Want to learn more about Job? Use these Bible Studies for personal devotion, group Bible studies, or teaching a church class. Below are links to the lessons in this 14-part series.
Introduction: The End? Why would you start a new study of the book of Job and call the first lesson, "The End?" Ask my wife. When she reads a book, she reads the end first. I've never done that, but my wife wants to know how things will come out because that giv...
Introduction: A famous Christian book starts out, "It's not about you." Job teaches us this understates the situation. Not only is life not about us, but it is about being willing and able to give up our interests to advance the Kingdom of God. The interesting t...
Introduction: Last week we felt sorry for Job as he lost his children and his wealth. Recall that while God permitted these tragedies, God restrained Satan from harming Job himself. Job 1:12 ("on the man himself do not lay a finger"). God won round one. Satan's...
Introduction: This week we take a break from progressing through the Job story. Instead, we will spend time studying the issue of God and human suffering. When we suffer, or those we love suffer, are we tempted to think there is no God - or at least no loving G...
Introduction: Recall that in Job 2:9 Job's wife advised him to "curse God and die?" Job refused. Instead, we learn this week that Job cursed his own existence. Do you know someone who has ended their existence? When I was young, my mother was concerned that I...
Introduction: Job's friends came to visit him and they were shocked at how bad he looked ( Job 2:12). Have you had the same experience when you visited a sick friend? It is hard to know what to say. Certainly, "You look terrible" would not be a good idea. Job's...
Introduction: I love logic! So, does Bildad, one of Job's friends. Bildad knows his theology, he knows his logic, and he deduces that Job's children deserved to die. You could call that real "Retributive Punishment." Sometimes logic lets us down. Sometimes our v...
Introduction: We see a pattern in the accusations of Job's friends and Job's response to them. The friends say that Job is suffering because of his sins. Job denies that he is guilty, and he challenges God to justify what is happening to him. This makes Job's fr...
Introduction: A theme we keep seeing in these lessons is that we must trust God no matter what happens. The question is, "Trust God to do what?" Our assumption is that we trust God and He will make things better. If we are suffering, we would hardly want to tru...
Introduction: What do you think is "righteous anger?" I think this is anger over slights to God's reputation and program. Regular anger arises because of slights to me. As I understand it, righteous anger is fine and regular anger is not. Do you agree? Ephesian...
Introduction: We know the arguments, right? Job's friends argue the normal rule: that disobedience brings problems and obedience brings blessings. Job must have disobeyed because he has lots of problems. Job counters with his claim to be righteous and undeservi...
Introduction: What does Job teach us about grace and works? A central part of grace is that God saves us, we are not up to the task of saving ourselves. Certainly, the story of Job shows us that we are not competent to deal with Satan. Consider how God made all...
Introduction: Job was God's champion. In the controversy between good and evil, God nominated Job as His warrior in the contest with Satan. Interestingly, Satan chose himself to be the warrior for his side. Does this remind you of anyone else in the Bible? What...
Introduction: We come to our last study in the book of Job. I trust you have enjoyed exploring what God has to teach us through Job's story. This story contains some critically important principles. In this last lesson, let's stand back and contemplate some of t...
