Reflection Questions: Fatherhood Before the Eyes of the All-Seeing God (Father’s Day 2024)

Reflection Questions: Fatherhood Before the Eyes of the All-Seeing God (Father's Day 2024)
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June 16, 2024
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  1. What motivated Achan to disobey the Lord’s ban on the ‘devoted things’ (Josh.7:1-25)? How did his thoughts and actions conspire toward the downfall of his family? How can the thoughts or actions of a mom or dad lead to the destruction of his or her family? Where in this story did God give Achan opportunities for repentance – a ‘space for grace’? What can we deduce from Deut. 24:16 about the fact that Achan’s children were killed with him?
  2. Achan’s sin was intentional. I’ve argued that these are the most serious kinds of sin. Do you agree? Why or why not? Discuss Gal. 6:7-8 in this context. This passage was written to believers. So, what is Paul promising when he mentions “corruption” and “eternal life” in verse 8?
  3. Read and discuss Hebrews 10:26-27, a passage which confuses many believers. This passage is clearly addressed to those who are saved. Since a truly born-again man or woman can never be lost again, this passage is clearly not promising ‘hell,’ but, rather, a divine discipline which it calls ‘a fury of fire’ which will consume God’s adversaries. But can a believer make him/herself God’s enemy (James 4:4; Rom. 8:7-8). What does the writer mean by saying if “we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”? Why should those who do so actually “expect” God’s discipline – and do so ‘fearfully’? Consider 1 John 5:16 in light of this concept. Far from being punitive or retaliatory, God’s discipline is always an act of love and grace. Read and discuss Hebrews 12:5-11 in this context, especially v.11.
  4. Achan’s sin was deliberate, intentional and devastating. But David’s was too (2 Sam. 11:3-4). So why did David remain the ‘apple of God’s eye’ (Psa. 17:8) while Achan ended up beneath a pile of stones (Josh. 7:25)? See Psa. 32:3-6a, 19:12b-13a, 51:1-12).
  1. Consider these wonderful promises of God: Num. 32:23, 1 Cor. 10:11, and Prov. 28:13-14. Discuss the process of contrition (2 Cor. 7:9-10, 2 Sam. 12:13), confession (1 John 1:9, Psa. 32:5) and repentance (Rev. 2:4–5, 3:19) as the only way to avoid God’s discipline in time. Why are each of these three components of repentance important?
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