And the Shofar Blew (53 page)

Hearing God’s Voice

1. Choose two of the characters from the story and compare or contrast the ways in which they heard God’s voice.

2. Discuss a counterfeit call from the story—a time someone believed he was hearing God’s voice but was mistaken. How did the person respond? What were the results?

3. First John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” What do you learn from this passage, and how might you apply it to the story?

4. God often speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, or through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Share such a time from your own experience. How did you hear God’s voice? What were the circumstances? What was your response or actions, and what were the results?

5. Romans 8:28-29 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.” For what purpose does God call us? How does He choose to work this out?

6. Examine your heart, mind, and life. What evidence do you see that God is speaking to you?

Building God’s Church

1. Discuss the different views of church building held by Paul’s father, Paul, and Stephen.

2. How did Paul’s view change? What prompted the changes? What actions confirmed the change? In what ways did Stephen change?

3. How do you develop relationships? How do you view church growth?

4. Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.” What does this verse imply about building—both relationships and churches?

5. Acts 2:41, 47 says, “Those who believed . . . were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all. . . . And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” According to this passage, how did the early church grow numerically? What were the requirements?

6. First Corinthians 12:4-7, 27 says, “Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church . . . there are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church. . . . Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” For what purpose are spiritual gifts given? What role are you and your gifts to play in the church, the body of Christ?

Additional reading: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians 12–13, and James

F
RANCINE
R
IVERS
has been writing for almost thirty years. From 1976 to 1985 she had a successful writing career in the general market and won numerous awards. After becoming a born-again Christian in 1986, Francine wrote
Redeeming Love
as her statement of faith.

Since then, Francine has published numerous books in the CBA market and has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty. Her novel
The Last Sin Eater
won the ECPA Gold Medallion, and three of her books have won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA Award.

Francine says she uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.