Sunday, March 24, 2013

Genesis 34 - 35; Lesson 25

Chuck's study this week:

Lesson     25
 
Passage Genesis 34-35

 Content (List of Topics or Events)

Rape of Dinah by Shechem brings calamity (Genesis 34)
a. Dinah local venture brings rape (1-2)
b. Hamor and Shechem request Dinah as wife (3-12)
c. Deceitful circumcision proposal (13-24)
d. Revenge, plunder and resulting fear (25-30)
Jacob is directed and protected by God on journey to Bethel (Genesis 35:1-15)
a. Jacob cleanses household of foreign gods (1-5)
b. Jacob “Israel” blessing given from God; land and nation (6-15)
 
Jacob’s family changes with Benjamin’s birth and death Rachel’s and Isaac (Genesis 35:16-29)
a. Rachel dies in Benjamin’s childbirth (16-21)
b. Reuben sin’s with Bilhah (22)
c. List of Jacobs sons (23-26)
d. Jacob returns home to Isaac for Isaac’s death (27-29)
 
 

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division
Scripture
Rape of Dinah by Shechem brings calamity
Genesis 34
Jacob is directed and protected by God on journey to Bethel
Genesis 35:1-15
Jacob’s family changes with Benjamin’s birth and death Rachel’s and Isaac
Genesis 35:16-29
 
 

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Rape calamity, revenge and travel to God’s destination - home

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

To Learn that calamity comes when we stray from God’s will and that our life journey is not always easy.

Specific Application Questions

 
1.       Where are we straying that will get us in trouble?
 
2.       What do we need to get rid of to make God number 1?
 
3.       What does home mean to you; is it where God is?
 
4.        

Principles to Remember

 
Stay on the path; wandering leads to trouble
 
Clean out distractions; Build monuments God’s grace
 
Know where home is; it is in relationship with our Heavenly Father
 
  

 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Genesis 32 - 33; Lesson 24

John's study this week:

Content
(In your own words, summarize passages into sentences. Goal of 12 – 15 sentences)

Genesis 32

1. Genesis 32:1 – 2 Jacob traveled on when angels of God met him after which he named the place Mahanaim.
2. Genesis 32:3 – 6 Jacob sent messengers ahead to see his brother Esau instructing them to say to Esau that where he’s been and that he comes hoping to find favor in Esau’s eyes to which his messengers return to say that Esau is coming to meet Jacob along with four hundred men.
3. Genesis 32:7 – 12 Jacob divides the people into two groups that should Esau attack, half may get away then prayed for God’s protection from Esau even though God had declared to him that he would prosper Jacob.
4. Genesis 32:13 – 21 Jacob spend the night there then chooses to give a great gift of livestock (split into groups, one following the other with distance between) to Esau which he has his servants drive ahead and give as a gift to Esau so when they meet Esau he will pacify / feel favorable to Jacob’s coming.
5. Genesis 32:22 – 30 That night Jacob sent his family, servants and their possessions across the stream Jabbok and remained on his side where he struggled / wrestled with God throughout the night, after which Jacob would not let the man (God) go until he (God) blessed him, to which God caused Jacob’s hip to be wrenched, then changed Jacob’s name to Israel and blessed him there, but would not tell him his name, and Jacob (now Israel) called the place Peniel.
6. Genesis 32:31 – 32 The sun rose, Jacob limped and a tradition was born that Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Genesis 33

7.Genesis 33:1 – 3 Then Jacob looked up to see Esau coming with his 400 men so Jacob ordered his family and servants behind him then he, himself went ahead and bowed down to the ground 7 times as his brother approached.
8. Genesis 33:4 – 4 But Esau ran to Jacob, embraced him, threw his arms about him and kissed him and they both wept.
9. Genesis 33:5 – 7 Esau asked who were the people with Jacob who then answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” And to which Jacob replied with introductions, each family member bowed down.
10. Genesis 33:8 – 12 Esau then asked about the gift of livestock to which Jacob and his brother bantered about keeping the gift and because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted, then Esau said,  “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”
11. Genesis 33: 13 – 17 Jacob, for some reason, does not want his brother, or his brother’s men,  to travel with him, so he declines their offer stating that he is moving far too slowly, but promises to meet up in Seir, yet Jacob goes to Sukkoth (not Seir as stated) where he built a place for his family and shelters for the livestock.
12. Genesis 33:18 - 20 Then after Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city, and for a hundred pieces of silver bought the plot of ground where he pitched his tent, then set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Divisions

(Summarize main groupings of thoughts. Goal of 2, 3 or 4 divisions. ID passages covered)

1. Genesis 32:1 – 21, 33:1 - 12 Jacob and his family travels back his homeland, reconciles with Esau and is welcomed.

Application: How are you treating your family, even though you feel distant too?

