1/18 Genesis - Suffering and God's Sovereign Will
Release Date: 01/18/2025
3/11 1st Samuel 8 - Trying to Copy the World
Key Chapters of the Bible
There are times when the world seems to have all the glitz & glamor and we can be tempted to follow their ways. Today we’ll see that this attitude motivated the Israelites to seek a king. Although the Lord gave them their request, it was not without stern warning. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The podcast opens with the social context of this chapter. How might the Philistine’s success have tempted the Israelites to copy the ways of the nations? 2. How old was Samuel at this point? What was his plan for the succession of authority after him?...
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3/10 1st Samuel 4 - Rabbit's Foot Theology
Key Chapters of the Bible
Sometimes people try to manufacture good luck through some kind of “rabbit’s foot” thinking. It might be through an actual item or perhaps some ritual or deed. Today we’ll see that when the Israelites treated God like a “rabbit’s foot”, it didn’t go so well. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Who were the Israelites battling in verse 1? How did their battle go in verse 2? How is that different from their previous battles that we’ve looked at over the past several months? 2. What did the people decide to do in verse 3? What did this...
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3/9 1st Samuel 3 - The Call of God
Key Chapters of the Bible
What kind of heart is God’s servant supposed to have? Today as we study 1st Samuel 3, we’ll read about God’s call of Samuel and we’ll look at how Samuel responds. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. What did we learn yesterday in our study of 1st Samuel 2, about Eli and his sons? How do you think that contributed to the spiritual condition of Israel during this time? 2. What was Samuel doing in verses 2 & 3? Why was he doing that? 3. Who spoke to Samuel in verse 4? Was this an audible voice? Why didn’t Samuel recognize...
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3/8 1st Samuel 2 - Praying or Playing
Key Chapters of the Bible
One of the most common accusations against Christians is that they’re “hypocrites”. While this accusation is often not justified, sometimes it is. Today we will look at 1st Samuel 2, which is a study in contrasts. We’ll see the contrasts between a godly woman, hypocritical leaders, and a godly young man. Join us for another practical study in God’s Word. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. In our study, yesterday, of 1st Samuel 1, what did Hannah pray? What did she do with Samuel when the Lord answered her prayer? 2. Verses 1 to 11 contains one of the longest...
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3/7 1st Samuel 1 - Broken-Hearted Faith
Key Chapters of the Bible
There are times in life when God answers our prayers in ways that are slower than we’d like. Today, we’ll look at 1st Samuel 1, and see how Hannah trusted the Lord as she waited for Him to answer her prayers. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. What did the podcast say about the religious stability of the people of 1st Samuel during these opening chapters? What led to this condition? 2. In verse 2, Elkanah has two wives. Although this was technically permissible in the Old Testament, what kinds of problems did the podcast explain that these...
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3/6 Judges 2 - Struggling to be Faithful
Key Chapters of the Bible
Sometimes we struggle in our faith, and today in our study of Judges 2, we will see that the people wavered in their faith and struggled in fellowship with God, and suffered the consequences for it. We’ll also see that their struggles lay out key principles for living a life of faith today. Join us for another key study in God’s Word! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Who is addressing the people in verse 1? What in verse 1 helps us decode who this is? Why is this important to understand? 2. What did the people fail to do in verse 3? What was the Lord’s...
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3/5 Joshua 6 - Walking in God's Promises
Key Chapters of the Bible
As we continue to walk with the Children of Israel, today we turn to Joshua 6 and the Fall of Jericho. While the events of this chapter are straightforward, the spiritual and practical gems of this chapter are rich and numerous. Join us as we mine out key principles of God’s Word! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Jericho was a well-fortified city on a hill. In normal conditions, it was safe and secure. However, what does verse 1 tell us about the state of the city? What does this show us about their perspective of the threat of the Jews? 2. What did the Lord...
