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September: Old Testament Wrap-up

This lesson is for the end of September:

Print the discussion questions and end of OT exercise here.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What did you struggle with the most in the OT? 
  2. What surprised you the most about the OT?

End of OT Exercise:

This exercise is my very favorite!

If you are doing this in a group: You will need to print a copy of the timeline and tape it to a wall or a dry erase board. You will also need little sticky notes in three colors. 

If you are doing it alone: You can print a copy of the timeline and write on it with different color markers. 

You may want to play some soft music during this activity. Allow quite a bit of time for this. It takes a while to think through the stories. 

Part 1: 

Hand each lady a pad of yellow sticky notes, and give them the following instructions:

Look at the timeline and think about God’s experience through the stories. As you think about a particular story, write a one or two word description of what God experienced during that story and put it on the timeline by that story. Try to think of the good and the bad. 

Example: write “Rejection” on the timeline under the words “Adam and Eve”.

Part 2:

After everyone seems to be finished, give them another pad of sticky notes in a different color.  Ask them to look up Galatians 5:22 and read it. Then read this:

If this is the fruit of the Spirit and it is God’s spirit, then this is what He is like. 

How do you see these characteristics in the stories of the OT? Spend some time writing the fruits of the spirit that you see God displaying above/below the stories on the timeline.

Example: write “gentle” under the story of Adam and Eve because He made them garments. 

Part 3:

Give them another color of sticky notes, and read this:

Look at the whole story, and think about all that God said, all that He did, and all that He experienced. If you could summarize it into one line, what do you think God is saying through the whole story? What is He shouting through the pages, through the years, through prophets? What is His heart cry? Write it on a sticky note, and put it at the end of the timeline.

Part 4:

Spend some time just sitting and looking at the timeline with all the words on it. Ruminate on all that it means. Discuss with the group what this exercise was like for them.

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August: Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther

This lesson is for the end of August. The video covers what you will read in the month ahead (September), but the discussion covers what you read in the last month (August):

Discussion questions:

1. Jeremiah’s ministry to the people lasted about 30 years. Virtually no one listened to him or turned toward God as a result of Jeremiah’s obedience. Do you think God thought of Him as successful? Why? How does this inform what successful ministry looks like? 

2. Have you ever been frustrated because you have invested in ministry that seemed sparse on fruit? How can we tell when  “a long obedience in the same direction” is the right answer, or when we should move on to something where God is more clearly at work? 

3. In the OT the people are blessed when they follow God most of the time. But did you notice Jeremiah obeys God and yet nothing goes his way? What are we promised if we follow God? What are we not promised? 

4. The exiles were told to settle down and seek the good of the nation where they were placed. Essentially, God told them to bloom where they were planted. They were also expected to keep their love and longing for Jerusalem alive. How can we keep our longing for heaven alive, while seeking the good of our current life?

5. How is God calling you to “bloom where you are planted”?

6. Ezekiel 14:5 says, “I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people.” What does God do to capture your mind? What does He do to capture your heart? 

7. In Ezekiel 33:11, 17 God says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness…Your people are saying ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right, but it is they who are not doing what is right.” Do you think the people misunderstood God’s motives? Do you think people today misunderstand God’s motives? Do you think they blame Him for things that are not His fault? 

Leaders note: God is sovereign, but He is not the author of sin, betrayal, abuse, and the consequences of those things.

8. Daniel confessed the sins of the people. Ezra did too. They said, “We have sinned”, and “You are righteous, but we are covered with shame.” What does confession look like to you? Who do you confess to? In James 5:16, we are encouraged to confess our sins to each other. Why do you think James encourages this? How can it be helpful? 

Leaders note: Hopefully participants will see the link between shame and remaining hidden. Speaking of the things we are ashamed of and seeing God’s grace in the eyes of another believer can be a powerful and healing.

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July: Divided Kingdom (Part 2)

This lesson will cover what you read in the last month (July) and what you will read in the next month (August). I explain why in the video.

Print the mid-video exercise and discussion questions here.

Mid-video Exercise:

There will be a pause in the video. During the pause, work together to fill in this chart. You can print the chart out and fill it in, or you can copy it onto a dry erase board.  If there are several of you, you can use these directions:

  • Print out a copy of the chart and cut it up to make little slips of paper with a verse on each.
  • Give each person 2 slips of blank paper.
  • Have each person write “what God did” on the top of one slip of paper, and “what the people did” on the other.
  • Read the examples that are on the chart. Have participants take verses from the table, read them, and write in their own words what the people did and what God did. Then attach all the papers to a wall or window. Put “what God did” on the left and “what the people did” on the right.

