Daily Devotional: Matthew - Week 1

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Gospel of Matthew                                              Week 1 – 11/28/10

Monday – Read Matthew 1:1-25

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. Why do you think Matthew begins this account of the life of Jesus with a listing of His genealogy?

2. Of all the names listed in the genealogy of Jesus, which are the ones that would be important to the Jews?

3. In the genealogical listing, Jacob and Judah have something in common. What do these two individuals have in common?

4. Since Jesus was not actually from the seed of Joseph, why is he listed in the genealogy?

5. What do you understand “betrothed” to mean? Is it the same as someone in our time being engaged? Why or why not?

6. Thought Question – Why do you think it was necessary for Jesus to be born of a virgin?

Prayer: Thank God for providing a Savior to save you from your sins.

Daily Devotional: Gospel of Matthew - Introduction

GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Introduction

You can call him Levi. His friends did, or better said, his professional associates did, but his given name was Matthew. That was his name in the Jewish society, the society of his heritage, but he did not seem to fit there any more. It was not that he did not want to but when he became an agent for the government, a tax collector, that society ostracized him and considered him worse than a dog. They  told him his place was with the publications and other tax collectors and sinners, not among them. He had not intended to turn his back on his people and certainly he had not given up the religious teachings of his childhood or his belief that God was going to send a messiah for Israel, His chosen people. In fact, he was getting kind of excited about the things that he had been hearing about this Jesus from Nazareth. Could he possibly be the One? He had heard that he was back in town and he was thinking about going and listening to him. He was sure he could blend in with the crowd and none of his people would make a big deal about him being there. He really wanted to check this man out. Even though he was a tax. collector, he still had the hope of Israel in his heart.

Colossians Study Guide: Week 6

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Colossians

Week 6 – 11/21/10

Monday – Read Colossians 3:18 – 4:1

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. Why do you think Paul gives this list of relationships in verses 18-22, telling the Christians the proper way to act in each of these relationships? Because he is reminding them that Christians act different from those in the world in their relationships.

2. Why do you think wives are told to submit to their husbands instead of being told to love them? Women, because they tend to be relationship oriented, generally don’t have problems with love in relationships but may struggle with submission, especially when their husbands are not being the men God calls them to be.

3. What do you think it means for a wife to submit to her husband? She is to follow his lead in the relationship.

4. What do you think it means when fathers are told not to provoke their children? Don’t treat them in such a way that they are provoked to anger, but treat them with love, even in your discipline.

5. Thought Question - In verse 22, salves are told to obey their masters. Do you think that the Bible teaches that slavery is okay? Why or why not? The Bible does not teach against slavery, it teaches against treating slaves wrong just because they are slaves. Becoming a slave of another person because of financial problems was not uncommon to the times and there is nothing wrong with having someone indebted to you and working for you, but the Bible says you must treat them right. Generally, when we hear of slavery we think of mistreatment of people.

Prayer: Pray for those you are in relationships with, spouse, children, etc. Ask God to help you always act right towards them.

Colossians Study Guide: Week 5

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Colossians

Week 5 – 11/14/10

Monday – Read Colossians 3:18 – 4:1

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. Why do you think Paul gives this list of relationships in verses 18-22, telling the Christians the proper way to act in each of these relationships?

2. Why do you think wives are told to submit to their husbands instead of being told to love them?

3. What do you think it means for a wife to submit to her husband?

4. What do you think it means when fathers are told not to provoke their children?

5. Thought Question - In verse 22, salves are told to obey their masters. Do you think that the Bible teaches that slavery is okay? Why or why not?

Prayer: Pray for your relationships and your actions in all of your relationships. Ask God to help you always act right in all of your relationships.

Colossians Study Guide: Week 4

Daily Study Guide To Help You Grow In The Lord

Colossians

Week 4 – 11/7/10

Monday – Read Colossians 2:1-15

Prayer: Ask God to open your heart so that you can learn what He has prepared for you during your study.

1. What do you think Paul means when he says “...as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him...” ? How do you think they received Christ? From what is said in the following verses Paul seems to be indicating that Christ was “all sufficient, all they needed” when they received Him, obeyed the Gospel.

2. What two things does Paul say we should be as a result of our relationship with Christ, verse 7? We should be rooted in Christ and we should be built up, should be growing in our faith in Him.

3. What does Paul say Christians should abound in, verse 7? Why? Christians should abound in thanksgiving. If you focus on your blessings and live with thanksgiving, it will strengthen your walk with Christ.

4. What do you think Paul means when he says “See to it that no one takes you captive...”, verse 8? It is possible for Christians to be taken captive, to be led away from Christ.

5. What does Paul say about philosophy and empty deceit? They are the ways of men and can be used to lead you away from Christ?

6. What point do you think Paul is making when he says that all the fullness of deity dwells in Christ, verse 9? Christ is God and has everything God has. Thus He is all you need.

7. What does Paul state as Christ’s position, verse 10? What do you think that means? Christ is the head over all rule and authority, anyone who has power in this world. Christ is over all.

8. What do you think Paul means when he says “...and you have been filled in Him..., verse 10? You, a Christian, have everything you need in Christ. You do not need anything else to live your life.

9. Why do you think Paul brings up circumcision, verse 11? Circumcision was the sign of the covenant that God made with His chosen people. Since Christians are the new “chosen people,” they need to be sealed, have the sign of the covenant.

10. Thought Question –  Paul speaks of the possibility of Christians being led away from Christ through philosophy and empty deceit, verse 8. What would be some practical examples of philosophy or something deceitful that new Christians might accept to help their life?  Anything that someone pitches as being something you need for a fulfilled life would be what Paul is talking about. Things like some particular man’s method of meditation or something like the New Age Movement are things that imply a person does not have all they need to live successfully just being a Christian.

Prayer: Ask God to help you always remember that Christ is all you need to be what He wants you to be.