Devotional Bible Studies

Read John 17

Now, read John 17 again, this time asking the Holy Spirit to whisper to your heart as you answer the following questions about:

I.  YOUR FOCUS                 John 17:1-5

• What time was it in Jesus’ life? What time was it in the lives of His disciples? 17:1
• What does the timing teach you about prayer?
• What word is repeated five times in 17:1-5? What does this reveal about His focus?
• How should our focus be the same? Ephesians 1:3-6; 1:12, 14; Jude 1:24-25; Revelation 14:7; 15:4

II.  YOUR FAITHFULNESS

A.  To His Word                     John 17:6-12

• What do you think it means to accept the words of Jesus? 17:8; Matthew 7:24-27
• On what is our faith to be based? 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:19-20
• What priority do you give to reading your Bible?
• What is your Bible reading pattern?
• How do you read your Bible? For facts and information, or to hear His voice?
• What adjustments do you need to make to your daily schedule in 2021 in order to read your Bible every day…apply what you read…obey it…share it with someone else?

B.  To His Work                     John 17:13-21

• What work was required before people could believe on Jesus through the disciples? 17:20; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; 4:5; Romans 10:17
• What work do you need to do before others can believe on Jesus through you? Romans 10:17

III.  YOUR FUTURE              John 17:22-26

• As you look into 2021, what do you see ahead in the world? In our nation? In your life? In your family? In your business or career?
• When Jesus looked ahead, what did He see? 17:24
• Would you ask God to give you eyes to see beyond the temporal, the material, the physical…and give you a glimpse of your future? Hebrews 11:13-16; Revelation 4:1-2; 21:1-5

What encouragement, comfort, and hope do you receive from knowing Jesus is praying for you?

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2021 Newsletter.

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

Read Psalm 91

I.  TRUSTING HIS PRESENCE 91:1-2

• What four words in these two verses are used to describe the Lord?
• Look up each word in the dictionary and write out the definition. What does each one mean to you?
• What three conditions need to be met in order to experience His presence? Have you met these conditions?
• What difference does His presence make when our world unravels? Give phrases from Psalm 46.
• Give the three pronouns in vs.1-2 that emphasize the Psalmist’s personal relationship to God. On what basis can you make the same claim today?

 II.  TRUSTING HIS PROTECTION 91:3-4

• What two things does God save us from? vs.3-4 Give a contemporary application for each.
• What descriptive phrase emphasizes that the protection God gives is very personal to Him and to us? v.4
• What object is used to describe God’s protection in v.4?
• In what practical way does a shield act as protection to the person behind it? How effective is the protection of a shield if a person steps out from behind it? Why is it critical to not allow any distance between the shield and the person being protected by it?
• How protected are you today?

III.  TRUSTING HIS PEACE  91:5-6

• In what four situations does God provide peace? vs.5-6
• Is there any reason to lose a good night’s sleep because of fear or worry? Psalm 4:8; Philippians 4:6-7
• What descriptions are used of the Lord in Psalm 27:1-6?
• Give the phrases in Psalm 27:1-6 that describe the dangerous situations in which we can have peace. Apply each one to a situation you have experienced previously, one you may encounter in the future, or to the world today.

IV.  TRUSTING HIS PERSPECTIVE 91:7-8

• Write out in your own words the perspective of one who is safe when trouble is all around.
• What phrase in v.8 indicates that no one will get by with their evil actions?
• What unique perspective did the prophet Elisha give to his servant in 2 Kings 6:15-17?
• What similar perspective does 1 John 4:4 give?
• What trouble, tension, turmoil, tragedy or trial is surrounding you? What is your perspective?  After reading these verses, ask God to open your eyes, so that you see the big picture from His perspective.

V.  TRUSTING HIS POWER 91:9-13

• What is the condition for no harm befalling you? v.9
• What word implies this includes your home and your family? v.10
• Are there exceptions to this? Why? John 9:1-3, 11:1-4; Hebrews 11:32-40.
• How do you know you have an angel assigned to you? 11
• What are some of the things that angels do? 1 Kings 19:1-8; 2 Kings 19:32-36; Psalm 34:7, 103:20; Matthew 4:11; 13:36-43, 49; 24:31; Acts 5:17-20, 12:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 5:11-12.
• What could the lion and the cobra represent? v.13; 1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:9, 20:2.
• When do we receive the power of God? Acts 1:8
• In His power, what can we overcome? 1 John 2:12-14, 5:3-5
• If you are defeated in your Christian life, why?

