Daily Bible Study Spring 2020

Spring Theme: Life This spring, Daily Bible Study presents a series of readings supporting the theme "Life." Readings come from Old and New Testament texts. These daily readings, which prepare us for the 13 lessons in Adult Bible Studies, are written by Sue Mink, Michael Whitcomb-Tavey, and Clara Welch. Wilderness Suffering is a reality of life, and the readings in this unit take us to places in Scripture where suffering is a dominant theme. From the Old Testament and the New Testament, we read stories that take place in gardens and in the wilderness. We also retrace the exile of the people of Judah and better understand the suffering that experience brought. We examine these stories, not to wallow in misery, but to understand them as a context for hope and salvation as we, too, live through times of suffering. Salvation Suffering is not the end of our story when God is involved with us. Thus, the readings in this second unit are about salvation. They explore the new start for the people of Judah, represented by the rebuilding of the Temple in Haggai's time and the new start for humankind announced by John the Baptist and accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus, new starts made possible by God’s initiative. Grace One of the early readings in this quarter is about the expulsion from the garden of Eden, the loss of paradise. In the readings from this unit, we see the Bible’s prophecy of the return to paradise—the kingdom of God—made possible by God’s grace, along with other points in Scripture at which God’s grace was operative. Each of these readings reminds us that God’s grace is an ongoing force in life for those who are faithful to God. This ongoing day-by-day Bible study series is a great companion to Adult Bible Studies but can also be used as a standalone study for anyone wanting daily time with God. It is presented in quarterly segments. Bible-based, Christ-focused, and United Methodist-approved, this resource helps individuals develop the discipline of studying the Bible every day and coordinates with the lesson themes of Adult Bible Studies. Each lesson includes a one-page Bible study for each day of the quarter, along with introductory reflection questions and commentary on the daily Scripture passage, life application, and a concluding prayer. Now, in response to feedback, we are introducing new features and benefits to the resources including: A comprehensive Bible study plan with more flexibility in terms of Scripture selection and topics. Observation of the church seasons, including Advent and Lent. Visit AdultBibleStudies.com and sign up for the FREE weekly newsletter to automatically receive the FREE Current Events Supplement and other information about these resources and more!