Tag: bsf lesson 4 day 3

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

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

Summary of Daniel 3:19-30

King Nebuchadnezzar was furious that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow before his statue. They were bound and thrown into the furnace. They walked around (with a fourth figure, presumably God) in the fire. Then, the king asked them to come out, so they did. They were unharmed. Then King Nebuchadnezzar praised God who rescued the men. He decreed that no one could blaspheme the God in heaven and promoted the men.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

6a) King Nebuchadnezzar was so mad because he was the absolute ruler of that area of the world, and he did not expect to be defied. And, he couldn’t let the men set the precedent of defying his orders in front of others, who might then be emboldened against him.
b) The men were thrown into a fiery furnace.
7a) The King saw four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looked like a son of the gods. He asked the men to come out.
b) This story shows that there is a divine standard of justice that supersedes human law and that the right to conscience is sacred. It demonstrates that while humans have the ability to judge, their judgment is dangerously flawed and ultimately subordinate to the perfect and righteous judgment of God.
8a) The king was willing to change his position based on irrefutable evidence of the God in heaven. He takes what he sees and acts on it, declaring no one shall blaspheme God and promotes the men. This shows the intelligence of the king, but also shows just how powerful God truly is.
b) Unsure about “radical” but I know that God’s truths change me every day, as I strive to be more like Jesus in subtle ways that ultimately (I hope) will produce radical change.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

Great story of relying on your faith no matter the consequences, and God rewarding you for it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

It’s safe to assume that the fourth man was Jesus. King Nebuchadnezzar identifies him as the Son of God. This shows that Jesus is with us in all of our trials, whether we feel his presence or not.

Note that the only thing the fire burned was the ropes that bound the men. They walked around freely in the fire. The fire had no power over them.

Note God can deliver us from a trial, but He can also sustain us while we are in one.

Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness of the God of the men.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surrendered themselves completely to God.

Note how three innocent men had to die because of the king’s anger.

Fire often symbolizes God in the Bible (Exodus 3:2; 13;21; Deuteronomy 4:11-12; Psalm 18:8; Acts 2:1-4)

The outcome of the fire was a powerful testimony for God. What is your testimony?

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Daniel 3:19-30 demonstrates the supreme power of God over the world’s greatest threats and the ultimate vindication of unwavering faith.

The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:

  • The Furnace and Divine Power: In a fit of rage, King Nebuchadnezzar heats the furnace to its absolute limit, an act representing the peak of human fury and power. The fire is so intense that it kills his own soldiers, yet it is utterly powerless against those protected by God, revealing that God’s power is infinitely greater than any earthly threat.
  • The Fourth Man in the Fire: The miracle’s climax is the appearance of a fourth, divine figure (described as “like a son of the gods”) walking with the men in the flames. This reveals a God who does not just rescue from a distance but is present with His people in the midst of their suffering.
  • The King’s Forced Confession: The event compels the arrogant king to reverse his position completely. He goes from taunting God to praising Him, issuing a decree to protect God’s name, and admitting that “no other god can save in this way.” God uses the faithfulness of the three men to reveal His unique power to the pagan world.
  • The Vindication of Faith: The miraculous preservation and subsequent promotion of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serve as a public reward for their absolute loyalty. Their willingness to die rather than compromise their faith is openly honored by both God and the king.

In essence, this passage reveals that radical faith, even in the face of certain death, is honored by a God who is present in suffering and whose power can compel even the world’s most powerful rulers to acknowledge His supremacy.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

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

Summary of Revelation 2:1-7

To the church in Ephesus: Jesus praises the church for their hard work and perseverance. He knows they have endured many hardships. YET: They have forsaken the love they had at first. He asks them to repent and whoever is victorious (i.e. follows his ways), Jesus will grant them eternal life.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

6) Compare what false prophets say against what the Bible says. As you grow and become more with Jesus, you will have a greater understanding of God’s ways and word and be better able to discern false teachings. False teaching may curse Jesus.

