week of July 5

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Psalm 48;

Mark 6:1-13

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

 

1.         Where do we findDavid, and who approachesDavid(v. 1)? How do these people say they are related toDavid(v. 1)? For what isDavidgiven credit in verse 2? What wasDaviddoing when he was anointed by Samuel? What doesDaviddo to make a commitment to be king ofIsrael(v. 3)?

2.         How old wasDavidwhen he was made king over Israel, and where and how long did he reign (v. 5)? What is the difference (v. 5)? What didDaviddo inJerusalemand what act begins to show his arrogance (v. 9)? DidDavidprosper and if so why (v. 10)? Does this prosperity foreshadow anything?

 

3.         Who is the psalmist praising and why (vv. 1-3)? Where does the psalmist say God resides or at least visits (vv. 1-3)? If you believed God lived in a certain place, do you think it could ever be destroyed? Do you think it might create a sense of false security?

 

4.         How to leaders from other countries react to what they see (vv. 4-8)? What do you think they saw that caused them to react in this manner? Is it possible to allow manmade objects to distract us from seeing God? What does the psalmist ponder (v. 9)? What evidence was the psalmist relying upon as an indication of God’s love (vv. 12-14)? Does wealth and power mean a person is favored by God?

 

5.         Where do we find Jesus in the reading from Mark (v. 1)? Where does he go and what does he begin doing (v. 2)? Were people astounded and if so why (vv. 2-3)? How else do the people react (v. 3)? Do you ever reject someone who offers you knowledge or have you been rejected by others when you have offered them knowledge? Could Jesus perform miracles—why or why not (vv. 5-6)? How often do you see miracles?

 

6.         Does Jesus give up (v. 6b)? What did Jesus do with the 12 disciples and what authority did he give them (v. 7)? How did Jesus instruct the disciples to prepare (vv. 8-9)? Why did he give them these instructions? What instructions did Jesus gives his disciples about where to stay and why (v. 10)? And what were the disciples to do if no welcomed (v. 11)? How do you react when someone is not interested in hearing the Good News from you?

 

7.         Whose journey is Paul describing (vv. 2-3)? How does Paul describe what the person experienced (v. 4)? Have you ever experienced an encounter with Christ? How would you describe it? How did you react, especially around others?

 

8.         How does Paul describe what kept him from becoming too obnoxious-how was Paul humbled (vv. 7-8)? If one encounters Christ can she or he become obnoxious to others? How is a person humbled? Is it possible for a person to encounter Christ and yet fall back into sin? What does God provide to help all of us on this journey (v. 9)? How do we enable Christ to better dwell within us?

 

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, July 12, 2015

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

Psalm 24;

Mark 6:14-29

Ephesians 1:3-14