Tag: bsf lesson 11

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 8:21-36

Ezra asked God for a safe journey. He gave the priests the silver, gold, and other articles to protect and carry to Jerusalem. Everyone (and the gold) arrived in Jerusalem safely, thanks to God.

They praised God and sacrificed burnt offerings to Him. They conveyed the King’s orders to the governors there, too.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

12a) They fasted and humbled themselves before God. They asked God for a safe journey.
b) It allows people to recognize that they totally depend on God. A humble posture of prayer recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty, power, and goodness. It acknowledges our own limitations, vulnerability, and complete dependence on Him for protection and provision. It is an act of submitting our will to His authority and trusting in His character, not our own merit.
13a) Because he had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him,” so it would look like they didn’t trust God if they had asked.
b) I need to trust God with my coaching, my novel, and my future career.
14a) He put the provisions (gold, silver, and such) in the hands of the priests. He counted it out before they left and then, when they arrived to ensure it all had arrived safely and had not been stolen.
b) It’s just always a good idea to safeguard items. People learn that true faith and practical action work together. Ezra modeled this by fasting and praying (divine trust) while also creating meticulous accountability (human responsibility). His story shows God faithfully protects those who boldly depend on Him and manage His provisions with integrity.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Great lesson on relying on God for all your life’s journeys!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Fasting can have immense power.

Robbers were always a threat in ancient times. Yet, God was faithful!

The gold and silver were worth millions of dollars in today’s money. This was an important job, indeed.

God’s hand was upon them (as His is on us!).

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took 4 months.

The accounting and stewardship were amazing here.

The burnt offerings showed gratitude to God and dedication to Him. A sin offering was made as well.

12 bulls for the 12 tribes of Judah.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 8:21-36 records Ezra’s profound act of faith, his meticulous care for God’s holy items, and the safe arrival of his contingent in Jerusalem, proving God’s faithfulness.

Interpretation

  • Faith over Fear (vv. 21-23): Before beginning the dangerous journey, Ezra proclaims a fast, asking God for protection. He does this because he had previously told King Artaxerxes that “the good hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him.” Ezra was ashamed to ask for a military escort after making such a bold declaration of faith. He chose to rely radically on God’s protection rather than the king’s army, and the text confirms, “He answered our prayer.”
  • Accountability and Sanctity (vv. 24-30): Ezra demonstrates wise leadership by entrusting the vast treasures of gold and silver to twelve consecrated priests and their Levite assistants. He weighs everything, gives them a solemn charge to guard these “sacred” items, and makes them accountable for delivering the exact weight upon arrival. This shows his respect for the sanctity of the items and his prudence in managing them.
  • God’s Protection and Mission Accomplished (vv. 31-36): The group completes the perilous four-month journey safely, as God delivers them from “enemies and bandits on the way.” Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they rest, meticulously weigh and deliver the treasures to the Temple, and offer burnt offerings to God. They also deliver the king’s decrees, ensuring the mission has the full backing of the Persian authorities.

Conclusion

This passage is a powerful testament to faith in action. Ezra’s decision to forgo a military guard was a risky demonstration of his total trust in God, and God honored that faith with safe passage. The section highlights a perfect balance of divine reliance (fasting and prayer) and human responsibility (meticulous accounting and stewardship), resulting in the successful completion of the mission and the joyful restoration of worship.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 8:1-20

Ezra lists the heads of the families who came with him to Jerusalem. Ezra realized that no Levites (the priests) were coming, so he recruited some.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

9) Ezra recorded the lineages to establish the community’s legal and spiritual legitimacy. This proved they were the true covenant heirs of Israel and, crucially, validated which priests and Levites were qualified by ancestry to lead the newly restored Temple worship according to the Law of Moses.
10a) Ezra realized that no Levites were with him. The Levites were the priests, so he needed them to lead the people in faith.
b) Ezra summoned leaders and men of learning to bring some Levites with them. God helped, and some came! They also brought temple servants!
11a) He recruited others to help and enlisted God’s help. He refused to go to Jerusalem without them, knowing that worship of God was a high priority.
b) Right now, my passions and my dreams. He’s calling me to trust Him in this.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

I love Ezra’s approach to his problem. He relies on others and God for help!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

We can guess that the total number of people coming with Ezra was between 6-7,000 based on his list of names.

