1. What questions do you have about this week’s reading?
2. The very first commandment is that we should have no other gods before God. Why do you think God insists on being first in our lives (Commandment #1 in Exodus 20:3)?
3. Jealousy is not normally considered a positive trait. How should we interpret that God identifies Himself as a “jealous” God (Commandment #2 in Exodus 20:5)?
4. How would you explain Exodus 20:5 and 6 to someone who objects that God is being unfair by punishing children for the sins of the parents? (Compare: Ezekiel 18:1-20)
5. How should Christians view the Ten Commandments – binding/ legalistic/optional/helpful?
6. In Ephesians 6:1-3, Paul says that honoring your father and mother is the first commandment with a promise. What is that promise?
7. Is our entire consumer-driven marketing/economic system based on an inherent violation of the Tenth Commandment to not covet?
8. How is the understanding and punishment of homicide becoming more nuanced in Exodus 21:12-14?
9. How should we understand the concept and application of retributive justice (“eye for eye, tooth for tooth”) in Exodus 21:23-25?
10. Do any of the various laws strike you as strange or disproportionate?
11. Reading Exodus 23:23-33 and Exodus 34:10-17, what is the basis of God’s command for the Canaanite nations to be wiped out entirely?
12. Does reading Hebrews 9:16-20 help you to better understand Exodus 24:4-8?
13. Can people look upon God? Check out Exodus 24:9-11 and Exodus 33:11 and 33:18-23.
14. Why was it important for Moses and the Israelites to build the Tabernacle exactly to the specifications that God laid out?
15. What did God do for Bezalel and Oholiab?
16. What do you suppose motivated the people to want to follow other gods in Exodus 32:1?
17. Do you believe Aaron’s story in Exodus 32:24 that the golden calf just happened to come out of the fire?
18. What kind of punishments came upon the people because of their sin with golden calf?
19. Based on Exodus 36:1-7, how well was the building project of the Tabernacle supported by the people?
20. How did the Israelites do in actually assembling the Tabernacle according to the vision God had given Moses? (Hint: See Exodus 39:42-43)
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Exodus 1-19 Twenty Questions
1. What does Exodus 1:15-21 reveal about lying and absolute honesty?
2. How do you see the providence of God at work in the story of Moses in Exodus 2:1-10?
3. Based on Exodus 2:11-15, would you describe Moses as a murderer?
4. What are Moses’ two questions to God in Exodus 3?
5. What meanings do you find in God’s revelation of His name as “I AM WHO I AM”?
6. In Exodus 4, what three signs did God give Moses to show the Israelites as proof of his story?
7. How would you describe Moses’ reaction to his call?
8. What is the difference in the elders’ attitude toward Moses and Aaron at the end of Exodus 4 and Exodus 5?
9. What are the odds of success for Moses’ mission at the end of Exodus 6:12?
10. According to Exodus 7:22-23, how did Pharaoh respond to the first plague of the water turning to blood?
11. In Exodus 8, how did Pharaoh respond to the second plague of frogs?
12. How did Pharaoh’s magicians describe the plagues after they could not replicate the gnats?
13. Which do you personally feel would have been the worst plague?
14. Was it wrong for God to harden Pharaoh’s heart in Exodus 9:12 considering Pharaoh had already hardened his heart several times?
15. What parallels do you see between the Passover in Exodus 12 and the sacrifice of Christ?
16. The firstborn of the Egyptians were killed in the final plague. What did God require be done to the firstborn of the Israelites instead? (See Exodus 13:1-2 and 13:14-16)
17. How does Exodus 13:9 resolve the ending of the Book of Genesis?
18. Some have proposed various naturalistic explanations for the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. Does the Bible leave any room for acceptance of these events apart from the supernatural work of God?
19. What were some of the special rules regarding manna, and how did the Israelites break them?
20. How do the stories in Exodus 17 and 18 reveal that Moses needed help?
Genesis 34-50 Twenty Questions
1. What stood out most to you from this week’s reading?
2. What do you think of the sons of Jacob’s plan against Hamor and Shechem? (i.e. just or unjust, cleverness of the plan, what was the fall-out, etc.)
3. What is the background behind Benjamin’s name?
4. What is the connection between Rachel’s burial place and the New Testament? (See Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18)
5. In Genesis 37, what were Joseph’s brothers reasons for hating him?
6. What were the various plans the brothers hatched to do to Joseph?
7. Can you name three examples throughout his life that show Joseph’s excellent administration abilities?
8. In the time of Joseph, the meaning of dreams could be interpreted, often with a prophetic message. Do you think God still speaks in dreams today?
