Let’s try to read as much of the Bible we can together this year. 

I know it is not always easy. 

I want to help. 

I am going to provide you with some questions most Mondays to Fridays that will help you get a little something out of what you are reading. Sometimes there will be more questions, sometimes less. So, get a notebook, a pen, your Bible, and if you would like some help, take some time to answer the questions, and you may be surprised by all God teaches you this year. 

Genesis 5

God’s created a beautiful world. He’s given man an amazing privilege. Not content with that, man’s wanted to be God Himself and rebelled. The result, God’s kept His promise to judge. But surprise! He’s also made a promise to save through one of Eve’s descendants. One of Eve’s descendants has chosen to follow Satan and attacked and killed the descendant who was following God. But hope is not lost! God’s given Eve another son and this son begins a generation of people who are calling upon God. What next? 

1. Did you notice how verse 1 began? If you quickly go back to 2:4, what do you read there? The only reason I call your attention to that is because you will find these statements throughout Genesis and they function a little like chapter headings might in a book. We have had an introduction in Genesis 1, we have had the first chapter about the beginning of the world and the fall and the consequences of that in 2-4. And now, we are onto chapter 3!
2. At the end of verse 1, who did God make man in the likeness of?  Who exactly is he talking about according to verse 2? What important truth does that tell you about women specifically?
3. What happened to Adam in verse 5? You are going to see that word a lot. What does that tell you about the consequences of sin? 
4. Everyone dies in this chapter! Well, almost everyone. Who escapes the curse of death and how? 
5. What does Lamech say when he has Noah? How is what he says connected to Genesis 3? What do you think he is hoping here? 

Psalm 5

1. What is the Psalmist doing at the beginning of this chapter? What unusual word does he use to describe what he is doing? What does that tell you about the Christian life? 
2. What does he tell us about God? 
3. What is God’s attitude towards those who do iniquity and towards those who lie? 
4. How does the Psalmist describe the wicked in verses 9 and 10? What does he want to see happen to them if they don’t repent and why? 
5. What do the righteous do according to verse 11? And what does the Psalmist want them to experience and why? 
6. What does God do for the righteous man?

Matthew 5

1. Who does Jesus say is blessed? Which of those characteristics is true of you? Which of those characteristics do you think is not true of you? 
2. Why should Christians rejoice when they are persecuted for following Jesus? 
3. What happens to salt if it becomes tasteless? What do you think that teaches you about the Christian life? 
4. What image does Jesus give to describe Christians? What are we supposed to do with our light? How do we do that? 
5. Who does our righteousness have to surpass in order to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven? What do you think Jesus means by that? 
6. As you read the way Jesus explains God’s law, what stands out to you? 
7. What should you do if your right eye or right hand causes you to stumble? What do you think Jesus means by that?  
8. What does Jesus mean when he says your eyes is supposed to be yes and your no is supposed to be no? 
9. What attitude does Jesus say we should have toward our enemies? Why does Jesus say it is not very surprising or wonderful if you love only those who love you? 
10. How does Jesus exposition of the law make you long for a Savior? 

Now to sum up.

1. In what way is Genesis 5 discouraging? In other words, how does it reveal how serious the consequences of man’s rebellion against God really are? 
2. What glimmer of hope is there in Genesis 5 however? 
3. God takes sin seriously! How is the way the Psalmist describes God’s attitude toward sin in Psalm 5 scary? What hope does he give us however?
4. Is Jesus’ description of the blessed man true of you? 
5. It’s common to think you are a pretty good person. How does Jesus’ description of what it means to obey God’s law humble you and make you realize you are not as good as you might think you are?
6. If this is the kind of obedience God wants, and if God wants us to be perfect like He is perfect, what hope is there for us?
7. How were you challenged to live differently as a result of Matthew 5?