This Bible study corresponds to the June devotion for the Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

Read Isaiah 62. What are some of the characteristics of the city before the Lord “saves” it or “establishes” it? Hint: In addition to other statements, look at what the city is called.

What will the characteristics be after the Lord establishes it?

What promises does the Lord make to the city?

Read Revelation 21. What will it be like for the Bride, the inhabitants of the Holy City?

When Paul speaks on the marriage relationship in Ephesians 5:22-33, he says in verse 32, “This is a profound _____________ – but I am talking about _____________ and the ____________”¹

From verse 26, what does Christ use to cleanse us?

Read John 17:6-21. Use verses 14, 16, and 18 to fill in the blanks. The world ______________ us. We are not _______ the world, but we have been ___________ ________ the world.

Verses 20-21 explains one reason we are sent into the world. What is it?

According to James 1:27, we are also sent into the world to take care of other people. But while we are ministering to the world, we are warned to keep “from being ______________________ by the ________________.”

In 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, what does Paul say we must guard against if we want to be a “pure virgin” when we are presented to our “one husband, to Christ”?

Read 2 Peter 2:12-3:18. What kind of people are described as “blots and blemishes”? 

Note, from 2:1, that these people are not people outside of the church, they are “among us.” Yet from Revelation 21:2,27 we see that the Bride, at the final presentation, will be “beautifully ______________” and that nothing _______________, and no one who does what is ________________ or ________________ will ever enter the city. What does this say for those people who are “spots and blemishes” on the Bride right now?

In 3:11-18, Peter explains “what kind of people we ought to be” in order to be “spotless” and “blameless.” He says we need to “live _______________ and ________________ lives” (v. 11).

And, much like Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, Peter warns us not to be “carried away by the ___________________ of these lawless men” (v. 17) and encourages us to “grow in grace and __________________________ of our Lord …” (v. 18).

In 1 Timothy 6:3-20, what are we told to flee from and what are we told to pursue and keep “without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord”?

Verse 18 gives three commands which would definitely make us more encouraging people if we obeyed them. What are they?

The book of Jude focuses largely on “certain men” (v. 4) who are “blemishes” (v. 12). Read Jude, a short book of only 27 verses, and note how often speech sins are listed as characteristics of these “blemishes.” List these speech related sins by filling in the following blanks:

1. 8 – They “_________________ celestial beings.”
2. 10 – They “… speak _________________ against whatever they do not understand.”
3. 15 – They speak “__________ words … against him [the Lord].”
4. 16 – They are “______________ and _______________” … who “_______________ others …”

As we focus on being encouraging, we must be careful to distinguish between “flattery” and truly edifying words. What wrong motivation lies behind the flattering words used by the “certain men” in Jude 16?

Meditation

Think on the loving characteristics of Christ mentioned in Ephesians 5:22-33. Write down some for which you are particularly thankful.

Pray and ask God to help you be truthful with yourself as you answer the next few questions.

Ephesians 5:24 says the wife/bride must submit to Christ and the Word in order for the cleansing process to be effective. What Biblical teaching(s) might you have trouble obeying?

How well are you obeying the commands of 1 Timothy 6:18?

Are you having trouble with any speech sins? List any specific ones that come to mind.

Application

You could make a commitment to study God’s Word more so that you will not be deceived or led into error. That commitment might include going to a Sunday School class or Bible study more regularly. Or it could be that you’ll commit to finding a good study guide to do in your personal devotions. Write down possiblilites.

Choose one area where you could focus on being more obedient to the Word. Write it down.

If you were convicted by the meditation on 1 Timothy 6:18, what could you do to follow that command more?

Following the instructions in James 1:27, you could plan some kind of project, or support some existing project to help widows and/or orphans. Write down any ideas you have.

What speech sins might you want to commit to controlling?

Go through the suggestions on the back of the devotion and note any that you might want to do.

Dedication

What do you specifically want to do in response to this month’s devotion?

______________________________

¹All references in the study guide are from The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.