Genesis 21 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: May 14, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here are important events that you should be aware of and praying over:
SEEK Night -Thursday, June 1st @ Westview High School 6:30pm
TELL YOUR STORY - We’re collecting stories! Visit clb.church/story to learn more
WHY CITY GROUPS?
The point of a City Group is to help us apply God’s Word to our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to multiply faithful disciples of Jesus who make more disciples of Jesus. So we gather regularly to give ourselves to three basic Christian practices: sharing stories, reading the Bible, and praying.
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..
Who has prepared their 5-7 minute story?
Who can give testimony of God’s goodness right now? (i.e. answered prayer, provision, transformation, etc.)
VISION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
Isaac is born and finally fulfills God’s promise of a child to Abraham and Sarah. However, Ishmael and Hagar are now sent away. After running out of water in the desert and death seems inevitable, God hears and rescues them both and promises Ishmael a future as a great nation.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Read Genesis 21:1-21 aloud as a group. What are some initial observations that caught your attention?
Why were Hagar and Ismael cast out? Why do you think God encouraged Abraham to go through with it? What does this reveal about God’s character? God’s plan?
How does God respond to Hagar and Ismael in the wilderness? Why do you think God blessed them? What does this show us about God’s faithfulness?
APPLICATION
In one moment, Hagar feels great—she has a child and thinks she is superior to Sarah. The next moment she is cast out into the wilderness and thinks she will have to see her own son die before her very eyes.
Many times, God allows certain things to happen that puts our lives on a path we didn’t want or expect. And many times are response is “God, why?!” Can you name a time where this happened to you personally?
The story doesn’t end here though. God provides for Hagar and Ishmael in their time of need. How have you seen God provide for you when you’ve needed Him most?
What are things you still feel like you’re waiting for Him to provide? Have you felt like He’s spoken to you in your waiting? What do you feel like He may be trying to say to you?
(Feel free to take time to pray over one another as things are shared. Feel free to wait on the Lord and ask Him to speak through Bible verses, images, visions, or thoughts that He may bring to mind to encourage, strengthen, or comfort.)
Notice, some of God’s first words to Hagar is “Fear not”. This is the most common phrase God speaks to mankind in all of the Bible. In John 15:4-5 Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in meand I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
What does this tell us to do while we wait on God? What does this tell us about God’s heart as we wait on Him?
What daily tools, habits, or rhythms do you practice to keep yourself abiding in Jesus when feelings of fear and anxiety arise?
How would you encourage other people who are feeling alone, afraid, or unseen by God? What hope do you see in the Bible that you could you share with them? How can you serve them practically?
PRAYER
Feel free to ask the group for any pressing prayer requests that would be good to pray over together.
Use the TACOS acronym to let the text you studied pray for you:
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.