9. What do the trials of Joseph (betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly accused, forgotten in prison) teach us about living an upright life?
10. What does Joseph’s answer to Pharaoh about dream interpretation in Genesis 41:16 reveal about Joseph?
11. If it hadn’t been for (God working through) Joseph, what would have happened to Egypt and its people, as well as Joseph’s family back home?
12. Based on the meaning of the names of Joseph’s sons (Manasseh and Ephraim), how do you think Joseph was feeling during the seven years of plenty?
13. What do you think were Joseph’s motivations in the mind games he was playing with his half-brothers?
14. How is Judah’s offer in Genesis 44:33 a picture of the gospel story in miniature?
15. Do you agree with Joseph about who he feels has been working behind the scenes throughout the events of his life (Genesis 45:8 and 50:20)?
16. Speculation question – do you think anyone ever told Jacob what had really happened to Joseph?
17. Beersheba had a profound spiritual influence on Abraham’s family. Compare the experiences in Genesis 26:23-25 and Genesis 46:1-5.
18. What was the first tax rate in Egypt? (Hint: See Genesis 47:26)
19. What do you make of Jacob’s crossed-arm blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh in Genesis 48?
20. What “unfinished business” does Genesis end with?
2. What do you think of the sons of Jacob’s plan against Hamor and Shechem? (i.e. just or unjust, cleverness of the plan, what was the fall-out, etc.)
3. What is the background behind Benjamin’s name?
4. What is the connection between Rachel’s burial place and the New Testament? (See Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18)
5. In Genesis 37, what were Joseph’s brothers reasons for hating him?
6. What were the various plans the brothers hatched to do to Joseph?
7. Can you name three examples throughout his life that show Joseph’s excellent administration abilities?
8. In the time of Joseph, the meaning of dreams could be interpreted, often with a prophetic message. Do you think God still speaks in dreams today?
9. What do the trials of Joseph (betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, unjustly accused, forgotten in prison) teach us about living an upright life?
10. What does Joseph’s answer to Pharaoh about dream interpretation in Genesis 41:16 reveal about Joseph?
11. If it hadn’t been for (God working through) Joseph, what would have happened to Egypt and its people, as well as Joseph’s family back home?
12. Based on the meaning of the names of Joseph’s sons (Manasseh and Ephraim), how do you think Joseph was feeling during the seven years of plenty?
13. What do you think were Joseph’s motivations in the mind games he was playing with his half-brothers?
14. How is Judah’s offer in Genesis 44:33 a picture of the gospel story in miniature?
15. Do you agree with Joseph about who he feels has been working behind the scenes throughout the events of his life (Genesis 45:8 and 50:20)?
16. Speculation question – do you think anyone ever told Jacob what had really happened to Joseph?
17. Beersheba had a profound spiritual influence on Abraham’s family. Compare the experiences in Genesis 26:23-25 and Genesis 46:1-5.
18. What was the first tax rate in Egypt? (Hint: See Genesis 47:26)
19. What do you make of Jacob’s crossed-arm blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh in Genesis 48?
20. What “unfinished business” does Genesis end with?
Genesis 12-33 Twenty Questions
1. What stood out most to you from this week’s reading?
2. In Genesis 12:1-3 and 12:7, what did God ask of Abram, and what did He promise him?
3. In Genesis 12:8 and 13:3-4, Abram builds an altar to the Lord at Bethel and calls on His name. What does “Bethel” mean?
4. In Genesis 14:18-20, what intriguing details do you find about Melchizedek? (Look up Hebrews 7 for more insights.)
5. In Genesis 15, God establishes a covenant with Abram. What is the significance of Genesis 15:6? (Look up Romans 4 for more insights.)
6. What is the meaning of cutting the animals in half and the appearance of the smoking firepot with the blazing torch?
7. How is Genesis 16 a cautionary tale about thinking we know better than God and taking matters into our own hands?
8. What do Abraham and Sarah’s new names mean, given in Genesis 17?
9. Do you find any parallels between God’s deliverance of Noah and His rescue of Lot in Genesis 19?
10. What is the connection between Isaac and laughter?
11. What was the point of God testing Abraham in Genesis 22?
12. What parallels do you see between the almost-sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrificial death of Jesus?
13. Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide.” What has the Lord provided for you?
