Monday 22nd June Bible Study for 28th June

Summer Sunday School

Passages for Sunday June 28th

Psalm 30:6-12 and Mark 5:24-34

Read Psalm 30:6-12

Background       Psalm 30 is a song of deliverance. This meant that the writer expressed his thanks to God for saving him from a serious, life-threatening event. The subtitle of the psalm suggests that it was written by King David and that years after his death, when the Temple was being dedicated, it was sung during the initial ceremony. It may have been sung in memory of the great king, or perhaps as a reminder to everyone that the prime function of the Temple was to be a sacred place where the people could make their personal heartfelt prayers directly to God.

Questions

a)      In verse 6, the psalmist mentions how his prosperity had made him secure. Has his wealth displaced God?

b)      How had God’s favor established his fortune? What happened when he felt that God had turned his back on the psalmist?

c)       What indications do we get from the psalm which reveal to us that the writer was experiencing a serious life-threatening issue? Have we ever experienced something similar?

d)      What is the outcome of the psalmist’s prayer? How would his experience help other people pray to God?

e)      Has there been a time or event when our own lives have been endangered? How did it affect our faith in God?

Read Mark 5:24b-34

Background       This Gospel event happens as Christ walks to the home of Jairus, in order to heal his ailing daughter. An old woman in the crowd, who has a chronic illness, reaches out and touches Jesus in order to be cured of her disease. It is the last desperate act of someone who has tried everything else to be healed. She has faith in Christ’s power, but because she has become an introvert, she does not want to draw any attention to herself.

Questions

a)      The passage tells us that the diseased woman had spent everything she had on being cured by physicians, but none of their remedies worked. What do you think this did to her confidence and how would it have affected her financially?

b)      Where do you think she heard the reports about Jesus? What do you think was said about Him?

c)       What did the woman propose to do? What made her reluctant to ask Jesus for help?

d)      How does Jesus react to what she did? Why does He want her to publicly reveal her act? How did the woman feel at this?

e)      The story shows us the power of faith. In times of sickness or suffering, how does our faith in Christ heal us? How can we share that faith in Him with others who are ill or suffering?

Summer Sunday School - June 21

Summer Sunday School

Passages for Sunday June 21st

Psalm 107:1-9 and Mark 4:35-41

Read Psalm 107:1-9

Background       Psalm 107 begins the fifth section of the Book of Psalms. It is a lengthy psalm which presents a ‘Cliff Notes’ version of the history of the Hebrew people. It was written at a perilous time when the people of God doubted if they could continue. The psalmist helps his people recall the past goodness of God during previous difficult years. The purpose of the psalm is to strengthen their faith by relying upon God, Who has never deserted them.

Questions

a)      How do we give thanks to God? What moments of deliverance and blessing have we known from God in our lives?

b)      What causes people to wander away from God? What brings them back to Him?

c)       Why did God deliver the Hebrew people from their past distresses? How has that deliverance affected us today?

d)      How does God satisfy our souls? What makes us hunger and thirst for His love?

e)      Psalm 107 is written for the deliverance of entire community. How can our church express and present this to our own community?

Read Mark 4:35-41

Background       This short Gospel passage is all about Jesus calming the storm. It reveals to us the power of Christ in dangerous circumstances; the fear of the disciples in the midst of the storm; and the wonder they experienced after Jesus intervened to save their lives. The passage was also written at a time when the First Christians were being persecuted, which caused them to question their faith and fear for their own lives.

Questions

a)      What are your initial thoughts about this story? Has it helped you in the midst of your own troubles?

b)      Why did Jesus ask His disciples to take the boat across to the other side of the Lake? What did He hope to do over there?

c)       How did the storm affect the disciples? What did they fear most?

d)      Jesus is asleep during the storm, in the stern of the boat. What does this tell us about Him? The disciples questioned whether Christ cared for their safety. What does this tell us about them?

e)      Jesus commands the storm and waves to be still. Where does that power come from? What does this tell us about who Jesus really is?

f)       Jesus questions the faith of the disciples, who have allowed their fears to over-rule their beliefs. Have we ever experienced that same kind of faithless fear? How was it remedied?

