By Michael C. Mack
1. How did you team with God last week to “preach” to “dry bones” (those who are spiritually dead) with the aim to see God bring his life to them?
2. If you had your choice, which would you rather design: a building, a car, a website, a dress or suit, or something else?
Ask two people to read aloud Ezekiel 43:1-12 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then, as a group, quickly retell the passage in your own words.
3. What did Ezekiel see and hear?
4. What did God call Ezekiel and the people to do?
5. Imagine you are Ezekiel as you witness all this. He had earlier seen God’s glory leave the temple (10:18; 11:23). What emotions would you be feeling as the events of this passage take place?
6. What does this passage teach you about the nature of God?
7. What do you learn about humanity from this passage?
8. We live under the New Covenant, in which our bodies are now God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). How would you apply Ezekiel’s prophetic vision today?
• How do we defile what is holy by bringing what is detestable and worldly into our temples?
• What function does feeling shame for our sins play in helping us to repent, confess, and then grow in intimacy with, faithfulness to, and obedience to God?
9. God promised that when we put away what is unholy from his temple, he will live among us forever. How can we encourage one another to live holy lives?
10. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Psalm 1 as we begin a new unit titled “Rooted.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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