I Am Gomer

Discussion Guide
7.11.21

ONE Message Series
Justice and Mercy: A Study of Amos and Hosea

I Am Gomer

“Let her remove the adulterous look from her face . . .” (Hosea 2:2a).

OPEN

Adultery is the act of breaking faith with one’s covenant partner. Most often in Scripture, it is the betrayal of a marital covenant by sexual infidelity. As we saw in last week’s study, the strong imagery of adultery is used in both Old and New Testaments of God’s covenant people who worship false gods or otherwise show themselves unfaithful. Today we dare to ask for a close and personal self-examination of our relationship as Christ’s bride to our Loving Bridegroom.

NEXT

When you read a novel, watch a movie, or follow a TV series, do you identify with its characters? Do you recall a recent TV program where you knew the writers meant for you to connect with a certain character? To feel his/her pain or elation? Why do good stories have that sort of power with our minds and emotions? Stay in our memories over time?

Are you aware that academic studies have been done to demonstrate the link between character identification (see question above) and the power of a story to affect a person’s behavior? Have you ever had concerns about the violence, sexual content, or drug-related behaviors in movies influencing our culture? Desensitizing people to certain behaviors? Explain.

In such familiar biblical stories as the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) or Peter’s denial of Jesus (John 18:25-27), do you ever identify with the characters? Put yourself into the story? Could this be why so much of the Bible is in narrative form? To encourage personal introspection?

In reading the Book of Hosea, who is the character with whom you would most prefer to be identified? Most prefer to avoid identification? Today’s sermon was titled “I am Gomer.” Do you get the point? Do you see the importance of the issue being raised? Explain.

CLOSING

The essential point of today’s study is alert all of us to the temptation of “spiritual adultery” – being lukewarm in our devotion to Christ, giving priority to something other than Christ in our lives, or otherwise letting our hearts wander away from the Savior. As your time of personal study and reflection ends, please read James 4:4 and ask God to help you grow in love, devotion, and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ.