Through the Bible: Day #13

Let’s try to read as much of the Bible we can together this year.I know it is not always easy.I want to help.I am going to provide you with some questions most Mondays to Fridays that will help you get a little something out of what you are reading. Sometimes there will be more questions, sometimes less. So, get a notebook, a pen, your Bible, and if you would like some help, take some time to answer the questions, and you may be surprised by all God teaches you.Genesis 13

1. What did God promise Abram in Genesis 12:2? How do you see the beginning of that promise being fulfilled in verses 1-4 of Genesis 13?
2. What is the problem the writer describes in verses 5-7?
3. How does Abram attempt to deal with this problem in verses 8-9?
4. Here they are looking at the land God had promised Abram and now Abram is offering that land to Lot. What do you think about that?
5. Lot's descendants were the Moabites. As Moses is writing Genesis, do you know who one of the greatest obstacles to the Israelites entering the Promised Land were? That's right! The Moabites. But in spite of Abram, God's going to keep his promise, and Lot chooses a different portion of land than the one God promised Abram. Why does Genesis 13:10- say he chose that land?
6. When Lot settles, where does he move his tents? What does the author tell you that makes that seem like a poor choice?
7. Ok. Go back to Genesis 10:32. What word do you find there that is repeated in 13:11? So the nations did something, and Lot did something. After reading about the nations doing this, what does 11:2 talk about the people doing? And what does 13:11 say that Lot was doing? (Hint: Look at the direction they are traveling.) Now, after the story about what happened to the people in chapter 11, what comes next at the end of that chapter and the beginning of chapter 12? What comes next in chapter 13 after the story about Lot? Somehow these two stories are connected. Let's think about them. In chapter 11, we have men prospering and building a city without reference to God and in rebellion to God and what happens? In chapter 13, we find cities that seem to be prospering without reference to God and in rebellion to God and what do we know will happen to them? So, where's the hope then? It's found in God's promise to Abram!

Psalm 13

1. Who wrote this psalm?
2. Now, what do we know about him? Specifically, what was his relationship with God?
3. Yet, what question is he asking in verses 1 and 2? What does that tell you about life as a follower of God?
4. What is David feeling? What is David experiencing? Yet, what does David say he is doing in verse 5? What does he choose to do in verse 6? What do you think is it that enables him to do that?
5. What can you learn from David about how you can respond to the difficulties you face?

Matthew 13

1. Why does Jesus speak in parables?
2. Who does Jesus call blessed in this chapter? Why are they so blessed? If you understand what Jesus is saying, what does that say about you?
3. What are some reasons Jesus gives as to why so much preaching of the gospel doesn't produce fruit? In other words, what are some of the threats to benefiting from God's Word?
4. What is the proof that someone is "good soil?"
5. Jesus tells a number of other parables about the kingdom of heaven. Which one of these stories stood out to you especially? What did you learn about the kingdom of God from it?
6. After talking about the kingdom of heaven, Jesus goes back to his hometown. How do they respond to him? And what is the result?

Now to sum it up. 

1. What did you learn about God today?
2. Is there any way what you read strengthened your convictions?
3. What can you apply from what you studied today to the way you live your life?