESSONS
8) We do not do good works simply because we believe in God, but we do good works by having faith to believe that God is able to work through us.
9) It is impossible to have faith in God and not allow God to use that faith to produce His work through us.
10) Genuine faith produces genuine and divinely orchestrated works of God. 

The Prayer of Faith

Sunday, January 25, 2014
James 5:13-18 KJV 

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are those who are merry and those who are afflicted directed to do? (v.13)
2) Who are the sick to call to and what are the called to do for those believers? (v.14)
3) What will the "prayer of faith" do for the sick and for the sinful? (v.15)
4) How does James encourage all believers to pray? Why? (v.16)
5) Who (or what) does James use as an example of the prayers of the righteous? (v.17-18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What do you do when you are afflicted in your mind, body, soul and/or spirit? Why?
7) If the Lord hears your prayers, why should you seek the prayers of more spiritually mature believers?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Believers are afflicted in many different ways (i.e., mind, body, soul, and/or spirit). 
9) The Lord hears the prayers of those in spiritual leadership and/or authority over the members of His body, to heal them.
10) The Lord hears and answers the earnest prayers of those who have unwavering faith in, and are in intimate relationship with, Himself.

Oh, You of Little Faith

Sunday, December 28, 2014
Matthew 14:22-36 KJV

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What three things did Jesus do after feeding the five thousand? (v.22-23)
2) What happened to the ship? Why? (v.24)
3) What did the disciples see and how did they respond? (v. 25-26)
4) What did Jesus say to them? (v.27)
5) How did Peter respond? Why? (v.28-30)
6) What did Jesus do and say to Peter? (v.31)
7) What happened next? (v.32-36)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) What is your typical response to trouble? Describe one such time?
9) How do you typically respond when the Lord delivers you out of trouble?

LIFE LESSONS
10) At times, it is the Lord's will for His children to go through trouble to grow our faith.
11) The safest place on earth to be is in the center of God's will.
12) The best and only acceptable response to God, in troubled times or good, is worship.

Great is your Faith

Saturday, December 27, 2014
Matthew 15:21-31 KJV 

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. 29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them [those that were] lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Where did Jesus go to? (v.21)
2) What did the woman say to the Lord? (v.22)
3) How did the Lord and His disciples respond to the woman? (v.23-24)
4) How did the woman respond to the Lord? (v.25)
5) What did the Lord say to the woman? (v.26)
6) What did the woman say in response? (v.27)
7) What did Jesus say to the woman? (v.28)
8) What happened next? (v. 29-31)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Has the Lord ever seemingly refused to answer your prayer requests, only to grant them later? If so, what happened during one such instance?
10) How do you typically respond when the Lord does not answer your petitions immediately? Why?

LIFE LESSONS
11) The best response to unanswered prayer is continued prayer.
12) Faith in God's Word and Person are the keys to effectial prayer.

A Mustard Seed Sized Faith

Friday, December 16, 2014
Matthew 17:14-20 KJV 

14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What happened after Jesus and His disciples joined the crowd? (v.14)
2) What did the man say to the Lord? (v.15-16)
3) What two things did Jesus do in response to what the man told Him? (v.17-18)
4) What did the disciples ask Jesus? (v.19)
5) What was Jesus' response to them? (v.20)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What do you need mountain moving faith for this day?
7) Who, or what, can change your impossible situation in this life?

LIFE LESSONS
8) It takes very little faith to move the hand of our all powerful God.
9) Miracles are not the result of our faith alone, but the result of our faith In God alone to do the impossible.
10) God is the only Person with all power in His hands.

Where is your Faith?

Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Luke 8:19-25 KJV

19 Then came to him [his] mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him [by certain] which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. 22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled [with water], and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why couldn't our Lord's mother and brothers get to Him? (v.19)
2) What was our Lord's response when told that His blood family wanted to see Him? (v.20-21)
3) Who suggested that the disciples go to the other side of the lake? (v.22)
4) What happened as they were sailing? (v.23)
5) How did Jesus' disciples respond? (v.24a)
6) What happened after the disciples awoke the Lord? (v.24b)
7) What did our Lord ask His disciples? (v.25)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Have you ever been in trouble and wondered why the Lord did not respond immediately to your situation? If so, briefly describe one such time.
9) What do you typically do when waiting on the Lord to answer your prayers?

LIFE LESSONS
10) Our Lord allows trouble in our lives to test our faith in Him.
11) The greatest test of our faith is learning to wait on the Lord when we desperately need His intervention.

By Faith We Please God

Monday, December 22, 2014
Hebrews 11:1-6 KJV 

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is faith? (v.1)
2) What did faith do for patriarchs of our faith? (v2)
3) How were the world's framed? (v.3a)
4) How did the things that are visible appear? (v.3b)
5) What did Abel and Enoch do by faith? (v.4-5)
6) What is impossible to do without faith? Why? (v.6)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) When was the last that you acted out of faith in God? Briefly describe what happened.
8) Who in your life exemplifies a faithfilled life? Why?

LIFE LESSONS
9) Faith in God does not depend upon our circumstances, but upon His faithfulness.
10) It is not possible for the God's children to please Him if we do not have faith in Him.

