If you already have a regular devotion habit that's great! If not, use this section to help you to study the bible every day!
Sword Practice Tip:
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12)
Illumination from bible reading is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Human intelligence can only get you so far if God doesn't reveal himself to you. Don't forget to pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate your bible study time.
The Prophesied Kingdom (Prophets):
Study based on God's Big Picture: Tracing the storyline of the bible, by Vaughan Roberts.
The whole bible actually tells one big story of God's unfolding kingdom! If you missed an "episode" you'll find them all on the Bible Study Blog.
We've already seen in Genesis to 2 Chronicles how God's good plans to bless people under his good rule has been left unfulfilled because of human rebellion against God. We now come to the books of the prophets in the bible who proclaim a message of judgement and of hope. The prophets are God's messengers, they warned the people of their time that if they continued in unrepentant sin they would face God's punishment. But they also told of a hope that God himself would forgive repentant sinners and establish a new Kingdom with a good king over a people whose hearts are made new.
Use the following study guide to see for yourself a snapshot of this judgement and hope that the prophets spoke about.
Study Guide:
Monday: Hosea 1:1-3, 3:1-5 - What happened in Hosea's marriage to Gomer? How does this mirror the relationship between God and his people?
Wednesday: Hosea 1:3-2:7 - How will God punish his people's sin?
Thursday: Hosea 2:14-23 - What hope is there for the sinful people?
Friday: Hosea 1:7, 1:10-11, 3:5 - These verses also contain hints of hope. How do they echo the promises to David and Abraham? How should our lives change in the light of what we have learned from Hosea 1-3?
Got a question? Post it below!