Saturday, November 21, 2015
Psalm 47 KJV
1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.]] O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the LORD most high [is] terrible; [he is] a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God [is] the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. 8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9 The princes of the people are gathered together, [even] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God: he is greatly exalted.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are the people of God encouraged to do in this psalm? Why? (v.1-5)
2) What else are God's people to do? Why? (v.6-8)
3) Who is gathered before the Lord? Why? (v.9)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) What do you do to exalt God?
LIFE LESSONS
5) God is worthy to be exalted above every living creature, and every power on this earth.
6) The Lord is exalted when people praise and worship Him.
7) The best way to exalt God is through living a life of worship unto Him.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Psalm 147:1-11 NIV
1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is good for the people of God to do? Why? (v.1-6)
2) How else are we to minister to the Lord? Why? (v.7-9)
3) What does the Lord take pleasure and delight in? (v.10-11)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) What do you do to minister to the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
5) We minister to the Lord by praising and worshipping Him for all that He does in our lives.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Psalm 89:11-18 NIV
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it. 12 You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name. 13 Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. 17 For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. 18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What belongs to the Lord God Almighty? (v.11)
2) What did He create and who (or what) sings at the mention of His name? (v.12)
3) What does the psalmish write concerning the Lord's arm and hands? (v.13)
4) What is the foundation of God's throne and what goes before Him? (v.14)
5) Who is blessed among His creation and how do they demonstrate their reverence the Lord? Why? (v.15-18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What do you do to reverence and exalt the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord's righteous people rejoice in His Presence and exalt His Person.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NIV
12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? 14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations--as it is today. 16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What five (5) things does the Lord ask of His people? (v.12-13)
2) What belongs to the Lord and who did He choose to be His people above all nations? (v.14-15)
3) What does the Lord ask His people to do? (v.16)
4) What does the Lord say about Himself? (v.17-18)
5) Who are His people to love? (v.19)
6) How are His people to respond to the Lord and why? (v.20-22)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) How do you worship (revere) the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
8) After all that the Lord has done for His people, He deserves our adoration, worship and praise.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Revelation 7:9-12 KJV
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the angels had sealed the 144,000 from among all the tribes of the children of Israel on their foreheads, what did the Apostle John behold? (v.9)
2) What were the multitude doing? (v.10)
3) What were the angels doing? (v.11-12)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Who will comprise the great multitude of the Lord's servants?
LIFE LESSONS
5) The kingdom of our Lord and God will include people from all nations, kindreds, tongues, and ethnicities.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Luke 7:44-48 KJV
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the woman anointed our Lord with the alabaster box of perfume, what did Jesus say to Simon Peter about her? (v.44-47)
2) What did Jesus say to the sinful woman? (v.48)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) Have you ever poured your worship and praise upon our Lord in ways that others did not understand? Why?
4) Have you ever witnessed such a display and questionned why the individual did what they did?
LIFE LESSONS
5) Those who have been forgiven much worship the Lord lavishly.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
John 4:21-26 KJV
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he].
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Our Lord Jesus was speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. What was His response to her question about where to worship? (v.21-24)
2) What did the woman say in response to Jesus? (v.25)
3) What was our Lord's revelation to the woman? (v.26)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) When and where do you typically worship the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
5) Our worship of the Lord should not be confined to a building. Worship is a lifestyle of adoration and obedience to the Father.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Psalm 108:1-6 KJV
1 [[A Song [or] Psalm of David.]] O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I [myself] will awake early. 3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. 4 For thy mercy [is] great above the heavens: and thy truth [reacheth] unto the clouds. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; 6 That thy beloved may be delivered: save [with] thy right hand, and answer me.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does David tell God? (v.1)
2) What will the psalmist do for the Lord? Why? (v.2-4)
3) What is David's desire for the Lord? Why? (v.5-6)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) When do you typically set aside time to praise and worship God?
5) Why have you selected that time to exalt Him?
6) What typically happens when you do not set aside personal devotion time for the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
7) We dedicate the first minute, or hour(s), of our day to the Lord because our lives and times belong to Him.
8) When the Lord is exalted first, He orders what remains of our day.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
2 Chronicles 5:2-14 KJV
2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion. 3 Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which [was] in the seventh month. 4 And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle, these did the priests [and] the Levites bring up. 6 Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims: 8 For the cherubims spread forth [their] wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above. 9 And they drew out the staves [of the ark], that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day. 10 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put [therein] at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. 11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place]: (for all the priests [that were] present were sanctified, [and] did not [then] wait by course: 12 Also the Levites [which were] the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, [being] arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) King Solomon completed the building of the temple that would house the ark of the covenant. Who did Solomon assemble to bring the ark to Jerusalem? (v.1-5)
2) What did the king and the congregation do before the ark? (v.6)
3) What did the priest do? (v.7-9)
4) What was in the ark? (v.10)
5) When the priests came out of the holy place who assembed with them? Why? (v.11-13)
6) What happened to the priests? Why? (v.14)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you experienced the Presence of God during corporate worship? If so, briefly describe what happened during one such time.
