With Strong Friends
With Sharpened Focus
With Steadfast Faith
Using the above criteria, are you developing into a disciple of Jesus?
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2024 Newsletter.
When pressures or problems or pain envelop our lives, we tend to trust God…plus our doctor or our lawyer or our counselor or our banker or our leaders or our own effort or our (fill in the blank). Yet God seems to demonstrate His power and glory to those who trust in Him alone. Which is why He often allows us to reach the end of our human resources or run the limit of conventional wisdom before He steps in and does the impossible. The miraculous. So when you are at your wits’ end…
When you are at your wits’ end, cry out to God…then trust Him to hear and answer!
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2024 Newsletter.
*How important is your physical focus when walking or driving or even watching TV?
*How important is your spiritual focus when walking with God and seeking to live for Him?
*What do you think it means to walk with God? See 1 John 1:6-7; Ephesians 4:1-3; Micah 6:8.
*As we walk with God, how critical is it for our focus to be clear? Ephesians 5:15 (NASB); Ephesians 5:2 (NASB); Galatians 5:16 (NASB); 1 John 1:6-7
*What difference do you think focus made in Enoch’s walk in Genesis 5:21-24?. In Noah’s walk in Genesis 6:8-18 and 7:23? In Abraham’s walk in Genesis 18:16-19? (Use your imagination based on the circumstances surrounding each of these three characters.)
*Apply each of the above situations to your own focus as you walk with God and the difference it makes.
*What is required in order to be spiritually focused? 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6
*Describe the One on whom we are to focus from John 6:48; 8:12; 10:9; 10:14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:5; John 1:1-5, 15; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-20
*How does the hope of seeing Jesus sharpen your focus according to 1 John 3:3? Romans 14:11-12? 1 Corinthians 13:12?
As you begin 2024, what are some practical things you need to do to adjust and/or sharpen your focus so that your walk is pleasing to Him?
* Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are based on ‘78 NIV.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2024 Newsletter.
*How many times does the universe raise a hallelujah in Revelation 19:1-9? Give verses.
*Who is the focus of the thunderous, universal praise? Give verses.
*What are some of the stated reasons for raising these hallelujahs? Put them in your own words, with the verses.
*What are four reasons for the last hallelujah? 19:7-9
*Is there any doubt that one day the Bride will be ready as she enjoys the wedding feast with the Bridegroom? Give the phrase and the verse
*What further insight do you gain from Matthew 24:42-44? Matthew 25:1-13? Ephesians 5:25-27, 32?
*Are you ready to meet the Bridegroom? Five minutes before you do meet Him, what will you wish you had done differently?
*As you daily live out the difference with the expectancy of seeing Him face to face, list as
many reasons as you can for raising a hallelujah now. Then don’t stop…
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Fall 2023 Newsletter.
My oldest granddaughter just got married in my backyard! The detail of preparation was intense, but so worth it when the moment came for the “first look”. Our Bridegroom, Jesus, is coming! What are you doing to prepare for the first look? While no one knows the day or the hour of His return, Jesus Himself instructed His disciples repeatedly to be ready….
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Matthew 25:1-13
I. BY BEING FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
*In your own words describe the event Paul is referring to in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
*Do you think this event is symbolic, spiritual, or a literal event that will take place in human history? Give Biblical reasons for your answer.
*What additional information about this future event do you learn from 1 Corinthians 15:51-57? Matthew 24:36-42? Matthew 25:1-13?
*How are we encouraged to use this information? 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11; John 14:1-3.
*If Jesus returns tomorrow what will you wish you had done differently today?
II. BY BEING FAITHFUL IN THE PRESENT
*How should our focus on the future impact the way we live today? 1 John 2:28-3:3.
*According to the following verses in what other ways are we to be faithful in the present? Matthew 24:42-44; 25:13.
*What do you think it means practically to “watch”?
*Why do we need to be intentional about watching? 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Luke 12:38-40; Revelation 16:15.
*What are some of the consequences of not watching? Matthew 24:48-51; 25:1-13.
*What is another way we can be faithful at present? Matthew 24:45-47; John 9:4; Luke 12:35-38.
*If Jesus returns tomorrow, what will you be glad you did today?
III. BY BEING FILLED EVERY MOMENT
*Read Matthew 25:1-13.
*What did all 10 of the virgins have in common?
*How are all 10 virgins representative of the organized, church today?
*What was the primary difference between the two groups of five?
*What do you think the oil represents?
*How does this difference also exist in the church today?
*In light of 1 Thessalonians 4:16, what do you think the midnight cry represents?
*What was the reason the bridegroom didn’t let the foolish virgins into the wedding banquet?
*Relate this to Matthew 7:21-23; John 3:5-6; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.
*Give one action item from each pair of verses that, taken together, insure you are one of the wise virgins: Romans 3:23 with 1 John 1:9; Acts 2:38 with Acts 3:19; John 3:16 with Romans 10:9-10; Revelation 3:20 with John 1:12; John 14:16-17 with Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 5:15-18 with 2 Peter 3:14.
*If Jesus returns at midnight, are you ready?
If you are ready, what will you do to help others get ready? And if you are not ready, what will you do to get ready yourself? Do it now.
This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2023 Newsletter.
