God's Word: The Bible... Book by Book

The Bible is a BIG book. It contains all the spiritual truths that God wants us to know and believe.

But the Bible is such a big book. There are 66 books and 1,189 chapters in the Bible. How can the Christian comprehend it all?

The purpose of this book by book study of the Bible is to familiarize ourselves with the basic teachings and content of each book of the Bible. Our study will cover 52 weeks in an overview of the entire Bible book by book. Each week there will be 5 questions that deal with an individual book or books of the Bible. Our goal is to grow in our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. Each book is all about Jesus and God’s plan of salvation for sinners like us.

Some of the sections for the week contain quite a few chapters. You do not have to thoroughly read each chapter. Rather, you are to skim through the chapters and answer the questions. Remember this is an OVERVIEW of the Bible.

May the Holy Spirit who works through God's Word bless your study as you "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Week 25: Jeremiah 30-52/ Lamentations

1. What was the restoration the Lord had in mind for his people?
2. What kind of treatment did Jeremiah receive as the prophet of God?
3. What message did the Lord have for those who opposed him?
4. Why is the author of Lamentations lamenting?
5. What makes Lamentations 3:22-23 such a great passage to commit to memory?

Week 24: Jeremiah 1-29

1. What does the Lord through Jeremiah reveal about Israel's spiritual condition?
2. What was the Lord looking for from his people, yet what did he find?
3. How does the Lord respond to Jeremiah's complaint in chapters 12-20?
4. Despite the sins of kings, prophets and people, what glimmer of hope is given in chapter 23?
5. What specific prophecy does God make regarding the Babylonian captivity?

Week 23: Isaiah 40-66

1. What made Israel God's special people as described in chapters 40-45?
2. Who is the Servant of the Lord and what will he accomplish for God's people?
3. What does the Lord through Isaiah invite believers to do in chapters 55-57?
4. Why do God's people have a reason to rejoice?
5. What unbelievable blessing will the Lord create just for his faithful believers?

Week 22: Isaiah 1-39

1. Despite God’s judgment on Israel, what promises does he make in chapters 1-6?
2. How is the promised Savior depicted in chapters 7, 9, and 11?
3. In the section of prophecies against Israel’s enemies which nations catch your eye?
4. What comfort does God give to his people throughout this section of judgment?
5. What historical account does Isaiah use to transition into part 2 of his book?

Week 21: Ecclesiastes/ Song of Songs

1. How does the Teacher understand life under the sun?
2. What are the benefits of true wisdom?
3. What conclusion does the Teacher draw regarding life under the sun?
4. How might Song of Songs be interpreted as the love between a husband and wife?
5. How might Song of Songs be interpreted as the love between Christ and his church?

Week 20: Proverbs

1. What contrasts does Solomon make between wisdom and folly?
2. What words of wisdom does Solomon offer for family life?
3. What words of wisdom does Solomon give regarding personal and social life?
4. What words of wisdom does Solomon reveal pertaining to spiritual life?
5. Identify some final words of wisdom in the last seven chapters of Proverbs.

Week 19: Psalms 73-150

1. What are some of Asaph’s concerns in Psalms 73-83?
2. What encouragements are given by the sons of Korah in Psalms 84-89?
3. How would you summarize the main thoughts in Psalms 90-106?
4. What is the general tone of Psalms 107-150?
5. What are your top five favorite Psalms?

Week 18: Psalms 1-72

1. What are some of the afflictions David is struggling with in Psalms 1-14?
2. What are some common threads that run through Psalms 15-35 as David seeks comfort?
3. In what way do Psalms 36-41 return to theme running through the first 14 psalms?
4. What do Psalms 42-60 say to us when we feel threatened, fearful, or overwhelmed with guilt?
5. How do Psalms 61-72 reveal the intensity of David’s longing for the Lord?

Week 17: Job

1. What did God allow Satan to do to Job?
2. Of what in general are Job’s friends accusing him (4-14)?
3. What bright spot is there in Job’s words at the end of chapter 19?
4. What words of wisdom does Elihu add (32-37)?
5. How would you summarize the Lord’s message to Job (38-41)?

Week 16: Esther

1. Who was Esther?
2. What was Haman's plot?
3. Why was Mordecai honored?
4. What was the king's edict on behalf of the Jews?
5. Why can we be confident that this book is inspired by God even though his name is never mentioned?

Week 15: Ezra/ Nehemiah

1. What was the order that King Cyrus gave?
2. What was the first order of business for the remnant of God's people who returned?
3. Why did Ezra the priest come to Jerusalem?
4. Why did Nehemiah, a layman, come to Jerusalem?
5. What did the Israelites agree to do after hearing Ezra read the Book of the Law?