VI.  TRUSTING HIS PROMISES 91:14-16

• List the promises in vs.14-16 phrase by phrase.
• What are the three conditions given for receiving them?
• What do you need to do now to meet the conditions so that you can claim His promises?
• Write out v.14-16, substituting your name for “he” or “him.”
• Would you choose now to trust God more?

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Fall 2020 Newsletter.

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

Read 1 Kings 18

• In your own words, describe the main events of I Kings 18:1-40.
• What did Elijah do that was different from Ahab in 1 Kings 18:41-42?
• In Matthew 6:16-18, what is implied by the word, “When”, that Jesus repeats twice?
• What have you given up in order to make time for concentrated prayer?
• What attitude in prayer was conveyed by Elijah from verse 42? How is this same attitude conveyed in Ezra 9:3-6? Daniel 9:3?
• As you pray for our broken world, what is your attitude? When was the last time you wept in prayer?
• What impresses you about Elijah from verse 43?
• How does Jesus encourage His followers to pray in this same way? Luke 18:1-8
• What encourages you from each of the following verses? James 5:17-18; Psalm 6:9; Proverbs 15:8, 29; John 17:15, 20; Acts 4:31

Would you keep on praying until the “rain” of God’s blessing falls in a great spiritual awakening, or, until Jesus comes…?

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Summer 2020 Newsletter.

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

I. IN THE DESERT

• Describe a spiritual “desert.” See Exodus 15:22; 16:2-3.
• Where did God’s people see the LORD in Exodus 16:10?
• Describe John’s “desert” in Revelation 1:9.
• What was his experience there according to Revelation 1:9-16?
• Can you think of a time when you were spiritually dry, cut off from all that was familiar, yet God met you there in a fresh way?
• How are you encouraged by Isaiah 35:6 (KJV)? Exodus 17:1-6? Genesis 21:14-20?

II. IN THE DARKNESS

• When have you been enveloped by the darkness of frustration or fear, disappointment or depression, stress or suffering?
• What did God promise His people in Exodus 19:9?
• How was Jonah in the dark, and what was his testimony in Jonah 2:1-3:2? the Psalmist in Psalm 40:2? Daniel in Daniel 6:1-28? Lazarus in John 11:14, 33-35, 38-44?
• How are you encouraged by Exodus 20:21? Psalm 97:2? 2 Samuel 22:29?

III.  IN THE STORM

• What storms of disease, death, divorce, disaster, or other upheavals have come into your life? See Proverbs 1:27.
• Describe Ezekiel’s storm in Ezekiel 1:1-5, and whom he saw in Ezekiel 1: 25-28.
• Describe the storm and the unique experience of the three Hebrew young men in Daniel 3:1-25.
• Describe Peter’s storm in Matthew 14:22-33, and what he discovered as a result.
• What do you learn about storms from each of the following descriptions? Job 40:6; Proverbs 10:25; Nahum 1:3.
• What does Jesus teach you from His own example in Luke 8:22-25?

IV. ON THE MOUNTAIN

Mountains can represent peaks and high points in our lives, but they can also represent difficulties, obstacles, hardships, and stress because of the effort required to “climb” them.

• Name some mountains in your life at present.
• How are you encouraged by Exodus 34:1-5? Genesis 22:14? Mark 9:2-8?

The Bible says, now we see through a glass darkly…but one day we will see Him face to face (I Corinthians 13:12). Would you ask God to show you His glory even now in the midst of your desert, darkness, storm and mountain-sized hardship?  Then open your eyes and look up, look around, and look back….   

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Spring 2020 Newsletter.

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

Read Exodus 20:1-17

• Give a phrase from each of the following verses that underscores the source of our life’s directions:
Exodus 20:1-2; Deuteronomy 5:12, 15, 16, 22, 32-33.

• What gives God the right to establish directions for life in 2020? See Genesis 1:1.

• Write out each of the ten commandments in your own words.

• Match each of the following phrases with one of the commandments: God is to be honored; human life is sacred; God is to be preeminent; mean what you say and say what you mean; relationships are important; sex has limits; God is to be followed; God is to be worshipped; be content with what you have; honesty is the best policy.

• How closely are you following God’s directions for living?

• What encouragement do you receive from the following Scriptures as they relate to following…or failure to follow…God’s directions?
Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 John 1:9; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 10:19-22.

• What practical steps will you take today to start following His directions more closely?

This Bible study was prepared especially for the Winter 2020 Newsletter.

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