Bible Trivia Devotional E-Book

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 432

Beschreibung

You may have learned a lot about the Bible when you were growing up, or maybe you've just picked it up recently. It's good to jump back in and remember some of those facts that may have seemed a little trivial at first. In this fun Bible Trivia Devotional, you will be challenged to think beyond the answers to their daily application. Recall Scriptures, heroes of the faith, miracles, historical places and events and discover how they are all relevant to you in this moment. Glean new insight and perspective from old, familiar passages. The Bible is always worth studying; spending time reading it is never a waste. And the best part is that it's not trivial at all. It isn't just head knowledge or rote memory. The Word of God is alive and active! It is life-changing, brimming with hope, joy, wisdom, and peace. Dive in today! It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:11 NLT   Features: - Full color printing on high-grade faux leather allows for the whole spectrum of color and intricate design while maintaining the exquisite tactile appeal and durability. - Metallic foil finishing touches are elegantly placed to enhance certain features, capturing attention and adding class for an aesthetic appeal. - Sturdy Smythe-sewn binding stitches book signatures together creating durability and allowing pages to lay flat when open. Decorative head and foot bands are also added to further complement the overall design. - Matte art high quality paper with a smooth touch provides long-lasting vivid coloration and durability. - A beautiful satin ribbon marker conveniently keeps your place so you can quickly pick up where you left off.

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Bible Trivia Devotional

© 2023 by BroadStreet Publishing®

9781424566587

9781424566594 (eBook)

Devotional entries composed by Ken Castor.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked CSB are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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23 24 25 26 27 28 29 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

It is the same with my word.