This exercise is a little tedious, but it is really helpful in challenging the “God is a bully” thinking. At the end, read the whole “people” column together, and then the whole “God” column. It’s okay if this takes most of your time. It is a good exercise.

Discussion Questions:

1. Manasseh was the worst king ever. He was cruel to the people and did every deplorable thing. Yet, God restored him to the throne when he humbled himself and cried out to God. What does this show us about what God is like?

2. When God told Hezekiah that he was going to die, Hezekiah cried out to God and asked for more time. God granted his request. While that doesn’t always happen, what does that show us about what God is like?

3. What do you think Daniel struggled with internally as he helped lead a nation that was in the process of destroying his home nation?

4. Jeremiah preached for about 40 years, and virtually no one listened to him, believed him, or followed his advice. How do you think he sustained his confidence that he was on the right track with no affirmation?

5. Have you ever felt like your work for the Lord was fruitless even though you know you were walking in obedience? How did you sustain your confidence?

To end the lesson, have everyone close their eyes and read the attached edited version of Ezekiel 16 out loud.

Ezekiel 16:1-22

Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable sins. Give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: You are nothing but a Canaanite! Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die.

“But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about in your own blood. As you lay there, I said, ‘Live!’ And I helped you to thrive like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Your breasts became full, and your body hair grew, but you were still naked. And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped my cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared my marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.

“Then I bathed you and washed off your blood, and I rubbed fragrant oils into your skin. I gave you expensive clothing of fine linen and silk, beautifully embroidered, and sandals made of fine goatskin leather. I gave you lovely jewelry, bracelets, beautiful necklaces, a ring for your nose, earrings for your ears, and a lovely crown for your head. And so you were adorned with gold and silver. Your clothes were made of fine linen and costly fabric and were beautifully embroidered. You ate the finest foods—choice flour, honey, and olive oil—and became more beautiful than ever. You looked like a queen, and so you were! Your fame soon spread throughout the world because of your beauty. I dressed you in my splendor and perfected your beauty, says the Sovereign Lord.

“But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord.

“Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough? Must you also slaughter my children by sacrificing them to idols? In all your years of adultery and detestable sin, you have not once remembered the days long ago when you lay naked in a field, kicking about in your own blood.

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June: Divided Kingdom (Part 1)

This is for the end of June:

If you are doing this with a group, see a fun idea here.

Print the discussion questions here.

Discussion Questions:

1. Which of these works of Solomon are you most drawn to? Why? (He wrote much of Proverbs and all of Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon)

2. Which story did you enjoy most this month?

3. Rehoboam follows the advice of his peers, and he and his descendants suffer for it. Who do you get advice from? (1 Kings 12)

4. Solomon had personal encounters with God and was the wisest man who ever lived, but he still got depressed and felt lost. Why do you think this happened?

5. The people used what God had given them to worship the other gods.  What does God give us that we use to betray Him?

6. Elijah had a great spiritual high at Mt. Carmel, but right afterwards he was so depressed he wanted to die. Why do you think spiritual highs are often followed by depression? 

7. Elisha asks woman, “What do you have in your house?” Why do you think he used something she already had? What do you have in your house that God could use? (2 Kings 4)

8. What did you notice about God’s experience this month?

9. How has God tried to woo you back? How has He pursued you?

10. Has God’s leading felt more like cords of bondage or cords of kindness? When has it felt like bondage? When has it felt like kindness? (Hosea 11:4)

11. Kim talked about how Hosea gave his name to his wife, and she dragged it through the mud. How do “Christ-ians” drag God’s name through the mud? What do you think about God’s choice to let us represent Him and His name to the world?

12. At the beginning of the video Kim talked about a conviction that “this is mine to do” in regards to these lessons and videos. What do you know that God has given you to do? Does question 7 relate to what God has given you to do? 

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Getting Started/YouVersion Tutorial

The best way to get a feel for the story of the Bible is to read it chronologically. This means you read everything in the order that it occurred, instead of book by book the way it is usually arranged. For example, if you were reading it straight through you would read the stories of David’s life, and then read his poetry about 3 months later. Reading it chronologically means you will read his poetry with the stories they were likely written about. It makes more sense and brings more context to each part. Sometimes a story is told several times, from several different perspectives. The chronological plan has you read those accounts one right after the other. It can seem repetitive on some days, but it is easier to keep it all straight.

I have used several chronological plans. They are each slightly different. The one I recommend can be downloaded for free on the YouVersion Bible app. You can find the plan here.

Here are some tips for using this plan on YouVersion:

For those of you who would prefer a paper Bible, you can find the exact same plan in print here.

You can find the timeline here. You can print that out for your participants or just send them a link to it. I recommend having a printed copy to follow along on and jot a few notes on.

