1. Think of a ‘mountaintop moment’ or season of life in which you were able to reflect with some perspective. What lessons did you learn? Why can’t we stay ‘on the mountaintop’?

2. Read Genesis 48:1-4. Here, Jacob prepares to bless Joseph’s sons by recounting God’s blessings to him at Luz (Gen 28:13-15; 35:9-12). Why is the former blessing from God important as Jacob prepares to pronounce blessings of his own?

3. Read Genesis 48:8-16. What does Jacob have to tell us about God’s faithfulness as he approaches the end of his life?

4. Though Jacob has been reunited with Joseph for 17 years (47:28), yet he is still overcome with emotion as he gazes upon his son and grandsons. Why is it so significant to him to see and know them? What hope does his joy give you in light of your own losses and sorrows?

5. Read Genesis 49:1-12. Reuben’s sin (see Gen 35:22) disqualifies him from ‘preeminence’, as do the sins of Simeon and Levi (see Gen 34). Therefore, the blessing of preeminence falls to the 4th-born, Judah. What do we learn from these blessings about God’s justice & mercy?

6. Read Revelation 5. Here, Jesus is called ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David’ (v5). How does Jesus’ ministry fulfill the blessing given to Judah? Spend time praying through this chapter together in worship and gratitude to our great King Jesus.

1. What would it have taken, if you were Joseph, to forgive your brothers?

2. Read Genesis 45:1-15. According to Joseph, what part did God play in the events that brought him to Egypt as a slave (vv. 5, 7, 9)? What part did the brothers play (vv. 4-5)?

3. Read Genesis 46:1-4. What did God tell Jacob to do?

4. Why do you think Jacob needed God appear and assure him about going down to Egypt?

5. Is there anyone you have wronged, or who has wronged you, and with whom you should seek to be reconciled?

6. Take time together as a group to pray that God would bring healing and reconciliation to broken relationships.

* These questions have been adapted from Salvation Revealed: Genesis 12-50: 10 Interactive Bible Studies for Small Groups and Individuals by Matt Olliffe.

1. The ‘bystander effect’ occurs when people are less likely to help someone in need in the presence of other people. Where have you experienced this in your own life (for example, multiple cars passing by an accident on the highway)? Why do you think this sort of phenomenon exists?

2. Summarize Genesis 42-44. If you have enough people, split into 3 teams. Assign each team one chapter (42, 43, 44). Take 7 minutes to answer the following 3 prompts in your respective teams before rejoining and sharing your answers with the whole group:

   1. Summarize the chapter in a single sentence.

   2. Identify one verse that is especially important, interesting, or confusing.

   3. Why are the brothers’ faces to the ground? Explain how this detail builds tension in the story.

3. Read Genesis 44:16-34. What is the difference between Judah’s conduct here and his conduct in previous chapters (37:26-27; 38:1-26)? How has God used Judah’s previous experiences to prepare him for this moment?

4. Pastor Travis Simone says, “All love is substitutionary.” Who is Judah loving when he offers himself as a slave to Joseph? How is Judah’s offering like Jesus’ offering (1 Peter 3:18)? How is it different?

5. Jesus loved us so much that he offered himself as our substitute. Name some ways that we can ‘get off the sidelines’ to show Jesus’ love to others in need this week. Pray for one another to be portraits of God’s love, pointing to Jesus.

1. Think of a time you were treated unfairly. What emotions did that experience stir in you? What action did you take as a result? As you look back on that episode now, can you see God’s hand at work in that episode of your life? Why or why not?

2. Read Genesis 39:1. Twice the narrator describes the journey as being ‘down’ to Egypt. What downward movements happen in Joseph’s in Genesis 37 & 39?

3. Read Genesis 39:2-3. Twice the narrator describes the LORD as being' ‘with’ Joseph (twice more in vv21-23), mirroring the two references to ‘down’ in v1. Why is it significant that the LORD is with Joseph? How does God’s presence affect his story?

4. Read Genesis 39:11-20. In this story, Mrs. Potiphar represents Egypt while Joseph represents God’s covenant people. What contrasts do you see in character and motivation between these two? Do you think there are similar contrasts/tensions today between believers and the world around them? Why or why not?

