Read Mark 4.

Just because people are told about God, does it mean that they actually hear what is being said to them? What does that mean for the church today?

Why does the wind stop when Jesus tells it to? How did the disciples react when they realized that even the wind obeyed the commands of Jesus?

Deuteronomy builds on this theme of obeying God in chapter 27. As you read this passage, look for key words like command/commandments, and obey.

Did you notice that verse 1 instructs them to “keep the whole commandment”? Why? What happens if you don’t obey all of God’s instruction to you?(For Christians today I’m not talking about following all of the old testament laws; I’m talking about deciding to love God with all of your heart, but not loving others as much as yourself, etc.) Do you remember the cycle that the Israelites were caught in because they refused to obey all of God’s commands to them?

Do you ever want to pick and choose which part of God’s word that you’ll follow?

Hearing and obeying God was not a new idea that was first started by Jesus. Read Deuteronomy 4.

How important was it for the nation ofIsraelto hear and obey God’s commands? Why?

What did verses 9-10 tell them to do? Why would it be important to teach their children about God? Is it still important to do so today? (When we have a baby dedication, the parents and the church body are agreeing to raise a child so that he or she will grow up knowing about God, His story, and His plans for mankind.)

Start your week off by reading Luke 8.

This passage starts out with Jesus sharing a parable about seeds with a ‘great crowd’.  What lesson is He trying to teach to the people with this parable?

The key to this story is in verse 15 – hearing the word and then bearing fruit. How does this parable relate to verses 19 – 20?

Why is it so important that you both hear and do what God wants? How much value is there in just hearing the word of God?

Begin to prepare your hearts and minds for tomorrow’s gathering by reading 1 John 5.

The first few verses of this passage talk a lot about belief, love, and obedience. How do these three things tie together in Christianity?

If you were going to ‘score’ yourself on these three qualities, how would you rank them? On a scale of 1 to 100:

My belief/faith in Jesus Christ is               _____%

My love of God is                                          _____%

My love for other Christians is                   _____%

My obedience to God and His word           _____%

Read Exodus 10 and pay special attention to how God talks about the signs that He is going to perform.

Looking at verses 1 and 2, who are these signs for? What meaning will the signs have for Pharaoh and his people? What purpose do the signs serve for the Hebrew children?

Do you think the only time God gives you a sign/direction is when you ask for it? Continue with Gideon’s story in Judges 7.

Even though Gideon doesn’t really ask for a sign in this chapter, God gives him one anyway in verses 10-15. Why do you think God did this?

Is it possible that we spend so much time asking for specific signs that we want to see that we miss the signs that God is already giving to us? Let your prayer today be that God would open your eyes to see the things that He wants you to see!

Let’s take another look at the story of Gideon in Judges 6.

How would you describe Gideon? Would you think of him as a man full of faith? Does he ask for signs/proof? Why?

Have you ever prayed a “fleece” kind of prayer asking for God to give you a sign? Did He answer your prayer? Why, or why not?

Read Luke 21.

Are the people in Jesus’ day looking for signs? Why?

In verse 11, what kind of signs does Jesus say there will be?

What signs can you find in verses 25-27?

Bonus thought: On the day that Jesus was crucified, what happened from noon to 3pm (the 6^th to 9^th hour)? Was that a sign?

This week we’re going to be looking at signs from God. Read Genesis 1:14-15.

What can God mean when He says that the stars will be used for signs and for seasons? Is He talking about astrology?!

Read Joel 2. What kinds of signs are being described here? Do any of these signs involve the heavens or the stars? Which ones?

If you think this means that we should practice astrology to tell our futures, take a look at Deuteronomy 18:9-14.