Bible study: Overview of Hosea 1-3

To introduce our new sermon series in the Old Testament book of Hosea, we’re going to read over the narrative section of the book together tonight – Hosea chapters 1-3. Spend some time as a group reading over Hosea 1-3. Then, individually, use the following pictures to guide you (this Bible-study method is sometimes known as the ‘Swedish method’).

A light-bulb: This should be something that shines out from the passage – whatever impacts you most or draws most attention.

A question mark: Anything that is difficult to understand in the passage, or a question you’d like to ask the writer or the people involved (e.g. Hosea, Gomer, the people of Israel...)

A thinking man: A personal application for your life.




Spend 10 minutes or so reading over the passage individually, taking notes against these three headings.
Then share what you’ve found with one another for the rest of your time – trying to spend a good bit of time on the personal application.

How does the book of Hosea help us understand:

• who God is?
• who we are?
• what the gospel is all about?