5. Read Philippians 2:3-16. In the sermon, Robb called Jesus the ‘true and better Joseph.’ What parallels do you see between the story of Joseph and the story of Jesus recounted here? In what ways does Jesus’ story go further than Joseph’s? How are our stories bound up with the story of Jesus (3-5, 12-16)?

6. Read John 14:18 & Matthew 28:20. Just as God was with Joseph, so Jesus promises to be with his disciples. How did Jesus’ suffering provide for the fulfillment of this promise? What significance does Jesus’ promised presence have in your own life?
   
   

FOR YOU FURTHER ENRICHMENT

• Click here to listen to Andrew Peterson’s song, The Last Frontier.

• Click here for an excellent article on How Joseph fought sexual temptation.

1. Often we see children duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. What strengths and weaknesses have you seen passed down in your own family? How have those strengths/weaknesses affected you?

2. Read Genesis 37:1-4. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story? Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. How has that perpetuated family pattern affected the lives of his sons?

3. Read Genesis 37:5-11. In what form does God’s special revelation come to Joseph? How are the symbols in the two dreams interpreted by his family? Why do you think God reveals his will to Joseph through dreams so early in the story?

4. Read Genesis 37:12-28. How do the brothers respond to Joseph’s dreams? Ironically, the brothers’ actions set off a sequence of events that will eventually lead to the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams. What does that tell us about God’s will and how we respond to it?

5. In the sermon today, we explored the Toledot of Genesis - ‘records of generations’ that document God’s covenant faithfulness in every generation. The last of the Toledot occurs in Genesis 37:2. What is the significance of this placement in light of the story that unfolds in the chapter? How is God’s faithfulness on display here?

1) What is the significance that God has called Jacob back to Bethel?

2) Identity and discuss superstitions or other areas God’s people are prone to misplace trust.

3) What recent decisions have you made for yourself or your family that shows your devotion to the Lord? What are ways our homes can be faith-filled?

4) What would you say to your Christian friend who has just informed you that their spouse is no longer interested in attending church?

5) Read Ephesians 4:17-32. What has been your experience of living in your old identity (before Christ) and your new identity (in Christ)? Is there noticeable change? How do we guard against being pulled back into our old identity?

6) In light of the name CHRISTIAN, how do believers participate in God’s story of redemption in this day and age?

7) How has the death of a loved one affected your faith in the Lord?

8) Describe the season of life you’re in right now. Encourage one another to press on and spend time praying for each other!

1. Looking back on your life, is there a specific blessing or spiritual insight that God gave to you during a ‘valley season’ of suffering or pain? Tell the story to the group. Why do you think God uses valleys to grow us, rather than just giving us good gifts during the good times?

2. Read Gen 32:1-8. How would you describe the tone of Jacob’s message to Esau? How does Jacob react to the report that comes back in vv6-8?

3. Read Gen 32:9-12. How does Jacob’s prayer reflect growth in his relationship with God?

4. Read Gen 32:13-21. To what extent do you think Jacob’s plans are consistent with his prayer?

5. Read Gen 32:22-32. How does this struggle with the ‘man’ give insight to Jacob’s personality? In what ways does he emerge both stronger and weaker?

6. Review Genesis 33. How does Jacob’s meeting with Esau compare to his anticipation & preparation in chapter 32? How do you think this encounter helped him understand the faithfulness of God?

7. Are you in a valley right now? Pray for one another and worship together. If appropriate, consider praying through the Puritan prayer below which was included in the sermon this morning.
   
   Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

   Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,

   where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;

   hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. 

   Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,

   that to be low is to be high,

   that the broken heart is the healed heart,

   that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

   that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, 

   that to have nothing is to possess all,

   that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

   that to give is to receive,

   that the valley is the place of vision.

   Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, 

   and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

   let me find Thy light in my darkness,

   Thy life in my death,

   Thy joy in my sorrow,

   Thy grace in my sin,

   Thy riches in my poverty,

   Thy glory in my valley.

~ The Valley of Vision

• Have you ever experienced unrequited love? Share about that experience. These can be extremely painful experiences, so only share a story you are comfortable with sharing.

• Read Genesis 29:15-30. What happens in this story? Who is at fault here? Who is hurt by this three-way marriage?

