PART 1. WHAT IS THE BIBLE ABOUT AND WHY I SHOULD TRUST IT?
8. Prophets
Opener: Terry began by talking about the idea of errors in Scripture. He went on to state, “Start with men…you end with a book full of error. Start with God [and it’s] not a big deal to end with a book without error.” What exactly did he mean by this statement?
Answer: Everyone chooses a starting point when thinking about life’s biggest questions…and that starting point determines where you end. So for the believer, “Since God exists and He is personal and persons communicate… clearly He would speak to us. It is reasonable to assume that He would speak like any good parent does: in direct commands, in stories, in example, and in increasing complexity as the child grows up – like we see in the Bible. It is also clearly not a big deal that the God who created everything from nothing could oversee a small group of people (40 or so prophets) in such a way that what they write down would be accurate…just like we see in the Bible.
Remind Your Group of the Goal: Our goal is, Confidence: God is there and he has spoken and therefore we have reason to have confidence in the Bible. Though the Bible is complex and takes a lifetime of study, it is important that we understand two things about it: The basics can be understood and applied by a child; and the fact that we have a God-breathed book means we have a fixed point of reference. Having a fixed point of reference is super important for having confidence in navigating through life.
Transition: Now let’s take some time to look at the strange and often misunderstood world of the prophets.
Summary Statement: The prophets were the covenant watchdogs during these dark years…doing what the kings were supposed to be doing…knowing and paying attention to God…His will and ways. The prophets consistently outlined three ways that the people had broken the covenant. These were: idolatry, mistreatment of the powerless, and substituting ritual for relationship.
Passage: Amos 5:21-24 “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Micah 6:6-8 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Isaiah 40 As you read pay attention to Isaiah’s confidence— his confidence in the Word of God. Remember that Human arrogance is crazy—Confidence in God’s word is wise. (have your group read this before group.)
Questions: What comes to mind when you hear the word “prophets”? What picture does it bring up in your mind? Can you name the books of the prophets?
Answers: 1. A weird, out-of-touch with reality, man with a long beard and a sign saying, “The end is near!” But in reality, the prophets were the covenant watchdogs during these dark years. They were doing what the kings were supposed to be doing, knowing and paying attention to God, His will and ways.
- The prophets are divided in to two sections, the Major and Minor Prophets.
Major prophets: (not more important, but longer books): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
The Minor (shorter) prophets…12 of them: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi.
Question: Why were the years of the prophets considered dark years?
Answer: Israel had split into two nations (north and south); many of the kings were extremely evil and did not follow God at all. Thus, the people had forgotten who they were and how their nation was to represent God to the world.
Question: Can you recall the three main things the prophet’s spoke about that showed that people had broken their covenant with God? What are religious rituals that people have today?
Answer: Idolatry, social injustice and religious ritualism over relationship.
Questions: What is idolatry? And what are ways we see it displayed today? What are areas where we see social injustice happening today?
Answer: 1. Idolatry basically is anything that becomes more important than God. An example would be like taking popular opinions and current cultural trends as more relevant or important than what God’s word says to do. 2. We see social injustice in the treatment of the unborn babies, sex trafficking, pornography, drug abuse/overdose, etc. All of these injustices point towards how desperately we need to choose God and His ways. 3. Some examples of ritual over relationship could be: The person who goes to church, reads the Bible and prays, then treats people at work or home like they are worthless; the person who gives away some time and money, then lives with bitterness and unforgiveness in their heart; the person who has correct theology and great pride in their theology…but is unkind to people, arrogant and hard headed.
Question: Obviously, the issues the prophets spoke to remain issues for people today. It is easy to see how the idols we create in our lives can tear down our relationship with God. With that in mind, think about the ways people can build relationship with God. What are some of those ways?
Answer: 1. We can repent, stop and change direction and replace the idols with activity and thoughts that will draw us closer to God. 2. We can stop approaching our relationship with God as a “box-to-check.” 3. You can “wake up” and remember to be grateful for what God has done for you in Christ, you can choose to be grateful. 4. You can thank God for your future hope and let His ever-present strength shape how you go about dealing with today’s difficulties.
Application / Personalize it:
Are you pursuing idols? Are you just going through ritual motions or are you really choosing to connect with God so you can be changed and transformed into His likeness? What is it that God is calling you to change
Will you give _____________________________ to God, repent and live decidedly for Christ?
Spend some time praying for each other.