"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 6 (Nehemiah 2:1-10)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 2:1-10

OBSERVATION QUESTONS:

1)  Why was Nehemiah "deeply frightened"? (v.1-2)
2)  What did Nehemiah tell the king? (v3)
3)  How did the king respond? (v.4)
4)  What was Nehemiah's petition to the king? (v.5)
5)  What did Nehemiah let the king know next? (v. 6)
6)  What did Nehemiah need from the governors? (v.7)
7)  What did Nehemiah need from the manager of the forest? (v.8)
8)  What three things was Nehemiah going to construct with what the manager of the forest gave him? (v.8)
9)  Why did the king agree to Nehemiah's requests? (v.8)
10) In addition to writing the letters, what did the king do to protect Nehemiah? (v.9)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1) Have you ever allowed an unbeliever to see you distressed or troubled? If so, why?
2) Have you ever shared your troubles with unbelievers? If so, why?
3) Has the Lord ever given you favor to receive what you needed from an unbeliever? If so, what happened?

 LIFE LESSONS:

1) Because we are children of God, we are entitled to all that the Father controls!
2) There are times when the Lord will bless us through the people of the world!
3) The favor of God can open doors for us that no man can shut!

To read today's devotional, please go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 5 (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:5-11

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:

1) How does Nehemiah describe the Lord, in his prayer? (v.5)
2) What does Nehemiah tell the Lord about how He treats those who love and obey him? (v.5)
3) What does Nehemiah ask the Lord to listen to and see him doing? (v.6) 

4) Whose sins does Nehemiah confess? (v.6)
5) How had the people of God sinned against Him, according to Nehemiah? (v.7)
6) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people sinned against Him? (v.8)
7) What had the Lord told Moses He would do if His people repented of their sin? (v.9)
8) What two things did Nehemiah remind God of concerning His people? (v.10)
9) What did Nehemiah ask the Lord to do for him, as the king's cup-bearer? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

In your prayers:
1) Do you praise God for who He is?
2) Do you remind God of His promises (His Word)?
3) Do you "stand in the gap" for others who have sinned against the Lord?
4) Do you ask the Lord to grant you favor with specific people?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The best way to begin a prayer of petition to the Lord is to acknowledge His greatness!
2) Be specific when confessing your sins, as well as the sins of others that you intercede for.
3) The word of God is God's promise to His people.
4) Don't hesitate to pray God's word (promises) back to Him!

To read the devotional on today's Scripture go to Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

"Begin Again" Bible Study - Pt. 4 (Nehemiah 1)

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:1-4

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Who came to visit Nehemiah in Susa? (v. 2)
2)   What two things did Nehemiah ask? (v. 2)
3)   What four things did Nehemiah hear? (v. 3)
4)   How did Nehemiah respond? (v. 4)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1)   Have you received distressing news recently?
2)   If so, how did you respond?


LIFE LESSONS:
1)   It is human nature to want what is best for those we love!
2)   The Lord allows us to face troubling circumstances so that we will recognize our need for Him!
3)   The wisest thing that we can do after receiving distressing news is to pray and wait upon God for direction.

To read the devotional for this Scripture please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.

Begin Again: "Forgiveness - Pt 3" (2 Samuel 21:1-14)

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Samuel 21:1-14

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1. Why was there a famine in Israel (v. 1)?
2. Why did King David talk with the Gibeonites (v. 2-5)?
3. What did the Gibeonites want from Israel (v.6)?
4. Whose life was spared and why (v. 7)?
5. Whose sons did the king hand over to be executed (v. 8-9)
6. What did Rizpah do after hearing about the executions (v.10)?
7. What did King David do after hearing about Rizpah (v.11-14)?
8. When did the famine end (v. 14)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Is there anyone in your life whom you have offended?
2. If so, what, if anything, have you done to be reconciled with them?
3. Has anyone ever made a decision, without seeking your consent, that had adverse affects on your life?
4. If so, please describe what happened and how you made amends with the offending person(s).