• Compare the events of this story with Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing in Genesis 27. Who is the master planner like Rebekah? Who is blind like Isaac? Who is the deceiver like Jacob? Who is the betrayed like Esau?

• This is a tragic story of deception, dehumanization, and the consequences of human sin. What examples of these do you see in your own life, family, or work?

• Read John 2:1-11. In this story, we see how Jesus acts when he goes to a wedding. How is he different than the characters of Jacob’s wedding?

• Take a minute to think of one person you are failing to love today. What is one thing you can do to show them the love of Christ this week?

1. Have you ever made a mistake so bad you were sure you couldn’t recover from it? What happened? What did the experience teach you about God? About yourself?

2. Read Genesis 25:23-34. Draw a character sketch for Jacob from these verses. If you were to cast him in a movie, who would play the part and why? What words would you use to describe his personality? How does v23 compare and contrast with the rest of the passage?

3. Read over Genesis 27. Summarize the story as a group. What happens to Isaac’s family in this chapter? What role does Jacob play? If the main plotline has to do with the movement of God’s Blessing through Abraham’s family, what is the status of that movement by the end of the chapter?

4. Read Genesis 28:10-22. Describe what happens to Jacob on this fateful night? How does God conduct himself with Jacob in light of all Jacob’s mistakes in the previous chapters?

5. From Jacob’s response to the dream, what clue do we get about his relationship to God at this point (28:16-22)?

6. Past sins and mistakes can leave us with a burden of guilt and a sense of failure or shame. How can Jacob’s experience renew our confidence in God’s free grace?

• Some questions adapted from LifeGuide Bible Study: Genesis 25-50.

1. Have you ever wished you had someone else’s talents, resources, or good fortune? Share an example with the group. Why do you think we are so susceptible to ‘grass is greener’ syndrome?

2. Read Genesis 25:11-28. What challenges, weaknesses, or disappointments does Isaac face? Why does the author set him in contrast to Ishmael (who only has his great accomplishments noted in the text)?

3. Read Genesis 26. What does God do with ‘unimpressive’ Isaac? How does the Lord overcome obstacles to ensure that Isaac receives His blessing?

4. Scholars often note the relative passivity or insignificance of Isaac’s life compared to his father Abraham or his son Jacob. Why do you think God chooses Isaac as his vehicle for blessing rather than Ishmael or anyone else? What does this choice tell us about God & his faithfulness?

5. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. How does Isaac’s story foreshadow the story of the New Testament church? What hope do you find in God’s sovereign choice over us, despite our shortcomings? Take time together as a group to name the weaknesses you feel in this season and surrender them to the Lord in a season of prayer & worship.

FALL FOCUS COMMITMENTS:

1. Be present on Sunday mornings

2. Invite friends & neighbors

3. Commit to community

4. Fast & pray. First day of Prayer & Fasting is this Wed September 10.

• As a group, do an icebreaker in which everyone will answer a simple question. It can be silly or reflective but must be simple to answer. See if someone in your group has an idea for a question that excites them. If not, here’s two options: What’s your earliest memory of hosting/going to a party? If you could transform back and forth into fire, water, wind, or rock, which would you choose?

• Read Romans 12:9. What’s the alternative to genuine love? How do we know what’s good to hold fast and what’s evil to abhor?

• Read Romans 12:10. What do these commands have to say about value and belonging? What examples of dishonor (or not valuing others) could negatively impact a church community?

• Read Romans 12:11-12. Pick one command and share what might be challenging about it. Why is it vulnerable to invite others into your relationship with God?

• Read Romans 12:13. Where is the tension in this verse between unity and growth? How does your group practically feel this tension? How can unity and growth be pursued simultaneously in your group?

• Think about your relationship with God, your relationships with other believers, and your relationships with non-believers. How is God inviting you to be more deeply known and loved as you grow as a disciple? How can you invite others to be more deeply known and loved by God through you?

• Share about a time when you felt left out. Maybe it was with your family, friend group, or maybe even a church. How did you respond to that experience?

• Read Romans 12:1-8. Are there any verses that stand out to you in these verses?

• What does it mean to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (v. 2)? How should we understand this in light of the following verses (vv. 3-5; cf., Eph 4:23)?

• What are the commands or warnings Paul is giving to his readers? Are there ways these commands could apply to you today?

