What does God say about the environment?

A sampler of Bible texts & articles for discussion :
http://www.earthcareonline.org/bible_texts_sampler.pdf
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1356490/what_the_bible_says_about_the_environment.html
http://howtohelpsavetheenvironment.com/archives/god-and-the-environment
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Hebrews 12:4-13 Warning Against Refusing God

Hebrews 12:4-13  Warning Against Refusing God


     1. What do you think was good or bad about the way you were disciplined as a child?

     2. When did you endure difficult or arduous circumstances only because you knew you would later be rewarded?


     3. What measures does the Lord sometimes take toward those who are His "sons"? Why? (12:5-6)

     4. What do we learn about God from the fact that He disciplines us? (12:6-7)

     5. What sobering truth can be inferred by those who never experience the discipline of God? (12:8)

     6. Why does God discipline His children? (12:9-10)

     7. In what sense does discipline have two sides? (12:11)

     8. What are some specific ways God disciplines us?

     9. What state might your life be in if God neglected to discipline you when you went astray?

     10. How has God's discipline made positive changes in your life?

     11. Why should we not lose heart when the Lord rebukes or corrects us?

     12. What step of obedience can you take beginning today to eliminate the need for God to discipline you?

Hebrews 11:23-12.3 Keep Running the Race

Hebrews 11:23-12.3 Keep Running the Race

     1. What is your favorite sporting event? Why?

     2. What do you consider the greatest example of faith you have ever seen? Why?

     3. What hard choices did Moses make because of his faith? (11:24-28)

     4. What "secret" enabled Moses to persevere through rough times? (11:27)

     5. What were some of the victories enjoyed by faithful Old Testament believers? (11:32-34)

     6. How does this passage disprove the notion that faith always leads to earthly blessing? (11:35-38)

     7. What happened to a great many Old Testament saints who exercised faith in God? (11:39)

     8. What should motivate followers of Christ to live for Him? (12:1)

   9. What should be the focus of those who would live for Christ? (12:2)

   10. What is the benefit of remembering what Christ has done? (12:3)

     11. Why do you think God sometimes leaves us in the dark about His will?
     12. How well are you running the Christian race?

     13. Which characters named in this chapter would you most like and least like to trade places with? Why?

     14. With what do you need to trust God even though you can't see what the future holds? How can you show this trust?

Hebrews 11:1-22 - Keep Believing

Hebrews 11:1-22 - Keep Believing

     1. When you were a child, what are some ways you showed trust in your parents?

     2. What is faith? (11:1)

     3. What does faith help us to comprehend about the creation of the world? (11:3)

     4. What was unusual about Enoch? (11:5)

     5. What role does faith play in approaching and pleasing God? (11:6)

     6. How did faith affect Abraham's life? (11:8-12)

     7. How does faith change a person's focus and perspective? (11:13-16)


     8. What ultimate test of faith did God put Abraham through? (11:17-19)

     9. What "secret" enabled Moses to persevere through rough times? (11:27)

     10. According to this passage, what is the only way we can please God with our lives?

     11. What prompts committed followers of Christ to continue to exercise faith even when He never seems to "come through" for them?

     12. Why do you think the author said that "the world was not worthy of" the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11?

