Bible study

Encourager’s Devotional Series – November Bible Study Answer Guide

/ Lisa Womble / Leave a comment

Here are the answers for the Bible study for the November Devotion “Giving Out of Our Poverty” in The Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

Read Acts 16:1-17:15, which tells of Paul and his team’s first missionary journey to Macedonia.

From Acts 16, list the troubles that Paul and his team experienced in Philippi:

  • They were harrassed by a girl who was possessed by a demon (vv. 16-18).
  • They were stripped and beaten (v. 22).
  • They were put in prison (v. 23).

What did Paul and Silas do while in prison (v. 25)?  They prayed and sang hymns.

What miracles occured in Philippi (vv. 18, 26)?  A demon was cast out. An earthquake shook the doors off the prison, allowing Paul and Silas to escape.

What good results came in Philippi (vv. 15, 33)?  Lydia and her household were baptized. The jailer and his family were baptized.

Why did the slave girl’s owners oppose Paul and Silas (v. 19)? They did not want to lose the income they received due to her possession.

Why were Paul and his team also opposed in Thessalonica (17:5)?  Some of the Jewish people were jealous.

Why were the Jews in Thessalonica jealous (17:4)?  because many were choosing to follow Christ through the teaching of Paul and Silas

What happened to Jason and others simply because they were associated with Paul (17:5-9)?  Their house was attacked. They were brought before the authorities.

How were Paul and his companions received in Berea (17:11,12)?  with eagerness

Who made trouble for Paul in Berea and finally drove him out of Macedonia (17:13)?  the Jews who came after him from Thessolonica

Acts 18-20 tells of Paul’s further travels back and forth through Macedonia and Greece. Notice that his traveling companions now include several Macedonians (19:29 and 20:4, note Berea and Thessalonica are part of Macedonia). Who are they?  Gaius, Aristarchus, Secundus and Sopator

Meditation

Acts 16:40 says, “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them.”

Acts 20:1 says that after a riot in Ephesus, Paul “sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.”

How likely are you to encourage others when you are experiencing troubles of your own?

Fill in the blanks from Acts 20:23-24: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardship are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”

How might working with someone who had an attitude such as this inspire the Macedonians to give sacrificially and to strive to encourage others even though they had reason to be discouraged themselves?

Fill in the blanks from 2 Corinthians 8:1-12. It says that the Macedonians, even in the most severe trial, had overflowing joy and that even in extreme poverty they were rich in generosity.

How likely are these things to be said of you?

Do you consider it a privilege to share in service to the saints as the Macedonians did, or does it seem more of a drudgery at times?

How much do you “excel in this grace of giving”?

Paul said you can “test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others” (8:8). How do you compare with the earnestness we see in Paul and the Macedonians?

Think on the example of Christ we see in our text, who “though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (8:9).

Take a moment to pray, thanking Christ for the sacrifice He made for us: leaving the majesty of heaven for the poverty of earth so that we earthly beggars might be made heirs of heavenly riches. Pray that He might help you be more like Him. Pray specifically for any convictions that came as you answered the questions in this meditation section or in the devotion.

Application

Read again the end of this month’s devotion. List here any ways you may want to “stretch yourself beyond your abilities” this month.

Dedication

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

Encourager’s Devotional Series – November Bible Study

/ Lisa Womble / 1 Comment

This Bible study corresponds with the November Devotion “Giving Out of Our Poverty” in The Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

Read Acts 16:1-17:15, which tells of Paul and his team’s first missionary journey to Macedonia.

From Acts 16, list the troubles that Paul and his team experienced in Philippi:

  • They were harrassed by a girl who was             by a           (vv. 16-18).
  • They were                   and                 (v. 22).
  • They were put in               (v. 23).

What did Paul and Silas do while in prison (v. 25)?

What miracles occured in Philippi (vv. 18, 26)?

What good results came in Philippi (vv. 15, 33)?

Why did the slave girl’s owners oppose Paul and Silas (v. 19)?

Why were Paul and his team also opposed in Thessalonica (17:5)?

Why were the Jews in Thessalonica jealous (17:4)?

What happened to Jason and others simply because they were associated with Paul (17:5-9)?

