Devotional Bible Studies

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.

 Download the PDF of this Bible study here to print or email.

As our world melts down into chaos, corruption and confusion with disasters, dangers, and disease all around us, we need to know where we are headed.

Read Revelation 1:1-3

REVEALED BY GOD     Revelation 1:1

*Who is revealed by God? v.1; John 1:1-5,14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 22:13
*What is revealed by God?
*What detail does Jesus reveal concerning the End? Matthew 24:14
*How does Jesus encourage us as we look to the End? Matthew 28:20

RECORDED BY JOHN     Revelation 1:2
*How does John describe his authorship of the book of Revelation? v.2
*What difference does it make to you that Revelation is John’s eyewitness account of the End?

READ BY YOU AND ME     Revelation 1:3
*Why is it important to know the End? v.3; Hebrews 2:1; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:7; Titus 2:11-13
*What do you think is the unique blessing given to those who continually read and study Revelation?

Make time to read the book of Revelation, focusing not on all the symbolism, but focusing on Jesus. You will be blessed!

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2023 Newsletter.

 Download the PDF of this Bible study here to print or email.

Living in an increasing spiritually dark world, write out in your own words the encouragement you receive from the following verses regarding…

God’s Word

Psalm 119:50; 89-90;105; 130; 165

Matthew 7:24-25

Your Witness

Matthew 5:14-16

John 1:1-8 with Matthew 11:11

Acts 20:24

Then put into your own words…

The Warning

What does God say will happen to a nation if it forsakes His word?  Deuteronomy 28:15-20

What does Jesus say will happen to a person’s life, or to a nation, if God’s word is forsaken?  Matthew 7:26-27

How do we overcome?  Revelation 12:11

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2023 Newsletter.

 Download the PDF of this Bible study here to print or email.

As we look to Thanksgiving and Christmas, many of us will be with extended family. But those times can also carry undercurrents, can’t they? Because families can have a down side. If there are those in your family who are not Jesus followers, or are deemed not “qualified” to be Jesus followers, consider those in His extended human family. Some of the most poignant examples of God’s love, mercy, and grace are stories highlighted by names of women that appear in the genealogy that begins Matthew’s Gospel—a list of names that make up His Family Tree.

Read Matthew 1:1-17

I. HIS FAMILY INCLUDES THE LOVELESS   Matthew 5:3

• Give the main facts of Tamar’s story from Genesis 38:11-30.
• What evidence is there that she was not loved by her family?
• If you have been unloved by your family, how do the following verses comfort and encourage you? Give phrases from Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 103:17; Lamentations 3:19-24; Isaiah 54:6-8; Isaiah 60:15; Matthew 12:48-50; Ephesians 3:17-19.

II.  HIS FAMILY INCLUDES THE LOST     Matthew 5:5

• Give the main facts of Rahab’s story from Joshua 2:1-24; 6:12-25.
• What evidence of the lost spiritual condition of Rahab’s family is given in Deuteronomy 20:16-18?
• Name those in your family who are spiritually lost. Give phrases from the following verses that encourage you in your prayers for them: John 3:16-17; Ezekiel 34:16; Ephesians 2:1-9; Luke 15:3-7, 8-10; John 10:14-15.

III.  HIS FAMILY INCLUDES THE LAWBREAKER      Matthew 5:6

• Who was Uriah the Hittite? 2 Samuel 23:8a, 39.
• Who was Uriah’s wife? 2 Samuel 11:3
• Give the main facts of her story in 2 Samuel 11:1-27.
• How did Uriah’s wife break God’s law? Exodus 20:14.
• If you, or someone in your family, has been immoral, or in some other way broken God’s law, what instructions and promises do the following verses give? Hosea 14:1-2; John 8:1-11; Psalm 32:1, 4-5; Psalm 103:11-12; 1 John 1:6-9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
• Who was ultimately revealed at the end of this Family Tree? Matthew 1:16

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, remember His Family Tree. If God could transform the human family of His Son into a testimony of His amazing grace, why do you think He can’t do the same for you and your family?

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Fall 2022 Newsletter.

 Download the PDF of this Bible study here to print or email.

Read 2 Chronicles 19:1-2, 4 and 20:1-30

I.  THE BLESSING

• What was the blessing in 2 Chronicles 19:4 that preceded the battle in 20:1?
• What was the blessing in Matthew 3:13-17 that preceded the attack on Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11?
• Skim through John 9. What was the blessing that preceded the attack on the man who had been born blind?
• What was the blessing that preceded the attack on the leaders of the early church? Acts 3:1-26 with Acts 4:1-3
• Looking back on the recent past, what blessing have you experienced that preceded an attack?
• What can we learn from this pattern? Ephesians 6:18

II.  THE BATTLE

• Describe the attack in 2 Chronicles 20:1-2.
• How did Jehoshaphat react?
• On what promise of God did Jehoshaphat base his prayer? Compare 2 Chronicles 20:6-9 with 2 Chronicles 7:13-15
• When have you been attacked physically? Emotionally? Relationally? Spiritually? Mentally?
• How have you reacted?
• Which of the following promises will you claim as the basis for your prayer of faith? Psalm 27:5, 46:1-11, 100:5; Isaiah 40:29-31; Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Romans 8:28, 8:31-39; Hebrews 10:35-39

III.  THE BANNER

• What challenge did Jehoshaphat give to his people? Put 2 Chronicles 20:20 into your own words.
• What unique instructions did Jehoshaphat give and what was the result? 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
• Relate Psalm 60:4 to Jehoshaphat’s strategy against the enemy.
• Who is our Banner? Isaiah 11:10
• When you are under attack, how can you raise the Banner? What will you do to incorporate praise in your strategy to overcome the enemy?
• Fill in the blanks:

I praise the Lord for who He is_________

I praise the Lord for what He has done__________

I praise the Lord for what He will do__________

• Is it possible God is wanting to give you a breakthrough, but is waiting for you to lift up the Banner? Start praising Him now. And keep on praising Him until you have victory.

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2022 Newsletter.

 Download the PDF of this Bible study here to print or email.