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_outlineGenesis 19 is one of the most well-known and most unsettling passages in the entire Bible. Yet this is a key chapter with a key message that we need to understand. So, today in our study of God's Word, we'll look at God's judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah and how it is a message of warning for judgment on sin, but also a message of hope and salvation. Please join us as we continue our journey together through God's Word.
DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. Genesis 19 records God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. In Genesis 18:20ff, how does the Lord describe the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and His judgment upon them? What was Abraham’s bargain for God to not destroy these cities? Did the Lord find that many righteous people?
2. What was Lot’s reaction to this visit from the angels in verse 1? Why did Lot treat them this way? Do you think Lot knew they were angels?
3. In Genesis 19:3, why do you think Lot was so persistent that these foreigners stay with him? Might it be because he knew the nature of the city in which he lived?
4. How did the people of the town respond to these men staying with Lot? What does the fact that this crowd was comprised of both “young and old” show us about why such a thorough, annihilating judgment was needed?
5. What do we make of Lot’s offer of his daughter to this crowd? How is this an example of the city’s influence on Lot’s moral compass? What warning does this give to us about being overly influenced by our own society?
6. What can we make of the fact that in Genesis 19:11, the angels struck the people with blindness but they still tried to find the doorway, even though they could not see it?
7. What can we make of the Lord’s delay of judgment on this city, where the Lord waited for Lot and his family to first get to safety? What does this show us about God’s mercy and grace?
8. Genesis 19 ends with a troubling account of Lot’s daughters and Lot himself. What does this show us about how people sometimes rationalize their own sin?
9. This chapter shows us how people in God’s covenant live differently than those who are not. How is this spiritual reality demonstrated in Lot, his family and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah?
10. This chapter also shows us what sins will not be among the kingdom people of God. Paul makes a similar point in 1st Corinthians 6:9-11. What are some of the sins we see in this chapter? How does the revulsion we feel about the sins of the chapter show us how the Lord views anyone’s sin?
11. Finally, this chapter shows us that God will condemn sin in all its forms. What does this judgment look like? What will God’s ultimate judgment look like?
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