Through the Bible: Day #16

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 16

1. Why is the first verse of Genesis 16 surprising in light of what you read in Genesis 15?
2. What does Sarai see as the reason she wasn’t having children?
3. What solution does she come up with? 
4. This wasn’t only a sinful solution because of the action, it was sinful because of the heart. What was Sarai not believing? 
5. What does verse 2 say Abram did? Who does that remind you of from the beginning of the Bible? 
6. What happened right away when Abram went into Hagar? Just because something works doesn’t mean it is right!
7. But how does Sarai respond? Now this is surprising because who wanted this to happen and yet how does she feel when it happens? Sin doesn’t deliver what it promises!
8. Not only does Abram fail by listening to his wife here, how does he respond when Sarai tells him she is angry with Hagar? What does Hagar than do? 
9. Does God see her suffering? How do you know that?
10. What promise does he make to her? 
11. And what does she call God as a result? How is this encouraging to you? 
12. Abram’s failure here is going to have long lasting consequences. How does this sin create problems for Israel in the future? 

Psalm 16

1. What does the psalmist say to God? What do you think it means to say that to God? Do you believe that about God?
2. What does the psalmist say about God’s people?
3. What does the psalmist say about the wicked?
4. What decision has he made in verse 7 and what is the result of that in his life?
5. There’s a promise of resurrection here. He talks about God’s Holy One. This is the anointed One. The Messiah. And what does He say God won’t let happen to the Holy One? And how does this give hope for the resurrection
6. What does the author say about being in God’s presence? How should that shape the way you think about life?

Matthew 16

1. Again the Pharisees come asking for a sign. But what has Jesus been doing? What does this tell you about unbelieving people?
2. How does Jesus respond to them? What does this tell you about Jesus?
3. What does Jesus warn the disciples to beware of? What do you think he means? 
4. The Pharisees didn’t understand who Jesus was. Did the disciples? Who did Peter say Jesus was and how did he come to understand that? 
5. What promise does Jesus make about the church? 
6. Why do you think Jesus tells the disciples not to tell others that He was the Messiah?
7. What does Jesus tell the disciples is going to happen to him. How does Peter respond? What does Jesus tell Peter?
8. What do you think Jesus means by the rebuke he gives Peter?
9. What does Jesus say we must do if we are going to follow him? Why in the world would we ever do that? What motivation does Jesus give for doing that?

Now to sum up.

1. 1. What did you learn about the Christian life?
   2. What did you learn about God?
   3. What did you learn about Jesus?
   4. What can you apply from what you studied today?