bsf questions answers lesson 13 day 3 Archives - AtoZMom's BSF Blog (2025)

SUMMARY OF JOHN 9:13-23

The blind man was brought before the Pharisees. The Pharisees cared because the blind man was healed on the Sabbath, which was against their laws. The parents vouched for the man’s blindness.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 13, Day 3: John 9:13-23

6) The Pharisees only want to try to catch Jesus doing something wrong or breaking the law, so they can try and kill him. They care nothing for who he has helped.

7a) With trepidation, for he was scared. He said as little as possible and stuck to the facts.

b) They said to ask their son. How would they know what happened? They were afraid of the Jewish leaders, too, and did not want to be throw in jail or excommunicated.

8 ) Unsure. Never explicitly, I don’t think. God is good; that is my mantra.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 13, Day 3: John 9:13-23

It’s sad how the Pharisees, those who are supposed to be the most educated amongst the Jews, are so bent on trying to catch Jesus doing something wrong. It just goes to show you how power and influence can corrupt.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 13, Day 3: John 9:13-23

Jesus did not line up with the Pharisees’ belief of what a religious person did.

Jesus divided people then and now.

The religious leaders did not want to believe the man, which is why they called in his parents.

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SUMMARY OF AMOS 1

Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa, a prophet, pronounces judgment on Israel and their neighbors, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon. God will destroy Israel’s neighbors and dry up their fields.

SUMMARY OF AMOS 2

Amos pronounces judgment on Moab and Judah. Judah is because they have rejected God’s laws and decrees and been led astray by false gods. The Lord will judge Israel for how they treat the poor and do not honor him.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 2: Amos 1-2

3a) Israel, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah

b) The foreign nations took slaves and fought one another. For Israel and Judah, because they turned from God and worshipped other gods.

c) The other nations’ sins centered around cruelty to other nations and crimes against humanity, as well as crimes against God’s people. Israel and Judah turned from God and His ways.

4a) It’s everywhere. Sin against others. Cruelty to others. Murder, rape, assault, you name it. And, people everywhere are turning from God, including His people.

b) To turn towards him, not away from him.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 2: Amos 1-2

Lots of judgments here. Great reminder that God is just, and we will all be held accountable for our actions once we reach heaven.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 13, Day 2: Amos 1-2

Fun fact: Amos the prophet is only mentioned in this book, not in any other books of the Bible.

Amos means “burden,” and Amos was definitely burdened as he was the bearer of bad news for all.

Amos was a farmer and not of the school of prophets. He was a live during Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, which would be between 760 B.C. and 750 B.C.

Remember, the kingdom of Judah to the south had good kings. The kingdom of Israel to the north had nothing but bad kings.

Here, Assyria had defeated Israel’s enemy, Syria, so Israel was prosperous.

Amos pronouces judgment on nations for sin upon sin.

• Israel was judged because they disobeyed God.
• Damascus was judged for coming against God’s people.
• Gaza was judged because they came against God’s people.
• Tyre was judged because they sinned against God’s people.
• Edom was judged because they attacked Judah.
• Ammon was judged because they attacked Israel.
• Moab was judged because of their cruelty to Edom.
• Judah was judged because they despised and disobeyed God’s laws.

Fire expresses judgment in the New Testament, but it also can be a purifying of the spirit with fire.

Israel took advantage of the poor. There was sexual immorality. There was idolatry.

God’s people were now a burden to him. They would not succeed without His strength.

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Great Christmas Ideas (And Fun Winter Reads, Too!)

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SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:1-9

Jesus was sitting by the lake (Sea of Galilee), but the crowds were so big that he got into a boat so the people could see and hear him better. He told the parable of sower. Some of the seeds that the farmer scattered fell on rocky places. They sprang up quickly, but because the soil was shallow, they withered due to a lack of root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which choked the plant. Other seeds fell on good soil where it produced a good crop.

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 13:18-23

Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the sower. When people hear the message about the kingdom of God and do not understand it, the evil one takes away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places hears the Word and receives it with joy. But he falls away when trouble arises because he has no root. The seed in the thorns is the man who hears the word, but is unfruitful because of his worries and deceitfulness of wealth. The one who received the seed on good soil hears the Word and understands it. He produces a good crop.

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

6) He uses temptation, deceit, greed, and all the other sins to snatch us away.

7) It can be easy to focus on your problems, rather than your blessings.