2. Genesis 32: 22 - 32 God wrestles with Jacob and in the end asks for God’s blessing.

Application: What struggles with the Lord do you find yourself wrestling?

3. Genesis 33:13 – 20 Jacob reconciles with Esau, but establishes new family homestead, just not too close to Esau.

Application: Do you find yourself sometimes wanting to start new, but want to keep your distance from your past?

Subject Sentence
(Summarizing the Divisions into one sentence – ten words or less):

Jacob is disciplined, reconciles with Esau, and wrestles with God.

Aim
(A main teaching point for the overall study of the passages):

TCTATS: To cause the audience to see that God’s plan will not be hindered by our actions and inactions but will provide us needed discipline.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Genesis 29 - 31; Lesson 23

Chuck's study this week:

Lesson     23

Passage Genesis 29-31


Content (List of Topics or Events)
Jacob works for wife(s) – Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:1-30)
a. Encounter with Laban’s Shepherds (1-8)
b. Rachel and agreement with Laban for daughter (9-21)
c. Laban’s substitution of Leah (22-26)
d. Laban’s deal for Rachel (27-30)
Jacob’s wives deliver 12 sons and daughter – the nation of Israel (Genesis 29:31-30:25a)
a. Leah’s children – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (29:31-35)
b. Bilhah substitute for Rachel  sons – Dan, Naphtali (30:1-8)
c. Leah’s servant Zipah – Gad, Asher (9-13
d. Leah has: Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah (14-21)
e. Rachel has Joseph (22-25a)
Jacob wages – wealth in Livestock (Genesis 30:25b-43)
a. Jacob request to leave and Laban’s wage deal (25b-34)
b. Jacob prospers with strong flock (35-43)

 Jacob leaves Laban departs for Father Isaac’s home – treaty with Laban (Genesis 31)
a. Laban’s sons and Laban’s attitude noticed (31:1-2)
b. Jacob and family pack up to leave (3-21)
c. Laban pursues Jacob and confronts him (22-35)
d. Jacob confronts Laban (36-43)
e. Covenant established between Jacob and Laban (43-55)
Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)
Division
Scripture
Jacob works for wife(s) – Leah and Rachel
Genesis 29:1-30
Jacob’s wives deliver 12 sons and daughter – the nation of Israel
Genesis 29:31-30:25a
Jacob wages – wealth in Livestock
Genesis 30:25b-43
 Jacob leaves Laban departs for Father Isaac’s home – treaty with Laban
 Genesis 31
Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)
Jacob works for wives, builds family, wealth; returns from Laban
Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)
To Learn that God uses circumstances to discipline and build the character He desires in us.
Specific Application Questions

1.       What deceptions have you encountered and how do you allow God to work?

2.       How has God blessed you with family?

3.       In what ways does God reward you through your labors?

4.       Where could you be at peace with those who may mistreat you?
Principles to Remember

God wants us to demonstrate our love for our spouse.

Our children are a gift from God.

Our wages are from God.

 Live at peace with those who treat us well and those who mistreat us.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Genesis 27 - 28; Lesson 22

John's study this week:
Content
(In your own words, summarize passages into sentences. Goal of 12 – 15 sentences)

Genesis 27


1. Genesis 27:1 – 10 When Isaac was old he called on Esau to hunt game and prepare it the way Isaac likes it, and Rebekah, overhearing the conversation, begins to scheme on getting Isaac’s blessing for Jacob, so encourages Jacob to go to the family flock and bring her young goats to cook for Isaac the Isaac will give his blessing to Jacob and not Esau.
2. Genesis 27:11 – 13 Jacob questions the tactic of fooling Isaac because he and his brother feel different, and their father would know the difference, and, Jacob does not want to receive a curse for the deception, to which Rebekah says don’t worry, let the curse fall on me… do what I say.”
3. Genesis 27:14 – 24 So the deceit went down as designed with Jacob wearing his brother’s clothes, and masking his smooth skin covering hands and neck with goatskin, took the food to Isaac, lied to him, even let his father touch him, and Isaac even commented on Jacob’s voice not being Esau’s, and lied again when asked directly if Jacob was Esau.
4. Genesis 27:25 – 29 Isaac asked Esau (Jacob) for the food, and to kiss him, smelled Esau’s clothes and believed and blessed Esau (Jacob).
5. Genesis 27:30 – 34 The actual Esau then returned from hunting, prepared the food and presented it to Isaac, his father, who questioned who it was then realized that it was Jacob who had deceived him to which Esau cried out, “Bless me too, my father!”
6. Genesis 27:35 – 41 Isaac said that Jacob had been deceitful and taken Esau’s blessing which Esau now recognized that Jacob had taken both his birthright and now his blessing to which Isaac replied that he had made Jacob lord over Esau and the household to which Esau now held a grudge to the point of stating that as soon as Isaac was dead, he (Esau) would kill Jacob.
7. Genesis 27:42 – 46 Rebekah then sent Jacob, in obedience to Isaac, to her brother Laban home for protection, covering her tracks with Isaac by saying that Jacob should not marry a Canaanite / Hittite woman and saying her life would not be worth living if Jacob does so.