I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

ISAIAH 55:11 NLT

CONTENTS

Introduction

January

January 1: A New Creation

January 2: Meaning of Babel

January 3: A New Name

January 4: Bread From Heaven

January 5: Payment For Betrayal

January 6: Other Stones

January 7: Paul Shipwrecked

January 8: An Alarming Moment

January 9: This Isn’t Good

January 10: Sons of Simon

January 11: Jacob’s Pillow

January 12: Giving Up What’s Inside

January 13: Love For The World

January 14: How to Treat a Prophet

January 15: Much with Little

January 16: Freak Weather

January 17: A Significant Number

January 18: Site of Revelation

January 19: Fourth Book

January 20: Calming the Storm

January 21: Widow’s Son

January 22: The Longest Name

January 23: A Lot of Foxes

January 24: Brotherly Jealousy

January 25: Judge Ibzan

January 26: David’s Strong Men

January 27: Risking It All

January 28: At Once

January 29: Blinded By Jesus

January 30: Poor In Spirit

January 31: Network of Believers

February

February 1: Price of a Birthright

February 2: The Little Sea

February 3: The First Professions

February 4: Impromptu Baptism

February 5: Holding Coats

February 6: Washing Hands

February 7: When God Made Adam

February 8: First Miracle

February 9: Step of Trust

February 10: Traveling Companions

February 11: Last Words

February 12: Alpha and Omega

February 13: Love Who

February 14: Churches of Revelation

February 15: The Suffering King

February 16: Abraham’s Nephew

February 17: Story Telling

February 18: In The Beginning

February 19: Fifth Book

February 20: Strange Response

February 21: Tasks to Greatness

February 22: Unknown God

February 23: A Fly’s Stench

February 24: Long Obedience

February 25: Judge Abdon

February 26: David’s Best Friend

February 27: Those Who Mourn

February 28: The Gardener

March

March 1: Human Lifespan

March 2: Ten Lepers

March 3: The Census

March 4: Same Faith

March 5: Burning Coal

March 6: Discovering God’s Word

March 7: First Commandment

March 8: The Dry Bones

March 9: Longest Reign

March 10: The Ten Plagues

March 11: David’s Father

March 12: Meeting God

March 13: What a Riot

March 14: Garden of Prayer

March 15: Undeserved

March 16: Most Chapters

March 17: Judging Others

March 18: Philemon’s Challenge

March 19: Last of the Old

March 20: Back to Life

March 21: Solomon’s Wives

March 22: Absalom’s Hair

March 23: Aaron’s Staff

March 24: Interpreting Dreams

March 25: Name of a Judge

March 26: Saul and the Medium

March 27: Queen of Sheba

March 28: Ehud’s Sword

March 29: Cupbearer’s Request

March 30: Mordecai’s Cousin

March 31: Blessed are the Meek

April

April 1: Close Fellowship

April 2: Conversation with Jesus

April 3: The First Deacons

April 4: Helping Philip

April 5: Plant or People

April 6: Women of the Cross

April 7: Ninth Commandment

April 8: Pierced Side

April 9: Be a Believer

April 10: Why John Wrote

April 11: Never Dying Rumor

April 12: Bethany Friends

April 13: Living Water

April 14: First to the Tomb

April 15: Best Decision

April 16: The Promised Land

April 17: Hide a Lamp

April 18: Carrying Our Sin

April 19: First Five Books

April 20: Man From Nain

April 21: What Man Lives on

April 22: Listening to Criticism

April 23: Partridge Hunt

April 24: Jacob’a Final Years

April 25: Samson’s Nazirite Vow

April 26: First Husband

April 27: Author of Proverbs

April 28: Mighty Have Fallen

April 29: Zacchaeus’ Tree

April 30: Hunger and Thirst

May

May 1: The First Scout

May 2: Mother-In-Law

May 3: Honey From a Lion

May 4: Fifth Day

May 5: Authority to Serve

May 6: Covering Up

May 7: Sixth Commandment

May 8: Face Down

May 9: Quarrels in Church

May 10: People of Nineveh

May 11: Rescuing Moses

May 12: On the Wall

May 13: Wrestling with God

May 14: Old Brothers

May 15: Rod and Staff

May 16: Feeding Elijah

May 17: The Sower

May 18: Safely Sealed

May 19: Shortest Verse

May 20: Twelve-Year Old Girl

May 21: Harvest Worker

May 22: Passover and Pentecost

May 23: Provided Sacrifice

May 24: Prophetic Blessing

May 25: Famous Wedding Words

May 26: David’s Confession

May 27: Verbal Measurement

May 28: Earning a Nickname

May 29: Martyred for Jesus

May 30: Joshua’a Dad

May 31: The Merciful

June

June 1: Paul’s Credentials

June 2: First Great Catch

June 3: Longest Prayer

June 4: Second Day

June 5: Jabez’a Prayer

June 6: Gong Show

June 7: Second Commandment

June 8: Brothers and Fathers

June 9: The Old Testament

June 10: Glory of God

June 11: Jesus Is

June 12: Hall of Faith

June 13: King of Salem

June 14: Writer of Hebrews

June 15: Qualified or Not

June 16: Faith Without Works

June 17: The Seed

June 18: For The Unrighteous

June 19: Shortest Book

June 20: A Close Friend

June 21: Perspective

June 22: Book of Jude

June 23: Talking Donkey

June 24: Important Burial Site

June 25: Samuel’s Mother

June 26: Solomon’s Request

June 27: Maybe Agur

June 28: The Coppersmith

June 29: Timothy’s Mentor

June 30: Pure In Heart

July

July 1: The Mediator

July 2: Great Authority

July 3: Long Judgment

July 4: Third Day

July 5: Thessalonian Example

July 6: Armor of God

July 7: Tenth Commandment

July 8: God’s Handiwork

July 9: Fruit of the Spirit

July 10: Paul in Jerusalem

July 11: Thorn in the Flesh

July 12: Commissioned

July 13: The Idol

July 14: Fragile Jars of Clay

July 15: One Way

July 16: Witnesses

July 17: The Greatest

July 18: Writing Romans

July 19: Longest Chapter

July 20: Two Names

July 21: Not Ashamed

July 22: End of Acts

July 23: Crowing Rooster

July 24: Embalming Process

July 25: Samuel Heard

July 26: Temple Construction

July 27: Honest Weight

July 28: What Child

July 29: The Prodigal’s Job

July 30: Standards

July 31: Blessed Peacemakers

August

August 1: One and One

August 2: Time for a Walk

August 3: Inner Struggle

August 4: First Day

August 5: Freedom Power

August 6: Who Will Condemn

August 7: Third Commandment

August 8: What Separates

August 9: The Whole Story

August 10: Voluntary Generosity

August 11: How to be Saved

August 12: Rejected at Home

August 13: Clothe Yourself

August 14: In Rome

August 15: In the Beginning

August 16: God Questioned Job

August 17: Temple Tax

August 18: Different Focus

August 19: Shortest Chapter

August 20: A Long Sermon

August 21: Psalm of Repentance

August 22: Source of Help

August 23: People and Sheep

August 24: Female Judge

