Weekly Guide ：Week 7
March 11, 2018
Question
How did Moses, Miriam, and Israelites praise God?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
The account of Moses, Miriam, and Israelites praised God for what He had done.
-
Song of Moses praised God for His glory, His majestic power, His win over the enemies, with His love, He redeemed His people. God reigns for ever and ever.
-
In Miriam’s song, she praised God for His victory over the enemies.
Meditation: My Story
-
Walking with God - Do I remember God and praise Him for everything He has done when I experience His blessings?
-
Community - Moses, Miriam, and whole Israelites sang to praise God. Am I praising God with every one of God’s people?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did God supply the Israelites in the deserts?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
After bringing them out of Egypt, God supplied the Israelites for all their needs in the deserts.
-
Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron for the lack of food and water. God supplied them with quail, manna, and water from the rock.
-
God taught the Israelites to obey His commands and laws besides supplying their daily needs.
Meditation: My Story
-
Walking with God - God tested the Israelites after they were brought out of Egypt to see if they would obey Him. When I follow God, I may be tested, too. What are my answers to His tests?
-
Integrity - Whenever they are not fully satisfied with their material needs, the Israelites complained and forgot God’s blessings and sovereignty. They experienced God’s mighty power but could not remember His teachings and commands. Do I often complaint that God and His servants don’t conform to my will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
How did Moses fight the Amalekites and how did he govern the Israelites?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
Moses commanded Joshua to fight the Amalekites and devised organizational structure to govern the Israelites.
-
Israelites won the war with Amalekites because Moses held up his hands with help from Aaron and Hur.
-
Moses’ father in-law, Jethro, helped him to build the organizational structure for governance.
Meditation: My Story
-
Community - Israelites were wining when Moses raise his hands. Losing when he grew tired. It was with Aaron and Hur’s help that Moses was able to keep his hands up. Do I value my fellow Christians’ contributions when serving the Lord?
-
Fidelity - Besides faith, wisdom is also needed when serving. Moses distributed the responsibilities, so he would not become the bottle neck. Am I co-working with my fellow Christians as a team when serving the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did God tell the Israelites three months out of Egypt?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
Three months after coming out of Egypt, the Israelites received the ten commandments and the instructions for the altars.
-
God established covenant with the Israelites on the foot of Mount Sinai to remind that they were to remember God brought them out of Egypt, they were to serve Him, to keep His commands, to worship Him, and to be His people and to purify themselves as His priests.
-
God gave the Israelites ten commandments. The first four were about God, the rest were about relationship between men. Once again, we realize the law can be summarize as love God and love each other.
Meditation: My Story
-
Identity - God brought the Israelites out of slavery so they could become His people and priests. I am chosen by God to receive His salvation. Do I know that I am also His priest, to be purified, and belong to Him?
-
Integrity - God wanted the Israelites to live faultless lives with the ten commandments. The essence of the ten commandments is love God and love each other. Am I living out a life that love God and love others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What laws did God give after the ten commandments?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
God gave Israelites the civil laws.
-
God set out great details in the civil laws regarding slavery, punishment for violence, compensation for livestock, theft, human rights, justice, festivals, and everything else. From the civil laws, God established a covenant with the Israelites and promised to be with them to enable them to conquer Canaan.
-
God wanted to make the Israelites holy before Him, not to conform with the Gentiles, to practice obedience, and to learn the holy nature of Himself.
Meditation: My Story
-
Walking with God - God cares about all our lives. With the civil laws, Israelis could gain a deeper understanding of God’s holy nature. Do I often consider the holy nature of God in my journey with Him and aim to live out the holy life on daily basis?
-
Community - The promulgation of the civil law is for the specific needs of Israel at the time. From the laws, we can see that God provided protections for human life and property. God wants people to be fair to each other, respectful and compassionate. How do these understandings help me to get along with others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Question
What did God do after the ten commandments and the civil laws?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
-
The last segment of the covenant ceremony on Mount Sinai to complete the process started in Exodus 19.
