Bible Study Guidelines

Day: 9 Mercifulness

1. Why do we have to be merciful?

• 1 John 4: 19-21
• Galatians 6: 2
• Matthew 5: 7

2. What are the guidelines the Word gives us concerning mercifulness?

• Luke 6: 32-36
• John 13: 5
• John 13: 13-17
• Mark 10: 42-45

5. In which way can we be merciful in?

• Our care group
• The home
• Outside the home
• Outside the care group

6. Do you have any merciful activities in your care group or church?

7. Further Reading:

• Matthew 9: 9-13.Mercifulness for the sake of saving
• Matthew 23: 23-28.Empty form religion
• Ephesians 3: 14-21.God's incomprehensible love
• 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17.Urged on by love
• Galatians 5: 13-18.Serve each other in love

Day: 8The Blessing That Follows Perseverance

1. What does it mean to persevere as a Christian according to Deuteronomy 5: 32-33?

2. Name a few aspects a Christian has to persevere in:

• Daniel 6: 14
• Colossians 4: 2
• Hebrews 13: 15
• Galatians 6: 9
• Isaiah 62: 6

3. What are the reasons that make a Christian feel like giving up and throwing in the towel?

4. Can a Christian get lost if he or she does not persevere?

5. What does Matthew 24: 10-13 and Hebrews 10: 32-39 say about it?

6. What are the blessings flowing from hardship and trouble?

7. What was the result of Job's perseverance in faith?

• Job 42: 10-17

8. Further Reading:

• Isaiah 59: 19-21.Blessing follows conversion
• Deuteronomy 20: 3-4.The victory is for certain
• Malachi 3: 2-5.The fire of cleansing
• 1 Peter 1: 6-9.Purified faith
• 1 Peter 2: 21-25.Christ is our example

Day: 7 Complete Surrender

1. Give a definition for "complete surrender."

• 1 Corinthians 6: 20
• Matthew 22: 37
• Deuteronomy 6: 5
• 2 Corinthians 7: 1
• 1 Thessalonians 5: 23

2.Would you say total surrender to God is optional? Motivate your answer.

• Galatians 5: 16
• Galatians 5: 24-25

3. Read Romans 12: 1-2 and say what total surrender is.

4. What does the Word teach us about total surrender in practice?

• Ephesians 4: 22-24
• Romans 6: 11-13
• 1 John 2: 15-17
• 2 Corinthians 12: 9

5. What is the result of a lack of total surrender?

• John 15: 1-8

6. Write down the stumbling blocks keeping you from total surrender to Jesus.

7. Further Reading

• Hebrews 12: 1-2.Focus on God
• Ephesians 5: 6-20.Total dependence on God
• 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8.No room for immorality
• 1 Samuel 2: 22-35.Total surrender in the home
• Isaiah 56: 6-7.God demands convertion

Day: 6 Forgiveness And Acquittal

1. Why does God forgive us?

• Psalm 51: 1-2
• Isaiah 55: 7
• Micah 7: 19

2. On which condition does God forgive us?

• Hebrews 9: 12-22

3. Why do Christian's have to forgive?

• Ephesians 4: 32
• Matthew 6: 14-15

4. Is there a limit to the amount of times a Christian has to forgive?

• Matthew 18: 21-35

5. May we set conditions before we forgive?

6. Which examples of unconditional forgiveness do we find in the Bible?

• Genesis 33: 4
• Act 7: 60
• 2 Timothy 4: 16
• Luke 23: 34

7. What is the condition for God's forgiveness and how can we get it?

• Romans 3: 28
• Galatians 2: 16
• Ephesians 2: 8-9
• Luke 18: 13-14
• Luke 23: 40-43
• Acts 13: 38-39
• John 1: 12

8. What are the results of God's forgiveness?

• Galatians 6: 6-7
• Romans 8: 1
• Romans 5: 17-18
• Romans 5: 9
• Romans 5: 1
• Romans 4: 6-8

9. Further Reading:

• John 19: 28-30.Jesus conquered sin
• Isaiah 59: 1-21.The charges of sin
• Psalm 51.Begging for forgiveness
• Romans 5: 1-12.The fruit of acquittal
• Luke 15: 17-24.A Parent's forgiveness for a child

Day: 5 Respect For God

1. How can we see the lack of respect for God in?

• Children
• Adults

2. What is the relation between respect for God and knowledge of God's character?

3. Discuss the character of God according to:

• Joel 2: 11-14.
• Numbers 14: 17-24
• Psalm 36: 5-9
• Exodus 20: 5-6

4. What is the reaction the knowledge of God will bring into your spiritual life?

• Hebrews 11: 27-31

5. Read Isaiah 40: 12-26 aloud, think about God's greatness, and pray about it. Write down what struck you about the greatness of God.

6. How is the respect for God lived out in the following?

• Your use of language
• Praise and worship
• At work
• During your sport and recreation
• With your attitude towards other people

7. What is meant by the "fear of the Lord?"

8. Further Reading:

• Psalm 139: 1-10.The omnipresence of God
• Exodus 34: 6-8.The mercy and righteousness of God
• Malachi 1: 6-8.Do not undervalue God!
• Hebrews 12: 25-28.Worship God with respect
• Job 9: 4-19.The wisdom and power of God

Today's Bible study is about a very touchy point and we may not all enjoy looking at it, but it is vital.

