Series: Ezekiel
Title: The Watchman
Passage: Ezekiel 33:1-9
Speaker: Steve Howell (Senior Minister)

Use the following questions and directions based on today’s sermon as a starting point for spiritual discussions with your family or a small group of Christian friends this week.

‌‌Fellowship—Relationship with a Purpose

• Where does the buck stop? Who is responsible/guilty in the following situations? What are the factors we consider?
  

  *A child from a good home gets arrested for drug possession.
  

  *A player shares that a college basketball team has a history of accepting favors/gifts for its stars.
  

  *A teacher skews test results to look better on standardized exams.
  

  *A White House insider is caught sharing classified info with Chinese spies.
  

Growth—Thinking About Spiritual Matters

• Read Ezekiel 3:16-21 and Ezekiel 33:1-9. How do they compare?
  

• Why do you think these passages bookend a section where Ezekiel must declare God’s messages of judgment to Judah and the nations?
  

• Summarize the duties of the watchman. Summarize the duties of the people who hear his message.
  

• Do you identify more with the watchman or with the people who hear? Why?
  

• What warnings should a spiritual “watchman” be warning our church about today? Are these issues unique to our community, or do they impact society on a larger scale?
  

• Read Acts 20:28-31. What are some ways in which the elders of a church are responsible for the congregation? How well do you think the elders of TCC have done this (historically and/or currently)? How could you support and pray for them to do this task well?
  

• Why is it sometimes difficult to see spiritual danger? What could help your spiritual eyes to be more clear?
  

Prayer – Taking Your Thoughts to God

• Pray for boldness to offer a spiritual warning where it is needed. Ask for discernment to know how urgently to word your warnings.‌