6.9.19 - Be Empowered for the Call
Standing in the Gap — Week 2 Study Guide
Be Empowered for the Call
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 37:1-14
ADDITIONAL READING: John 11:1-45
Introduction
Dry bones — what a great picture. A picture of broken dreams, unfulfilled potential, of no longer feeling it, of being lost and sure it is over for you. A picture of the consequences of sin, a picture of regrets.
Many of us have been in the Valley of Dry Bones. Perhaps we entered the valley when we lost our job or received a horrible phone call that changed our lives in a second, or perhaps it is as simple as just going through the motions, running on the hamster wheel with no exit in sight. A picture of hopelessness.
Our lives have seasons of dry bones. Our world is a world filled with dry bones. The question is always the same, "Can these bones live?"
Basic Outline
Ezekiel 37:1-3 — The hopeless situation
Ezekiel 37:4-8 — God's first command to speak to the bones and Ezekiel's obedience
Ezekiel 37:9-10 — God's second command to speak to the wind and Ezekiel's obedience
Ezekiel 37:11-14 — The interpretation of the vision
Background Information
The people of Israel were a defeated people. The glory of the time of King David was now a distant memory. Because of the people's turning away from God, they experienced God's judgment upon their society. They were a defeated and hopeless people. Their temple of worship had been destroyed, and they were exiled to a foreign land.
In the midst of this hopeless situation, God gives Ezekiel a vision. The vision is clearly symbolic. The symbols are explained in Ezekiel 37:11-14: The dry bones represent the people of Israel, who have been in exile for 10 years already. They were hopeless and depressed.
Note, there are two stages to the bones coming back to life. First, Ezekiel speaks to the bones, and they come together. Second, he speaks to the wind to breathe on the bones so that they can live. The wind represents the Holy Spirit, which is needed for true reawakening.
The obvious answer to God's question would be "No," since the bones were dry and no human power could cause them to live again. Note Ezekiel's obedience to God's command even in a seemingly hopeless situation.
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Point of Light Group Discussion Questions
Read Ezekiel 37:1-14 aloud together.
Watch this video of these verses together: Video: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Read aloud verses 1-3. What impression do you get from this scene? What would you feel and think if you were in Ezekiel's place? Why?
How would you have answered God's question in verse 3? Why? What does Ezekiel's answer reveal about what Ezekiel thought and felt?
Have you ever been in a place in your life where you lost hope? Explain how that felt. Do you know people who have lost hope? Why do people lose hope?
Read and discuss verses 4-8. What happened? What is the sequence of what happened? (God spoke — Ezekiel gave God's message — the bones came to life). What does the sequence indicate to us about how God works? What can we apply in our own lives and in the lives of others from this sequence?
Read verses 9-10 and discuss. Note again the sequence. What is the significance of the breath? How is that applicable to our lives today?
Read verses 11-14. What symbolism is explained in these verses? Discuss in your own words what are the teaching and meaning of this vision that God gave to Ezekiel.
Discuss ways that you can apply this teaching to your own life and the lives of other people, both individually and as a group. Be specific.
This Week’s Challenge
Discuss as a group how you can be a light of hope to others in your community.