2024 Sunday School Discussion Guide

Together we will read through the Old Testament in 2024!

Here are some helpful discussion questions for your Sunday School class or small group!

December Bible Reading Discussion Questions

December 1 - Week 47 – The Old Testament

Daniel 6-12 ~ Ezra 1-6

Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:

What are your best characteristics? Areas in which you’d like to improve?

Use these questions for personal prayer, reflection, study, journaling, or small group discussion.

1.     “Apocalyptic” literature is writing in which God reveals the future. When you watch a movie or read a book, why is it more enjoyable to not know the ending of the story? As a Christian, why is it more enjoyable to know the ending of humanity’s story?

2.    What are some of your favorite aspects of the story of Daniel in the lion’s den? Why? (Daniel 6)

3.    Read Daniel 6:5. How did Daniel’s enemies try to entrap him? Why would they do such a thing? What does it mean that God desires Christian pastors to live lives that are “above reproach” (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6-7)? Why does God give such guidance in selecting pastors/overseers/bishops? Should all Christians aim to be “above reproach”? Why or why not?

4.    Read Daniel 6:10. What did Daniel know? What did Daniel do? How does this reveal his character? How do tough times in our lives reveal our character? What was the source of Daniel’s character? How do we likewise grow in godly character?

5.    Why did God save Daniel? (Daniel 6:22-23) Does God always save his followers from earthly suffering and death? What biblical examples can you think of to support your answer?

6.    What do you think of the visions of Daniel 7-12? What is hard about them? What do you like about them? In Daniel 7, how does it impact you to see the descriptions of the “Son of Man” and “Ancient of Days”? Why does God give us the promise that “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)

7.     God sends the angel Gabriel to explain the meaning of the visions to him (Daniel 8:16-17, 9:21-23). Where else in the Bible do we see the angel Gabriel appear? What connections and similarities do you see between these appearances?

8.    The only other named angel in the Bible, Michael, also appears in the book of Daniel (Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1). How are his appearances in Daniel connected to what is revealed to John in Revelation 12:7? Why do you think there are so few instances of named angels in the Bible? Why do you think Gabriel and Michael, while named, only appear in relatively few places in the Bible?

9.    Daniel is frustrated with the timing of God’s deliverance (Daniel 9) as he expected from the biblical writings of Jeremiah. Do you ever get curious about God’s end times timing? Have you ever been frustrated with God’s seeming delay? Why? How does God want us to live while we wait for His return? (Luke 12:35-48)

10. How does Daniel’s encounter (Daniel 10:5-9) foreshadow Paul’s encounter with Jesus (Acts 9:3-20)? What similarities and differences do you see? Do you think Daniel is encountering Jesus or an angel? Why? (Ezekiel describes “cherubim” with legs of “burnished bronze” Ezekiel 1:7 and John describes Jesus with language similar to Daniel’s description (Revelation 1:14-15, 2:18)). When did you first encounter God? Where? How? What impact did your encounter with Jesus make on you?

December 8 - Week 48 – The Old Testament

Haggai 1-2 ~ Zechariah 1-6

Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:

Who has been a big encourager in your life? How did they encourage you?

Use these questions for personal prayer, reflection, study, journaling, or small group discussion.

1.     According to Ezra 5:1-2, what are the Haggai and Zechariah doing?

2.    God uses Haggai to exhort the people to “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5,7) as they focused more on building their homes instead of prioritizing the rebuilding of the temple. Reflecting on your recent priorities in life, ho. w do you consider yourself to be doing spiritually? How do you want to change your priorities over the next year? What sacrifices are you willing to make to see those improvements implemented?

3.    Read Haggai 1:7-10. Have you ever thought that God’s blessings may be withheld when we are unfaithful? Would this make you frustrate with God? Would this motivate you to repentance? Why do parents withhold blessings from their children?

