Week 5: Bible Study Questions
UNDERSTANDING THE SHAPING & “GREAT THEMES” OF GOD’S WORD
PROMISE:
THE LORD MADE THE FIRST MOVE TO RESTORE OUR WHOLENESS
· THE LORD PROMISED TOTAL RESTORATION “FOR MOTHER’S EVE’S FAMILY”
GOD’S WORD: (Genesis 3:12-15, 21, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Who all were responsible for the fall into rebellion in the Garden of Eden?
2. What was Eve’s excuse for participating in the rebellion?
3. What was Adam’s excuse for participating in the rebellion?
4. Why might the serpent have made excuse for participating in the rebellion?
5. What is the meaning of the Lord’s punishment imposed on the serpent: “Her (Eve’s) offspring will crush your (Serpent’s) head, and you will (only) strike his heal”? (Clue: see 1 Corinthians 15:12-28)
6. What was spiritually significant about the Lord’s providing garments of animal skins to replace the fig-leaf coverings Adam and Eve made to cover their guilt and shame? (Clue: see Hebrews 9:22)
· THE LORD PROMISED RICH BLESSINGS “FOR ABRAHAM’S FAMILY AND ALL PEOPLES”
GOD’S WORD: (Genesis 12:1-9, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Why do I feel that Abraham became known as the father of all the faithful?
2. What was the special nation-land promise which the Lord gave to Abraham?
3. What additional promised blessing did the Lord give for all peoples through Abraham’s family?
· THE LORD’S PROMISE IN JESUS IS A “SECURE ANCHOR FOR OUR SOULS”
GOD’S WORD: 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:13-15, 17-20, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How did the Lord show the strength and seriousness of his covenant promises given to Abraham and all other faithful people through Abraham’s family line?
2. How much of the overall covenant promise to Abraham did he actually see in his lifetime?
3. Why was the making of covenant promises through Abraham’s family line such a challenge to his faith and his wife’s?
4. What are the two unchanging things about the Lord which make it impossible for him to lie?
5. How is my faith in Jesus, Son of God, an anchor to my soul?
6. How does Jesus’ being my High Priest become central to my firm and secure hope and faith?
· THE LORD’S PROMISE IN JESUS MAKES “OUR FAITH SURE AND OUR HOPE CERTAIN”
GOD’S WORD: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:1-2, 39-40, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How does this Biblical writer define faith?
2. Is my faith really being sure of what I hope for because of Jesus?
3. Is my faith really feeling certain of what I cannot see because of Jesus?
4. Why is it that none of the Old Covenant faithful received all of what the Lord promised them?
5. What are the greater covenant plans which the Lord has for both the Old Covenant and New Covenant faithful?
6. How does the ultimate covenant promise restore all that was lost in the Garden of Eden?
· THE LORD PROMISE FOR ALL PEOPLE REALLY “BEGINS AND ENDS WITH JESUS”
GOD’S WORD: 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. (Hebrews 12:2-3, 7-8, 11-13, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What all is involved in fixing my eyes on Jesus?
2. In what sense is Jesus the author of my faith?
3. In what sense is Jesus the perfecter of my faith?
4. What was the joy Jesus felt when he went to the cross/
5. What can I learn about courage from the death of Jesus?
6. How am I to envision hardships in my life?
7. What is the difference between discipline and punishment?
8. How does the spiritual training of discipline produce righteousness and peace?
9. How does physical training strengthen feeble arms and weak knees?
10. Regarding my spiritual weaknesses, does the Lord want me to settle to just cope with the disability or to actually claim healing by faith?