Daily Bible Reading DECEMBER 1 st Daniel 8:1-27 1 John 2:1-17 Psalm 120:1-7 Proverbs 28:25-26 2 nd Daniel 9:1 10:21 1 John 2:18 3:6 Psalm 121:1-8 Proverbs 28:27-28 3 rd Daniel 11:1-34 1 John 3:7-24 Psalm 122:1-9 Proverbs 29:1 4 th Daniel 11:35 12:13 1 John 4:1-21 Psalm 123:1-4 Proverbs 29:2-4 5 th Hosea 1:1 3:5 1 John 5:1-21 Psalm 124:1-8 Proverbs 29:5-8 6 th Hosea 4:1 5:15 2 John 1:1-13 Psalm 125:1-5 Proverbs 29:9-11 7 th Hosea 6:1 9:17 3 John 1:1-15 Psalm 126:1-6 Proverbs 29:12-14 8 th Hosea 10:1 14:9 Jude 1-25 Psalm 127:1-5 Proverbs 29:15-17 9 th Joel 1:1 3:21 Revelation 1:1-20 Psalm 128:1-6 Proverbs 29:18 10 th Amos 1:1 3:15 Revelation 2:1-17 Psalm 129:1-8 Proverbs 29:19-20 11 th Amos 4:1 6:14 Revelation 2:18 3:6 Psalm 130:1-8 Proverbs 29:21-22 12 th Amos 7:1 9:15 Revelation 3:7-22 Psalm 131:1-3 Proverbs 29:23 13 th Obadiah 1-21 Revelation 4:1-11 Psalm 132:1-18 Proverbs 29:24-25 14 th Jonah 1:1 4:11 Revelation 5:1-14 Psalm 133:1-3 Proverbs 29:26-27 15 th Micah 1:1 4:13 Revelation 6:1-17 Psalm 134:1-3 Proverbs 30:1-4 16 th Micah 5:1 7:20 Revelation 7:1-17 Psalm 135:1-21 Proverbs 30:5-6 17 th Nahum 1:1 3:19 Revelation 8:1-13 Psalm 136:1-26 Proverbs 30:7-9 18 th Habakkuk 1:1 3:19 Revelation 9:1-21 Psalm 137:1-9 Proverbs 30:10 19 th Zephaniah 1:1 3:20 Revelation 10:1-11 Psalm 138:1-8 Proverbs 30:11-14 20 th Haggai 1:1 2:23 Revelation 11:1-19 Psalm 139:1-24 Proverbs 30:15-16 21 st Zechariah 1:1-21 Revelation 12:1-17 Psalm 140:1-13 Proverbs 30:17 22 nd Zechariah 2:1 3:10 Revelation 13:1-18 Psalm 141:1-10 Proverbs 30:18-20 23 rd Zechariah 4:1 5:11 Revelation 14:1-20 Psalm 142:1-7 Proverbs 30:21-23 24 th Zechariah 6:1 7:14 Revelation 15:1-8 Psalm 143:1-12 Proverbs 30:24-28 25 th Zechariah 8:1-23 Revelation 16:1-21 Psalm 144:1-15 Proverbs 30:29-31 26 th Zechariah 9:1-17 Revelation 17:1-18 Psalm 145:1-21 Proverbs 30:32 27 th Zechariah 10:1 11:17 Revelation 18:1-24 Psalm 146:1-10 Proverbs 30:33 28 th Zechariah 12:1 13:9 Revelation 19:1-21 Psalm 147:1-20 Proverbs 31:1-7 29 th Zechariah 14:1-21 Revelation 20:1-15 Psalm 148:1-14 Proverbs 31:8-9 30 th Malachi 1:1 2:17 Revelation 21:1-27 Psalm 149:1-9 Proverbs 31:10-24 31 st Malachi 3:1 4:6 Revelation 22:1-21 Psalm 150:1-6 Proverbs 31:25-31 HOSEA AUTHOR: Hosea RECIPIENTS: Israel (northern kingdom) Overview of Books TIME: 758-722 B.C. PEOPLE: Hosea, his unfaithful wife, and their children EVENTS: Hosea restores his unfaithful wife BIG IDEAS: God s faithful love for His people in spite of their idolatry. JOEL AUTHOR: Joel RECIPIENTS: Judah (southern kingdom) TIME: 835-796 B.C. PEOPLE: Jews in southern kingdom EVENTS: Invasion of locusts and severe economic devastation BIG IDEAS: The Day of the Lord, Judgments, Blessings AMOS AUTHOR: Amos RECIPIENTS: Israel (northern kingdom) TIME: 760 B.C. PEOPLE: Amos, the leaders of the northern kingdom and their wives EVENTS: Earthquake signs the beginning of God s judgment against the nations, Judah and Israel BIG IDEAS: Absence of true worship; Absence of justice OBADIAH AUTHOR: Obadiah RECIPIENTS: Judeans TIME: 848-841 B.C. PEOPLE: Descendants of Jacob and Esau EVENTS: Prophecy of the doom of Edom for its many sins against his brother ; Fulfillment of the curse part of Abrahamic Covenant BIG IDEAS: Judgment of Edom by God for cursing Israel; Judah s restoration JONAH AUTHOR: Jonah RECIPIENTS: the northern tribes TIME: 760 B.C. PEOPLE: Jonah, shipment, the King, nobles & people of Nineveh EVENTS: Jonah sent to Nineveh; Jonah flees from God; Nineveh repents upon hearing the message Jonah reluctantly preaches BIG IDEAS: The compassion of God on Jew and Gentile alike
