JRC Bible Study Update - June 2012

We have taken a break from using the blog for questions, but have continued to meet regularly.  Since completing our study of Joshua, we have studied the following books

• Galatians - Life Lessons by Max Lucado (November 2011 - February 2012)
• Hebrews - Life Lessons by Max Lucado (March 2012 - June 2012)

Joshua - Week 8

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24

Discussion Questions:

Understand the Passage:

1. How does Joshua describe the conquest of the land? Do we learn anything new about the events leading up to the present day?
2. What challenges does he put forth in verses 14 and 15? What do these challenges tell us about the free will of man? The responsibility of leadership in the family?
3. Why did he tell them the could not serve the Lord in verse 19?

Application

1. How have you made it evident in your family that you serve the Lord? What responsibility do we have as fathers in this regard?
2. What qualities of Joshua do you admire the most? How can you be more like Joshua in this way?
3. What insight does the Book of Joshua provide to us about the Lord and the new covenant we live under in Jesus?
4. Give some thought as to what you would like to study next in our Group.
   

Joshua - Week 7

Scripture Reading: Joshua 22-23

Understand the Passage

1. What was Joshua's instruction to the eastern tribes before they left? What did he commend them for?
2. What did the eastern tribes do on the way? Why was the move so controversial to the rest of the Israelites? What warnings did they give?
3. What approach can be learned for disciplining those believers believed to be in the wrong?

Application

1. Share a time where you misjudged the motives of another believer - or perhaps your motives were misjudged. What did you learn from that experience?
2. In what ways do we compromise in our lives with the "gods of the people?" What does it mean to be "in the world but not of the world?"
3. What quality of Joshua do you admire the most? How can you be more like Joshua in this way?

Joshua (Week 6)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 9-10,
Deut 20:10-18,
2 Samuel 21:1-9

Understand the Passage:

1. What did the Israelites fail to do again before making the oath to the Gibeonites? Why do you think God does not punish them for this, but encourages them to hold to the oath despite earlier instructions to the contrary?
2. Why do you think they still honored the oath after they found out the truth?
3. How did the oath come in play in the destruction of the next 5 cities? And again later in Israel's history?
   

Applicaton

1. Do you consult with God before making a serious commitment? Why or why not?
2. In what area of your life would you seek clear direction from him on today? Why?
   

Joshua (Week 5)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 7-8

Understand the Passage:

1. Who was Achan and what did he do?

2. What seems different about Joshua's approach in preparing to take the city of Ai?

3. After the defeat in Ai, what complaint did Joshua raise with God?

4. What was the outcome of the second raid on Ai? What had changed to create this outcome?

Application:

1. How can prosperity and overconfidence impact our intimacy with God?

2. When have you found your faith in God to be most "shaken?" What were the circumstances and what resulted from that time of uncertainty?

3. What do you learn about the Lord's character through these events? How might we apply this understanding of him to our lives today?

Joshua (Week 4)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 5-6

Discussion Questions:

1. Why were all the males circumcised when they entered the land? What was the significance?
2. Why might God have waited until this time to do this?
3. What happened when Israel ate the food of the land? What impact would this change have had on the people of Israel?
4. What struck you about the instructions given to Joshua?

Application

1. What areas of obedience does God call us to today that may not "make sense" from a logical perspective? What are your experiences in walking in these ways based on God's commands?
2. What is your personal reaction to observing how the Lord communicated with and guided Joshua? How would you describe your level of "intimacy" with the Lord?
3. What are some lessons we can learn about our salvation from the fall of Jericho?

Joshua (Week 3)

Scripture Reading: Joshua 3-4

Understand the Passage

1. What was remarkable about the Israelite's passage through the Jordan? What struck you about the precision of the instructions given to Joshua and passed on to the people?
2. How would you describe the interaction between Joshua and God throughout this passage?
3. What is the importance of the 12 men chosen (one from each tribe) to the story? What role did they play?
4. According to Joshua (and the Lord), what was the real reason for this miraculous passage for the Israelite nation?

Application

1. Thinking of the three levels to review narratives we discussed, what significance does this "passing through" the Jordan into the promise land have in light of God's greater story of salvation?
2. How is God's Word a guiding factor for us like the Ark was for the Israelites that day, as we venture in life to places we have "never been before."
3. What do you in your family to pass on the legacy of God's provision to your children? What would you like to be doing more faithfully in this regard?