1. Opening Reflection: Two Kinds of Hunger
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:1-14; John 6:35
Discussion Questions
1. When you hear the word 'hungry,' what comes to your mind?
2. What forms of physical hunger do people face around us today?
3. What forms of spiritual hunger do people face around us today?
4. Can a church be doctrinally correct and still spiritually sick? Why?
2. God Confronts Religious People
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:1-5; Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 23:23
Discussion Questions
1. What religious activities were the people doing in Isaiah 58:1-5?
2. Were the people openly irreligious, or did they appear spiritually serious?
3. What complaint did the people make against God?
4. According to God, what was wrong with their fasting?
5. What modern religious habits can hide a hard heart?
6. What are modern ways Christians can appear spiritual while ignoring suffering?
7. In our community or country, what kinds of suffering can easily become invisible to church members?
3. The Fast God Chooses
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:6-7; Zechariah 7:5-10; Matthew 6:16-18
Discussion Questions
1. What action words do you find in Isaiah 58:6-7?
2. What does it mean to 'loose the bands of wickedness'?
3. What does it mean to 'undo the heavy burdens'?
4. What does it mean to 'break every yoke' in practical Christian life?
5. What could 'share your bread with the hungry' look like today?
6. How can a church care for the poor, homeless, displaced, or ashamed without humiliating them?
7. What kind of selfishness might God be calling us to fast from?
8. What would Isaiah 58:6-7 look like in our local church?
4. The Promises of Compassionate Worship
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:8-12; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 19:17
Discussion Questions
1. What promises does God attach to the kind of worship described in Isaiah 58:6-7?
2. What does 'thy light' suggest in Isaiah 58:8 and Isaiah 58:10?
3. What does 'thine health shall spring forth speedily' suggest?
4. What does it mean to be 'like a watered garden'?
5. What does it mean to be called 'the repairer of the breach'?
6. What broken places around us need repair?
5. Sabbath, Mercy, and Restoration
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:13-14; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 13:10-17
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Isaiah 58 connects feeding the hungry with Sabbath faithfulness?
2. How can Sabbath keeping reveal God's character?
3. What did Jesus teach about Sabbath through His words and actions?
4. How can Sabbath become a day of healing for the hungry, lonely, poor, discouraged, or anxious?
5. What Sabbath practices can help a church become more welcoming and compassionate?
6. Jesus and the Hungry Multitude
Bible Texts to Read: John 6:1-14; John 6:35; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 8:1-10
Discussion Questions
1. Who noticed the crowd's hunger first?
2. What did Philip see when Jesus raised the question of food?
3. What did Andrew see?
4. What did the boy bring to Jesus?
5. What did Jesus do with the small supply?
6. What small 'loaf' can I place in Christ's hands?
7. How do we keep the balance between feeding physical hunger and pointing people to Jesus, the Bread of Life?
8. How can our church serve without manipulation and preach without indifference?
7. The Least of These and Living Faith
Bible Texts to Read: Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18
Discussion Questions
1. What groups of needy people are mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46?
2. Why were the righteous surprised?
3. What does 'the least of these' mean in this passage?
4. Does Matthew 25 teach salvation by works? Why or why not?
5. How do Ephesians 2:8-10 and James 2:14-17 fit together?
6. What kind of person do I easily overlook?
7. What would change if we began to see Christ in the hungry, lonely, sick, poor, stranger, and discouraged?
8. The Early Church as a Caring Community
Bible Texts to Read: Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:16
Discussion Questions
1. What did the early believers share?
2. Was anyone forced to give?
3. What was the result of their fellowship and generosity?
4. What systems can a local church create so help is not random, emotional, or embarrassing?
5. How can the church be a family for students, widows, visitors, the poor, the lonely, and the struggling?
6. What safeguards can preserve dignity, fairness, and accountability in church welfare ministry?
9. Adventist Mission and the Everlasting Gospel
Bible Texts to Read: Revelation 14:6-12; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 24:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