Genesis 28

8. Genesis 28:1 – 5 Isaac blessed Jacob but instructs him not to marry a Canaanite, but instead told him to travel to his mother’s family and take a wife from among the daughters of Laban blessing Jacob further to be fruitful and multiply until he becomes “a community of peoples.” which Jacobs then travels to.
9. Genesis 28:6 – 9 Esau, learning about all this then goes to uncle Esau and marries Mahalath, his daughter adding to the wives he already has.
10. Genesis 28:10 – 15 So Jacob leaves for Harran and during the night dreams he saw a stairway reaching to heaven and angels going up and down and above it stood the Lord who said “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
11. Genesis 28:16 – 19 When Jacob awoke he recognized how amazing the vision had been and erected his stone ‘pillow’ as a pillar, anointing it with oil and called the place Bethel.
12. Genesis 28:20 – 22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Divisions

(Summarize main groupings of thoughts. Goal of 2, 3 or 4 divisions. ID passages covered)

1. Genesis 27:1 – 46 Jacob’s deception gains Esau’s birthright and Isaac’s blessing, fulfilling God’s prophesy to Rebekah.

Application: What time are you spending trying to help God’s plan for your life?

2. Genesis 28: 1-9 Jacob receives Abraham’s blessing, through Isaac, and leaves home to find a wife.

Application: How are you showing your obedience to receiving God’s blessing for your future?

3. Genesis 28:10 - 22 Jacob meets the Lord in a vision vowing to serve Him, and calls the place Bethel.

Application: How are you honoring God’s messages to you?

Subject Sentence
(Summarizing the Divisions into one sentence – ten words or less):

Obedience to blessing yields personal relationship and worship with God.

Aim
(A main teaching point for the overall study of the passages):

TCTATS: To cause the audience to see that we are blessed in our obedience to God’s plan for us and that we are to worship God in such.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Genesis 25:19-34; Lesson 21

Chuck's study this week:

Lesson     21
Passage Genesis 25:19-34

Content (List of Topics or Events)

The Prayer – A lineage (25:19-23)
a. Isaac prays for Rebekah (19-21)
b. God Answers with trouble pregnancy (22)
c. God describes son’s and relationship to promise (23)
The Sons – Birth & Personalities (25:24-28)
a. The birth described (24-26)
b. Esau and Jacob characteristics described (27-28)
The Birthright – The deal (25:29-34)
a. The red stew (29-30)
b. Jacob’s terms for stew (31)
c. Esau’s willingness to give up birthright (32)
d. The deal (33-34)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division
Scripture
The Prayer – A lineage  
Genesis   25:19-23
The Sons – Birth and Personalities
Genesis   25:24-28
The Birthright – The deal
Genesis   25:29-34

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Jacob and Esau, personalities and birthright

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

To Learn that in our attitudes effect our blessings from God

Specific Application Questions

1.       What are you praying for; what is the desire of your heart?
2.       Is your attitude in tune with God?
3.       What are you striving for?
4.        

Principles to Remember

God wants to hear from us.
Our personalities reflect our attitude toward God
Our decisions have eternity impact

Monday, February 18, 2013

Genesis 25:19 - 28:9; Lesson 20

John's study this week:


Content
(In your own words, summarize passages into sentences. Goal of 12 – 15 sentences)

Genesis 25


1. Genesis 25:19 – 28 Isaac prays on behalf of Rebekah, who is childless, who then God blesses with twins whom the Lord declares will become two great nations, one stronger, and the elder will serve the younger; the elder is Esau and Jacob the younger.
2. Genesis 25:29 – 34 Once, Jacob was cooking when Esau came in from the fields and pleaded with Jacob to give him some, to which Jacob replied  “First sell me your birthright.” And Esau swore to sell Jacob his birthright as first born; so Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 26