8) During corporate worship, have you ever experienced God's Presence so strongly that your spiritual leaders were unable to minister to the people of God? If so, briefly describe one such instance.
LIFE LESSONS
9) The Presence of the Lord most often manifests when the people of God are assembled as one to worship the Lord.
10) The Presence of God is strongest when the people of God are united in thanksgiving, praise and worship to Him.
11) When the Presence of the Lord is strongest, the ministers of the Lord are too overwhelmed to minister to the people of God.
Monday, December 15, 2014
1 Chronicles 16:35-41 KJV
35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, [and] glory in thy praise. 36 Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD. 37 So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: 38 And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah [to be] porters: 39 And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that [was] at Gibeon, 40 To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and [to do] according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel; 41 And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy [endureth] for ever;
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the ark was placed in its rightful place in Jerusalem, King David penned a psalm and regular worship resumed. What does David implore the people of God to say to the Lord? (v.35)
2) How do the people respond to the king's benediction? (v.36)
3) Who did David leave to minister before the ark continually? (v.37)
4) Who were designated to be porters? (v.38)
5) What were Zadok, the other priests, and others chosen to do? (v.39-41)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What role, if any, do you have in ministering to God's people at your local church?
7) How do you prepare yourself for the work that you've been assigned in the household of faith?
LIFE LESSONS
8) The Lord has a role for every believer in building up a habitation for His presence.
9) Personal devotion precedes corporate worship in the household of faith.
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Psalm 95:1-7 KJV
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand [are] the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills [is] his also. 5 The sea [is] his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry [land]. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 7 For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the psalmist encourage the Lord's people to do? (v.1-2)
2) Why does the psalmist encourage God's people to worship God? (v.3-5)
3) What else does the psalmist encourage God's people to do? Why? (v.6-7)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) What is the difference, if any, between singing to the Lord and worshipping him?
5) How obedient are you to the Lord's will and word?
LIFE LESSONS
6) True worship is found not only in the songs we sing to the Lord, but in the attitude of our hearts before Him.
7) A genuine worshipper is also a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
1 Chronicles 16:7-15 KJV
7 Then on that day David delivered first [this psalm] to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. 8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 13 O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14 He [is] the LORD our God; his judgments [are] in all the earth. 15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word [which] he commanded to a thousand generations;
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) The ark of God had been returned to Jerusalem and placed in the tabernacle. What did King David do in response? (v.7)
2) What did King David encourage God's people to do in gratitude to the Lord? (v.8-12)
3) How did David address the people of God? (v.13)
4) What did the king say about the Lord? (v.14)
5) What else did King David encourage God's people to do? (v.15)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How do you demonstrate your gratitude for what the Lord has done for you?
7) How important is the Presence of the Lord to you?
8) What will you do to draw nearer to the Lord in times of difficulty or hardship?
LIFE LESSONS
9) The Presence of the Lord comforts, encourages, and transforms our souls.
10) The Presence of the Lord is available to those who praise Him, in spirit and in truth.
11) God has chosen His people to worship Him and to praise Him in the beauty of holiness.
12) The Word of God, that is hidden in our hearts, keeps God's people from sinning against Him.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Hebrews 1:1-9 KJV
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How did the Lord speak to the patriarchs of the faith, in the past? (v.1)
2) How does God speak to His children in this present age? (v.2a)
3) How is Jesus described? (v.2b-3)
4) Who is Jesus better than? Why? (v.4-7)
5) What does the Father say about Jesus? (v.8-9)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) Do you know of anyone who worships or prays to angel? If so, why is this wrong?
7) What has Jesus done for you that no other entity or being can do?
8) How does the Lord speak to you?
LIFE LESSONS
The presence of the Lord is to be desired more than the presence of angelic beings.
Angels worship and serve God and His children.
Because God loves righteousness and hates iniquity, He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sin.
At the Name of Jesus, every knee will bow.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Isaiah 42:10-16 KJV
10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, [and] refrained myself: [now] will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are the inhabitants of the earth to do for the Lord? (v.10-12)
2) What will the Lord do in response? (v.13)
3) What does the Lord declare that He will do? (v.14-16)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How do you glorify the Lord?
5) Why do you give glory to Him?
6) How has the Lord responded to your praise in recent months?
PRINCIPLES
7) Praise, in the midst of adversity, is our greatest weapon against the enemies of God.
8) Though He is longsuffering, the Lord will be merciless toward the wicked.
9) The Lord will never forsake those who put their trust in Him.
