1. What does it mean when Elijah says that King Ahab has “sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord” as stated in I Kings 21:20?

2. Elijah is taken to heaven in a chariot of fire and Elisha is chosen to replace Elijah in the ministry which Elijah had. Discuss the request of Elisha found in II Kings 2:9.

3. What is the importance of the healing of Naaman as recorded in II Kings 5:1-15?

4. Is the sin of Gehazi repeated in the church today and, if so, how? (see II Kings 5:16-27)

5. If our eyes could be opened as the eyes of Elisha’s servant were opened as recorded I II Kings 6:8-23, what would we see of God’s work in this world?

6. Why was there so much violence recorded in II Kings 1-11?

NEW TESTAMENT QUESTIONS

7. In what areas today of body and spirit does the church and individual Christians need to “purify itself and perfect holiness”? (see II Corinthians 7:1)

8. How does one give beyond their ability as those recorded in II Corinthians 8:2-4 did?

9. What does it mean when Paul reports that the Macedonian churches pleaded for the privilege of sharing in the service of giving? Do our churches do that today? (see II Corinthians 8:4)

10. Discuss the teachings on giving found in II Corinthians 8:6-11 and particularly discuss the differences which exist in this teaching from Old Testament teachings.

11. Describe the differences in the warfare which Christians are to wage to that which the world wages. (See II Corinthians 10:4-5)?

12. Using the definitions of II Corinthians 11:13 identify false prophets of today. Why are false prophets still popular in our day and age?

13. What is the lesson for us of Paul’s discussion of his thorn in the flesh as recorded in II Corinthians 12:1-13?

14. In practical terms, how do we examine ourselves to test whether we are in the faith as taught in II Corinthians 13:5?

1. Consider the ornateness of the temple as described in I Kings 6 and 7. What ornateness does God expect in His temple of today?

2. In his prayer of dedicating the Temple, to what things did Solomon want God to pay particular attention as referenced in his prayer? (see I Kings 8:22-61)

3. How does God respond to the Dedication prayer of Solomon? (see I Kings 9:1-9)

4. Describe in modern terms the wealth of Solomon. (see I Kings 10:14-29)

5. How did Solomon’s many wives work against his ultimate best interests as well as work against the ultimate best interests of Solomon’s kingdom? (see I Kings 11)

6. Why did Rehoboam accept the advice of the younger advisors and what was the ultimate effect of following that advice? (see (I Kings 12:1-24)

7. Why did Jeroboam, King of the Northern country of Israel, erect golden calves and other accompanying idol worshipping sites in Bethel and Dan as described in I Kings 12:25-33?

8. How did Rehoboam, King of the Southern country of Judah, react to Jeroboam’s golden calves and other worship sites in the North? (see I Kings 14:21-24)

9. Elijah had a contest on Mt Carmel in I Kings 18:16-40 with the prophets of the idol Baal. Are we called to similar battles today and, if so, how and where?

NEW TESTAMENT QUESTIONS

10. In II Corinthians 2:14, Paul states that God leads His people in “triumphal procession”. What does that mean in practical terms today?

11. How are we the “aroma” of Christ as taught in II Corinthians 2:15?

12. How are we the “letter of Christ” as taught in II Corinthians 3:23 and how is that different (if it is) from being the “aroma” of Christ?

13. Describe how the god of this age blinds the eyes and minds of those who come under his influence? (see II Corinthians 4:4)

14. Discuss II Corinthians 5:1-10 and specifically the following:

a.) Our present groaning,

b.) The deposit guarantee we have,

c.) Our preference to be home with the Lord, and

d.) The Judgment seat of Christ.

15. What is the ministry and message of reconciliation in which we participate as taught in II Corinthians 5:11-21?

16. In practical terms, to what extent are we not to be unequally “yoked” to unbelievers and what does that really mean? (see II Corinthians 6:14-18)

1. Consider the problems which Absalom caused his father, King David and also caused the country as recorded in II Samuel 14-18. Why did Absalom act as he did? What were some of the contributing factors to him becoming the man who he became? What application or lessons are there for us today?

2. Why was Joab so upset with King David and his actions after Absalom’s death as recorded in II Samuel 19?

3. In II Samuel 20, we find the record of the rebellion lead by Sheba. He is called a troublemaker in this passage. What is to be understood about Sheba by the use of the word “trouble maker”? (See Deuteronomy 13:13, I Samuel 10::27, I Samuel 30:22, I Kings 21:10.13, Proverbs 6:12 and II Corinthians 6:15)

4. Read David’s song of praise recorded in II Samuel 22. Notice how often David refers to what the Lord has done to preserve David in overwhelming situations and particularly in preserving him from his enemies. Is David acknowledging the times when God gave David the power to prevail over these situations and enemies or is David acknowledging things which God has done out of the sight of David but which David now sees or accepts as having been done by God on his behalf?

5. Why was there such controversy over who would be the successor King to David upon his death as seen in the record of I Kings 1-2?

6. Consider Solomon’s request for wisdom as recorded in I Kings 3. Do we as children of God have any access to the kind of wisdom which God gave Solomon?

NEW TESTAMENT QUESTIONS

7. Discuss the order of authority which Paul announces in I Corinthians 11:3-16 and its implications for the church today?

