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SHINE

sunrise

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.

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DECISION

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?
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OVERFLOW

grape press
  • 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?
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BE ROUSED!

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?
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SPEECH

speech
  • Is there a speech you have heard that you still remember even though it was years ago?
  • Why did that speech impact you so significantly?
  • Do you remember who delivered the speech or do you just remember the impact of their words?
  • Or maybe the words that impacted you were not part of a formal speech but  written in a book or letter?
  • Whose speech, whether spoken or written, do you place high value on today?
  • Why?
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VENGEANCE

vengeance

Vengeance

Consider the following definition of vengeance: punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense.

There is a popular movie series that focuses on characters from a Marvel Comic book series that was first published in 1963 called The Avengers.

The characters in the comic books and in today’s film adaptations are motivated to use their unique skill sets, whether of human origin and invention or otherworldly, to avenge planet earth from criminals both of human origin and otherworldly.

Other stories of vengeance exist in movies, comics, as well as real life stories of fellow humans enacting vengeance.

  • Have you ever acted in vengeance?
  • Is it appropriate to act out our own vengeance?
  • What can we learn from Joel 3:7 about vengeance?
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