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3/4 Joshua 3 - Taking a Step of Faith
Key Chapters of the Bible
Today in our study of Joshua 3, we’ll look at how the Children of Israel literally stepped out in faith and watched God do a wonderful miracle of necessity and confirmation. We’ll glean several principles for faith and obedience. Join us in another faith-strengthening study in God’s Word! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Where are the Children of Israel in verse 1? Practically speaking, what kinds of things do you think were necessary to move two million people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land? What does verse 15 tell us about the banks of the river? Was this...
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3/3 Joshua 2 - Redeeming Our Lives
Key Chapters of the Bible
Why does God use sinful people? Or more specifically, why does God use really sinful people? Well, in today's study of Joshua 2, we'll look at the faith of Rahab and how God uses her, despite her sin. Join us for another thought-provoking study in the key chapters of God's Word! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Joshua 2 opens with the Children of Israel on the Plains of Moab on the Eastern Side of the Jordan River. Why did the podcast suggest that they were there? How might have Joshua’s prior experience as a spy influenced where they were considering entering the Promised...
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3/2 Joshua 1 - Be Strong & Courageous
Key Chapters of the Bible
One of the great things about following the Lord is that it’s the way that we walk into the place of God’s blessings. Today we’ll study Joshua 1 and discuss the Lord’s exhortations to Joshua to be strong and courageous and how Joshua’s obedience brought himself and all of the Children of Israel into the place of God’s blessings. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. In Joshua 1, the Lord calls Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In general terms, was Joshua a young man at this point? Why was a man of his age leading the Children of...
info_outlineLife doesn't always go the way we want; and today as we begin to look at Joseph's life, we'll see that indeed, things didn't start out the way Joseph would have wanted either; but God had sovereign plans for Joseph's life and He was going to use Joseph to save His people. We may not always understand why God is doing what He does; but we know He has good and wise reasons. Join us!
DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:
Genesis 37 1. Joseph grew up without his birth mom because Rachel died in Genesis 35. He had multiple stepmoms, 10 older brothers, and a dad who seemed to be disconnected from the dynamics of his own family. What kind of environment was this for growing up in? What was Joseph’s relationship like with all these people?
2. The study explained Joseph’s robe signified his dignity over his brothers. What kind of animosity did this favoritism produce between Joseph and his brothers? How did the Lord use this division to bring about His will? Has God ever used something seemingly insignificant in your life to change the path you were on?
3. What were the dreams Joseph had and what did they signify? What reaction did this produce between Joseph and his brothers?
4. Although Joseph could have handled his family situation with more delicacy, he was not wrong in telling his brothers about these dreams. Has there been a time when you learned a spiritual principle, but when you told others, they reacted poorly? What can we learn from this?
5. Joseph’s brothers sinned against Joseph, yet we know from Genesis 50:20, that this was part of God’s plan. What does this tell us about God’s sovereign will? Why does God sometimes use sin and sinners to accomplish His purposes?
6. In verse 21, Reuben convinced his brothers not to kill Joseph. How did that decision change history for the children of Israel?
7. Even though Joseph was going through such hardship, he was exactly in God’s will. Does God promise us a life of ease if we are faithful to Him? How is Joseph’s life a reminder for us to trust the Lord no matter what He brings into our lives?
8. The study summarized Joseph’s life from Genesis 37 to 44. How did Joseph respond amid life’s troubles? Where did this strength come from?
9. No doubt, when Joseph was facing the challenges of Genesis 37-44, his life had not worked out the way he had hoped. Ultimately, why did God allow him to go through these sufferings (see also Genesis 45:7, 50:20)? What kind of hope does this give us when we face difficulties in our own life?
10. Thirteen chapters are dedicated to the life of Joseph, with a total content exceeding the content of Abraham’s life by 25 percent. One reason for this might be to help us see the similarities between the life of Joseph and Jesus. How are both of their lives similar? Or to use theological terms, how is Joseph's life a “type” of Jesus? (A type is a theological term referring to something in the Old Testament that foreshadows Jesus).
Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon!
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Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.