Note that Ezra carefully planned his persuasion tactics!

Map of Ezra’s journey back to Jerusalem and the probable location of the Ahava Canal:

map of Ezra's journey to Jerusalem and the Ahava Canal
Courtesy of generationword.com

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 8:1-20 records the roll call of the returning exiles and Ezra’s first leadership crisis, which reveals his uncompromising priority: restoring legitimate worship.

Interpretation

  • The Register (vv. 1-14): This section is the official list of the heads of families who returned with Ezra. It’s more than a headcount; it’s a legal document establishing the genealogical purity and credentials of the group, beginning with the most prominent lines of priests and the royal house of David. This list validates their identity as the true, restored people of Israel.
  • The Crisis and Resolution (vv. 15-20): After gathering the caravan by the river Ahava, Ezra inspects the people and has a stunning realization: there are no Levites present. His mission was to restore the Law and worship, and the Levites were essential personnel for Temple ministry and teaching. Instead of proceeding, Ezra immediately halts the entire journey and sends a delegation of leaders on a specific mission to recruit ministers for God’s house. “By the good hand of our God upon them,” the mission succeeds, bringing back skilled Levites and Temple servants.

Conclusion

This passage demonstrates Ezra’s meticulous, non-negotiable commitment to spiritual purity and proper worship. The list of names established the identity of the community, while Ezra’s refusal to move without the Levites proved his dedication to restoring the function of the community according to God’s Law. It showed he would not compromise on divine requirements for the sake of convenience or speed.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 7:11-28

King Artaxerxes gave a letter to Ezra, stating that anyone could return to Jerusalem with him with the silver and gold taken from the temple and more. He told him to use the money to buy offerings to God and to buy materials to build the temple. All the treasurers are to provide him with whatever he needs. He is to be in charge of administering justice and teaching the law to others. Those who do not obey the laws may be punished by death or imprisonment.

Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

6) God moved King Artaxerxes to authorize the return, provide lavish funding (silver, gold, supplies) from the royal treasury, grant tax exemption to all Temple workers, and give Ezra full civil authority to establish and enforce God’s Law, using state power to protect and provision the mission.
7) God’s providence included “stirring the spirit” of pagan kings. He moved Cyrus to release the exiles, Darius to find the lost decree and fund the Temple, and Artaxerxes to grant Ezra full authority and resources to restore the law.
8a) Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him. He gathered up leaders from Israel to go with him.
b) Everything — food, clothing, shelter, life.
c) It’s important for us to remember what God has done in our lives so that when times get hard, we can go back to God’s faithfulness and use it to fuel us during the bad times. And, it’s crucial because it stops us from taking credit for God’s work and reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. We acknowledge His active hand in our lives. This moves us from thinking, “I’m so good/lucky” to “God is so good.” It cultivates gratitude and humility, actively pushing back against pride and reminding us that our successes are a result of His favor, just as Ezra did when he praised God for moving the king’s heart.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

I love how God can (and does) use anyone to help His people.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

The king commissions helpers, a copy of the Law, and gifts for the temple to go with Ezra upon his return to Jerusalem. The king encourages others to return to make Israel great again. The king was very generous in his offerings to Ezra.

Artaxerxes wanted to placate the gods (in this case, the One and Only God) so that he could be blessed. This was a common belief in those times.

Ezra was given significant authority. He knew that only God could create this!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 7:11-28 details the official letter of commission from King Artaxerxes to Ezra. This decree grants Ezra extraordinary authority and resources for his mission to restore the Jewish community in Jerusalem.

Interpretation

The letter from the Persian king, the most powerful ruler on earth at the time, contains four astonishing provisions:

  1. Official Permission (vv. 12-13): The king formally authorizes any Jewish person, priest, or Levite in his empire to return to Jerusalem with Ezra.
  2. Royal Funding (vv. 14-23): Artaxerxes and his counselors donate a massive amount of silver and gold for the Temple. He further commands his treasurers west of the Euphrates to give Ezra whatever else he needs—up to 100 talents of silver, plus wheat, wine, oil, and salt—”without limit” and “promptly.”
  3. Tax Exemption (v. 24): The king grants complete tax immunity to all priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Temple servants.
  4. Civil Authority (vv. 25-26): Most significantly, the king empowers Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to govern the entire province based on the Law of God. He gives Ezra the full power of the Persian state to enforce this law, including imprisonment, confiscation of goods, banishment, or even death.

