5. Share the Gospel + Life Group Discussion Questions
Week 7 • Day 5
Congratulations on finishing an overview of the entire Hebrew Bible!!! This week, we will take some time to explore some videos about the writings!
Share the Gospel Video:
Week 7 Life Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker: Have you thought any more about the OT book for our project?
Question: What observations / reflections / or prayers stood out to you this week?
The Writings (Emet): When read in the context of the exile, the writings would have influenced the Israelites to remember that one day God will send His David-like Suffering Servant / Good Shepherd ruler, God will restore the wisdom and blessings that made up the Solomon-like “golden age” kingdom place, and God would restore His people with a Job-like faith that surrendered to the Lord’s definition of what is “good” and what is “evil” regardless of what suffering may come!
Question: Which one of the Emet writings is your favorite and why? What is your experience reading the Psalms? / Proverbs? / Job? Does the Hebrew Bible ordering help you understand the book a little better than before?
The Writings (Megillot): The Hebrew collection of writings in the emet and the megillot suggest that no matter where God’s faithful people find themselves, they can rest in the fact that God sovereignly rules over all things. YHWH is lovingly pursuing His lost people like a husband pursues his wife, even if it does look like terror is falling upon the righteous and the wicked alike. The writings challenged the Jews to remember what it was like in God’s kingdom place so that they could fear Yahweh as king instead of the chaotic circumstances of foreign kingdoms!
Question: Which one of the Megillot writings is your favorite and why? What are some situations in your life where you really felt the “hesed” love of God in your life? In what ways is God calling you to reexamine your life and return to Him?
Daniel: How does one sing the Lord’s song in a foreign place? Are God’s kingdom promises that were made through the prophets and envisioned in the writings going to come true? Daniel knew that God’s people were in need of a divine act to rescue them from their circumstances. It would take a miracle for the promised King to deliver God’s people from the kingdom of sin and bring them back into God’s glorious land under God’s rule.
Question: What is your favorite action sequence in the book of Daniel and why? What is your experience with the book of Daniel and what are some of the challenges you have faced when trying to interpret this prophetic text? How might Daniel encourage you to take a stand for the Lord in your context?
Ezra - Nehemiah / Chronicles: Even though Israel returned from Babylon to their promised land right on schedule, they still could not defeat the kingdom of sin! Ezra and Nehemiah showcase makes us question whether this return is the gospel of the kingdom we have been looking for. The Chronicles remind us one last time that the gospel of the kingdom would be fulfilled through the promised son of David!
Question: What are some of the patterns in your life that you keep repeating over and over again? What are the things God is calling you to do that you are avoiding or ignoring? How might your group be able to help you carry out some of the things God is calling you to do?