     13. What is one way you can remind yourself to live as an alien and stranger at work and in your community?

Hebrews 10:19-39 - Don't Shrink Back

Hebrews 10:19-39 - Don't Shrink Back

     1. When in your life did you "hang in there" the longest in the face of an extremely difficult situation?

     2. Who has encouraged you the most in the last six months?

     3. Why did the author say that those under the new covenant could draw near to God? (10:19-22)

     4. What privilege comes to those who are part of the "house of God"? (10:22)

     5. Why are Christians able to persevere in following Christ? (10:23)

     6. What kind of behavior should believers in Christ exhibit toward one another? (10:24-25)

     7. What will happen to God's enemies? (10:26-27)

     8. Why is rejecting Christ more serious than rejecting the old covenant? (10:28-29)

     9. What did the author consider "a dreadful thing"? (10:31)

     10. How had the Hebrew Christians responded to persecution at first? (10:32-34)

     11. What is promised to those who persevere? (10:35-39)

     12. How does the complete forgiveness and help offered by Christ motivate you to draw near to God?

     13. How do you personally feel about going to church or involvement in Christian groups?

     14. How does the certainty of God's judgment challenge you?

     15. What is behind the ups and downs in your spiritual journey?

     16. What is one small project you could complete today to encourage a Christian friend to persevere in his or her faith?

     17. Since we are called to live by faith (10:38), what is one bold step of trust in God you can take today?

Hebrews 10:1-18 - Jesus: A Better Sacrifice

Hebrews 10:1-18 - Jesus: A Better Sacrifice

     1. What is one thing you would buy at a very high price if paying that price meant you never had to pay for it again?

     2. In what way was the Law of Moses glaringly inadequate? (10:1-2)

     3. What function did the annual sacrifices serve? Why? (10:3-4)

     4. Why wasn't God pleased with the sacrifices and offerings of the old covenant? (10:5-6)

     5. What was the attitude of Christ when He came into the world? (10:7)

   
     6. If God neither desired nor was pleased with old covenant sacrifices, why did the Israelites make them? (10:8)

     7. What role does a believer play in earning God's approval? (10:9-14)

     8. How did the new covenant change the way God motivates His people to live for Him? (10:16)

     9. What effect did the sacrifice of Christ have on the way God views our sins? (10:17)

     10. Why are additional sacrifices for sin unnecessary? (10:18)

     11. What has Christ done for us?

     12. Why do Christians still feel guilt when God says He forgives and forgets their transgressions?

     13. How does being cleansed of sin by Christ change us?

     14. What do you think prompted or motivated Jesus to make the sacrifice He made?

     15. In what sense have we "been made holy" (10:10) while at the same time "are being made holy" (10:14)?

     16. In what specific areas of your life today do you need to follow the example of Christ in saying, "I have come to do your will, O God"?

     17. When could you speak with a friend or relative who would be encouraged by the truths of this passage?

Hebrews 9:1-10 - Jesus: A Better Covenant

Hebrews 9:1-10 - Jesus: A Better Covenant
     1. If you could show three objects or artifacts that best tell the story of your own spiritual journey, what items would you show? Why?

     2. What aspect of the old and new covenants is compared in this passage? (9:1)

     3. What was in the first room of the earthly tabernacle? (9:2)

     4. What was behind the second curtain in the tabernacle? (9:3)

     5. What was inside in the ark of the covenant? (9:4)

     6. During the year, who typically ministered at the tabernacle, and in which part did this ministry take place? (9:6)

     7. What three severe restrictions were placed upon entrance to the inner room of the temple? (9:7)

     8. For whom was blood offered on the Day of Atonement? (9:7)

     9. What truth was the Holy Spirit teaching through the once-a-year offering for sin under the old covenant? (9:8)

     10. What symbolic truth did the Mosaic tabernacle teach about sin? (9:9-10)

     11. From Hebrews 9:1-5 and the background information in Exodus, what is your impression of the old covenant's "regulations for worship"?

     12. What do you think went through the high priest's mind on the Day of Atonement as he prepared to enter the Holy of Holies?

     13. How can we alter our lives to reflect the fact that God dwells only in holy places?

     14. How does Christ's sacrifice enable us to have a clear conscience?

     15. How can we be sure to approach God as the holy God He is?

     16. What are some practical steps you can take when you feel touched by a guilty conscience?

     17. What do you want to remember the next time you approach God in worship?

Hebrews 8:1-13 - Jesus a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-13 - Jesus a Better Covenant

     1. What items in your home or office would you consider obsolete? Why?

     2. Where is Christ right now? (8:1)

     3. What is Christ doing presently in heaven? (8:2)

     4. What is the "job description" for a high priest? (8:3)

     5. Why would Jesus not be a priest on earth? (8:4)

     6. What do the terms "copy," "shadow," and "pattern" indicate about the Levitical priesthood? (8:5)

     7. In what ways is the new covenant superior to the old? (8:6)

     8. Why did God decide to initiate a new covenant? (8:7-12

     9. How did God say the new covenant would be different from the old one? (8:10)

     10. What is God's response to sin under the new covenant? (8:12)

     11. What became of the old covenant when the new was introduced? (8:13)

     12. How motivated would you be to love and worship God if you had to depend solely on animal sacrifices offered by a stranger?

     13. What do we learn about God from the fact that He set aside the old covenant in favor of the new?

     14. What three words best describe how you feel knowing that Jesus Christ is in the presence of God representing you before your Creator?

     15. In what ways can you show your thanks to God today for the fact that He remembers your sins no more?

     16. What can you do this week to get to know God better?