I really hope you can find some friends to do this with. It makes it a lot more fun and gives you some added motivation to keep going when you get behind (we all get behind at times!). My group uses the “Group Me” app to have a running conversation about what we are reading. Alternatively, you can use the “read with friends” feature within the YouVersion plan.

Some groups watch the video together (usually around 30 minutes), and then go through the discussion questions. Other groups watch the videos on their own, so they have more time for discussion. Some groups meet every week, some every other week, and some once a month. There is just one lesson for each month, but you could easily spread that into several discussions and then add a standard question each week. Something general like “What stood out to you the most?” or “What questions are you thinking about?” If someone has a question that no one in your group has an answer for, encourage them to look it up and report back to the group. I look a lot of things up on Bible Hub.

Here is a tutorial that shows how I look things up when I have questions: https://youtu.be/kIP8tlpFGck

If you really want to dig in, here is how I look things up in in Greek/Hebrew: https://youtu.be/aowICla-V5w

If you have any questions you want me to answer, or you want my perspective on something, feel free to reach out to me at wholebiblechallenge@gmail.com.

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May: David & Solomon

This lesson is for the end of May:

Print the activity and discussion questions here.

Fun Activity:

Give everyone a piece of paper and ask them to write a timeline from memory with as many names as they can remember (no looking at notes or phone). Whoever has the most names wins. Go over them by reading through our timeline to see who was remembered, who got missed, etc.  This is a fun way to review.

Discussion questions:

1. If God told you that He would give you whatever you asked for (like Solomon) what would you ask for?

2. When David took a census he was looking at facts to feel security instead of trusting God? Have you ever done that? What makes you feel secure about your safety, your kids safety, and your finances? Do you look to facts, or to Him? Looking at facts is not wrong, but what do you attribute your security to?  

My personal example:

Once when Joe deployed, I wanted to look up the statistical probability that something would happen to him in order to ease my anxiety. I knew that if I could see that it was statistically unlikely that he would be hurt, I would feel much better. God clearly impressed upon my heart that I was to trust Him, not statistics. In other words, He said, “Do not google the statistics!” I held out for a couple of weeks, and then in a weak moment just typed it in really quick one night. It’s not like God was mad at me (because Jesus), but I regretted it as I have always known I forfeited something special that year.

3. What do you attribute your wealth to (if you have a car, a climate controlled dwelling, and have eaten twice in the last 24 hours, you have wealth)? Who does it belong to? If you acknowledge that it belongs to God, how much do you live in that awareness? How would it change your financial management if you lived in a greater awareness that it belongs to God?

4. What do you attribute your authority to? Do you live in awareness that all authority belongs to God, and your authority as a parent or a leader is a stewardship? How would it change your parenting/leadership if you lived in a greater awareness that your authority comes from God?

What we are talking about here is “attribution style”. Your attribution style indicates how you explain events or circumstances, both negative and positive. 

5. What are some other examples of things that should be attributed to God (other than security, authority, and wealth)?

6. What are things that get attributed to God, that are actually a result of the fall (example: death)?

7. One of the things David said to Solomon was “Learn to know God intimately.” What do you think he meant by that? How do you think someone does that? How did David get to know God intimately? What helps you learn to know God intimately?

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

8. Why do you think that wisdom does not automatically lead to obedience?

9. Solomon brought in high places even though He loved God. The cost was generations of idol worship and the consequences of that idol worship. What are the high places in your life, the places you hold out on obedience? What might they be costing you? 

10. Of the Psalms we read this month, did you have a favorite? Can you share what you loved or highlighted? How did it resonate with you?

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April – Judges, Saul, & David

This is for the end of April

Discussion questions:

1. What was going on generally during the time of the Judges? What was God’s experience during those years? (2:10-19)(6:7-10)(10:6-16)

2. Do you see any moments that God might have enjoyed during the time of the Judges? (Example: 5:1-5)

3. Get on your phone and google images of “David from Bible”. Choose the one that most represents the picture of David you have in your head.

After everyone finds one, pass the phones around and see the different mental images. Discuss the idea that many see David as a “soft” artist (harp player). He is actually quite a mans-man. He kills animal while still a youth, he wins battles like no one has ever seen before, he inspires other very strong men (his mighty men) to follow him with absolute loyalty. After discussing or reading the above, ask:

Does your view of David match with this? How might you have pictured him different than his story would indicate? Where do we get the “soft” picture?

4. Why do you think David is called “A man after God’s own heart?” (1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22).  

