Fellowship/Bible Studies

Will You Pray With Me

Lead Others in Prayer 

Classes for adults. We will be using this book as study guide: Will You Pray With Me by Steve Langhofer & Anne Williams. Class held in at Northminster Church Library Area Sept 18, 24 and Oct 2 11:15 – noon 

Daily Online Bible Study at 8 a.m.

Join us for each morning at 8 on Zoom for a daily online bible study. Please contact the church office for the Zoom login credentials.

Book Study: Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, by John Lewis

We are meeting weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6 - 7 pm with Southeast Community Church to discuss, “Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America” by Miles McPherson. Please contact the office for the Meeting Zoom ID number if you would like to join us.

bible study on ephesians

This bible study has ended, but is available for self-study. See below for the associated study material.

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11/25/2020: 11 Peter Study Questions

1. What are we to stir up? (1-2)

2. How did Peter in this chapter show the unity of the Old Testament with the New Testament? (2,16)

3. Who will come in the last days? (3)

4. What historical events did Peter use to refute the uniformitarian idea that all things continue as they were from the beginning? (5-6)

5. What three worlds (earths) are mentioned? (6-7,13)

6. What answer is given to the implied argument of the scoffers, i.e., since he hasn't come yet, he never will? (8)

7. What is the purpose of the seeming delay of the Lord’s coming? (9)

8. How is the future judgment of the earth described? (7,10-12)

9. How should our understanding of this judgment (“seeing then”) motivate us? (11)

10. What is one of the exceeding, great, and precious promises? (13,1:4)

11. How should this hope (seeing that we look for these things) motivate us? (14,1:5,10)

12. What did Peter have to say of Paul and his epistles? (15-16)

13. What should we beware of? (17)

14. How should we grow? (18)

15. With what doxology does Peter conclude this epistle? (18)

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to be willingly ignorant?

2. How was the earth before the flood different that it is today?

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11/18/2020: 2 Peter Study Questions

1. What will false teachers bring into the church? (1, 2)

2. What seems to be the motivation of false teachers in the church? (3)

3. What Old Testament examples were given to show that "the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished?" (5-9)

4. What nouns & adjectives were used to describe the false teachers? (10, 12-14, 17, 19, 22)

5. What things were these false teachers not afraid to do? (10, 12, 14-15, 18)

6. What indicates that these false teachers are backsliders? (1, 15, 20)

7. What lead Balaam astray? (15)

8. What judgment is prophesied for these false teachers? (3, 12, 13, 17, 20-22)

Discussion Questions

a) What false teachings are in the church today?

b) What other book of the Bible gives similar teaching to II Peter Chapter 2?

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11/11/2020: II PETER BIBLE QUESTIONS

Chapter 1

1. How does the author identify himself? (1)

2. What in this epistle shows it is Peter's second epistle? (3:1)

3. How are grace and peace multiplied? (2)

4. What are some things that God has given us? (3-4)

a)

b)

5. What are we able to partake of if we escape the corruption of the world? (4)

6. What things are we to add to faith, and what things will God multiply? (2,5-7)

a)

b)

7. What rewards are there for one who diligently adds the above qualities to his life? (8-11)

8. What is the result of not adding these things? (9)

9. When does Peter want his readers to remember these things? (12)

10. What example did Peter give that indicates he was not following cunningly devised fables, but was an eyewitness of Christ? (16-18)

11. What is meant by "more sure word of prophecy?" (19-21) & Who is the day star? (19, Revelation 22:16)

12. How did the prophecy of the scripture come to being? (21, II Timothy 3:16)

Discussion Questions

a) What are the greatest promises in the Bible?

b) Why is the word of God "more sure" than experiences and testimonies?

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11/4/20: I Peter Bible Study Questions Week V

Chapter 4 – Suffering for Being a Christian

1.     What are we not to think strange? (vs 12)

2.     What three things should be our attitude display when we suffer for Christ’s sake? (vs 13-16)

3.     Verse 17 ‘For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ This is not a reference to the final judgment but to God’s refining discipline. Read Hebrews 12:7. God often allows believers to experience the consequences for sin for several reasons. Try to name 4:

