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Week 47, One Year Bible Challenge: “Serving the One True God”

Christ the Rock Community Church, Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study

This week’s reading November 18-241
Ezekiel 39:1 to Daniel 2:23
James 2:18 to 1 Peter 4:6
Psalm 118:1 to 119:80
Proverbs 28:2 to Proverbs 28:14

Gate of Tyre
“Gate of Tyre,” from The Holy Land and the Bible (1888)

Next Week’s Reading November 25 to December 1
Daniel 2:24 to Daniel 11:1
1 Peter 4:7 to 1 John 3:6
Psalm 119:81 to 121:8
Proverbs 28:15- to 28:28

Discussion Questions:

Continue reading “Week 47, One Year Bible Challenge: “Serving the One True God””

  1. If you are participating in the Saturday morning class, “The One Year Bible Challenge,” you should read the daily materials as set out in “The One Year Bible.” The verses listed on this page will include a couple of extra days each week. ↩

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One Year Bible Challenge, Week 43

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Week 43

October 22 to 28, 20111

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Jeremiah 39:1 to 52:34

Themes and stories: Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonian and his army sieged Jerusalem. After more than a year, all of Jerusalem was about starved to death. When the Babylonians finally breached the city wall, King Zedekiah and his officials made a run for it. The Babylonians caught them on the plains of Jericho. Nebuchadnezzar had the king’s sons slaughtered in front of him. Then he poked out Zedekiah’s eyes and had him taken to Babylonian in chains. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the Prophet, Jeremiah not be harmed. Jeremiah was given the choice to travel to Babylonian, where he was assured he’d be well cared for. But Jeremiah decided to stay in Judah, even though it meant sharing the hardships of his people in their conquered nation. Only the poorest people were allowed to remain in Judah. All the others were taken to Babylonian. Gedaliah was appointed Governor by Nebuchadnezzar. Gedaliah was overpowered and murdered as he dined with his killer and his friends.

In chapter 42, the remnant of the people remaining in Judah asked Jeremiah to pray for them as to where they should go and what they should do. God told Jeremiah he should instruct the people to stay where they were. Jeremiah warned them to not go to Egypt. The people ignored Jeremiah’s advice, and went to Egypt anyway, where they worships idols.

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Egyptians:

[25] The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. [26] I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadrez’zar king of Babylon and his officers. Jeremiah 46:25-26 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Philistines:

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh smote Gaza. [2] “Thus says the LORD: Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. Jeremiah 47:1-2 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Moabites:

[9] “Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away; her cities shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them. [10] “Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. Jeremiah 48:9-10 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Ammonites:

[2] Therefore, behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD. Jeremiah 49:2 (RSV).

Jeremiah’s also prophesied against the Edomites, Syrians, and Elamites. He prophesied against Kedar and Hazor.

Jeremiah’s prophesied against the Babylonians:

[1] The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chalde’ans, by Jeremiah the prophet: [2] “Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: `Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Mer’odach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.’ [3] “For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away. Jeremiah 50:1-3 (RSV).

zedekiahChapter 51 of the Book of Jeremiah ends, “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” Jeremiah 52:64 (RSV). This appears to be a natural end to the book; but another chapter (52) follows. Chapter 52 contains details about the fall of Jerusalem. Some commentators consider chapter 52 to be an appendix to Jeremiah, which:

  1. Shows that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity happened, as the prophet predicted; and
  2. Serves as preface to the next book, Lamentations.

Discussion points: Why did Nebuchadnezzar protect Jeremiah?

Psalms: Psalm 90:1 to 100:5

Proverbs: Proverbs 26:1 to 26:19

NEW TESTAMENT READINGS: 2 Timothy 1:1 to Titus 3:15

Themes and stories: 2 Timothy is Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful. He recalls Timothy’s mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, both who were women of faith.

Paul warns Timothy of the difficult times that await in the last days:

[1] But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. [2] For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. [6] For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, [7] who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7 (RSV).

The Book of Titus is Paul’s letter to Titus, a Greek who may have been converted to Christianity by Paul’s ministry.

Paul describes the qualifications for church leaders. These are similar to the instructions he gave to Timothy for church leaders in Ephesus:

  • [6] An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Titus 1:6 (NIV).
  • [7] For a bishop,2 as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; [9] he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. Titus 1:6 (RSV).