8. What is meant by the observation shared in I Corinthians 11:30? What was the lesson being taught in this section both before and after I Corinthians 11:30?

9. In light of I Corinthians 12 and 14, what gift(s) have you been given? How could the church better practically apply the teaching about gifts to believers?

10. In I Corinthians 13, what is meant by the phrase “but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” as found in verse 10?

11. What is meant by the teaching of I Corinthians 33-34 as directed to woman? Does this passage forbid women to sing in our worship services?

12. What is meant by the teaching that Christ is the first-fruit as seen in I Corinthians 15:20?

13. Discuss the lessons given in I Corinthians 15 which are directed to and give insights to the believer’s resurrection.

14. How does the teaching Paul gave in I Corinthians 16 about the collection of money in the church differ from Old Testament teaching about tithing?

Reading Through the Bible- Week 16- I Samuel 28-31 and II Samuel 1-13 and I Corinthians 5-10

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a Year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, please know that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

It has been a couple of weeks since we shared together from our reading but now that the holidays have passed we are back on schedule and will pick up with the reading for the week of Christmas. At first glance it might appear that the reading for that week (I Samuel 28-31 and II Samuel 1-13 as well as I Corinthians 5-10) had little to do with Christmas. Yet as we dig a little deeper, our readings had a lot to do with Christmas.

Even as I suggest that the reading for that week had a lot to do with Christmas, I acknowledge the many, many other lessons, insights and reminders which these passages contained. Yet amidst all of the other wonderful and necessary lessons, the lesson of Christmas is present.

As we look for Christmas in these passages, we are first drawn to the story of David, the King. Nathan the prophet reminds David on behalf of God in II Samuel 7 that he began life as a shepherd boy and because of that very low position in life he was destined to be a “nobody”. Yet God blessed David and David became a great King and spiritual leader of God’s people. God reminds David that his descendants would reign forever not because David had earned that blessing or heritage but because of the graciousness of God. God elevates the humble and those of low position and David was one whom God chose to elevate.

David offers a prayer of praise to God and tells God how unworthy he is of God’s goodness and blessings. His prayer begins with the words “Who am I?” and by these words he confesses and acknowledges that God has acted towards him with exceeding grace and mercy.

The gifts to David in his life were not the end of God’s graciousness to David for God promised that David would see his family benefit for eternity by God’s kindness. Moreover, other passages tell us that we would also benefit for eternity by God’s graciousness to David.

In fact God has and will continue to keep His promises to David and David’s offspring. Jesus was of David’s family and so many of the promises of God were fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled in Jesus. God always keep His promises.

You and I stand in the same place of undeserved graciousness, as we see how God has acted towards us by giving us the unfathomable gift of Jesus Christ. We do not deserve the gift of Jesus yet God has given Him and we are eternally benefited.

There are times when we must say as David said “Who am I?” that You, God, would give to me such an undeserved gift. The gift of Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving in that we have great benefit in our earthly journey because of the gift of Jesus and I also have the gift of eternal blessing of heaven with Christ and fellow believers because of the gift of Jesus.

In our Christmas celebration of 2010, how much praise did we give to God for the gift of Jesus whose earthly journey’s beginning we celebrate at Christmas? How much did our hearts cry out “Who am I?” I hope that as we saw the graciousness of God in His actions towards David, we also saw the graciousness of God towards us in the gift of Jesus and that we praised God for all that He has done this past Christmas.

In closing I will mention the lesson which Paul delivers in the Christmas Day reading we had from I Corinthians 10. The lesson in major part was a challenge for us to learn from the mistakes of Israel.  Of the many mistakes they made, one was to fail to properly praise God for all that He had done. I hope the festival of Christmas 2010 was more spiritual than the empty festivals of the children of Israel who soon forgot all about God in their festivals and treated them as days off from work and days in which they had permission to party or to act as the unbelieving world acted. There is nothing wrong with being off from work and having a good time as long as it follows a true appreciation and praise of God for all that He has and is doing. May this be true not only for Christmas but for every moment we live.

eMullins

Through the Bible Small Group Study and ABF Study Review

Week Sixteen- I Samuel 28-31 and II Samuel 1-13

And

I Corinthians 5-10

OLD TESTAMENT QUESTION

1. In I Samuel 28, a witch or medium or spiritist is said to have reluctantly brought Samuel from the dead to speak to Saul. Did Samuel really speak to Saul? If not what happened and how did the events of the next day become known? If so, do “witches or mediums or spiritists” exist today? What powers do “witches or mediums or spiritists” have today?

1. In I Samuel 31 Saul takes his own life. What does God think about suicide? Do the circumstances which a person faces and which leads to a decision to commit suicide make a difference in how God sees suicide?

1. Why did David grieve the death of Saul as recorded in II Samuel 1:11-27 in light of the fact that Saul had been such an enemy to him? What lesson is there for us in David’s attitude and action?

1. In II Samuel 7, David has revealed to him the role that he would play as well as the role he would not play in the building of the temple. In this same passage, God promises that David’s family would have a throne forever. Are these two truths inter-related and if so, how? Did God really mean that David’s family would have a throne forever and if so what has become of that throne?

1. What can we learn from the kindness of David to Mephibosheth as recorded in II Samuel 9?

NEW TESTAMENT QUESTIONS

1. What was the gross sin recorded in I Corinthians 5 which was occurring in the church at Corinth and upon which the church was turning its back? What action did Paul tell the church to take? What is the lesson for us today in the church?

