Encounter the Bible

Welcome to Week 3 of Job!  This last section of Job contains 3 main speeches: one each from Job, Elihu, and God.  Job continues trying to justify himself; Elihu tried to defend God; then God speaks.   What do you make of Elihu?  Does he have the wisdom he claims to have?  Does he need to defend God?  What is God trying to say to Job?  Does Job understand? And then there's the last chapter.  Some suggest that this was a later add-on to give the story a happy ending.  What's your take on the ending?  Admittedly, there are more questions than answers as the story of Job comes to a close.  Take some time to reflect on the story, on the source of wisdom, and on how this connects to your story. As you read and reflect, ask yourself what God is saying to YOU as you read. Enjoy your reading!  Please share your reflections and questions.  Be sure to use the guiding questions as you read. Our guiding questions are these:  ...

Welcome to Week 2 of Job!  You read the beginning of Job's conversation with his friends last week.  This week you will continue "listening in" on this conversation before we see where this is all headed in Chapter 28.   The main lesson of Job has to do with wisdom and these chapters help to build that theme.  The human wisdom of Job's friends is limited; they can't see what God is up to, although they are pretty convinced that they know.  Job knows that his friends are wrong or at least limited in forming their opinions, but he can't put his finger on what God is up to, either. As you read, keep the bigger picture in mind before becoming concerned about the details.  Pay attention to who is speaking and to what that person's main message is.  Be discerning as well as you evaluate Job and Job's friends.  How is this theme of wisdom developing so far? As you read and reflect, ask yourself what God is saying to YOU as you read. Enjoy your readi...

Welcome to Week 1 of Job!  This book of the Bible is rather unique in both style and content.  It's also unique in that we are not told when this book was written or when the actual events took place.  Perhaps that's because the message of Job is timeless and speaks even to us today. As you read, try to keep the bigger picture in mind before becoming concerned about the deadlines.  Pay attention to who is speaking and to what that person's main message is.  Be discerning as well as you evaluate Job, Job's wife, and Job's friends. As you read and reflect, ask yourself what God is saying to YOU as you read. Enjoy your reading!  Please share your reflections and questions.  Be sure to use the guiding questions as you read. Our guiding questions are these:  What stood out to you in the reading? Was there anything confusing or troubling? Did  anything make you think differently about God? How might what you read change the way you live?

Welcome to Week 3 of 2 Kings! Israel has been led into captivity; only Judah remains.  At first, things are looking up as King Hezekiah leads the people well, including a significant defeat of Assyria, the nation that defeated the northern kingdom.  But it quickly comes crashing down when his son, Manasseh, assumes the throne.  Eventually 8-year-old Josiah becomes king and the people re-discove the law.  Will there be revival in the land?  Less than 25 years later, the kingdom of Judah is destroyed, and their brightest and best are led off into captivity in Babylon. Last time we noted the explanation for Israel's demise; this week we also see why Judah and Jerusalem were destroyed.  One phrase should haunt us: "they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites" (21:9).   But there's still grace!  Where do you find God's grace in these chapters?  In particular, what do you notice about the "royal line"?...

Welcome to Week 2 of 2 Kings! The scene keeps jumping back and forth between Judah and Israel; hopefully you can keep it all straight.  In these chapters we encounter a queen, a 7-year-old king, Elisha's final miracle, a war between Israel and Judah, six assassinations, and the beginning of Hezekiah's reign in Judah. Pay particular attention to Chapter 17, where the author offers an explanation for why Israel was taken away into captivity.  Notice also throughout the chapters the repeated phrases of the "sin of Jeroboam" and "the high places were not removed." In the midst of all the events in these chapters, do you see glimpses of God's grace?  What message do these chapters have for us today? Enjoy your reading! Our guiding questions are these:  What stood out to you in the reading? Was there anything confusing or troubling? Did  anything make you think differently about God? How might what you read change the way you live?