• Read John 15:15. What is this significance of Jesus’ naming his disciples as “friends”? How does this connect to the idea that we “are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (v. 5)?

• What is one step we can take as a group to practice the gifts laid out in this passage (vv. 6-8)? What gifts do you see in one another?

1. Recall to the group a time that God brought about good in your life through suffering. Why is it often easier to see the good of suffering after the fact, rather than in the midst of the trial?

2. Read the superscription Psalm 102. In the sermon, Robb gave ‘4 P’s’ for suffering as discipline. The first P is PREPARATION. Why does the psalmist say ‘when he is afflicted’ rather than ‘if ’?

3. Read verses 1-11. The second P is ‘POUR out your complaint.’ What does the psalmist do in these verses to make God his safest place? How does he practice vulnerability and stay connected to God, even when God’s sovereignty is terrifying (vv9-10)? How does pouring out our hearts to God transform our experience of suffering?

4. Read vv12-17. In these verses, the psalmist identifies with the PEOPLE of God who have suffered faithfully before him. Why is it important to recognize that our suffering is not an isolated event? What does Hebrews 11:36-40 tell us about the saints who have suffered before us?

5. Read vv24-28. The 4th P is PERSPECTIVE. How does an eternal perspective equip us to suffer well? Is there any ‘bad news’ in your life right now that you can lay down before the Lord, trusting that the GOOD of his mercy will outlast the bad of this present time? Share prayer requests with one another, then read Romans 8:16-18 and pray for one another.

Intro Question: How did you first respond to someone sharing their faith in Jesus with you? How does your initial rejection or acceptance encourage you in your own evangelism?

Read Psalm 96

1. What stood out about the message from this week? 

2. How do the commands in psalm 96 help us in our evangelism?

3. What are ways that we can be corporate evangelist's in this group?

4. How can we use our creativity to engage in evangelism, individually or together?

5. Do you have any good resources on evangelism to share?

Here is one resource that gives questions for 8 guided readings through major sections of the Gospel of Mark. It’s a great one to use with someone interested in exploring the Christian faith. Refer to pages 14-21 for the 8 study sessions in the Gospel of Mark. Pages 1-13 just give good questions for different Scriptural genres (Wisdom, Narrative, Prophecy, etc) to help in your own study of the Bible.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0147/1830/4342/files/OTOBR-Sheets-for-copying-A4.pdf?42055

1. The US Surgeon General says that chronic loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. What factors do you think are contributing to chronic loneliness in our society? Which factors are at play in your own life?

2. Read Psalm 107:1-3. In the sermon, we defined Fellowship as “Participating in the story of God’s love together.” What does participation look like according to these verses? What does participation look like in your own rhythms of fellowship?

3. Read Psalm 107:4-32. In these verses, the psalmist rehearses the stories of four characters (starting at vv4, 10, 17, &23 respectively). What is different in each story? What is the same? What is the value of rehearsing our stories of hardship and redemption in community? What makes this kind of sharing difficult?

4. Read Psalm 107:33-41. In these verses, the psalmist shifts from the stories of specific people to general descriptions of God’s work in poetic language. What do we learn about God from this section of the psalm? What do we learn about people?

5. Read Psalm 107:42-43. What does wisdom look like according to these verses? What is the connection between wisdom and fellowship? How will you practice the spiritual habit of fellowship this week?

1. Consider the ACTS acronym and the 4 kinds of prayer we have covered over the last month: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Is there one that comes easier to you in this season of life? Is there one that is more difficult? Why do you think that is?

2. Read Psalm 86:1-7. What word would you use to describe the tone of these verses? Do you feel comfortable approaching God this way? Why or why not?

3. Read Psalm 86:8-10, 12-13. What connection do you see between these verses of PRAISE and the PETITION that precedes them?

4. Read Psalm 86:11. This is the heart of the text. What PURPOSE of God does David acknowledge in this verse? Why might he find it challenging to commit to God’s purposes?

5. Consider one prayer need in your life or sphere of influence. Write out a prayer of supplication following the PRAISE/PETITION/PURPOSE format. For those who are comfortable sharing, pray your prayers together as a group.
   1. I praise God because __________________.

