Here are last week's questions and then MY answers. The new questions follow.
PLEASE e-mail me and let me know that you wish to continue using this format for a Bible study: Jimyoung2work@aol.com
I am going to hold off doing our study for when we get back to in-person class if no one is getting a benefit out of this. I can only know this if you email me and tell me you are participating in this format. Thanks.
NEW Questions are at the bottom.
HOSEA: (taken from my NASB) The prophet Hosea ministered to the northern kingdom of Israel before it's destruction and deportation by the vicious Assyrians. During his time, the nation appeared to enjoy a season of prosperity and growth. But inwardly, moral corruption and spiritual adultery had thoroughly infected the people.
1). The Lord sent Hosea at this time to minister to Israel. What do you think was his ministry to them?
2). Who ministers to the body/Family today?
3). Do you have any responsibility to ministers to your brothers/sisters? If so, what/how?
HOSEA: When God instructed Hosea to marry a promiscuous woman named Gomer, the prophet found his domestic life to be a tragic dramatization of the unfaithfulness of God’s people. The Lord even had the prophet name one of his children “Lo-ru-hama” (no mercy) and another child “Lo-ammi” (not My people) to help the people of Israel realize how far they had fallen away from their God.
4). If a prophet were to come to our congregation and bring a letter like the ones John delivered to the seven churches of Asia – what problems might it tell us that needs to be corrected?
5). What might we be commended for?
HOSEA: During his half century of prophetic ministry, Hosea repeatedly echoed a three-fold message: God abhors the sins of His people, judgement is certain, but God’s loyal love stands firm. Hosea insisted that while God would certainly punish His people for their persistent and blatant sins – prophecies that God fulfilled to the letter during the Assyrian invasion of 722 B.C. – He would never completely reject His people. A time would come when He would just as certainly draw them back to their land and give them a heart to obey Him joyfully, so He could bless them abundantly.
6). What passages in the New Testament illustrates or explains the love God has for us today?
7). Have you ever felt rejected by God or a time when it seems He wasn’t listening? How did that situation improve?
8). How might God bless Israel “abundantly” if their heart obeys Him joyfully?
HOSEA: The names Hosea, Joshua, and Jesus all come from the same Hebrew root word. While the word “Hosea” means “salvation,” the names Joshua and Jesus include an additional idea: “Yahweh is salvation.” As God’s messenger, Hosea told the straying people that if they would turn from idolatry back to God, He would certainly save them.
The Book of Hosea presents a compelling love story of God’s unfailing, steadfast care for His people despite their unfaithfulness, ingratitude, and repeated rebellion. While God’s people abandoned Him for pagan idols, in love He would continue to call His people back to Himself.
9). How does the slightly different meaning of “Hosea” and “Jesus” accurately apply to their lives? In other words, how does their having different names make sense to their situation?
10). HOW does the book of Hosea present a compelling love story?
11). How does your life illustrate God’ love story for/to you?
HOSEA:
1). The Lord sent Hosea at this time to minister to Israel. What do you think was his ministry to them? He was to bring them the word of God – what their sins were; what was going to happen to them because of the cont. sinning; what could happen to them if they returned to worshipping only the true and living God.
2). Who ministers to the body/Family today? Of course the preacher and also the other leaders of the church (appointed or not, with titles or not) BUT ALSO each person in the church has the ability to encourage each other at worship time but they can also support, encourage, visit, assist one another during the week as problems and discouragements take place. But this can happen only if we are interacting and thus KNOW what is going on with each other.
3). Do you have any responsibility to ministers to your brothers/sisters? If so, what/how? Yes, I need to know what is going on through frequent contacts and by being involved in situations which are appropriate for me to be helping with. I need to be PROACTIVE!!!
4). If a prophet were to come to our congregation and bring a letter like the ones John delivered to the seven churches of Asia – what problems might it tell us that needs to be corrected? It might tell us that we need to be a better spokesman for the salvation Christ offers to the lost. We need to increase the number of ways or frequency of speaking to the lost about their eternal condition.
5). What might we be commended for? That we have shown the love of Christ without reservation to many of those who we have come in contact with. We have loved without prejudice or conditions! We have loved without worry about sacrifice.
6). What passages in the New Testament illustrates or explains the love God has for us today? First, Jhn 3:16 & Rom 5:8 explains how God has made a tremendous sacrifice in order to restore an opportunity for us to have a relationship with Him. Rom 5:5 says the love of God has been given us through the Holy Spirit. Eph 2:4-10 explains what the love of God has done for us and the future He has prepared for us. Eph 3:14-21 continues this explanation of what God offers us.
