Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Nehemiah 9:6-21 KJV
6 Thou, [even] thou, [art] LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas, and all that [is] therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. 7 Thou [art] the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give [it, I say], to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou [art] righteous: 9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea; 10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as [it is] this day. 11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. 12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. 13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. 20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After returning from their captivity in Babylon, the book of the law was read to the people of God and they repented of their sins. After all had assembled for the reading of the word, what did the Levites pray to the Lord, to exalt Him as the One True God? (v.6)
2) What did the Levites pray to the Lord concerning His faithfulness to His people and to His servants Abraham and Moses? (v.7-15)
3) What confession did the Levites offer to the Lord concerning the deeds of God's people? (v.16-17a)
4) What did the Levites declare about the Lord's mercy upon His people, despite their rebellion? (v.17b-21)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever learned of a sin that you unknowingly committed against God through the reading of God's word? If so, briefly describe what happened and what, if anything, you did to repent?
LIFE LESSONS
6) God is a loving and merciful Father to His children.
7) Like any father, the Lord chastens those who He loves to brings us back into alignment with His word, His will, and Himself.
November 2, 2015
Romans 1:8-15 KJV
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul thank God for? Why? (v.8)
2) What does the apostle petition God for? Why? (v.9-13)
3) Who was Paul a "debtor" to and what was he ready to do, as a result? (v.14-15)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Has the Lord led you to pray for and/or share Christ with a particular individual or group of people? If so, have you completed your assignment?
LIFE LESSONS
5) The Lord gives divine assignments, to every member of His body, for the edification of of all members.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Acts 12:12-18 KJV
12 And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. 14 And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. 15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel. 16 But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened [the door], and saw him, they were astonished. 17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the Apostle Peter had been awakened in prison and escorted out by an angel, what did he do and what were the other disciples doing, at that time? (v.12)
2) Who did Peter encounter after he knocked at the door of the gate and how did that person respond? (v.13-14)
3) How did the other disciples respond to the young girl's report? (v.15)
4) What did Peter continue doing and what did the disciples find after opening the door? (v.16)
5) What was Peter's response to the other disciples and and what how did the soldiers respond the following morning? (v.17-18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Have you ever been miraculously delivered from a seemingly impossible situation? If so, briefly describe what happened?
LIFE LESSONS
7) Nothing can abort the plan of God for the lives of those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Act 4:23-31 NIV
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Apostles Peter and John do upon their release from the Sanhedrin's custody? (v.23)
2) What did the other followers of Christ do upon hearing what the apostles told them? (v.24-30)
3) What happened after the disciples of Christ completed their prayer? (v.31)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Do you generally pray fervently and earnestly for the needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ? If so, what generally happens when you do?
LIFE LESSONS
5) The Lord expects His people to pray earnestly for each other's needs through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
John 14:11-13 KJV
11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Jesus want His disciple to believe about Him? Why? (v.11-13)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
2) Are you, or other believers in your local church, doing "greater works" than the Lord Jesus did?
LIFE LESSONS
3) The Lord expects His followers to do "greater works" than He did through belief in His Name and making petition to the Father in Jesus' Name.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Matthew 7:7-14 NIV
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) In His Sermon on the Mount, what three things did Jesus tell His disciples to do and why? (v.7-8)
2) How do parents generally respond to the requests of their children? (v.9-10)
3) How willing is our Heavenly Father to give good gifts to His children? (v.11)
4) How are we to treat others? Why? (v.12)
5) What does our Lord Jesus tell His disciples about the path to destruction and the path to life? (v.13-14)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What do you typically do when you have a need that you are unable to meet yourself?
7) How do you typically treat others? Why?
LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord desires to meet our needs, but He cannot do so unless we ask Him for what we want.
9) The Lord commands us to love others as ourselves; not through our own power, but through His.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were the reasons that the Apostle Paul prayed for those believers who would read this epistle? (v.14-19)
2) What is our Lord Jesus able to do? (v.20)
3) What was the apostle's benediction for this passage of Scripture? (v.21)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you filled with the fullness of Christ and do you have any idea how much the Lord loves you?
LIFE LESSONS
5) To share the love of Christ with others, we must be filled with His love for us.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
2 Chronicles 7:11-18 KJV
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man [to be] ruler in Israel.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What had King Solomon completed in the early years of his reign? (v.11)
2) What did the Lord say to Solomon concerning the work of the king's hands? (v.12)
3) How did the Lord tell Solomon that His people were to respond if He allowed calamity to befall their nation? (v.13-14)
4) What did the Lord promise He would do when the people offered prayers within the temple? Why? (v.15-16)
5) What would the Lord do for Solomon if he obeyed the Lord? (v.17-18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What has the Lord placed within your heart to do for Him this year?