Conclusion

The passage concludes with Ezra’s own reaction (vv. 27-28): a burst of praise to God. Ezra recognizes that this incredible political and financial backing was not a human achievement but a divine miracle. He blesses God for “put[ting] such a thing as this into the heart of the king.” This letter demonstrates God’s absolute sovereignty, showing His ability to move the heart of a pagan king to not only fund the restoration but to legally establish God’s Law as the law of the land.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 7:1-10

Ezra left Babylon during the reign of Artaxerxes with some of the Israelites back to Jerusalem. He was given everything he needed.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

3) Ezra was a priest and expert scribe qualified by his direct lineage and deep personal devotion to God’s Law. The king agreed to his request due to God’s divine influence (“the good hand of his God was upon him”) and a smart political strategy to ensure a peaceful, loyal province. God moved Artaxerxes to be agreeable to Ezra’s request.
4a) Verses 6 and 10
b) God’s people would need a leader and someone who knew God’s Word so that they could reestablish their lives, customs, and traditions.
c) Ezra brought up all kinds of people back to Jerusalem. However, the list reveals Ezra’s priority was legitimate worship. By halting the entire journey to recruit Levites, he showed that having the correct personnel for Temple service was non-negotiable. The detailed census itself served to define and purify the community, laying the foundation for his spiritual reforms.
5) He’s given me this forum to help others. He continues to bless my life as I try to follow Him the best I can.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

I love how Ezra is called and chosen here. We all are, and it’s good to remember this.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

Sixty years passed between Ezra 6 and 7 with not much to-dos.  The book of Esther takes place in this timeframe when Xerxes reigned, who was married to Esther.

  • Ezra 1-6 is the first wave of exiles returning to Jerusalem
  • Ezra 7-10 is the second wave with Ezra himself (around 458 BC)
  • Nehemiah led the third wave

The point of the list of names is to show that Ezra is of the Levite tribe, descended from Aaron, and a rightful priest for the Jews.

Ezra returned during the second phase. He was an expert in God’s law, whose job was to preserve, teach, and observe God’s laws.

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was about 900 miles.

Ezra’s job was to teach the word of the Lord to the people.

Fun Fact: The Bible has more than 40 human authors.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 7:1-10 introduces the book’s second main figure, Ezra, a priest and expert scribe in the Law of Moses. It establishes his authority through a detailed lineage tracing back to Aaron, the first high priest, and highlights the divine favor upon him, which is key to his mission.

Interpretation

  • Ezra’s Credentials (vv. 1-6): The passage opens by establishing Ezra’s impeccable qualifications. His long genealogy validates his priestly authority, while his description as a scribe “skilled in the Law of Moses” confirms his expertise. He is not just a priest by birth but a scholar by devotion.
  • The Second Return (vv. 7-9): Decades after the initial return under Zerubbabel, Ezra leads a second, smaller group of exiles to Jerusalem. This journey is explicitly successful because “the good hand of his God was upon him.” This phrase underscores a central theme: Ezra’s success is a direct result of divine favor, not just his own skill or royal permission.
  • Ezra’s Motivation (v. 10): This key verse reveals the heart of Ezra’s mission. He had “set his heart” to do three things in order:
    1. To study the Law of the LORD.
    2. To do it (i.e., to live it out personally).
    3. To teach its statutes and rules in Israel. This demonstrates that his purpose was a deep, spiritual revival based on a foundation of personal devotion and scholarly knowledge.

Conclusion

This passage serves as a formal introduction to Ezra, presenting him as the divinely appointed and qualified leader for the next phase of Israel’s restoration. His mission was not to build a physical temple, which was already done, but to rebuild the spiritual and legal foundation of the nation by teaching God’s Law. The success of his journey, attributed to God’s “good hand,” sets the stage for the religious and social reforms he would soon implement.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:1-10:  Peter is imploring the people to wholesome thinking.  In the last days, scoffers will come, skeptical and evil, questioning God, forgetting the creation.  The world was destroyed in the flood and the day of judgment will come when the world will be destroyed by fire.