MICAH AUTHOR: Micah RECIPIENTS: Samaria & Jerusalem Overview of Books (cont.) TIME: 735-710 B.C. PEOPLE: Micah, false prophets, corrupt rulers of Israel EVENTS: God s people are unrepentant for their idolatry and social injustice BIG IDEAS: The sins of God s people; the punishment to come; hope for the faithful after judgment NAHUM AUTHOR: Nahum RECIPIENTS: Judah TIME: 695-642 B.C. PEOPLE: Nahum, nation of Assyria EVENTS: God s patience with Assyria, expressed in Jonah, has now expired (100 years later) BIG IDEAS: Judgment against Nineveh for its sin against God and cruelty to man; Comfort to Judah HABAKKUK AUTHOR: Habakkuk RECIPIENTS: God AUTHOR: Zechariah RECIPIENTS: postexilic leaders and community of Jews TIME: 520-464 B.C. PEOPLE: Joshua-High Priest, Jewish leaders, Zerubbabel EVENTS: 8 night visions; Temple rebuilt BIG IDEAS: Prophecy about Jesus Christ, focusing on His coming glory as a means to comfort Israel before 400 years of silence AUTHOR: Malachi RECIPIENTS: Israel TIME: 609 B.C. PEOPLE: Habakkuk and God EVENTS: Habakkuk debates with God and, like Job, concludes that above all, Yahweh is righteous and a God to be trusted in all circumstances BIG IDEAS: God will judge sin; His people are to trust in Him ZEPHANIAH AUTHOR: Zephaniah RECIPIENTS: Judah TIME: 635-625 B.C. PEOPLE: Zephaniah, King Josiah EVENTS: Hilkiah the High-Priest fins the Book of the Law; King Josiah initiates extensive reforms BIG IDEAS: The Day of the Lord is near; God s judgment against Judah; God s judgment against the nations; God s redemption of the humble remnant HAGGAI AUTHOR: Haggai RECIPIENTS: Zerubbabel, Joshua, people in Jerusalem TIME: 520 B.C. PEOPLE: Zerubbabel the governor; Joshua the high priest, and the EVENTS: 5 messages calling for the rebuilding of the Temple BIG IDEAS: God s people need to rebuild the temple to receive the spiritual blessing of His presence and His physical blessing on their lives ZECHARIAH MALACHI TIME: 433-424 B.C. PEOPLE: Jews who had returned from exile living in their land for about 100 yrs EVENTS: God s people had become lax in their worship and duties to the Temple, reverting to old sins of intermarriage BIG IDEAS: God s final call to repentance before 400 years of silence and the coming of John the Baptist, and Messiah who would begin the fulfillment of OT promises to the Jews I, II, & III JOHN AUTHOR: John RECIPIENTS: Friends of John TIME: A.D. 90-95 PEOPLE: The Apostle John; A lady and her family; the beloved Gaius EVENTS: False prophets were being welcomed and true ministers being refused hospitality BIG IDEAS: Christian Hospitality Do not entertain false prophets ; welcome faithful ministers JUDE AUTHOR: Jude (brother of the Lord) RECIPIENTS: Jewish Christians somewhere in Palestine TIME: A.D. 68-70 PEOPLE: Jude; false teachers (apostates) EVENTS: Christianity is under severe spiritual attack; All of the Apostles except for John have been martyred BIG IDEAS: Jude condemns apostates and calls true believers to contend for the faith REVELATION AUTHOR: John RECIPIENTS: seven churches of Asia Minor TIME: A.D. 94-96 PEOPLE: John, the 7 churches EVENTS: Fulfillment of OT prophecies; Faithfulness of God to keep His promises to redeem His saints; Summation of human history; final judgment of Satan BIG IDEAS: Revelation of Jesus Christ in all of His glory; the final chapter in God s story of redemption and His victory in the holy war that has raged since Creation The Rock Community Church (714) 779-8546 www.therockcommunitychurch.org
December 1 Daniel 8 1. Compare Daniel s vision (vs 1-14) to the angel Gabriel s explanation of the vision (vs 15-26). Ram with 2 horns (vs3-4): Goat with 4 horns (vs5-8): Vicious horn that grows (vs9-14): December 2 Daniel 9-10 1. List the attributes of God that Daniel praises in his prayer recorded 9:1-19. 2. How does the angel Gabriel separate the 70 weeks that remain for Israel? (note that Hebrew word for weeks here refers to group or week of years=7 years) 3. In 9:25 the city (its streets & wall) is rebuilt in the first section of weeks 7 weeks. a) What happens at the end of the next section of weeks-62 weeks? (vs26) b) What will happen during the last section the last week? (vs27) December 3 Daniel 11:1-35 Messenger of 10:10 continues to speak about God s sovereign control over the events&rulers of world. 1. Record (with verses) one of the encounters between the Kings of the North & South. 2. What will happen to those who know their God from vs 32-35?