7) How important is it to you to do all that He has placed within your heart to do for him this year? Please explain.
8) What do you typically do when trouble befalls this nation and/or the nations of this world?
LIFE LESSONS
9) When we make the Lord's business, our greatest priority, He will take care of our business.
10) The Lord hears and answers our petitions when we humble ourselves and seek to know His will concerning whatever concerns us.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Jeremiah 42:1-6 KJV
1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, 2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, [even] for all this remnant; (for we are left [but] a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) 3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do. 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard [you]; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare [it] unto you; I will keep nothing back from you. 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us. 6 Whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the leaders and the remnant of the people ask of Jeremiah? Why? (v.1-3)
2) How did the prophet respond to their request? (v.4)
3) What else did the people say to Jeremiah? (v.5-6)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever asked another believer to intercede on your behalf? What were some of the reasons why?
5) Have you ever sought to know the Lord's will for your life from a prophet or other minister of God? If so, what was your most recent response to God's word for you?
LIFE LESSONS
6) The Lord hears and responds to the prayers of the righteous.
7) It is always helpful to seek other believers to agree with us in prayer. But, their prayers should never replace our own prayers to the Lord.
8) The Lord's word to us, through other believers, should confirm what the Lord has already spoken into our hearts.
9) The Lord expects to be believed and obeyed.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Luke 22:39-46 KJV
39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After celebrating passover with His disciples, and washing their feet, what did our Lord do and who followed Him? (v.39)
2) What did our Lord ask His disciples to do? Why? (v.40)
3) Where did Jesus go and what did He do after leaving the disciples? (v.41)
4) What did Jesus say to the Father, in prayer? (v.42)
5) Who, or what, strengthened our Lord, after His initial prayer? (v.43)
6) What happened when Jesus continued to pray? (v.44)
7) What were the disciples doing after Jesus arose from prayer? Why? (v.45)
8) What did the Lord say to them? (v.46)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Have you ever made a petition to the Lord during a time of tremendous hardship or difficulty? If so, briefly describe one such time.
10) How did you conclude your prayer?
LIFE LESSONS
11) The Lord expects His children to be transparent in prayer and to ask for what we really want?
12) As children of God, we must be willing to forsake our will for the Father's will, even if the Father's immediate will involves personal distress.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Luke 11:1-13 KJV
1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What was Jesus doing? What did one of His disciples want Him to do after He ceased? (v.1)
2) What was Jesus' response? (v.2-4)
3) What illustration did Jesus provide His disciples to further reveal the Father's willingness to provide what we ask for? (v.5-8)
4) What three (3) actions by believers does the Father respond to? How? (v.9-10)
5) How did Jesus illustrate the response of a father to his son's request? (v.11-12)
6) How did Jesus correlate the provision of our earthly needs from our earthly fathers, to the provision of our spiritual needs from our Heavenly father? (v.13)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What is your greatest spiritual need?
8) Have you asked the Father to provide that spiritual need? Why, or why not.
LIFE LESSONS
9) Our greatest spiritual need is for a continual infilling of God's Holy Spirit.
10) When we ask for that which will enable us to live holy lives, the Father is more than willing to provide what we ask for, in His time and in His way.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Matthew 6:1-8 KJV
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are Christians not to do when serving others or praying? Why? (v.1,5a)
2) How do hypocrites act when serving others or praying? Why? (v.2,5b)
3) How are true believers to act when serving others or praying? Why? (v.3-4,6-8)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) What are your true motives for ministering to others or praying corporately?
5) What are the right motives for serving others or praying corporately?
LIFE LESSONS
6) The true motives of our hearts are revealed in who we seek to please when serving the Lord and/or His people.
7) When we seek the approval of man more than the approval of God our ministry for the Lord is in vain.
8) The Lord rewards those with clean hands and pure hearts in serving His people.
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.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
1 Kings 8:54-62 KJV
54 And it was [so], that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. 55 And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying, 56 Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. 57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: 58 That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. 59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: 60 That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD [is] God, [and that there is] none else. 61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. 62 And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did King Solomon do after praying to the Lord? (v.54-55)
2) Why did King Solomon bless the Lord? (v.56)
3) What did Solomon desire from the Lord? Why? (v.57-58)
4) Why did the king want his words to ever be with the Lord? (v.59-60)
5) What did King Solomon expect of God's people? Why? (v.61)
6) How did the king and all Israel respond King Solomon's declarations? (v.62)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How has the Lord blessed you recently?