7a) Jesus says,”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Someone who does not back up their words with actions. They no longer walk the walk of loving God or others. They have let evil into their heart when it comes to one or both of these.

b) I express my love by trying to do God’s will for my life and obeying His commands. I also try to help others along their Christian walk. I fall short in many ways. I can be very selfish, very cautious, and think the worst-case scenarios, rather than helping others. I think more about how it will affect me rather than others.

8 ) Repent means to change your ways and go in a different direction. It’s the act of changing your mind and changing the course of your life. Here, Jesus is telling the Ephesians to turn back to their old ways. God could be telling me to turn to him and away from my sins as well.

9) The tree of life was the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden that God had made. Adam and Eve could eat from the tree of life. Jesus here promises that those who return to him can return to God’s paradise in heaven and have eternal life. Therefore, if I follow God and his ways, I can have eternal life!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

I love how we visit such a great passage twice! Again, we see a repetitive them in Bible and the book of Revelation: if we walk in God’s ways, we’ll have eternal life!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

Most Bible scholars say that the Nicolaitans promoted an incorrect doctrine of Jesus and God’s Word. They could have claimed they were from the body of Christ but then perverted the word.

The Nicolaitans are mentioned in Revelation 2:15-16, too. They are considered a heretical group within the early church. When we see them mentioned again, they are mentioned in association with Balaam. Some say it could have been a reference to a false teacher who taught heretical beliefs. This belief taught Christians to be of the world. Learn more about who the Nicolaitans were HERE

Here, we have the first letter to the first church, Ephesus. They all follow a very similar pattern: Jesus will tell the church what they are doing good and/or bad and then he will offer up a command for reparation. He also promises a reward!

Jesus addresses the church as angel.

The church in Ephesus should be familiar to you. It is mentioned a lot by Paul since he ministered there for 3 years. Aquila, Priscilla, Timothy, and Apollos served there as well. (Acts 18:24-28, Acts 19:1, Acts 19:10, Acts 20:31, 1 Timothy 1:3)

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was located here, the temple of Diana. It was absolutely massive!

Jesus describes himself as John sees him in Chapter 1. Jesus is central in all of this.

Jesus knows all about the church (as he knows everything).

The church left (not lost) their first love. This is a deliberate choice.

Their first love is most likely God AND the people. You have to love both (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jesus tells them to:

  1. Remember the times when they had their priorities right. You must get back to where you were with Jesus.
  2. Repent
  3. Go back to the basics (pray, read God’s Word, be excited about Jesus).

He says another positive word, by pointing out how they hate the Nicolaitans. Not much is known about the Nicolaitans, but you can be sure they were evil.

We don’t see Jesus use the word “hate” much (after all, he’s a God of love), so this is strong indeed.

All (including us) who hear.

If you overcome your cold hearts, you’ll receive eternal life.

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map courtesy of: https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1887/truth-revelation-2-3.htm

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

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

SUMMARY OF JOHN 3:9-15

Jesus says that the Jewish leaders still do not see or accept him and the testimony of the disciples and others. If you do not understand earthly things, how will you understand heavenly things? The Son of Man will be lifted into heaven so that others will be.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

7a) The disciples and John the Baptist.

b) That the Jewish leaders do not accept the testimony of others. That they do not understand God’s Word, essentially.

8 ) The bronze serpent was God’s means of salvation for those bitten by the snake. Similarly, Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s mean of salvation for all of humanity bitten by sin.

9a) When you are saved, you believe in Christ’s sacrifice for your sins on the cross. You then will have eternal life.

b) That Jesus would choose to suffer death for lowly ol’ me.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

I love the emphasis on the fact that anyone can be blind to Christ, including religious leaders. We must always grow close to God ourselves and not rely on others for knowledge of God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

Jesus chides Nicodemus as a religious leader that he does not understand the Scriptures.

Christ is the ultimate authority on heavenly things.

Jesus said that the serpent in Numbers is himself, sent to redeem his people. Serpents represent evil in the Bible and appear more than 50 times. Bronze is associated with judgment in the Bible. A bronze serpent is sin judged, which is Jesus who judges sin.