Day: 3 Wealth

1. Discuss the following: "Touch my money and possession and you are touching me"

2. Do people still react if their money or possessions are touched?

3. What does the Bible teach us about money and possessions?

• Haggai 2.8
• 1 Corinthians 4: 7-8
• Ecclesiastes 2: 24-25
• Deuteronomy 8: 17-19

4. Is a Christian allowed to be rich?

5. What does the Bible teach us about a Christian's wealth?

• James 5: 1-6
• Hebrews 13: 5
• 1 Timothy 6: 8-10
• 1 Timothy 6: 17-19

6. What is it that moves people to give big amounts of money to the Kingdom of God?

7. Which guidelines in the Bible has relevance to gambling?

• 1 Timothy 6: 10
• Philippians 4: 11
• Proverbs 19: 15
• 2 Thessalonians 3: 10
• Galatians 5: 19-20
• 2 Timothy 3: 6
• Ephesians 4: 28
• Proverbs 13: 4
• Isaiah 65: 11

8. Further Reading:

• Luke 20: 20-26.Payment of tax
• Isaiah 55: 1-3.Free blessings
• Amos 5: 20-24.God hates such offerings
• Luke 16: 1-13.Use the dishonest Mammon
• 2 Corinthians 8: 12-15.Even in poverty, give

In today's Bible Study we have a look at our offerings that goes beyond our normal tithes. How we give to the Lord and what our attitude towards money and our contributions to the church should be.

1. What do you consider to be the purpose of the Harvest Festival?

2. What do the following tell us about the way we have to give to the Lord?

• Deuteronomy12: 2-7
• Luke 21: 1-4
• Luke 6: 38

3. What is the relation between someone's offer of thanks and that person's spiritual growth?

• Luke 16: 9-14
• Galatians 6: 7-9

4. Is it permissible to deduct your Harvest Festival contribution from your tithe?

5. What is the role does our lifestyle play in the giving of our thank-offering?

• Acts 2: 44-47

6. What is the prerequisite given in Isaiah 1: 10-20 for the giving of a person's thank-offering as well as your tithe?

7. What are some of the motives, which are wrong, for people giving financial contributions to the church?

8. Further Reading:

• Ecclesiastes 5: 9- 6: 2.The blessing and curse of money
• Leviticus 19: 23-25.A gift of thanks
• Proverbs 30: 7-9.Enough income
• Matthew 6: 19-21.No one can steal this!
• Luke 18: 18-27.A treasure in heaven

1. How does one know whether you are filled with the Holy Spirit?

• Galatians 3: 14
• Luke 11: 15
• 1 John 5: 14-15
• Galatians 5: 22-23
• Ephesians 4: 13
• 2 Corinthians 2: 18

2. Is the laying up of hands essential to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

• Acts 19
• Acts 2: 2-4
• Acts 4: 31
• Acts 6: 6
• Acts 8: 17

3. Is it necessary to prove you are filled with the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues?

• Acts 10: 44-46
• Acts 8: 17
• Acts 13: 52
• Acts 16: 34

4. What is the role of your emotions as far as being Spirit filled is concerned?

5. What are the blessings you will receive if your life is under the control of the Spirit of God?

• Romans 8: 14
• Galatians 6: 8
• John 10: 10

6. What is the effect that being filled with the Holy Spirit should have on your life?

• Quiet time
• Witnessing
• Your marriage
• Your family
• Your school/studies or work
• Your finances

7. What is the warning the Word gives to those that does not keep their life under control of the Holy Spirit?

• Matthew 3: 10
• Romans 8: 6
• Galatians 6: 8
• 1 Corinthians 3: 14-15
• 2 Timothy 3: 5

8. What can we do to ensure that we stay under the control of the Holy Spirit in our live?

• Galatians 5: 16-18

9. Further Reading:

• 2 Corinthians 6: 1-7.All through the Spirit
• Romans 8: 5-17.The Spirit versus the Holy Spirit
• Romans 8: 26-17.The Holy Spirit helps us pray
• John 16: 12-15.The work of the Holy Spirit
• 1 Corinthians 2: 10-16.Revelation through the Spirit

Day: 16 God Almighty

1. What does Psalm 146: 1-6 teach us about God?

2. What are the results of us believing that God is Almighty?

3. Focus on God with prayers of worship and praise.

4. For this whole week concentrate on prayer and intercession.

6. Further Reading:

• Psalm 31: 1-24.Flee to God in prayer
• Psalm 34: 1-22.Praise and worship
• Psalm 86: 1-17.Pray for guidance

7. Recommended Reading:

• The Sovereignty of God – A.W. Pink
• Autobiography of God – Lloyd John Ogilvy

Day: 15 God's Love

1. What does 1 John 3: 15-18 teach us about love?

2. Write down the instances where you experienced God's love (Ephesians 1: 3-7) and share it with others.

3. What can be considered love's enemies?

• Philippians 2: 3-7
• Ephesians 4: 31
• Ephesians 5: 2

4. Discuss the following: "Love is a verb."

5. What can we do to make love gets its rightful place and make it more apparent at:

• During the church service
• In our marriage/relationships
• In our family
• In our care group
• In our neighborhood
• Towards the less fortunate
• Towards our enemies
• Towards the unsaved

6. Make a decision of how you are going to let love comes to its right during the coming week.

7. Further Reading:

• John 21: 15-17.Do you really love?
• Ephesians 4: 16-21.A prayer for love
• 1 John 2: 7-11.Love versus hate
• John 13: 34-38.A command for use in practice
• 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.Description of love