4.     According to vs 19: What should you do when you suffer according to the will of God?

5.     How have you suffered for Christ and how have you reacted?

Chapter 5 - To Elders & The Church & Final Greetings

6.     What three qualifications did Peter give for himself? (vs 1)

7.     How are the instructions that Peter gave, similar to what Jesus told Peter? (2, John 21:15-17)

8.     What three things should not motivate the elder? (2-3)

9.     What is said regarding pride and humility? (5-6)

10.   What should we do with our cares? (7)

11.   What three instructions are given the Christian regarding the devil? (8-9)

12.   What does God want to do for us after we have suffered for a while? (10)

13.  What does this epistle begin and end with? (1:2, 5:14)

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10/21/20: I Peter Bible Study Week III   QUESTIONS

  1. What terms does Peter use to show we are just passing thru this life? (1:1; 1:17; 2:1)

  2. What should be our reaction to those who speak against us?

    What is our hope if we live godly lives? (Vs 2:11-12)

  3. Why are Xian’s to submit to authority over them?

    What positive results can come from suffering for doing what is right? (2:13-15)

  4. Verse 16 says: “Live as free people”. How can we do that when the authority over us is harsh or evil? (2:13-17)

  5. What kind of masters should servants be subject to? (18)

  6. What was the result of Christ’s suffering? (2:24)

  7. List three attitudes Peter suggest of a godly Christian wife. (3:1-6)

  8. What does Peter ask of husbands? (3:7)

  9. What should be our attitude toward everyone we interact with in life? (3:8-11)

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10/14/20: I Peter Bible Study Questions for weeks I & II

Peter mentioned the sufferings of Christ in each chapter of this epistle and the sufferings of the believers. There is a reward for suffering for righteousness but not for evil doing.

1. How does the author describe himself & the people to whom he writes? (vs 1,2) Elect; exiles, scattered, chosen, sanctified, called to be obedient

2. What is revealed about the Trinity of God? (vs 2) Chosen by the Father; sanctified by the Spirit, redeemed by the Son

3. Have you ever found yourself feeling like an alien or exiled? What were the circumstances? Where or how can people find grace & peace in such a situation?

Q? grace from God/family/church

4. What difference does it make in a person’s life whether they consider themselves rejected or chosen? How does this relate to our current political situation?

Huge difference in world view. Each fulfill their expectation. Why a name is so important.

5. What are the four aspects regarding our inheritance? (vs 4) Can never perish, spoil or fade; it waits for you in heaven

6. How do 1:6, 8 relate to James 1:2? To consider it a joy…is preparing us for heaven…relationship w/God

7. What two groups were not able to experience the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven? (vs 10-12) Prophets & Angles

8. What three imperatives are given? (15, 17, 22)

Be Holy; live your life in reverent fear; love deeply

9. As children of God, what are some things that we are to lay aside? (vs 1)

Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy & slander

10. As newborn babes what should we desire and why? (vs 2-3)

How can you best obtain spiritual nourishment? What evidence is there in your life that this is what you really want?

11. How does Peter describe the stone that we come to? (vs 4)

Rejected forced to submit to God’s ways

12. Jesus is what particular stone of the spiritual house? (vs 6)

What is the importance of this stone?

13. What descriptive phrases are used describe Christians? (vs 2,5,9)

Newborns; living stones; chosen

14. For what purpose has God chosen us? (vs 9)

To declare the praises of God

9. How do those who are nobody become somebody? (9-10)

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9/16/2020: Exodus Week 7 Bible Study Questions

1. Of what does the Lord remind Israel in Exodus 19:3-4

2. What is the Lord’s purpose and plan for His people? See Exodus 19:5-6

3. How must Israel prepare themselves to meet their God? See Exodus 19:9-15

4. Describe the way in which the Lord revealed Himself to His people. See Exodus 19:16-18

5. Why were the Ten Commandment necessary for God’s new nation?

6. Why is keeping the Sabbath so important? See Ex 31:12-17

7. What was the only command with a promise attached to it? Why do you think this promise was included?

8. When the people tremble in the presence of the Lord God, how does Moses comfort them? See Exodus 20:18-20

9. Sometimes God speaks to his people with a majestic display of power; at other times he speaks quietly. Why the difference?

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9/9/2020: Exodus 15 - 16

Study Questions:

1. How would you describe the condition of the people since they left Egypt? How would you describe the attitude of the people?

2. Why do you think they are forgetting again the miracles God had done for them?

3. What does the Israelite’s complaining tell us about their relationship w/Moses & Aaron? About their relationship w/God? Why do you say that?

4. What is Moses & Aaron’s response to the Israelite’s complaints? What is God’s response to their complaints? Why is that? What does God’s response tell us about God?

5. What must we do to remain faithful when facing tests & temptations? (15:26)

6. What does the Israelites’ complaining tell us about their relationship with Moses and Aaron? About their relationship with God? Why do we say that?