How were Paul and his companions received in Berea (17:11,12)?

Who made trouble for Paul in Berea and finally drove him out of Macedonia (17:13)?

Acts 18-20 tells of Paul’s further travels back and forth through Macedonia and Greece. Notice that his traveling companions now include several Macedonians (19:29 and 20:4, note Berea and Thessalonica are part of Macedonia). Who are they?

Meditation

Acts 16:40 says, “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and                   them.”

Acts 20:1 says that after a riot in Ephesus, Paul “sent for the disciples and, after __________________ them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.”

How likely are you to encourage others when you are experiencing troubles of your own?

Fill in the blanks from Acts 20:23-24: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that             and                   are facing me. However, I consider my life worth                   to me, if only I may             the           and                        the                   the Lord Jesus has given me the task of                     to the               of God’s grace.”

How might working with someone who had an attitude such as this inspire the Macedonians to give sacrificially and to strive to encourage others even though they had reason to be discouraged themselves?

Fill in the blanks from 2 Corinthians 8:1-12. It says that the Macedonians, even in the most                            , had overflowing             and that even in extreme                    they were rich in                      .

How likely are these things to be said of you?

Do you consider it a privilege to share in service to the saints as the Macedonians did, or does it seem more of a drudgery at times?

How much do you “excel in this grace of giving”?

Paul said you can “test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others” (8:8). How do you compare with the earnestness we see in Paul and the Macedonians?

Think on the example of Christ we see in our text, who “though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (8:9).

Take a moment to pray, thanking Christ for the sacrifice He made for us: leaving the majesty of heaven for the poverty of earth so that we earthly beggars might be made heirs of heavenly riches. Pray that He might help you be more like Him. Pray specifically for any convictions that came as you answered the questions in this meditation section or in the devotion.

Application

Read again the end of this month’s devotion. List here any ways you may want to “stretch yourself beyond your abilities” this month.

Dedication

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

Encourager’s Devotional Series – October Bible Study Answer Guide

/ Lisa Womble / Leave a comment

This is the answer guide for the Bible study corresponding to the October devotion in the Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

According to 2 Corinthians 9:2, Paul was writing to Christians “in Achaia.”

In Paul’s time, Greece was governed by the Romans and divided into two provinces, Achaia and Macedonia. Corinth was the capital of Achaia.

Paul starts 2 Corinthians 9:1 by mentioning “this service to the saints.” According to Romans 15:25-27, what was “this service”?

It was an offering being collected for the “poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”

Also from Romans 15:25-27, answer the following questions:

Were the Christians in Achaia and Macedonia Jewish or Gentile?  Gentile

Were the recipients of the offering Jewish or Gentile?  Jewish

What type of blessing had the Jewish believers bestowed upon the Gentile believers, spiritual or material?  Spiritual

Were the Gentile Christians repaying their Jewish brethren with spiritual or material blessings?  Material (in the offering they were collecting)

Meditation

Go back through the main part of the devotion (the image), reading the notes in the margins beside the text. Make note of any thoughts or any verses that stir your heart and tell why.

Make a list of things for which you are thankful. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for these blessings.

Application

You might send a “Thank You” card or note to someone you feel particularly thankful to have in your life.

You might use the things you wrote down in the meditation section, things for which you are thankful, to help you brainstorm ideas for how you might encourage someone less fortunate in that area. Examples in this month’s devotion (under the heading “Suggestions for planning encouragement projects this coming holiday season”) included:

Start by cultivating a heart of thanksgiving. Take some time to write down the things for which you are thankful. Then, while you are feeling grateful for your abundance, actually plan how you will give to encourage someone less fortunate. For example …

  • Thankful for your children? Contact a children’s home to see how you could be of service. Getting your own children involved is also a great way to teach them to become ministers of encouragement.
  • Thankful for your husband? See if a shelter for battered women needs assistance.
  • Thankful for the ability to provide food and shelter for your family? Volunteer at a homeless shelter or give to a food pantry.

Write down any ideas for “planned giving” that you might want to pursue this holiday season. Remember that your giving may be in the material realm, but it might also be in service or in the spiritual realm (for example, teaching, mentoring, or prayer).

