The Main Idea: God will do whatever it takes, even being misunderstood in order to help us become like Jesus.
Read in Class: Hosea 2:1-12. Define what the main idea is in this passage.
Study: What methods does God say He will use to pull Israel back to Himself? What would these experiences have felt like?
Apply: Read Hosea 2:14-23. What does this passage reveal about God? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you have been running from God in any area of your life. If you are convicted that you have been, why wait to go through the crucible? What’s stopping you from surrendering all to the Lord now?
Share: Are you willing to share with the class, what you consider is the most sever means God has used to bring you back to love and obedience to Him?
Read in Class: Job 1:6-2:10. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What causes Job’s sufferings and how does Job respond to these trials?
Apply: How does Job’s trials help you with your own trials?
Share: Have you ever been tempted to just “curse God and die?” Why did you or why didn’t you? What was the final outcome of your crucible in this specific situation?
Study: In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul states that the reason for receiving God’s compassion and comfort is “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (NIV). To what extent might suffering be a call to ministry? How could we become more alert to this possibility?
Apply: What can you learn from Paul that can help you keep from falling into self-pity amid your own struggles?
Share: Can you share how others have comforted you during a hard time? How did it make you feel? How did you respond?
Read in Class: Isaiah 43:1-7. What is the main idea of this passage?
Study: What are the different ways in which God assures His people of comfort during the times of water and fire. What picture of God does this paint in your mind? Which promises can you claim for yourself?
Main Theme: God uses trials to perfect our character.
Read in Class: Job 23:1-10. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the essence of Job’s struggle? What doesn’t he see? Why does he take on faith despite his trials?
Apply: In your own experience, how do trials refine and purify? What other ways could you be refined, other than through suffering?
Share: A friend says God was just using Job as a “guinea pig.” Which was very mean of God. What do you tell your friend? For some ideas on how to respond read, “Was Job Just a Guinea Pig?”
Read in Class: Matthew 25:31-46. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: What criteria is used for separating the sheep and the goats?
Apply: What kind of person are you in stress, or when no-one’s looking? What does the answer tell you about the change you need to make?
Share: Your friend says that we only love God as much as the person on earth whom we love the least. Do you agree with your friend? Why or why not?
Read in Class: Daniel 12:1-10. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: What can we tell in these verses about the character of God’s people during these times?
Apply: What do the wise understand that the wicked don’t? What kind of wisdom is implied here?
Share: Your friend says she is confused about the state of the dead. How could you use Daniel 12?
Read in Class: Ephesians 4:11-16. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: What point is Paul making here? What role does he give for community?
Apply: What is the difference in a community revealing the fullness of Christ, and an individual revealing the fullness of Christ? See Ephesians 3:10.
Share: Share a brief testimony about someone who showed you Christ’s loving character when while they were in a crucible of sorts.
Read Together: 1 Peter 4:12-19. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is Peter’s Message?
Apply: Peter was referring to trials that are the consequence of standing up for Christ. But there are also other reasons that trials come. How could 1 Peter 4:12-19 help you to explain tactfully to a friend why not to be surprised at the painful trials he or she might face?
Share: Your friend asks, “How can I be glad when I am suffering?” What do you tell your friend?
Read Together:1 Peter 5:8-11. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: How should we react to Satan’s prowling? How does God promise to help us?
Apply: Think about the other ways that Satan causes pain. How could reading 1 Peter 5:8-11 help us to deal with the anguish that we experience because of our fate in living in a sinful world in which Satan wreaks havoc?
Share: Your friend asks why God allows Satan to prowl us? What do you tell your friend?
Read Together:Jeremiah 9:7-16. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: God says that he will “refine and test” (NRSV), or “melt” (KJV), Judah and Jerusalem (Jer. 9:7, NIV). What two reasons does God give for this? (Jer. 9:13,14). How will the refining happen? (Jer. 9: 15,16).
