Made in Elements
It is easy to read the opinions of others in a Bible study guide. But the real value (blessing) of the Bible comes primarily through reading and pondering the Bible text itself.
Judges 21:25 - May 24, 2026
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Read the context: Judges 21
Ponder:
? What are some of the descriptions of what it was like to live in the days of the Judges when there "was no king in Israel?"
? If there was "no king" who ruled people's lives?
? What does this suggest about the protests in our United States declaring "No Kings?"
? How should we respond Biblically to such protests?
? How has it gone when we rule our own lives?
? How should we evaluate our own attitudes and behavior about who rules our lives?
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Questions God Asks - May 17, 2026
Joshua 1:9 The Context: Moses had died and Joshua was given the privileged responsibility of leading the Jews in entering and conquering the promised land. It was a humanly impossible task and Joshua sensed it clearly. His natural response was uncertainty and fear. God gave Joshua possibly the most clear and complete declaration of His powerful presence recorded in the Bible. Read it in Josh 1:6-9. The comfort and confidence was not just in the promises God made but even more so in the fact that it was GOD Himself who commanded Joshua to lead. As always, God never commands something that He does not give the necessary resources to accomplish.
God Asks Us: to Joshua… "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Ponder:
? On what basis can God “command” someone to “be strong and courageous?”
? What are some times when we tend to be frightened and dismayed?”
? What is the value of remembering that “God is with us wherever we go?”
? What are some of the ways God was with Joshua, and with us?
? What are some things we can do to be more “strong and courageous?”
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Deuteronomy 11:16- May 10, 2026
Deuteronomy 11:16 Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;
Ponder:
? What prompted Moses to challenge the Israelites to “take care?”
? When are the times when this challenge is necessary?
? What is the relationship between “turning aside” and “serving other gods?”
? How is “worship” related to “serving?”
? Why did Moses say “heart” be deceived rather than “eyes” or “mind?”
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Questions God Asks, May 3, 2026
Numbers 14:11 The Context: The Israelites had just dramatically rebelled at the report of the spies that the land God had promised them was unconquerable. They refused to believe Joshua and Caleb that God could defeat the great armies of their promised land. They wanted to kill the messengers of God's greatness. God responded with anger at their unbelief and asked the question:
God asks us:
Numbers 14:11 to Moses… How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?
Numbers 14:26 to Moses… How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me?
Ponder:
? Why are our memories so short when it comes to remembering God’s goodness and faithfulness? Is short memory the basis of our “grumbling?”
? Is our short memory really “despising” and “not believing” God?
? Why do our personal experiences of God’s faithfulness often seem less significant than the “signs” we read about in the Bible?
? How can we change the ways we think about God’s goodness and faithfulness in our own life.
? Are the ways God has led and cared for us any less significant than the ways He led and cared for the Jews. How can we describe the similarities more accurately than we tend to think?
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Leviticus 1-27 - April 26, 2026
Read Leviticus 1-27
Most people would consider Leviticus repetitive, confusing, outdated, and even boring. There don’t seem to be any temples in our time that actually do the things described in Leviticus. The lessons of Leviticus seem to be that sin requires atoning payment in order to be forgiven. And these payments are very costly and frequent.
Ponder:
? Did offering a sacrifice make a person forgiven or holy? What is the difference?
? Are there any temple ordinances other than sacrifices for sin prescribed in Leviticus?
? What kind of sacrifice could possibly make all the temple sacrifices of Leviticus obsolete?
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Exodus40:13-15 - April 26, 2026
Exodus 40:13-16 :13 and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. 14 You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, 15 and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”
Read the context: Exodus 40
Ponder:
? Were the garments the priests wore, public and for people to see or private and hidden from public view? Why does it matter?
? Did God intend for anyone other that Aarons sons to be Aaronic priests? Was Aarons priesthood for all the Jews or just for Aarons sons?
? What should we think about people who claim to be Aaronic priests yet do not conform to these descriptions?
? Should Christians be “priests,” and if so what kind?
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Exodus 19:5,6 - Apr 19, 2026
Exodus 19:5–6 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Read the context: Exodus 19
Ponder:
? What does the combining of "if" and "indeed" say about our "obedience" and "keeping my covenant?"
? Why does God seem to require "obedience and keeping covenants" in order for a person to be "God's treasured possession?" (Since no one but Jesus Christ ever "obeys and keeps," “indeed?")
? Since the Israelites did not “indeed obey and keep God’s covenant” does that mean that they are not God’s “treasured possession or His kingdom of priests and holy nation?”
? If no one obeys and keeps God’s covenants “indeed,” how are we to become “God’s treasured possessions?”
? How do the individual and collective stories of Genesis and Exodus describe humanity’s great need for a Messiah, a Savior?