Tag: bsf lesson 13 day 3

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 3: Amos 3-6

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF AMOS 3

More pronouncements of judgment against Israel and how they will be punished for their sins. An enemy will overrun Israel, and the foreign altars will be destroyed. But a remnant would be preserved.

SUMMARY OF AMOS 4

Israel has been warned, yet they still continue to sin.

SUMMARY OF AMOS 5

God warns his people to seek him and live or they will perish.

SUMMARY OF AMOS 6

God warns those who are complacent and says they will among the first to go into exile. The cries against the pride of Israel. He says a nation will oppress them as punishment.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 3: Amos 3-6

5a) The Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to the prophets. God has spoken just like the lion has roared, the bird has swooped, and the trumpets have sounded. Disasters the Lord has caused.

b) Because the people have sinned and turned away from God, God sent prophets to warn his people of his judgment if they don’t turn back to him. Israel needs to turn back or they will be judged.

6) The sins are how Israel does not do right and they plunder and they loot. The consequences are that an enemy will overrun the land and plunder them. The Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued. The altars of Bethel and houses will be destroyed when Israel is punished for her sins. The women will be taken away and cast out. God punished them periodically such as with little rain and food, but still they did not return to him. God sent plagues and killed young men with no one returning to him.

7a) “Yet you have not returned to me.” Amos 4:6; 8; 9; 10; 11  God gives his people chances to repent before he judges them.

b) Any type of calamity, whether a natural disaster or a personal disaster.

8 )

4:12: “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.” If you sin, you will suffer the consequences.

5:4: “Seek me and live.” God is a God of second chances. He gives life to those who seek him.

5:14: “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.” Be good, and God will be with you.

5:15: “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.” Do good, and the Lord will have mercy.

9)

5:18: “Woe to those who long for the day of the Lord.” You should live each day as if the day of the Lord is here, but most of us don’t because the day of the Lord brings judgment, so we should be prepared.

6:1: “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come.” This is an indulgent ease for comfort and luxury. It is easy to get comfortable and complacent in life, but we must always be seeking God and His ways.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 3: Amos 3-6

Long reading with lots of warnings here. At the end of the day, God just wants us to choose Him.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 3: Amos 3-6

Amos 3: Israel rejected God despite the privileges they had of being with him. Thus, God enacts judgment.

God revealed to the prophets the judgment so people would turn to him. Israel would be overrun by Assyria in less than 30 years after Amos prophesied.

Amos 4: Bashan was known for its cattle.

Women of Israel indulged, so God would judge them. Their sacrifices were in vain. God would judge by withholding rain. He would send a plague. They would meet him.

Amos 5: God invites his people to seek him once again. He will save, but he will also judge.

Because they treated each other terribly, they would be judged. There would be wailing and woe on judgment day. Their sins would end in captivity.

Amos 6: Those who are comfortable should take heart as woe is coming. Those who are high-standing will be brought low. Israel will be destroyed.

Israel is too full of pride and injustice.

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parapble of the sower www.atozmomm.com bsf matthew

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:1-9

Jesus was sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee), but the crowds were so big that he got into a boat so the people could see and hear him better. He told the parable of sower. Some of the seeds that the farmer scattered fell on rocky places. They sprang up quickly, but because the soil was shallow, they withered due to a lack of root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which choked the plant. Other seeds fell on good soil where it produced a good crop.

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:18-23

Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the sower. When people hear the message about the kingdom of God and do not understand it, the evil one takes away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places hears the Word and receives it with joy. But he falls away when trouble arises because he has no root. The seed in the thorns is the man who hears the word, but is unfruitful because of his worries and deceitfulness of wealth.  The one who received the seed on good soil hears the Word and understands it. He produces a good crop.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

6) He uses temptation, deceit, greed, and all the other sins to snatch us away.

7) It can be easy to focus on your problems, rather than your blessings.

8 ) John 15:5 reminds us that if you are close to Jesus, you’ll bear much fruit. When you stray, you can do nothing. Philippians 2:12-13 reminds us that God works in you for His good purpose. We all have our seasons of when we are following God’s will closely and when we stray. I think this is why our fruit can vary. God gives us all different gifts and opportunities to grow with Him. The difference in fruit lies in your obedience to these gifts and opportunities given.

9) We all need strong roots so that we won’t be tempted by the devil. If we have strong roots and are faithful, we’ll bear good fruit for the evil one will not be able to snatch us away.