The people trusted the serpent to save them simply by glancing at it. Similarly, we trust in Jesus.

The Son of Man must be lifted up (ascend). We must accept, not do.

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BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 4, Day 3: 1 Kings 17:7-24

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

SUMMARY OF 1 KINGS 17:7-24

When the brook dried up, God spoke to Elijah. God told him to go to Zarephath of Sidon where a widow will give him food. When he arrived, he spoke to a woman at the town gate gathering sticks. He asked her for food and water. She told him she hardly had any food for her and her son. Elijah told her to go home and make him a small cake of bread and then make something for her and her son. Her jar of flour will never be used up and her jug of oil will not run dry until it rains.

She did as commanded and it was so. She had flour and oil every day, as well as food.

The son of the woman grew ill and died. Elijah took him into a room and cried out to the Lord to give him his life back. The Lord heard Elijah’s cry and revived the boy. The woman believed in the Lord.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 4, Day 3: 1 Kings 17:7-24

6a) She did as Elijah had commanded and made him a cake of bread despite she and her son were starving. He asked her to have faith in God and she did.

b) They both received food and water while there was drought and famine in the land.

7a) The woman responded in anger, mad that God had punished her for her sin by taking her son. Elijah responded by turning to the Lord for help.

b) Probably some of both. I get angry and then I pray.

8 ) I know that there is a life outside of this earthly life that is infinitely better. This gives me hope in my troubles.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 4, Day 3: 1 Kings 17:7-24

I had forgotten this story! It’s been a while since I’ve studied Elijah, so this is great! I love: 1) When God conquers death 2) He answers our prayers. Great stuff!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 4, Day 3: 1 Kings 17:7-24

Elijah moved around a lot, and here he’s ordered to go to the home of a povery-stricken widow in the territory of the evil Queen Jezebel, which is not a welcoming place for a prophet.

The woman had no idea she had been chosen by God based on her responses to Elijah.

She says “the Lord your God,” which shows she is a Gentile. Elijah makes a bold response to feed him first when they have only a small amount of food. The widow willingly obeys, and she is blessed by God for it.

The widow is angry when her son dies. Now, she has no one to provide for her in her old age as was the custom. She blames Elijah and her sin.

Elijah asked God to fix this tragedy. Out of faith, God answered. All of the widow’s needs were met.

Fun Fact: This is the first recording in the Bible of God raising the dead.

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BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 4, Day 3: Matthew 4:1-11

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 4:1-11

The devil tempts Jesus three times here. First, Jesus goes to the desert and fasts for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was hungry so the devil attempts to get Jesus to sin by appealing to his hunger. Jesus refuses to make bread out of stone, saying instead you should live on God’s word. The devil dared Jesus to fall from the highest point of the temple, telling him the angels will catch him. Jesus tells him to not test God. Finally, the devil offered Jesus the world if he would worship him (ironic since Jesus/God already had the world). Jesus banished the devil finally, and angels came to Jesus.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 4, DAY 3: MATTHEW 4:1-11

5a )

TEMPTATION #1

Satan is asking Jesus to prove his deity by producing bread for himself. This would have been purely selfish if Jesus had given in. We see Jesus making bread in other parts of the Bible when he feeds 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21), so we know he has the power. He refuses to even entertain the devil here. Instead, he quotes Deuteronomy 8:3.

Jesus uses God’s truth to defeat Satan. So must we.

TEMPTATION #2

Satan tries to get Jesus to force God to use His powers to save him. The temple was 200 feet in the air. A jump would mean certain death unless God intervened. False prophets will use these means at the End Times.

Satan has the Bible memorized. He uses this knowledge to tempt us as he always takes the words of the Bible out of context (Psalm 91:11-12) and uses them to deceive us.

We must take the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) , and we must know what the Bible says so that we ourselves are not deceived. The early Christians could not read; in this day and time in our society, we have no excuse.

