Genesis 32 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: July 23, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Seek Night - Thursday, August 3rd, 6:30pm, Westview High School - childcare is not provided, but kids are welcome. Join us as we examine the character of God and worship Him together through song, spiritual gifts, and prayer.
Baptism Class - July 30 or August 6, 1:00-1:30pm, Zoom - learn what baptism is, why it matters, and how we do it here at CLB to prepare us for our Citylight Family Baptism Aug 13, 2023 down at the Gene Leahy Mall!
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
Jacob is nervous because he is about to see his brother Esau for the first time in years after their ugly split. Jacob finds himself alone on the night before wrestling with God. And his wrestle will leave him forever changed, proving that when it comes to trusting God, winning is found through losing.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Use the OIA (Observation, Interpretation, Application) tool to read, study, and use Scripture to grow in knowing and following God.
OBSERVATION
Take time to read the passage and make observations.
Any repeated words, phrases?
Any comparison/contrast between characters, topics, passages/stories?
Specific characters—named or unnamed?
Any connecting words/phrases to bridge verses, stories, or ideas?
(“therefore..”, “however..”, “In the same way..”,
INTERPRETATION
-What? (What does God mean?)
What is Jacob feeling before he begins wrestling?
What is the “blessing” Jacob wants so badly?
What is different about Jacob after this wrestle?
-Why? (Why did God say that?)
Why did God begin wrestling with Jacob?
Why did God put Jacob’s hip out of socket and allow him to walk with a limp the rest of his life?
Why did God say that Jacob “won”?
-So what? (So what does God want me to do about it?)
So what does this tell us about how we can “wrestle” with God?
So what does this tell us about how we can “win” the wrestle?
So what does this tell us about Jesus when we look at his "wrestling” in the garden before he is crucified?
APPLICATION
-Inward Application (for myself)
Head—How does this passage change the way we should think about God?
Heart—How does this passage inform our hearts when we are anxious and struggle with control?
Hands—What do you feel like God is telling you to let go of and surrender to him? What’s your next action step?
-Outward Application (for others around me)
Head—What biblical counsel would you give to someone who is struggling to rely on God more than themselves?
Heart—What questions would you ask someone who is struggling to surrender control back to God?
Hands—Who is God telling you to move towards and help in the area of trusting God more?
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.