Week 18: Deuteronomy 20-34

Prepare these questions for Sunday, July 28, 2013.

1.  Several of the laws spoken about in chapters 20-24 deal with physical cleanliness around camp and the temple.  Why would this be important for the Israelites?  What spiritual significance could these rules and regulations have had?

2.  Chapter 26 details the giving of tithes (a tenth). To whom should this offering be given (v.12)? What lessons can you take from these instructions that you could apply to your life?

3. Chapters 27-28 involve a lot of "curses" for bad behavior.  What do these curses tell you about what was important to the Israelites?

4. This book ends with the death of Moses and the people poised to enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. What do you think was the greatest legacy left by Moses? Do you think he (Moses) was pleased with his impact on Israel or not? 

Week 17: Deuteronomy 1-19

Prepare these questions for Sunday, July 21, 2013.

Deuteronomy finds us back with the Israelites on their never-ending journey to the Promised Land (Canaan). In this book, Moses gives a long speech reminding the people of all God has done for them and the law that has been given to them.  In the end, Moses dies (without entering Canaan) and the people claim the land that they waited on for an entire generation.

1.  Chapters 1-5 remind the Israelites of the events they have been through since leaving Egypt. Why would Moses begin his speech this way? What benefit is there in recounting what God has done for you in your life?

2.  Moses was not allowed to cross the Jordan river and enter the Promised Land. Why was this true (see Numbers 20:1-12)? What does that tell you about God and how can we learn from Moses's mistake?

3. In chapters 7 (v. 7) and 9 (v. 4-6), Moses tells Israel why they were chosen by God and allowed to take Canaan. What reasons does Moses give?

4. In chapters 10-19, Moses recounts several of the laws and structures for society that were established in previous books like Exodus, Numbers, and Leviticus. What benefit could there be for Moses to do this?

5.  What instructions does Moses give concerning the Israelites' interactions with the other people groups they will encounter in Canaan?  What is the purpose of those instructions?

Week 16: Psalms 96-150

Prepare these questions for Sunday, July 7, 2013.

1. This last set of Psalms includes many words of praise and worship.  Choose two to three phrases that encourage or uplift you and write down the psalms in which they are found.  Some suggestions include, "sing to the Lord," "the Lord reigns," "praise the Lord, oh my soul," and "His love endures forever."

2. The first words read to each of my children, within an hour or so of their births, were from Psalm 96. Years before their births, years before my marriage, I chose this Psalm to be the very first instructions that my future husband and I would give to any children we might have.  How can you use the Book of Psalms as instructions for your own life?

3.  The very last lines of the book of Psalms are "let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord."  These words represent the entire message of this collection of songs-we are to praise the Lord in good times and bad, when we are victorious and when we are lost, no matter what.  God does not need our praise; rather, our hearts need to praise Him. Our praise brings us hope. Choose one psalm from anywhere in this book to memorize and carry with you for life.  Let it speak to you of hope in the Lord who will never leave you nor forsake you.