Old Testament Reflections…
- As you read about the kings of Israel and Judah, how do you see the Lord’s words to Samuel (I Samuel 8) coming to pass? Have you ever made requests of God that resembled Israel’s plea for a king?
- How do the accounts of the kings—even the “good” ones– point to Israel’s need for Jesus as their true King? Is there some irony in the ways the Jews yielded to the authority of earthly kings, yet rejected Jesus’ authority? Perhaps there are some applications to the rule of our own hearts???
- Elijah is quite an interesting Bible character! What do you learn from his example and experiences?
New Testament Reflections…
- What miracles has John recorded so far in this gospel? How does each miracle point to Jesus as the Son of God? How do various people respond to the miracles?
- In John 7:1-9, we see an interaction between Jesus and His brothers. Based on this exchange, how do you think Jesus’ brothers viewed Jesus and His ministry? What do these verses suggest about Jesus’ brothers?
- In John’s gospel, we read about people who witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard His teaching. However, they did not follow Him. What reasons do you see for people rejecting Christ or following for a while, and then turning away? What did it take for people to persist in following Jesus?