January 30-31

Enjoy catching up on your reading this weekend!

Daniel 1-6

1. What is the reputation of the Jews in Babylon compared to in Israel & Judah?

2. How is God's reputation different in Babylon as a result of the exile?

3. Who is in charge of the destination of the Babylonian kingdom?

4. What is the means of other nations learning about God?

Habakkuk 1-3

1. What is Habakkuk's complaint about his country? What similarities do you see in our own country?

2. How does God keep evil in check?

3. How does Habakkuk react against God's plan? Would you?

4. Is God's destination for you ultimately trustworthy? Why or why not?

2 Kings 19-25

1. How much influence does each king have upon his country and people?

2. What impact does the word of God have on those who follow it?

3. What do you learn of God's patience and God's purposes in these chapters?

2 Kings 15-18

1. 2 Kings 17:15 is a good summary of the people of Israel. What is the result (destination) of worshipping worthless idols?

2. What idols are typical in our own culture? What sort of people do they cause us to be?

3. What kind of people can we be if we worship God with all our hearts?

Amos 6-9

1. How does the careful historical documentation of 1-2 Kings set the stage for Amos and God's promised exile?

2. Where do you see grace evident in the message of Amos?

3. Is God's sovereign knowledge of the good, the bad, and the ugly, good news or bad news?

4. In what ways does our own nation's ways resemble those of Israel?

January 23-24

Enjoy your weekend to catch up on your reading!

Amos 1-5

This interlude of Amos fits in historically with where we are in 2 Kings. You should recognize some of the names of kings and the actions of various nations.

1. How does God's judgment on Judah & Israel compare to his judgment on unbelieving nations?

2. Based on your reading of 1-2 Kings so far, do you thing the judgment is justified?

3. What further details does Amos give about the lifestyle of the Israelites at this time that we don't get in 1-2 Kings?

4. How is Amos' role as a prophet different from Elijah & Elisha's role?

2 Kings 8-14

1. What differences do you see between the kings of Judah & Israel?

2. What differences do you see between the kings of God's people and other nations?

3. How would you characterize the kings overall?

2 Kings 1-7

1. How do the miracles in this section point ahead to Christ's work on earth?

2. How do Elijah & Elisha seem different from Christ?

3. How does God make his name known among the other nations?

1 Kings 16-22

1. What patterns do you notice in the kings of Israel?

2. What differences are there between Israel and the other nations?

3. What evidence is there that faithful people remain in Israel despite the overall leadership?

1 Kings 10-15

1. How was Solomon's success measured?

2. What was his downfall?

3. Who determines the destination of Israel?

4. How are the other kings' success measured?

1 Kings 5-9

1. In what sense does Israel seem to have "arrived" at their destination? What's left?

2. From Solomon's prayer, what expectations seem to be in place for the Israelites as well as God?

3. How does God's grace come through in these chapters?

4. How does God affirm that he is still with his people?

1 Kings 1-4

1. What are the requirements for a smooth transition to successful leadership in Israel?

2. What makes Solomon's reign so successful?

3. Given the chance to request something of God, what would you ask for?

2 Samuel 21-24

1. To whom does David attribute his battle successes?

2. How do enemies translate into our modern setting?

3. What kind of battles would you anticipate "mighty men/women" fighting today on behalf of God?

4. What does it mean for your house to be right with God (2 Sam. 23:5)?

2 Samuel 14-20

1. Without the grace and direction of God, what would the likely destination, or end, of Israel be?

2. How are David's personal feelings and political feelings intertwined?

3. What determines the loyalties of people?

2 Samuel 8-13

1. How do David's battles for the nation of Israel compare with his battles on the homefront?

2. What does David's relationship with Bathsheba teach David about God?

3. What impact does David's disobedience have on his future family life?

4. How does success or failure impact God's destination for you?

January 9-10

Enjoy catching up this weekend!

2 Samuel: 1-7

1. What do you make of David's attitude toward Saul's death after Saul's long pursuit of David?

2. How does David's attitude toward former enemies differ from that of others on both "sides"?

3. How does David regard the ark and God's presence?

4. What distinguishes David as a king over Israel?

1 Samuel 26-31

1. How do you distinguish friend from foe in this section?

2. How does God use "the enemy" for his own purposes?

3. How does God keep David from fighting his own people?

4. How does Saul's ultimate end compare to if David had taken his life when God "delivered him into David's hands" twice?

1 Samuel 20-25

1. As you read through the various events in these chapters, what distinguishes personal goals from God's goals?

2. How does vengeance influence what goes on? What helps to turn vengeance aside?

3. Through what means does God continue to carry his people along toward his destination for them?

1 Samuel 13-19

1. What evidence is given of Saul's disobedience to God?

2. What is God's criteria for a good king?

3. What role does the Spirit play in God's destination for his people?

4. How does Samuel's role change when there is a king in Israel?

1 Samuel 7-12

1. How do the people of Israel view their "destination" compared to the other nations around them?

2. How would you evaluate Samuel's success as a judge? How does Samuel see it?

3. How do you view God's concession to give Israel a king? Has his "destination" or plans for his people changed?

4. What evidence is there that Saul is acting according to God's plan?

January 2-3

Happy New Year! Enjoy your weekend to catch up on your readings.

1 Samuel 1-6

1. How is the "destination" of the individual determined or influenced by the "destination" of the community in these passages?

2. How dependent is God on the obedience of his people in determining their destination?

3. What incidents remain prominent in the minds of unbelievers regarding the reputation of God?

4. What is the effect of God's presence in the ark on different parties?