72 Day Bible Challenge with Pastor James
Coronavirus! Pandemic! Many of us feel like time has slipped into slow motion in the wake of these two words. How do we wisely make the most of this opportunity? Let’s use this huge time-out for our spiritual growth and for our common good. Let’s emerge from this experience with a new level of excitement and calling. Let’s take a 72 Day Bible Study Challenge
How to do "The Challenge"
This Bible Study Challenge uses a creative mix of Bible readings, videos, and discussion questions to prepare us for greater usefulness and service to our risen Lord! Do as much as you can each day, and email your questions to me at james@gslc.net.
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The study is designed to take 40-60 minutes a day. The Bible Project videos are fun and even quirky. I love these guys! The videos are also detailed and content-rich. You may want to watch them more than once. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything the first time. The study repeats the most important concepts at key moments and if you stay with this, your knowledge will grow little by little.
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The study builds with 6-day segments. Take a day off, or have some real fun and meet with a small group via a conference call on your seventh day. Take your time, encourage one another, and ask additional questions.
If you really want to have some fun, sign-up for the year-long version direct from The Bible Project: Year-long Bible Study
The Bible is filled with stories of God’s people being rescued, sustained, and provided for at sources of water. The streams of water in the garden set the stage for water as a rich image of God’s creative power and love. In our newest video, we trace this theme and show how it culminates in the death and resurrection of Jesus and the promise of a new creation.
Day 1 - The Story of the Bible
Step 1 - Read the first 3 chapters and the last two chapters in the Bible (Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 21-22). Can you see any similarities between the first and last chapters of the Bible?
Step 2 - Finish this sentence: "I think the Bible is ..." and watch this video.
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Step 3 - Finish this sentence: "I think the Bible is about ..." and watch this video
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What does it mean for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience to what you see as God's will today.
Day 2 - Creation
Step 1 - Read Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 21:1-5 and 22:1-5
Step 2 - Finish this sentence: "Heaven is like ..." and watch the following videos.
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Step 3 - Finish this sentence: "The purpose of life is to ..." and watch this video.
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What does it mean for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 3 - The Fall
Step 1 - The early chapters of the Bible tell us that God created an amazing world! Read Genesis chapter 2 and identify at least two of God’s acts of hospitality for his first couple.
Step 2 - Check your answers by watching the following video.
Step 3 - View the Tree of Life video and answer: How does this video portray our Fall into Sin? How far have we fallen? What remedies our fall?
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What do we love about “Our Father” if God’s plan is to be hospitable and generous with us?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 4 - Contrast who are we meant to be with who we are without God’s help (Part One).
Step 1 - Read Genesis 4 and 5, Genesis 6:1-5 and Micah 6:6-8. How does Micah correct the human misadventures described in Genesis?
Step 2 -Watch these two videos and contrast who we are meant to be with who we are.
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Step 3 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What does it mean for God to deliver us from evil?
Step 4 - Thinking back to Micah 6:8, how can you hallow (honor) God’s name?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 5 - Contrast who are we meant to be with who we are without God’s help (Part Two)
Step 1 -Read Genesis 11:1-8 and Isaiah 58:6-11. How does Isaiah correct the human misadventures described in Genesis 11:1-8?
Step 2 - Watch these three videos and contrast who we are meant to be with who we are.
Step 3 - Pray the Lord’s Prayer and again ask: What does it mean for God to deliver us from evil?
Step 4 - Thinking back to Isaiah 58:6-11, how can you hallow (honor) God’s name?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience to what you see as God's will today.
Day 6 - Drawing things together (Summary for the first 5 days)
Step 1 - Watch these videos and contrast God's generosity with our human brokenness:
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Step 3 - Finish this sentence: “Some people think the Bible is boring because…” and watch the video linked here.
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What does it mean for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 7 - The Plot Thickens
Step 1 - Watch these two videos. You may need to watch them more than once!
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Step 2 - Scan Genesis 12-50 and try to summarize the plot of Genesis.
Step 3 - Read Genesis 22 and ask: How does this story set the stage for later developments?
Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: What does it mean for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 8 - The Setting of our Covenants
Step 1 - Write down your definition of covenant and think of examples where we might use covenants today.
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Step 2 - Watch this video and answer: How are biblical covenants different from our modern covenants?
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Step 3 - Watch this video and answer: What features of biblical covenants play out in the settings of our biblical narrative?
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask:How can you hallow (honor) God’s name in the newncovenant?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you honor God's name.
Day 9 - Considering Israel's and Pharaoh's Character
Step 2 - Think about the nation Israel’s character. Compare your thoughts with how the nation’s character is seen in this first video on Exodus.
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Step 3 - How is Pharaoh’s character revealed in the same video?
Step 4 - Pray the Lord’s Prayer and ask: How does forgiving those who trespass against us reveal our character?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience as you forgive someone who has sinned against you.
Day 10 - Beginning to Understand God's Law (Part 1)
Step 1 - Read Psalm 19:7-14. How does your attitude towards the Law differ from the psalmist’s?
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Step 4 - Pray the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask: How does asking for forgiveness show our understanding of God’s Law?
Step 5 - Take one small step in obedience and ask for God to help you forgive someone who has harmed you.