August 25: Contents of the Ark

August 26: Temple Dedication

August 27: Fifth Commandment

August 28: Tests

August 29: God Loves You

August 30: The Last Proverbs

August 31: The Persecuted

September

September 1: Loving at Traction

September 2: Messy Work

September 3: Another Disciple

September 4: King of the Den

September 5: Fourth Day

September 6: Soothing Saul

September 7: John The Baptist’s Diet

September 8: Isaiah’s Consistency

September 9: Suffering Servant

September 10: Hidden in your Heart

September 11: Bronze Snake

September 12: Collapsed Walls

September 13: Lord of the Sabbath

September 14: Waiting a Generation

September 15: He is with you

September 16: Paul’s Profession

September 17: Opened Door

September 18: Pillar of Salt

September 19: Longest Verse

September 20: Great Contest

September 21: Moses’ Wife

September 22: My Thoughts and Yours

September 23: Sparrow Price

September 24: Female Rescuer

September 25: What We Want

September 26: Town of Ruth’s Fame

September 27: Sharpening

September 28: Who Built the Temple

September 29: A Donkey’s Jawbone

September 30: He Has Shown Us

October

October 1: Lydia’s Job

October 2: Blind Bartimaeus

October 3: Striking the Rock

October 4: Sixth Day

October 5: Moses’ Death

October 6: After Solomon

October 7: Fourth Commandment

October 8: Jezebel’s Death

October 9: God’s Covenantal Sign

October 10: Jephthah’s Vow

October 11: Washing Peter’s Feet

October 12: Peter’s Vision

October 13: David and Shimei

October 14: A Girl’s Request

October 15: Love Is

October 16: Hosea’s Wife

October 17: After Hosea

October 18: Bi-Vocational Prophet

October 19: Books of the Bible

October 20: Before Jonah

October 21: The Last Five

October 22: Jeremiah and the People

October 23: Dressed-Up Wolf

October 24: Reducing Gideon’s Army

October 25: King Saul’s Height

October 26: Jeremiah’s Calling

October 27: Selling Land

October 28: Jeremiah’s Scribe

October 29: Jeremiah’s Nickname

October 30: Den of Thieves

October 31: New Tablet

November

November 1: Be Thankful

November 2: Cursed Tree

November 3: Citizenship

November 4: Seventh Day

November 5: Three Examples

November 6: What I Can Do

November 7: Seventh Commandment

November 8: Set Your Face

November 9: Jesus Breathed on Them

November 10: The Vine

November 11: Most Mentioned

November 12: Stone Pavement

November 13: Paul’s Writing Partner

November 14: Rich In Good Works

November 15: Loved First

November 16: Picking Up Stones

November 17: Point of Scripture

November 18: What Matters

November 19: Longest Sentence

November 20: Christ Lives in Me

November 21: Four Living Creatures

November 22: The Gatekeepers

November 23: Return to What

November 24: Gideon’s Request

November 25: Saul’s Reign

November 26: Biblical Languages

November 27: Sayings of Ecclesiastes

November 28: Shortest Song

November 29: Revelation Songs

November 30: Most Excellent

December

December 1: Forsaken Love

December 2: Number of Fish

December 3: Bound for the Abyss

December 4: Beginning of Knowledge

December 5: The Messianic Angel

December 6: The Archangel

December 7: Eighth Commandment

December 8: Crown Him King

December 9: Spoken of

December 10: Paul’s Handwriting

December 11: Jesus’ Baptism

December 12: Personal Nature

December 13: Book of Ezra

December 14: Lamentations

December 15: No Anxiety

December 16: Zephaniah’s Heritage

December 17: Zerubbabel and Joshua

December 18: The Royal Ride

December 19: No Mention

December 20: Immanuel

December 21: Name of the Child

December 22: Meaning of Bethlehem

December 23: Turtledoves or Pigeons

December 24: Named Officially

December 25: (Extra)ordinary Birth

December 26: Gifts of the Magi

December 27: The Accusers

December 28: The Disciples

December 29: Random People

December 30: What To Listen To

December 31: House of Anointing

INTRODUCTION

You may have learned a lot about the Bible when you were growing up, or maybe you’ve just picked it up recently. It’s good to jump back in and remember some of those facts that may have seemed a little trivial at first.

In this fun Bible Trivia Devotional, you will be challenged to think beyond the answers to their daily application. Recall Scriptures, heroes of the faith, miracles, historical places and events and discover how they are all relevant to you in this moment. Glean new insight and perspective from old, familiar passages.

The Bible is always worth studying; spending time reading it is never a waste. And the best part is that it’s not trivial at all. It isn’t just head knowledge or rote memory. The Word of God is alive and active! It is life-changing, brimming with hope, joy, wisdom, and peace. Dive in today!

JANUARY

JANUARY 1

A NEW CREATION

FINISH THIS VERSE

If anyone is in Christ, this person is a _______ _______; the old things passed away;

behold, _______ _______ _______ _______.

Once we have given our lives to Jesus Christ, we are each a new creation. The old things we once considered the most important have been replaced by what God thinks is most important. The old paths we used to take have been rerouted by Jesus. The old desires of our hearts, the old focus of our eyes, the old worries of our souls, have all passed way, and the goals of God for us are alive.

The year ahead is a set of 365 days of opportunity to live in the newness of God. We are reborn because of Jesus. We are renewed through his death and resurrection. Our sins are forgiven. Our lives are redeemed. His Spirit is working in us and promises to continue working in us until the day we are fully complete.

If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 NASB

What new thing would you like Jesus to do in your life this year? Take time to dedicate this to the Lord in prayer.

Answer: new creation; new things have come

JANUARY 2

MEANING OF BABEL

TRUE OR FALSE

The name of the city of Babel is the Hebrew term that means “confusion.”

The people who settled in the ancient plain of Shinar (in what today is the country of Iraq) had grown pretty confident in themselves. To highlight their own sense of greatness they conspired to build a city and a tower that reached as high as the heavens. In doing so, they planned to expand their reputation across the earth as the central gathering place for all people. Their egotistical vision was arrogant against God’s authority and ignorant of God’s glory.