-
God made covenant with Israelites to help them learn to experience His glory and assurance through worship and ceremony.
Meditation: My Story
-
Walking with God - “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” God’s covenant with people is precious. Do I treasure His word and faithfully obey His commands?
-
Community - “they ate and drank.” This was the banquet at the covenant ceremony. It was an indication that the Israelites had great relationship with God. Do I often experience close relationship with God and able to share the great wealth from Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus teach to the crowd that followed Him?
{% include BibleLinks.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus picked twelve of His disciples to become apostles.
+ Jesus preached to the crowd on a level place about the blessings and the woes.
+ Jesus talked about removing the plank from one's own eyes before taking a speck out of others' eyes.
+ Fruit trees are identified by the fruits they bear.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus prayed whole night before selecting His twelve apostles. Am I following God's guidance and His will to act upon? Is there anything I need to pray and ask God for?
+ **Identity** - The blessings and woes in God's eyes are totally different from the world's. How do I know what is the true blessing? Or, what appears to be blessing would bring woe? Do I have a complete and clear understanding of God's value and am willing to act upon it?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is true faith?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus was amazed by the centurion's faith and healed his servant.
+ Jesus raised from dead the son of a widow in the town of Nain.
+ Jesus' identity clarified through John the Baptist's question and Jesus' answer.
+ A woman's sins were forgiven for her faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - For the centurion's faith, Jesus said: "I have not found such great faith even in Israel." As God's elected ones, we are His children and made righteous by faith. Do I have any difficulty to have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - The woman knew she was unworthy so she humbly gave her best to Jesus. Do I often examine my heart to reveal my own weakness and humbly come in front of the Lord to ask for forgiveness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What may one become a brother of Jesus?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus uses the parable of sower to depict the difference in people's reactions to the truth.
+ Jesus said: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
+ Jesus calmed the storm and drove out the demons into the pigs.
+ The woman who bled for years was healed for her faith. Jairus' daughter was raised from dead for his faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The woman who bled for years did not dare to ask Jesus directly but touched His cloak from behind wished to be healed. Can I come to Jesus without reservation and ask for His grace, for I have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." Am I listening carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Jesus train His disciples?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus sent the twelve out to preach.
+ Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
+ Peter declared Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection and encouraged the disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him.
+ Jesus went up a mountain and transfigured. A voice in the cloud proclaimed Jesus as God's son.
+ The disciples argued among themselves whom would be the greatest.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus fed five thousand to their satisfaction with five loaves of breads and two fishes. How do I view God's promise and supply to our daily needs? Am I still worrying about tomorrow?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus said: "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me." Am I willing to serve all who are in need? Whom around me is in need?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus and the disciples encounter in places where they preached?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus said: "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (9:56 NKJV)
+ Jesus sent seventy disciples to preach. They came back joyously and Jesus gave thanks to God.
+ Jesus used the example of the Good Samaritan to explain the command to love your neighbor as yourself. He compared Martha and Mary to explain the command to love God.
+ Jesus taught the disciples how to pray.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - To the disciples for they wanted to destroy the Samaritans with fire, Jesus rebuked them that they did not know their own spirits. How do I face those who don't accept me? Do I continue to love them as God does or turn away and curse them?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to go ahead of Him. Do I have coworkers serving with me? Are we following Jesus and serving in unity?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees escalate?
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ By God's power, Jesus drove out the daemon.
+ Blessed are those who hear God's word and obey it.
+ Jesus gave the sign of Jonah to that generation.
+ The hypocrisy of the Pharisees is not pleasing to God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - God displays His power through our services. So, we don't serve God to show off our own abilities, nor do we dread for our insufficiency. Am I relying on myself or God to enable me to serve?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus criticized the hypocritical Pharisees that they put emphasis on superficial cleanliness but glossed over in cleansing their hearts. Do I seek a fabricated self-image and praises from others or do I desire a purified heart and Godly life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
{% include BibleLinks2020.html %}
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus teach to the crowd that followed Him?