Dedication

What do you specifically want to do in response to this month’s devotion? I am hoping your heart has been stirred to plan some generous giving projects for this holiday season.

 

Encourager’s Devotional Series – October Bible Study

/ Lisa Womble / 1 Comment

This Bible study corresponds to the October devotion in the Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

According to 2 Corinthians 9:2, Paul was writing to Christians “in _______________.”

In Paul’s time, Greece was governed by the Romans and divided into two provinces, Achaia and Macedonia. Corinth was the capital of Achaia.

Paul starts 2 Corinthians 9:1 by mentioning “this service to the saints.” According to Romans 15:25-27, what was “this service”?

Also from Romans 15:25-27, answer the following questions:

Were the Christians in Achaia and Macedonia Jewish or Gentile?

Were the recipients of the offering Jewish or Gentile?

What type of blessing had the Jewish believers bestowed upon the Gentile believers, spiritual or material?

Were the Gentile Christians repaying their Jewish brethren with spiritual or material blessings? 

Meditation

Go back through the main part of the devotion (the image), reading the notes in the margins beside the text. Make note of any thoughts or any verses that stir your heart and tell why.

Make a list of things for which you are thankful. Spend some time in prayer thanking God for these blessings.

Application

You might send a “Thank You” card or note to someone you feel particularly thankful to have in your life.

You might use the things you wrote down in the meditation section, things for which you are thankful, to help you brainstorm ideas for how you might encourage someone less fortunate in that area. You can find examples in this month’s devotion under the heading “Suggestions for planning encouragement projects this coming holiday season.”

Write down any ideas for “planned giving” that you might want to pursue this holiday season. Remember that your giving may be in the material realm, but it might also be in service or in the spiritual realm (for example, teaching, mentoring, or prayer).

Dedication

What do you specifically want to do in response to this month’s devotion? I am hoping your heart has been stirred to plan some generous giving projects for this holiday season.

Encourager’s Devotional Series – September Bible Study Answer Guide

/ Lisa Womble / 1 Comment

Here are the answers to the Bible Study for the September Devotional in the Encourager’s Series.

Information

James 1:26 says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”

Read James 3:1-12 – In this passage, why is the tongue compared to a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder, and a small spark?

It is compared to a horse’s bit and ship’s rudder because it is small, but it has the ability to guide or steer us in a certain direction. Like a small spark, it has the power to cause great harm.

Verse 6 says, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body …” It goes further in verse 8 to say that “no man can tame the tongue.”

All of this makes it almost seem like there is no hope when it comes to controlling our speech. Yet, it must be possible, because we are commanded to do it. The point is that we cannot do this in our own strength, and also that we will never control what comes out of our mouths if we do not control what’s in our hearts.

Read James 1:1-27. Notice that speech sins are discussed in the context of the “trials of many kinds” (v. 2) which test our faith and develop our perseverance. Why do we have more trouble taming our tongues when we are in the middle of trials? Can you think of times when you’ve seen stress bring about speech sins?

According to verses 13-15, the temptation to sin in any area comes from our “own evil desires.” What evil desires might be in play when we have trouble controlling our mouths during trials/stress?

selfishness, doubt, anger, desire for revenge – Can you think of others?  Continue reading →

Encourager’s Devotional Series – September Bible Study

/ Lisa Womble / 1 Comment

This Bible study accompanies the September Devotional for the Encourager’s Devotional Series. If you would like to receive the Leader’s Guide for the Encourager’s Devotional Series, email me at pullupachairwithlisa@gmail.com.

Information

James 1:26 says, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his ________________, he deceives himself and his religion is _______________________.”

Read James 3:1-12 – In this passage, why is the tongue compared to a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder, and a small spark?

Verse 6 says, “The tongue also is a ____________, a world of ____________ among the parts of the body. It corrupts the ________________ _____________ …” It goes further in verse 8 to say that “no man can __________________ the tongue.”

All of this makes it almost seem like there is no hope when it comes to controlling our speech. Yet, it must be possible, because we are commanded to do it. The point is that we cannot do this in our own strength, and also that we will never control what comes out of our mouths if we do not control what’s in our hearts.

