WEEK 5 READINGS: February 2nd Class

Day 1:

• Genesis 37    Joseph's dreams
• Gen 37:1-17
• What reasons did Joseph's brothers have for hating him?
• Were their reasons under or out of Joseph's control?
• How did the brothers hatred escalate from vs. 4 to 18 to 27?
• Do you think the plot to kill Joseph could have begun as a joke among brothers?  What do you imagine them saying as they saw Joseph approaching?
• Gen 37:18-36
• If Jacob was to love/favor any one of his sons over the others, it should have been his first born. Reuben (the eldest) means "See, a son!" 
• Leah hoped that Jacob would lover her since she had borne him his first son. 
• Do you think part of Reuben's motivation for planning to secretly save Joseph could have mirrored the meaning of his name.  In that Reuben could return Joseph to Jacob, saying "See, a son!  ... Now my [father] will love me." (Gen 29:32, Amp)
• How did Reuben and Jacob show their grief at the loss of Joseph?
• Note:  This is the first time we've seen this specific reaction to grief in the Bible, but it will become the norm as we continue our study.
• Genesis 38    Judah & Tamar
• Gen 38:1-23
• In verse 1, we learn that Judah "went to lodge with a certain Adullamite named Hirah." 
• Why do you think Judah left his family?
• Seeing the Adullamite pop up throughout the story of Judah and Tamar, what impression do you get about the kind of influence he was on Judah?
• Gen 38:24-26
• How does Judah's initial reaction go with Matthew 7:1-6?
• Are you surprised by Judah's secondary reaction (i.e. after Tamar's revelation)?
• Matthew 15    Jesus speaks about inner purity.  He heals many people and miraculously feeds 4000.
• Matt 15:6-9
• What was Jesus' complaint against Pharisees?
• Do you see that in your own life?
• Let's be brave enough to ask God to show us the areas of our spiritual life that are more about tradition than about Jesus.
• Matt 15:21-28
• This passage can make us uncomfortable.  It doesn't have that kind, welcoming tone that we associate with Jesus, but let's look a little deeper.
• Like the girl's mother, are you willing to be called a sinner ... if acknowledging that would bring God's blessing?

Day 2:

• Genesis 39-40    
• Matthew 16    

Day 3:

• Genesis 41    
• Psalm 40    
• Matthew 17    

Day 4:

• Genesis 42    
• Matthew 18    

Day 5:

• Genesis 43-44    
• Matthew 19    

WEEK 4 READINGS: Jan 26th Class

Day 1:

• Genesis 31    Jacob and family leave Laban and return to Canaan
• Matthew 10    Jesus sends out the Twelve.

Day 2:

• Genesis 32-33    Jacob wrestles with God before meeting Esau.
• Matthew 11    Jesus speaks about John the Baptist, the judgment of the unrepentant, and reveals the Father
• Psalm 131    A song of the humble

Day 3:

• Genesis 34    Jacob's daughter Dinah is defiled.  Her brothers seek revenge.
• Matthew 12    Pharisees and Jesus
• Psalm 164    Appeal for aid against enemies

Day 4:

• Genesis 35    Jacob returns to Bethel.  Isaac (Jacob's father) and Rachel (Jacob's wife) both die.
• Matthew 13    Parables and explanations (4 soils, wheat and the tares, mustard seed, leaven, treasure).  Jesus rejected at Nazareth.

Day 5:

• Genesis 36    Esau's descendants, Kings of Edom
• Matthew 14    John the Baptist is killed, and Herod thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist (raised from the dead).

WEEK 3 READINGS: Jan 19th Class

Day 1:

• Genesis 24    Isaac & Rebekah
• Matthew 5    Sermon on the Mount (The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Higher Righteousness)

Day 2:

• Genesis 25    Abraham dies, Jacob & Esau are born
• Matthew 6    Sermon on the Mount (Teachings about giving, prayer, fasting, possessions, money, worry)
• Psalm 127    Vanity of work without God

Day 3:

• Genesis 26-27    Isaac and Abimelech (like father like son), Jacob steals Esau's blessing
• Matthew 7    Sermon on the Mount (Teachings about judging, hypocrisy, prayer, wide/narrow gates, false prophets, wise/foolish builders)

Day 4:

• Genesis 28-29    Jacob flees Esau and starts his own family
• Matthew 8    Jesus performs miracles (i.e. healings, stills storm, casts out devils)

Day 5:

• Genesis 30    Jacob's family grows.
• Matthew 9    Jesus continues teaching and healing

WEEK 2 READINGS: January 12th Class

Watch for edits to this post throughout the week.  I plan to post questions/thoughts (from my own reading) for you to consider as well.