December 4 Daniel 11:36-12:13 1. From 11:40-45: a) Who will the King of the North conquer? b) Who will the King of the North spare? 2. Compare the words of the angel Michael in 12:1-3 with these New Testament passages: Revelation 20:11-15 Romans 2:5-11 Philippians 2:15-16 December 5 Hosea 1-3 HOSEA IS A PROPHET TO THE N KINGDOM OF ISREAL DURING IT S LAST YEARS. 1. In chap.1, God directs His prophet, Hosea, to take a virgin wife (the daughter of ), even though God knows she will pursue a life of unfaithfulness & harlotry. Why does God give these names to Hosea s children by this woman? Son Jezreel (vs4): Daughter Lo-Ruhamah (vs6): Lo-Ammi (vs9): 2. a) Write out a description of Israel s unfaithfulness to God from 2:1-13? b) Write out a description of God s faithfulness to Israel from 2:14-23?
December 6 Hosea 4-5 1. List a few of the many charges of unfaithfulness that God brings against Israel in today s reading. 2. What is God waiting for Israel to do? (5:15) December 7 Hosea 6-9 1. Write in your own words the truths expressed in 6:1-3. 2. What is God referring to in 8:1-6, when He talks about calf of Samaria? 1Kings 12:26-30 for insight 3. What sad fate awaits Hosea s kingdom that he is a prophet to, the N Kingdom of Israel? (9:17) December 8 Hosea 10-14 1. Compare: the walk of life with God (10:12): the walk of life against God (10:13): Do you see the same truth applied in Galatians 6:7-9?
December 8cont. Hosea 10-14 2. a) What promise do you see expressed in 13:14? b) How is this promise fulfilled according to: 1Corinthians 15:54-57: Hebrews 2:14-15: December 9 Joel 1-3 JOEL IS A PROPHET TO THE S KINGDOM OF JUDAH. 1. What natural calamity is Joel describing in chapter 1? (vs1-7) 2. What future day is Joel using this calamity as an example of? (2:1,11 & 31) 3. According to 2:12-13: a) What is true repentance before God? b) Why will God accept true repentance? December 10 Amos 1-3 AMOS IS A PROPHET TO THE N KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. 1. To the Israelites: the #3 signified full, the #4 signified overflowing. What is God communicating by the phrase for 3 transgressions & for 4 in today s reading? 2. List the nations that God is condemning with this phrase in chapters 1-2.
December 11 Amos 4-6 1. From 4:6-12: a) What steps of discipline (removal of blessings) does God have to take with Israel? b) What is the kingdom of Israel s response to each step of discipline? c) What words of doom does Amos communicate in vs12? 2. Based on 1Kings 12:28-29, why do you think Amos would warn them (in 4:4 & 5:5) about Bethel being a place for transgression? December 12 Amos 7-9 1. In chapter 7: What judgments did God relent of & decide not to use against Israel? What judgment does God decide to use against Israel? 2. Write out the sad position that Kingdom of Israel will be in during their captivity from 8:11-12. 3. How is this same position echoed by Paul in 2Timothy 4:2-4? December 13 Obadiah 1 1. The nation of Edom is descended from whose family line? *see Genesis 25:30 & 36:1 for insight 2. Why is God proclaiming judgment on Edom according to Obadiah s prophecies?
December 14 Jonah 1-4 JONAH IS A PROPHET OF GOD SENT TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY, TO NINEVEH-THE CAPITAL OF ASSYRIA. How does God receive glory in each of the chapters of this book? Chap1: Chap2: Chap3: Chap4: December 15 Micah 1-4 MICAH IS CHOSEN BY GOD TO BE A PROPHET TO THE S KINGDOM OF JUDAH AS THE N KINGDOM IS BEING CONQUERED BY ASSYRIA. 1. Which kingdom (Israel or Judah) is Micah prophesying against in 1:1-5? *tricky question 2. Describe the future of Christ s kingdom during His 1000 year reign from 4:1-5. December 16 Micah 5-7 1. What clues are given regarding the Messiah in chapter 5? 2. Micah 6:8 is a familiar verse. What new insight do you find as you read it in the context of vs 6-8? 3. Write out one of the promises of 7:18-19, which impacts you personally. Why?
