Bible Readings &
Prayer Calendar
1-6 August:
Book Focus:
Malachi
Dear Church
Here’s a reminder of the main goals of these notes:
Firstly, to encourage us to read our Bibles. We want to be a
church that becomes mature in the truth. And that can only
happen as we each read the Bible individually. Jesus said:
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4v4). We should be
more reluctant to miss our Bible reading than our daily
food!
Secondly, to encourage us to talk about our Bible readings
with each other. Since we are all reading the same material,
it will hopefully be easier to talk about what we are reading.
These readings will also prepare you for our next Sunday
sermon on Malachi 2v10-16.
Thirdly, these notes also include a prayer calendar to help
us pray daily for the church.
You might want to do these readings on your own, or as a
family or with a friend. You will find a blank page at the
end of the booklet for prayer notes. The best way to read the
Bible is to talk to God about what you are reading. Our
prayer is that God will use these notes to plant His Word in
our hearts and that His Word will bear fruit and grow.
Love
Kyle
1st August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. What is God’s relationship to Israel according to verse
10?
Note: Although in one sense God is the Father and Creator of
all people, that is not the point of verse 10. Verse 10 is
addressed specifically to Israel (see 1v1). There is a special
sense in which God is their Father and Creator. See Exodus
4v22-23 and Isaiah 43v1, 7. If you are a Christian, then there
is a special sense in which God is your Father and Creator. See
Ephesians 1v5 and 2 Cor. 5v17.
2. God has become Israel’s Father and Creator by
entering into covenant with their forefathers. How
have Israel profaned that covenant? (v10)
Note: the way we treat one another and the way we treat
God are directly linked. If we are unfaithful to one another it
reveals our view of God. We have failed to grasp the
greatness of His faithfulness to us.
Pray
2nd August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. What phrase is repeated five times in this passage?
(v10, 11, 14, 15, 16)
2. In what three ways has Israel broken faith according
to these verses? (v11, 14, 16)
3. Why should God’s people always be faithful to each
other? (Hint: notice the repetition of the word “one”
in verse 10)
Apply: is there anyone that you have been unfaithful to?
Confess that to God and seek to make it right.
Pray
3rd August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. According to verse 10, Judah has married the
daughter of a foreign god (ie they have intermarried
with pagans). How is this act described by God? (v11)
2. What does Malachi desire for the person who does
this? How do you think this applies today?
3. Read Exodus 34v15-16, Deuteronomy 7v3-4 and
Nehemiah 13v23-27. Why does God feel so strongly
about marrying someone outside of the covenant
people of God?
Note: When we apply this to ourselves today, it is important
to emphasize that these verses are not forbidding us from
marrying a person from another culture or race. Instead, they
forbid marriage to someone of a different faith. God’s people
should not marry unbelievers! See 2 Corinthians 6v14-15 and
1 Corinthians 7v39. But also see 1 Corinthians 7v12-14 if you
are already married to an unbeliever.
Pray
4th August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. What are Israel doing in verse 13?
2. Why are Israel weeping? (v13)
3. Why is God not paying any attention to their
worship? (v14)
Note: We should never use outward shows of emotion or
religious activity to be a replacement for true repentance and
obedience to God.
What does 1 Peter 3v7 say about the link between your
prayers and the condition of your marriage relationship?
Lee Gatiss: “your marriage must be in good repair if you want
God to listen to your prayer”
Pray for our church and our country that God will protect
our marriages
5th August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. What relationship exists between marriage and godly
offspring?
Apply: A faithful marriage is the ideal context in which to
raise children and lead them to follow Jesus.
2. What two things does God hate in verse 16. What is
the relationship between the two? (Hint: to “cover
with your blanket” was a common phrase referring to
a father’s protection of his family)
“The best gift a father can give his children is to love God. The
second best gift is to love their mother”
Pray
6th August: Read Malachi 2v10-16
1. What is the repeated command in verses 16 and 17?
2. In the context of verses 10-16 what do you think it
means to guard yourself in your spirit?
Pray
Prayer Notes