1. What is meant by the statement that “we will judge angels” as recorded in I Corinthians 6? How did this truth fit into the lesson which Paul was giving in this chapter? When and where will we judge angels?

1. What are current applications of the truth which Paul espouses in I Corinthians 6:12 when he is inspired to write “Everything is for me-but not everything is beneficial”?

1. What part does love play a marriage in light of the Apostle Paul’s teaching in I Corinthians 7?

10.  Is there any tension between the teaching in I Corinthians 9 to “not muzzle the ox” (which has often been applied to the need to pay ministry staff such as preachers) with the teaching in the same chapter that Paul said he would put up with anything so as not to hinder the gospel. Should ministers and church staff be paid modesty, paid well or wait to have their reward in heaven according to these teachings?

11.  Discuss the crown that we will receive which will last forever and what we must do to get such a crown as well as discussing when we will get such a crown as taught in I Corinthians 9:24-27.

Reading Through the Bible- Week 12

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a Year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, please know that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

Consider the sin of Achan when he took a certain amount of spoil from the city of Jericho and hid it in his tent (see Joshua 7). I have no argument with the Biblical declaration that the action of Achan was sin. However, perhaps the question has entered your thinking as it has mine, about whether the actions of Achan were really all that serious? Is what Achan did so serious that God would allow 36 good and faithful men of Israel die in the following and unsuccessful attack on the city of Ai? Is what Achan did so serious that it warranted the death of Achan and his entire family?

Yet after careful examination, I am persuaded that the sins of Achan in this matter were indeed serious. Close inspection of the account reveals there are several reasons for reaching this conclusion.  First, the sins of Achan were serious because God said they were.  Most of us have learned the hard way that God knows better than we do about everything much less the nature of sin and He certainly has seen what sin does in and to the lives of His creation. God teaches diligently about the nature of sin for no other reason than He sees what sin does to the people whom He loves, including you and me. God is opposed to sin because He sees it destroying our lives, lives for which He gave His Son.

Secondly, the seriousness of Achan’s sin is established by way of Achan’s reaction to the circumstances. In Joshua 7:20, ACHAN feels the weight of his sin as he declares “It is true. I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel and this is what I have done…….” It is at this point he confesses the specifics of his sins. In these few words it becomes obvious that Achan knows how wrong his wrong was. If Achan knows how wrong his sin was, I certainly cannot lessen the gravity of his sin.

Lastly, the seriousness of Achan’s sin is seen by understanding that it is the nature of us as humans to minimize the gravity of sin. As humans we simply do not want to face how wrong our sins are. Instead, we like to pretend that our sins are not that wrong. We want to believe that we are not that bad.

There are several mechanisms we use to facilitate this error. For example we compare our sins against those of others who are more graphic in their sinning or who are more socially unacceptable in their sinning. For example, we compare our sin of greed against the sins of adultery or murder. Somehow we find comfort in this kind of shallow and hollow comparison when it is obvious that we should.

Another mechanism we use to attempt to minimize our own sinfulness is to celebrate inappropriately the reduction of sinful conduct rather than the elimination in our lives. When elimination of sin in our lives by God’s grace and power should be the goal we often take comfort in the belief that we are not as bad as we used to be because our rate of sinning is less. In application it occurs by believing that we are better because we are only murdering at the rate of one person per year when we used to murder at the rate of one person per week (or if you prefer to use a different sin, please feel free to do so and substitute your pet sin but notice that the math stays the same). Considered from another perspective, what husband or wife would delight in finding out that their spouse was only cheating on them once a month when they were previously unfaithful once a week? Would that 300% improvement keep the innocent spouse in the marriage? I think not and it would be foolish for a good and Godly person to be satisfied with such thinking. The truth is that while there may be a season of growing away from sinful habits, there must be a commitment to elimination rather than satisfaction with reduction and inm most cases there must be a complete stoppage of the sinful conduct.

When all is said and done, my questioning of the seriousness of the sin of Achan may very well be an extension of my lack of concern with my own sin. May we find ourselves seeing sin for what it really is and especially as it exists in our lives. It is serious and needs to be addressed. Praise be to God for His grace to move us towards elimination of sin from our lives and lets be thankful for His power which works so that we do not have to satisfied with anything less than the goal of the elimination of the practice of sin in our lives, for God is satisfied with nothing else.

eMullins

Through the Bible Small Group Study and ABF Study Review

Week Twelve- Joshua 3-21

and Mark 1-5

OLD TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

1.)   In Joshua 3:5, Joshua tells the people to prepare themselves because God is going to do amazing things among them. Does God still do amazing things today and, if so, what amazing things have you seen God do in your life and or in the life of others?

2.)   Consider the memorial God had the children of Israel construct as recorded in Joshua 4 (the twelve stones memorial). What “memorials” do we have in the church today? As you consider memorials in the church of this day and age, consider whether we have “memorials” (i.e. traditions dedicated to things of the past) which are not ordained of God and given in His Word and if so should any of them be abolished?

3.)   What is the meaning of and lesson for us, in the fact that Rahab was put outside the camp during the battle for Jericho as recorded in Joshua 6:22-25?