TEMPTATION #3

Here, Satan offers Jesus the world. In truth, Jesus already had the world. What Satan is really offering Jesus is an escape from the cross. Jesus obeys God’s will here and tells Satan to go jump in a lake. All Satan wants is worship and recognition. We, too, must be careful of this sin.

Note that Satan does have something to give Jesus: the earthly world. When Adam and Eve sinned, humans gave Satan authority here on earth (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is what Satan is offering.

The main compromise behind each is not having faith in God or believing God and His Word. Satan tried to appeal to earthly sins, which Jesus easily overcome as the Son of God.

b ) Well, we all can be tempted when we are low (here, Jesus is very hungry). When our strength to deal with the world breaks down, this is when we are most vulnerable to sin. We all can be tempted to test God and His Word, but, like Jesus, God is not to be tested for frivolous reasons and to prove something. God tests us, not the other way around. Satan appeals to our desire for power, to feel important, and to be someone. Culture influences us to be this way, too. Again, Jesus was the son of a carpenter here on earth. We can make great changes just as we are.

6 ) Temptation 1: Deuteronomy 8:3

Temptation 2: Deuteronomy 6:16

Temptation 3: Deuteronomy 6:13

7 ) 1 Corinthians 10:13: God will never give us a temptation we cannot overcome. This gives me faith to keep on fighting when I all I want to do is curl up and not fight. Some of my favorite lyrics to this song I’m recently listening to (not a Christian song) say “Why do all the monsters come out at night? Why do we sleep where we want to hide?” We have to be careful for Satan lurks in the dark places of our life. But respite in Jesus is right around the corner.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 4, DAY 3: MATTHEW 4:1-11

I love that BSF talks about 1 Corinthians 10:13, which I mentioned yesterday in my commentary. Sin is a choice, and even when we are low, God is there holding us and giving us the strength to fight.

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 4, DAY 3: MATTHEW 4:1-11

Jesus endured tempation for two main reasons:

  1. To identify with us
  2. To show us you can overcome temptation

Note that the Holy Spirit does not tempt (James 1:13). It led Jesus to temptation so that we can grow spiritually.

Jesus was tempted by the devil; we are usually tempted by the devil’s minions. We find relief when we give in to temptation; Jesus does not. Many Bible scholars argue that is a testing since the propert translation of the Greek verb here means “to test.”

“Luther’s remark stands true that prayer, meditation, and temptation are the three best instructors of the gospel minister.” (Spurgeon)

Jesus does not eat for 40 days and nights. Humans can survive up to two months without food (they need water), Jesus would have been in a state of starvation and desperate for sustenance (which is why we see the angels tending to him at the end). When you are that desperate for food and are at the point of death, you will give in to most temptations for food. Jesus endured it all for us. Amazing!

Jesus depended on God for all things (Hebrews 5:8) as we must, too.

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TEMPTATION #1

Satan is asking Jesus to prove his deity by producing bread for himself. This would have been purely selfish if Jesus had given in. We see Jesus making bread in other parts of the Bible when he feeds 5,000 people (Matthew 14:13-21), so we know he has the power. He refuses to even entertain the devil here. Instead, he quotes Deuteronomy 8:3.

Jesus uses God’s truth to defeat Satan. So must we.

TEMPTATION #2

Satan tries to get Jesus to force God to use His powers to save him. The temple was 200 feet in the air. A jump would mean certain death unless God intervened. False prophets will use these means at the End Times.

Satan has the Bible memorized. He uses this knowledge to tempt us as he always takes the words of the Bible out of context (Psalm 91:11-12) and uses them to deceive us.

We must take the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) , and we must know what the Bible says so that we ourselves are not deceived. The early Christians could not read; in this day and time in our society, we have no excuse.

TEMPTATION #3

Here, Satan offers Jesus the world. In truth, Jesus already had the world. What Satan is really offering Jesus is an escape from the cross. Jesus obeys God’s will here and tells Satan to go jump in a lake. All Satan wants is worship and recognition. We, too, must be careful of this sin.

