Quarter One January - March

Seeing God’s

Big Picture

Weekly Reading Assignments

and questions for Sunday Adult Class

2020 Vision -A Survey of the Bible-

Introduction:

• This study will be an adaptation of “Through the Bible in One Year” by Dr. Alan B.

Stringfellow.

• This will be a survey class seeking to find out how each book of the Bible contributes to

the message of the whole.

o This study will focus on themes and objectives.

o The intent is not to decipher specific doctrines or passages.

o We will purposefully be focusing on an overview rather than specific doctrines or

teachings within a book. Our objective is to see the intertwined objectives of the

entire Divine revelation.

• This material will also provide an annual Bible reading schedule for those wishing to use

it. Two reading options are available.

o A schedule which will take one through the Bible in its entirety Genesis - Revelation

(to keep up with scheduled classes this will be a rather intense schedule – i.e. 52

chapters of Genesis in a week… most weeks there will be seven or more chapters

of reading per day).

o Another schedule will be more specific to the Sunday lesson and can be divided up

daily or done in one sitting (i.e. Gen. 1-27, 49).

• Each week will contain questions which will become the class material for our adult Bible

study on Sunday mornings. It may be a good practice to read through the questions prior

to Bible reading to be familiar with what you are looking for within your reading.

• Booklets will be made available on a quarterly basis.

Introduction Lesson:

Week One – Genesis

Reading assignment: Book of Genesis (7 chapters daily) OR Genesis 1-27, 49

1. Genesis means “origin, source, or birth.” How many things do you identify that have their

“beginning” recorded in the book of Genesis?

2. In one word how would you describe the fall of man?

3. What four outstanding events would you identify within the Genesis record?

4. Identify four outstanding individuals you connect with within Genesis.

5. In what ways do you witness the grace of God revealed in Genesis 3:6-21?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Two – Exodus

Reading assignment: Book of Exodus (six chapters daily) OR 1-7, 12-14, 19-20, 25-33

1. In what ways is the last plague and the Passover a foreshadowing of the redemption to be

offered through Christ? (Ex. 11-12, 1Cor. 5:7)

2. Why was the Law given and what purposes did it serve? (Deut. 4:2,8, 32-36; Gal. 3:19-24;

Rom. 5:20; Rom. 8:3-4)

3. More space is devoted to describing the Tabernacle than any other single subject. It was

designed with specificity to teach several truths. What spiritual truths do you identify God

teaching within this structure?

4. What single lesson do you draw from the book of Exodus?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Three – Leviticus

Reading assignment: Book of Leviticus (four chapters daily) OR 1-10; 17; 21-23

1. In what ways do you see the sacrifices of the Law providing a “way” of connecting to God?

2. What are your thoughts about the Levitical priesthood?

3. In what ways might the “altar” be symbolic of the cross upon which Jesus died?

4. Identify the various feasts (set seasons God appointed for observance) outlined in chapter

23. What purpose do each of them serve?

5. As used in Leviticus what do you understand “atonement” to mean? As one who believes

in Jesus what do you see that it means?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Four – Numbers

Reading assignment: Book of Numbers (six chapters daily) OR 5- 9, 11, 13, 17, 20, 21, 27, 35

1. The condition of the camping Israelites is part of the significance of this book, however,

there is much said about the spirituality of the campers. What do you discover in each of

these chapters which identifies how those numbered should live?

• Chapter 5

• Chapter 6

• Chapter 7

• Chapter 8

• Chapter 9

2. There is a new generation developing as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. What

do you see continuing into this new generation from what is revealed in chapter 21?

3. Chapter 35 gives discussion to the cities of refuge. What purpose did these cities serve and

what do you see that they may foreshadow?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Five – Deuteronomy

Reading assignment: Book of Deuteronomy (six chapters daily) OR 1-11; 27-34

1. The central message within this book is “obedience.” Identify obedient actions you

discovered within your reading.

2. What basic “facts” do you see in 6:4-5? (see: Mt. 22:35-39)

3. What three basic “truths” do you see God is willing to do in 6:23? How do these passages

illustrate that He still holds those truths as His goal: Rom. 8:2; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 1:3-4; Eph.

2:19; 1 Thess. 5:23-24.

4. What do you see identified as the basic “requirement” in 10:12-13? In what ways so you

see this is still the requirement of those serving God?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Six – Joshua

Reading assignment: Book of Joshua (four chapters daily) OR 1-7; 13-24

1. What do you view the central messages within the book of Joshua to be?

2. From the first chapter what do you find interesting about how Joshua was commissioned

into his role of leadership?

3. What lessons should be taken from the destruction of Jericho in chapter 2?

4. The very next attack teaches some very different lessons. What are some of those from

chapter 7?

