Habakkuk said what we all think. Where is God when bad things keep happening? When will God intervene? Why does God seem silent? In a nation plagued with violence, injustice and moral decay, Habakkuk asked God for answers. His story shows that sin runs in predictable cycles. We can change the characters, country and date of events, but only God can change the human heart. People need a Savior. And that’s exactly what Habakkuk requested. So how do we wait with hope when God seems silent? Join us as we study the story of a prophet who brought the people’s questions to God.
August 3, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#1 in series)
Habakkuk 1:1-5
The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
How long, O LORD, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
Therefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted.
“Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.”
__ is not determined by __ much you say, but by __ you say.
Habakkuk’s story shares important truths with those who are calling out to God in a season of waiting.
1. It’s normal to wonder about God’s __. (v.2)
2. God can handle hard __, but be
respectful in your tone. (v.2-3)
3. We see ___ sin; God sees __ sin. (v.3)
4. God’s ___ is not perverted by human wickedness. (v.4)
5. God operates from a __ perspective. (v.5)
Reflection/Response:
• Is God stretching you in a way that is enlarging your view of Him?
• Is God allowing you to see sin, injustice and pain, but He’s not
allowing you do anything about it? What did Habakkuk do in 1:2?
• Where are you questioning God’s timing?
• Have you become critical of God’s character because He’s chosen not to intervene?
• Is it possible that your view of God has diminished because you’re looking at the problem instead of the solution? What is He telling you to do now?
• How is God using Scripture, worship songs, Christian friends and even sermons to get you to focus on the right thing? How can you lean into those things more?
• If God chose to not act in your area of need, would you still worship Him and see Him as good?
August 10, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#2 in series)
Three observations about prayer:
1. The only thing more frustrating than __ silence is an __ answer.
2. Prayer is about far more than acquiring __.
3. Time, __ and faith help us see that God’s answers are always __.
What can we learn about trusting God when we don’t like His answer to prayer?
1. God is at work in ways we __ not believe.
2. God may allow evil to temporarily __ to accomplish His purposes.
3. God’s answers flow out of His __.
4. God’s answers are easier when our will is __.
Reflection/Response:
Did God’s “no” reveal undetected rebellion in my life?
Am I upset because I want my will more than His will?
Is it possible that the entire situation is divinely orchestrated because God wants to teach me a lesson on obedience, humility, abiding and trust? If so, how can I learn the lessons faster?
Is God’s answer hard because I don’t have enough information, or because my heart is hard and I refuse to believe?
Do I really believe in the sovereignty of God?
Does God have the right to do what He wants in my life? Without asking my permission?
Have I forgotten that God does not answer to me?
Is God giving me back what I’ve rejected Him for?
If character drives conduct, what is my current conduct saying about my character?
If there is safety in submission to God, where is God calling me to submit today and how can I do that?
August 17, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#3 in series)
Habakkuk 1:12-2:1
Key Thought:
Hard conversations become __ (and serve a purpose) when we pray __, wait patiently and listen __.
To see the good path, we’re going to break our key thought down into smaller pieces.
Our need to know is met with __ possibilities.
Does the __ itself serve a greater __ ?
Proverbs 25:2: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter.”
God delights in __ ; we delight in __.
God is glorified when we realize His __ in moments of discovery.
God will often release answers in _________________.
August 24, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#4 in series)
Habakkuk 2:2-20
God’s wrath is seen in different ways in Scripture:
•There is __ wrath that God will bring upon unbelieving sinners in hell.
• There is eschatological wrath that God will release at the end of the world.
• There is __ wrath that God releases through natural disasters.
• There is consequential wrath that comes through reaping what you sow.
• There is __ wrath when God removes much of His restraining grace and gives people over to their own choices.
There are three steps in the downfall of a nation:
1. Spiritual __
2. Moral Decay
3. __ Anarchy
The five great “woes” of God’s judgment are against:
1. __and Aggression (2:5-8)
2. Exploitation and Extortion (2:9-11)
3. __ (2:12-14)
4. Immorality (2:15-17)
5. __ (2:18-20)
Walking by faith is the basis for three letters in the New Testament:
• The book of Romans emphasizes __ by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)
• The book of Galatians emphasizes __ by faith. (Galatians 3:11; 2:20)
• The book of Hebrews emphasizes __ by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)
Reflection/Response:
We are called to listen to God, return to God, pray to God and look to God. What does that look like on a practical level?
