Bible Study questions for April 30th, 2016

Saturday at 10:00am EDT

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“God hath thrust in the sickle, and He is separating the tares from the wheat. This hour is molten in the furnace of Soul. Its harvest song is world-wide, world-known, world-great. The vine is bringing forth its fruit; the beams of right have healing in their light. The windows of heaven are sending forth their rays of reality — even Christian Science, pouring out blessing for cursing, and rehearsing: “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground.” “Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 269:17

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Topic: The Wheat and the Tares

Moderator: Mike from NY

Bible Readings: Matthew 13

Questions:

  1. What was the importance of wheat to the people of Jesus’ time?
  2. What are tares?
  3. Who slept and why was that an issue? (Matt. 13:25)
  4. Why did the servants question what seeds were sown? (13:27)
  5. Why wait until harvest time to separate the tares from the wheat?
  6. What does this and the other parables of Matt. 13 teach us about the ‘Kingdom of Heaven?
 

Download the Word version of these questions here.

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Click here for the Useful Links page.

 

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April Bible Study sessions:

Date Moderator
04/09/2016 Luanne from NY
04/16/2016 Jeremy from NJ
04/23/2016 Heidi from MD
04/30/2016 Mike from NY

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Bible Study Instructions

  • Bible studies are led by volunteers. If there are no volunteers we do not have a Bible study
  • They are held on Saturdays from 10AM to 11AM
  • This summer we took a break for July and August. We are now back having Bible studies each week.
  • The leader of the Bible study will select a topic. Typically the topic is based on the lesson sermon. However, they can be any topic from the Bible. The Bible study is not Bible notes for the lesson sermon. The purpose is to get to know the Bible better.
  • The leader of the Bible study is not a teacher. They develop the questions and lead the discussion. It is up to the attendees to provide answers to the questions.
  • Generally, there are about five to seven questions. The reason we don’t have a lot of questions, is that it helps in a couple ways. First, if there are fewer questions, people can spend more time preparing an answer to a question and therefore learn more. Second, fewer questions provides more time for more people to participate in the discussion.
  • The leader will send the questions to Tom and Lynda for review. We are both available to help with the questions. The Bible study is a collaborative effort. No one needs to feel they are on their own. We support each other and work together so that it enriches all of us in our understanding of the Bible.
  • There is no perfect set of questions. If people don’t participate, a great set of questions could result in a lousy Bible study.
  • Jeremy posts the Bible questions each week. The Bible studies are also recorded and available for people to listen to later.
  • The Bible study leads off with a quote from MBE and generally one that shows how she encouraged people to read the Bible.
  • Volunteers are essential to the Bible study. I encourage everyone to lead a Bible study.

To sign up for Bible Studies:

Moderating the Saturday morning Bible Study is open to all.

If you would like to be put on the schedule for a certain date, contact jeremy@plainfieldcs.com. If you are scheduled for an upcoming Bible Study, please submit your questions to both Tom from NY (thomas.a.richards777@gmail.com) and Lynda from PA (lybfree@yahoo.com) as soon as you have them. Thank you!

Click here to listen to Past Bible Studies

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Concordances

The following were recommended by the Metaphysical College:
  1. American Version of the Bible
  2. Twentieth Century New Testament
  3. Weymouth Translation
  4. Goodspeed New Testament
  5. Moulton’s Bible
  6. Moffatt’s Translation
  7. Isaiah and the Minor Prophets, by George Adams Smith
  8. Moffatt Introduction to the New Testament Literature
  9. Historical Geography of the Holy Land, by George Adams Smith
  10. The Greatest English Classic, by McAffee
  11. How to Know the Bible, by Hodges
  12. The Story of Religion, by Smith
  13. How We Got the Bible, by Smith
  14. St. Paul’s Life and Letters, by Smith
  15. Harmony of the Gospels, by Stevens and Butrons
Bible Concordances
  • Nelson’s
  • Young’s
  • Strong’s
Bible Dictionaries
  • Oxford English (best);
  • Hastings (excellent)
  • New Standard (very good);
  • Practical Standard (good)
  • Chamber’s Twentieth Century (good)