How to Be Spared From the Coming Judgment (Joel 2)

Have you ever gotten in so much trouble that your punishment was unbearable? What happened? How did that experience change you?

Have you ever felt like you were experiencing the judgment of God for something you had done? How did you respond?

Read Joel 2:1-2. A great army was coming to destroy Jerusalem. Why do you think God was allowing His chosen people to be attacked? Did they deserve to be destroyed? Why or why not?

Do you think our country, or our world deserves to be judged by God? Why or why not?

How do you believe God is judging the world today? Compare the current judgments of God with the future judgment at the end of time. What do the current judgments teach us about the coming judgment?

Read Joel 2:12-14. How would you describe Joel's response to the coming judgment? Based on these verses, how would you describe repentance?

What do you think it means to "turn your heart toward God?" What advice would you give to someone who needed to do this?

Read Joel 2:15-17. Why do you think Joel mentioned all these different kinds of people? What point do you think he was trying to make? What's the significance of summoning a bride and bridegroom from their chambers?

Joel called on the priests to pray "Spare your people, LORD!" Is this a prayer we should ever pray? Why or why not?

What types of things do we need to be spared from? Will God spare us? Why or why not?

Take some time and have everyone pray silently. Have them break their prayer into two parts:
1) Pray that they would be spared from whatever judgment of God they deserve.
2) Pray a prayer of repentance. Do what they need to do to turn their hearts toward God.

How can the group be supportive of one another this week?

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