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?