October 13, 2026
This week we studied Joel 2:12-32.
This chapter is broken up into 4 distinct sections:
The Day of the Lord (continued from chapter 1)
God’s Call For Repentance
God’s Response to His People
God’s Promise of His Spirit.
“Sincere repentance is to turn to God, and therefore away from our sin. Sincere repentance is done with all your heart, giving everything you can in surrender to God. Sincere repentance is marked by action (with fasting) and emotion (with weeping…mourning). Not every act of repentance will include fasting and weeping, but if action and emotion are absent, it isn’t real repentance…True repentance does not carry on with business as usual.” (excerpts from Enduring Word commentary)
“Rend your heart, and not your garments” (Joel 2:13)
Customary of the time to tear your clothes in grief as a physical and cultural expression of deep grief, mourning, repentance, shock, or moral indignation. Joel speaks to avoid just the show of repentance and have our hearts torn up as well.
Questions:
“Even now” (v.12) we are called to come to the Lord. What holds you back from turning to God?
True repentance is an active turning away from sin towards God, as well as an emotional surrender with all our heart. How can you tell when your repentance is a show and not a true reflection of your heart? What does that look like? What does true repentance look like?
Do you have a friend/mentor/discipler/etc. who you can go to when you are struggling with repentance? (If you don’t have someone, take time this week to seek out someone who can fill that role in your life.)
What does God promise us in verses 18-27? What are we to do with His promises?
Who is the Holy Spirit? What does His presence in us mean?
What event in the New Testament does verse 28 sound like? Who can have the Holy Spirit now?
Salvation is found through Jesus. What does it mean to have a personal relationship with him?
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? If not and you would like to, talk with your group or a pastor about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Verses 28-32 speak of a time when salvation is available to anyone. What does this mean for our daily lives? What are we to do with the knowledge that salvation is for everyone?
Other passages to read this week alongside Joel 2:
Acts 2:1-41