4.)   Consider the impact of “sin in the camp” as recorded in Joshua 7. Weren’t the rest of the Hebrews sinners and, if so, why was Achan’s sin so significant? Apply the lesson of the sin of Achan in the midst of sinning fellow Hebrews to the work of the church today.

5.)   Consider the request of Caleb in Joshua 14:6-15. What do you was the secret to Caleb’s strength as an “older” man?

6.)   Consider Joshua 21:43-45. What does it mean that “Not one of God’s good promises to the house of Israel failed”? Does God ever make anything but good promises and, if so, what are they?

NEW TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

7.)   In Mark 1:1-8, Mark records a brief overview of the ministry of John the Baptist. Why and how does use “preparers of the Way” in our day and age?

8.)   Knowing that mark was written to Roman and Gentile believers who did not have the benefit of a Hebrew heritage, why does Mark spend so much time in his writing on the healing miracles of the ministry of Christ?

9.)   What was the point of the healing of the paralytic who was lowered from the roof top to a place in front of Christ who was preaching in a home as recorded in Mark 2:1-12?

10.)         What does it mean for us when Jesus states:

a)    Doctors are needed for the sick rather than the healthy (mark2:17)?

b)    That guests at a wedding feast do not fast when the groom is with them (Mark 2:19-20)?

c)     That He was the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)?

11.)         Why did Jesus tell the unclean spirits which He met in the initial stages of His earthly ministry not to tell others who He was? (see Mark 3:7-12)

12.)         What is the practical lesson we need to learn about blaspheming the Holy Spirit according to the teaching in Mark 3:29?

13.)         Consider the parables of Mark 4. What is the common theme of them as a collective teaching? What are the unique lessons which come from them and which are not found in the other parables recorded here?

14.)         Why did Jesus not want the former demon possessed man to go with Jesus and His disciples after the demonic man is healed? (See Mark 5:1-20) Consider from other portions of the gospels what happens when Jesus next returns to this area of the country.

15.)         Consider Mark 5:30 and specifically the claim of Christ that He knew someone had touched Him. What does it mean when it is recorded that He knew that power had gone out of Him?

Reading Through the Bible- Week 11

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a Year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, please know that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

Galatians 6:14-15 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.”

Galatians was one of the first of the New Testament books written. By it, we have insight into some of the early theological struggles and spiritual issues which Christians in the first century faced. Perhaps we should not be surprised to find that the areas of struggle for the first century Christians remain areas of struggle for Christians today.

Paul is inspired to identify very quickly in this writing one of the major struggles which the Church faced. He identified this area of struggle with strong and penetrating words. In chapter 1:6 and following, Paul talks about the many Christians in the Galatian churches who are deserting the gospel of Jesus Christ for a different gospel which really was no gospel at all. Later he describes these Christians as those who have been bewitched and in their bewitching they have exchanged the good news of Jesus for news which is not new and which is not good.

Specifically, Paul identifies that the Law of the Old Testament (or any religious system of law for that matter) is not the good news of Jesus. The Law of the Old Testament was a part of God’s plan which led to Christ but once Christ had been to the Christ, His work replaced the Law. Any attempt to return to the Law was a return to something which was vastly inferior and which was not good news.

Yet the impulse of man is to prefer Law over being born again by the Spirit of God. Our preference at times is to prefer a list of “dos and don’ts” rather than a heart transplant and becoming a new creation. The good news of Jesus is that He wants to make us new rather than us attempting to live by a list of “dos and don’ts”. The Galatian Christians had been approached by some preachers that were teaching the necessity of keeping the Old Testament Law as the way to please God rather than being born again through the saving work of Jesus.

This which was being preached was error and not good news. First of all, it is not new. Ever since creation, man has preferred the outer appearance of being right in our conduct and thinking rather than truly being right in our conduct and thinking to the deepest part of our being. We prefer to count church attendance rather than heart attendance. We prefer to be daily Bible readers rather than daily Bible doers. We prefer to act good while we think what we ever we want in the deepest part of our being ( for example Jesus noted that men would refrain from the physical act of adultery even as their inward thoughts were full of adultery as they looked at a woman who was not their wife).

Moreover, the Law is not good as compared to the work of Christ in our lives because it alone never changed us deeply enough. At best we build boundaries around our evil but we are the same old and ugly people we have always been. We need to be made new and the good news of Jesus and the saving work of Christ is that he makes us brand new from the inside out.

I read across the following poem which I thought expresses the point of being made new so very well:

‘CHURCH  IN THE WEEDS’
Just two little boys walking down this dusty lane…
They came upon this old white house… With broken window panes

‘But what is it, Mother? What’s with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy.’

‘Yes, but hush kids now and listen close… My two sweet precious boys.’

Though it was hid back in the weeds… And so far out of sight…
Nothing’s ever hard to find if you’re walking toward God’s light.

The good news of Jesus is that of changed lives, from the inside out. My only hope for eternity and life in heaven is my personal relationship to Jesus Christ and the Law (for example not how many Sundays I went Church even as I know that my relationship with Jesus leads me to Church).  That which saves me is my relationship with Him and that is good news.

eMullins

Through the Bible Small Group Study and ABF Study Review

Week Eleven- Deuteronomy 20-34 and Joshua 1-2

and Galatians 1-6

OLD TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

1.)   Consider the rules of war which God gave the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 20. What role were the priests to play in the wars of the nation?