10) The soil of my heart is a yearning for God and His will. I know because He is with me always, and I strive to follow Him and His path.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

More of a personal day, but an encouraging one. We will bear fruit if we follow Jesus and God. No one says it’s easy, but it will pay off.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

MATTHEW 13:1-9

The boat gave Jesus a platform to speak from (Mark 4:1).

Parables are meant to teach one main principle to those listening. They made the idea easier to remember, and it stayed longer with the people.

Jesus spoke to things the people would understand. Everyone understood farming.

The seeds fell on four places:

  1. Next to the path — this was where many people walked and thus the seeds would be trampled and not grow.
  2. In rocky places — characterized by thin soil as we are told
  3. Amongst thorns — fertile ground, but with hazards
  4. On good soil — fertile and free of other plants growing

Jesus uses “he who has ears, let him hear.” to call attention to his words.

MATTHEW 13:18-23

Each soil type represents one of four ways that we respond to Jesus:

  1. Next to the path — those who hear God’s Word, but are unaffected. Their hearts are hardened, so they have no real understanding of what they are hearing. You must understand God’s Word before you can take action.
  2. In rocky places — those who are super excited when they first hear God’s Word, but then their excitement quickly fades and they fade away, too when times get rough
  3. Amongst thorns — those who grow with God for a while, but then are taken down by the evil one, temptations, worries, and deceitfulness of wealth
  4. On good soil — those that hear God’s Word and stick it through, bearing fruit along the way

What the Parable of the Sower Means to Us

We all go through the different types of soil in our lives — times where our faith wanes or where we are on fire for God. However, what matters in the end is that we strive to be the good soil and bear fruit in all that we do.

It can be helpful to ask yourself which soil are you and what can you change to become the good soil.

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 14:13-16

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  One escaped and told Abram his nephew had been captured. Abram, who was allied with his neighbors, called out all 318 trained men to go with him to rescue Lot.  Abram launched a night attack near the city of Dan, routed them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.  Abram recovered all the stolen goods, women, and others, and rescued Lot and his possessions, whom he brought back with him.

Questions:

5)  Abram is loyal to Lot.  Abram is allied with his neighbors so he has diplomacy skills.  He spares no expense, requiring all his trained men to fight for Lot; he has some military training (or guidance from God) for Abram divided his men and attacked.

This shows the extent of God’s blessings to Abram in terms of his wealth.  Abram had his own trained army to fight for him.  This is NOT cheap, especially in ancient times.  Metals and weapons (shields, swords, and armor) were expensive–way more expensive than I would say 90% of the population at the time could afford in their LIFETIME.

6a)  Abram gathers all his allies and men and we put on the full armor of God (all of our resources available) to fight. Abram stood firm in his belief to rescue Lot and he was ready like we are to be when fighting spiritual battles.  Abram had faith he would win as we are to in our battles.  We are to pray and use the Word of God.  We are not told if Abram prayed before he set out, during, or after.

b)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Full armor of God I would say is the Holy Spirit indwelt.  The Holy Spirit will protect your entire body.  The belt of truth is God’s truths and righteousness is what Christians are if they accept Jesus as their Savior.  The shield of faith in trust in God.  The helmet of salvation is our knowledge that we will win and be saved.  The sword of the Spirit is the Bible, God’s word.  Prayer to God for help to overcome.

These weapons have divine power.  We take captive every thought and make it obedient to God and we can defeat every argument or pretension with God’s truth (His word).

c)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Prayer and His Word.  Ask and you shall receive.  If Jesus chose God’s word to defeat the devil in the desert, then I will as well (Matthew 4).  “It is written….”

7)  Personal Question.  My answer:  It is comforting and humbling to know God is with me and I have the knowledge (His Word and Spirit) and He will give me triumphs in life, beginning with His Son who conquered the grave.  We are as precious to God as Christ is to salvation.  Amazing!

The challenge is to be that sweet aroma to others as I spread His message.

Conclusions:  Dreading this lesson when all the questions save one is on New Testament passages.  We studied this Ephesians passage in Acts last year, Lesson 25.  The questions are basically the same, just tweaked.  You can review my answers HERE and HERE.

Review.  I guess I’d better get used to this.  Seems to be the theme for this year.  I was honestly hoping for more in-depth on what’s happening in Genesis, not Ephesians.

Interesting Fact:  This is the first use of the word “Hebrew” in the Bible.

End Note:  My new favorite website.  I wish I could draw simple maps that make everything so clear!

http://www.generationword.com/notes_for_notesbooks_pg/genesis/14_1.htm