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
Friday, February 6, 2015
Luke 21:1-4 KJV
1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did our Lord see after He looked? (v.1-2)
2) What did Jesus tell his disciples concerning what He saw? (v.3)
3) Why did Jesus make this statement about the widow? (v.4)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How concerned are you about the amount of your offerings (time, talent, and/or treasure) to the Lord? Please explain.
5) Do you believe that the Lord is please with your offerings to Him? Why, or why not?
LIFE LESSONS
6) What we give is not as important as the spirit in which we give.
7) Our Lord is not pleased with the quantity of what we give, but the quality.
8) The heart that gives out of its poverty is of greater value, to the Lord, than the heart the gives out of plenty.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Deuteronomy 6:1-8 KJV
1 Now these [are] the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do [them] in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do [it]; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why did the Lord give commandments to His people? (v.1-3)
2) What did the Lord say about Himself and how His people are to respond to Him? Why? (v.4-5)
3) What were the people of God to do with the Lord's commands? (v.6-8)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How much do you love the Lord? Why?
5) What do you do to remain obedient to the word (will) of the Lord? Why?
LIFE LESSONS
6) Our love for the Lord is demonstrated by our obedience to His word (will).
7) We remain obedient to God by hiding His word in our hearts and teaching our children to do the same.
8) Obedience to the Lord leads to His blessing over our lives.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Matthew 23:1-39 KJV
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, [that] observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay [them] on men's shoulders; but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 [Ye] fools and blind: for whether [is] greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 [Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 [Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 [Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some] of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them] from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did our Lord Jesus tell the people and His disciples about the Scribes and Pharisees? Why didn't He want them to imitate them? (v.1-3)
2) What were the fourteen (14) actions that our Lord accused the religious leaders of, during His earthly ministry? (v.4-7, 13-32)
3) What else did the hypocrites do that our Lord warned His disciples to refrain from doing? Why? (v.8-12)
4) What did our Lord say would happen to the righteous and to the religious leaders as a result of their hypocrisy? (v.33-36)
5) What did the Lord proclaim over Jerusalem and when would this judgment cease? (v.37-39)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) When, if ever, have you exalted yourself and/or your "works" over your relationship with Christ?
7) When, if ever, have you sought the approval of other people, over the Lord's approval of you?
LIFE LESSONS
8) Hypocrisy and self exaltation are rooted in pride and will be judged harshly by the Lord.
9) The children of God will be rewarded for the works they have done in obedience to Him.
10) Humility before God is of greater value to our Lord than the approval of man.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
James 2:8-13 KJV
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
OBERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How will believers do well or prosper in this life? (v.8)
2) What do transgressors do that is sinful and why is it sinful? (v.9-11)
3) What does James encourage believers to do? Why? (v.12-13)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever shown partiality or favoritism toward specific individuals in the body of Christ, while ignoring or dismissing others? If so, why?
5) What, if anything, will you do to correct the error of your ways?
LIFE LESSONS
6) The Lord has no favorites in His body and neither should His children.
7) To prefer one member of Christ's body, while ignoring or dismissing other members of the body, is a sin.
8) The Lord God loves all of the members of His body equally and expects His children to be merciful toward all who are in the household of faith.
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.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Daniel 1:5, 8-17; Matthew 6:16-18 KJV
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. ... 8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. 17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Matthew 6:16-18 KJV
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the Babylonian captivity, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned young men, from among his descendants and the children of Israel, to determine who were able to serve in the king's palace. What did the king do for the young men selected? Why? (v.5)
2) What did Daniel purpose in His heart to refrain from doing and request as a result? (v.6)
3) What did the prince of the eunuchs say to Daniel? Why? (v.7-10)
4) What did Daniel say to the eunuch who was set over him and the other three Hebrew men? (v.11-13)
5) How did that eunuch respond to Daniel's proposition and what happened after the set time? (v.14-16)
6) What did the Lord do for the four young Hebrew men? (v.17)
7) What did our Lord tell His disciples to do, and to refrain from doing, when fasting? Why? (Matt 6:16-18)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
8) Have you ever made a "show" of fasting, or of refraining to do what the world does, to earn the approval of people? If so, please describe one such time.
9) What typically motivates you to do what you do for the Lord?
LIFE LESSONS
10) God is only pleased by the selfless motives of our hearts in doing whatever we do to honor Him.