The Lord’s time is not our time; a thousand years are like a day. He is patient, giving everyone a chance to repent.  But the Day of Judgment will come, and everything will be destroyed.

You should live holy and godly lives until a new heaven and earth come. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. Be on your guard so that you do not fall away.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

13a) Peter encourages us to wholesome thinking. wholesome thinking. He wants us to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. This is important because we must be ready for when Jesus comes again, and the devil is perpetually looking to trip us up and make us fall.

b) Those who do not believe in Jesus are wont to commit sins without repentance or caring. They justify their actions no matter whom they hurt. They act this way because they are slaves to the flesh, to themselves, to what feels good at the time, and to the devil. They have no moral compass as to what is right or wrong.

c) With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. It means that His time is not our time. We must have patience for God to do His thing for us.

14) The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

15a) We should live holy and godly lives. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This is accomplished by staying close to God and Jesus: praying, going to church and Bible study, surrounding yourself with believing friends, reading the Bible, and relying on God for everything.

b) He is encouraging me to keep going; to keep fighting the fight for Him. And, He is encouraging me to do His will for my life. He is encouraging me to explore more His will.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

I love how we are to stay close to God even though we know where we are going and are saved. We still must be vigilant in our walk with Jesus, and we are to be patient with events that happen in our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

There are always those who doubt Jesus who don’t put him first in their lives.

Days can seem long to us, but they are mere hours to God. Nothing limits God, not even time.

God will keep His promises and come again once all have a chance to turn to Him.

Jesus will come quickly when he does come. We should live with this in mind, seeking God and righteousness.

Peter says we can hasten Jesus’ coming by being holy and through evangelism and prayer.

We must be careful that the Scriptures aren’t twisted by others.

We must always be abiding in Jesus and striving to grow our relationship with him. That is our calling. By continually growing in our walk with Jesus, we won’t fall.

We live differently and share the Gospel, so others can as well.

“Amen” is praising God and His blessings. It is an entreatment and a prayer at all at once. How powerful!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Joel 2:28-3:21

God will pour out His Spirit with repentance. God will show wonders, and everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.

On the day of the Lord, the nations will be judged. The fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem shall be restored. Israel’s enemies will have returned upon them what they have done to God’s people. God will sell their sons and daughters to the people of Judah who will sell them to a far off land.

The people must prepare for war, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold. They will know He is God, and Jerusalem shall be holy.

Judah’s enemies shall be desolate, while Israel blooms with blessings.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

10a) Peter repeats Joel verbatim, saying God will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

b) I think because we humans can see these changes, which can cause us to more readily believe and understand that Jesus is coming. Matthew 24:30 says that these are the signs of Man and that all the people of the earth will mourn when they see him coming down. It’s a warning and a sign.

11a) The Holy Spirit created the Earth. The Spirit marks us as God’s when we accept Jesus as our Savior. He guides and protects us, too. The Bible was written by prophets who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. In essence, the Holy Spirit/God has worked throughout all of history and continues to do so to this day.

b) There is just a peace that I experience that’s hard to define when I am troubled. I know God’s got it, and I believe that’s the power of the Holy Spirit at play.

12a) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It means my future is sealed. I am to forever dwell with the Lord after this earthly life, and it will be amazing!

b) Joel promises that no matter how much we sin, we are forgiven if we just rely on the Lord. God will reward us. This offers extreme comfort in hard times.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

It’s a great reminder that the Holy Spirit is always with you, acting through you, for God’s will.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

The people will ultimately be restored and blessed. God’s Spirit will be poured out on all after Jesus. Peter points to how Joel’s prophecy here was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ death.

The Holy Spirit is poured out on all who believe and receive.

The Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture.

Joel 3 discusses the Last Days. Technically, we are in the Last Days, which were ushered in with Jesus’ death.

Bringing back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem refers to the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile.

God will gather the nations for the final battle (Revelation 16:12-16).

God does not like it when others mistreat His people. He will retaliate against those that do. There will be a war with no hope of the other side prevailing.