Tuesday, November 3, 2014
Judges 6:24-32 KJV
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it [is] yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. 25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that [is] by it: 26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and [so] it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do [it] by day, that he did [it] by night. 28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that [was] by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar [that was] built. 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that [was] by it. 31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he [be] a god, let him plead for himself, because [one] hath cast down his altar. 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did Gideon build and what did he name it? (v.24)
2) What did the Lord tell Gideon to do? (v.25-26)
3) Who helped Gideon? When? (v.27)
4) What did the men of the city discover upon waking? (v.28)
5) What did the men of the city do following their discovery? (v.29)
6) What did the men ask of Gideon's father? Why? (v.30)
7) How did Gideon's father respond? (v.31)
8) What was Gideon's name following Joash's altercation with the Baal worshippers? Why? (v.32)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) What is your reaction when you see the images of other gods that are worshipped by non-believers?
10) Have you had the opportunity to talk with a person of a different religion than Christianity? If so, briefly describe what happened during one such time.
11) How do you explain your religious beliefs and values to a non-Christian?
PRINCIPLES
12) The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the only True and Living God.
13) The worship of anything, or anyone, other than the Lord is sin.
14) Only the True and Living God can change hearts and minds.
15) Our God alone is worthy of worship and praise.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Joshua 22:21-34 KJV
21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if [it be] in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) 23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require [it]; 24 And if we have not [rather] done it for fear of [this] thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? 25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. 26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: 27 But [that] it [may be] a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. 28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should [so] say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say [again], Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it [is] a witness between us and you. 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that [is] before his tabernacle. 30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which [were] with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD [is] among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. 32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar [Ed]: for it [shall be] a witness between us that the LORD [is] God.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manassseh were returning to their allotted land on the other side of the Jordan. What had they done upon taking posession of the land? Why? (v.24-28)
2) What did the Israelites assume when the three tribes did what they did? (v.29)
3) What did the Israelites conclude about the actions of the three tribes? (v.30-33)
4) What did the three tribes call their altar and declare that it was for? (v.34)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever done something in a church service that was misunderstood by other congregants? If so, briefly describe what it was and what provoked the misunderstanding.
6) What did you do to be reconciled to your brothers and/or sisters?
7) Have you ever heard of, or been a part of, a church split? If so, briefly describe what happened.
PRINCIPLES
8) It is the Lord's desire that His children dwell together in unity.
9) As children of God, we are to seek peace and pursue it, at all costs.
10) Judging the actions/behaviors of our brothers and/or sisters, without talking with them first, is not conducive to maintaining harmonious relations with each other.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Psalm 65:1-5 KJV
1 [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm [and] Song of David.]] Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3 Iniquities prevail against me: [as for] our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4 Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple. 5 [By] terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; [who art] the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off [upon] the sea:
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What waits for God, according to David? (v.1)
2) What does David say will come to God? Why? (v.2)
3) What prevailed against David? How would God help him? (v.3)
4) Who does David say is blessed? Why? (v.4)
5) What will God do for His people? Why? (v.5)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What are your reasons for praising the Lord?
7) How do you know that your sins have been forgiven?
8) What do you do to enter into the presence of the Lord?
PRINCIPLES
9) The Lord is not far, or distant, from any of His people.
10) The Lord is the initiator of all true worship.
11) The presence of the Lord is our refuge.
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.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
1 Chronicles 16:28-34
28 Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 29 Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let [men] say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that [is] therein. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What are God's people to give to the Lord? (v.28-29a)
2) How are God's people to worship the Lord? (v29b)
3) How is creation to worship God? (v.30-33)
4) What are we to give to the Lord for His goodness and mercy? (v.34)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) How do you worship the Lord in your church?
6) How do you worship the Lord during your private devotions?
7) What are you most thankful to the Lord about?
PRINCIPLES
8) The Lord created every living thing to worship Him.
9) The Lord is worshipped through our sacrifices to Him.
10) Thanksgiving is a form of worship.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Psalm 57:1-6
1 [[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.]] Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until [these] calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth [all things] for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul [is] among lions: [and] I lie [even among] them that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [let] thy glory [be] above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen [themselves]. Selah.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did David ask of the Lord and why? (v.1)
2) What did David say that he would do until the Lord answered his request? (v.2)
3) What did David expect the Lord to do for him? (v.3)
4) How did David describe his situation? (v.4)
5) What did David do after presenting his petition to the Lord? (v.5)
6) What did David say that his enemies had done against him? (v.6)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you ever encountered a life situation that was too much for you to handle on your own? If so, how did you handle it?
8) What do you typically do when you are overwhelmed by adversities?
9) Have you ever praised the Lord in the midst of adversity? If so, what happened?
PRINCIPLES
10) The Lord expects His children to call upon Him in times of trouble.
11) The Lord is a Refuge for His children.
12) The Lord will protect us from our enemies when we have been obedient to His will.