The Lord challenged them. It’s as if he said, “You think you are great, do you? Well, let’s see what happens if I disrupt your communication.” He confused their language which meant that the people could no longer understand one another. These arrogant, ignorant people were quickly thrown into such disorder that they scattered and went their own ways. Their building projects were halted. Their arrogance was humiliated. Their ignorance was revealed.

Its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

GENESIS 11:9 ESV

What areas of pride in your life do you need to submit to God?

Answer: true

JANUARY 3

A NEW NAME

Abraham’s original name was

A. Bobo

B. Ham

C. Samuel

D. Abram

Abram was a very old man when God changed his name. Interestingly, his original name, Abram, meant “exalted father,” but Abram had no children. He and his wife were barren. He was a son to his dad, Terah, and he was an uncle to his nephew, Lot, but Abram’s name was a misnomer. It was a mocking reminder that he was not the father of anyone.

God wanted to do something miraculous. He wanted to reveal his remarkable plan of salvation for the world by turning Abram’s ironic name into a truly exalted one. God turned the name of Abram into Abraham, which meant the “father of many.” He promised Abraham that he would become very fruitful, that nations would descend from him, that kings would come from him, and that his off-spring would bless all people on earth. Soon after his name change, Abraham’s son Isaac was born. From Isaac came Jacob. From Jacob came Judah and all eleven of the other tribes of Israel. And from Judah’s lineage came David. And from David’s lineage, came Jesus, the promised Savior of the world.

“No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of a multitude of nations.”

GENESIS 17:5 NIV

What does Abraham’s name change tell you about God’s long-range plan for the world?

Answer: D) Abram

JANUARY 4

BREAD FROM HEAVEN

What does the word manna mean?

The Hebrew word manna means, “What is it?” When God rained manna down in the desert, the Israelites had trouble comprehending this mysterious wafer-like bread. But the Lord had promised to take care of Israel during their years wandering in the desert. He provided enough quail and manna for everyone to eat every day. He simply wanted Israel to trust him to provide.

Later, Jesus would instruct his followers to pray for their daily bread (Matthew 6:11). He would also reveal that he is the true bread from heaven (John 6:32) and the living bread that came down from heaven (v. 51). Again, the Lord wants people to trust him and turn to him for both the daily needs of life and for life everlasting.

When the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat…Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

EXODUS 16:14-15, 31 ESV

My Father in heaven, give me this day my daily bread. Let me trust you for everything I truly need.

Answer: What is it?

JANUARY 5

PAYMENT FOR BETRAYAL

What payment did Judas receive for betraying Jesus?

When it seemed like the crowds were starting to turn against Jesus, Judas decided to capitalize on the moment. He met Israel’s leaders in order to make a plan to turn Jesus over to them and, in turn, to benefit financially from the transaction. And his plan worked. Later that week while sharing the Passover meal with Jesus and his disciples in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem, Judas left to alert the leaders. Judas led a mob with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus and delivered him into the hands of the high council.

When Jesus was sentenced to be executed on a cross, Judas realized he had sinned and deeply regretted what he had done. He was so distraught that he “brought back the thirty pieces of silver” and threw down the money into the temple. He then went and hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5).

One of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?”

And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.

MATTHEW 26:14-15 ESV

Why did his betrayal of Jesus disturb Judas so deeply? Ponder this and take a moment to pray for strength to remain faithful to Jesus today.

Answer: thirty pieces of silver

JANUARY 6

OTHER STONES

David killed Goliath using his sling and one smooth stone. How many more stones did he have left in his shepherd’s bag?

The account of David’s victory over the giant, Goliath, is one of the most famous stories ever told. It is a story that is meant to show that God is more powerful than any man, any army, or any weapon. It is a story that teaches us to stand up for God, even when the odds seem frightfully stacked against us.

First Samuel 17 records the moment: “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. David triumphed over the Philistine that day with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword” (vv. 48-50). David believed in God. He never even needed the other four stones in his bag. With God, he only needed the one.

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

1 SAMUEL 17:40 NLT

What battle are you facing today? If you saw the situation from God’s point of view, how might that change the way you approached the struggle?

Answer: four

JANUARY 7

PAUL SHIPWRECKED

On what island was Paul shipwrecked?

Paul had been arrested and imprisoned for preaching about Jesus. As a Roman citizen, he appealed to Caesar and was eventually sent under armed guard by ship to Rome to await a trial. During a long, difficult journey, a violent storm overcame their ship. Trying to stay afloat, they threw most of their cargo overboard and even began stripping off the heavy equipment from the ship itself. For two weeks, the storm drove the 276 people onboard the ship across the Adriatic Sea. Eventually the fierce waves and winds pushed them against a reef and started to break the ship apart.

The soldiers wanted to kill all the prisoners including Paul in order to keep them from escaping, but the centurion assigned to Paul wanted to keep Paul alive. He commanded everyone to abandon the ship and make their way to shore. They stayed on the island of Malta until they were able to secure safe passage to Rome where Paul was under house arrest for at least two more years. This, however, allowed Paul to teach about Jesus Christ to many people unhindered by threats or violence.

When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.

ACTS 28:1 NASB

Why do you think God spared Paul’s life but kept him a prisoner to the Roman soldiers?

Answer: Malta

JANUARY 8

AN ALARMING MOMENT

Whose ear did Peter cut off?

To say that Peter had a roller coaster of emotions on the night that Jesus was arrested would be an understatement. He had been told by Jesus that he would betray his Lord three times before the rooster crowed. He had fallen asleep despite Jesus’ passionate plea to stay awake and pray with him. He had seen the mob approach Jesus with swords and clubs. He had seen Judas betray Jesus with a kiss. Overcome with rage and stress, Peter gripped the handle of his knife and swung wildly at the nearest person in the mob. In the scuffle, Peter missed most of the person’s head, but he was successful in cutting off his right ear. We know his name. Malchus. This was the name of the high priest’s servant, and it’s forever etched into the Bible.

But this alarming encounter between Peter and Malchus gives us another glimpse into the passion of the Lord. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword. Then he touched Malchus’ ear and healed him (Luke 22:50-51). Jesus allowed himself to be arrested and was led away to the trial that ended in his death. Simon Peter followed Jesus for a while, but when the questioning about his affiliations began, his commitment wavered.

Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.

JOHN 18:10 NLT

Where do you find yourself jumping ahead of God’s plan?

Answer: Malchus, the high priests’s slave

JANUARY 9

THIS ISN’T GOOD

What was the first thing God said was not good?

In the first chapter of the Bible in the book of Genesis, we learn that at the end of each day of creation, God looked at all he had made and saw that it was good. But in the second chapter of the Genesis, God looked at Adam and declared that something was not quite right. God wanted to put the world on notice that it is not good for humans to be alone. Adam needed a companion.

It is not good for humans to be independent, isolated, surviving on their own, or deprived of community. God wanted it to be known that humans were made to walk with God and with one another. God created Eve who was a true companion for Adam. And when God looked upon all of his creation with Adam and Eve together as his image-bearers, he saw that it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.

I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

GENESIS 2:18 NLT

From what you know about the nature of God, why would God consider Adam’s aloneness as not being good?

Answer: for man to be alone

JANUARY 10

SONS OF SIMON

What were the names of the sons of Simon of Cyrene?

The only person in the world to have carried the cross of Jesus is Simon of Cyrene. We know very little about him except what we can glean from a few verses in the Bible. We know that he was seized by Roman soldiers and made to carry the cross as Jesus was led to his execution on the hill of Golgotha. We know that he was from Cyrene, a Greek city located in northern Africa in what is now Libya. At that time, Cyrene had a large Jewish community.

In the book of Mark, we also learn that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus. This leads us to believe that Mark’s original readers could very well have known these two men. Some scholars have wondered if Simon’s son, Rufus, is the same as the one mentioned with such familiarity later in Romans 16:13 by Paul.

They compelled a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.

MARK 15:21 NASB

What could Simon of Cyrene have experienced while carrying the cross of Jesus? What impact must this have had on his two sons? What impact does picking up the cross have on future generations?

Answer: Alexander and Rufus

JANUARY 11

JACOB’S PILLOW

When Jacob had his famous dream of a staircase, what did he use as a pillow for his head?

At night on his journey to Paddan Aram to find a wife, Jacob laid down to sleep. He placed his head on a stone. That night he dreamed of a ladder that extended from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. God then spoke to Jacob in the dream, declaring that he would bless Jacob the way he had blessed Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. He promised that the land where he now slept would belong one day to Jacob and his offspring, and they would become so numerous that they would spread around the world. The line of descendants through Jacob would come to bless all the families of the earth.

When Jacob woke up, he took the stone he had been sleeping against, put a pillar around it, poured oil over it, and named it Bethel, meaning “house of God.”

He came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.

GENESIS 28:11 ESV

Bonus Trivia: Amongst many other significant events, Bethel would later become the place where Jacob received his new name, Israel.

Answer: a stone

JANUARY 12

GIVING UP WHAT’S INSIDE

Where did Jonah try to go instead of going to Nineveh?

God wanted Jonah to deliver a message to the wicked people of Nineveh. Jonah, however, didn’t want to go because he knew that if the people repented, God would forgive them. Jonah hated the people of Nineveh, and he did not want God to give them a second chance. Instead of obeying, Jonah tried to flee as far away as possible.

The ironic twist to Jonah’s story is that everyone in the story had to give up something that they were holding onto inside of themselves; everyone, that is, except for Jonah. The sailors gave up their other belief systems and turned to God. The huge fish gave up the contents of his belly when it vomited Jonah onto dry land. The people of Nineveh gave up their evil ways and promised to serve God. But Jonah doubled down on his struggle with God and instead of giving in, he grew in his bitterness.

Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish.

He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

JONAH 1:3 NIV

How do you react when you are confronted with God’s holy character?

Answer: Tarshish (Spain)

JANUARY 13

LOVE FOR THE WORLD

FINISH THIS VERSE

For God so loved the world that he gave his _______ _______ _______ _______, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have _______ _______.

There are a few verses in the Bible that seem to sum up the most wonderful truths of Scripture. John 3:16 is one of those. In this verse we learn, first of all, that God loves the world profoundly, deeply, faithfully. Next, we learn that God loved the world so much that he was willing to give up his own Son. Third, we learn that anyone can choose to believe in God. And finally, we learn that whoever believes in him will have eternal life.

Jesus came to the earth in order to die on the cross. The reason this happened was because God loved people so much that he was willing to take the consequence of sin (death) upon himself rather than have people perish for eternity apart from him. But because Jesus overcame death through his resurrection, he also offers us eternal life if we believe in him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16 NIV

Do you believe in Jesus? Have you accepted that God loves you so much that he sent his one and only Son to die on your behalf so that you would have eternal life?

Answer: one and only Son; eternal life

JANUARY 14

HOW TO TREAT A PROPHET

What happened to the group of young men who ridiculed the prophet Elisha by calling him “baldy?”

Elisha was God’s prophet. Until this moment in 2 Kings, however, he had always accompanied Elijah, his mentor. But Elijah had passed his mantle to Elisha and then had gone up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Shortly after Elijah left, Elisha was walking into the town of Bethel. He was now God’s anointed voice for Israel. But as he entered the town, a large group of young men began to taunt him. They mocked him and ridiculed the way he looked. In doing so, they were also ridiculing the Lord who had chosen Elisha to represent him to the people.

When they didn’t stop, Elisha called upon the Lord to defend his name. That’s when two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two young men. These people had unrepentantly insulted God by insulting his prophet. The alarming punishment warned the people to respect God and his appointed prophet.

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

2 KINGS 2:23-24 NIV

When Jesus was ridiculed, he could have called down a curse on those who mocked him. Why do you think he didn’t do that?

Answer: forty-two of them were mauled by two bears

JANUARY 15

MUCH WITH LITTLE

Jesus fed the crowd of five-thousand with ______ loaves of bread and ______ fish.

Jesus had become so popular in the region around the Sea of Galilee that great crowds consisting of thousands of people began to gather everywhere he went. It became a problem when it was getting late and there was not enough food for everyone. The disciples were worried that other, significant problems could erupt in the crowd, so they begged Jesus to send everyone home. But Jesus wasn’t worried. He replied, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat” (v. 16). The disciples were flabbergasted. They only had five loaves and two fish! There were at least five-thousand men in attendance, not to mention the women and children in this vast sea of people!

Jesus sat everyone down, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and broke the bread. The disciples started distributing the food and then kept serving and serving and serving. Finally, after everyone had had their fill, the disciples collected twelve baskets full of leftover pieces of bread and fish.

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Bring them here to me,” he said.

MATTHEW 14:17-18 NIV

From this event, what did Jesus want everyone to know about him?

Answer: five; two

JANUARY 16

FREAK WEATHER

TRUE OR FALSE

God once stopped both the sun and the moon in the middle of the sky.

The verse immediately following this incredible event proclaims, “Never has there been a day like it before or since!” (v. 14). Joshua was in a very difficult situation. Rather than serve God, five enemy kings had allied together to attack his people in Gibeon. Joshua prayed that the Lord would fight for Israel.

He certainly fought! God threw the enemies into confusion through freak weather patterns! God hurled large hailstones down on the armies as they fled, killing more of them from the hail than had been killed by sword. He also caused the sun to stand still which lengthened the day enough to route the five armies and allow the enemy kings to be captured.

On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon over the Valley of Aijalon,”

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

JOSHUA 10:12-13 NIV

What do you think God wanted to prove by using unnatural as well as natural weather events to fight against Israel’s enemies?

Answer: true

JANUARY 17

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER

How many sons did Jacob have?

Throughout the Bible, the number twelve is significant. There are twelve sons of Jacob, twelve tribes of Israel, which are descended from Jacob’s sons, twelve disciples of Jesus, and dozens of more references. There is no magic formula with these appearances, but God did choose the number twelve to be a recurring indication of his plan of salvation for the world.

When the number twelve is used in the Bible, it echoes God’s covenant to bless the world through the offspring of Jacob, specifically Judah’s descendants. Despite their struggles and sins, it is through Jacob’s sons that the Messiah would later be born. Despite their wanderings and sins, it is through the tribes of Israel that the Savior would be revealed. And despite their fears and faults, it is through the twelve followers of Jesus that the world would come to know Jesus Christ.

The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali.

The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

GENESIS 35:23-26 NIV

Look through the Bible and find as many references to the number twelve as possible. Which of these stand out to you and why?

Answer: twelve

JANUARY 18

SITE OF REVELATION

John received the vision of Revelation while exiled to ___________________.

A. Babylon

B. Rome

C. Patmos

D. Philadelphia

John was exiled to an island in the Aegean Sea, between modern day Greece and Turkey. The intention of this imprisonment was to prohibit him from continually spreading the message about Jesus to the people throughout the Roman Empire.