With Week 1 under our belts, we're ready for Week 2.  Speaking of belts, I think that the apostle Paul will have something to say about our belts as we finish Ephesians with our Day 1 reading.  I feel the need to remind you (and myself) that the point of our schedule is not to be legalistic; rather it provides a structure to keep us on track in reading through God's Word. 

Day 1:

• Genesis 11-13    Tower of Babel to the call of Abram
• Gen 11:1-9     
• What were the problems with this tower (ziggurat)? 
• The people wanted to "make a name for" themselves (vs. 4).  What name did they ultimately take on (vs. 9)?
• Gen 12:1-5    
• God called Abram to go alone, so why did he take Lot? (see Gen 11:27-32) 
• Gen 12:10-20    
• How do Abram and Sarai's actions in Egypt line up with what Paul had to say about husbands and wives in Ephesians 5:21-33? 
• How can Abram and Sarai's experience in Egypt help us better understand our own marriage relationships?
• Gen 13:1-18    
• Abram gave Lot part of the land (vs. 8-12), but was the land Abram's to give? 
• Have you divided the land God wanted to give you?
• Ephesians 6    Family/church analogy (children and parents), the whole armor of God
• Eph 6:10-20    
• Whose armor is Paul telling us to put on?
• I know that this reading is still off in our future, but this question has me thinking about David in 1 Sam 17:38-39.  If you have time, read 1 Sam 17:32-50.  David may not have been wearing Saul's armor, but how do these verses show us that he had "put on the whole armor of God" (Eph 6:11)?

Day 2:

• Genesis 14-15    Melchizedek and God's covenant with Abram
• Gen 14:20-24
• Who does Melchizedek credit with Abram's victory?
• Do you think this declaration had any influence over Abram's response to the king of Sodom?
• Gen 15:7
• God reveals that He was the One Who called Abram out of Ur.  Looking back at Gen 11:31-12:1,
• Where was the place that we first see God speak directly to Abram?
• Before this time (i.e. Gen 15:7), who did Abram likely credit with bringing him out of Ur?
• Looking back over your journey, has God used anyone to get you moving in His direction before speaking to you specifically?
• Gen 15:8-21
• Abram asked God for something to reassure him that what God said would really happen.  How did God respond to Abram's request?  Did He give Abram a sign that he would see come to pass in his lifetime?
• Psalm 47    God the King of the earth
• Matthew 1    The genealogy and birth of Jesus
• With Abram we have seen God make promises, how in Matthew 1 do we see God keep promises?

Day 3: 

• Genesis 16-18 - Hagar and Ishmael, circumcision, three visitors
  

  • Gen 16:1-9
  • How does the exchange between Sarai and Abram compare to that of Adam and Eve back in Gen 3?
  • Based on what God had told Abram about his descendants, why was it reasonable for Abram to think that Sarai's plan had merit?
  • Gen 16:10-16
  • What did the name Ishmael mean?  
  • Why did the Angel say he would bear this name?
  • Who actually gave Ishmael his name (vs. 16)?  Why might he have chosen a name with this meaning?
  • Gen 17:1
  • Up to this point, Abram has referred to God by His by the Strong's Concordance says is God's proper name, i.e. LORD.  Here God reveals more of His identity to Abram.  By what name does God refer to Himself in Gen 17:1?
  • Why did Abram need to know God as El Shaddai (Almighty God)?  How does this name relate to God changing Abram's name to Abraham (vs. 5)?
  • Gen 17:15-21
  • What did Abraham say to himself?
  • What did he said to God?
  • Do you ever ask one question in your heart but another with your mouth?
  • Which of the two questions did God answer    the one that was spoken by Abraham's mouth or in his heart?
  • Gen 18:12-15
  • Why is it ironic that Sarah laughed when she heard the LORD  say that she would have a baby?  (see Gen 17:17)
  • Who gets the last word?
  • Gen 18:23-33
  • Is the LORD  really changing His mind throughout this conversation with Abraham?
  • What does vs. 19 reveal about God's purpose is allowing Abraham the leeway to bargain with Him?
• Matthew 2    from Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazareth
  

  • Matt 2:11
  • What three gifts did the wise men bring to Jesus?
  • The gold and frankincense recognized Jesus as King and Priest, respectively.
  • Who else have we read about who was both priest and king (Gen 14)?
  • What comparisons does Heb 6:20-7:3 draw between Jesus to this man?
  • Matt 2:13-23
  • What is the theme repeated in these verses?  (Three times by my count.)

