Genesis 23 & 24 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: May 28, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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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
In their old age, Sarah has died, and Abraham is about to die. His goal is to find Isaac a wife for his offspring to continue and the blessing to continue to the nations. In this story, we see a beautiful love story that goes far beyond just Isaac and his future bride.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
To set the scene, read Genesis 24:1-4, 10-21 aloud as a group.
Eliezer then praises the Lord for showing steadfast love and faithfulness toward Abraham.
He then goes on to meet Rebekah’s family—including Laban, who will come back into the story in a few chapters.
Eliezer continues by recounting the whole story of why he’s here and how they met in hopes of getting the family’s blessing.
Read on as a group v. 50-51, 58-59, 62-67.
What are some initial observations that caught your attention?
See the plot line below. This tool can help us better study and understand Biblical narratives. How would you categorize the events of this story accordingly:
1. Exposition (beginning):
-Inciting Incident (point where plot gets put into motion):
2. Rising Action (characters overcome obstacles on their way towards the Climax):
3. Climax (peak of story’s conflict):
4. Falling Action (characters move toward resolution):
-Resolution (events come full circle and conflicts have resolved):
5. Denouement (all loose ends tied up):
APPLICATION
In this story, we actually see a love story beyond just Isaac and Rebekah. We see the story of redemption through the roles of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as well as the Bride of Christ—The Church!
Knowing this, who would you match accordingly in this story to parallel each Person of the Trinity in the story of redemption:
God the Father:
God the Son:
God the Spirit:
The Bride of Christ (The Church):
Reread verse 67. As Isaac loves Rebekah, what does it mean to be loved by God?
Read Ephesians 1:3-14.
-Additional reading (optional):
Read 1 John 3:1-3—this text shows us more insight into the Father’s love
Read Romans 8:31-39—this text shows us more insight into the Son’s love
Read Romans 8:14-17—this text shows us more insight into the Holy Spirit’s love
Take time to discuss this passage(s)
What do you see specifically about the love of the Father? The Son? The Holy Spirit?
How have you personally experienced the love of God in your story or recently?
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.