8) Have you ever asked the Lord to incline your heart to fear Him and to walk in obedience to His ways? Why, or why not.
9) Why do you think that you are obedient to God's commands?
LIFE LESSONS
10) The blessing and favor of the Lord is upon those who are obedient to His word.
11) Those whose hearts are perfect before the Lord are those with a heart to obey His commands.
12) Worship is the only acceptable response to a petition after it has been offered to the Lord.
13) We are obedient to the Lord, not because of our own personal goodness, but because of the Lord's goodness to us.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Psalm 42:5-11 KJV
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him [for] the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 [Yet] the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 [As] with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the psalmist ask himself? (v.5a,11a-b)
2) How does the psalmist encourage himself? (v.5b,11c)
3) What does the psalmist purpose to do, though his heart is heavy? (v.6)
4) In Who, or what, does the psalmist hope when distressed? (v.7-8)
5) What are the psalmist's petitions to the Lord when in deepest sorrow?(v.9)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What has filled your heart with deep sorrow, recently?
7) When your heart is overwhelmed to whom does your heart cry out?
8) In whom, or what, do you place your hope when your situation seems hopeless?
PRINCIPLES
9) Praising God, in times of distress and adversity, lifts our spirit.
10) We can encourage ourselves by remembering what the Lord has done for us in the past.
11) In deep sorrow, or distress, we can always share our hearts cry with the Lord.
12) When our hearts are overwhelmed, God commands His lovingkindness to wash over us.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Psalm 130:1-8 KJV
1 [[A Song of degrees.]] Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But [there is] forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] they that watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD [there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
[Psa 131:1-3 KJV]
1 [[A Song of degrees of David.]] LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul [is] even as a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) From where did the psalmist cry to the Lord? (v.1)
2) What did the psalmist ask the Lord? (v.2)
3) Of what two things did the psalmist remind the Lord? (v.3-4)
4) What did the psalmist purpose to do? (v.5-6)
5) Of what did the psalmist remind God's people? (v.7-8)
6) How did the psalmist describe himself to the Lord? (v.1-2)
7) What was the psalmists hope for Israel? (v.3)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) How do you relate to the Lord after committing a sin? Why?
9) What are your reasons for waiting on the Lord?
10) What is your hope for the people of God in your home church?
11) What is your heart attitude toward the Lord, as you wait on Him?
PRINCIPLES
12) Regardless of how deeply we've fallen into sin, God's mercy is greater still.
13) The Lord never gives us what our sins deserve, because He is merciful.
14) Waiting on the Lord is a demonstration of our dependence upon the Lord.
15) Contentment in every situation leads to a victroious life in Christ.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Psalm 5:1-12
1 [[To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.]] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct [my prayer] unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For [there is] no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part [is] very wickedness; their throat [is] an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) David asks the Lord to do three (3) things? Why? (v.1-2)
2) What three (3) things does David tell the Lord he will do? (v.3)
3) What six (6) things does David believe about the Lord? (v.4-6)
4) How does David contrast his behavior with that of the wicked?(v.7)
5) What four (4) things does David ask the Lord to do for him? Why? (v.8-10)
6) What five (5) things does David ask/expect the Lord to allow in the lives of the righteous? Why? (v.11-12)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Why do you believe the Lord hears your prayers?
8) How do you demonstrate your love for the Lord?
9) Describe one way in which the Lord has blessed you as you put your trust in Him?
PRINCIPLES
10) The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous.
11) The Lord blesses those who trust in Him.
12) The righteous have much to rejoice about.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Psalm 86:1-10
1 [[A Prayer of David.]] Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I [am] poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul; for I [am] holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. 8 Among the gods [there is] none like unto thee, O Lord; neither [are there any works] like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. 10 For thou [art] great, and doest wondrous things: thou [art] God alone.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does David ask the Lord to do and why? (v.1-4, 6-7)
2) How does David describe the Lord? (v.5, 8a, 10)
3) What does David say about the works of God? (v.8b-9)
APPLICATION QUESTION
4) How do you demonstrate your trust in the Lord?
5) What is the attitude of your heart when you go before God's presence in prayer?
6) How sure are you that the Lord hears your prayers? Why?
PRINCIPLES
7) The Lord preserves those who place their trust in Him.
8) When we approach our Lord, in humility, He always hears our prayers.
9) All of creation will glorify the Lord because He alone is worthy of our praise.