Discussion Questions
1. What message is given in Revelation 14:6-12?
2. How does the everlasting gospel relate to practical compassion?
3. If God is Creator, how should we treat every human being?
4. How do 'the commandments of God' and 'the faith of Jesus' shape our service?
5. What dangers arise if we separate prophecy from compassion?
6. How can our church combine proclamation, compassion, Sabbath truth, and preparation for Christ's return?
10. Personal Application: One Loaf This Week
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:10; John 6:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Matthew 5:16; Proverbs 19:17
Discussion Questions
1. Who is hungry near me physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
2. What resource do I already have that God can use?
3. What selfishness must I fast from?
4. What can I do this week that will not be for show?
5. Who can I invite to meet Jesus, the Bread of Life?
6. What is my 'one loaf' this week?
11. Closing Reflection and Hope
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:10-12; John 6:35; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 21:1-5
Discussion Questions
1. What part of Isaiah 58 speaks most directly to me?
2. What kind of worship is God calling me to practice?
3. What broken place is God calling our church to help repair?
4. What hope does Revelation 21:1-5 give to a hungry and suffering world?
Use this index to locate the main Bible passages for the study.
Study Area Bible Texts
Core Study Isaiah 58:1-14; Isaiah 58:6-10; Isaiah 58:10
False Worship and True Religion Isaiah 58:1-5; Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 23:23
True Fasting and Compassion Isaiah 58:6-7; Zechariah 7:5-10; Matthew 6:16-18
Promises and Restoration Isaiah 58:8-12; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 19:17
Sabbath and Mercy Isaiah 58:13-14; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 13:10-17
Jesus and the Hungry John 6:1-14; John 6:35; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 8:1-10
Faith and Works Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18
Church Community Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:16
Adventist Mission Revelation 14:6-12; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 24:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
Personal Application and Hope 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 21:1-5
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:1-14; John 6:35
Discussion Questions
1. When you hear the word 'hungry,' what comes to your mind?
2. What forms of physical hunger do people face around us today?
3. What forms of spiritual hunger do people face around us today?
4. Can a church be doctrinally correct and still spiritually sick? Why?
2. God Confronts Religious People
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:1-5; Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 23:23
Discussion Questions
1. What religious activities were the people doing in Isaiah 58:1-5?
2. Were the people openly irreligious, or did they appear spiritually serious?
3. What complaint did the people make against God?
4. According to God, what was wrong with their fasting?
5. What modern religious habits can hide a hard heart?
6. What are modern ways Christians can appear spiritual while ignoring suffering?
7. In our community or country, what kinds of suffering can easily become invisible to church members?
3. The Fast God Chooses
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:6-7; Zechariah 7:5-10; Matthew 6:16-18
Discussion Questions
1. What action words do you find in Isaiah 58:6-7?
2. What does it mean to 'loose the bands of wickedness'?
3. What does it mean to 'undo the heavy burdens'?
4. What does it mean to 'break every yoke' in practical Christian life?
5. What could 'share your bread with the hungry' look like today?
6. How can a church care for the poor, homeless, displaced, or ashamed without humiliating them?
7. What kind of selfishness might God be calling us to fast from?
8. What would Isaiah 58:6-7 look like in our local church?
4. The Promises of Compassionate Worship
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:8-12; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 19:17
Discussion Questions
1. What promises does God attach to the kind of worship described in Isaiah 58:6-7?
2. What does 'thy light' suggest in Isaiah 58:8 and Isaiah 58:10?
3. What does 'thine health shall spring forth speedily' suggest?
4. What does it mean to be 'like a watered garden'?
5. What does it mean to be called 'the repairer of the breach'?
6. What broken places around us need repair?
5. Sabbath, Mercy, and Restoration
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:13-14; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 13:10-17
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think Isaiah 58 connects feeding the hungry with Sabbath faithfulness?