5. What were the promises God gave Israel in 14:2-3? And in what ways does He still fulfil

those promises for those in Christ?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Seven – Judges & Ruth

Reading assignment: Judges & Ruth (four chapters daily) OR Jug. 3-16, Ruth 1-4

1. What do you see as the central message of the book of Judges?

2. What are the spiritual dangers you see in the comment made in Judges 17:6?

3. What reasons do you find for the repetitive nature of Israel’s spiritual decline?

4. What spiritual implications do you recognize in God’s continued willingness to “raise up a

deliverer”?

5. What do you understand the primary message to be within the book of Ruth?

6. What significance do you find in the last verse of Ruth?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Eight – 1Samuel

Reading assignment: 1Samuel (five chapters daily) OR 1-4, 8-10,15-22

1. Summarize your thoughts regarding the three main players in 1Samuel:

• Samuel…

• Saul…

• David…

2. Why was God upset about Israel’s desire for a king? (chapter 8) Why do you think He

reached that conclusion?

3. Saul lost his place as King of Israel. What do these passages indicate was involved in that

loss?

• 13:12-13

• 15:19-23

• 18:7-11

• 26:21

• 28:7-20

4. What lessons do you discover in David’s anointing? (16)

Notes for and from Class…

Week Nine – 2Samuel

Reading assignment: 2Samuel (four chapters daily) OR 5, 7, 11-12, 17-18, 21-24

1. In what ways do you see this book covered by the theme, “Triumphs turned to troubles

through sin?”

2. What notable lessons do you observe from the record of David’s recorded sin in chapter

11-12? What specific application do you think can be made to our day and time?

3. Chapters 13-24 are a record of multiple troubles within David’s rule, family, and life.

Identify some of the troubles David experienced. Are reasons given for the experience? Do

you find him learning lessons within those troubles?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Ten – 1Kings, 2Kings

Reading assignment: 1&2Kings (seven chapters daily) OR 1Kings 1,3,4,8,9,11,12,17,19;

2Kings 2,5,11,18,20,22 (two chapters daily)

1. In 1Kings 3 note the following: What was God’s promise to Solomon? What was

Solomon’s request? How did God answer that request? How does James 1:5 factor into

this same promise?

2. Read Deut. 17:14-17. How had Solomon violated these qualifications given by God? What

was the consequence for his disobedience?

3. Elijah was a major prophet dealing within the northern kingdom of Israel (10 tribes, 19

kings in total). What do you find most memorable about the work of the prophet Elijah?

4. The last chapters of 2Kings deal with Judah (one tribe, 20 kings total). All the kings of Judah

are whose descendants? Why is this an important issue? (see: 2Sam. 7:12-13, Rom. 1:3,

Mt. 15:22, 21:15, Rev. 22:16)

Notes for and from Class…

Week Eleven – 1Chronicles and 2Chronicles

Reading assignment: 1&2 Chronicles (ten chapters daily) OR 1Chronicles 10,11,15,16,17,28;

2Chronicles 6,7,28,29,32,36 (less than two chapters daily)

1. What is a chronicle?

2. 1Chron. 10-11 describe the anointing of David. In what ways was this different than the

anointing of Saul and what differences do you see in their reign over Israel?

3. What spiritual foreshadowed truths do you witness in the Ark of the Covenant? (1Chron.

13-16)

4. The Chronicles remind us of the cyclical spiritual journey of humanity: accept the high

calling of God, receive God’s blessings, begin to practice evil, suffer consequences for

disobedience. Is this still a problem for those seeking to live spiritual lives? What New

Testament passages speak of or give warning about this?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Twelve – Ezra and Nehemiah

Reading assignment: Ezra and Nehemiah (four chapters daily) OR Ezra 2,4,5,6,7; Nehemiah

1,2,7,8,10,13

1. These books both identify the significance of a “remnant” of Israel. Explain your

understanding of this term as it relates to the nation of Israel. Is there an application for it

today?

2. Chapter 2 of Ezra identifies categories of people involved in this remnant. What groups are

identified? What is the significance of these groups? Is there an application that can be

made of this for today?

3. From the first two chapters of Nehemiah what observations do you make about the

character of the king’s cupbearer?

4. What strategies for spiritual people working together to reach a successful goal do you

draw from the book of Nehemiah?

Notes for and from Class…

Week Thirteen – Esther

Reading assignment: Esther (less than 2 chapters daily)

1. What “gems” do you find in the book of Esther?

2. A main theme within Esther is the providence of God. Outline how you see it revealed

within the events outlined in the recorded events?

3. The book outlines the lives of several key characters. Select three main characters and

describe their role in the unfolding narrative.

4. How do the happenings of Esther bring understanding to these passages:

• Prov. 21:1 (Est. 5:2)

• Phil. 4:19 (Est. 5:3)

• Isa. 54:7 (Est. 7:9-10)

• Prov. 16:33 (Est. 9:24-26)

Notes for and from Class…