2.)   Consider the tithing rules set out in Deuteronomy 26. What are the guidelines for believers for giving to the work of God today?

3.)   Consider the “curses” set out in Deuteronomy 27:15-26 and 28:15-29. Compare them to the blessings of Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Are there Godly curses and blessings for our culture today and, if so, what are they?

4.)   What does it mean in Deuteronomy 30:19 when Moses says that “heaven and earth“ have been called to be witnesses against the people of Israel?

5.)   What is the essence and message of Moses’ song recorded in Deuteronomy 32?

6.)   What is the significance of Rahab’s occupation in the story which unfolds in Joshua 2?

7.)   How do you think Rahab who lived in a idolatrous country and city able to learn about the God of Israel as recorded in Joshua 2:8-13?

NEW TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

8.)   Consider Paul’s inspired observation that the Christians to whom he was writing in the Galatians letter had moved away from the true gospel in quick fashion. To what false doctrine(s) were these people moving? What are the false doctrines of today that are leading churches away from the true gospel?

9.)   Why did Paul reveal his own journey of faith as recorded in Galatians 1:11-24?

10.)         Why did Paul oppose Peter as recorded in Galatians 2:11? What is the lesson for today’s church?

11.)         In Galatians 3:19, Paul asks the question, “What then, was the purpose of the law?” What is the answer to the question?

12.)         What is the freedom which Christians have and to which Paul refers in Galatians 5:1?

13.)         Do people who attend church today struggle with a life lead by our sinful nature versus a life lead by the Spirit, and if so, what does the life lead by the sinful nature look like and what does the life lead by the Spirit look like?

14.)         What does it mean in Galatians 6:7 that God is not “mocked”?

15.)         What does it mean in Galatians 6:15 that “what counts is a new creation”?

Reading Through the Bible- Week 10

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a Year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, please know that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

These verses have been some of my favorites for a long time. It was one of the earliest passages in which I invested time to understand the truth contained therein, in a deeper way. Please understand that I am not bragging about the depth at which I understand the Word of God or these verses for I have no basis to boast. Rather these verses for one reason or another challenged me to learn more from them than that which one learns in a first or cursory reading. And so I began to dig deeper and what I learned has been a tremendous blessing to my spiritual walk with Christ. Even as I confess the blessing of the lessons learned, I further confess that I know there are more blessings which await me in these two verses as I dig deeper still.

However, let me share just a little of what I have learned to date. The first thing which struck me was the impact that a correct view of the mercy of God will have on the life of a believer and the truth which God wants us to know and experience. These verses start with the challenge to be fully aware of or to have in proper view the mercy of God. The truth which follows comes or is deepened in light of an understanding of the mercy of God. Stated oppositely, if I do not have the proper perspective of the mercy of God I will not understand as I should the truth which God wants to reveal in the words of these verses. In this case and without the proper view of God’s mercy, there will be a serious lack of depth of understanding the call to the sacrifice of self which leads to a blessed life as well as a serious lack of understanding in a meaningful way the Will of God for our individual lives.

A part of the truth which God wants us to receive includes our understanding of His call on our lives to live sacrificed lives. We are to have died to self and to be fully vested in the hands of the Master, our Master. That truth is powerful. Coming to understand that true and greater life is found by complete loss of life (i.e. the loss of my selfish life and its plans) in exchange for the gain of His Lordship. The truth is that we are truly blessed in a life that has died to self and lives solely for Him. There is no greater blessing but to enter fully into a life that lives for Jesus.

Yet it seems counterintuitive to believe that we can gain greater life by losing ourselves. However, it is the truth. I would rather be a slave in the house of the Master than a master outside the house of the Creator of Life for in His house there is incredible blessing even for the least.

A further truth revealed in these verses is that God wants us to know His Will and to be able to prove to ourselves that we are following Him and going the right way. Stated more simply, He wants us to prove as compared to guessing that we are following His Will for our lives. What a privilege to know that we are going the right way. The false gods of many religions keep their followers in the dark and in a state of unknowing as to whether the followers are truly going the right way and doing that which truly pleases that god. But the one True God is not that way for He delights when His children walk in the light. A part of walking in the light is knowing His Will.

These two truths are more than powerful for they are encouraging and beautiful. Just to know that our God wants us to gain a greater life experience under His Lordship and to know that we can know His Will is incredible.

Yet these two truths are made more precious when viewed in light of the mercies of God. When the mercy of God is properly in view, we understand that God had every right to withhold from us a greater and blessed life for we do not deserve it at all. The truth is that what we deserve at best is to be slaves for the purpose of punishment for sins and not for the purpose of God’s greater blessing. I feel the delightful weight of His undeserved blessing which comes as He gives me the opportunity to be a servant in His Kingdom and not because I deserve to be His servant. My delight in being His servant is increased and it becomes sweeter as I know that I do not deserve to be His servant.

In like manner I do not deserve to know whether I am doing well (or not) in following Him. I was not born with the right nor have I earned the right to know what His Will is for my life. My sinful condition and the sinful decisions I have made should have set me in a place where I was separated from God and His Will for my life. It would be right at best for me to have to guess the rest of my life as to whether God is pleased with me or not. My delight in knowing His Will is increased and made sweeter as I know that I do not deserve to know God’s plans for me.