7. What were the rules for collecting manna? What was the point of those rules? What can we learn from those rules?

8. The manna was freely provided by God, what did the Israelite’s have to do in order to eat it? What biblical principle is there in this?

9. How would manna’s absence on the Sabbath day act as an object lesson for them/us? What should be our attitude about working on Sunday’s?

10. Why do you think God commanded that a jar of manna be kept?

11. Read John 6:32-35. How does Jesus compare himself to the manna from Heaven? What does this mean to us today?

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9/2/2020: Exodus 13:17-14:31  

Study Questions:

1.      Why didn’t God lead the Israelites by way of the land of the Philistines? (17)

2.      What did Moses take with him when he left Egypt? (19) Gen. 50:24-25

3.      How did God lead the Israelites? (21) also see Numbers 12:5-6; Duet. 31:15-16

4.      What did Pharaoh do when he realized he had let Israel go from serving Egypt?14:5-9

5.      How did the children of Israel react when they saw the Egyptians marching after them? (10-12)

6.      What did Moses say to the people? (13-14)

7.      What did God put between the children of Israel and the Egyptians? (19-20)

8.      By what means did God cause the sea to go back? (21)

9.      What did God tell Moses to do so the waters would come back? (26-27)

10.   What was the reaction of Israel when they saw what God had done? (31)

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8/19/2020: Exodus 7 - 9

Study Questions:

1. What happened to Moses on the way back to Egypt? (Ex 4:18-26)

2. Who helped Moses convince the elders God wanted to rescue Israel from its slavery in Egypt?  (Ex 427-31)

3. Who were the ‘overseers’ and what happened to them as a result of Moses meeting with Pharaoh?  (Ex 5:1-21)

4. What did God promise Moses after Pharaoh became angry with his request to let the Israelite’s go & worship their God?  (Ex 5:22-6:8) 

5. Why is the genealogy of Moses & Aaron listed?   (Ex 6:13-26)

6. What did God ask of Moses & Aaron in Ex 6:28-7:2? 

7. What unusual happened in the battle of the snakes?  (Ex 7:8-13)

8. What were the 9 plagues & what was significant about each one? (Ex 7:14-10:29? 

9. What was the comment of the magicians when they could not duplicate the next plague?  (Ex 8:18-19)

10. What is the difference between Pharaoh hardening his heart & God hardening Pharaoh’s heart?  (Romans 9:15-18)

Bonus Questions:

  • What can we learn about God’s character?

  • What can we learn about human nature?

  • What can we learn about pride?

  • What can we learn about true repentance? 

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7/29/2020: Exodus Chapters 1-2

Study Questions:

1. How many times in chapter 1 did Moses emphasize how numerous and how strong the Jews became in Egypt? Verses 1:8-14

2. What is significant about the new king’s lack of knowledge about Joseph? (read Gen 47:1-10 & Gen 50:1-11)

3. What’s your best guess to explain the seemingly contradictory statements by the new Egyptian king “they are too many & too mighty for us” and “Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict heavy burdens”.

4. What did the king mean of his fear: “if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Verses 1:15-22

5. Could the Egyptian king really have expected the midwives to commit infanticide?

6. What was the Egyptian king’s second plan for reducing the Hebrew threat & how much does Moses tell us about whether or not it succeeded? Vs 2:1-10

7. What do the NT authors tell us about Moses’ birth and upbringing? (Acts 7:22; Heb 11:23-26)

8. After Moses had killed the Egyptian and went back to the Hebrews and tried to stop a conflict between two of them, how did they respond to Moses? How did Stephen interpret this experience in his speech before the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:35?

9. How long did Moses live in Egypt as Pharaoh’s adopted grandson?

How long did his live in Midian with his father-in-law, Reuel Jethro?