4.    How did the people of Judah respond to the Lord’s discipline? (Haggai 1:12) How long did that change of heart take? (Haggai 1:1,15) When you correct a child, why does it often take a while for the child to be sincerely repentant? How can you tell when your child is truly sorry?

5.    How did the Lord strengthen the leaders of Judah? (Haggai 2:4-5) When was a time you felt weak and were ready to give up? How did the Lord strengthen you?

6.    How does Haggai 2:9 ultimately point forward to Revelation 21:22-24?

7.     If God were to warn you about not behaving like your ancestors, what sins would he point out? Why do we tend to imitate, for better or worse, our parents? Do you see this in your own children? How does that make you feel? (Zechariah 1:1-6)

8.    Read Zechariah 1:6. How does the people’s response evidence genuine repentance?

9.    As the Lord promises Jerusalem to increase in size to be so big as to be “without walls”, He promises to be “a wall of fire all around” (Zechariah 2:5) and calls them the “apple of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8). What amazes you about the Lord’s promises to Israel after so many centuries of rebellion? How has God deepened your personal appreciation to Him for His mercy and grace towards you?

10. Why is silence in awe of God’s amazing deliverance, protection, and blessing such an appropriate response? (Zechariah 2:13) Do you struggle with silence before God or enjoy it?

11.  In Zechariah 3 we see a vision of Joshua the high priest standing in filthy rags in the courtroom of God with Satan present to accuse him. What might it feel like to have been in Joshua’s place? What do you think of the Lord’s statement and actions? Does this vision remind you of Isaiah in front of God? (Isaiah 6:1-7)

12.  Who is “The Branch” that the angel of the Lord references in Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12-13? How does it compare with the reference of Jeremiah 23:5? How does this imagery relate to the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-28?

13.  Why do both Zechariah 4:6 and Haggai 2:5 emphasize the Spirit of God? Do you feel you focus on the Holy Spirit enough?

a.     See also, the names of the Holy Spirit at: www.trustworthyword.com/names-of-god

14.  Zerubbabel faced a “mountain” of challenges in rebuilding the temple (Zechariah 4:7-10). How do you think he felt in the face of those difficulties and such a monumental task? Have you ever faced a challenge that felt impossible, but then you experienced God’s favor and strength?

15.  Have you ever seen a plane flying with a banner flying behind it? What is its purpose? What is the message of the “flying scroll” in Zechariah 5:1-4? What is its purpose?

16.  The 7th vision of Zechariah (Zechariah 5:5-11) is of wickedness, personified, being removed from the land. If you could remove a particular sin or wickedness from your community now, what would you prioritize?  While we can’t “remove” the wickedness from others’ lives, how can we better warn or protect others from such specific and concerning temptations?

17.  Both the 1st (Zechariah 1:7-17) and the 8th (Zechariah 6:1-8) visions describe angelic horsemen and charioteers patrolling the earth. How does such imagery give you peace and comfort?

18. Why does God condition His blessings based on His people’s obedience? (Zechariah 6:15)

December 15 - Week 49 – The Old Testament

Zechariah 7-14

Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:

Who in your family are you the most like? Which family member do you wish to be more like?

Use these questions for personal prayer, reflection, study, journaling, or small group discussion.

1.     Why have the people of Bethel been weeping and fasting for so long? (Zechariah 7:5) Have you ever practiced fasting? For what purposes have you fasted? What challenges did you face when fasting? What did you learn while fasting?

a.     See also: “What does the Bible say about prayer and fasting?” www.trustworthyword.com/prayer-fasting

2.    Why is obedience a sign of genuine repentance? (Zechariah 7:8-12, 16-17)

3.    Read Zechariah 8:4-5. How is this a description of blessing? How far will the Lord’s salvation extend? (Zechariah 8:7)

4.    When you drive by a police officer, does his presence and watch make you nervous or comfortable? Why? Does your behavior change when you are around a police officer or another authority? Zechariah 9:1 says “the Lord has an eye on mankind.” Does it make you nervous or comfortable to know that the Lord is everywhere (omnipresence) and knows everything (omniscience)? Why is it helpful for us to regularly be reminded of God’s omnipresence and omniscience?