   2. In response to God’s person/promise, my petition is _________________.

   3. I’m praying about this SO THAT (purpose) _________________.

1. Recount a time when you felt exceedingly grateful. What was the occasion? How did you respond? What role has gratitude played in your life and spiritual development?

2. Read Psalm 118:1-14. In the sermon, thanksgiving was defined as “celebration, attribution, and invitation.” List examples of each in these verses.

3. Read Psalm 118:15-29. In the Psalm, thanksgiving takes the form of speaking (v2-4), singing (v15), recounting (v17), and celebrating with a sacrifice/feast (v27). Which of these forms of thanksgiving have you experienced in your own life? Which is your favorite? Do you typically think of these activities as prayer? Why or why not?

4. Read John 12:12-16 and Acts 4:11-12. In these verses, New Testament voices point to Psalm 118 to depict the ministry of Jesus (vv25-26 and vv 22-23 respectively). Did the Psalmist write this psalm to predict the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? If not, what is the significance of the New Testament allusions to Psalm 118?

5. Commit to practice thanksgiving this week by:

   • Speaking, singing, sacrificing or feasting with thanksgiving.

   • Recounting specific instances of God’s good deeds in your life.

   • Sharing your gratitude with someone else, inviting them to rejoice with you.

1. Can you recall a time or season when you hid the truth about a mistake or sin? What motivated you to hide? What happened when the truth came out?

2. Read Psalm 51:1-2. In these opening verses, David uses three images to describe his condition and need before God. Which of the three feels closest to your own experience? Which is the most foreign?

   • “Blot out my transgressions” - Guilt. The royal record of my wrongdoing needs to be destroyed.

   • “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity” - Shame. A heavily soiled garment needs to be soaked and scrubbed to remove deeply set stains.

   • “Cleanse me from my sin.” - Unholy/ profane. Purification is needed so that I can once more draw near a holy God.

3. Read Psalm 51:3-6. Considering David’s sins of adultery and murder, why does he say that he has sinned only against God? What does this confession tell us about the nature of sin in general?

4. Read Psalm 51:7-12. List the requests David makes of God. How do the confessional statements in the previous verses prepare David and the reader for these requests?

5. Read 2 Samuel 12:13 and 1 John 1:8-9. Why is confession good? What resources does the gospel provide to enable a life of confession and repentance?

CHALLENGE: Journal daily to confess before God. Confess your sins, fears, weakness, & need. Also confess Christ, his sufficiency, and your faith and hope in him. How do you think daily confession will affect your day-to-day life?

• Make time to praise God together as a group. One of the simplest ways to do this is to sing a familiar hymn or song together. If someone in your group has musical gifting, ask them ahead of time to prepare something!

• Can you share a time when you felt especially grateful for something someone did to help you?

• Read Psalm 113. This psalm begins and ends with the word “Hallelujah!” Why do you think the psalmist emphasizes praise at the bookends of this psalm?

• What does this psalm tell us about God’s heart for the hurting and overlooked? How can we reflect that same heart in our church or small group?

• Read Philippians 2:5-8. How does this passage deepen your understanding of God’s character revealed in Psalm 113? What impact should this have on how we treat others?

• What is your plan for praising God with your family or household this week? How can we support one another to praise God consistently as a church family?

1. Have you ever experienced the power of God’s Word impacting your life? Share a story of a particular scripture and how you experienced the goodness of God through the Word.

2. Read Psalm 119:65-72. These verses focus on the goodness of God in the Word. List all the things the psalmist celebrates as ‘good’ in these verses.

3. In these verses, the psalmist ruminates on the adversity of affliction (67, 71) and slanderous enemies (69-70). Based on these verses, how are we to reconcile the ‘bad’ of the world with the ‘good’ of the Word? What role does the Word play with regard to these hard life situations?

4. What verbs does the psalmist use to describe his ‘good response’ to the goodness of God’s Word? Is there one of these verbs that has been especially meaningful in your own experience? Is there one in particular that you would like to grow in? Share with the group.

5. The challenge this week builds upon last week. If you are comfortable, share your personal commitments or experiences with one another.

   • Set aside a daily time to pay attention to God.

   • During that time, read 1 chapter of Proverbs each day.

6. Review the WORD HAND. Which of these activities is a regular part of your personal life? How could you incorporate the Word Hand in this week’s challenge??