(see Acts 7:23,30)

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7/22/2020: Ephesians 6 Section B         Ephesians 6:18-24      Walking in Prayer

Study Questions:

  1. Describe phrase by phrase the prayer instructions in verses 18-20.

  2. How can this kind of intercessory prayer be an addition to the armor?

  3. Do you ever feel as Paul felt in vs. 19?   What do you do about it?

  4. What 3 or 4 things mentioned in vs 23-24 are essential to our Christian lives? Define those in your own words.

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7/15/2020: Ephesians 6 Section A         Ephesians 6:10-17         Walking in Confidence

Study Questions:

  1. What are the instructions of verses 10-11?     (Also see: Rom 13:12; II Corth 6:7)

  2. What does the OT tell us about the devil in:  Ezekiel 28:11-19 & Isaiah 14:12-17

  3. What does the NT tell us about the devil today & in the future?  

    • Mt 25:41

    • Jn 12:31

    • John 16:11

    • Col 2:15

    • Heb 2:14

    • Rev 20:1-3

    • Rev 20:7-10

  4. What does I John 4:4 tell us about overcoming the devil?

  5. What tactics does the devil employ to make us faulter & sin?  

    • Gen 3:4

    • I Chron 21:1

    • Mt 4:3

    • Mt 13:19

    • Jn 8:44

    • II Corth 2:11

    • II Corth 11:14-15

    • II Corth 12:7

    • Col 1:13

    • I Thess 3:5

    • I Peter 5:8

    • Rev 12:10    

  6. What does James 4:7 & Roman 16:19-20 suggest for resisting the devil?     

  7. Whom do we wrestle against according to Ephesians 6:12?   What do we not wrestle against? 

  8. List the pieces of armor, and try to define each in your own words:

    1. Connect the following verses w/the piece of armor to which it seems to belong:

      Job 23:12                                                                    Jn 14:27

      Isaiah 26:3                                                                  Jn 17:17

      Isaiah 52:7                                                                  Rom 10:9-10

      Is 61:10                                                                       Rom 10:17

      Mt 6:33                                                                       I Thess 5:9

      Mt 22:29                                                                     Heb 4:12

      Jn 8:32                                                                         Heb 11:6

      Jn 14:6

  9. What do you think hinders our effective use of this armor?

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7/8/2020: Ephesians 5 Section C         Verses 5:21-6:9         Walking with Others

Study Questions:

  1. List the different kinds of submission used by Paul in vs 21-33.

  2. What do you think would be the result in theses if they were followed in obedience to Christ?

  3. Why do you think people are reluctant to follow them?

  4. Do you think God is right to give instructions on these relationships?

  5. Is there anything personally could do about submission as it applies to you?

  6. Why do you think fathers so often exasperate their children?

  7. How could you apply the instruction to servants to your own job?

  8. Should Believers apply Christian principles in the secular workplace?

  9. What do you find the most helpful & the most challenging in this lesson?

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7/1/2020: Mark 6:6-13

Study Questions:

1.    Read Mark 6:7 & Matthew 18:20. What do these verses tell us about how the church is to carry out its ministry?  How has our church followed these patterns in its ministries?

2.    What do you understand: ‘given authority over evil spirits mean”?        vs 7 

3.    “Take nothing with you”; vs 8-9.  How did God provide for the Israelites in this way during the exodus?    Have you experienced God providing like this in your life? 

4.    “Take a staff, but no…”   How does this compare with Jesus words in Matt 10:10 & Luke 9:3?

5.    Read Matthew’s account, 10:1-31.   What are some of the things Matthew adds not mentioned in the Mark & Luke account?

Which of these do you find most significant?

6.    Read Mark 6:14-16.   What is significant about following this section with the story of John the Baptist?

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6/24/2020: Ephesians 5 Section          Verses 9-20         Walking with a Song in Your Heart

Study Questions:

1.     Consider the different aspects of walking in the light in the following verses

Ps 27:1

Ps 119:105,130

Prov 6:23

Mt 5:14

Lk 11:34-35

Jn3:19-21

Jn 8:12

Jn 12:35-36

Act 26:18

I Peter 2:9

What do these things personally tell us about walking as a child of the light?

2.      How can we walk wisely, making the most of every opportunity? Vs15-17

What does that mean to you in practical ways?

3.     Explain vs 18 in your own words.  Why do you think Paul used this analogy?

4.     What part do you think music plays in being filled with the Spirit? vs. 19

5.     What part does thanksgiving play in being filled with the Spirit? Vs. 20

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6/16/2020: Ephesians 5 Section A         Verses 1-8         Walking in the Moment

Study Questions:

1.     From this text, what do you think it means to “walk in love”?

What would that involve?

2.     What are the habits of life that are not to be named among the saints? Things that are improper for God’s people, vs. 1 & 2.

3.     How would giving thanks contrast these things?

4.     Explain verse 5 in your own words.

What is the answer to these things found in I Corth 6:9-11?