{% include BibleLinks.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus picked twelve of His disciples to become apostles.
+ Jesus preached to the crowd on a level place about the blessings and the woes.
+ Jesus talked about removing the plank from one's own eyes before taking a speck out of others' eyes.
+ Fruit trees are identified by the fruits they bear.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus prayed whole night before selecting His twelve apostles. Am I following God's guidance and His will to act upon? Is there anything I need to pray and ask God for?
+ **Identity** - The blessings and woes in God's eyes are totally different from the world's. How do I know what is the true blessing? Or, what appears to be blessing would bring woe? Do I have a complete and clear understanding of God's value and am willing to act upon it?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What is true faith?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus was amazed by the centurion's faith and healed his servant.
+ Jesus raised from dead the son of a widow in the town of Nain.
+ Jesus' identity clarified through John the Baptist's question and Jesus' answer.
+ A woman's sins were forgiven for her faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - For the centurion's faith, Jesus said: "I have not found such great faith even in Israel." As God's elected ones, we are His children and made righteous by faith. Do I have any difficulty to have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - The woman knew she was unworthy so she humbly gave her best to Jesus. Do I often examine my heart to reveal my own weakness and humbly come in front of the Lord to ask for forgiveness?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What may one become a brother of Jesus?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus uses the parable of sower to depict the difference in people's reactions to the truth.
+ Jesus said: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
+ Jesus calmed the storm and drove out the demons into the pigs.
+ The woman who bled for years was healed for her faith. Jairus' daughter was raised from dead for his faith.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - The woman who bled for years did not dare to ask Jesus directly but touched His cloak from behind wished to be healed. Can I come to Jesus without reservation and ask for His grace, for I have faith in Him?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus said: "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear." Am I listening carefully to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Jesus train His disciples?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus sent the twelve out to preach.
+ Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes.
+ Peter declared Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus predicted His death and resurrection and encouraged the disciples to take up their crosses and follow Him.
+ Jesus went up a mountain and transfigured. A voice in the cloud proclaimed Jesus as God's son.
+ The disciples argued among themselves whom would be the greatest.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - Jesus fed five thousand to their satisfaction with five loaves of breads and two fishes. How do I view God's promise and supply to our daily needs? Am I still worrying about tomorrow?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus said: "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me." Am I willing to serve all who are in need? Whom around me is in need?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did Jesus and the disciples encounter in places where they preached?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Jesus said: "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (9:56 NKJV)
+ Jesus sent seventy disciples to preach. They came back joyously and Jesus gave thanks to God.
+ Jesus used the example of the Good Samaritan to explain the command to love your neighbor as yourself. He compared Martha and Mary to explain the command to love God.
+ Jesus taught the disciples how to pray.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Integrity** - To the disciples for they wanted to destroy the Samaritans with fire, Jesus rebuked them that they did not know their own spirits. How do I face those who don't accept me? Do I continue to love them as God does or turn away and curse them?
+ **Fidelity** - Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to go ahead of Him. Do I have coworkers serving with me? Are we following Jesus and serving in unity?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees escalate?
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ By God's power, Jesus drove out the daemon.
+ Blessed are those who hear God's word and obey it.
+ Jesus gave the sign of Jonah to that generation.
+ The hypocrisy of the Pharisees is not pleasing to God.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Fidelity** - God displays His power through our services. So, we don't serve God to show off our own abilities, nor do we dread for our insufficiency. Am I relying on myself or God to enable me to serve?
+ **Integrity** - Jesus criticized the hypocritical Pharisees that they put emphasis on superficial cleanliness but glossed over in cleansing their hearts. Do I seek a fabricated self-image and praises from others or do I desire a purified heart and Godly life?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
{% include BibleLinks2022.html %}
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Moses, Miriam, and Israelites paise God?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ The account of Moses, Miriam, and Israelites praised God for what He had done.
+ Song of Moses praised God for His glory, His majestic power, His win over the enemies, with His love, He redeemed His people. God reigns for ever and ever.