Note that Satan does have something to give Jesus: the earthly world. When Adam and Eve sinned, humans gave Satan authority here on earth (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is what Satan is offering.

TAKE AWAY: It is not a sin to be tempted; we all face that, even Jesus. It’s a sin to give into temptation and commit the act itself.

SATAN’S WEAPONS

The only weapons Satan has against us are lies and deceit. These, however, spark fear, doubt, and unbelief in our hearts, which can ruin our lives.

Our weapons? God’s word. Many mistake Satan’s lies for God’s truth, which is where sin happens.

Obviously, only Jesus knew what happened to him in the desert. He told his story to his disciples so they could share his example with us for all of time.

FUN FACT: All of the passages that Jesus quotes are from the Book of Deuteronomy. So many people today discount the Old Testament as too antiquated and full of laws that do not apply to us. But that is not the point of knowing the Old Testatment. If it’s in the Bible, there is a reason for it to be there. God wants us to know it. That should be sufficient for all of us.

Note how God cares for Jesus by sending angels to attend to his needs after the temptation. God does the same for us. When we feel spiritually attacked, God is there. He cares for us; He picks us up; He cradles us in His loving arms. Keep those images in mind in the midst of temptation. Remember, He doesn’t give us anything we can’t overcome (1 Corinthians 10:12-14).

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BSF Study Questions Genesis Lesson 4, Day 3: Genesis 3:1-6

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2012/2013

Summary of passage:  The crafty serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say not to eat from any tree in the garden?”  Eve tells him they can eat from any tree except from the tree in the middle of the garden or they will die.  The serpent plants doubt, saying surely you won’t die; you will just be like God, knowing good and evil.

So, Eve took some and ate it and gave some to Adam (who was with her the whole time) and ate it as well.

Questions:

7)  Matthew 13:19:  He snatches away the message (Word) that was sown in man’s heart

Matthew 13:25, 39:  He sows weeds amongst the crop while you are sleeping (unaware)

John 8:44:  He is a liar, murderer, and father of lies.  He has nor speaks no truth

John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11:  He is called the prince of this world

2 Corinthians 4:4:  He is called the god of this age

Ephesians 2:2:  He is called the ruler of the kingdom of air

8a)  Personal Question.  My answer:  Ephesians tells us he’s a schemer, so much so we need the full armor of God to resist him.  2 Corinthians tells us he masquerades as an angel of light.  Luke shows us that Satan knows scripture and he will use it to tempt us to sin and he will twist it’s meaning like he did to Eve when she ate the fruit.

Satan’s life purpose is to make us fall.  He spends his entire time scheming and using our weaknesses against us.  He will use all the tricks in the book and then some.  He has no morals or values as we know them.  He is pure evil.

b)  With Job the devil could not touch the man himself but only those people and things around him.  The devil had 40 days to tempt Jesus but when he was done tempting he left Jesus alone.  In Revelation we see the devil is limited in time.  He has only a certain amount of time before God says enough and defeats him.

1 Corinthians 10:13:  “He (God) will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…he will also provide a way out so tht you can stand up under it.”

God sets limits to what the devil can do to us.  God is there, protecting us.  God allows the devil to exist and to tempt us (to test our faith).  He is in control.  We are choosing either the devil or God.  Always.

9)  1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16:  pray continually, confess your sins and pray for each other

Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2:  Be full of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12:  The Word of God–the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit

James 4:7:  Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you

Conclusions:  This was a study on the devil.  To be honest, I didn’t even read the passage (since we read it yesterday).  Every question had us looking elsewhere so leave some time for today’s lesson.  Even though a lot of the books are small that’s what makes them tricky to find.

If you did Acts last year, a lot of this will be familiar.  We discussed in detail our weapons against the devil (the Word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and obeying God’s commands).  I hold to 1 Corinthians 10:13:  there is nothing God gives us we can’t bear, including the devil’s temptations.  If we believe we can overcome and God is on our side and He’s in control, then we will!