5. What do we know about God’s heart? (Exodus 34:6) 

6. How do we see these qualities (from Ex. 34:6) in David?  Try to think of examples of ways you see these qualities in stories from David’s life:

Compassion

Mercy

Slow to anger

Filled with unfailing love

Faithful

Lavish love to future generations

Forgiving

Does not excuse guilty

(Example: He showed love to future generations by honoring Mephibosheth)

7. How is David’s relationship with God (at least what we see) different and new from what we have seen before this time?  Hopefully they have notices the level of intimacy is more passionate. (See Ps. 16  & 18: 1-3,19)

8. Notice David’s attribution style (what he attributes things like victory, and wealth to) in the following verses: (Psalm18:29-50 & 33:16-22 & 2 Sam. 5:12).

9. What do you think God’s experience was during this time? How do you think He felt?

10. In Psalm 30:6 it says “David found strength in the Lord His God.” This was after Ziglag was destroyed, his family was taken away as captives, and His loyal men wanted to kill him (because their families were taken captive too).  What do you think he did to find strength in God? 

11. What do you do to find strength in God?

David consistently:

Acknowledges God as his strength.

Acknowledges God as the giver of all good things.

Rejoices in God. 

Finds deep satisfaction in God. 

Thanks God. 

Longs for God’s presence. 

Notices God’s attractive attributes and names them.

Remembers what God has done.

11. Which of these things are the most natural for you to do? Which is one is awkward for you?

12. How do these things bless God? What emotions do you think God experiences when we do these things?

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March – Moses (part 2)

This is for the end of March:

Fun activity:

Give everyone a piece of paper and ask them to write a timeline from memory with as many names as they can remember (No looking at notes or phone). Whoever has the most names wins. Go over them by reading through our timeline, and see who was remembered, who got missed, Etc.  This is a fun way to review.

Discussion questions:

1. Kim mentioned that the person we root for in a story depends on who’s perspective we see. Can you think of another movie/book/tv show where you rooted for a “bad guy”?(examples: Oceans 11, Breaking Bad) 

How do you think they get us to do that?(root for the bad guy)

Who has seen “Wicked”? How does it change your perspective on the characters in the Wizard of Oz?

2. Who’s side are you naturally drawn to in the Bible stories, the humans or Gods? Why do you think that is?

3. Read the following 3 Psalms attributed to the “Sons of Korah”, and think about the family history of the “sons of Korah”. What stands out to you in light of their history?

Psalms 46, 84, & 85. 

(Point out verses 46:2, 84:10, 85:10,11 Discuss how these verses relate to their family story: 

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. Psalm 42:6 ESV

Their family history included the earth giving way and earth falling into a hole. They turn their story into a reminder that even if the worst happens, they will trust God. 

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. Psalm 84:10 NLT

The original rebellion started because they did not think being a “gatekeeper” in the tabernacle was an important enough job for them. Now they say any job on God’s side is better than standing with the wicked (their ancestors). In essence they are saying “We are on God’s side”. 

Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven. Psalm 85:10,11

They are acknowledging that even when truth “strikes”, God is still love. When mountains crumble into the sea, truth springs up!

The other Psalms attributed to the “sons of Korah” are 44-49, 87, & 88.

4. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and write “If Israel” over one column, and “God will” over the other column. Go through Leviticus 26 and fill in the chart. Notice how clear God is about the conditions of the covenant. 

Do you think God made the terms of the “deal” clear to the people? 

5. What do you think the people wanted from God? What did He want from them? 

6. Did you notice when you were reading, God stating His motive, “So it will go well for you”? Why do you think God repeats that so many times? What is His desire?

7. God pleads with the people to “remember” over and over in Deuteronomy. What do you think God wants you to remember? (Things He has done in your story)

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February: Moses (part 1)

This is for the end of February:

If you have time, here is a game that reviews some main characters.

 In middle of video, I will ask you to pause it.

Discussion during video pause:

Leader note: you may pass out these verses and have them read by different ladies and come up with answers together or give them the verses and have them sort through it in groups of 2 or 3. 

1. Read these verses and identify the reasons for the law:

Galatians 3:19 

Romans 3:19,20

Romans 5:20

(To show people their sin, their need for Jesus)

2. How can people live up to God’s standards? 

Hebrews 9:1-10:12 (this is a long passage)

Acts 13:38,39

Romans 4:3

Romans 9:31,32

Romans 10:3-4

(It is by faith that we are made right with God, not following rules)

3. What was the purpose of the tabernacle:

Hebrews 8:1,2,5

Hebrews 9:11,23,24

 (To show a picture of a heavenly reality – a model of something)

Play the rest of the video

Discussion for after video:

1. Which of “God’s motives” that Kim discussed do you see the most clearly through the story of the Bible so far? Do you see any other motives?

To be known

To be remembered

To be with them

2. What breaks your heart/do you find moving about the story?

3. What questions do you have about this months reading?

4. What do you think God’s motives are in your life?