EZRA’S DEVOTION TO THE STUDY AND OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW

Ezra 7:1-8:36 (Key Verse: 7:10)                                                                         

1. What does verse 1 say about the timing of this event? What is special about Ezra’s family history (7:1b-5)? What did Ezra do in Babylon (7:6a)? What kind of relationship did he have with the Babylonian king (7:6b)?

2. Who came up to Jerusalem with Ezra (7:7)? When did Ezra return to Jerusalem (7:8a)? How long did it take for him to come from Babylon (7:8b,9)?

3. What did Ezra decide to do (7:10)? Why is this decision important to both Ezra as an individual and to Israel as a nation (Ne 8:1,2,9,18)?

4. How did the king honor Ezra in his letter (7:11,12)? In his decree, what did King Artaxerxes say about the offerings and its use (7:13-20) and Ezra’s privileges and rights (7:21-26)? How did Ezra praise God (7:27,28)?

5. What are the details of the family heads and those who came with Ezra from Babylon (8:1-14)? What was serious about the fact that no Levites were found in the assembly (8:15)? How were Levites secured for the practical work of services (8:16-20)?

6. By the Ahava Canal, why did Ezra proclaim a fast (8:21-23)? What particular mission did Ezra give to twelve leaders (8:24-30)?

7. How were they protected from enemies and bandits as they traveled (8:31-34)? What did the people offer to God upon their return (8:35)? What is the meaning of this? What did the royal satraps and governors do for Ezra and the people (8:36)?

Posted: September 8th, 2010 under Bible Study.
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THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

 Luke 14:25-35 (Key Verse: 26,27)

 1. How big were the crowds that followed Jesus (25a)? To whom did Jesus turn his attention (25b)?

2. What did Jesus say about discipleship (26)? What does he mean by “hate”?    

3. What does Jesus say about the responsibility and direction of a disciple (27; 9:23)? What does he mean by “carry his cross”?   

4. What do Jesus’ example and the phrases “estimate the cost” and “finish it” say about discipleship (28-30)?   

5. How are Jesus’ teaching in verses 31 and 32 related to verse 33? Notice the phrase “give up everything”. Why does Jesus set the bar so high to seemingly discourage people from being his disciples? 

6. In what sense are verses 34 and 35 the conclusion of this section? What does it mean to be like salt? 

7. How should disciples of Jesus understand the difference and make a clear distinction between the time to hate and the time to show love and responsibility to family members (Ecc 3:1,8; 1Ti 5:8; Acts 16:31; Mk 3:35; Lk 12:52,53)?

Posted: September 1st, 2010 under Bible Study.
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GO OUT AND MAKE THEM COME IN

 Luke 14:15-24 (Mt 22:1-14) (KV:14:23)                                                                                

1. How did the person at the table positively respond to Jesus’ teaching (15)? Who is the certain man in Jesus’ parable (16a; Mt 22:2)?  

2. What kind of banquet was prepared (16b; Mt 22:2b)? After the initial invitation, how did the king prepare his banquet and again extend his invitation (17; Mt 22:3,4)?  

3. What were the different excuses of the invited guests (18-20)? According to Matthew’s gospel, what did the people actually do, in addition to their refusal to come (Mt 22:5,6)? What was the consequence (Mt 22:7)?  

4. What alternative plan did the master of the banquet implement (21; Mt 22:8-10)? How is Luke’s account (Lk 14:21-23) and Matthew’s account Mt 22:8-13) similar and also different? 

5. How is Jesus’ concluding remark in Luke 14:24 and Matthew 22:14 the same? 

* What does the parable of the great wedding banquet teach about the kingdom of God? How is this passage relevant as we begin the new semester?

Posted: August 25th, 2010 under Bible Study.
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O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM

 Luke 13:31-14:14 (Key Verse: 13:34)                  

1. What warning did some Pharisees give Jesus (13:31)? What does Jesus’ response to Herod’s threat suggest about his determination for his mission (13:32,33)?

2. What does Jesus weep for (13:34a)? What efforts did Jesus make for the people in Jerusalem (13:34b)? What does Jesus say about Jerusalem current prospect and his longing hope (13:35)?

3. Why was Jesus being so carefully watched (14:1)? What kind of person was in front of Jesus (14:2)? What did Jesus ask the Pharisees (14:3; Mk 3:4a)?

4. What did Jesus do for the man (14:4)? To make his point, what common practices did Jesus mention (14:5; 13:15)? Why were they speechless (14:6; Mk 3:4b)?

5. What did Jesus observe at the table (14:7)? What advice did Jesus offer the people (14:8)? Why (14:9)?

6. Instead, what did Jesus suggest (14:10)? What general principle does Jesus teach (14:11)?

7. What very uncommon suggestion does Jesus give to his host (14:12,13)? Why (14:14; Mt 25:36-40)?

* How does Jesus passion for people inspire us today?

Posted: August 18th, 2010 under Bible Study.
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                               ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR

Luke 13:10-30 (Key Verse: 24)

1. What was the life-long agony of a woman who came to the synagogue one Sabbath (10,11)? How did Jesus heal her (12,13a)? What was her response (13b)?

2. Why was the synagogue ruler indignant (14)? In what sense was his point reasonable? What did Jesus say about him (15a)? How did Jesus expose his hypocrisy (15b-17)? What can we learn from Jesus?

3. With what did Jesus first compare the kingdom of God (18,19)? How is the kingdom of God like yeast (20,21)? What does this parable tell us about the growth of the kingdom of God? What are the practical implications of these two parables?

4. What was Jesus doing along the way (9:51; 22)? What did someone ask him (23)? What does Jesus command his disciples to do (24)? What is the narrow door (Mt 7:13,14)? Why a narrow door (24a)? Why “make every effort” (24b)? 

5. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, what happens (25)? What does the continuing conversation suggest about the nature of relationship with Jesus (26,27)? 

6. What is the grim prospect about the kingdom of God (28)? What are the wonderful aspects about the kingdom of God (29)? What does verse 30 mean?

7. In this passage how does Jesus himself make every effort to enter through the narrow door? Why is it that we make efforts for healing, growth, and feast in Jesus?

Posted: August 11th, 2010 under Bible Study.
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