October 18, 2020: Episode 65 | Speaking of Fiery Witness
The message that sparked the conversation ... What I'm Looking For.
Have you ever witnessed a miracle? It’s amazing to see the ways that God reaches into our lives and spares us from catastrophe...but what about when He doesn’t? Join our conversation about martyrs, personal disaster, and the 4th man in the fire.
Discussion Questions
- Share your first name and something unique, incredible, or rare that you have personally witnessed.
- Outside of a religious or spiritual context, how do you hear the word witness used?
- In the Christian tradition, a martyr is said to be "someone who dies for their faith." Martyr comes from the Greek word for "witness" (martus). For example, the book of Acts records Paul's regretful prayer to Jesus, "Lord ... when the blood of Stephen your witness (martus) was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving" (Acts 22:20). Why do you think it made sense to call people who gave their lives for the faith martyrs, that is, "witnesses"?
- The Book of Daniel includes a well-known story about three "witnesses." As captives in Babylon, they were called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—names given to them that honored the Babylonian gods. But in Judea, the land of their birth, their names honored the God of Israel. They were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Listen to their story in Daniel chapter three and see if there's a word or a phrase that stays with you. Why did it stay with you?
- What do you get to know more deeply about the God and Father of Jesus through this?
- How is this good news for you?
- Reflecting on this, what do you want to say to people in your household, congregation, or neighborhood?