Great Themes of the Bible - Commitment: Committed to Doing Right

Bible Study

Great Themes of the Bible

Commitment: Committed to Doing Right

The Bible presents great themes that are universally relevant for the faith formation of all human beings in all times and places. Great themes such as call, creation, covenant, Christ, commitment, community, God, hope, worship, tradition, faith, and justice provide points of encounter between contemporary life and the times, places, and people in the Bible. As we reflect upon faith issues in our daily lives, we can engage biblical themes in order to learn more about God and to interpret what it means to live with faith in God. The great themes of the Bible are the great themes of life.

Commitment: Committed to Doing Right looks at several Old Testament prophets and the historical contexts for their messages in Second Kings and Second Chronicles. The messages of the prophets consistently pointed to the relationship with God and its requirements for God’s people. The book offers the following sessions:

Session 1, “What Does the Lord Require?” lifts up justice, kindness, and the love of God as solid standards to guide our decisions and actions (Micah 2:1-4; 3:1-5, 8-12; 6:6-8).

Session 2, “Living God’s Justice.” Amos identifies the root of injustice as the inclination of one part of society to ignore the needs of another. Hosea reminds us that God holds us accountable for our actions but also always works for our redemption (2 Kings 14:23-25; 15:8-26; Hosea 4:1-4; 7:1-2; 12:7-9; 14:1-3; Amos 5:10-15, 21-24).

Session 3, “True Worship and Abundant Life,” explores our human longing for pure and meaningful worship of God and the connection between worship and how we live (2 Kings 15:32-35; Isaiah 1:10-20; 6:1-8; 55:1-11).

Session 4, “Accepting Responsibility for Our Actions,” reminds us that we are responsible for our deeds. God is just and will punish and redeem us for our actions; and, ultimately, we will have reason to praise God for all God’s actions (2 Chronicles 34:1-3; Ezekiel 18; Zephaniah 3:1-13).

Session 5, “Reasons to Hope,” looks at our need for hope when all seems wrong in the world and in our personal lives. The Scriptures remind us that the same God who will not tolerate injustice also works for salvation. God’s unfailing love and care gives us hope in the midst of despair (2 Kings 23:35-37; 25:1-2, 5-7; Lamentations 3:25-33, 55-58; Habakkuk 2:1-20).

Session 6, “Trust in God,” examines human tendencies on the one hand to act as though God will always protect us from the consequences of our actions and on the other to believe that bad things that happen to us are God’s punishment. God holds us accountable for our actions. Nevertheless, God is faithful, says Jeremiah, and in time will respond with healing when we approach God in true worship (2 Kings 23:36; Jeremiah 7: 1-15; 29:1-14).

Session 7, “Turning Our Hearts to God,” examines human yearnings for wholeness and happiness and for the triumph of justice and good in the events of daily life. God’s judgment will one day set all things right, and God will bless those who worship God in truth (Zechariah 1:1-6; 7:7-14; 8:16-17, 20-21, 23; Malachi 2:17―4:3).

You will have many opportunities to encounter and experience the life-transforming love of God as you participate in a Great Themes of the Bible group. We pray that your experience in the group will lead you to see yourself as a beloved human being created in the image of God and to grow in your love of God, self, and neighbor.