Read James 1:1-27. Notice that speech sins are discussed in the context of the “trials of many kinds” (v. 2) which test our faith and develop our perseverance. Why do we have more trouble taming our tongues when we are in the middle of trials? Can you think of times when you’ve seen stress bring about speech sins?

According to verses 13-15, the temptation to sin in any area comes from our “own ___________ __________________.” What evil desires might be in play when we have trouble controlling our mouths during trials or stress?

Besides the big section in chapter three on the tongue, note what other verses in James have to say with regard to speech:  Continue reading →

Encourager’s Devotional Series – August Bible Study Answers

/ Lisa Womble / Leave a comment

These are the answers to the August Bible Study that accompanies the August Devotional for the Encourager’s Devotional Series. 

Information

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:12.

The writer of Hebrews starts off this passage by saying he has much to explain. According to 5:11, it was hard for him to explain these things because the Christians he was writing to were no longer trying to “understand.”

5:12 says “by this time you ought to be teachers.”

Being a teacher does not mean you have to be in front of a classroom. Look up Deuteronomy 6:6-9 where the Lord told His people to be sure they teach their children His commands. When, where, and how was this teaching to occur?

when you sit at home, when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up, use symbols as reminders, write them down and post them

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 further instructs the people on how to answer their children when they ask questions about what the laws of the Lord mean. Notice that they were to answer these questions by being able to tell the story of what God had done for his people. Compare this to 1 Peter 3:15 which tells us we are always to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

According to Hebrews 6:7-8, what danger do we face when we only “drink in the rain” and do not then use that nourishment to produce a crop?

the danger of being cursed and burned

Meditation

Reread and think on Hebrews 5:12. Pray about whether or not you are becoming the teacher you should be.

Reread and reflect on the questions from the devotion:

  • Am I more concerned about being fed, or about feeding others?
  • Am I involved in the church more for what I get out of it or for what I can give to it for others?

Record any thoughts or convictions you may have.

Application

rom12aThe picture above shows a “Report Card” I used with a Sunday School class. I’ve included it as an example of creating a way to do a self-evaluation from a scriptural text. I thought you might want to complete it on your own to reinforce the need to use the Word to evaluate our progress and indicate areas which might need improvement. You might want to make up your own “report card” for any passage of Scripture you want to live by and use as a measure of your spiritual growth. If you did, what texts might you chose (some possibilities are listed in the devotion)?

Go through the suggestions at the end of the devotion and note any that you might want to do. List any additional ideas you may have thought of on your own.

Dedication

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

Encourager’s Devotional Series – August Bible Study

/ Lisa Womble / 2 Comments

This Bible study is a follow-up to the August Devotional for the Encourager’s Devotional Series.

Information

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:12.

The writer of Hebrews starts off this passage by saying he has much to explain. According to 5:11, it was hard for him to explain these things because the Christians he was writing to were no longer trying to “__________________________________.”

5:12 says “by this time you ought to be _________________________________.”

Being a teacher does not mean you have to be in front of a classroom. Look up Deuteronomy 6:6-9 where the Lord told His people to be sure they teach their children His commands. When, where, and how was this teaching to occur?

Deuteronomy 6:20-25 further instructs the people on how to answer their children when they ask questions about what the laws of the Lord mean. Notice that they were to answer these questions by being able to tell the story of what God had done for his people. Compare this to 1 Peter 3:15 which tells us we are always to “be _________________________ to give an ___________________ to everyone who asks you to give the _________________ for the ___________ that you have.”

According to Hebrews 6:7-8, what danger do we face when we only “drink in the rain” and do not then use that nourishment to produce a crop?

Meditation

Reread and think on Hebrews 5:12. Pray about whether or not you are becoming the teacher you should be.

Reread and reflect on the questions from the devotion:

Am I more concerned about being fed, or about feeding others?

Am I involved in the church more for what I get out of it or for what I can give to it for others?

Record any thoughts or convictions you may have.