Yet God’s mercy has changed the rules so that we are not exempted from the experience of these two blessings, the blessing of a greater life by being His servant and the blessing of knowing His Will for our lives.

In view of God’s mercies, may we be servants who are proving that we know and are living out His Will.

eMullins

Through the Bible Small Group Study and ABF Study Review

Week Ten- Deuteronomy 3-19

and Romans 11-16

OLD TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

1.)   What reason did Moses give for not being able to cross the Jordan with the children of Israel and go into the Promised Land? See Deuteronomy 3:3-26 (as well Deuteronomy 1:37 ad Deuteronomy 4:21). What do you think of Moses’ explanation?

2.)   Consider the idol forms cited by God in Deuteronomy 4:15-20. What are the forms of idolatry worshipped by “civilized” people today?

3.)   In Deuteronomy 5:24, it is recorded that the people said that “today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks to him.” What is the meaning and significance of this statement? Be sure to consider it in context of the rest of the passage.

4.)   What does it mean when the Bible records that God is a jealous God? See for example Deuteronomy 6:14.

5.)   What does it mean when the Bible records that “God goes before His people.” See Deuteronomy 9:3.

6.)   In Deuteronomy 11:13-15 God promises that He will send the rain in its season if the people will obey Him. Does this promise have relevance for today?

7.)   God calls Israel to break down the Asherah poles and other places of idol worship (see Deuteronomy 12:3 and Deuteronomy 16:21). If it were in the power of the Church today to tear down contemporary places of idol worship, what would we tear down?

8.)   What is the lesson for us today from the instruction of Deuteronomy 16:16-17?

9.)   What was to be the function of the prophets of God as defined in Deuteronomy 18:14-22? Are there prophets today?

NEW TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

10.)         In Romans 11:17-23, the Christians of Rome were challenged not to be arrogant because of the fall of some of the Israelites. How do you believe some of the Gentile Christians were becoming arrogant in light of the spiritual fall of some of the Israelites?

11.)         Consider Romans 11:33-36. What is the meaning of these verses in the context of the prior verses?

12.)         How does Romans 12:1-2 answer the question we all ask at one time or another which is “How can I know what God wants me to do?”

13.)         Do Christians struggle today with having envy of other Christians who have been gifted by God in ways which have higher public profiles? Secondly, do some Christians today flaunt their giftedness in the face of other believers and, if so, how? See Romans 12:3-21.

14.)         What is the practical application of Romans 13 in the American Democracy of today?

15.)         What are current examples of accepting the weaker brother or sister in the church? See Romans 14 and 15.

Reading Through the Bible- Week 9

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a Year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, please know that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

Use your best imagination and put yourself in the shoes of the Hebrew as they stand and listen to Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 1. It has been a long 40 years of being in the wilderness and now God is calling them to the long awaited march into the Promised Land. In verse 6 of Deuteronomy 1, God says to the people, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance….”

As I imagine the circumstances of these people, I find that if I were one of the Hebrews, I would have a lot of reasons for staying in camp at Mount Horeb and why staying made more sense than breaking camp and advancing. First there was the reason which came from history. The history of the parents of these people was not encouraging. The parents of these people had been at this same place once before (in fact 40 years before) and they had not had any success. There legacy was one of failure. I would have had it on my mind to question whether my generation could do any better.

There was the issue of physical preparation. I can imagine my concern about whether 40 years in a wilderness as a people really prepared a nation for the battles which were ahead. I am sure that my fellow citizens would have recognized that the wilderness travels had hardened us but it would not have necessarily turned us into soldiers. The nations we would soon face In the Promised Land would have armies of hardened professional soldiers.

I could also imagine that taking in the women and children would be a problem. It was one thing for an army to go into a land and conquer it but it was another thing for the women and children to be right there in the middle of the battle. They would only make the battle harder.

There would be questions about appropriate wartime leadership. Joshua was a nice enough guy but he was untested when it came to war. What would really make things more palatable would be a veteran general with proper training and extensive experience.

If I were a Hebrew listening to Moses, my imagination could find many more reasons not to break camp and why it would be better to stay encamped at the mountain and do the same thing that has been done the last 40 years. The last 40 years were not really that bad. The generation of our parents died but that is the way of life. Children are born and older folks die.

Yet look at all that would be missed if the Hebrews did not break camp. They would miss the Promised Land. They would miss the miracles of God. They would miss the victories God wanted them to experience.

At first the call to break camp seems to be a call only for the time of Moses and the children of Israel but on closer inspection it is a call to us. As the church we are called to move when God calls us. We are called to move to victories which god wants to give us. We are called to move to save the coming generations. Wear re called to break camp and rescue the perishing. We are called to break camp and tend to the needy and helpless. We are called to break camp and move to help each other.

Yet the reasons to stay encamped as a church at the “mountain” abound. Encampment today is most often experienced when we stay in the safe and comfortable confines of the church building and in the safety of the traditions of old. To stay encamped is to refuse to move forward and advance for the sake of the gospel in the face of the paralyzing fear of deciding to do something new and bold because and when God has called us to the new and the bold.

