Right Living: The Righteous Are Like a Tree - Bethany-UMC

Right Living: The Righteous Are Like a Tree

Preparatory Scripture Readings: June 3 - 7
Sermon: June 8 & 9

Note: Having a good study Bible, one that has “notes” about the Scriptures, is especially
helpful with texts like these. Please see the Bethany website for additional study resources:
www.bethany-umc.org/jtb-study

Suggested Weekly Memory Verse: Psalm 30:11-12
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with
joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you
forever.

5 Days - Readings & Questions: Personal Reflections:

June 3
Psalms 1; 19:7-14; 37; 112; 128; Psalm 106

• What is “right living”? How are the
“righteous like a tree” (Psalm 1:3)

• Consider “the essence of godly living
is putting God first.” How does that
resonate with what you know, what
you believe, and how you actually
live?

• Consider meditating on Psalm 112
throughout this week. How is God
speaking to you in that Psalm?

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons

June 4 7) Honest, hard work (thrift, help of
Proverbs (chapters 1-6); Psalm 107 neighbor); 8) Faithfulness to God
(reflect on prayer, worship, Sabbath
Note: for the 3 days in Proverbs, watch rest, first fruits as gifts); 9) Food and
for and make note of references to the drink (related to our health and well-
following categories: being); 10) Justice and mercy
• 1) Integrity (truth-telling, honest 7) Honest, hard work (thrift, help of
neighbor); 8) Faithfulness to God
measurement, stealing); 2) Sexual (reflect on prayer, worship, Sabbath
chastity and faithfulness; 3) Anger, rest, first fruits as gifts); 9) Food and
violence, family hostility, and lashing drink (related to our health and well-
out; 4) Concern for the poor being); 10) Justice and mercy
(generosity, hospitality to strangers,
care for widows and orphans); 5)
Greed (connivance for money,
extravagant “show”); 6) Care for
one’s own family (concern for
teaching children, discipline of
children, respect for elders and for
spouse, inheritance);

June 5
Proverbs (chapters 10-17); Psalm 108

Note: for the 3 days in Proverbs, watch
for and make note of references to the
following categories:

• 1) Integrity (truth-telling, honest

measurement, stealing); 2) Sexual
chastity and faithfulness; 3) Anger,
violence, family hostility, and lashing
out; 4) Concern for the poor
(generosity, hospitality to strangers,
care for widows and orphans); 5)
Greed (connivance for money,
extravagant “show”); 6) Care for
one’s own family (concern for
teaching children, discipline of
children, respect for elders and for
spouse, inheritance);

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons

June 6 7) Honest, hard work (thrift, help of
Proverbs (chapters 20-25, 31) Psalm 109 neighbor); 8) Faithfulness to God
(reflect on prayer, worship, Sabbath
Note: for the 3 days in Proverbs, watch rest, first fruits as gifts); 9) Food and
for and make note of references to the drink (related to our health and well-
following categories: being); 10) Justice and mercy
to be faithful to God? What was
• 1) Integrity (truth-telling, honest that like? What kind of resistance, if
any, did you encounter from people
measurement, stealing); 2) Sexual around you, or from yourself?
chastity and faithfulness; 3) Anger, What did you do to keep yourself in
violence, family hostility, and lashing a place of right relationship with God
out; 4) Concern for the poor and with others?
(generosity, hospitality to strangers,
care for widows and orphans); 5)
Greed (connivance for money,
extravagant “show”); 6) Care for
one’s own family (concern for
teaching children, discipline of
children, respect for elders and for
spouse, inheritance);

June 7
Ezra (chapters 1, 3, 4:1-5, chapters 5-7);
Nehemiah 8:1-9:5; 10:28-39; Psalm 110

• In Ezra and Nehemiah the people of
Israel are freed to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild. Their lives,
their community, their identity is
being restored and re-established.
Pay attention to the responses of
the people around them, and to
their own response to God’s law,
God’s covenant-steadfast-love, and
how they are invited to obedience
(“right living”) once again.

• Can you describe a time in your own
life when after, or even in the midst
of, consequences of your
disobedience, you have been
restored and given another chance

Sermon Questions for this topic will be available with the Sermon Audio on the website by the
Wednesday following the sermon: www.bethany-umc.org/worship/sermons