Discussing Job (the Old Testament one)

[Beebalm]

I'm trying to wade off into the great books study and not feeling very confident. We've read Genesis, and the discussion went well. I used Spark notes to develop questions. However, we just finished Job and I can't find much to help me. Any great ideas about discussing why terrible things happen to good people? Thanks in advance.

[Faithr]

Here's the Catholic take on it. I'm planning on using this article for our study of Job. We are just getting going on Gilgamesh right now. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08413a.htm

[laughing lioness]

Have you looked at the Navigator's approach? Read, observe, apply?

[CynthiaOK]

I'm not sure how easy it would be to discuss Job after the fact, so to speak. I have found it to be a fascinating study using Francis Schaeffer's tapes as well as the discussion/study points from World Views of the Western World Year 1.

By taking a few chapters at a time and analyzing them, a foundation is built for the next chapters. It follows a logical progression which might be difficult to get if one proceeds to analyze it after reading the entire work. But a few things you might look at are:

1. What was happening in the unseen (the heavenly realm) world (what Job cannot see).
2. What is the nature of the cause and effect relationship between the world we live in and the unseen world - is history happening in the unseen as well as the seen? How does that affect us?
3. What is Job's theology: what does he believe about God, life after death, justice?
4. Discuss the idea of a "war" being waged in the heavenly realm with Earth being the battlefield.
5. How does a Christian view suffering? Is it always chastisement? What does Job think about suffering?
6. Does a person's view of God (who God is, what He is like - His character) affect his perception of suffering? How does Job view God, how does his wife view God, how do his friends view God?
7. What is the nature of the relationship between God and Job? Is Job comfortable talking about God? Is he afraid of God?
8. What does God say about Job? In the beginning of the book, at the end of the book?

I think studying the book of Job is one of the best book studies I can do with my kids. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as we have. Best wishes.

[Tracy in Ky]

John Piper did an amazing conference on Job at the Cove (Billy Graham) a few years ago. You can order it from the Cove.

[Beebalm]

Thank you all so much! You've given me lots of great options. Like I said, I'm feeling a bit out of my league, and I appreciate your help a lot. Have a great day.

[Cindy in WA]

Chuck Swindoll's book on Job is excellent. He is a very approachable writer with lots of illustrations to make the subject matter come to life.
HTH
Cindy