7). Have you ever felt rejected by God or a time when it seems He wasn’t listening? How did that situation improve? For about 3 months after my first wife walked out of our marriage my evenings after I put the kids to bed were pretty emotional and distraught. I did not feel comforted very much by the Spirit but as I spent time in prayer I came to accept that He would either allow us to work out our problems or He would continue to be with Me even if we did divorce. I came to accept that there was still a path I needed to walk with Him, married or not.
8). How might God bless Israel “abundantly” if their heart obeys Him joyfully? One way for them to be blessed is that they can KNOW He is with them and will care for them if they are obedient. “Trust” might be the right word. Also, as they come to Him obediently, then like with Nineveh, the coming punishment can be averted. And, in their obedience they will continue to enjoy the blessings that He promises to them. I think that mostly, knowing they are right with Him, they will have a peace and faith in their future with/through Him. Knowing that they can always come to Him each and every day would fill their hearts and lives with a positive confidence.
9). How does the slightly different meaning of “Hosea” and “Jesus” accurately apply to their lives? In other words, how does their having different names make sense to their situation? Hosea means salvation and Hosea the man brings this message to his people. Jesus means “Yahweh is salvation” and Jesus is Yahweh and HE is salvation for all who call on His name. One is the messenger and one IS the message.
10). HOW does the book of Hosea present a compelling love story? It shows the DESIRE of God to care for His people. Kind of like a love letter. The book explains how the people can live in the love of God – obedience. It shows that the bleak future which is coming their way because of idolatry can be avoided if they just repent and turn back to their lover – God. It shows how much and in what way God is prepared to love Israel if they just re-establish their relationship with Him – it is an “open hand” offer if they just reach for it and take it.
11). How does your life illustrate God’ love story for/to you? His patience with my short-comings and the blessed life I have lived. I am far from perfect but He still maintains a relationship with me. I do have a relationship with Him and enjoy it every day. He is always someone I can turn to for help, guidance and even forgiveness. I thank Him daily for His willingness to be with me – or at least I should even though I don’t. He is always there!!!
THE BOOK OF DANIEL: taken from my Bible, NASB
Daniel’s life and ministry covered the entire seventy years of the Babylonian captivity. Deported to Babylon at approximately the age of 16 and handpicked for government service, Daniel became God’s prophetic mouth piece to the Gentile and Jewish world, declaring His present and eternal purpose. Daniel, a Hebrew, became prime minister of Babylon and worked for at least three kings: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius. This inspired work quotes both Nebuchadnezzar and Darius as declaring that Daniel’s God is the living and true Lord of all.
The name Daniel means “God is my Judge”. The Book details the life and prophecies of God’s trusted servant. It includes a great deal of fulfilled prophecy and is quoted by Christ (Mt 24:15). Several of the book’s 12 chapters revolve around dreams, including God-given visions involving trees, animals, beasts, and images.
While many of the stories in Daniel are retold in children’s books, those accounts are too important and relevant to relegate exclusively to the pages of childhood literature. To be sure, Daniel in the lion’s dens and other are all spectacular and gripping narratives. But what stand out in all of them is that our sovereign, omnipotent God consistently and swiftly reacts to the earnest prayers of His faithful servants.
Daniel prophesied concerning the rise and fall of the Antichrist and the glorious Second Coming of Christ. The book of Daniel is often seen as a companion to the New Testament Book of Revelation, largely because both contain a great deal of similar prophetic imagery.
Themes: God rules over the affairs of men, and no one can derail His plans or stop Him from acting. He is absolutely sovereign.
Time: During and shortly after the 70 year Babylonian captivity of Judah.
QUESTIONS:
- Daniel’s life is very similar to that of Joseph. Each became a spokesman for God in the lives of kings and foreign countries. What struggles have you gone through which prepared you for God’s work later in your life?
- What circumstances have you gone through which seemed to take forever before the light and intentions of God became clear?
- In what way have you been able to declare God’s words or work which benefited others so that they eventually came to know the Lord?
- Share a couple of times in which God has brought understanding to you regarding how He works/worked in your life or how Scripture helped you through difficult times?
- Tell of a time when you saw no way out of a situation and how God acted to bring about a answer better than you hoped for.
- E-mail me and tell me what study you would like to do next.