It will be tragic, but God will be a shelter for His people. There will be abundance. God’s people will be forgiven.

Joel begins with a plague of locusts and ends with a promise of restoration. How great is our God!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 3: Joel 2:12-27

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Joel 2:12-27

The Lord asks His people to return to him. He is forgiving and he may relent and even bless those who do turn to Him. Everyone should gather and declare a holy fast, and ask the Lord to spare them.

God pitied His people when they did repent. He promised to provide for His people and never again make them an object of scorn to the nations. He will drive away their enemies.

Joel tells the people to not be afraid for the Lord has done great things. He will restore His people, feed them, bless them. He will be their God. They will never again be shamed.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 3: Joel 2:12-27

6a) Return to Him. Repent. Declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly, gather the people, and pray to God to spare them and not make them an object of scorn.

b) Ancient Hebrew people would rend (or tear) their garments as an extreme sign of mourning. Here, God is saying to repent and change their hearts, not just make a show of repentance. This takes place by truly repenting before God and changing your ways to be like God’s and not your own.

7) Gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, gives blessings, jealous for His land. I would say gracious speaks to me today. I am always in need of grace for I am a sinner, I sin every day, and I need His forgiveness to keep pressing forward in this world.

8a) God pitied His people. He promised to provide for His people, sending new wine and olive oil, and never again make them an object of scorn to the nations. He will drive away their enemies.

b) God will restore His people and all that they lost during the period of judgment that God brought upon his people (a plague of locusts). He will give them back a time of abundance. Believers today can take heart that God will restore you even when you experience a setback or difficult times. God can give back anything that has been taken from you. God is omnipotent and the One in control. God can do anything.

9) With all of the many blessings He has given me and the directions my life continues to take.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 3:2:12-27

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how good God is! He takes away but he gives back. So amazing, especially when we are so undeserving!

Reminds me of Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be Your Name” with the lines that say “You give and take away”

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 3: Joel 2:12-27

God requires heartfelt repentance, not just an outward sign of tearing your clothes. This is out of the goodness and mercy of God, knowing that He will forgive you.

Leaders of the church should lead people into repentance.

God will restore prosperity and defeat enemies if one repents. God restores what He has taken away.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 2: Joel 1:1-2:11

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Joel 1:1-2:11

God spoke to Joel about the day of the Lord. On that day, an invasion of locusts that have eaten everything, an army that invades and lays waste to everything, and the fields, grain, and wine are ruined and ground up.  He tells the people to lament and call upon God. For the day will come like destruction. There will be no food. All, even the sheep and cows, will suffer.

On the day of the Lord, an army will come. The day will be black. Fire will devour everything. They will resemble horses making loud noises like chariots. They will rush upon the cities. The earth will shake, the heavens will tremble, the sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the head of his army. They are mighty and innumerable. The day of the Lord is great and dreadful.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 2: Joel 1:1-2:11

3) On the day of the Lord, an invasion of locusts that have eaten everything, an army that invades and lays waste to everything, and the fields, grain, and wine are ruined and ground up.  He tells the people to lament and call upon God. For the day will come like destruction. There will be no food. All, even the sheep and cows, will suffer.

On the day of the Lord, an army will come. The day will be black. Fire will devour everything. They will resemble horses making loud noises like chariots. They will rush upon the cities. The earth will shake, the heavens will tremble, the sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars will no longer shine. The Lord thunders at the head of his army. They are mighty and innumerable. The day of the Lord is great and dreadful.

4) Mankind’s repeated sin and disobedience to God. Bible scholars believe around this time that God was angry with the king and queen at this time.

5) There have been many times of desolation in my life. Where I felt alone and forlorn, helpless and scared. I prayed to God for only He can comfort me and reassure me. I just tried to take it one day at a time and get through day-by-day.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 2: Joel 1:1-2:11

Judah’s day of the Lord did not seem fun. While the final day of the Lord may seem scary, and going through it does not seem like fun, what lies on the other side will be worth it!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 2: Joel 1:1-2:11

Dating when Joel lived and prophesized has been debated amongst Bible scholars because there are no time references in the book. Bible scholars say that Joel was believed to have been a prophet between the ninth century to the third century B.C. His book is the Second book of the Minor Prophets. He was speaking to the kingdom of Judah. He was an early prophet.

