Lesson 4

Discussion Cycle 1

From Last Time

Review: What were some of the key points that stood out to you during last week’s Bible study?

Homework: Romans 8 What can you say to someone experiencing intense grief and suffering? How did the content of Romans 8 help you to guide people to Christ and the amazing blessing that are found in him?

E.C. – Did you figure out what the Leviathan is?

Discussions and Debates After Job’s outburst in Chapter 3, the rest of the book of Job is a series of discussions. These discussions usually involve a speech by one of Job’s friends followed by Job’s response to that speech. There are three cycles of exchanges between Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Job. Today each group will investigate one portion of the first cycle. As you work and study add to your character sketch of Job’s friends as well as Job himself.

1

Group 1 – The Eliphazenes (Read Job 4-7) Work in your group to determine what qualities, characteristics, thoughts, and actions you would put on Eliphaz’s sketch based on his speech. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

1. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Eliphaz’s point.

2. What is the best thing Eliphaz says?

3. What is the worst thing Eliphaz says?

Work in your group to determine what you would add to Job’s sketch based on his answer to Eliphaz. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

4. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Job’s reply.

5. What is the best thing Job says?

6. What is the worst thing Job says?

Group 2 – The Bildadians (Read Job 8-10) Work in your group to determine what qualities, characteristics, thoughts, and actions you would put on Bildad’s sketch based on his speech. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

1. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Bildad’s point.

2. What is the best thing Bildad says?

3. What is the worst thing Bildad says?

2

Work in your group to determine what you would add to Job’s sketch based on his answer to Bildad. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

4. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Job’s reply.

5. What is the best thing Job says?

6. What is the worst thing Job says?

Group 3 – The Zopharites (Read Job 11-14) Work in your group to determine what qualities, characteristics, thoughts, and actions you would put on Zophar’s sketch based on his speech. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

1. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Zophar’s point.

2. What is the best thing Zophar says?

3. What is the worst thing Zophar says?

Work in your group to determine what you would add to Job’s sketch based on his answer to Zophar. Provide verses that show the answers you find. Use the following questions to help you.

4. Choose a collage of verses (about 3-10) that represent Job’s reply.

5. What is the best thing Job says?

6. What is the worst thing Job says?

3

Discussion

Agree/ Disagree: Many people go through life with the same concepts and ideas about God as Job’s friends had.

What have you gained today from our study of the book of Job?

Homework

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar didn’t seem to have the most compasstion for Job. Perhaps it would have been better if they had prepared themselves, prayed for God’s guidance, and sought to be compassionate.

Read 1 Peter 3:8-18

Then draft a personal prayer based on that section that asks God to help you be prepared, humble, and compassionate when people ask you about the reason for the hope which you have.

4