The reasons churches do not advance into the culture to rescue souls (and instead stay in the church building to sing the great old hymn “Rescue the Perishing) or to tend to the needy (and instead stay in church and sing the old favorite “Amazing Grace”) is because we enjoy the safety of our church services. Furthermore, we see that our history has been to be unengaged from the community (unless having a sign out front which says “You all should come to church” is being engaged) and we have a history of something other than success at being an active influence in the community. Moreover, we reason that the problems of the needy are too great for our resources. We even excuse our lack of preparation to advance towards the lost and needy by believing that the government will do a better job at addressing the needs and the hurts of our community (even as we profess that Jesus is the Answer).

Of course there are always exceptions. I remember the old tent revival meetings of the 1950s and 1960s which placed many churches out front in their communities. However, the overwhelming heritage of the church arising to leave the encampment of its buildings over the last 100 years has been to more often to engage in debate with fellow believers rather than to strategically share the good news of Jesus Christ. I have seen churches more comfortable with mission efforts over sees than across the street.

I am encouraged by the younger leadership I have seen in many of churches in recent years who have moved the church from traditional encampment as they have heard God say “Don’t stay in your churches, get out strategically and follow me to the community that needs what you have-Jesus.”

I believe that Hillview has had an outward focus perhaps from its beginning which is in direct response to the God saying “Break camp and advance”. We must be ever vigilant to follow God as He leads us to a lost and hurting world which exists outside the church doors. In that vigilance we must make sure we are prepared by taking care to mature and heal each other. A part of our vigilance will be to raise up appropriate leaders. A part of our vigilance is to make sure that we as a church family are in a healthy place. We must understand the strategies of advancement to which He is calling us.

Hillview, let’s continue to break camp and advance into our community for the sake of the Kingdom of God and for the good of the lost and needy.

eMullins

Through the Bible Small Group Study and ABF Study Review

Week Nine- Numbers 24-36 and Deuteronomy 1-2

and Romans 6-10

OLD TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

1.)   How did Moab bring harm to the children of Israel? See Numbers 25.

2.)   Consider the succession plan which God told Moses and Joshua to implement as described in Numbers 27:12-23. What lessons for the church and its leadership succession can be learned from this passage?

3.)   What was the purpose of the cities of refuge that were established in Numbers 35:6-29?

4.)   Consider Moses’ statement at the end of the 40 years of wandering recorded in Deuteronomy 2:7. Would the children of Israel agree with the statement of Moses? If so, why, or if not, why?

NEW TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

5.)   What was the false teaching going around in the first century church which Romans 6:1-4 was meant to correct?

6.)   Consider Romans 6:11-14. What are modern examples of offering parts of one’s self to sin versus offering one’s self to God?

7.)   Why does Paul ask the question in Romans 7:7 “Is the law sin”? What untruth was he inspired to confront in that specific question and its answer?

8.)   Can we relate to Paul’s confession in Romans 7:14-24? Can we relate to the rescue defined in Romans 7:25?

9.)   To what condemnation is Paul referring in Romans 8:1?

10.)         Consider Romans 8:18. Is there disparity between Christians as to the amount of suffering comes into their lives (i.e. do some Christians suffer more than others or is our suffering equal), and if so, why?

11.)         Consider Romans 8:28-29. Are there persons who have not been called by God (i.e. did God select some and not others) or who whom He did not foreknow?

12.)         Consider Romans 10:12-13. Can a person be saved by being a Jew only and not believing in Christ?

Reading Through the Bible- Week 6

(Following this short devotional, you will find study questions to help you consider the passages we are reading in this week of our through the Bible in a year reading program.  If you have not been following the reading program, be reminded that it is never too late to start reading the Bible. Begin with this week’s reading and find the blessing of reading God’s Word.)

One of the best sermons I heard as a child had as its text Hebrews 1:1. If you have attended church very much at all, you would likely hear a sermon taken from Hebrews 1 with some frequency and verse 1 of that book and chapter is likely be a source for many of those sermons. I have heard several such sermons through the years built on the truths of Hebrews 1 but the one sermon which has stuck in my mind from my childhood was never repeated in all of the other Hebrews 1 sermons I have heard.

The speaker focused on the words “In the past (pointing to the Old Testament times) God spoke through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ….). The preacher then began an exploration of the Old Testament and listed so many of the various ways in which God spoke to His people through the prophets. He listed sermons spoken by the prophets and life experiences of the prophets shared and stories the prophets told and soon the list became incredibly long.

As I listened to the preacher and watch this incredible list of things God had done to get the attention of and teach His people grow, I was amazed at how much grace and mercy our great God exhibited to the people of the Old Testament era. God never changed the truth of His message nor did He change His own unfailing and perfect character. Yet God knew that what might teach one person or speak to one person might not impact another person. God also knew that one method of speaking to one generation might be ineffective for another generation.

It became apparent to me that God was less concerned with the methods of delivery by which the truth is shared as compared to the actual sharing of eternal truth. Please don’t misunderstand that I did not arrive at a conclusion that the method of delivery is unimportant or can be done in any fashion, for such is not true. As Christ followers we must be people of integrity as we share the gospel and the way we share the gospel must also have integrity and Godliness at its core.

I did come to the conclusion, however, that God used various ways to share the truth because the human race is a “varied creation”. Some are impacted by the touch of a gentle hand while others take more meaning from the placement on their lives of a hand . Some are moved by words of gentleness while others need strong words of correction and guidance. Some need words spoken into their lives and some need touches upon their lives. Some need experiences to learn the lessons God has for us and others need teachers to speak the truth which guides us. Some of us need a combination of things.