Joel was announcing a coming time of famine and ruin to Judah. The people should mourn over this and repent.

In Joel 1, the day of the Lord refers to the present judgment of Judah by God (locusts and drought). This is their punishment.

The ultimate day of the Lord is when Jesus will return to earth, ushering in His kingdom and bringing the final judgment.

Joel 2 describes the coming judgment of Judah — a mighty army and offers a hope of blessing for those who trust God.

Many Bible scholars believe that the judgment that Joel 2 describes did not happen because the people repented under the new king, Joash.

The army was sent by God who controls everything.

Fun Fact: Nearly 1/3 of the book of Joel is quoted by prophets who came after him.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 5: John 7:37-52

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

Summary of John 7:37-52

Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to him. Whoever believes in him will have rivers of living water flow within (Jesus meant the Holy Spirit here). Many believed he was the Prophet and Messiah. Others still questioned.

The guards did not bring in Jesus as the chief priests and the Pharisees wanted. Nicodemus spoke up, but was denied, too.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 5: John 7:37-52

11a) Holy Spirit

b) It means we have the Holy Spirit within, guiding us. This means that we are guided daily and have the presence of the Lord within. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s truth to us and teaches us.

c) The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all work together for our good. God sent Jesus to do His will. The Holy Spirit was given when Jesus died. All are meant to help us walk with God.

12a) The Prophet, Messiah

b) They could not get over the fact that Jesus came from Galilee.

c) Good question and I can’t think of a specific example. It’s hard to hear God’s truth amongst all the other noise. That’s when I turn to prayer or the Bible to hear His voice.

13a)  “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” Basically, the law of innocent until proven guilty. Nicodemus was shut down and dismissed.

b) Pretty willing. The desire for safety and security.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 5: John 7:37-52

You can see the close-mindedness of the Jewish leaders here and their desire to get rid of Jesus no matter what. Yet, God is in control.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 5: John 7:37-52

Jesus uses water again to illustrate his point that if you come to him, you will have living waters (eternal life). God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. The Festival included the symbolic pouring out of water on the altar. Now, Jesus will do so again.

The Holy Spirit gives believers new life, seals them as God’s, and gives them power to live for God.

All were invited (anyone) to quench their spiritual thirst. You must believe in Jesus.

Jesus divided people. You either believed, or you didn’t, and there were a fair amount on either side.

Because of Jesus’ eloquence, he could not be arrested. His time had not yet come.

The religious leaders were blind to all reason, even when Nicodemus pointed out their condemnation before a trial could take place.

Prophets had, indeed, come from Galilee: Jonah (2 Kings 14:25) and Elijah.

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 4: John 7:25-36

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

SUMMARY OF JOHN 7:25-36

The people began questioning Jesus, saying that when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he will come from, and they know where Jesus came from. Jesus answers that he is from God and was sent from God.

They tried to seize Jesus, but his time had not yet come.

Jesus said he is only here for a short time and then he’ll be gone and no one can find him nor can they come. The people were confused and had no idea what Jesus was talking about.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 4: John 7:25-36

8a) Jesus claimed he was from God and God sent him. They could not arrest him because his time had not yet come.

b) God protects Jesus here as he fulfills his purpose. God protects us, too when our time has not yet come.

9a) Jesus knew he was going to heaven and no one could follow him yet. He also meant no one (the guards) would find him because his time had not yet come.

b) With confusion. They had no idea what Jesus was talking about. They thought Jesus was talking about a place on earth, not in heaven.

10) Sometimes, Jesus’ words are confusing or passages in the Bible. Prayer, others, online resources, the Holy Spirit, and more Bible study helps.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 4: John 7:25-36

I love how simple Jesus’ words are here. His authority is from God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 11, Day 4: John 7:25-36

Many believed the Messiah would appear out of thin air. God’s messenger appearing in the temple suddenly Malachi 3:1 helped fuel this belief.

Jesus plainly states he is from God and was sent by him. Yet, no one is arresting him. The whole scene is confusing to the people.

Many people believed in Jesus as he spoke.

No one would arrest him because his time had not yet come.

Truth rarely comes from the noise of crowds.

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