ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY
HOME GROUP QUESTIONS
WEEK BEGINNING 17 OCTOBER 2004
NAHUM
For home groups that would like them, here are some questions based on the talk at Sunday's 7:30 pm service. The text of the talk is here if you would like to refer to it. There's no need to answer them all - just tackle the ones you have time for. You don't need to stick to the areas mentioned here - feel free to discuss any other issues that arise for you.
1. Who can be the first to find Nahum in the Bible? You might like to award an (extra) chocolate biscuit to the winner!
2. Mention Nineveh and most people think of Jonah. What can you remember about his encounter with the city?
3. Nahum's message is very different. It's too late for repentance now and judgement is inevitable. How do verses like Nahum 1:11 and 3:19 help us to understand why this is?
4. We'll concentrate on Nahum 1:1-8. Please read this passage together.
5. Nahum pulls no punches! How do you react to his picture of God as 'jealous', 'avenging' and 'full of wrath' (verse 2)?
6. Most people are uncomfortable with the idea of God being angry. Why?
7. Can you think of situations where jealousy, revenge and anger might be entirely right and appropriate?
8. On Sunday, I suggested that jealousy, vengeance and wrath are things for us to avoid. Why is it different for God?
9. How does the fact that God is 'slow to anger' and 'great in power' (verse 3) help us come to terms with what Nahum says in verse 2?
10. Nahum is still able to say that 'The Lord is good' (verse 7). How does that fit in with the rest of this passage?
11. What would it be like if God wasn't jealous, didn't take revenge and never got angry?
12. On Sunday we sang a song with the chorus 'I could sing of your love forever'. How would you feel if the words 'jealousy', 'vengeance' or 'wrath' appeared on the screen instead of the word 'love'?
13. In what ways do we need to take God's anger more seriously? As you reflect and pray about this together, read James 4:7-12.
David Stone
18 October 2004