Small Group Study Guide: Embracing Unfailing Love and Forgiveness Through Hosea

Opening Reflection

Invite each member to spend a moment in silence, recalling a time they experienced unexpected mercy. Encourage them to meditate on God’s pursuing love before diving into Scripture.

Icebreaker

Ask everyone to share a story of personal forgiveness—either given or received—and how it shaped their relationship with God or others.

Scripture Reading Plan

1. Read Hosea 11:1–4 (God’s compassionate pursuit).
2. Read Hosea 6:1–2 (The call to repent and live).
3. Read Hosea 14:1–4 (God’s promise of restoration and healing).

Encourage participants to note any words or images that stand out as you read.

Key Themes Table

Theme	Passage	Insight
Compassionate Pursuit	Hosea 11:1–4	God draws us with “bands of love,” even when we wander.
Call to Repentance	Hosea 6:1–2	Returning to the Lord brings renewal and life.
Redeeming Forgiveness	Hosea 14:1–4	“I will heal their backsliding…I will love them freely.”

Discussion Questions

• In Hosea 11, what does “bands of love” reveal about God’s approach to our failures?
• How does Hosea’s message challenge your view of repentance in Hosea 6?
• What emotions or hopes arise when you read God’s promise to “heal their backsliding” in Hosea 14?
• In what ways can our group mirror God’s forgiveness toward one another?

Application Exercises

1. Journaling: Write a letter to God confessing areas where you’ve strayed and thanking Him for His mercy.
2. Partner Prayer: Pair up and pray for one another’s specific needs of forgiveness and restoration.
3. Commit to Action: Identify one relationship in your life where you need to extend grace this week.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for chasing us with relentless love and forgiving our deepest wounds. Empower us to turn from idols, to embrace Your mercy, and to extend that same forgiveness to others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Further Reflection

Consider exploring how Jesus’ parables of the Prodigal Son and the Lost Sheep echo Hosea’s themes of pursuit and restoration.