What I’ve Learned from Flannery O’Connor about Preaching and Ministry
After reading the letters of Flannery O’Connor, Jeff Dye shares what he has learned about preaching, ministry, and life.
(These Discovery questions go with the Bible lesson for May 24, 2020: “I Catch No Glimpse of Him!” For a detailed explanation of how to use Discovery Bible Study, click here.)
By Leigh Mackenzie
1. What is one example of how you loved and obeyed God last week?
2. What was challenging for you this past week?
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help.
Ask the two readers to each read Job 2:11-13 aloud, one after the other (possibly from different Bible versions). Then ask the same two readers to each read Job 23:1-17.
Ask the third person to retell (not interpret) the story from these passages, taking about 60 seconds. (Keep it simple!)
3. What in Job’s story captures your attention most?
4. Let’s look more closely at the details in these passages:
• How would you characterize the responses of Job’s friends to his condition?
• How would you describe the nature of Job’s questions?
• How would you describe his convictions?
• His hopes?
• His view of God?
5. What do you learn about God’s supremacy from these passages?
• About his love for humankind?
6. What does this passage reveal to you about people and how we should respond to God?
7. In what specific way this week do you need to closely follow God’s steps, keeping his way without turning aside?
8. Who is one person among your friends, coworkers, or family members that is presently going through a dark time of suffering in their life?
• What will you do this week to simply be with, sympathize, and comfort this person?
9. Based on this passage and our discussion, complete this sentence: This week, I will . . .
10. What challenge will you face this week?
For next week: Sometime this week, read and reflect on Job 27:1-6; 31:5, 6, 16-23. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
After reading the letters of Flannery O’Connor, Jeff Dye shares what he has learned about preaching, ministry, and life.
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