week of September 27

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10;9:20-22;

Psalm 124;

Mark 9:38-50;

James 5:13-20

 

1.         To answer the following questions, you must read the first six chapters of the Book of Esther. What was the heritage of Queen Esther? How did she become queen? Who was Mordecai? Who was Haman, and what grudge did he have against Mordecai? Who had Esther agreed to help?

 

2.         What does the King ask of Esther and how does she reply (vv. 7:1-4)?  Who is the enemy (vv. 5-6)? What happens to Haman instead of to Mordecai (vv. 9-10)? What happened to the rest of the Jews (Chapters 8-9)? What did Mordecai do (vv.9:20-22)? What is feast of Purim? Where was God in this story?

 

3.         Who is given credit for the safety of the people ofIsrael(vv. 1-2)? Who instead might have been given credit for the safety of the people? How do you think the psalmist might have written when the people were taken into exile—who would have been given blame?

 

4.         When things go right for you, to whom do you give credit? When things go bad for you, who do you blame? How do you relate to God—one who punishes or one who saves?

 

5.         Just after the disciples had been rebuked by Christ about who among them would be the greatest, what question does John ask Jesus (v. 38)? What does Jesus tell the disciples not to do and why (v. 39)? Who does Jesus say he for him (v. 40)?  Who will receive a reward and what kind of reward (v. 41)?

 

6.         What will cause great problems for some people (v. 42)? What is meant by a stumbling block (v. 42)? What is sin? What might be examples of causing a follower of Christ to sin? How does Jesus use body parts to illustrate the consequences of causing a follower of Christ to sin (vv. 43-48)? How has salt been used for many generations when it comes to food (vv. 49-50)? How is Jesus using it here—what is to be preserved (vv. 49-50)?

 

7.         What does James say one should do who is suffering (v. 13)? What does it mean to pray? If you are cheerful, what should you do (v. 13)? What are we to do if we are sick (v. 14)? What does it mean to be sick? What does James say will save the sick (v. 15)? What does James say is a necessary part of the healing process (v. 16)? What does it mean when a person is not healed and dies physically?

 

8.         How are the prayers of the righteous described (v. 16)? Who is righteous? If a person does not listen to God what may be the consequences? What does it mean to wander from the truth (v. 19)? What is the truth? According to James, what are the benefits of bringing someone back to the truth (v. 20)? Are you wandering from the truth or are you helping others return to the truth?

 

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, October 4, 2015

Job 1:1; 2:1-10;

Psalm 26;

Mark 10:2-16;

Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12