Application

rom12aThe picture above shows a “Report Card” I used with a Sunday School class. I’ve included it as an example of creating a way to do a self-evaluation from a scriptural text. Continue reading →

Encourager’s Devotional Series – July Bible Study Answers

/ Lisa Womble / Leave a comment

Sorry I’m late in getting out the answers to last week’s Bible study for the Encourager’s Devotional Series. I started a new job this week and it threw my schedule off. But thank the Lord for the employment.

Information

Read 1 Corinthians 12 and answer the following questions:

According to verses 4-6, what three differences should be allowed in the church?

different gifts, different ministries/services, different activities/workings

From verses 7-10 and 28-30, list some of the different gifts and functions which might be distributed throughout the church (Note: There are other lists elsewhere with additional gifts. We will look at those later in the study.):

wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation, apostles, prophets, teachers, helpers, adminstrators

What other kinds of differences are mentioned in verse 13?

  • Jew and Greek (for our cultural setting, we could expand that to “different ethnicities”)
  • slave and free (for our cultural setting, we could say different social circles, different economic circumstances, etc.)

Who decides which members are bestowed various gifts and where each member “fits” among us? (vv. 11, 18)   Holy Spirit, God

What familiar image of the church is used in this chapter? The body of Christ

Romans 12:4, which also speaks of the body of Christ, says the members of the body do not all have the same function.

What different gifts are listed in Romans 12:6-8?

prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation (same Greek word for “encourage”), giving, leading, mercy

Additional thoughts: Notice that verse 8 lists encouraging as a special gift that is given only to some people. Does this mean that only those with the gift of encouragement should strive to be encouragers? To think on this question, consider that serving, giving of finances or material things, and showing mercy are also listed as special gifts. Yet, when Paul is taking up a special offering to help one particular group of Christians (2 Corinthians 8–9), he speaks to the need for all church members to give generously. In 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 he even addresses the fact that some of us might have to overcome our reluctance in this area and not give grudgingly. (In other words, we may not have that gift, so it might not come as easily to us.) We could find similar passages to show that we are all expected to be merciful, to serve, and to encourage one another. So, if we are all supposed to encourage one another, how do you think it might be different for someone who has the gift of encouragement?

In 1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul tells Timothy not to neglect the gift that is in him. Even more than that, he tells him to “fan the flame” of his gift. We all should make the development of our gifts an intentional focus of our lives.

These texts may bring up the question of whether or not the gifts are only given by “the laying on of hands” from a minister/church leader. The simple answer to that question is that the New Testament does not show this as a pattern. Paul is simply describing here how it happened with Timothy.

1 Corinthians 8 and 10:23-33 present an issue which some Christians thought was a sin while others did not. What is the disputable issue?

eating meat which had been used in idol worship

What was Paul’s conclusion on the matter in 8:8 and 10:31?  Continue reading →

Encourager’s Devotional Series – June Bible Study Answer Guide

/ Lisa Womble / Leave a comment

Here are the answers to the June Bible study for the Encourager’s Devotional Series. If you have not already read the devotion for June, you may want to do that before proceeding with the study as it explains the connection between “the city” and “the bride.”

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.

forsaken, desolate, foreigners eating and drinking from the labors of the city inhabitants

What will the characteristics be after the Lord establishes it?

His delight, sought out, married, a praise in the earth, holy, redeemed

What promises does the Lord make to the city?

Salvation comes! And your reward comes with it.

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

no tears, no death, no pain, God’s presence and glory

When Paul speaks on the marriage relationship in Ephesians 5:22-33, he says in verse 32, “This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church” (all Scripture references are NIV)

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

Baptism (“washing with water”) and the Word

Read John 17:6-21. Use verses 14, 16, and 18 to fill in the blanks. The world hates us. We are not of the world, but we have been sent into the world.

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

that the world may believe that Jesus was sent by God

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 stay “unspotted by the world.”

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”?

false gospels

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

blasphemers, creatures of instinct (like animals), adultrous hearts, seducers, deceivers, greedy, people who use empty and boastful words, slaves of depravity, scoffers, lawless

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 adorned” and that nothing unclean, and no one who does what is abominable or lies will ever enter the city. What does this say for those people who are “spots and blemishes” on the Bride right now?  Continue reading →