Each week, we will be providing questions to help guide us through the readings from the previous week. These may be used in your own reflection time, in your Disciple Groups, or other classes.
September 14, 2025:
1. What signs did Abraham's servant look for to know he had found the right woman? How did this event help him discern God's will? Rebekah's response to the servant's request was "I will go". What does her quick assent and courage tell us about her character and faith? Is there something that God has been asking of you where you have been hesitant to say yes?
2. Abraham's servant, Laban, Rebekah, and even the servant all recognized God's hand in this situation. How can we lean on our community of faith to help us discern God's leading in our lives? Have you experienced that help in community? Take a moment to share.
3. Even though Jacob wrestled with God and prevailed (Gen 32), what do we learn about God's character and sovereignty in this encounter? Why
is the transition of Jacob to Israel (Gen 32) important? Does it signify a complete change in his character or just a new beginning? Does this help you hope in your struggles, even if they are with God? Take a moment to share.
4. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery out of jealousy. What does this story teach us about the destructiveness of envy and the importance of family relationships? Joseph experienced significant hardship. How did God use these difficult circumstances for good, as stated in Genesis 50:20? Joseph went from prisoner to second-in-command of Egypt by interpreting the king's dreams. What does this story teach us about God's power to elevate those who are faithful? In your own life, you may resonate with different stages in Joseph’s story. If you had to pick one for where you are right now, where would it be? Take a moment to share about that. If you are in the section of betrayal or struggle, how might the story of Jospeh help?
5. Joseph's brothers felt guilt and regret years later. What are some ways to find healing or reconciliation for past regrets? Joseph tested his brothers to see if they had changed. What actions or qualities show true repentance and transformation in someone? Jacob's fear prevented him from sending Benjamin to Egypt. What fears or anxieties hold us back from trusting God fully? Joseph showed both justice and mercy to his brothers. How is this a picture of God's justice and mercy in our own lives?
6. "How does the biblical theme of testing in Genesis, as seen in the story of Abraham, point us toward Jesus, who passed the ultimate test on our behalf?".
7. "How do the stories of broken families and rivalries in Genesis, such as those between Isaac, Jacob, and Esau, offer a template for understanding brokenness and the need for reconciliation in our own relationships?"
8. Why is this reading significant for you to better be transformed by the bigger story of God’s good news?
9. Where is God inviting you to respond?
September 21, 2025
1. When Jacob agrees to send Benjamin with his brothers, he says, "If I am bereaved, I am bereaved" (Gen. 43:14). What does this statement reveal about Jacob's state of mind? How does his journey to trust God relate to a time when someone had to surrender something they feared losing? Have you seen that in your own life or in the life of another? Take a moment to share.
2. The story of Judah is an interesting one. We know that none of us are defined by one moment in our life, but what would we learn about Judah if we looked one scene at a time, i.e. selling Joseph into slavery (Gen 37) and the Tamar incidents (Gen 38)? What about when he was the family spokesperson and offered to substitute himself (Gen 44)? What do we learn about how God uses imperfect people to accomplish His plan? How does that give us comfort and hope? How does it invite us to look to the bigger story when we judge ourselves or others?
3. What surprises you about the antics of the interactions between the unrecognized Joseph and his brothers? Why do you think there was so many things disguised, including the hidden cup? What was Joseph trying to reveal and accomplish? The brothers say, "God has found out the guilt of your servants" (Gen. 44:16). How has the memory of their past sin against Joseph continued to haunt and shape their actions over the years? Can you think in your life, how the memory of sin might have shaped how you act and react?
4. What did you think about Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers? Do you think you would have been able to do the same? Joseph tells his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Gen. 45:5,8). How does this perspective reframe his years of suffering? How might this principle encourage you when you face hardships?
5. As Israel settles in Goshen, God's plan to create a great nation begins to unfold (Gen. 46:27, 47:27). How does this progression encourage you that God is faithful to His promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain? Do you think God has made specific promises to you? What are they? Do you see God at work now or does it feel more uncertain?
6. What is the significance of Jacob crossing his hands to give the greater blessing to the younger son, Ephraim? How does this repeat a pattern seen with Isaac and Jacob, and what does it reveal about God's ways? Why do you think God allows that to happen? Joseph's powerful statement, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good," is often quoted (Gen. 50:20). Discuss a time when you experienced God turning a difficult situation for good.
7. How do the various plagues demonstrate God's power over the "false gods" of Egypt, and can you identify modern-day "false gods" in our own culture? Why do you think God sent the plagues? Why not just reason more?
8. How did the blood of the Passover lamb act as a substitute for the Israelite sons, and how does this foreshadow Jesus' sacrifice for us? How is the act of celebrating the Passover a public declaration of faith in a hostile environment, and how does this relate to our faith today? What Christian celebrations help teach us about our faith and our Savior? What is one that is most meaningful to you?
9. Where is God inviting you to respond?
September 28, 2025
1. God deliberately led the Israelites on a longer, more difficult path to the promised land (13:17–18). What does this reveal about his character and wisdom?
2. When the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, their first instinct was to panic and complain (14:11–12). When have you felt trapped and overwhelmed, and how did you respond?
3. Moses tells the people to "stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring" (14:13). What does it look like to stand still and let God fight your battles today? Is there an area in your life where you are standing and waiting? How can you find comfort in the story of Exodus?
4. After the celebration at the Red Sea, the Israelites quickly start complaining about a lack of water (15:24). What causes people to so quickly forget God's past miracles when a new problem arises? Can you think of a time in your life where you forgot quickly?
5. The wilderness reveals the true nature of the Israelites' hearts, showing their lack of trust. In what "wilderness seasons" of your own life have your character and trust in God been tested?
6. God responds to their grumbling with provision—healing the water at Marah and providing manna and quail. How does this demonstrate God's patience and care for His people even when they fail? In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as the ultimate bread of life and living water. How does remembering Christ help reframe your own moments of grumbling and discontent?
7. God's presence on Mount Sinai is depicted as both majestic and terrifying (19:16–19). How does this image of God compare to how you typically think about him? How might a deeper reverence for His holiness impact our faith?
8. How do you view the Ten Commandments: as a burden or a gift? How might viewing them as wisdom for living freely and in harmony with others change your perspective?
9. The covenant is established through a solemn ceremony involving a blood sacrifice (24:6–8). What does this reveal about the gravity of the covenant and the nature of sin? How do you challenge yourself to remember it in your own faith practice?
10. This passage points toward Jesus, who establishes a new covenant with His blood. How does the covenant at Sinai help you appreciate the new covenant established through Christ?
11. The tabernacle is a portable sanctuary, representing God's decision to dwell with His people in the wilderness. What does God's desire to be close to His people reveal about His character? Where do you feel the closest to God? The tabernacle was a tangible, visible reminder of God's presence. What tangible things or practices in your life help remind you of God's presence today?
12. In these chapters, we see God inviting His people to participate in the construction of Jis sacred space. What are the joys and challenges of being invited to partner with God in his work?
13. Where is God inviting you to respond?