By Michael C. Mack

Imagine you are the parent of a teen whom you try to teach and lovingly discipline. When you do, however, the teen turns her back to you and puts her fingers in her ears. How would that make you feel? What would you do to remedy this situation?

Read Zechariah 7:8-14. 

How would you describe the people who were receiving Zechariah’s prophecy? What were they doing and not doing? How would you portray their heart condition? 

What was God’s temperament throughout this ordeal? Would you say he was being fair or unfair with the people? Why? 

What did God do and not do? Why?

Can you think of a situation when you acted like the people in this passage—God was trying to get your attention about something, reminding you about what has happened in the past, but you figuratively turned your back and plugged your ears? Share what happened and how it turned out.

How can your group be like Zechariah to one another—that is, lovingly encouraging each other but also allowing God to speak the truth in love through you when needed? 

Michael Mack leads church training events and consults with churches through his ministry, Small Group Leadership (www.smallgroupleadership.com).