Ironically, his landlocked confinement may have served to increase the impact of the gospel. It gave John significant opportunity to worship and pray which led to a vision that would become known throughout history and all over the world. The Revelation of John is filled with apocalyptic wonders but also of intimate personal invitation. His vision is both deeply disturbing and eternally encouraging. What impacts people about John’s vision most of all, however, is the revelation that Jesus Christ is the central figure for every human being and for all history. Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of humanity, the conquering King returning in glory, the author of redemption and re-creation for the world.

I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.

REVELATION 1:9 NLT

What do you find to be the strangest or most comforting part of the book of Revelation?

Answer: C) Patmos

JANUARY 19

FOURTH BOOK

What is the fourth book of the New Testament?

The New Testament begins with four small books called the Gospels. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all accounts of the life of Jesus, with the four together covering his birth to his resurrection. All four Gospels focus on the final three years of Jesus’ ministry, his miracles, his death on the cross, and his resurrection. The first three books, Matthew, Mark, and Luke have several coordinated stories, words, and themes.

John’s Gospel, while still sharing many of the same stories, gives a unique, eyewitness testimony of what Jesus did and who Jesus is. The book of John is bold in its proclamations that Jesus is God and that it is only through him that a person can be saved from sin. And the book of John is remarkably personal, having transformed the writer to the point where he referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

JOHN 21:24 NIV

What is your favorite verse from the book of John?

Answer: John

JANUARY 20

CALMING THE STORM

What question did the disciples ask themselves after Jesus calmed the storm?

A. When do we eat?

B. Who is this man?

C. Where’s Judas?

D. When can we go home?

The disciples feared for their lives during the storm. They were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee when the fierce storm hit them, and waves began breaking into the boat. But Jesus had been sleeping. He wasn’t worried. They woke him up and begged him to save them from drowning. He responded with a question, “Why are you so afraid?”

When he rebuked the winds and waves, there was an immediate calm. In that moment it is hard to say whether the disciples were more afraid of Jesus or the storm. They were amazed. They were bewildered by the discovery that Jesus had the power to control the elements of nature. They couldn’t help but ask, “Who is this man?”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked.

“Even the winds and waves obey him!”

MATTHEW 8:26-27 NLT

In the storms of life, who do you turn to?

Answer: B) Who is this man?

JANUARY 21

WIDOW’S SON

Before the son of the widow from Zarephath came back to life, how many times did Elijah stretch himself over the boy’s dead body?

Zarephath was a small town between the cities of Tyre and Sidon. It was on the western coast of what is now Lebanon. At God’s instructions, the prophet Elijah traveled there to take refuge in the home of a wary, yet generous, widow. Because of Elijah’s presence and the widow’s obedience, God had blessed her household.

While Elijah was there, her son contracted a severe illness and died. The distraught widow lashed out at Elijah, wondering if he had brought a curse upon her home. But Elijah cried out to the Lord, stretched himself over the boy three times, and asked God to bring the child back to life. When he did, the woman exclaimed, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth”.

He stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

1 KINGS 17:21-22 ESV

Why do you think God allowed the widow’s son to get sick and die while Elijah was staying in their home?

Answer: three

JANUARY 22

THE LONGEST NAME

What is the longest name in the Bible?

In a time when the kingdom of Judah was under attack and Jerusalem was being besieged, God instructed the prophet Isaiah to give his second son a symbolic name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz. The boy’s name is made up of four words that mean, “swift to spoil, quick to plunder.” While his name sounds ominous, it was a prophetic sign of what God was going to do to Judah’s enemies.

The kingdoms of Syria and Israel allied against the kingdom of Judah and inflicted significant destruction. The situation looked dire for Judah and for God’s promise to bring a Messiah through Judah. But God instructed Isaiah to give the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz to his son, informing him that before the boy was old enough to cry “my father” or “my mother,” Syria and Samaria would be destroyed by the King of Assyria. And that’s what happened. In 732 BC, Assyria swept in and conquered Syria and Samaria. To the people of Judah, it was a fearful and powerful reminder that God is the orchestrator of history and will make sure his plans succeed.

Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’”

ISAIAH 8:1 ESV

What promises of God do you know to be true even in the midst of challenging situations?

Answer: Mahershalalhashbaz

JANUARY 23

A LOT OF FOXES

How many foxes did Samson use to defeat the Philistines?

Samson’s life was a dysfunctional mess. Again and again, Samson compromised his faithfulness to God. Samson decided to marry a Philistine woman. Unfortunately, the Philistines were enemies of Israel. During the weeklong wedding ceremony, he became so frustrated with the tricks of his new bride and her friends that he left and went home to live with his parents. His bride was then given to Samson’s best man at the wedding (Judges 3:1-20).

Some time later, Samson went back to his bride only to discover that his best man was married to her instead. Samson said he couldn’t be blamed for everything he would do to the Philistines. Then he caught three hundred foxes, tied their tails together, and lit them on fire. The foxes ran through the Philistine grain fields and burned the crops to the ground. This sparked a series of violent clashes between the Philistines and Samson. In this way, Samson became both a judge of Israel and a warrior against its enemies.

