Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge week 19



Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge
5 May 2014 to 28th November 2014
Week 19: 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 08 , 2014 --- 1 Kings 18 --- Elijah challenges the 450 prophets of Baal, and proves that there is only one God  
-        V1&2, the third year since what?...can you imagine the impact this drought had upon the land, the food, and upon Elijah’s popularity?

-         V18, what was the basis of Israel’s trouble? Do you think natural problems we face today could be caused or used by God to bring us closer to Him?

-        V24, can you imagine the confidence needed to issue this challenge? How confident would you be in today’s society to stand up for Jesus, and for what the Bible teaches, when vastly outnumbered by those who believe differently?

-        V37, what was the purpose behind this elaborate challenge?

-        V43-44, what can this teach us about God’s timing, and our need for obedient faith and persistence? 
Tuesday, September 09 , 2014 --- 1 Kings 19 --- Elijah anoints Elisha as the prophet to succeed him
-        V3, given the miraculous and powerful things Elijah had just done in God’s Name, why do you think Elijah was now afraid of Jezebel?

-        How quick are we (like Elijah) to forget the wonderful things that God can do for, in and through us, as we give in to fear (of ridicule, of persecution, of the unknown future)? What is the answer to this?

-        Compare verses 14 and 18, is it easy to get discouraged if we are the only Christians in our workplace, or belong to a small church in a big town, or feel that overwhelmed by the command to proclaim the Gospel?...what do these verses teach us?

-        V21, Elisha appears to have not only followed Elijah as per the Lord’s command, but also ensured that he left his past behind him by   slaughtering the oxen he was driving and burning the plough. What are the benefits of ‘burning our bridges’ when it comes to obeying God’s call? 
Wednesday, September 10 , 2014 --- Esther 1 --- Queen Vashti angers King Xerxes  
-        V11, why do you think Queen Vashti refused the King’s command?

-        V12, what caused the King’s anger? The wine, the Queen, his pride, or a mixture of these?

-        V19-22, if you were the King, how would you have responded to Queen Vashti? 
Thursday, September 11 , 2014 --- Esther 2 --- Esther is chosen by the King, and Mordecai overhears a conspiracy  

-        v10, why do you think Mordechai advised Esther not to reveal her nationality? Do you think there was already an atmosphere of Jewish persecution? How easy or difficult would this have been?
 
-        v21-23, do you think it was a coincidence that Mordecai was at the gates at just the right time to hear the conspiracy, or was it all a part of God's plan and timing?
 
-        is this such a thing as pure coincidence, or does everything fit into a larger plan?
 
-        if some things are coincidence, bit others are not, how are we to tell the difference?  
 
Friday, September 12 , 2014 --- Esther 3 --- Haman seeks to wipe out all Jews  
-        v2, why wouldn't Mordecai kneel down or pay honour to Haman?

-        How is this different to the honour we pay to a sovereign today?

-        v6, why do you think that throughout history there have been so many attempts to wipe out the Jews?

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