Welcome to the first week of our new sermon series called Finding Hope in Family Conflict. This week our conversation revolves around a family blessing. We see God working in, through and around a family conflict.
SHARE LIFE
Building healthy and life-giving relationships.
Updates
What has been new or challenging in your life since last time the group met? Spend 20–30 minutes checking in with each other.
Share Part of Your Story
What is one of your favorite childhood Spring Break memories?
Care
This sermon series is about family conflict. Are there any areas of family conflict the group can be praying about?
PURSUE GOD
Taking next steps toward Christ together.
Have someone retell the story of Genesis 27. Who are the main characters? What’s the big issue?
The Plot
Rebekah overhears Isaac’s instructions to Esau. What’s the big deal about the blessing? How does Rebekah respond?
What do we know about the relationship between Isaac and Esau? What about between Jacob and Rebekah?
The Impersonator
Rebekah sends Jacob in to Isaac with the dish Isaac requested. Six times the phrase “tasty food” is repeated in the story. The author intended us to see it as a big deal for Isaac. Why do you think Isaac is so concerned with “tasty food”?
Our lives seem to need an organizing factor. A phrase we use is “a Christ-centered life”. What do we mean by that expression? Why does Jesus deserve the place at the center of our life?
Much of the work of living a Christ-centered life is the daily battle to push other things out and invite Jesus to take his rightful place. How can trusting God on a daily basis provide hope? How do you regularly invite Jesus to take his rightful place in your life?
The Fallout
Jacob and Rebekah chose their behavior but couldn’t choose their consequences. What were some of the consequences they endured?
It appears Jacob didn’t consider the consequences. In what areas have you seen people make choices without really considering the consequences?
How do people often respond to consequences? How do you respond?
Why is it important to remember we can choose our behavior, but we can’t choose the consequences?
Jacob is Abraham’s grandson. What do we know about Abraham’s spiritual depth?
Jacob had the heritage, but not the spiritual experiences. What are some of the dangers of having the spiritual legacy, but not the spiritual experiences? What kind of spiritual heritage do you feel like you have?
Jacob flees home with no real relationship with God. How can you know whether you are just relying on your spiritual heritage or have some spiritual depth of your own? What does it mean to embark on the journey of trust with God?
There are stories in the Bible about how God chooses to work through people who are pure and blameless. But, there are also stories about God working through radically flawed people, like in this story. Why do you think God included stories like this in the Bible?
God pursues Jacob. How have you seen God work in your life or in the lives of others to pursue them despite being flawed?
This week’s conversation is about finding hope and trust in God even in the midst of family conflict. What’s one step you can take this week to focus on that idea?
INVEST IN OTHERS
Valuing people outside the group and outside the faith.
Service
Last week we asked you to have a conversation about serving as a group this spring. Please continue that conversation or, if you didn’t meet last week, begin to talk about serving. Who do you know who could use help this spring? How could your group help them? Who can take the initiative to make it happen?
Download a printable PDF here.