New Christian Handbook Part 6

I'll be posting a part each day, then when done will post a link to a downloadable pdf that is CC BY NC ND

The New Christian’s Handbook Part 6

Pray at the start
Read the material
Answer the questions
Pray again

Basic Bible Overview

Bible Summary Charts
Courtesy of Swartzentrover Bible Study Web Rather than reading the whole book, read the questions and review the chart.

Old Testament

Poetry


Ecclesiastes
B1 Is philosophy still important?
B2 What are some philosophical points we can learn from this book?

Song of Solomon
B1 How can reading the Song of Solomon help our marriage?
B2 Are the physical descriptions of the bride vulgar? See Song 4:1-6 for an example.

Major Prophets

Isaiah
B1 How is this an important prophecy? Isaiah 7:14 NKJV Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
B2 How does this verse bless you? Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah
B1 How do we search for God with our whole heart? Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
B2 Why do prophets often bring a warning of judgment?

Lamentations
B1 What important principle can we learn from this verse? Lamentations 3:22 NKJV Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
B2 Do Christians feel defeated? How can we stay steadfast with God when we feel defeated?

Ezekiel
B1 How does God do this? Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
B2 What are 3 things God does in this passage? Ezekiel 11:19 GNB I will give them a new heart and a new mind. I will take away their stubborn heart of stone and will give them an obedient heart.

Daniel
B1 How does Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer show a change? Daniel 4:35 NRSV All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, "What are you doing?
B2 What does this verse teach us about happenings after death? Daniel 12:2 NRSV Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Minor Prophets

Hosea
B1 Why would God tell the prophet to do this? Hosea 1:2 GNB  When the LORD first spoke to Israel through Hosea, he said to Hosea, "Go and get married; your wife will be unfaithful, and your children will be just like her. In the same way my people have left me and become unfaithful.
B2 What can every Christian apply from this verse? Hosea 6:6 GNB I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.

Joel
B1 Why does God want these things and not sacrifices? Joel 2:12-13 NRSV Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;  13  rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
B2 What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord? Joel 2:32 NRSV Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

Amos
B1 What can Christians, churches, and governments learn from this passage? Amos 5:14 NRSV Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.
B2 Is this true? Explain. Amos 3:3 NKJV Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? Agreed means to set an appointment also meeting first.

Obadiah
B1 Why does God hate pride? Obadiah 1:4 GW Even though you fly high like an eagle and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you down from there," declares the LORD.
B2 Why does God hate people or others who rejoice at someone’s misery or suffering? Obadiah 1:12 GW Don't gloat over your relative's misfortune or be happy when the people of Judah are destroyed. Don't brag so much when they're in distress.

Jonah
B1 Can God in His sovereignty decree a condition? Jonah 3:4-5 GW Jonah entered the city and walked for about a day. Then he said, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed."  5  The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone, from the most important to the least important, dressed in sackcloth.
B2 Can God decree events and situations for people to freely choose? Jonah 1:17 NKJV Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Micah
B1 Why does God judge and punish sin?
B2 Can we do the requirement of this passage without a new birth and God’s help? Explain. Micah 6:8 NKJV  He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Nahum
B1 What does it mean when Scriptures state that God is good? Nahum 1:7 NKJV  The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.
B2 Is there a time when people cross God’s line and there is mercy no longer? Nahum 3:19 GNB There is no remedy for your injuries, and your wounds cannot be healed. All those who hear the news of your destruction clap their hands for joy. Did anyone escape your endless cruelty?

Habakkuk
B1 Is it right to question God? Habakkuk 1:2-4 GNB O LORD, how long must I call for help before you listen, before you save us from violence?  3  Why do you make me see such trouble? How can you stand to look on such wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are all around me, and there is fighting and quarreling everywhere.  4  The law is weak and useless, and justice is never done. Evil people get the better of the righteous, and so justice is perverted.
B2 How can Habakkuk rejoice in severe troubles? Habakkuk 3:17-19 GNB Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty,  18  I will still be joyful and glad, because the LORD God is my savior.  19  The Sovereign LORD gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains.

Zephaniah
B1 Can we save ourselves? Zephaniah 3:17 WEB Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
B2 How does God calm us?


Haggai
B1 Why do people look for our own rather than God’s desires? Haggai 1:4 WEB Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies waste?
B2 When God can do something Himself, why does He require us to do it? Haggai 2:4 GNB But now don't be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.

Zechariah
B1 Is this a genuine command? Explain. Zechariah 1:3 GNB but now I say to you, 'Return to me, and I will return to you.
B2 Is this literal or figurative? Explain. Zechariah 14:4 GNB At that time he will stand on the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west by a large valley. Half of the mountain will move northward, and half of it southward.

Malachi
B1 Is it true that God never changes? Explain. Malachi 3:6 GNB I am the LORD, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost.
B2 What is God’s opinion of proud people? Malachi 4:1 GNB The LORD Almighty says, "The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.