Living by the Book/Living by the Book Workbook Set (91 page)

What’s the significance of “earthen vessels” (some translations read “jars of clay”)? Isn’t it foolish to keep “treasure” in such fragile containers?

What did the author know about suffering? Can you recall any instances where he was:

• afflicted? ______________________________________

• perplexed? ______________________________________

• persecuted? ______________________________________

• struck down? ______________________________________

(You may want to consult other passages or resources for specific examples.)

How about you? Can you relate to the conditions being described here? In what ways?

In what ways do we “carry about in the body the dying of Jesus”?

In what ways is the life of Jesus revealed in our bodies?

How can “death work[ing] in us” be connected to “life [working] in you”?

What other observations or questions come to mind in regard to this paragraph?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Proverbs 31:10–31

TIME COMMITMENT:

30 minutes

“The Bible uses several ways to emphasize material. Let me mention four: (1) Amount of space; (2) Stated purpose; (3) Order; and (4) Movement from the lesser to the greater, and vice versa” (pp. 148, 149, 150 from section headings).

A
complaint some seekers and skeptics have about Scripture is what they perceive to be its lack of respect for women. Some people take issue with the male pronouns for God, the vast amount of material devoted to the patriarchs and other “guy stuff,” and the instructions on submission in marriage. We like to think that Scripture certainly speaks more highly of women than the general cultures during which it was written. We also recognize the significance of the passages that highlight the value of women amid all the male stories. But when we come across a passage like Proverbs 31, the emphasis is significant indeed.