Summer Sunday School - June 14

Passages for Sunday June 14^th

Psalm 20:1-5 and Mark 4:26-34

Read Psalm 20

Background       We all want God to bless us. The writer of this psalm was no different. Psalm 20 almost reads like an answer to an urgent set of prayers. It was probably spoken or sung by a priest to someone or some group of worshippers who had spoken aloud or inwardly communicated to God what was most on their minds. Perhaps a sacrifice had also been made, as a ritualistic means of seeking God’s favor.

Questions

a)      When we pray to God, how do we expect Him to answer us? What daily protection do we constantly need from Him?

b)      The psalmist expresses that God’s help comes from the sanctuary itself. How do we use our church sanctuaries as places for seeking and receiving help?

c)       Why does the psalmist mention sacrifices and burnt offerings? What sacrifices or offerings do we make to God today?

d)      What are the desires of your heart? What plans do you want God to make successful? How do we approach Him for these things?

e)      The psalm ends with a note of hopefulness and thanksgiving. When God grants us a positive answer to our prayers, how do we intentionally thank Him?

Read Mark 4:26-34

Background       The Gospels are full of Christ’s enigmatic stories that we call parables. Within each of these stories is a deep lesson which is meant to draw us closer to God. Most of us have a favorite parable which has become meaningful to our lives, showing us that the relevancy of Christ’s teaching is important to every generation.

Questions

a)      Why did Jesus use parables to convey His teaching? How do we use those parables today?

b)      Most of Christ’s parables are about the Kingdom of God. What does God’s Kingdom mean to us today?

c)       Both these parables in the passage are about the Kingdom of God growing. Where do we see God’s Kingdom growing in our church and community? How can we be part of that growth?

d)      What was the point of the mustard seed parable? How can that parable inspire our congregation?

e)      Did Christ speak in parables because the people could not handle the whole truth? Is that also true of us today?

f)       Why did Jesus explain the meaning of the parables to the disciples? How did they use those explanations as part of their own future ministries?

Summer Sunday School - Sunday June 7

Summer Sunday School

Passages for Sunday June 7^th

Psalm 130:1-8 and Mark 3:20-30

Read Psalm 130

Background       In the Bible, this psalm is also called ‘a song of ascents.’ It was frequently sung by Jewish pilgrims who were travelling to Jerusalem for one of the major feasts that took place in the city. Because Jerusalem is situated on a mountain, the pilgrims had to climb an uphill road to get there. As they walked, hiked, or rode to the city, the pilgrims sang these wonderful songs of ascents to keep them travelling. In the Bible, Psalms 120 to 134 are all listed as songs of ascents.

Questions

a)      Why is the psalmist crying out to God for mercy? What does he want God to do?

b)      Do you think that God keeps a record of our sins? How do we approach Him for forgiveness?

c)       What is the psalmist waiting for from God? What does this tell us about how quickly God answers our prayers?

d)      How do we experience God’s unfailing love in our lives? How does He redeem Israel, as well as us, from sin?

e)      What made this psalm so meaningful to a pilgrim? What hymns do we sing that are equally meaningful to us?

Read Mark 3:20-30

Background       This Gospel passage reveals to us some of the opposition that Jesus faced at the beginning of His ministry. We are also introduced to some of His actual family members who are very concerned about Him.

                As usual, Jesus uses the incident to create a special teaching moment about unity, as well as to push back against those who were unjustly criticizing His work by castigating Him as being possessed by the devil.

Questions

a)      Why was Christ’s family concerned about Him? What did they intend to do with Him?

b)      Why did His detractors say that Jesus was possessed? What did they hope to do to His new ministry?

c)       How did Jesus respond? Why did He mention Satan by name? What does this tell us about Christ’s belief in the devil?

d)      Jesus was explaining what happens to a kingdom when it is divided against itself. How do His words resonate with what’s happening in the Church today?

e)      What do you think Christ means by ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’? Why can this sin never be forgiven?

f)       How does Jesus challenge our own ideas about Him through the events and sayings contained in today’s scripture? What unites us to Him and to His Church?