5.     How can we befriend unbelievers in order to lead them to Christ yet avoid being influenced by them in negative ways? See Luke 5:29-31

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6/10/2020: Ephesians 4 Section B         Verses 17-23         Walking in the Light

Study Questions:

1.      What are the things listed vs 17-19 that are typical of the old life without Christ?

2.      How can we put off the old manner of life?    Vs.20-23   See Romans 12:1-2

3.      How can we put on the new man?  Vs.24    See Romans 6:4-11

4.      In vs. 25-29, give the practical & damaging things one should put off?

What are the positive counterparts to these?

5.      How can you be angry and not sin?

6.      How do we give the devil a foothold in our lives? 

7.      What would be unwholesome talk?

8.      How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?

9.     What is the solution according to vs. 32? How could you apply this solution in a practical say?

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6/3/2020: Acts 2:         Walking in the Spirit

Scripture Study Review and discussion

We will be reading through the chapters, verse by verse and have discussion.

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5/27/2020: Ephesians 4 Section A         Verses 1-16         Walking in Unity

Study Questions:

1.    What are some of the different aspects of our vocation/calling (mentioned in vs. 1) that are found in the following verses?

Eph 1:12

Eph 2:10

Eph 3:19

2.    How do we walk worthy of such a calling according to this passage (vs 2-3)?

3.    How would you endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit?

4.    List the seven-fold unity in verse 4-6.

5.    List the gifts mentioned here that enhance our unity & oneness in Christ & His ministry (vs 7-11)

6.    What is the stated purpose of those gifts?

7.    From what will we be protected? (vs 14) What will be the result? (vs. 15-16)

8.    Read I Corinthians 12:4-27.  In light of these verses along with Ephesians 4, what are you told about our place in the body of Christ?

9.    How essential are you personally?

10.Which verse from either of these 2 passages especially speak to you concerning these things?

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5/20/2020: Ephesians 3

Study Questions:

The Mystery of the Chruch 3:1-12

1.     What does Paul say was the specific mystery essentially hidden from the OT Saints?

2.     What do the following reference relate to this idea.  Name the prophet in each case.

Romans 9:25

Romans 10:19

Romans 10:20

The Fullness for the Church 3:13-21

3.     What specific things did Paul pray for believers in Ephesians vs 16-19?

4.     How does verse 20 fit with this prayer & what does it say to you?

5.     Consider the different aspects of God’s ability in the following verses:

Romans 4:19-21

Romans 14:4

22 Corinthians 9:6-8

Philippians 3:20-21

Hebrews 2:17-18

Hebrews 7:25

Jude 24

6.     What specified difference could this prayer make in your life?

7.     What did you find helpful in this chapter, & why?

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5/13/2020: Ephesians 2 Section B         2:11-22         Our New Identity in Christ

Study Questions:

1. List the characteristics of paganism in vs. 11-12; how did they overcome these as described in verse 13?

2. How does the blood of Christ reverse the negatives in verse 12?

3. What do the following verses say about the blood of Christ?

  • Acts 20:28

  • Romans 3:25

  • Colossians 1:20

  • I Peter 1:18-19

4. What do verses 14-18 say how God has made Jew & Gentile one in Christ?

5. How did God reconcile both Jew & Gentile by the cross?

6. Who does this leave out; who is not reconciled by the cross? (Rom 10:9-13)

7. What is the result of reconciliation in Ephesians 2:19-22?

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5/6/2020: Ephesians 2 Section A         2:1-10         Our New Condition in Christ

Study Questions:

  1. In verses 1-3, what was our condition in the past before we were in Christ?

  2. In verses 4-10, find several things that are true of those who are in Christ.

  3. Who is the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”?  (see Luke 10:18; John 12:31)  

  4. Who is your price?    

  5. How are you in Christ?

  6. What do Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us about salvation?

  7. Vs. 10 speaks of our works; say what the practical significance of this verse is to you.

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Friday Christian Home Fellowship Group

An in depth study of scripture supported by material from various Christian authors.  We are currently finishing a study on the Book of James. Next week, May 15th, we are starting a study using Donald Miller’s book, “Searching for God Knows What”.

Group members rotate as leaders. New members always welcome. We always have time for fellowship and prayer. The group meets Fridays at 7:00 pm. Due to the current shelter in place order, we are meeting online via Zoom. Please call Church office if interested.

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Monday Bible Study

Ordinarily, the Monday Bible Study group meets at 1:30 each Monday afternoon in Lindig Library at Northminster PC.  Currently, this group is on recess, due to the pandemic. You are welcome to join this on-going study group any Monday once we are back up and running! Please call the Church Office if interested.

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