Preparing for Sunday - Joel

June 12, 2014 by Bret Capranica Preparing for Sunday

Read through Joel 1-3 in one sitting. List a few of the major themes you see emphasized in the book.
What sort of event is 1:4-7 describing?
What response should God's people have to this event (1:13-14)? What is this event called (1:15)? What does this suggest as to why the event is happening?
What sort of event is 2:1-11 describing? Is it the same event as in chapter 1 or different? How do you know? What is this event called (2:1, 11)?
What response should God's people have to this event (2:12-17)? What does this suggest about why this event is happening?
How does God respond to his repentant people (2:18-27)?
Read 2:28-32 and list all that will happen when the Spirit is poured out.
Read 3:1-3. List all that happens in these verses. When do they occur in light of the other events described?
Read 3:17-21. What will God do for his people?

Why does God allow discipline to come to his people? According to this book, how should we view the difficulty of God's discipline when it comes?
When was the last time your response to your sin was similar to that found in 2:12-17?
Not all that Israel was to go through was negative in the book of Joel. Much was a cause of great rejoicing (2:21-27). Why? Why should God's people have hope, even when they are under God's discipline?
What does 3:4-8 suggest God will do with his people's enemies? How should that bring us comfort and confidence?
Read Acts 2:14-21. Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32. What connection exists between what was happening at Pentecost and what was predicted in Joel? How should we be viewing our place in redemptive history in light of this?

After interacting with Joel's prophecy, what sin comes to mind that you need to confess now? How should you respond to your own exposed sin in light of what you have read now? Why would cultivate in your heart an eagerness to weep over your sin?
How should this book bring confidence to you right now in light of events of your past week (or recent past)? What passages in this book bring hope to your heart?
How could this book help you pray specifically for specific non-Christians in your life? How would this book help you pray specifically for specific Christians in your life? Pray for each now.
What should our congregation as a whole derive from this short prophecy? How would it assist us this coming Lord's Day? Pray for our church as a whole.
Pray that those who lead our gathering on Sunday will edify the body in the most helpful ways: Dawson Bryant, music; Brandon Ferguson, Elders' Prayer and Scripture reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Meditate on the lyrics of the songs below and prepare yourself to sing with the church this Sunday.