Genesis 11:1-9 Discussion Guide
Sermon date: Mar. 5, 2023 Passage: Genesis 11:1-9
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here are a few things your group needs to know!
Parenting Classes
Are you a tired parent? Feel like you're messing up? Desire a better vision for discipline in your home? You're not alone!
At Citylight Bennington, children are dedicated through the commissioning of their parents, who commit to care for their children in ways that introduce them to the person and work of Jesus. This involves a 4-week Zoom class that explores “Parenting by the Book” in a cohort with other parents of like mind and faith. You can see the dates below!
*This class is best for parents with kids ages newborn through pre-teen.
*You must be able to attend at least three classes.
Class Dates (on Zoom):
Sunday, March 5, 2023 - 2pm-3pm
Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 2pm-3pm
Sunday, March 19, 2023 - 2pm-3pm
Sunday March 26, 2023 - 2pm-3pm
Upon completion of the classes:
Parent Commissioning on Sunday, April 2, 2023 - in-service during the worship gathering
Register at clb.church under “Upcoming”
Easter Baptism Classes
Do you have questions about baptism? Have you been baptized? Do you wonder if you should be baptized again?
We are offering a baptism Zoom class to talk about what baptism is, why it matters, and how we do it here at CLB to prepare us for our Easter Sunday Baptism Celebration April 9, 2023!
We will have the same class offered:
-Sunday, Mar. 26th, 2023 from 1:00pm-1:30pm
-Sunday, April 2nd, 2023 from 1:00pm-1:30pm
*Choose which class you want to register for, and then you will receive a Zoom link for the class!
Student Ministry Video Game Outing
Sunday, March 19th
The Office
Middle School Students! Join us as we all hangout at our office with pizza and video games on Sunday, March 19th!
This will be a time where we get together and enjoy community and fun!
Students are encouraged to bring their friends along with any video games, consoles and TV's!
Register at clb.church under “Upcoming”
Student Ministry Retreat
April 14th-15th at Camp Carol Joy Holling (Hotel Theodore)
Students! Join us for our VERY FIRST Student Spring Retreat! Come and enjoy a weekend of worship, games, food and fun! Our speaker Ben Phillips from Dare2Share Ministries will talk on the topic: “Full Send - going all in for Jesus!”
Cost is $60 per student and that will cover food (dinner Friday night, breakfast Saturday morning and lunch Saturday) and lodging.
Students who bring friends will be entered into a raffle first night of retreat! Retreat will be at Camp Carol Joy Holling at The Hotel Theodore.
Register at clb.church under “Upcoming”
WHAT IS THIS FOR? WHERE ARE WE GOING TOGETHER?
Remind your group that City Groups exist to…
Apply God’s Word to our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit
Multiply faithful disciples who make more disciples of Jesus Christ
PRAY
Ask if anyone would like to open up in prayer and ask God to bless your time together
STORY
Break the ice with a testimony..
Someone shares their salvation story
Or someone shares a celebration of God’s goodness in the past week
VISION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
Noah and his family are repopulating the earth. People decide their next move is to make a tower that reaches to the heavens in order to make their name famous and keep them safe from having to obey God.
God looks down and sees this. His response is to confuse their common language and scatter them across the earth just like he had originally commanded them to do. God’s patience and mercy is continually being shown, while man’s rebellion and pride is continually being grown.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Read Genesis 11:1-9 aloud as a group. What are some initial observations that caught your attention in these verses?
Why do the people want to build the tower? What sin is underneath this?
How did God respond? How do we see God’s mercy in this?
QUESTIONS FOR APPLICATION
1. Head
To make this more personal and practical, we want to turn the question to ourselves. A tower is representing an idol in this passage. What are the “towers” you are currently “building” in your own life? (money, laziness, work)
2. Heart
God looks down from heaven and sees the people building the tower because they desire to make much of themselves. If God could look at your heart from heaven, what would he see you desiring most? In other words, what do you desire from your idol? (to be seen, security, comfort)
3. Hands
God humbles the people by scattering them, forcing them to lay down their idols. What is God asking you to do in order to lay down your idols?
-What does God’s Word say about what you desire from your idol?
-Do you believe that God can fulfill those desires instead?
-What’s he telling you to do next practically, in order to remove the idol?
PRAYER
PRAY ‘TACOS’ after collecting prayer requests
Thanksgiving - “Father, thank you…”
Adoration - “Father, you are…”
Confession - “Father, I confess…”
Others - “Father, I pray for…”
Self - “Father, please help me…”
*If size or group dynamics seem to hinder prayer, consider dividing into groups of men/women or groups of 3-4 to reduce barriers to praying out loud
DON’T FORGET
Re-confirm schedule
Urgent needs for serving in the church
We need Citylight Kids volunteers! Email Trish at trish@citylightbennington.church to volunteer today!
“See you Sunday! Here’s where we’ll be sitting…”
Plan serving opportunity and put it in everyone’s calendar