Facing Evil
By
Doug Brown (United States) | December 13, 2008
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1. How has the evil of this world impacted you or affected you personally? Share your experience with your group if appropriate.
2. Read the Christmas story - Matt 2:1-23 and imagine what it must have been like to live in “the days of Herod” - Matt 2:1. Discuss this with your group. ( Do a study on Herod the Great)
3. Herod was a cruel ruler over Israel. All the power and the “glory” was his. Discuss why you think that the magi were not fearful of his power? What lesson(s) can you learn from this when also facing a culture of evil?
4. Herod is a descendant of the Edomites who were descended from Esau. Esau was in conflict with his brother Jacob and Esau’s descendants (Edomites) were arrogant, boastful and in conflict with Jacob’s descendants: the Jews. Read the book of Obadiah with this in view: the Edomites spiritually represent each one of us with our self-centered, sinful heart and desires. What are some of the characteristics of an “Edomite” heart also known as the flesh? (also look up Rom 8:5-9, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 4:31, 5:5-6, Col 3:5-9, James 3:14-16).
5. Take some personal reflection before the Lord and ask Him what sinful, evil way lurks in your heart from which God wants to set you free?
6. Facing evil: How are you daring to live in our current sinful culture with injustice, poverty, moral corruption, sexual insanity, abusive leadership . . .? (fear of the evil or faith in God). In what ways are you called upon to live with a courageous faith throughout your normal daily routine?
7. Read Biographies of men and women who faced evil in their day and discover what gave them the courage to stand up to the evil in their day? Share your discoveries with your group, discuss and pray together for such boldness and steadfast spirits.
8. What cause stirs you, what part can you play in order to join in the redemptive work of God to help restore and reconcile this fallen world to God? (Read 2 Cor 5:14-21, Ps 45:1-4)
9. In your group, reread the Christmas story — Matt 2 and reflect on this statement: “the manger is mightier than the man-mountain.” ( Herod had a mountain made on which he built a fortress called The Herodium. It stills exists today from which you can see the little town of Bethlehem. Now, reread Matt 2:1 -- “In the days of Herod (evil) Jesus Christ was born!” Together, worship the Savior and give your the allegiance of your heart over to Him — freshly.
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