Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge week 15

Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge 5 May 2014 to 28th November 2014 Week 15: 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 11, 2014 --- Leviticus 23 --- The seven feasts of Israel 

-       V3, The command to keep a weekly Sabbath. Does this also imply that we are to work on the other days?

-       Can you imagine the long-term impact on your life if we treated every day as a workday? How would it affect our society if there were no ‘rest’ days or time set aside for worship?

-       V4-8, the feast of Passover and the feast of unleavened bread. They remind the Jews each year of their identity, history, and the provision of God, but some might suggest that the Passover itself (and the meal which remembers it) also foreshadowed the death of Jesus. What do you think? How significant was the timing of Jesus’ death? Why does the New Testament so often refer to Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God’?

-       How might we see a similarity between the feast of unleavened bread, and our desire for holiness after we have been saved? (see also 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

-       V9-14, in what way might the feast of Firstfruits foreshadow the resurrection of Jesus? It was to occur the day after the first Sabbath following Passover – is this the day Jesus was resurrected? If Christ is the Firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:23) then who is the ‘harvest’ foreshadowed within this feast day?

-       V16, this is where we get the word ‘Pentecost from’.

-       This feast commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. In what way did the original Pentecost foreshadow the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples?

-       V23-25, If the previous 4 feasts foreshadowed future events, what might the feast of trumpets foreshadow? 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014 --- Joshua 1 --- Joshua is affirmed as Moses’ successor and the leader of the Israelites 

-       V6, 7, &9, Is God telling Joshua to be strong and courageous as a comfort, a challenge, or a command?

-       V7-8, what difference would it make to a family, community, or country if they abided by the principles given in these two verses? (Even if it didn’t require a belief in God.)

-       V9, How courageous or fearful are we in doing what God asks us to do? E.g. witnessing, defending our beliefs when challenged, moving into new and unknown territory etc.. How can these verses help us to overcome any fears? 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014 --- Joshua 2 --- Joshua sends spies on a reconnaissance trip into Jericho 

-       V1, why do you think the two spies decided to stay at Rahab’s house?

-       V8-13, do these verses imply a healthy respect, fear, and recognition of God?

-       V24, this must have been encouraging news for the Israelites, but was it necessary to send spies? Did it display a lack of trust in God? Or does trust in God and personal preparation go hand-in-hand? 

Thursday, August 14, 2014 --- Joshua 3 --- Joshua leads the Israelites across a dry Jordan river 

-       V5, if your church leader said this to you, what would be your response?

-       V8 & 15-17, what modern day examples can of think of (perhaps within your own life) where you had to step out in trust before God provided the way the forward?

Friday, August 15, 2014 --- Joshua 4 --- Joshua leads the Israelites across a dry Jordan river 

-       V1&14, Try and imagine the scale of this event!

-       V24, how might this event stir up a fear of the Lord within our lives today?