He went out and caught 300 foxes.

He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails.

JUDGES 15:4 NLT

Why do you think God used a compromised person like Samson to still accomplish his purpose to save Israel?

Answer: three hundred

JANUARY 24

BROTHERLY JEALOUSY

Why did Joseph’s brothers become jealous of him?

You could say that Jacob created a bit of a dysfunctional family dynamic, but he couldn’t have predicted the tragic mess that would result from it. Jacob had multiple children through multiple women over span of multiple years. In his old age, his most beloved wife, Rachel, gave birth to Joseph. Jacob immediately favored the boy more than all of his other sons. At one point, Jacob gave Joseph an elaborate, beautiful coat as a show of his affection for his young son.

The other brothers grew jealous and angry at their younger brother’s privileged status. They devised a plan to beat Joseph nearly to death and sell him into slavery. They brought his bloodied coat back to Jacob and claimed that Jacob’s favored son had been mauled by a vicious animal and was dead.

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.

GENESIS 37:4 CSB

How does God use this tragic, dysfunctional situation to bring redemption to the family and ultimately to the whole world?

Answer: because their father, Jacob, loved Joseph the most

JANUARY 25

JUDGE IBZAN

How many sons and daughters did Israel’s judge, Ibzan, have?

Ibzan is considered a minor judge of Israel because his story is only three verses, his influence was only seven years, and he was not associated with any major historical campaigns.

Izban’s greatest achievement was that he had tremendous influence in Bethlehem through his significantly large family. It’s unclear whether it’s the Bethlehem in Zebulun or the one in Judea. He was likely a prosperous man who formed strategic alliances among leaders in Israel by way of the marriages of his many children. In this way, Ibzan banded the people of Israel together and became a powerful orchestrator of regional politics, business, and peace.

After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.

JUDGES 12:8-9 NLT

God fulfills his promises to rescue his people. Sometimes he uses people in unexpected situations to accomplish his plans. How might God want to use you uniquely for his purposes today?

Answer: thirty sons and thirty daughers

JANUARY 26

DAVID’S STRONG MEN

How many men did Abishai, one of David’s strong men, kill with a spear in a single battle?

David was a mighty warrior who, as a boy, killed Goliath. He had a difficult time staying alive because he had a lot of enemies. First Chronicles 11 gives us fascinating insight into the men who fought valiantly for him. Jashobeam killed hundreds of enemy soldiers in a single battle. Eleazar stood with David in a barley field and held off the Philistines when all the other soldiers fled. Abishai was the leader of a contingent of thirty mighty men. He was known for killing three hundred enemies in a single battle.

Every one of David’s thirty mighty men is listed in 1 Chronicles 11. These men became famous around Israel for their battle skills. It was their deep love for David and their willingness to die for him that enabled David to unite all of Israel under his reign as king.

Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

1 CHRONICLES 11:20-21 NLT

Why is it important to be surrounded by people who loyally support you?

Answer: three hundred

JANUARY 27

RISKING IT ALL

Who came with Joseph of Arimethea to ask Pilate for permission to bury Jesus’ body after the crucifixion?

Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees, a religious class of leaders and teachers committed to helping Israel follow God’s commandments. However, to help people follow God’s standards, the Pharisees would often add layer upon layer of strict bylaws and customs to ordinary daily routines. The Pharisees were regular challengers to Jesus’ authority and many of them eventually plotted to murder him. But Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus. In the third chapter of the book of John, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, probably so that he wouldn’t be seen, to learn more about who Jesus was. Jesus turned that conversation with Nicodemus into a deep discussion about being born again through the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the Pharisee that whoever believes in him, the Son of God, would have eternal life. This conversation must have deeply impacted Nicodemus.

A couple of years later on the afternoon that Jesus died, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea went to care for Jesus’ body. He was willing to put his own life and career on the line by giving Jesus’ body a proper burial before the Sabbath began.

With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth.

JOHN 19:39-40 NLT

What do you risk by believing in Jesus?

Answer: Nicodemus

JANUARY 28

AT ONCE

What was Matthew’s job before becoming a disciple of Jesus?

The job of tax collector had a rather notorious designation. The men who took this job were helping the oppressive government of the Roman Empire to subdue the Jewish people. Many people considered tax collectors to be ultimate betrayers of Israel, and therefore of God. People in this profession were so disrespected that a tax collector was paired in the common vernacular with the word sinner. Jesus was often accused of hanging out with tax collectors and sinners as if it was such a despicable profession that it didn’t even warrant inclusion with bad individuals.

It was a remarkable moment when Jesus stopped at the booth of a young man named Matthew and asked him to become his disciple. A deep, internal motivation erupted within Matthew, and he responded immediately to Jesus’ invitation by getting up and following him.

As Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

LUKE 5:27-28 NLT

Jesus is asking you to follow him today. What would an immediate response to his invitation look like for you?

Answer: he was a tax collector

JANUARY 29

BLINDED BY JESUS

Where was Paul blinded?