Connection: Was there something from Tony’s message that you really needed to hear this week? Were there any aspects of God’s character that you found yourself reflecting on afterword? What aspects of God’s character did you see in Tony’s counseling story with the coupled dealing with a pregnancy from an affair? Has there ever been a point in your life where you identified with Gomer or with the women in Tony’s story?
Application [God is way more responsible for my sanctification than I think he is]. What is sanctification? (read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7) How does a person go about becoming sanctified? What is God’s role in this and in what ways does he accomplish it? (read Hebrews 12:7-17). How does he accomplish in the story of Hosea and Gomer? How would you explain the relationship between our role and God’s role in our sanctification process? In what way have you seen God sanctifying you within this last year?
Application [God uses your story for HIS story]. What might be some of the consequences of thinking our sanctification is up to us to accomplish? How might this affect the way you share your testimony with others? Why is it hard for us to recognize God’s role in our sanctification? How might doing so affect the way we share our testimonies? Why is this more encouraging to those who hear our stories? Have you been able to share your testimony in this way in the past and what was the result?