Week 6 - The Old Testament
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Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:
If you could go forward in time and know something, what would you fast forward to find out?
The Old Testament
Job 26-40
1. While Job and his friends often make true statements in their lengthy dialogues, they both speak in error. Job’s friends speak their opinions about their false belief that Job’s suffering is tied to his unconfessed/hidden sin. Job speaks with arrogance towards God in demanding answers to his questions. When have your opinions gotten you in trouble? When has your arrogance gotten you in trouble? How did God correct and grow you through those experiences?
2. Consider Job 26:5-14 where Job highlights some aspects of God’s power. What are some of your favorite ways to consider or see God’s power? Why is it important and helpful to take the time to regularly consider God’s divine power?
3. In Job 27:13-23, Job speaks about the wicked ultimately receiving justice? How do you see evil rewarded here on earth? What does it feel like to see evil rewarded? Why is it helpful to remember that the wicked cannot escape death nor God’s judgement?
4. Job 28:15 & Psalm 119:72 speaks to the value of God’s wisdom being greater than silver and gold. How has that truth become reality in your life?
5. How does it feel to know that nothing escapes God’s view and knowledge (Job 28:24, 31:4)? Why is this truth so important and helpful?
6. When Job suffers, he is mocked and ridiculed by the lost around him (Job 30:1,9-15). Have you ever experienced people mocking, attacking, or avoiding you because of your faith? What did that feel like? How did you respond? Who helped encourage you through your suffering?
7. In Job 31:1 Job makes a “covenant” with his eyes to not look lustfully at any woman other than his wife. He realizes that sexual sin leads to earthly suffering and eternal judgment in Hell (Job 31:9-12). Do you think our society today takes sexual sin seriously? What do you think your culture sees as the purpose of sexuality? How is that different than the biblical view of sexuality? What do you think Job would say to our culture today? To Christians?
8. Job says he has not put his trust or love into wealth (Job 31:24-25). How does the world around us tempt us towards money and possessions? Why do you think Satan attacks us this way? How can we better resist such temptations?
9. Job treats his employees equal because he knows God made them both and fears his accountability to God (Job 31:13-15). Who might we be tempted to treat as lesser than ourselves? How does Job’s instruction help us in these situations?
10. Job also speaks to the importance of caring for your family (Job 31:31) as well as the poor, widows, orphans, and legal travelers (Job 31:16-23,32). How does Job’s priorities in loving others challenge and stretch you towards loving others better?
11. When you read Elihu’s rebuke of Job (Job 32-37), what stands out to you? Why?
12. When you read God’s rebuke of Job’s arrogance (Job 38-41), how does God go about correcting him? What characteristics does God highlight about Himself? Which is your favorite? Why?
13. What can we learn from God’s rebuke of Job? If God were to correct you today, what do you think He would say to you? How can we apply these truths to the week ahead of us?
General Discussion Questions
• What was something new you noticed this week? What impacted you the most? Why?
• Application Questions: How do you need to respond to and apply these truths to your life? (Is there a sin to avoid? A command to obey? An example to follow? A prayer to offer? A truth to remember or memorize? An attitude to change? A teaching to share?)