Rend Your Hearts: A study through the Book of Joel

Rend Your Hearts: A study through the Book of Joel

Lessons

In this impactful study led by Dr. Mark Scott, we delve into the book of Joel and explore the theme of "Rend Your Hearts." Through an examination of Joel's prophetic words, we discover the transformative power of true repentance. As we choose to rend our hearts and sincerely repent before God, we witness profound outcomes. Creation responds to our inner transformation, God comes down to meet us in our brokenness, and the nations take notice. This study emphasizes that genuine repentance paves the way for divine intervention and invites God to work in miraculous ways. Through the book of Joel, we gain a deeper understanding of the transformative nature of repentance and its impact on our lives and witness

Session 1

Overview

What does true repentance look like? In the Bible, true repentance can be marked by many things—prayer, fasting, tearing one’s garments, wearing sackcloth. There are two major things at the heart of the Book of Joel, The Locust Plague and The Coming of God. That’s why we will use as our major icon for this study a broken heart. This section will be an overview to the Book of Joel where Joel says to his people and us, “Rend your hearts!"

Session 2

Rend Your Hearts…Creation Will Respond (Joel 1:1-12, 16-20; 2:1-11)

The Apostle Paul said that creation groans (Romans 8). Sin not only fractured God’s relationship with Adam and Eve; it also fractured Adam’s relationship with Eve. Beyond that, all of the creation experienced this fracture as well. Deuteronomy also promised that if Israel would be faithful to God that God would bless them with rain, and fruitful crops. Be careful of one-to-one correspondence. It is not an unconditional promise. The prophet Joel did connect the dots between a physical plague and a fruitful creation.

Session 3

Rend Your Hearts…God Will Come Down (Joel 1:12-15; 2:12-32)

In this session, we’re looking at the Minor Prophet Joel under the theme “Rend Your Hearts.” A key idea, of course, is repentance. This session also covers how God comes down when we repent.

Session 4

Rend Your Hearts…Nations Will Notice (Joel 3:1-21)

We see in the final chapter that when we rend our hearts, the nations will notice. The main idea is, “Rending our hearts paves the way for the coming of God.” He may come in judgment, or he may come with his precious Holy Spirit. But having a repentant heart will prepare us for either.