14. What does Genesis 24 tell us about God’s ability to work through circumstances?
15. Describe the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob. What were the character flaws of each?
16. Jacob wrested the birthright and the blessing from Esau. What were these ancient customs?
17. What was Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28 and his response to it?
18. Describe how Jacob was deceived in Genesis 29. Do you think he had it coming?
19. What about Jacob’s experience provides a great example of why plural marriage is not a good idea?
20. Describe the events surrounding Jacob’s name change to Israel. What does Israel mean?
2. In Genesis 12:1-3 and 12:7, what did God ask of Abram, and what did He promise him?
3. In Genesis 12:8 and 13:3-4, Abram builds an altar to the Lord at Bethel and calls on His name. What does “Bethel” mean?
4. In Genesis 14:18-20, what intriguing details do you find about Melchizedek? (Look up Hebrews 7 for more insights.)
5. In Genesis 15, God establishes a covenant with Abram. What is the significance of Genesis 15:6? (Look up Romans 4 for more insights.)
6. What is the meaning of cutting the animals in half and the appearance of the smoking firepot with the blazing torch?
7. How is Genesis 16 a cautionary tale about thinking we know better than God and taking matters into our own hands?
8. What do Abraham and Sarah’s new names mean, given in Genesis 17?
9. Do you find any parallels between God’s deliverance of Noah and His rescue of Lot in Genesis 19?
10. What is the connection between Isaac and laughter?
11. What was the point of God testing Abraham in Genesis 22?
12. What parallels do you see between the almost-sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrificial death of Jesus?
13. Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide.” What has the Lord provided for you?
14. What does Genesis 24 tell us about God’s ability to work through circumstances?
15. Describe the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob. What were the character flaws of each?
16. Jacob wrested the birthright and the blessing from Esau. What were these ancient customs?
17. What was Jacob’s dream in Genesis 28 and his response to it?
18. Describe how Jacob was deceived in Genesis 29. Do you think he had it coming?
19. What about Jacob’s experience provides a great example of why plural marriage is not a good idea?
20. Describe the events surrounding Jacob’s name change to Israel. What does Israel mean?
Genesis 1-11 Twenty Questions
1. What has been your past experience in reading through (or attempting to read through) the Bible?
2. Why do you think the Bible doesn’t tell us “where God came from?”
3. Some suggest that Genesis 1 and 2 are actually two different Creation stories. What are the similarities and differences between them?
4. In attempting to explain our origins, Science has advanced the theories of the Big Bang and Evolution. In what ways are these concepts compatible and/or incompatible with a biblical Christian faith?
5. What would you say to someone who argues that we should be honoring Saturday as the seventh day rather than Sunday?
6. It is sometimes said of the Fall of Man that God blamed Adam, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on! Where do you think the blame lies in Genesis 3?
7. In Genesis 3:22, why do you think God keeps humankind from the Tree of Life and living forever, when He later permits access in Revelation 22:2?
8. According to Genesis 4, what was God’s punishment for Cain’s sin of murder?
9. In the news headlines of this current week, do you see any evidence of sin in the modern world? Cite specific examples.
10. How should we reconcile the very long lives of ancient people in the Bible (such as recorded in Genesis 5) with the shorter lives in more recent history?
11. According to Genesis 6:5, how corrupt was the world?
12. What does it say about God that He chose to spare Noah and his family instead of destroying them along with the rest of the world?
13. Many ancient cultures have flood stories. Does the existence of so many flood stories weaken or strengthen the case for the Bible?
14. Genesis 9:6 indicates a change in the application of the death penalty from Cain’s experience. Why or why not is this inconsistent?
15. In Genesis 9:9, God establishes a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature. What is a covenant?
16. Can you name some examples of other covenants?
17. Why do you think covenants are often accompanied by signs?
18. Considering Genesis 11, have you ever experienced a situation where language was a barrier? Describe it.
19. Do you see a correlation in humankind’s growing ability to communicate with each other and the speed of progress/industry that has taken place as a result?
20. What will help you to get this week’s reading done?
Friday, December 29, 2017
Psalm 50: Sacrifice Is Not A Bribe
"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." While there is a ring of truth to that statement as it may be practiced in the world, it would be a tragic mistake to apply such a cynical philosophy to our spiritual relationship with God.
Matthew 28: Famous Last Words
"His Last Command...Our First Concern!"
These words hung on signs in every classroom at the first United Methodist Church in which I served as an associate pastor.
These words hung on signs in every classroom at the first United Methodist Church in which I served as an associate pastor.
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