8 ) John 15:5 reminds us that if you are close to Jesus, you’ll bear much fruit. When you stray, you can do nothing. Philippians 2:12-13 reminds us that God works in you for His good purpose. We all have our seasons of when we are following God’s will closely and when we stray. I think this is why our fruit can vary. God gives us all different gifts and opportunities to grow with Him. The difference in fruit lies in your obedience to these gifts and opportunities given.

9) We all need strong roots so that we won’t be tempted by the devil. If we have strong roots and are faithful, we’ll bear good fruit for the evil one will not be able to snatch us away.

10) The soil of my heart is a yearning for God and His will. I know because He is with me always, and I strive to follow Him and His path.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

More of a personal day, but an encouraging one. We will bear fruit if we follow Jesus and God. No one says it’s easy, but it will pay off.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 13, Day 3: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

MATTHEW 13:1-9

The boat gave Jesus a platform to speak from (Mark 4:1).

Parables are meant to teach one main principle to those listening. They made the idea easier to remember, and it stayed longer with the people.

Jesus spoke to things the people would understand. Everyone understood farming.

The seeds fell on four places:

1. Next to the path — this was where many people walked and thus the seeds would be trampled and not grow.
2. In rocky places — characterized by thin soil as we are told
3. Amongst thorns — fertile ground, but with hazards
4. On good soil — fertile and free of other plants growing

Jesus uses “he who has ears, let him hear.” to call attention to his words.

MATTHEW 13:18-23

Each soil type represents one of four ways that we respond to Jesus:

1. Next to the path — those who hear God’s Word, but are unaffected. Their hearts are hardened, so they have no real understanding of what they are hearing. You must understand God’s Word before you can take action.
2. In rocky places — those who are super excited when they first hear God’s Word, but then their excitement quickly fades and they fade away, too when times get rough
3. Amongst thorns — those who grow with God for a while, but then are taken down by the evil one, temptations, worries, and deceitfulness of wealth
4. On good soil — those that hear God’s Word and stick it through, bearing fruit along the way

What the Parable of the Sower Means to Us

We all go through the different types of soil in our lives — times where our faith wanes or where we are on fire for God. However, what matters in the end is that we strive to be the good soil and bear fruit in all that we do.

It can be helpful to ask yourself which soil are you and what can you change to become the good soil.

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Summary of Genesis 21:1-13:

Finally, Isaac arrives in God’s timing when Abraham is 100 years old. His name means “he laughs.” Isaac is circumcised at 8 days old. Of course, Ismael is jealous of Isaac. Abraham threw a big feast for Isaac when he was weaned, and Sarah told Abraham to get rid of Ismael and Hagar. God confirmed that they should go, so Abraham set them off one day and they wandered the desert of Beersheba. God tells Abraham that Ismael shall be a great nation as well.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

6) Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did what he had promised at the very time God had promised.

7) Isaac will be recknoned and will be made into a great nation as well. Hagar bears children who are to be slaves. Galations 4 is Paul noticing the difference between those born of the flesh and those born of the promise. Of the promise is a gospel of faith, not one of reliance on your own power. Ismael represents those who rely on human power to accomplish tasks, which leaves people enslaved to the law and sin like Hagar. Isaac represents those who by faith alone are blessed and are set free to obey God.

8 ) God told Abraham to do what Sarah says and that He will handle the rest by making Ismael into a great nation.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

God has got everything.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 13, Day 3: Genesis 21:1-13

The Birth of Isaac

God fulfilles His promise with the birth of Isaac, 25 years after He first made the promise. This was an unconditional promise that Abraham had to do nothing to earn.

Isaac’s birth mirrors Jesus’ birth in many ways.

• Miraculous
• In God’s timing
• Both were promised by God
• Both were joyful (Genesis 21:6;Luke 1:46-47;2:10-11).
• The births were assured (Genesis 18:13-14;Luke 1:34,37).

Obviously, Ismael would be jealous. Isaac was the promised one, not him. Most Bible scholars agree that Isaac is three years old here.

Ismael was cast out because he was a son of the flesh, which cannot co-exist with those of the spirit.

While your family is a strong bond, God’s bond of faith is stronger. Sometimes, you have to make a tough decision and separate from the flesh, no matter the relationship, and trust that God will handle the rest. God will take care of Ismael, which is why they were given only a few supplies. Here, Abraham acts in faith, as opposed to the lie of Sarah as his sister in Genesis 20. Abraham may have wanted Ismael as a backup plan if Isaac died (remember in ancient times, many children never made it to adulthood). God says to separate completely.