A New Birth, A Living Hope

Friday, November 21, 2014
1 Peter 1:1-7 KJV

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who was the Apostle Peter writing this epistle to? (v.1)
2) What made them the "elect" and how did that effect them spiritually? (v.2)
3) What has the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ done for all who have been born again? Why? (v.3-4)
4) What are we kept by and through? (v.5a)
5) What does our faith lead to? (v.5b)
6) What should be our response to so great a salvation? (v.6a)
7) What may happen instead, as a result of our faith? (v.6b)
8) Why are our trials so precious? (v.7)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) What is your typical reaction to the trials that you face in life?
10) Has your faith in God ever faltered, since you believed? If so, what happened?
11) To whom, or what, do you attribute your faith in God today?

PRINCIPLES
12) We are saved by grace, through faith, in the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
13) We were chosen by God for sanctification that leads to soul salvation.
14) All who belong to the Lord have an eternal inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven.
15) Trials are used by God to test our faith and to bring glory to our Lord.

I will Accept you

Saturday, November 8, 2014
Ezekial 43:22-27 KJV 

22 And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse [it] with the bullock. 23 When thou hast made an end of cleansing [it], thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish. 24 And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up [for] a burnt offering unto the LORD. 25 Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat [for] a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. 26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. 27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, [that] upon the eighth day, and [so] forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were the people of God to do on the second day? (v.22)
2) What were God's people to offer after cleansing the altar? (v.23)
3) Who were the offerings to be made to and for what specific purpose?(v.24)
4) What were the people to do for seven days? (v.25-26)
5) When would the Lord accept His people? (v.27)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What do you use as an altar in your home?
7) What do you do to purge your soul of sin?
8) How do you know that you are accepted by God?

PRINCIPLES
9) Faith in God is the only acceptable offering to the Lord.
10) Our souls are cleansed through confession of sin.
11) The only altar that a believer needs is his or her heart.

Making Peace through the Cross

Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Col 1:15-23 

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] he might have the preeminence. 
19 For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; 
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. 
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How does the Apostle Paul describe our Lord Jesus in this epistle? (v.15)
2) What was created by Him and for Him? (v.16)
3) What is He before and by Him what consists (is sustained)? (v.17)
4) What is He the head of and over what does He have the preeminence? Why? (v.18)
5) Who is God pleased to dwell in? (v.19)
6) What did the shed blood of Jesus Christ do for creation? (v.20)
7) Who else was reconciled to God by the broken body and blood of Jesus? When? (v.21)
8) What makes us holy, blameless and above reproach in God's sight? (v.22)
9) What must Christians be grounded and settled in? (v.23

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
10) When were you alienated from God and an enemy of Christ? 
11) What did you do formerly do that was against the Lord?
12) How do you respond knowing that Christ died to save you from the penalty for your sins?
13) What keeps you rooted in the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

PRINCIPLES
14) Jesus died to save those who rejected Him.
15) Jesus is above all that He created.
16) Keep your faith in Jesus, no matter what happens in life.
17) When God looks at us He sees His Son.

Proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord

Sunday, August 17, 2014
2 Corinthians 4:1-15

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
8 [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you. 
15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) As ministers of the Gospel, how are we to conduct ourselves? (v.1-2)
2) Who is not able to receive the Gospel? Why not? (v.3-4)
3) What are we to proclaim? (v.5)
4) What has God done for His servants and why? (v.6)
5) What is the treasure that is within every born-again believer? Where does the treasure come from? (v.7)
6) When is the life of Jesus manifested through us? (v.8-12)
7) Why do we endure hardships? (v.13-15)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Do you tend to cave into despair or hopelessness when going through trials? Why, or why not?
9) How will you respond to hardships, in the future, in light of this passage of Scripture?
10) Why shouldn't we faint, or lose heart, when faced with difficulties in our lives?

PRINCIPLES
11) The minds of our unsaved loved ones are blinded to the truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
12) Though we are mortal, the resurrection power of God indwells every believer through the Holy Spirit.
13) To live for Christ we must die to self.

Waiting for the Lord's Mercy

Saturday, August 16, 2014
Jude 1:17-25

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 
23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who are we warned about during the last time? (v.18a)
2) What will these people be like? (v.18b,19)
3) What are Christian to do during these last days? (v.20-21)
4) How are we to help those who have fallen in their faith? (v.22-23)
5) Are we supposed to help every backslidden believer? Why, or why not? (v.23)
6) Who keeps us from falling into sin? (v.24a)
7) How will He present us before the Father? (v.24b)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Do you live according to your fleshly (or carnal) nature, or are you led by the Spirit?
9) Have you ever succumbed to the lusts of your flesh? If so, what happened?
10) What do you do when you are tempted to act according to the desires of your flesh?

PRINCIPLES
11) Those who live according to their fleshly desires, cannot please God!
12) Only the spiritually mature are able to help those who are given over to carnality.
13) God is able to keep us from falling from the faith, but only if we want to be kept in the faith.

Forgiving and Consoling

Sunday, August 10, 2014
Scripture Reading: 2Cor 1:23-24 KJV

23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) The Apostle Paul had chastened the believers at Corinth because they had not expelled a believer who had sinned (see 1 Corinthians). What did the Apostle Paul want to do in writing to the Church at Corinth the second time? (v.23)
2) How was the Apostle presenting himself in his second letter to the Corinthians? (v.24)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Have you ever had to re-think or change your manner of handling a particular problem for mercy’s sake? If so, what happened.
4) How gracious are you when the Lord has revealed an error to you? Have you ever insisted on handling controversial matters your way? Describe one such time. Have you ever yielded to the Lord’s will concerning the situation? Please explain what happened when you submitted to God's way.

PRINCIPLES

5) Mercy always triumphs over judgment!

6) Because God is long suffering, His children are to be long suffering also!