week of 11/3

Unit 03  Session 1

JACOB MANIPULATED ESAU

gENESIS 25:20-34

 

Key Concept:

God's will and ways are righteous, while our ways are sinful.

The second half of Genesis details the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to Abraham through the lives of Abraham's promised offspring. Like Sarah before her, Rebekah, Isaac's wife, was barren for years. Isaac prayed for his wife, and just as the Lord kept His promise with Abraham and Sarah, the Lord gave Rebekah twin sons: Esau and Jacob. The twins' ensuing sibling rivalry highlights a few major themes in the book of Genesis and within Scripture more broadly. God's covenant faithfulness is seen throughout the book as He keeps His promises and sovereignly works to carry out His plan.

As you examine Genesis 25:20-34:

✞   Evaluate each person's words and actions to determine what was good and what was 

    sinful.

     

✞   Consider what this passage teaches us about God's character and His faithfulness to 

    His own promises and unfolding plan.

week of 10/27

Unit 02  Session 4

GOD'S PROVISION FOR ISAAC

gENESIS 24:37-50

 

Key Concept:

God's people trust in God's providence in every aspect of our lives.

By Genesis 24, Abraham was much older, and Sarah had died. But Isaac was unmarried. Wanting to get his family affairs in order and ensure the covenant promises lived on to another generation, Abraham sought to find Isaac a wife. Not wanting Isaac to marry one of the pagan Canaanites, Abraham sent one of his servants in Isaac's stead to his old homeland. The servant, trusting in the Lord's faithfulness to his master, went to Abraham's homeland and did exactly as Abraham said, bringing Rebekah home to her new husband. 

As you examine Genesis 24:37-50:

✞   Note the servant's reliance on prayer and God's providence to help him be successful in 

    his mission.
     

✞   Reflect on how God orchestrated the events in the servant's journey to bring Rebekah to 

    Canaan for Isaac.

week of 10/20

Unit 02  Session 3

GOD'S TEST OF ABRAHAM

gENESIS 22:1-14

 

Key Concept:

The Lord tests our faith so it may be proven by obedience.

In keeping with God's covenant, Abraham's promised child finally arrived with the birth of Isaac. A few years later, God called to Abraham again; this time He commanded Abraham to take his son up a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice there to the Lord. Why would God ask Abraham to do such a thing? God put Abraham to the test to demonstrate Abraham's complete devotion to Him and, as we will see, God's merciful provision. This remained a fulfillment to God's promise and ultimately pointed to a greater fulfillment yet to come.

As you examine Genesis 22:1-14:

✞   Identify Abraham's actions that indicated he trusted God absolutely.
     

✞   Consider how the Gospel gives us encouragement to respond to tests and trials with faith.

week of 10/13

Unit 02  Session 2

GOD'S COVENANT WITH ABRAM

gENESIS 17:1-10; 15-19

 

Key Concept:

The almighty God makes it possible for humanity to be in relationship with Him.

Sojourning in his new home, Abram waited for God to bring about His promises, which included a son. Waiting isn't easy, and the aging Abram wondered if the promised child would ever come. Growing anxious, he and Sarai brought Hagar into the fold and bore Ishmael through her. But God did not need their help, only their faith. Ishmael would not be the inheritor of the blessing, and God had not forgotten His word. Everything He promised would come to pass. So Abram received a new name that reminded him of that truth and reconfirmed the covenant God had made with him. 

As you examine Genesis 17:1-10; 15-19:

✞   Consider the significance of God calling upon His people to live in His presence.
     

✞   Recognize that true faith always leads to obedient action for those who love Jesus 
    and are called by Him.

week of 10/5

Unit 02  Session 1

ABRAM OBEYS GOD'S CALL

gENESIS 12:1-9

 

Key Concept:

Faith is obeying and following God no matter the circumstances that come with it.

Genesis 12 opens a new era of God's revelation. For eleven chapters, God revealed the beginning of the world at a macro level. In Chapter 12, God begins to reveal the beginning of His covenant at a micro level, from many generations down to one man. Abram is the beginning of the story in so many ways. Our understanding of the grace of God revealed ultimately in Jesus Christ is strengthened by our understanding of the story of Abram way back in Genesis.

As you examine Genesis 12:1-9:

✞   Identify the sacrifices Abram made to step out in faithful obedience.
     

✞   Consider how knowing the love God has for us encourages us to obey and follow His call.

week of 9/29

Unit 01  Session 5

HUMANITY REBELS

gENESIS 11:1-9

 

Key Concept:

Humanity rebels against God's commands and needs to be restrained.

After living in the ark for just over a year, Noah and his family stepped out on dry ground. Then God made a covenant with Noah that He would never again flood the whole earth to destroy sin. Like He had commanded Adam, God commanded Noah and his sons to fill the earth by spreading out and multiplying. Creation had a fresh start. One would think obedience and a desire to walk with God would be foremost on the minds of every human being after the flood, but sin still corrupted the hearts and minds of each new generation. And once again, God would not tolerate their rebellion.

As you examine Genesis 11:1-9:

✞   Reflect on your attempts to bring God to our level or to worship Him on our terms.
     
✞   Identify ways God still restrains sin today.

week of 9/22

Unit 01  Session 4

SIN CORRUPTS

gENESIS 6:9-22

 

Key Concept:

Sin corrupts and must be judged, but God saves those who fear and obey Him.

If Adam and Eve had hoped their firstborn son, Cain, would be the promised Seed to defeat the serpent, their hopes were crushed when Cain murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy. Grieving the loss of Abel, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth - a son in Adam's likeness. Unlike Cain's descendants, who lived however they pleased, Seth's descendants walked with God and hoped for reprieve from the curse of sin. While sin and violence corrupted humankind, Noah, whose name means rest, was a righteous man who followed God. God would soon enact righteous judgment against sin on the whole earth, but God showed grace to Noah.

As you examine Genesis 6:9-22:

✞   Identify ways you can live blamelessly in a world that does not value what God values.
     
✞   Reflect on times when you have experienced the blessings of faithful obedience in your 

    own life.