Apply: Think about the sins that you struggle with. If God were going to refine and test you today, how might He do it? What action could you take now to deal with this before God would want to take drastic steps with you, as He did with Israel?
Share: Your friend asks what it means in verse 16 where God says he will destroy or consume us? After all doesn’t Jesus want to save us? What do you tell your friend? How could this quote help you explain? “If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of its death.” — Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour & Company, Inc., 1963), p. 271.
Study: How does Paul deal with his “thorn”? Do you think that Paul’s weakness had any other spiritual benefits to him? How can the way that Paul responds help you to deal with “thorns” that you may have to carry?
Apply: In what ways might God’s ideas for your spiritual development be very different from your own? Think about areas in your life in which you need to become more fruitful in righteousness. What spiritual qualities would you like to ask God to develop in you through His “pruning”?
Share: Can you think of someone who is going through a difficult time right now? This week can you reach out to them and share an encouraging passage, and pray with them, if even on the phone?
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT
Study: What do these verses teach us about how the Shepherd cares for His sheep?
Apply: Read Psalm 23:1. The Reina-Valera 1960 version of this passage reads, “Jehová es mi pastor.” How is God your pastor? How does knowing God is your pastor help you have healthy and balanced expectations from your human pastor?
Share: A friend asks if you have ever felt God’s presence leading you like a shepherd? What do you share with your friend?
Read Together: Psalm 23:1-4. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: Where all does the Shepherd lead His sheep? Is it always in a desirable location?
Apply: When going through a dark valley, would you rather be led, followed, guided, pushed, or just left alone? Why?
Share: Your friend asks why Jesus would ever lead you into a dark valley? What do you tell your friend? See Mark 4:35-40.*
Read Together: Psalm 23:5. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: what does it mean to be anointed with oil and have a feast provided for us in the midst of our enemies?
Apply: What types of enemies have you had in your life? How have you responded to those who have tried to hurt you or those you care for? How well did you follow Christ’s words to us in Matthew 5:44, or Paul’s in Romans 12:18-21?
Share: Your friend asks you how God has protected and even blessed you in the presence of your enemies? What do you tell your friend?
Read Together: Psalm 23:6. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Apply: What picture do you get in your mind if you imagine goodness and unfailing love “pursuing” you? What do you think David meant to tell us about God by describing His care for us this way?
Share: After reading, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,” your friend asks if this includes the bad or even tragic days? If so, how could God’s love and goodness be with us on those days? What do you tell your friend?
* Please notice in this story, it is Jesus’ idea to cross the lake, knowing full well they would run into a storm.
Study: What is God’s place in the success of Joseph?
Apply: What are ways that others should be able to see, from the kind of lives that we live, the reality of our God?
Share: Your friend says that the story of Joseph rising to power from such humble beginnings sounds like a fairy tale. Especially the part about him being promoted from prisoner to such a high position. Your friend says nothing like this could ever happen today. What do you tell your friend?
Read: Genesis 42, especially verses 20-23. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What happened here, and how does it reveal the providence of God, even despite human evil and wrongdoing?
Apply: How can we make up for what we have done that we are sorry for?
Share: Your friend asks if God is punishing us every time something bad happens? If not, how do you know the difference between what Joseph’s brothers experienced and when bad things are just randomly happening to you? What do you tell your friend?
Study: Why did Joseph put the divination cup in Benjamin’s sack and not in another brother’s sack?
Apply: What principle of love, as exemplified in Judah’s response, is implied in the process of substitution? How does this kind of love explain the biblical theology of salvation? See Romans 5:8.
Share: Your friend says that Judah did not want to break his father’s heart again. Is that what true repentance is all about? How do you answer your friend?
Read:Genesis 45:1-9. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What lessons of love, faith, and hope can be found in this story?
Apply: Yes, Joseph was gracious to his brothers. He could afford to be. How, though, do we learn to be gracious to those whose evil toward us doesn’t turn out as well as it did for Joseph?
