week of May 3

 These are the scriptures from the lectionary for this week, to be discussed at Bible Study at 12 noon on Thursday and Friday.

Psalm 22:25-31

John 15:1-8

Acts 8:26-40

1 John 4:7-21

1.         If we had read all of Psalm 22, we would have learned how God had delivered the psalmist and the people from suffering and hostility. So, what does the psalmist propose to do in verse 25? How do you thank God for your times of deliverance? Who does the psalmist emphasize will receive God’s blessings (v. 26)? What does the psalmist call to live forever and what does it mean (v. 26c)?

2.         Who or what is to turn to God (v. 27)? Why (v. 28)? Have you turned to God—do you seek God? Is anyone to be left out turning to God (v. 29)? What does the psalmist say will happen in the future (vv. 30-31)? What do you serve and what do you proclaim (vv. 30-31)?

 

3.         What is a metaphor?  What is the metaphor in verse 1—who is the vine and who is the vinegrower? Who are the branches? In this description, who removes branches that do not produce any fruit (v. 2)? For what is fruit the metaphor (v. 2)? How is each branch enabled to bear more fruit (vv. 2-3)?

 

4.         What happens to a branch when it is cut off from the vine? What does the word abide mean? How are we to bear more fruit (vv. 4-5)? What does John say we can do if we do not abide in Christ (v. 5b)? What is one way to describe hell (v. 6)? In what are you abiding? If we abide in Christ, how do we live and what commandments do we follow? What does John say we can request if we abide in Christ (v. 7)? How does one become a disciple of Christ (v. 8)?

 

5.         What is an angel? Who spoke to Philip and what was the message (v. 26)? Who does Philip encounter, where had he been, and where was he going (vv. 27-28)? What is so unusual about this person (vv. 27-28)? Who directed Philip to speak to this person, and what question did Philip have for him (vv. 29-30)? Do you understand everything you read in the Bible?

 

6.         What had the eunuch been reading (vv. 28, 32-33)? What question does the eunuch ask and how does Philip respond (vv. 34-35)? How does the eunuch respond and why (vv. 37-38)? Why do we read and study the Bible? Does your heart yearn to draw closer to Christ? What happens to Philip (v. 39-40) and what might this say about us as disciples?

 

7.         What is love (v. 16b)? How are we to relate to one another (v. 7)? How was God’s love revealed to us (v. 9)? How can we know love (v. 10)? How are we to respond to God’s love (v. 11)? Who lives in us (v. 12)? What else may live within us? How do we overcome anything that keeps us from living in love (vv. 13-16a)? In what do you abide—are you thriving or dieing?

 

8.         What is not in love (v. 18a)? How does one overcome fear (v. 18b)? How are we able to love God and one another (v. 19)? Do you hate anyone and yet say you love God—what does that make you (v. 20)? What must we do to abide in God (v. 21)? Again, in what are you abiding?

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2015

Psalm 98

John 15:9-17

Acts 10:44-48

1 John 5:1-6