Genesis 46-50 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: Sept. 17, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sept Coat Drive - Donate any sized men’s, women’s, or children’s winter coats any Sunday through Sept. 24 in the lobby at Westview. All coats will go to the women and children of New Community, a Christian ministry which seeks to help women coming out of incarceration of addiction. Any additional coats will go to the Open Door Mission.
Serving Teams Celebration - Saturday, September 23, 10am-12pm @ Johns-Bohn Park
-You're invited if you've served in any capacity, and we welcome new families to come enjoy and get plugged into serving! No registration required. Don't forget to bring lawn chairs for seating!
Evangelism Tool - The Holy Spirit is using CLB’s Google reviews to bring new people in. Please consider leaving a 5-star review as a simple evangelistic opportunity!
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 intimates 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
Genesis 46-50 describes the circumstances that led to the people of Israel settling in Egypt (where the story picks up in Exodus under a different Pharaoh). Jacob is reunited with Joseph, reminds him of the covenant God made to him, and imparts prophetic final words over all his sons. The generations of Jacob, Joseph, and all the brothers would pass away, and the story will pick up centuries later, raising the question - will God keep His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12)?
To give closure to this first book of the Bible, we want to spend this meeting looking back and considering several things about Genesis. Important note - this will take time, quiet thinking, and reflection, so don’t rush the conversation and allow for Bibles to be open, notes to be reviewed, pages to be flipped, etc. - we’ve covered a lot in 9 months!
QUESTIONS TO ASK
In Genesis 1-11, known as ‘primeval history’
What chapter or event most stood out to you?
What new truths, ideas, or details did the Holy Spirit teach you?
What did you learn about mankind, about sin, about sin’s corruption or expression?
What did you learn about God, His character, His heart, His redeeming work, etc.?
How did Genesis 1-11 change your thinking and your relationship with God?
In Genesis 12-50, known as ‘patriarchal history’
What characters or scene most stood out to you?
Where did you grow most in your biblical literacy? I.e. your understanding of a story or theme?
What did you learn about mankind, about sin, about sin’s corruption?
What did you learn about God, His character, His heart, His redeeming work, etc.?
How did Genesis 12-50 change your thinking and your relationship with God?
What are your biggest takeaways from this ‘book of origins’?
How is your life different because you’ve studied & read Genesis?
Consider the S.P.E.C.K. framework for assistance:
Sin to avoid
Promises to claim
Examples to follow
Command to obey
Knowledge about God
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.