Share: Your friend says that Genesis 45:5 says God sent Joseph into Egypt. Does that mean his brothers didn’t have anything to do with it? How do you answer your friend?
Study: What does this teach us about how dangerous and evil unregenerate hearts can be and to what they can lead any one of us to do?
Apply: Why is it so important to seek God’s power in order to change bad traits of character before they can manifest themselves into some acts that, at one point in your life, you would never imagine yourself doing?
Share: Your friend says, Joseph’s brothers never would have treated Joseph so cruel if he had not boasted about his dreams, and Jacob did not make him the favorite. It’s not their fault. What would you say to your friend?
Read Together: Genesis 39. Summarize this chapter.
Study: What made Joseph so successful?
Apply: How did Joseph resist the wife’s advances? Why did Joseph specifically say that to have done what she asked would have been a sin against God? What understanding does he show about the nature of sin and what it is?
Share: Your friend says, if you are going to get charged for a crime you might as well do it. What’s the point of being innocent if you are still treated like you are guilty? What do you tell your friend?
Study: How are the dreams of Pharaoh related to the dreams of the officers? What is the significance of this parallel?
Apply: How can we learn to trust God and cling to His promises when events don’t appear providential at all, and indeed, God seems silent?
Share: Can you think of someone who may be experiencing something similar to what Joseph experienced in Genesis 39? How can you encourage them this week?
Study: What is the spiritual significance of this amazing story?
Apply: What has been your own experience as far as wrestling with God goes? What does it mean to do that, and why is it at times important that we have this kind of experience?
Share: A friend asks you, “If salvation is free, why did Jacob have to struggle with God to overcome?” What do you tell your friend? See also 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Read Together: Genesis 33. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What connection is there between Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of God at Peniel and Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of his brother? What is the implication of this connection in regard to our relationship with God and our relationship with our “brothers,” whoever they may be?
Apply: What have you learned about grace by how others (besides the Lord) have forgiven you?
Share: Even though Jacob cheated Esau, God blessed Esau so much that when Jacob offered to repay him, Esau told Jacob he did not need anything from him. How has God blessed you even when others have cheated you? See Let God pay you Back.
Study: What happened to upset his plans for a peaceful existence?
Apply: Over and over we see deceit and deception, as well as acts of kindness and grace, in these accounts. What does this tell us about human nature?
Share: Your child asks, you, “This story is pretty gross! Why is it in the Bible?” What do you tell your child?
Read Together: Genesis 35. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What lessons can we take about true worship from what happened here?
Apply: What are subtle ways that idolatry can find its way into our hearts, and what can we do about it?
Share: Without mentioning any names to the class, can you think of a family in your church or community who could use some extra prayers this week? Can you remember to pray for this family during the week?
Main Theme: Jacob deceives and then gets deceived, thus learning what goes around comes around.
Read Together: Genesis 25: 21-34. Discuss the main theme of this passage.
Study: What qualities of Jacob predispositioned him to be more worthy than Esau of Isaac’s blessings?
Apply: Jacob wanted something good, something of value, and that was admirable (especially compared to his brother’s attitude). Yet, he used deception and lies to get it. How can we avoid falling into a similar trap of doing bad so that “good” may come?
Share: Your friend says its okay to tell a white lie in order to avoid hurting someone’s feelings. Do you agree with your friend? Why or why not?
Read Together: Genesis 29:20-30. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: How and why does God allow for Laban’s deception? What lessons did Jacob learn?
Apply: How can we avoid justifying doing something bad so that good may come?
Share: Your friend asks if God let Jacob get deceived so that he would then realize and be convicted of his own lies. What do you tell your friend?
Study: What was the meaning of this test? What spiritual lessons come from this amazing event?
Apply: What does the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah say to you personally about your faith and how you manifest it?
Share: Your friend tells you that it sounds like God is contradicting his own law in forbidding human sacrifices. How do you make sense of this apparent contradiction? Hint: See the note at the end of this page.