2. How can Sabbath keeping reveal God's character?
3. What did Jesus teach about Sabbath through His words and actions?
4. How can Sabbath become a day of healing for the hungry, lonely, poor, discouraged, or anxious?
5. What Sabbath practices can help a church become more welcoming and compassionate?
6. Jesus and the Hungry Multitude
Bible Texts to Read: John 6:1-14; John 6:35; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 8:1-10
Discussion Questions
1. Who noticed the crowd's hunger first?
2. What did Philip see when Jesus raised the question of food?
3. What did Andrew see?
4. What did the boy bring to Jesus?
5. What did Jesus do with the small supply?
6. What small 'loaf' can I place in Christ's hands?
7. How do we keep the balance between feeding physical hunger and pointing people to Jesus, the Bread of Life?
8. How can our church serve without manipulation and preach without indifference?
7. The Least of These and Living Faith
Bible Texts to Read: Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18
Discussion Questions
1. What groups of needy people are mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46?
2. Why were the righteous surprised?
3. What does 'the least of these' mean in this passage?
4. Does Matthew 25 teach salvation by works? Why or why not?
5. How do Ephesians 2:8-10 and James 2:14-17 fit together?
6. What kind of person do I easily overlook?
7. What would change if we began to see Christ in the hungry, lonely, sick, poor, stranger, and discouraged?
8. The Early Church as a Caring Community
Bible Texts to Read: Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:16
Discussion Questions
1. What did the early believers share?
2. Was anyone forced to give?
3. What was the result of their fellowship and generosity?
4. What systems can a local church create so help is not random, emotional, or embarrassing?
5. How can the church be a family for students, widows, visitors, the poor, the lonely, and the struggling?
6. What safeguards can preserve dignity, fairness, and accountability in church welfare ministry?
9. Adventist Mission and the Everlasting Gospel
Bible Texts to Read: Revelation 14:6-12; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 24:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
Discussion Questions
1. What message is given in Revelation 14:6-12?
2. How does the everlasting gospel relate to practical compassion?
3. If God is Creator, how should we treat every human being?
4. How do 'the commandments of God' and 'the faith of Jesus' shape our service?
5. What dangers arise if we separate prophecy from compassion?
6. How can our church combine proclamation, compassion, Sabbath truth, and preparation for Christ's return?
10. Personal Application: One Loaf This Week
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:10; John 6:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Matthew 5:16; Proverbs 19:17
Discussion Questions
1. Who is hungry near me physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
2. What resource do I already have that God can use?
3. What selfishness must I fast from?
4. What can I do this week that will not be for show?
5. Who can I invite to meet Jesus, the Bread of Life?
6. What is my 'one loaf' this week?
11. Closing Reflection and Hope
Bible Texts to Read: Isaiah 58:10-12; John 6:35; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 21:1-5
Discussion Questions
1. What part of Isaiah 58 speaks most directly to me?
2. What kind of worship is God calling me to practice?
3. What broken place is God calling our church to help repair?
4. What hope does Revelation 21:1-5 give to a hungry and suffering world?
Use this index to locate the main Bible passages for the study.
Study Area Bible Texts
Core Study Isaiah 58:1-14; Isaiah 58:6-10; Isaiah 58:10
False Worship and True Religion Isaiah 58:1-5; Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 23:23
True Fasting and Compassion Isaiah 58:6-7; Zechariah 7:5-10; Matthew 6:16-18
Promises and Restoration Isaiah 58:8-12; Psalm 41:1-3; Proverbs 19:17
Sabbath and Mercy Isaiah 58:13-14; Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Mark 2:27-28; Luke 13:10-17
Jesus and the Hungry John 6:1-14; John 6:35; Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 8:1-10
Faith and Works Matthew 25:31-46; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18
Church Community Acts 2:44-47; Acts 4:32-35; Romans 12:10-13; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 13:16
Adventist Mission Revelation 14:6-12; Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 24:14; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
Personal Application and Hope 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Matthew 5:14-16; Revelation 21:1-5