Paul warns against false teachers. He says they must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families.

In Titus 2:2-10 (NIV), Paul gives advice for different types of church members.

  • [2] Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
  • [3] Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.
  • [4] Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
  • [6] Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. [7] In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness [8] and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
  • [9] Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, [10] and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Good works are important, but avoid useless arguments:

[8] This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

[9] But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. [10] Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, [11] knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned. Titus 3:8-11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible )

Discussion points: Why is the Bible so important? Is it literally the word of God?

DISCUSSION POINTS AND VERSES — Christian Men’s Breakfast only3

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, October 29, 2011 are now online — ”The Word of God”. This is week 43, which means we are entering the last 10 weeks of the ONE YEAR BIBLE CHALLENGE. This week we finish Jeremiah. Some nations and people did not do so well. We also read in 2 Timothy and Titus. Discussion verses: Jeremiah 39:11-14 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17

FOOTNOTES
  1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
    –Tom Truex ↩
  2. Elder is translated in some versions as “overseer” ↩
  3. Subject to change. ↩

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One Year Bible Challenge, Week 12

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Week 12

March 19-25, 20111

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

OLD TESTAMENT READINGS: Numbers 28:16 – Deuteronomy 4:49

Themes and stories: God specified the offering for Passover, Pentecost, Festival of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Festival of Booths.

God told the Israelites not to break their promises. A woman was responsible for her promises only if her father (if unmarried) or husband heard the promise and did not express disapproval when he first heard it. A widow or divorced woman was responsible for her promises.

God told Moses to conquer the Midianites in battle. A thousand men from each of the 12 tribes (12,000 total) prepared for war. The Israelites killed every male Midianite, including their kings and Balaam, who owned the talking donkey. The Israelites took the women, children, and cattle and as captives. They burned the Midianite’s towns. Moses was angry with the leaders of his army for allowing the women to live. So at Moses’ command, they killed the male children, and all of the women, except virgins. The warriors got to keep half of the spoils of war. The rest of the Israelites split the other half.

Two tribes among the Israelites, the Reubenites, and the Gadites asked Moses if they could settle on the land they had already conquered, rather than in the land of Canaan. Moses was angry. He thought they would not help conquer the promised land; and would discourage the rest of the Israelites. But the leaders of the Reubenites, and the Gadites assured Moses this was not their intent. In fact they offered to leave their cattle and children in the land they wanted; and they would lead the Israelite attack, until they had conquered the promised land. Only after their victory would the return to their land. Moses agreed to this arrangement. In the end, Moses gave the Reubenites, and the Gadites—plus the half tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph—the lands that were conquered from King Sihon and King Og. Two and a half tribes agreed to settle in land before the promised land, though they must help all the Israelites fight in the coming battles.

God told Moses that when the Israelites enter the promised land they must get rid of all signs of the previous inhabitants. Destroy their idols and other religious symbols. Drive out all of the people. God warned them that any people who were not driven out of the land would be a source of trouble to the Israelites in the future.

God told Moses how Canaan would be divided amongst the remaining Israelites. The Levites were to get 48 towns—6 of them cities of refuge. A city of refuge was a place where a person who had accidentally killed someone could go.

Moses was again asked to address the matter of the inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters. He previously addressed the issue of the four daughters whose father died with no sons in Numbers 27:1-11.

Deuteronomy. Moses reviews what God has done for the Israelites. He reminded them of the twelve spies sent out to the Land of Canaan. They reported it was a good land, but the Israelites lacked faith. They were afraid of the people who inhabited the promised land, because they were big and strong. Due to their lack of faith, only the two men who advocated taking the promised land, would live to see it be done. They were Caleb and Joshua. The Israelites were obliged to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses also reviewed the battles the Israelites had fought.

Moses told the people to obey God. Moses emphasized the prohibition against idols. Throughout history, people have worshiped other gods, but none of them have performed the signs and wonders of the one true God, who the Israelites worshiped.

Psalms: Psalm 62:1 – 68:18
Proverbs: Proverbs 11:18 – 28

  1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
    –Tom Truex ↩

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