Day 4

• Psalm 11    The Lord our refuge
• Genesis 19-20    Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham and Abimelech
• Matthew 3    John the Baptist baptizes Jesus

Day 5

• Genesis 21-23    Isaac's childhood, Sarah's death
• Matthew 4    wilderness temptation, beginning His ministry, calling disciples

Can't wait to see you on Sunday, and see where God leads our discussion!

MY PRAYER FOR YOU: Week 1 Discussion

Our Week 1 readings, left us with a lot of possible directions for discussion in Sunday's Tentmakers time.  Unfortunately with the weather, we weren't able to have our regular class, so we'll just have to do some discussing here.  But what to talk about?  We all know that my typical discussion speed is not 10 chapters in Genesis, 5 in Ephesians, and 3 Psalms.  I am already seeing how God is using this study to challenge me and stretch my study habits.  Instead of my normal up-close seat on the front row of the movie theater, He is asking me to sit in the back, where I will have a broader view of the scene....  If, that is, I can keep my binoculars in my purse.  :)  Knowing that I'm not the only one God is interested in challenging and stretching    as we continue studying together, I really want to hear how God is using this to challenge and stretch you as well.

 

So the broader themes ... what are they?  My list is by no means exhaustive; rather, it is more of a menu for discussion from what I have seen in reading and studying this past week.  (Again, if there are things that you saw and feel led to contribute for the upbuilding of the group, then please do so    either in class or by commenting on our blog.)

• Light versus Darkness
• Gen 1:2-5,15-18
• Eph 1:18, 4:18, 5:8-14
• Use the Psalms and Paul's Prayers as springboards for discussion of the Creation and repopulation of the earth (Genesis) as well as God's mysterious plan for redeeming His creation.
• Ps 148, 12, 8
• Prayers:  Eph 1:15-23, 3:14-21
• Mystery:  Eph 1:9-10, 3:2-6,9; 5:21-33
• God's Covenants (2 of the 8)
• Adamic (including the Edenic) - Gen 1:26-30, 2:15-19
• Noahic - Gen 6:18, 9:8-17
• Walking with God
• Examples from Scripture
• Adam and Eve before the Fall: Gen 3:8
• Enoch: Gen 5:22-24, Heb 11:5-6 Jude 14-15
• Noah:  Gen 6:9, Heb 11:7, 2 Pet 2:5
• You and me:  Eph 2:7
• Why?
• Eph 2:2, 10
• Do's and Don'ts
• Eph 4:1-3, 17-32
• Eph 5:1-30
• I tried to cut these last passages down, but I just couldn't.

Before I go, I want to pray one of Paul's prayers for the Ephesians over you.  This is not just something I will pray today; it will be my persistent prayer for our entire study. (Eph 1:17-20, NLT)

 

I ask "God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light ..."

Hearts flooded with light ... Later in Eph 5:26 Paul teaches us that Jesus Christ has cleansed the church "by the washing of water with the Word."  Like the Flood back in Noah's day, I pray that our hearts will be so inundated with the Word that any and all corruption in our hearts will be washed away (Gen 6:12) "... so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called..."  The primary goal of our study is not simply the gathering of knowledge, but we are gathering knowledge through the study of God's Word so that we can understand the hope to which God has called us (Eph 1:18, Amp) "   His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance."  We are God's rich and glorious inheritance.  How differently would we treat ourselves and others if we thought of each other    treated each other    as God's rich and glorious inheritance?  "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe Him.  This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."  I am so excited about us going on this journey together, taking advantage of the opportunity to see God use His power to do some incredible things    as if the Creation and the Flood weren't good enough examples.  But to realize and understand that the same power God used to create the universe, including this planet and mankind, ... the power that He used to raise Jesus Christ from the dead and seat Him in the heavenlies ... is the same power that is in and to and for us who believe.  Do you believe?  I pray that you do!  In Jesus's name, Amen.

NEW BEGINNINGS: Jan 5th Class (Wk 1: Gen 1-10, Eph 1-5)

We have finished the book of Acts, and are beginning 2014 with a broader focus ... the scope and sequence of God's Word.  That's right, in 2014 we will begin reading/studying our way through the whole Bible.  It took us more than a year to study Acts 13-28.  At that pace it could take us a lifetime to get from Genesis to Revelation ... which is why we're making a few changes to the format of our group:

1. There are 5 days of reading homework throughout the week, which I will be posting here.  The reading schedule comes from the "Thematic" reading plan on the Bible Study Tools website (www.biblestudytools.com).
2. Our class time will be more of a discussion forum and less of a teaching.
3. In addition to posting my own personal insights and summaries of class discussions, I want the Now What? blog to be a forum for conversation throughout the week    a place for class members/visitors to post their own insights on/questions about the readings and make suggestions for the focus of upcoming class time.  You will do this by commenting on the week's reading plan.

