Sermon Discussion Questions
Hosea 4:1-19
1. What does God accuse Israel of in verses 1-3? Which of those sins seem most prevalent in our society today?
2. Verse 6 is a key verse. What does it mean when it says that God‘s people are “destroyed for a lack of knowledge?” To what kind of knowledge is Hosea referring – information, relationship, obedience, the law, or something else? How might we as a church be drifting in the same direction?
3. This chapter has some particularly heavy words for those in positions of spiritual leadership. As you read verses 6-9, what responsibilities do leaders hold? How should this reframe our understanding and expectations of spiritual shepherds in the Church and in the home today?
4. Hosea 4 draws a connection between distorted worship and distorted morality. What is the connection between these and how do they impact each other?
5. Read Matthew 23:25-28. What similarities do you see between the priests described in Hosea and the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day?
6. Where do you see any glimpses of gospel hope in Hosea chapter 4?
7. The priests were meant to increase the knowledge of God for the people. Instead, they contributed to the deepening of their sin and idol worship. Spend some time in prayer, thanking God that we have in Christ a perfect high priest. He mediates between God and his people, increasing our knowledge and worship of him as he relates to us. See Hebrews 7:22-28.
8. Pray that we as individuals and as a group would heed the warnings of Hosea 4 and take comfort and joy in knowing God will still pursue his bride.