What a blessing to know that God spoke the eternal truth using various ways in ancient times. The blessing of God continues when we come to know that God still speaks in various ways about the greatest truth of all times and that is that Jesus is the Savior of the world and the heir of all things. The Hebrew writer continues in Hebrews 1 by saying that “..in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son…..” . It is my belief that the single and consistent message to which God is committed is simply the good news of Jesus. However, we still benefit from God’s varied ways of sharing that message. I can think of people whom God sent into my life and by them I have learned so much. I can think of the many times in my life where God’s Word alone has caused me (by His Spirit) to grow to the next level of maturity. I can also think of how God lead me into experiences where I learned more of the eternal truth of the centrality of Jesus.

God shares the message of the Son in so many and varied ways. The printed word was once the only way to go in sharing that message. Then radio came along only to be supplanted by television and now supplanted by the internet.

God shares the message of Jesus in varied ways and so many of them are designed to fit the needs of the people of God. May I give you a current example? This past Sunday, I was waiting for my time to preach and as I stood in the rear of the auditorium, I was concerned about whether the sermon was good enough. I had had trouble bringing thoughts together for the lesson I wanted to share. (The book of Judges was the text for the week’s sermon as we go through the Bible together in a year as a congregation.) As the Lord will often do I was drawn into the worship and praise time of our service and in a few minutes I was weeping in the praise for I knew that God was present in an extra-ordinary fashion and that, as usual, He was going to do the ministering. In the time of praise, as I felt the presence of the Lord, God went further and assured me that He was there for me as well as everyone else and my part in the service was going to fit His purpose. In the midst of the loud praise God’s still small voice spoke to me. I needed both the volume of the praise and the presence of His quiet and near voice. How great and gracious is

While Jesus is the only theme, God delivers this eternal message of love and grace in varied ways in our world today. Praise God with me for He meets our every need in so many different ways.

eMullins

Through the Bible Study Small Group and ABF Study Review

The Year Through the Bible – Week Six- Leviticus 1-17 and Hebrews 1-9

OLD TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

1.)   Consider all of the elements and ceremony which accompanied the various offerings described in Leviticus 1-4. Why all of the elements and ceremony? Is there a lesson in this for us today (consider also the conduct and sins of Nadab and Abihu detailed in Leviticus 10)?

2.)   What was the purpose and meaning of the following sacrifices?

a.)  Burnt Offering – (see Leviticus 1:6; 6:8-13; 8:18-21 and 16:24)

b.)  Grain Offering – (see Leviticus 2 and 6:14-23)

c.)   Fellowship Offering – (see Leviticus 3 and 6:14-23)

d.)  Sin Offering – (see Leviticus 4; 5:1-13; 6:24-30; 8:14-17 and 16:3-22

e.)  Guilt Offering – (see Leviticus 5:14-19; 6:1-7; and 7:1-6)

3.)   Which of the foregoing sacrifices were to be done by individuals and which were to be done by the whole nation?

4.)   Consider the story of the Golden Calf idol recorded in Exodus 32.

a.)  Why did the people turn to this mad plan?

b.)  Do we act in similar ways today in the church?

c.)   Was the Lord Jehovah made a part of this madness by Aaron and or the people (see verses 5-6) and, if so, how and what is the lesson for us today?

d.)  Are there times when you have heard (or personally used) excuses like the ones which Aaron gave to Moses in verses 22-24?

e.)  What were the consequences of the folly of the people in building the Golden Calf? (see verses 20-35)

f.)    What does the church need to learn from the words of Exodus 33:15?

5.)   What is the significance of the statements of God in Leviticus 17:11 about blood? Does this verse relate to Christ in any way?

NEW TESTAMENT READING QUESTIONS

6.)   Discuss how God spoke to the “forefathers” in various ways as stated in Hebrews 1:1?

7.)   What revelations about Christ are found in Hebrews 1:1-4?

8.)   What is the point of the comparisons of angels and Christ found in Hebrews 1:5-14 and 2:5?

9.)   To what are we called to pay attention and why in the teaching of Hebrews 2:1-4?

10.)  How can Christ be omnipotent and yet not have everything subject to Him as declared in Hebrews 2:8b?

11.)  Why is Christ compared to Moses and Melchizedek in Hebrews 3 and 5?

12.)  Why did the writer of Hebrews move away from further teaching about Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:11-14?

13.)  What teachings was the writer of Hebrews inspired to say were so elementary all believers should have a good understanding of them? Do we have a good understanding of them today?

14.)  What are the two unchangeable things referred to in Hebrews 6:18?

15.)  How is Jesus like Melchizedek (see Hebrews 7)?

16.)  What is the Superior Covenant referred to in Hebrews 8 and what does the blood of Christ have to do with that Superior Covenant (see Hebrews 9 and specifically verse 12)?

Day 51, Oct. 26, Tuesday
Num 9-11; Rom 2

Day 52, Oct. 27, Wednesday
Num 12-14; Rom 3

Day 53, Oct. 28, Thursday
Num 15-17; Rom 4

Day 54, Oct. 29, Friday
Num 18-20; Rom 5:1-11

Day 55, Oct. 30, Saturday
Num 21-23; Rom 5:12-21

Day 56, Oct. 31, Sunday
Reflection