Women's Bible Study: Book of Matthew - Part Three

For this swap, you will read and study the Book of Matthew, Chapters 11 through 15, keep notes, photocopy your notes, and send the photocopy to your partner (via snail mail, not email).

Participants will be heavily vetted, I will angel any flaked swaps, and I plan to host this as a series so that we will study our Bibles together!

First, you will need a Bible. Any translation is fine. You can even use an online Bible for free if you do not have one at home to use. Make note of what translation you are using at the beginning of your notes, as well as the website URL if you are using an online version.

You should read the Book of Matthew, Ch. 11-15, and take notes. See "required notes" section below to ensure you meet swap requirements, but you can feel free to write as much as you would like for your note-taking. Just make sure you meet the required note guidelines at a minimum - otherwise you will not be meeting swap requirements and can be rated down.

You may use loose papers or a notebook for your note-taking. You will be keeping the notes for yourself - simply photocopying them and sending the photocopy to your partner. This way, if you want to keep them in a bound book, you can keep your original and your partner can always add your photocopy to her own journal. Different perspectives, fellowship, and learning from one another is the point here!

You may choose to handwrite or type your notes. Make sure, whichever you choose, that the font/handwriting is legible. Your partner should not have to guess what they are reading.

Send a photocopy of your notes to your partner on or before the swap deadline. Rate your partner promptly and according to Swap-Bot Rating Guidelines.

Required Notes to Take

• What translation are you reading?

• If this is an online book, what is the website URL?

• Each chapter, write at least one verse in your notes and tell why you chose to write down that verse. For example, "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." Matt. 1:20 (NIV) - 'do not be afraid' is found several times in the Bible. My notes will include every verse where this is found.

• Answer the Personal Reflection Question (see below) for each chapter.

• Write the meditation & memorization verse at the end of each chapter's notes. This is to help us memorize it. The mediation part is up to you to do! This swap, the meditation & memorization verse is Matthew 14:27: But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." (NIV)

Personal Reflection Questions

Matthew 11: Jesus offers rest for the weary to those that are willing to learn of Him and live in submission to Him. Are you weary today? How can your partner pray for you?

Matthew 12: The Pharisees got so caught up with living by the letter of the law that they forgot about mercy. As Christians today, we still struggle with judgment vs. mercy. Is there someone in need of mercy (and grace) from you today?

Matthew 13: In Jesus’ own country, the people did not believe in Him because they knew His family. They didn’t accept that someone they knew could be the Son of God. It is hard to witness close to home, to our family and friends sometimes, yet if we follow Christ’s example, He still tried. Is there someone in your life that is in need of salvation? Follow Jesus’ example and share God’s love and gift of salvation today.

Matthew 14: Herod spoke unwisely without thinking of the consequences of his oath and in doing so, he ended up living with the blood of John the Baptist on his hands. Have you ever spoken out of haste or in lack of wisdom and the consequences were life changing? Thanks be to God for His abundant mercy and grace for our unwise decisions and actions.

Matthew 15 : There is a saying liken to what Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees…”You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” Simply put, just having Bible knowledge does not save us or make us better than anyone else. In what ways do you struggle with actually living out the Bible knowledge you have?

What To Send To Your Partner

Send a photocopy of your notes to your partner via snail mail. The notes should meet the guidelines above in order to meet swap requirements. You will have one week to read & take notes, and one week to send.

Participation Requirements

• Rating of 4.98 or higher.
• No unresolved 1's owed to active members.
• No 3's in the past 6 months.
• Not be listed in the Swap-Bot Flakers group or the Questionable Swappers in Public Forums.
• Have completed and been rated for at least 10 Type 3 swaps or 20 Type 2 swaps or a combination thereof.
• Have a well filled out profile.
• Be female (I am not trying to start a gender-war or go into the theology of genders and gender roles. Simply looking for a group consisting of only women because I want to study the Bible with fellow women.)

I reserve the right to ban anyone from this swap, even if they meet posted guidelines, for any and no reason as I see fit.

Questions, ask here or via PM before signing up. Please feel free to start on this as soon as you join, since it is completely sender's choice!

As stated above, I will angel this if needed (but hopefully it is not needed). You must have contacted your partner, rate them a 1, and contact me via PM for me to angel this swap. Communication is key!

I am using WomenLivingWell as a guideline for this Bible study. Future swaps in this series may or may not use the same site. I will always give credit when using publicized works as guidelines.

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