5.    Read Zechariah 9:9. When was the last time you shouted in celebration or victory? What sorts of events get us excited enough to shout with joy? Does it amaze you how specifically Jesus fulfills this prophecy? (Matthew 21:1-10 and John 12:14-16) While a victorious military leader would enter pridefully on a horse, what is significant about the description of the Messiah and His entrance?

6.    Read Zechariah 9:11. What is the “waterless pit” from which the prisoners are set free? How are they set free? While Jeremiah was set free from a waterless pit (Jeremiah 38:6), a “bottomless pit” is repeatedly described in Revelation from where demons emerge. Without Jesus, we are “prisoners…doomed to die” (Psalm 102:20). What do you think it would be like to be in prison? For a short sentence? For a long sentence? For a death sentence? With Jesus, we are “set free” (Romans 6). How should this imagery of being rescued from prison by the blood of God’s covenant through Jesus transform our purpose in life?

7.     Zechariah 10:2 describes that “the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.” When Jesus used a similar phrase (Matthew 9:36, Mark 6:34), how did He respond to the crowds? Similarly, how should we respond when we see such lostness around us today?

8.    Zechariah 10:3 describes God’s anger against the unfaithful shepherds. Why is spiritual leadership such an important responsibility? Why do spiritual leaders have greater accountability to God? (James 3:1)

9.    Read Zechariah 11:12-13. What does this seem to foreshadow and prophesy? (Matthew 26:15, 27:6-7) Read Zechariah 12:10. What does this seem to foreshadow and prophesy? (John 19:34) How do the fulfilled details of prophesies ~500 years before Jesus impact your faith?

10. Read Zechariah 13:1. What does Jesus’ death on the cross bring? (Revelation 7:17) How does this passage foreshadow what Jesus says to the woman at the well? (John 4:10)

11.  Read Zechariah 13:7. When does Jesus quote this passage? (Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31) How did Peter and the disciples respond to Jesus? How have we fallen away from the Lord? When was a season in which you denied Jesus by your word, actions, inactions, or silence?

12.  How amazing is it that the Lord still answers the prayers of His people and does not abandon them, even after their repeated rebellions? (Zechariah 13:9) How does this comfort you?

13.  What significant events can you think of that happened on the Mount of Olives? (2 Samuel 15:30, Luke 19:37–40, Acts 1:9–12) What future event is going to happen on the Mount of Olives according to Zechariah 14:1–5? Have you ever read this before in connection with the End Times prophecies? What are some of your favorite truths or exhortations about Jesus’ return?

a.     See also: “What does the Bible say about the End Times?” www.trustworthyword.com/end-times

December 22 - Week 50 – The Old Testament

Esther 1-10

Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:

What are some characteristics of a good friend? How do you seek to be a good friend?

Use these questions for personal prayer, reflection, study, journaling, or small group discussion.

1.     Did you consider yourself familiar with the story of Esther before reading it? What was something new you learned? Or something you needed to hear again? Do you have a favorite verse or part of Esther? Why is it your favorite?

2.    Did you know that Esther is the only book of the Bible that never directly names God? What are some ways you see God act across the book? Any “coincidences” that seem to be God working behind the scenes more covertly? What parallels do you see that seem to be divine ironies? How does God use the book of Esther to reveal to us His ongoing work in the midst of a fallen world?

3.    When the king summons his first queen, Vashti, how does she respond? What is the king’s reaction? (Esther 1:12) Has the King of Kings summoned humanity to Himself? What is the danger of refusing to obey our Creator?

