Where do you dwell?
Do you dwell in a big city?
Perhaps you dwell in a country home in a remote place?
What does it mean to dwell?
Where does the Lord dwell according to Joel 3:21?
Continue reading “DWELL”DWELL
FOREVER
What comes to mind when you hear or read the word forever?
Does a person, place or thing come to mind?
Or a combination?
Do you consider forever to be a serious promise with serious consequences if not upheld?
Or do you think forever is something we are incapable of comprehending?
Why and how does the Bible, and Joel 3:20 in particular, use the word forever?
Continue reading “FOREVER”A POWERFUL CONTRAST
What word or words would you use to describe the powerful contrast in the image above?
Have you ever used the word ‘but’ to draw a powerful contrast?
For example:
“The images above are of the same location. The one on the left shows a time of well-being but the one on the right shows a time of tragedy.”
- Having read the above example which image are you finding your mind focusing on? The one on the left or the one on the right?
- Why?
- How does this discussion of a powerful contrast using the word “but” intersect with our study of Joel 3:19?
PROVISION
Consider the following definitions of the noun provision:
1a: the act or process of providing
1b: the fact or state of being prepared beforehand
1c: a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency
2: a stock of needed materials or supplies especially: a stock of food – usually used in plural
- What do you personally due to insure you have provision for today?
- Do you also have a plan for insuring you have enough provision for the future?
- How far in the future are you preparing?
- What type of provision do you deem most important to secure for daily and future needs?
- Have you benefitted from others provision on your behalf?
- What does Joel 3:18 have to say about provision?
HOME
- What images does the word home bring to your mind?
- Are these images of home positive or negative? Maybe a combination?
Compare the phrases “at home” versus “broken home”.
Many of us would agree that the word home is initially meant to reference where we physically reside or dwell.
But in the phrases “at home” versus “broken home” many of us would also agree that the word home becomes more significant than a simple residence or dwelling location.
- Where does the desire for a “safe home” come from?
- What does Joel 3:17 have to say about the meaning of home?
REFUGE
- How would you define the word refuge?
- Can refuge be a place, person, or thing?
- What qualities are essential for a place, person, or thing to be deemed a refuge?
Consider the following definitions:
1 : shelter or protection from danger or distress
2 : a place that provides shelter or protection
3 : something to which one has recourse in difficulty
- Do these definitions change or reinforce your own for refuge?
It is raining where I am at today.
Having one of the umbrellas in the picture above while outside would certainly provide a refuge from getting drenched.
- Is there a refuge that can meet all the above definitions?
SHINE
What is the definition of shine?
Consider the following possibilities found at Merriam-Webster.com:
1 : to emit rays of light
2 : to be bright by reflection of light
3a : to be eminent, conspicuous, or distinguished
b : to perform extremely well
4 : to have a bright glowing appearance
5 : to be conspicuously evident or clear
What is the opposite of shine?
Consider the following possibilities found at Merriam-Webster.com:
1 : to make dark
2 : to make less clear : obscure the financial crisis darkened the future of the company
3 : taint, tarnish darkened his reputation
4 : to cast a gloom over
5 : to make of darker color
- How often have you gotten up to see a sunrise begin to shine?
- How did it make you feel?
- How would you feel if you got up expecting to see the sunshine and it was dark instead?
Come explore what the Lord is communicating to us in Joel 3:15 about the sun, moon and stars ceasing to shine.
Continue reading “SHINE”DECISION
- What is your process when making a decision?
- Are you one who spends hours researching various points of view before making a decision?
- Or are you one who makes a quick decision based on your gut feeling?
- Perhaps you rely on others to make a decision for you?
- What other ways have you used to make a decision?
Most likely your process depends on what the issue is that a decision needs to be made about.
Thus, you may incorporate all the processes above and others for making a decision.
- Regardless of the process you have used, have you ever made a bade decision?
- When is a decision, good or bad, irreversible?
- What is significant about the phrase ‘Valley of Decision’ found in Joel 3:14?
OVERFLOW
- What does it mean when we say something has an overflow?
Whether it be a cup of water or a grape press as pictured above if we describe something has an overflow it typically means filled past an item’s capacity.
Sometimes, this is seen as a positive situation but at other times it is decidedly negative.
- What examples can you think of where an overflow is positive?
- What examples can you think of where an overflow is negative?
- Which meaning does Joel 3:13 use for the word overflow?
BE ROUSED!
What does it mean to be roused?
Some synonyms for be roused include, be aroused, be awake, and be awakened. (See Merriam-Webster.)
- Which way do you prefer to be roused from slumber?
- With the rooster or other birds chattering or from an alarm clock of some sort as shown in the picture above?
- Do you use an alarm type sound or some sort of musical tune?
- Is it easy for you to be roused, meaning you get up before your alarm or immediately upon hearing it?
- Is it hard for you to be roused, meaning you repeatedly ignore sounds intended to awaken you?
- What does it truly take for you to be roused?
- What does Joel 3:12 have to do with these questions?