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

For this swap, you will read and study the Book of Matthew, Chapters 16 through 20, 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. 16-20, 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 17:20 'He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” ' (NIV)

Personal Reflection Question

Matthew 16: We are presented with what could seem like an oxymoron: if we try to save our lives, we'll lose them. But if we lose our life for Christ's sake, we'll find it. Sounds like a riddle. In what way have you tried to hang on to your life? What is Christ asking you today to sacrifice for His sake?

Matthew 17: Jesus tells us, if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed we can accomplish great things for Him.
Has there been a time in your life that you can point to, when you know that your faith - perhaps even a little shaky - gave you the strength to believe for the impossible...and it became reality?

Matthew 18: Jesus illustrated for us the importance of forgiveness. We are the servant - He has forgiven us of an immeasurable amount of offense, so how can we not find grace enough to forgive our offender of a much lesser matter?
Is there someone in your life that you know you need to forgive? Have you experienced the freedom of forgiving?

Matthew 19: The rich young ruler found out, money can't buy everything. Jesus has to occupy your heart. He touched on the one thing that occupied this man's heart - but the cost was too great for him. What occupies your heart? Is it Jesus, or is it something else. Do you need to dethrone something in your life so Jesus can occupy first place?

Matthew 20: Imagine what it was like for those blind men that day: their eyes were opened and the first thing they ever saw in their life was Jesus' face!
How long has it been since you truly "saw" Jesus? How long has it been since you really looked at the Word and "saw" Him? Is your prayer today, "Lord, that my eyes be opened"?

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.