Why Do People Get Away with Evil?
Does God notice when you do the wrong thing? Does he even care?
Talking Points:
- Habakkuk’s first complaint to God was actually pretty simple. The Israelites in his day were in a period of long spiritual decline. As a result, people neglected God in growing numbers, which caused great concern for people like Habakkuk. Habakkuk 1:2
- God graciously responds to Habakkuk’s complaint and reveals to all of us that God is still a judge, under whom nothing escapes his notice. God is not like a human judge, but is an impartial judge who upholds justice in every instance. Habakkuk 1:5
- God delays his judgment toward us because he wants us to turn to him. This is what the Bible calls repentance, turning to God with your heart and attitude. 2 Peter 3:8-9, Romans 2:4
- God’s judgment is coming on those who don’t trust in him. Now is the time for you to come to God in faith, knowing that he stands ready to forgive and restore you. Romans 2:5
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read Habakkuk 1:2. How much do you think this complaint matches your society? Give some examples.
- List some ways that you see Christians ignoring God’s commands.
- Read Habakkuk 1:5. Why is God’s response to Habakkuk’s complaint surprising? How would you have felt if you were Habakkuk?
- Read Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:8-9. Why is God patient with us when we sin? How has God been patient with you?
- What does it mean to repent? What will your life look like if you have repented from your sins?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Full Sermon: Watch the full sermon for this topic.
When Life Gives You the Unexpected
Life is messy. The unexpected will happen. What will your response be?
Talking Points:
- Habakkuk’s second complaint to God was, “This isn’t fair!” Habakkuk expected God to judge the people, but not like this. He probably expected God to bring a judgment like he had in the past: a plague, or perhaps striking down the most unfaithful in Judah with disease. But this judgment was much bigger. Habakkuk 1:12-13
- Habakkuk didn’t understand God’s plans and he told God about his frustration. But he didn’t abandon God. He waited for God to respond. Habakkuk 2:1
- God’s plans are better than our plans. God’s will is better than our will because he sees the big picture of history. This is good news because God always works for our good. Romans 8:28, Habakkuk 2:4
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read Habakkuk 1:12-13. Have you ever felt like something God did in your life wasn’t fair? Explain.
- Read Habakkuk 2:1. Describe Habakkuk’s attitude in this verse. How can you be better at listening to God for the answers to your complaints?
- Read Habakkuk 2:4. List some examples of what it looks like to trust in yourself and not in God.
- Read Romans 8:28. What areas of your life is it hardest for you to trust in God? Why? What are some practical things you can do to trust God more?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
God’s Poetic Justice
No matter how bad things get, God's justice will always prevail.
Talking Points:
- In the original language of Hebrew, this poem contains 5 stanzas that each begin with the phrase “Woe to you.” As the poem rhymes along, each verse describes a sin of the Babylonians and how God will deal with that sin. The different stanzas can be summarized into two main categories of sin.
- Sin #1-Looking out for number 1. God despises it when people selfishly look out for their own interests. His anger burns toward those who, driven by materialism, greed, and pride, take advantage of others for their own selfish gain. Habakkuk 2:6-13
- Sin #2-Living by your own rules. God also despises it when people decide that their desires and values are better than his and cast aside his revealed truth for their own man-made morality. Habakkuk 2:15-19
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Share an example where a wrong was done against you and the wrongdoer seemed to get away with it.
- Why do you think injustice and unfairness seem to bother us so much as humans?
- Read Habakkuk 2:6-13. What are some examples in our world today where people are guilty of the sin of “looking out for #1?”
- What is the opposite of “looking out for #1” and what would this look like in everyday life?
- Read Habakkuk 2:15-19. What are some examples in our world today of where people “live by their own rules?”
- Read Romans 6:12-14. Why is it so hard for us to submit to God’s authority and moral standards?
- What is comforting about the fact that God’s justice will ultimately prevail over sin? What is scary about it?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
Full Sermon: Watch the full sermon for this topic.
Learning to Embrace Hardships
Does God just want you to be happy, or does he want something better for you?
Talking Points:
- Habakkuk started his book with a complaint and he ends with a song. It is not a happy song. It’s a song that takes into account all God has promised in his judgment against Judah and Babylon. It is a song of lament as much as it is a song of praise, and it’s a song that teaches us how to follow God in the midst of life’s deepest struggles.
- Both the faithful, like Habakkuk, and the unfaithful are going to get swept up in God’s judgment. God’s people will suffer. Suffering is a theme throughout the Bible. Even Jesus suffered. Habakkuk 3:2, Acts 14:22
- All Christians can find joy in the midst of their suffering. They know that suffering isn’t the end of the story. This isn’t sadism. Christians don’t want to suffer. It’s that suffering leads to greater joy. This was the experience of Jesus. Habakkuk 3:17, Hebrews 12:2
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What is your favorite kind of music? Why?
- Read Habakkuk 3:2. Why do you think Habakkuk ends his book with a song? Describe some of the things that music has the power to do for people?
- Read Acts 14:22. What kinds of hardships have you experienced as a Christian?
- Read Luke 14:27-28. What does it mean to carry your cross today? What is the cost of following Jesus?
- Read Habakkuk 3:17. How would you describe the prophet’s attitude? How does his attitude challenge you?
- Read Hebrews 12:2 and Habakkuk 3:18-19. How can the promise of future joy enable you to endure suffering?
- How would you counsel someone who has been taught, “God only wants you to be happy”?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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