Read these four passages the week of October 11th:

Malachi 3:6–12

Psalm 96

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Matthew 22:15–22

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

God: What does this teach about God?
Us: What does this teach about ourselves/ humanity?
Meaning: Why does God include this in his word?
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)
Attitude: How should I think and respond to things that happen around me or to me?
Behavior: What is God calling me to obey?
Share: What is God calling me to share?
Surprise: Does anything in this reading surprise me? Confuse me?