Monday, September 28, 2020

Luke 1-13 Twenty Questions

 1. Based on Luke 1:1-4, is it more likely that Luke’s account of Jesus Christ was one of the first ones composed, or one of the later ones?

2. How does Gabriel’s proclamation in Luke 1:13-17 indicate that John the Baptist will be a fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6 and Isaiah 40:3?

3. What is the difference between Zechariah’s and Mary’s responses to the angelic message of an impending miraculous birth?

4. What does the story of Jesus as a 12-year-old at the Temple reveal about His priorities?

5. How would you react if someone called you “a snake”?  How did John’s audience respond to him calling them “a brood of vipers”?

6. How should we interpret the differences in the genealogies of Jesus between Matthew 1 and Luke 3?

7. What do you make of the fact that in Luke 4:10-11, “the devil can cite scripture for his purpose?”

8. In Luke 4:18-19, why do you suppose Jesus did not finish the entire quote from Isaiah 61:1-2?

9. What made the good synagogue-going citizens of Nazareth want to throw Jesus off a cliff?

10. What is Simon’s initial reaction to the miracle of the great catch of fish?

11. In contrast to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, Luke’s Sermon on the Plain includes corresponding “woes” to the beatitudes.  Where do we see this idea of a “reversal of fortunes” elsewhere in Luke?

12. Do you think Jesus honestly meant for His followers to practice “turning the other cheek” (Luke 6:29) or was He exaggerating?

13. What factors motivated Jesus to a) heal the centurion’s servant and b) raise the son of the widow of Nain?

14. Why would John the Baptist question if Jesus was the Messiah in Luke 7:19?  Was Jesus offended at his doubt?

15. What does Jesus say is the surprising connection between love and forgiveness in Luke 7?  How does He reveal this?

16. What role did women play in the ministry of Jesus, according to Luke 8:1-3?

17. Reconcile the apparent contradiction of Luke 9:50 (“Whoever is not against you is for you.”) and Luke 11:23 (“Whoever is not with me is against me.”)

18. Based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37, how should we answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

19. In what way does Jesus draw unfavorable comparisons between the people of His day with earlier Bible times (Luke 10:8-15; 11:29-32)?

20. How do you interpret the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast?  How is the Kingdom of God like these things?

Monday, September 21, 2020

Mark Twenty Questions

 1. How would you define the “good news” in Mark 1:1 and 1:15?

2. What do you suppose made men like Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Levi leave everything and follow Jesus?

3. Does it surprise you that the Son of God did not fit the expectations of the religious scribes and Pharisees in Mark 2?  Is there a word of warning there for us in terms of our expectations of God?

4. In the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4, Jesus talks about four different kinds of soil.  Which kind do you think is most prevalent in our society today?  Which one do you find yourself to often be?

5. How do we know Jesus is full of spiritual power, based on Mark 5?

6. What offense got John the Baptist in trouble and eventually executed?

7. Have you ever witnessed God miraculously provide for a need like when Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish to feed a crowd?

8. Which does Jesus say it is that defiles a person – what goes into them or what comes out of them?  Why?

9. In what ways do you suppose the “yeast” of the Pharisees and of Herod stands in opposition to the way of Jesus?

10. What is the contrast between what the people were expecting in their Messiah, and what Jesus says is going to happen to Him?

11. Mark contains many miracle stories, including the supernatural experience of the Transfiguration.  Do you think it is possible to follow Jesus without believing in miracles?  Why or why not?

12. What would you tell a Christian who wants to pluck out his eye rather than be led into sin by what he looks at?

13. In Mark 10, does Jesus say it is easy or hard to enter the kingdom of heaven? Assuming you agree with Him, why do you think that is so?

14. What was the immediate fall-out of Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple?

15. Where did Jesus come up with the greatest commandment(s)?  What does this show us about the continuity between the Testaments?

16. How much do you think Christians should study and reflect upon the endtimes teaching in the Bible, such as in Mark 13?  Why?

17. Who was right: the woman who anointed Jesus with a costly perfume in Mark 14, or those who criticized her?  Are there any implications from this story for the practice of our faith today?

18. Why was Peter so sure that he would not disown Christ?  Why was he so badly mistaken?

19. What do you suppose is the meaning of the temple curtain being torn in two from top to bottom at the moment that Jesus died?