+ In Miriam's song, she praised God for His victory over the enemies.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - Do I remember God and praise Him for everything He has done when I experience His blessings?
+ **Community** - Moses, Miriam, and whole Israelites sang to praise God. Am I praising God with all of God's people?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did God supply the Israelites in the deserts?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ After bringing them out of Egypt, God supplied the Israelites for all their needs in the deserts.
+ Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron for the lack of food and water. God supplied them with quail, manna, and water from the rock.
+ God taught the Israelites to obey His commands and laws in addition to supplying their daily needs.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God tested the Israelites after they were brought out of Egypt to see if they would obey Him. When I follow God, I may be tested, too. What are my answers to His tests?
+ **Integrity** - Whenever they are not fully satisfied with their material needs, the Israelites complained and forgot God's blessings and sovereignty. They experienced God's mighty power but could not remember His teachings and commands. Do I often complaint that God and His servants don't conform to my will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
How did Moses fight the Amalekites and how did he govern the Israelites?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Moses commanded Joshua to fight the Amalekites and devised organizational structure to govern the Israelites.
+ Israelites won the war with Amalekites because Moses held up in his hands the staff of God with help from Aaron and Hur.
+ Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, helped him to build the organizational structure for governance.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Community** - Israelites were wining when Moses raise his hands. Losing when he grew tired. It was with Aaron and Hur's help that Moses was able to keep his hands up. Do I value my fellow Christians' contributions when serving the Lord?
+ **Fidelity** - Besides faith, wisdom is also needed when serving. Moses distributed the responsibilities, so he would not become the bottle neck. How am I co-working with my fellow Christians as a team when serving the Lord?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did God tell the Israelites three months out of Egypt?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ Three months after coming out of Egypt, the Israelites received the ten commandments and the instructions for the altars.
+ God established covenant with the Israelites on the foot of Mount Sinai to remind them that they were to remember God brought them out of Egypt, they were to serve Him, to keep His commands, to worship Him, and to be His people and to purify themselves as His priests.
+ God gave the Israelites ten commandments. The first four were about God, the rest were about relationship between men. Once again, we realize the law can be summarize as love God and love each other.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Identity** - God brought the Israelites out of slavery so they could become His people and priests. I am chosen by God to receive His salvation. Do I know that I am also His priest, to be purified, and belong to Him?
+ **Integrity** - God wanted the Israelites to live faultless lives with the ten commandments. The essence of the ten commandments is to love God and love each other. Am I living out a life that loves God and others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What laws did God give after the ten commandments?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ God gave Israelites the civil laws.
+ God set out great details in the civil laws regarding slavery, punishment for violence, compensation for livestock, theft, human rights, justice, festivals, and everything else. From the civil laws, God established a covenant with the Israelites and promised to be with them to enable them to conquer Canaan.
+ God wanted to make the Israelites holy before Him, not to conform with the Gentiles, to practice obedience, and to learn the holy nature of Himself.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - God cares about all our lives. With the civil laws, Israelis could gain a deeper understanding of God's holy nature. Do I often consider the holy nature of God in my journey with Him and aim to live out the holy life on daily basis?
+ **Community** - The promulgation of the civil law is for the specific needs of Israel at the time. From the laws, we can see that God provided protections for human life and property. God wants people to be fair to each other, respectful and compassionate. How do these understandings help me to get along with others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
### Question
What did God do after giving the ten commandments and the civil laws?
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
### Meditation: God's Story
+ The last segment of the covenant ceremony on Mount Sinai to complete the process started in Exodus 19.
+ God made covenant with Israelites to help them learn to experience His glory and assurance through worship and ceremony.
### Meditation: My Story
+ **Walking with God** - They said, "Everything the Lord has said we will do." God's covenant with people is precious. Do I treasure His word and faithfully obey His commands?
+ **Community** - They ate and drank. This was the banquet at the covenant ceremony. It was an indication that the Israelites had great relationship with God. Do I often experience close relationship with God and able to share the great wealth from Him?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
{% include BibleLinks2024.html %}
Prayer
Notes and Responses