December 17 Nahum 1-3 1. What familiar city is Nahum prophesying about, 100 years after Jonah visited them? (1:1) 2. How does God describe His judgment on this capital city of Assyria? 3. What does this say to your about the repentance that this city experienced when Jonah visited them? December 18 Habakkuk 1-3 HABAKKUK WAS A PROPHET TO S KINGDOM OF JUDAH AS BABYLON IS STARTING TO RISE TO WORLD POWER. 1. What are Habakkuk s 2 complaints to God? 1:2-4: 1:12-17: 2. How does God respond to these complaints? (2:2-4) 3. Compare God s response with these words of Peter in the New Testament. 1Peter 5:6-7: 2Peter 3:3-9:
December 19 Zephaniah 1-3 ZEPHANIAH IS A PROPHET TO S KINGDOM OF JUDAH UNDER KING JOSIAH S REIGN. HE IS A RELATIVE FROM THE FAMILY LINE OF KING HEZEKIAH. 1. List the four offenses against God that Jerusalem has committed. (3:2) 2. List all the actions that God will perform, because of His faithfulness to His people. (3:17-20) 3. Based on the above questions, What truth from 2Timothy 2:13 is confirmed in today s reading? December 20 Haggai 1-2 THIS PROPHET EXHORTED/ENCOURAGED JEWS WHO RETURNED FROM EXILE TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE. HISTORY FOUND IN BOOK OF EZRA. 1. Compare 1:3-11 to Matthew 6:33. Why had God not allowed the returning Jews to prosper yet? 2. Back in Ezra 3:10-13-some had rejoiced over the temple that was being rebuilt, while some wept. How does God respond here to those who were sad/disappointed in this rebuilt temple? (2:2-9) December 21 Zechariah 1 THIS IS 2 ND PROPHET SENT TO THE JEWS DURING THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM AFTER THE EXILE. HE ENCOURAGED ZERUBBABEL IN EZRA 5 1. In 1:1-6, what is God reminding these exiles to do, which their forefathers did not obey? 2. What will God do for His city, Jerusalem in today s reading? 3. What will God do to the 4 horns those 4 nations that helped to scatter Judah, Israel & Jerusalem?
OVER THE NEXT 4 DAYS WE WILL READ MANY PROPECHIES ABOUT THE COMING MESSIAH. December 22 Zechariah 2-3 1. Write out the prophecies given in today s reading that are clues to the Messiah. December 23 Zechariah 4-5 1. What words of encouragement does God give to Zerubbabel? How do they encourage you? 2. What 3 visions does God give Zechariah? What explanation does the angel give for each vision? December 24 Zechariah 6-7 1. Read Hebrews 7-8:1. What point about Jesus does the author fulfill by using Zechariah 6:12-13? 2.a) What question do the people ask of God in 7:1-3? b) What is God s response in 7:4-7? December 25 Zechariah 8 Merry Christmas! As we celebrate the birth of Israel s Messiah How does Zechariah express the celebrations that will come one day to the Jews and their city, Jerusalem?
December 26 Zechariah 9 1. What verses in today s reading speak about the life of the coming Messiah, Jesus? December 27 Zechariah 10-11 1.What is God going to do for house of Judah -S. Kingdom & house of Joseph -N. Kingdom? (10:6-12) 2. What verses in chap11 seem to be a clue to the events surrounding the betrayal of Jesus? * see Matthew 26:14-16 & 27:3-10 for insight December 28 Zechariah 12-13 1. Who will the Jews mourn in the day when God pours out His Spirit on them? (12:10) 2. Explain how 13:9 can be a beautiful expression of our walk with God as believers in Christ. December 29 Zechariah 14 1. Write out one of the many future events described in today s reading. Why did you pick that event?
December 30 Malachi 1-2 MALACHI IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN A PROPHET TO THE EXILES RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. HE SPOKE ABOUT 100 YEARS AFTER HAGGAI & ZECHARIAH. HE IS DEALING WITH SIN & CORRUPTION( ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIESTHOOD) JUST AS IN NEHEMIAH CHAP.13. MALACHI IS THE LAST PROPHET TO SPEAK GOD S WORDS TO ISRAEL UNTIL JOHN THE BAPTIST APPEARS. 1. In 1:6-14, How does God answer the priest s denial In what way have we despised Your name? 2. What 2 offenses does God have against the priests & Levites in the days of Malachi? 1 st (2:4-9): 2 nd (2:13-16): December 31 Malachi 3-4 1. How does God answer their denial In what way have we robbed you? (3:8-10) 2. Write in your own words the sayings that God considers arrogant/harsh against Him? (3:13-15)