Thursday, May 7, 2015
Romans 12:1-8 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul implore his readers to do with their bodies? Why? (v.1)
2) What does Paul tell the reader to refrain from doing? (v.2a)
3) What does the apostle tell us to do with our minds? Why? (v.2b-2c)
4) What else our we to do and refrain from doing and why? (v.3)
5) What are we members of and how does that affect our relationship with other members? (v.4-5)
6) What does the apostle write concerning the gifts given to each member and how they are to be used? (v.6-8)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) What is your spiritual gift and how do you use it to edify the body of Christ?
LIFE LESSONS
8) Every believer is a member of the body of Christ and has been given gifts to build up the body.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Hebrews 2:1-9 KJV
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; 4 God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the writer of Hebrews warn his readers about and why? (v.1-3a)
2) Who first revealed the message of salvation to us and through whom, or what, was it confirmed? (v.3b-4)
3) How does the writer compare our Lord Jesus with human beings and the angels? (v.5-9)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever sensed that you were drifting away from your faith in the Lord? If so, please describe one such time.
LIFE LESSONS
5) Our Lord not only proclaimed His salvation to all who would believe, but has given spiritual gifts to all believers to confirm our authority through Him.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Romans 11:25-32 KJV
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What was the mystery that the Apostle Paul wrote the readers of this book and why didn't he want Gentiles to be ignorant about it? (v.25-26a)
2) What had been prophesied in Scripture concerning the mystery? (v.26b-27)
3) Though the nation of Israel were enemies of the gospel of our Lord Jesus, what are God's feelings about Israel? Why? (v.28-29)
4) What comparison did the apostle make between Israel and Gentile believers? (v.30-31)
5) Who will the Lord ultimately have mercy upon? (v.32)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) When in your life were did you not believe God?
7) Why do you believe in Him now?
LIFE LESSONS
8) It is because of God's mercy and faithfulness that any of us are saved.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Deuteronomy 17:14-20 KJV
14 When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that [are] about me; 15 Thou shalt in any wise set [him] king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: [one] from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which [is] not thy brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, [to] the right hand, or [to] the left: to the end that he may prolong [his] days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Lord, through His servant Moses, tell the Israelites that they would do after possessing the land He promised them and why would they want to do that? (v.14)
2) Whom did the Lord command the people to set as king over Israel? (v.15)
3) What was Israel's king to refrain from doing? (v.16-17)
4) What was Israel's king to do and why? (v.18-20)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Whom has the Lord placed over you in your house of worship or study group?
6) How acquainted is your spiritual leader with Scripture from the Bible?
LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord ordains spiritual leaders over His people who know, and are obedient to, His word.
8) One cannot lead the people of God without a relationship with the Lord, maintained through prayer and study of His word.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
3 John 1:1-14 KJV
1 The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth. 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth [them] out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath good report of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, and we [also] bear record; and ye know that our record is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] to thee. [Our] friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What was the Apostle Paul's desire for his traveling companion, Gaius? (v.1-2)
2) What was Paul's greatest joy in concerning Gaius and all of his spiritual children? (v.3-4)
3) What had Gaius faithfully done, that others were witness to? (v.5-6)
4) How did Gaius' actions inspire the aposte, as well as those who were witness to his actions? (v.7-8)
5) What did the Apostle Paul write to the church, as a result, and how was it received by Diotrephes? (v.9)
6) What else did the apostle say that he would do, as a result of Diotrephes actions, and warn others to do? (v.10-11)
7) What did Paul write about Demetrius? (v.12)
8) What else did the apostle want to write to the reader(s) and why didn't he do that? (v.13-14)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Have you ever encountered individuals in your church, or home, who refused to receive the truth and follow it? If so, how did you respond and what happened to them?
LIFE LESSONS
10) The Lord would have His children to follow those who testify to, teach, and live the truth that is found in His word.
Saturday, May 2, 2015
1Timothy 2:1-7 KJV
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, [and] lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the Apostle Paul exhort his readers to do and why? (v.1-3)
2) Why is it acceptable to God that we pray for all people, especially those in authority? (v.4)
3) Why would our intercessions matter to Jesus and to the Apostle Paul? (v.5-7)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Why do you pray for those in spiritual and/or civic authority over the members of your family, church, and nation?
LIFE LESSONS
5) Our Lord determines who will be in authority over us. Our prayers for them will ensure our protection and provision in times of trouble.
Friday, May 1, 2015
2Timothy 2:14-19 KJV
14 Of these things put [them] in remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After charging his son Timothy to commit his teachings to faithful teachers, what did the Apostle Paul tell the young apostle to refrain from doing? Why? (v.14)
2) What else did Paul encourage Timothy to do and to "shun"? Why? (v.15-18)
3) What encouragement, and final instruction, does the Apostle Paul offer the young apostle? (v.19)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How diligent are you to rightly divide God's word?
LIFE LESSONS
5) The Lord has given us His word to edify His body.
