Friday, 22 March 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge Week 4



New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 04: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters


Welcome to The Salvation Army's Challenge to read the New Testament from beginning to end within one year, reading just 5 chapters per week.

It’s Week 4 of the Bible Challenge, and in the next 5 readings we read about Jesus predicting His death, demonstrating His glory, teaching and healing...

Great Expectations: Expect God to speak through the Scriptures, expect to learn new things about Him, and about ourselves, and expect to read and absorb some familiar stories and passages.

Top Tip!To get the most out of this challenge, start each daily reading with a short, simple, sincere prayer asking God to guide your thinking as you read. Then open the Bible and read slowly, with the aim of learning something new. After the reading, consider how it may affect your life and relationship with Jesus, and allow your increased knowledge of the Scriptures to shape your character and strengthen your trust in God.Take your time - enjoy this opportunity - and may God bless you as you embark upon this New Testament Bible Challenge.
Captain Phil Layton


Monday, March 25th  -- Matthew 16 – The Pharisees demand a sign, and Jesus predicts His death
-       In what way was Jonah a ‘sign’? (v4)
-       Are there still people today who insist on seeing a sign of some sort before they will believe? Do you think this is a valid request?
-       Jesus asks His disciples “Who do you say I am?”…but what would your answer be today?
-       V21-23 Did Peter miss the point of Jesus’ death, did his sorrow blind him to the good news of the resurrection, or was his misunderstanding simply clouded by his genuine concern for Jesus?
-       Do Christians sometimes focus on today’s worries, difficulties, and sorrows while neglecting the promise of what is to come?



Tuesday, March 26th  --- Matthew 17 --- the transfiguration
-       the transfiguration demonstrates the glory of Jesus  - but even on an everyday, scientific level, does it also emphasise how evidently limited our human knowledge is of time and space?
-       V22-23, the disciples were “filled with grief”...is this a surprise, or understandable?
-       V27, that’s quite an amazing occurrence, why do you think Jesus did such an elaborate thing?



Wednesday, March 27th --- Matthew 18 --- starting with the question of who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
-       V2, what is the difference, spiritually speaking, between being ‘childish’ and being ‘childlike’?
-       V10, WOW!...take time to dwell on verse 10 and all its implications for you and for others.
-       V21-35, the last 3 words add a real punch to this fundamental teaching, how easy is this to implement?



Thursday, March 28th --- Matthew 19 --- Jesus teaches on divorce, welcomes children, and talks on putting wealth into context
-       V3-12, what would be the benefits and difficulties involved with adhering to this teaching on marriage and divorce?
-       V23-24, why would being rich make it harder to enter the Kingdom of God?



Friday, March 29th --- Matthew 20 --- starting with the parable of the workers in the vineyard
-       how do you interpret the parable of the workers in the vineyard?
-       V17-19, how important and reassuring do you think these prophecies became after Jesus had ascended into heaven and left His disciples?
-       V34, Can Jesus still heal today? If He can, but doesn’t, what does that mean?

 
 

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