• Repent of sin. (Where is God convicting me of sin, but I’m choosing to
ignore Him?)
• Repent of unbelief. (Where am I not trusting God or refusing to
walk by faith?
• Repent of distraction. (How have distractions kept me from engaging God’s mission? Am I squandering spiritual gifts, time, resources and opportunities?)
• Pray for revival in our churches, awakening in our nation and righteousness in our leaders.
• Pray for your family, your friends and your circle of influence to trust Jesus completely and walk by faith.
• Pray for Sherwood to be about the mission of God and pray about all things.
• Submit your will to follow His will.
• Submit your time, resources and gifts to God’s service.
• Submit the rest of your life to be fully used by God.
August 31, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#5 in series)
Habakkuk 2:2-20
A simple overview of Habakkuk:
1. Habakkuk ministered during the collapse of the nation of Judah.
2. As the nation turned their back on God, they saw an epidemic rise in violence, injustice and lawlessness.
3. Habakkuk prayed for God to address the sin and stop the moral decay.
4. God responded that He was raising up a more wicked nation to punish His people and eventually all sin would be judged.
5. Habakkuk struggled with God’s answer, but he learned to walk by faith and praise God for His greatness.
Four reasons why it’s important to study passages on God’s judgment:
1. We need to study the __ Bible – not just the parts we __.
2. We need to know what __ God and why.
3. We can wisley learn from the __ of others.
4. We get to know God better when we study all parts of His __ and activity.
Five decrees of God’s judgment:
• Judgment comes to those who __ acquire wealth (v. 6-8).
• Judgment comes to those who try to __ their future with wealth they unjustly acquired (v. 9-11).
• Judgment comes to those who benefit from __ violence (v. 12-14).
• Judgment comes to those who __, humiliate and intentionally destroy weakened people (v. 15-17).
• Judgment comes to those who practice __ (v. 18-20).
Reflection/Response:
As you consider God’s correction of others, do some self-reflection.
• What is God correcting in your life?
• Are you trying to tell God what to do, how to do it and why you’re right?
• Has sin crept into your life and stifled your pursuit of God?
• Have you become self-righteous, prideful or bitter?
• Have you allowed greed to cloud your judgment?
• Are you allowing the pain of your past to define your identity today?
• What battle are you trying to fight in your own strength?
• What tasks are you refusing to bring to God in prayer?
• When was the last time you sat silently in the presence of God?
September 7, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#6 in series)
Habakkuk 3:1-15
Important Ideas:
• God’s voice is clearest when my repentance is consistent.
• Fresh __ leads to freedom in __!
How do you respond when you realize that you’ve acted like a fool before a Holy God?
• Let God’s conviction draw you to Him in __ and not repel you from
Him in __ (v. 1-2).
• Remember God’s __ love, and praise Him for His faithfulness (v. 3-4).
• Reflect upon God’s greatness and allow His mighty works to __ your view of God (v. 5-15).
Reflection/Response:
How do we worship when we’re wrong?
1. __! God’s voice is clearest when my repentance is consistent.
2. __! Fresh repentance leads to freedom in worship!
September 21, 2025
Paul Gotthardt
(#7 in series)
Habakkuk 3:16-19
In verses 1-15, we found three truths about how to worship God when we’re wrong.
• Let God’s conviction draw you to Him in repentance and not repel you from
Him in pride (v. 1-2).
• Remember God’s covenantal love and praise Him for His faithfulness (v. 3-4).
• Reflect upon God’s greatness and allow His mighty works to reframe your
view of God (v. 5-15).
From verses 16-19, how do we train ourselves to stay focused on God and praise Him anyway?
1. Praising God through difficulty is not an __ response for believers.
2. Praising God through difficulty does not mean we __ genuine emotion
(v. 16).
• A biblical response is to process emotion through __.
3. Praising God through difficulty can __ and refine our praise (v. 17-18).
• When we enter God’s praise at a new __ in the river, we’ll discover God’s
character at a new __of faith.
4. Praising God through difficulty is a discipline learned through __.
• When the trials come, don’t __ the pain.
5. Praising God through difficulty is a __ to act in humble trust.
• We will not praise Him if we do not __ Him!
• We will not trust Him if we do not __ Him!
6. Praising God through difficulty brings __, stability and perspective (v. 19).