So without further ado, the Week 1 readings (for the Jan 5th class) are:

• Day 1:  Psalm 148; Genesis 1-2; Ephesians 1 
• Day 2:  Genesis 3-4; Ephesians 2
• Day 3:  Genesis 5-6; Psalms 12; Ephesians 3
• Day 4:  Genesis 7-8; Ephesians 4
• Day 5:  Psalm 8; Genesis 9-10; Ephesians 5

I can't wait to study with you!

B.C. to A.D. (Acts 26)

The last time we studied together (online, that is), we were looking at Acts 25.  Before we jump into Acts 26, let’s set the stage…  As a Roman citizen, Paul had appealed to have his case brought before Caesar, so that his guilt or innocence could be decided once-and-for-all (Acts 25:11).  The only problem with Paul’s appeal was that Festus didn’t have any crime with which to charge Paul (Acts 25:27).  So at the end of Acts 25, Paul was brought before an audience to, once again, tell his story (Acts 25:23) – in hopes that they would find something with which to charge Paul.  The most notable of those invited was King Agrippa (i.e. Herod Agrippa II), ruler of Palestine.  Okay, let’s get into Acts 26.  If you read carefully, you’ll be better able to picture the nuances of the scene.  I’ve provided a few notes below to help you out.  Just use it as a reading guide.

Vs.       Description                                                                                                  

1-3      Paul gives his opening statement.

4-7      Paul speaks to King Agrippa specifically, explaining to him the reason the Jews were so bent-out-of-shape about him.

8-12    Paul shifts his focus to the larger audience and relays his B.C. (before Christ) background.

13-18  Paul turns back to King Agrippa to recount his conversion experience.  If/when you have time, look back at Acts 9 and 22 to see two other accounts of Paul’s conversion.  Just as the Gospels layer our understanding of events in Jesus’ life, when looked at together, Acts 9, 22, and 26 give us a broader understanding of this key event in the New Testament.

19-23  Still directed toward King Agrippa, Paul explains how he was obedient “to the heavenly vision” (vs. 19).  We could call this the beginning of the A.D. (after deliverance) period of Paul’s life.

24-26  At this point, Festus interrupts Paul, shouting that he is mad, but Paul keeps his focus on King Agrippa.  Why?  Read on…

27-29  Paul recognizes that King Agrippa is on the cusp of confessing belief in Jesus.  For just a moment, I sense a shift in the power differential.  Paul, instead of testifying, pounces as an attorney does when sensing vulnerability in a witness.  (At least that’s what attorneys do on TV.lol)

         Luke makes it very clear that King Agrippa was the object of Paul’s focus.  Haven’t you ever felt that way in church … like the minister is talking to/about you even though he hasn’t mentioned you by name?  It wasn’t the preacher calling you out; it was the Holy Spirit.  With a finger in Acts 26, go to (and read) John 16:7-9.  What does this say about the role of the Holy Spirit when it comes to the world (include what verse 9 says about why)? 

                                                                                                                                                           

The Holy Spirit’s purposes when it comes to “the ungodly multitude” (part of Strong’s definition for world) is to convict the world of sin.  Why do they need convicted?  “…because they do not believe in Me.”  The Me here is Jesus.  Unbelievers need to be convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit while they still have a chance to believe.  Likewise, the Holy Spirit has a role in the life of a believer.  What does John 16:10 say about the Holy Spirit’s role when it comes to righteousness? 

                                                                                                                                               

In Tentmakers, we’ve repeatedly been reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:21 – how that, through Christ, we are the righteousness of God.  Still in 2 Corinthians 5, read verses 19-20.  “We are Christ’s ambassadors.”  Is God allowing anyone else to feel a little bit of the weight of that responsibility at this moment? 

Now What?  Like God was using Paul to minister to King Agrippa in that moment, there are people in our lives to whom God is calling us to minister.  We’re not to take on the responsibility of their salvation.  The Holy Spirit is the only One who can help seeds you’ve planted to take root.  That being said, we are accountable to God for being obedient to His direction.

I’ll leave you to finish out Acts 26 with verses 30-32.  I look forward to studying with you again soon!  We’ll be in Acts 27.