Ezekiel: Repentance and Hope – Lent 2017, Part 1 When God Shows Up… Ezekiel 1:1-3:15 March 5th, 2017
PRELUDE to a VISION. (II Kings 24:8-17; Ezek. 1)
A. The BEGINNINGS of EXILE. (1:1)
B. SEEING the One ABOVE all… (1:4-28)
C. …and His GLORY is in BABYLON? (1:3,28)
Today is the first Sunday of the season of Lent. Our bulletin has an insert today
explaining a little about the history of this season of the church calendar. During Lent
we focus on prayer and repentance, being open to God showing us areas of our lives
were we are slow to surrender. Ezekiel is a great, yet complicated, text to focus in on
during this time.
1. What has been your experience with Lent in the past? Do you see it as a beneficial
reminder, much like Advent? Why or why not?
2. What response do you have to Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 1? What part stands out
to you and why? What questions does it inspire?
3. Ezekiel is surprised to see God’s glory so far away from the temple. When have you
been surprised to see God at work in a place that you didn’t expect?
II. RESPONDING to God’s CALL. (2:1-3:15)
A. There is LOTS of LISTENING. (2:8, 3:10)
B. SURRENDER, don’t REBEL. (2:8; 3:1-11)
C. INTERNALIZE the WORD. (3:1-3)
A vision like the one Ezekiel has pushes for a response. And in chapters 2 and 3 we
see Ezekiel’s call by God to speak the word of God to the people of Israel. At the same
time it calls us to respond to the truth as well.
4. What does the phrase “listening to God” mean to you? How do you listen to God?
5. How can we know when there are areas of life where we refuse to surrender to
God?
6. How would you explain what it means to “internalize” the Word of God? How can
you practice that?
III. LETTING Ezekiel into our LENT. (Rom. 15:4)
A. LETTING God OVERWHELM you. (3:15; Ecc. 5:1-3)
B. IDENTIFYING our IDOLS. (Mk. 12:30; Ex. 20:3)
C. SEEKING Spirit EMPOWERED obedience. (2:1-2, 3:1-2; II Cor 3:17-18)
D. LISTENING carefully and taking to HEART… (3:7,10; Heb. 3:15)
So as we take this spiritual journey from now until resurrection Sunday, how can we
prepare our hearts to respond to what God is saying and doing in our lives. Ezekiel has
some great insight, both in what he says and the experiences that he has.
7. When have you felt overwhelmed (either positively or negatively) by God? What
was that like for you?
8. What questions have you found to help in discerning the idols in your own life? How
can our community of faith help us in this process?
9. When have you (or have you) experienced “spirit empowered obedience”? What
was that like?
10.What is God asking you to hear and take to heart for this season of Lent?