The week of October 25

Read these four passages the week of October 25th:

Micah 3:5–12

Psalm 43

1 Thessalonians 2:9–20

Matthew 23:1–12

Reflection questions:

  1. In Micah 3, God (through the prophet Micah) exposes the false prophets of Israel for accepting bribes and for trying to get rich through their ministry. What is the consequence for their behavior? God wants the prophets to prophesy the truth, even if the truth sounds like bad news at the time. Can you think of a time you’ve been tempted to sugarcoat a hard truth, in order to benefit somehow?

  2. In Psalm 43, the author expresses his discouragement that his righteousness has been rewarded with rejection. This is an unfortunate human experience: we do what is right, and we suffer for it. In verses 3–5 he details his response. Can you identify the different ways he responds to this painful situation? Do any of them strike you as especially helpful to remember in times when you’re feeling the same way?

  3. In Psalm 43:5, the author names his honest feelings (“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”) and then preaches to himself (“Put your hope in God!”). By his example, how does he teach us to respond when we feel like we’re in a dark place? What does this verse teach us about the roles of our feelings and thoughts, and the distinctions between the two?

  4. In 1 Thessalonians 2:9–20, Paul describes how he worked through challenging seasons. He then describes how the Christians in Thessalonica did the same. Where did Paul find hope? Where can you find hope when working through difficult seasons of life?

  5. Meditate on the phrase, “live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Do you sense the Holy Spirit leading you to take any specific steps to further live a life worthy of God?

General questions:

  1. God: What does this teach about God?

  2. Us: What does this teach about ourselves/ humanity?

  3. Meaning: Why does God include this in his word?

  4. Values: What values are important to God, and what values does he want us to hold? (note: these are often at odds with our culture’s values)

  5. Attitude: How should I think and respond to things that happen around me or to me?

  6. Behavior: What is God calling me to obey?

  7. Share: What is God calling me to share?

  8. Surprise: Does anything in this reading surprise me? Confuse me?

The week of October 18

Read these four passages the week of October 18th:

Exodus 22:21–27

Psalm 1

1 Thessalonians 2:1–8

Matthew 22:34–46

Reflection questions:

  1. The laws in Exodus 22 involve how we treat certain types of people (foreigners, widows, orphans, the needy, our neighbors). What do these types of people have in common? What does this teach us about what matters to God?

  2. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, “We are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts.” In what ways are you tempted to please people instead of God? Do you sense God leading you to choose to please him instead of other people? Share with the group about that sense.

  3. Psalm 1 describes the type of person who is blessed, and also the type of person who is not blessed. What characteristics do you observe in people who are blessed? What about the “wicked?” According to Psalm 1, where does the path of the righteous lead, and where does the path of wickedness lead?

  4. In Matthew 22:34–40, Jesus famously teaches the two most important commandments. Immediately afterwards, he adds a slight twist: “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (v. 40) (The Law and The Prophets is an ancient Jewish shorthand for the Old Testament) Does it change your perception of the Old Testament at all to hear that the Old Testament can be summarized by, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself?”

  5. In Matthew 22:41–46 Jesus teaches a message that to us may be cryptic (although to the ancient Jewish religious leaders, it was probably pretty clear). Ancient Jews thought the Messiah would be a human military leader. Jesus challenges that misunderstanding. What point do you think Jesus is trying to make in this little section? (Note: this is a harder teaching and a harder question, so don’t feel badly if it’s not immediately clear to you!)

General questions:

  1. God: What does this teach about God?

  2. Us: What does this teach about ourselves/ humanity?

  3. Meaning: Why does God include this in his word?

  4. Values: What values are important to God, and what values does he want us to hold? (note: these are often at odds with our culture’s values)

  5. Attitude: How should I think and respond to things that happen around me or to me?

  6. Behavior: What is God calling me to obey?

  7. Share: What is God calling me to share?

  8. Surprise: Does anything in this reading surprise me? Confuse me?

The week of October 11

Read these four passages the week of October 11th:

Malachi 3:6–12

Psalm 96

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Matthew 22:15–22

Reflection questions:

  1. In Malachi 3, God promises that he does not change. In the following verses, he describes why that is good news. In your own words, why is it good news that God does not change?

  2. Right after God describes his covenant loyalty in Malachi 3:6–7, he teaches us how to respond (this is one response among many). What is the connection between God’s covenant loyalty (Malachi 3:6–7) and tithing (Malachi 3:8–12)? What does God promise are the results of trusting God with our finances?

  3. Psalm 96 describes realities about God and our responses to those realities. Name some of the realities about God you notice in Psalm 96. Name some of the responses to those realities that you notice in Psalm 96.

  4. In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul praises the Christians in Thessalonica. What are some of their lifestyles that he praises them for? Which of those do you find easy to emulate? Which do you find challenging to emulate?

  5. What were some of the results of the Thessalonian Christians’ changed lives? (1 Thessalonians 1:1–10)

  6. In Matthew 25 Jesus famously teaches, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.” Do you sense God calling you to take a next step of trust by either “giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s” or by “giving to God what is God’s?”

General questions:

  1. God: What does this teach about God?

  2. Us: What does this teach about ourselves/ humanity?

  3. Meaning: Why does God include this in his word?

  4. Values: What values are important to God, and what values does he want us to hold? (note: these are often at odds with our culture’s values)

  5. Attitude: How should I think and respond to things that happen around me or to me?

  6. Behavior: What is God calling me to obey?

  7. Share: What is God calling me to share?

  8. Surprise: Does anything in this reading surprise me? Confuse me?