20. Some churches practice “snake handling” based on Jesus’ prophecy in Mark 16:17-18.  Should we start doing that at Science Hill?  Why or why not?


Sunday, September 13, 2020

Matthew 15-28 Twenty Questions

 1. Which is more important: honoring time-tested traditions or obeying the commands of God?

2. What do you think Jesus might say about the adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness?”

3. How did Peter know that Jesus was the Messiah?  Why do you think Jesus wanted to keep His identity a secret?

4. How does John the Baptist fulfill the prophecy of Elijah coming first?

5. What do you suppose it is about children that Jesus wants us to emulate in “changing and becoming like [them]” in Matthew 18:3?

6. Have you ever lost something that you deeply regretted?  Have you ever had a moment of joy in finding something of yours that had been lost?

7. What does Jesus say will happen to the person whose sins are forgiven by God, but then does not forgive his brother or sister?

8. Is the employer in the parable of Matthew 20:1-16 fair?  Are you ever jealous about God’s grace toward someone else?

9. Do we practice Jesus’ concept of servant leadership described in Matthew 20:25-28?  What does/would that look like?

10. Was Jesus justified in overturning the tables in the Temple?  Why or why not?

11. What were the Pharisees doing wrong, according to the parables of Matthew 21:28-32 and 21:33-41?

12. Is there one greatest commandment, or two?

13. In Matthew 23, Jesus issues seven woes upon the Pharisees for their practices.  Which do you find personally most convicting?

14. What are some clues that Jesus gives us about the occasion of His return in Matthew 24?

15. How would you answer Jesus if He were to return today and ask you what you have done with your “talents”?

16. What can you do to move in your life, becoming less “goat-like” and more “sheep-like”, as described in Matthew 25:31-46?

17. Do you think Jesus’ prayer in the Garden was answered?  Why or why not?

18. The disciples abandoned Jesus, Peter denied Him, Judas betrayed Him.  How do Christians make choices today that reflect these same actions?

19. Was Pilate able to remove the blood of Jesus on his hands by washing them?  Were the Jews able to claim the responsibility for Jesus’ blood to be upon them and their children?

20. What do you think happened to Jesus’ body?  Do you believe Matthew’s account, or that of the priests/Roman guards?

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Matthew 1-14 Twenty Questions

 1. Do you tend to be bored or fascinated with genealogies?  How many generations back can you trace your own family tree?

2. Why do you suppose Matthew might have chosen to begin his gospel with a genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham?

3. How often does God communicate through dreams in Matthew 1 and 2?  Do you think God still communicates that way today?

4. What were the circumstances of your baptism?  What do you make of the conversation between Jesus and John about baptism?

5. Which of Satan’s temptations in the wilderness do you think it would have been hardest for you to resist?  Does Jesus give us any guidance on resisting temptation through His example here?

6. Simon, Andrew, James, and John were probably skilled fishermen.  What did Jesus mean that they would now “fish for people”?  How might Jesus put a spin on your occupation in His calling of you?

7. Which beatitude do you find most comforting?  Most confounding?

8. What’s the hardest part about loving our enemies? 

9. What does Jesus’ advice on practicing acts of righteousness (such as giving, praying, fasting) have in common?

10. In comparison to Jesus’ first-century audience, do you think people today worry more, worry less, or worry about the same?  Why?

11. Do you consider “Do unto others as they do unto you” to be the Golden Rule?  Why or why not?

12. How does Jesus say we can tell false prophets from true ones?

13. Does Jesus’ parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders make the implicit promise that those who follow Him will never suffer ferocious storms in their lives?  Why or why not?

14. What acts of power does Jesus demonstrate in Matthew 8?

15. Matthew 9:1-8 records the first instance of conflict between Jesus and the teachers of the law.  What caused the initial tension?  What other complaints against Jesus followed?

16. Jesus gives the disciples their marching orders in Matthew 10.  What do you find most surprising out of all of His instructions?

17. What do you think about the Sabbath controversies and debates that Jesus has with the Pharisees in Matthew 12?  Why do you think Jesus defensively quotes Hosea 6:6 at least twice in His ministry?

18. Which of Jesus’ parables in chapter 13 speak most strongly to you?

19. If you had been in the boat of disciples seeing Jesus walk on water, would you have wanted to join Him?  What made Peter start to sink when he tried walking on water?

20. Have you discovered anything new or especially relevant to you on this reading trip through the Gospel of Matthew?