LIFE LESSONS:
1. The Lord often allows prolonged difficulties in our lives to reveal unconfessed sin in our lives.
2. The unconfessed sins of those with whom we associate may affect us indirectly.
3. Unforgiveness is a sin that may have lasting affects until the sin is confessed and repented of.


For a devotional reading on 2 Samuel 21:10-14, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' Blog.

Begin Again: "Forgiveness - Pt. 2" (Genesis 32)

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1. Who did Jacob see after Laban's departure (v. 1-2)?
2. Who did Jacob send ahead of him to meet with his brother Esau (v. 3)?
3. What did he tell them to tell Esau (v. 4-5)?
4. What was Esau's message to Jacob (v. 6)?
5. What three things did Jacob do after hearing Esau's message (v. 7-23)?
6. Who did Jacob wrestle with and what were the two results (v. 24-32)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Have you ever had to face someone you offended, or who offended you?
2. If so, what did you do to prepare for your encounter with them?
3. What have you done, or been willing to do, when you needed to receive a blessing from the Lord?

LIFE LESSONS:
1. Fear and distress should always lead us to our knees in prayer before God.
2. We cannot curry the favor of man apart from receiving the favor of God.
3. The Lord's favor and blessings are given to those who recognize their need for His goodness and mercy.
4. It is through brokenness that God bestows His grace.

For a devotional reading on the above Scripture, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog. 

Begin Again: "Forgiveness" - Pt. 1 (James 4:1-12)

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-12

Observation Questions:
1.  Where do wars and quarrels come from (v. 1-2)?
2.  What are the two reasons that we do not have what we want (v. 2-3)?
3.  What causes opposition between us and God (v. 4)?
4.  Who becomes envious or jealous when we want our own way, rather than God's way (v. 5)?
5.  Who does the Lord give grace to (v. 6)?
6.  In what four ways can we humble ourselves before the Lord (v. 7-10)
7.  If we do not humble ourselves, what will we be inclined to do (v. 11-12)

Application Questions:
1.  Have you been in a strife-filled situation with a brother or sister in the Lord, in recent months?
2.  If so, what happened and what, if anything, did you do to resolve the disagreement?
3.  Have you ever been disliked or been offended with a brother or sister for no obvious reason?
4.  If so, have you asked the Lord to reveal the root cause of your feelings?
5.  If you have ever been unforgiving toward anyone, what will you do to humble yourself?

Life Lessons:
1. When we envy the Lord's blessings in another's life, our best recourse is confession and repentance.
2. When we covet what others have, we are doubting God's goodness to us.
3. As children of God, our first and only allegiance should be to the will and ways of God!


For a devotional reading on the above Scripture reading, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog. 

Begin Again: "Forgiveness" - Pt.1 (Genesis 4:1-16)

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth , and his countenance fell . 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well , shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well , sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him . 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said , I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said , What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass , that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD. - Genesis 4:1-16


OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1.   Who was the first-born of Adam and Eve's sons (v. 1)?
2.   What were Cain and Abel's respective vocations (v.2)?
3.   What did each son offer to the Lord (v. 3-4)?
4.   What was Cain's response when the Lord did not accept his offering (v.5-6)?
5.   What was the Lord's warning and advice to Cain (v.7)
6.   How did Cain handle the situation (v.8)?
7.   How did Cain respond to the Lord's inquiry about Abel (v. 9)?
8.   How did the Lord know what had happened to Abel (v.10)?
9.   In what ways was Cain punished for Abel's murder (v.11-14)?
10. How did the Lord protect Cain (v.15)?


APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1.   Have you ever been envious or jealous of anyone? 
2.   If so, how did you feel about the person that you were envious or jealous of?
3.   How do you treat people that you are envious or jealous of?


LIFE LESSONS:
1.   Our worship is meaningless if we harbor bitterness in our hearts toward others.
2.   We always give the flesh control over us when we succumb to negative feelings.
3.   The Lord expects us to gain control over our fleshly (or carnal) nature.

For a devotional reading on the above Scripture, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.