Study: How do these verses help us understand what happened at the Cross, which is prefigured in the sacrifice here on Mount Moriah?
Apply: How does what happened here help us better understand what happened at the cross and what God has suffered in our behalf? What should our response be to what has been done for us?
Share: Your friend comments, “My pastor preaches that when we become Christians God makes us highly favored and prosperous. Instead of calling us to sacrifice, God calls us to prosperity.” How do you answer your friend, particularly in light of Genesis 22?
Read Together: Genesis 24. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: Why is Abraham so concerned that his son not marry a woman from the Canaanites?
Apply: Why is it so comforting to know that while not all things are God’s will, He is still in charge? How do prophecies like Daniel 2, for instance, prove this point to us?
Share: Your friend says that God’s providence in the story of Isaac and Rebekah prove that our entire lives and predestined and predetermined. How do you respond to your friend, especially in light of Genesis 24:58?
Study: What is the meaning of these final events in the life of Abraham?
Apply: In the end, God kept His promise to Abraham. How does God’s faithfulness to Abraham encourage you?
Share: Your friend asks, “What is the greatest promise anyone ever made to you and actually kept?” How does that faithful friend help you appreciate the promises God has made to us?
Note: “They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” 1 Peter 1:12 NLT
“The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his own good, nor solely for the benefit of succeeding generations; but it was also for the instruction of the sinless intelligences of heaven and of other worlds. The field of the controversy between Christ and Satan–the field on which the plan of redemption is wrought out–is the lesson book of the universe. Because Abraham had shown a lack of faith in God’s promises, Satan had accused him before the angels and before God of having failed to comply with the conditions of the covenant, and as unworthy of its blessings. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation. Heavenly beings were witnesses of the scene as the faith of Abraham and the submission of Isaac were tested. The trial was far more severe than that which had been brought upon Adam. Compliance with the prohibition laid upon our first parents involved no suffering, but the command to Abraham demanded the most agonizing sacrifice. All heaven beheld with wonder and admiration Abraham’s unfaltering obedience. All heaven applauded his fidelity. Satan’s accusations were shown to be false. God declared to His servant, “Now I know that thou fearest God [notwithstanding Satan’s charges], seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” God’s covenant, confirmed to Abraham by an oath before the intelligences of other worlds, testified that obedience will be rewarded. It had been difficult even for the angels to grasp the mystery of redemption–to comprehend that the Commander of heaven, the Son of God, must die for guilty man. When the command was given to Abraham to offer up his son, the interest of all heavenly beings was enlisted. With intense earnestness they watched each step in the fulfillment of this command. When to Isaac’s question, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham made answer, “God will provide Himself a lamb;” and when the father’s hand was stayed as he was about to slay his son, and the ram which God had provided was offered in the place of Isaac–then light was shed upon the mystery of redemption, and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful provision that God had made for man’s salvation. 1 Peter 1:12.” -Patriarchs and Prophets, Pages 154-155.
Main Theme: The promises given to Abraham are for all believers. “And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.” Galatians 3:29 NLT
Read Together: Genesis 15:1-6. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: How did Abraham reveal what it means to live by faith?
Apply: What does it mean if we start counting up or relying on our good works?
Share: Your friend says that if we are counted righteous because we believe then there is no reason to obey. How do you respond to your friend? See Genesis 26:5 and James 2:23-24.
Read Together: Genesis 17:1-12. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the spiritual and prophetic significance of the circumcision rite?
Apply: How do you keep believing even when we struggle with belief?
Share: Your friend says that circumcision is nothing more than barbaric sexual mutilation. How do you respond to your friend? See Why Circumcision.
Study: What lessons of hospitality do we learn from Abraham’s reception of his visitors? How do you explain God’s response to Abraham’s hospitality?
Apply: What is our responsibility to the poor and hungry? How do we help those in need? What stipulations would you put on helping someone who is in need?
Share: Your friend asks, what it was that made Abraham so generous? What do you tell your friend?
In Light of The Cross 