Week 14: 2 Chronicles

1. What is noteworthy about the materials Solomon used to build the temple?
2. What does the writer of Chronicles highlight regarding Solomon's reign?
3. Name five good kings of Judah after Solomon and before Hezekiah.
4. What reforms did King Hezekiah bring about?
5. How did God use King Josiah to restore his people after wicked King Manasseh?

Week 13: 1 Chronicles

1. Note the NIV headings in the first 3 chapters as the writer chronicles the history of God's people.
2. Of all the sons of Jacob, why does Judah come first?
3. In the early life of David what activities are highlighted?
4. What was God's promise to David and how did he respond to that promise?
5. What part did David have in the construction of the temple?

Week 12: 2 Kings

1. Name some of the miracles God’s prophet Elisha performed.
2. How did the Lord use King Jehu of Israel to carry out his judgment?
3. Name some good kings in Judah.
4. What happened to the nation of Israel because of their idolatry?
5. What major reforms did King Josiah of Judah carry out?

Week 11: 1 Kings

1. How does Solomon firmly establish his reign as king?
2. What were some of the furnishing that Solomon had made for the temple he built?
3. What was the great King Solomon's downfall?
4. Name the first 4 kings of Judah?
5. What were some of the miracles that God's prophet Elijah performed?

Week 10: 2 Samuel

1. What political struggle occurred when David was crowned King over Judah?
2. After David was made King over all Israel, what was one of his first orders of business?
3. How did the Lord deal with David's sin of adultery with Bathsheba?
4. What things did Absalom do to try and take over his father David's rule as king?
5. How does the writer of 2 Samuel bring David's reign to an end?

Week 9: 1 Samuel

1. What message did the Lord have for Samuel regarding Eli, the priest?
2. What happened to the Philistines when they captured the ark of God?
3. Why did the Lord reject Saul as Israel’s first king?
4. Why was Saul trying to kill David?
5. How does David show respect for King Saul who continued to pursue him?

Week 8: Judges/ Ruth

1. Why did God punish the Israelites by sending raiding armies against them?
2. Name the first five judges.
3. Who were Israel’s enemies that Gideon defeated, and who did Jephthah defeat?
4. What was the main reason for Samson’s downfall? (not Delilah)?
5. What were the circumstances that led Ruth to meet her future husband Boaz?

Week 7: Joshua

1. How did the Lord bring down the walls of Jericho?
2. What miracle did God perform that allowed Joshua to defeat the Amorites?
3. Which tribes received their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan?
4. Why did God designate cities of refuge?
5. Why did Joshua assemble all the tribes at Shechem before he sent them home?

Week 6: Deuteronomy

1. What reason did Moses give for the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert?
2. Besides the Ten Commandments, what other laws did God give to Moses and the Israelites?
3. Note the various laws Moses repeated regarding marriage and the family.
4. What were some of the blessings God promised for those who kept his commands?
5. What did Moses do before he died?

Week 5: Numbers

1. Who were the 12 tribes of Israel? (remember that the tribe of Levi is excluded)?
2. What were the responsibilities of the Levites?
3. How does God squash the rebellion of Korah and his fellow conspirators?
4. What did King Balak want Balaam to do?
5. What did God emphasize to the new generation of Israelites after the second census?

Week 4: Leviticus

1. What were the five main offerings God prescribed for the Israelites?
2. Besides eating unclean food, what were other ways to become "unclean"?
3. What happened on the most sacred day of the year, the Day of Atonement?
4. What were the three main feasts or festivals for God's Old Testament people?
5. What was to take place in the Year of Jubilee?

Week 3: Exodus

1. What did the Lord reveal to Moses from the burning bush?
2. What were the 10 plagues?
3. In addition to the 10 commandments what did Moses also receive at Mt. Sinai?
4. Why did the Lord show his glory, at least the tail end of it, to Moses?
5. To whom did the Old Testament tabernacle direct the Israelites' worship?

Week 2: Genesis 25-50

1. What did God promise Jacob as he fled from Esau on his way to Bethel?
2. What did Jacob learn from wrestling with God?
3. Why did Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery?
4. What was Joseph’s purpose in not revealing himself right away to his brothers?
5. What was Jacob’s reaction when he was told that Joseph was still alive?

Week 1: Genesis 1-24

1. What happened to God's perfect world and what were the results?
2. Why did God command Noah to build an ark?
3. Why did the people of the world want to build "a tower that reaches to the heavens"?
4. What was God's special promise to Abraham?
5. How did God keep his promise to Abraham?