Maadi Women's Bible Study

The Curse of the Good Life

Notes 

Remembrance Pattern

1. Remember the Relationship! I am YOUR God and you are MY people.

 

2. Remember the Rescue! By my right hand and mighty arm I brought you out of Egypt and through the desert. I fought King Og and King Sihon 

 

3. Remember the Revelation! I have spoken to you, written to you, showed my mighty power to you!

 

4. Remember to Recognize Me and Rejoice! God declares “I am the source and your provision in hard times; I will be your source and provision in the good times.”

 

5. Remember your Rebellion!

Questions

1.Self Confidence is a good and necessary trait to accomplish things but what do you think takes place internally that causes one to move from healthy self confidence to arrogance? How can you combat this thinking?

 

2. God specifies in exquisite detail how Israel was to worship Him in their thinking, their actions (eating, journeying…) and with their resources (tithing, sacrifices…) How can we practice the principles of right worship without slipping into legalism?

 

3. Often when we think about communal “right worship”(church service) we think in terms of what goes on upfront…song leader, song choice, style etc…What role do you think the congregation plays in practicing “right worship”

On the Threshold of Good Things

1. Review the cycle of experience described here: discipline in the desert followed by fruitfulness in the Promised Land, then complacency. Are you somewhere on this spectrum right now?

 

2. In ch. 7:21-22 Moses points out that Israel will not conquer the land in one decisive act, but will drive them out over time per God’s plan. Have you experienced a victory that you can recall was a process rather than a once and for all victory? How did you understand a it while in process? How do you see it in hindsight?

 

3. “You shall remember all the way which the LYG has led you in the wilderness…” How can you incorporate ‘remembering’ into your worship? How could it benefit you?

Hear Oh Israel! Elisabeth Kennedy teaching

Questions:

 

1. What are emotions and feelings you wish for in your walk with God? Are these emotions a helpful goal?

 

2. What does the Christian tradition you are a part of emphasize most: feelings, behaviors, or beliefs? Where do you think you need to be challenged most?

 

3. When have you felt most centered or whole in recent years? Reflect on that experience in light of the Greatest Commandment.

 

4. Share something that is currently pulling you away from your center, the one Lord who loves you and saves you. Pray for one another to be able to draw all things in your lives toward their true center.

Deuteronomy 4-5

Discussion Questions

God’s call for obedience is nestled snuggly in a relational context he is not asking for cold indifferent obedience!
Obedience is an expression of love.”

1. Can you recall an example in your life where you chose obedience, clearly as an expression of love for God? (na’aseh v’nishma we will do and we will understand)

2. Did you have a clear sense of His blessing afterwards?

3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in your obedience?

4. What are actions you can do in your life to “keep your soul diligently..”

   4:9

Presence Provision Power

Questions

1. Can you think of a time you “woke up to God’s presence” in a particular situation and experienced his provision and power?

 

2. Do you think fear ever plays a role in your struggle to “be in his presence?”

 

3. Do you have a Kadesh Barnea situation in your life now where what you see in front of you feels more compelling than what God has said to you? Share and allow group to pray for you in this situation or struggle.

Deuteronomy Introduction

Questions

 

1. Israel had a forty-year history of miraculous provision from God, but when they faced a tough situation they said "God hates us!” Has this happened to you? Can you tell about a time you questioned God's love because things were hard?
2. When have you found it valuable to review your history with God prior to making an important decision? 
3. When have you forgotten the many blessings of God and acted in rebellion against His teachings?

Luke 1:46-55

Questions Mary’s Magnificat

1. Mary’s Song is a beautiful account of humility on Mary’s part and yet she does not resist or refuse the great honor that God is bestowing up on her. How do you balance neither thinking more highly of yourself than you ought and not thinking too low of yourself to be of use to God and his purposes?
2. What are specific reasons God is a source of joy for you? How do you express this joy to God and to others? What is gained by expressing it to others?
3. Mary obviously fed on scripture, it is what churned in her heart and mind on a regular basis. If you were to write a song based on what is going through your mind the most these days what would the theme or title of your song be?

Luke 21:1-4

1. What are some examples you have experienced of “missing the point”?

• When have you seen this in churches?  
• When have you seen this in interpretation of rules (letter of the law, not the heart of the law)? 

2. When have you “used” religion to get something for yourself (attention, respect, good feelings) rather than for love of God and others?  What helps get you back on track?

 

3. Have you had a guiding scripture that has helped you through a difficult circumstance or has helped your current path forward?

 

4. Why do you give to God’s work?  What do you give besides money?

 

5. Take some time to talk about your lists below - what gifts you have (no matter how small) and how they can be used for “building the church that matters”.  Talk about ideas or gifts that you would like to explore to see if God is leading you to try something new.  As each person shares, pray for that person and how God is using them and where God is leading them.  

 

 

 

Gifts that I have	Gifts I would like to explore

Luke 18:1-8 The Persistent Widow

 Questions

1. It has been argued that you can’t really become the person God designed you to be without some persistence. What is an area in your life where you have exhibited persistence? How has it shaped you?
2. How might persistent praying in an area I can’t fix shape my inner man?
3. What are things I can do to to make me more daily conscious of the injustice in the world and thus inspired to pray?

Helpful Follow Up Resources: John Piper "A Hunger For God" and Chris Seay "A Place at the Table"

 

Luke 15 The Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost Son

Discussion Questions.

1. Is someone in the group willing to share a time in which they were running from God and God relentlessly pursued them?
2. God is committed to pursuing the lost. How do believers obtain this same determination for the lost? How can Christians fight the mentality of it being good enough for having the lost seek God?
3. Luke 15:7 gives us a glimpse into the priorities of heaven. What are some barriers that keep believers from having an attitude of evangelism?