Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge week 18

Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge 5 May 2014 to 28th November 2014 Week 18: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters

Welcome to The Salvation Army's Challenge to read
150 popular chapters from the Old Testament within 7 months,

reading just 5 chapters per week.  

 

Monday, September 01 , 2014 --- Ruth 3 --- Naomi tries to help Ruth find security  

-        V11, How would all the people of the town have known that Ruth was a virtuous woman? How would the people of your town describe you?

 

-        V12, what was the name of Ruth’s closer relative?  

 

Tuesday, September 02 , 2014 --- Ruth 4 --- Ruth marries Boaz, and gives birth to King David’s grandfather!  

-        V17-22, Studying this genealogy, do you think these final verses are the reason why this story is so important within our Scriptures?

 

-        V22, compare this to the genealogy found in Luke 3. How important were Boaz and Ruth within God’s wider plan? Do you think they recognised this importance at the time? What can this teach us about our place within God’s wider plan?  

Wednesday, September 03 , 2014 --- 1 Samuel 3 --- The Lord calls Samuel  

-        V1, This verse states that the word of the Lord was rare during those days…do you think it is rare today? Compared to what? If someone gave you a ‘word from the Lord’, how would you respond?

-        V7, what do you think this verse means?

-        V10, if the Bible is the Word of God, do we read it with this frame of mind? (“Speak Lord for your servant is listening”)

-        V18, what can we learn from Eli’s reply?

-        V21, how does the Lord reveal His will and character to us today?  

Thursday, September 04 , 2014 --- 1 Samuel 17 --- The story of David and Goliath  

-        This is a very familiar story. As you read through it carefully, is there anything which you had either forgotten or not noticed before?

-        V4-7, can you imagine the size and weight of Goliath, and how intimidating this must be in a world of face-to-face combat?

-        V26, what is the subtle but powerful difference in David’s description of the Israelite army?

-        V37, 46, & 47, Why was David so confident?

-        As David went out and defeated Goliath, it must have been tempting for some to have credited the victory to David’s skill and bravery, rather than to God, as nothing ‘supernatural’ seems to have occurred. We know that God can still perform the miracles of Moses even today, but in what other ways are our lives used by Him? ….and if success or victories are won which do not evidently have God’s input, how can we ensure that we do not take the glory which belongs to Him?...what characteristics did David show within this chapter, which we would do well to nurture within our own lives and relationship with God?  

Friday, September 05 , 2014 --- 1 Kings 17 --- Elijah announces a drought, is fed by ravens, and is shown hospitality by a poor widow.  

-        V1, How popular do you think this proclamation made Elijah? Knowing the effect it would have (even among friends) why do you think Elijah went ahead and made this prophecy? What fears might we have when asked by God to share His message? How can we overcome them?

-        V3, who was Elijah hiding from?

-        V7-24, what do you think this story of Elijah’s stay with the widow is all about? Is it just a historical account? Was it a part of the background which gave Elijah a reputation as a man of God? Would this story have been the basis of his credibility when challenged later on? Was it a balance of good news to counter the fact that he had previously caused a drought? Was this a way of keeping the community reminded that there is a God?

Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge week 17

Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge 5 May 2014 to 28th November 2014 Week 17: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters

Welcome to The Salvation Army's Challenge to read
150 popular chapters from the Old Testament within 7 months,

reading just 5 chapters per week.  

 

Monday, August 25 , 2014 --- Judges 14 --- Samson takes on a lion, gets married, and tells a riddle  

-        V1-4, After the message from the Lord, and their careful upbringing of Samson, how difficult must it have been for the parents when asked to secure him a Philistine wife?

-         V4, Do we sometimes struggle to see God’s will in events which occur today?

-        How can we decipher between what God makes happen, and what He allows to happen?

-        Does His will remain ‘on course’ no matter what we do?

-        If so, what difference does obedience to His will make?

-        Is obedience to God more about developing our own character than helping God’s will to be achieved?

-        V20, Samson’s wife had tricked him, but only to save the lives of her family from fire!...So why do you think Samson gave her to his best man instead?...How important is trust within a marriage?  

Tuesday, August 26 , 2014 --- Judges 15 --- Samson and the Philistines trade blows  

-        V1-2, It would seem that Samson’s actions toward his wife and best man had been misinterpreted. Have your actions or words ever been misinterpreted? How did this make you feel, and what, if anything, can be done to avoid it?

-        V3-17, this story appears to be a recurring round of revenge, and counter-revenge. What are we to make of this?  

Wednesday, August 27 , 2014 --- Judges 16 --- Samson falls for Delilah, and the Philistine temple falls on Samson  

-        V4, Why do you think we are introduced to Delilah by name, and yet we are not told the name of Samson’s chosen wife, nor his mother?

-        V4-6, We are told that Samson fell in love with Delilah. Do you think she loved him? Do you think she loved him BUT loved her fellow Philistines more?...Or do you think she was driven by the money?

-        V7, Does Samson’s response reveal his lack of trust in Delilah?

-        V7-14, numerous times it must have been clear that Delilah was trying to trap Samson. Do you think his love had blinded him of this, or did he enjoy the challenge/mockery of the Philistines?

-        V16-17, What eventually made Samson cave in to Delilah’s request, and how could he have avoided this?

-        V20, How was the Lord’s presence linked to his hair cut?

-        V23, How would this reflect on the Name of the Almighty God?

-        V25-30, What message would this send to the rest of the Philistines about their god?  

Thursday, August 28 , 2014 --- Ruth 1 --- Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, return to Bethlehem.  

-        V15, What do you make of Naomi saying this about the Moabite gods? Do you think she mentioned them to try and attract Ruth into going back to her own home, or was she simply stating a matter of fact about Orpah?

 

-        V21, Do you think the Lord really had brought this upon Naomi, or that this was merely the way she felt about it? Which would be better?

 

 

 

Friday, August 29 , 2014 --- Ruth 2 --- Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, return to Bethlehem.  

-        V1&3, was this coincidence, or do you think this was all part of God’s plan? Is it possible that some apparent coincidences may actually be a part of God’s plan, and yet we will never be aware of that fact?

 

-        V12, to what extent might this verse summarise the story