4.    Drunkenness is a repeated them in Esther, with both the king and Haman being described as drunk in several places. How do you think the alcohol influenced their behavior and choices? (Esther 1:10, 5:6, 7:2-8) What has been your practice of alcohol use in the past? Any regrets? What have you seen that the Bible teaches about alcohol and drunkenness? How would those truths correlate with modern-day substances, additions, and drugs?

a.     See “What does the Bible really say about alcohol?” www.trustworthyword.com/alcohol

5.    What do you know about Mordecai? How would you describe him?

a.     Read Esther 2:5-7. What do we learn about Mordecai’s character from this passage?

b.    Read Esther 2:21-23. How does Mordecai’s response to the evil plot inspire you?

c.     Read Esther 3:2 & 5:9. How does Mordecai’s reaction to Haman encourage you?

d.    Read Esther 8:1-3. Does this remind you of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 38-41)? If so, how?

e.     Read Esther 10:3. How is this such a good finish to the book of Esther? A good goal of character for ourselves?

6.    Haman is referred to as an “Agagite” in the book of Esther (Esther 3:1). King Agag is described in 1 Samuel 15 as being an Amalekite king. What do you think of the connection to King Saul’s disobedience in destroying the Amalekites fully (1 Samuel 15) with an Amalekite descendent plotting the destruction of Israelites 500 years later? How does our unfaithfulness to God impact future generations?

a.     Read Esther 3:5-6. What do we observe about Haman’s character from these verses?

b.    Read Esther 6:11-13. Who does Haman love most? How do the people we surround ourselves with impact us?

c.     Read Esther 7:6. What was Haman’s response in the face of the king’s wrath?

7.     While Esther is described as “lovely to look at” (Esther 7:7), how does she evidence godly character at different places in this book? How would you explain to a child why our inside (character) more important that our outside (physical appearance)?

a.     Read Esther 2:15 and 2:20. How does she demonstrate wisdom here? Who has the Lord used to put wisdom into your life?

b.    Read Esther 2:22. Do you think the Lord used this step of courage in Esther to prepare her for what was ahead? Who has the Lord used to model and build courage in you?

c.     Read Esther 4:4. What do know about Esther’s character from what is revealed about her ongoing care, respect, and trust for her cousin & adopted father Mordecai even after she is made Queen? Why do people often “change” when they become rich, powerful, or famous?

d.    Read Esther 4:11 and 5:2. What parallels do you see with God’s holiness and His mercy and grace in salvation? How does it show our response to our Heavenly King?

e.     Read Esther 4:14. Why should we also consider that the Lord has placed us where He has “for such a time as this”? How does this perspective give us a missions mindset?

f.      Read Esther 4:16. How does this evidence Esther’s trust in God? Why is her statement that “if I perish, I perish” so motivating?

g.     In Esther 7 we see Queen Esther’s plan come to fruition as she reveals to the king about Haman’s plot against her and her people. How did we see the Lord’s hand in the unfolding of events? How does Esther’s example of faith speak to your situation in life?

8.    Which of the reversals and “coincidences” within the book of Esther stand out to you? Why?

a.     Vashti’s refusal to approach the king versus Esther’s wisdom & courage in approaching the king.

b.    Haman demands honor, only to later be demanded to honor Mordecai.

c.     The timing of the king reading up on Mordecai’s revelation of the assassination attempt.

d.    The timing of Esther’s second feast. The timing of the king walking in on Haman begging for mercy from Esther.

e.     The suggestion of the servant about using Haman’s gallows.

f.      The parallel from Mordecai’s saving of the king to his saving of the Jewish people.

g.     The irony of Haman’s gallows being used on Haman.

h.    The irony of Esther and Mordecai getting Haman’s house and position.

i.      The irony of the Jews getting a victory over their enemies on the very day that was plotted for their destruction.

Esther 3:7, 9:20-32 describes the initiation of the Jewish holiday of Purim, to commemorate the Lord’s deliverance of the Jews from their enemies in Babylon. What is your favorite Christian holiday? Why? What are the joys of holidays? Are there any dangers in holidays?