3. Genesis 26:1 – 6 When a famine comes to the land of Isaac, he turned to Abimelek,  king of the Philistines, but the Lord appeared to Isaac saying, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live, and I will be with you and will bless you, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” So Isaac stayed put.
4. Genesis 26:7 – 7 Making the same mistake as his Dad, when men approached Isaac about his wife, he lied and said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”
5. Genesis 26:8 – 11 Sometime later Abimelek, sees Isaac with Rebekah and confronts Isaac saying “She’s your wife, isn’t she?” What if some man had slept with her bringing shame and ruin on Abimelek’s kingdom so he declares that no one should harm Isaac and Rebekah.
6. Genesis 26:12 – 16 That same year, Isaac plants and reaps a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him, so he became very wealthy with so many flocks, herds and servants that the Philistines envied him and to ‘punish Isaac filled many wells with earth; even Abimelek saying Move from us because you are far too powerful.
7. Genesis 26:17 – 22 Isaac moved with his household to the Valley of Gerar, reopened the wells, and his servants dug wells of fresh water there causing the herders of Gerar to quarrel with Isaac and he gave the wells to them, moved on and dug more until no one disputed with him that the wells were his and he named them Rehoboth saying:  “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”
8. Genesis 26:23 – 25 Then they went to Beersheba where the Lord appeared to Isaac saying, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” And Isaac built an alter there and called on the name of the Lord, and, dug a well.
9. Genesis 26:26 – 33 Abimelek traveled to see Isaac declaring that he saw that God blessed Isaac, and proposes a treaty to which all swear to, Isaac gives a feast then send them away in peace and that day his servants told Isaac about a well they had dug which he named it Shibah.
10. Genesis 26:34- 35 When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite and they were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 27

11. Genesis 27:1 – 10 When Isaac was old he called on Esau to hunt game and prepare it the way Isaac likes it, and Rebekah, overhearing the conversation, begins to scheme on getting Isaac’s blessing for Jacob, so encourages Jacob to go to the family flock and bring her young goats to cook for Isaac the Isaac will give his blessing to Jacob and not Esau.
12. Genesis 27:11 – 13 Jacob questions the tactic of fooling Isaac because he and his brother feel different, and their father would know the difference, and, Jacob does not want to receive a curse for the deception, to which Rebekah says don’t worry, let the curse fall on me… do what I say.”
13. Genesis 27:14 – 24 So the deceit went down as designed with Jacob wearing his brother’s clothes, and masking his smooth skin covering hands and neck with goatskin, took the food to Isaac, lied to him, even let his father touch him, and Isaac even commented on Jacob’s voice not being Esau’s, and lied again when asked directly if Jacob was Esau.
14. Genesis 27:25 – 29 Isaac asked Esau (Jacob) for the food, and to kiss him, smelled Esau’s clothes and believed and blessed Esau (Jacob).
15. Genesis 27:30 – 34 The actual Esau then returned from hunting, prepared the food and presented it to Isaac, his father, who questioned who it was then realized that it was Jacob who had deceived him to which Esau cried out, “Bless me too, my father!”
16. Genesis 27:35 – 41 Isaac said that Jacob had been deceitful and taken Esau’s blessing which Esau now recognized that Jacob had taken both his birthright and now his blessing to which Isaac replied that he had made Jacob lord over Esau and the household to which Esau now held a grudge to the point of stating that as soon as Isaac was dead, he (Esau) would kill Jacob.
17. Genesis 27:42 – 46 Rebekah then sent Jacob, in obedience to Isaac, to her brother Laban home for protection, covering her tracks with Isaac by saying that Jacob should not marry a Canaanite / Hittite woman.

Genesis 28

18. Genesis 28:1 - 7 So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and sent him to Paddan Aram, to Laban’s home to find a wife from among Laban’s family, and so he went.
19. Genesis 28:8 – 9 When Esau learned of all this and how the Canaanite women displeased his dad Isaac, he went to uncle Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.

Divisions

(Summarize main groupings of thoughts. Goal of 2, 3 or 4 divisions. ID passages covered)

1. Genesis 25:19 – 34 Isaac and Rebekah have two sons, Esau and Jacob, with Esau selling his birthright to Jacob.

Application: Are you trusting God with your birthright or are you taking matters into your own hands?

2. Genesis 26:1 – 33 Isaac sins like Abraham, repeating Abraham’s mistakes, yet gains great wealth under favor from God.

Application: How are you learning from past mistakes that you’ve observed? Are you helping your kids with learning from your past mistakes?

3. Genesis 26:34 – 27:46 Rebekah and Jacob scheme to gain the blessing of Isaac for Jacob and not Esau.

Application: How do you see God’s plans unfolding in your life despite our efforts to help God?
4. Genesis 28:1 – 9 Jacob flees to Laban’s family in search of a wife and Esau takes another wife.

Application: Are you prepared to flee in order to further the cause of Christ?


Subject Sentence
(Summarizing the Divisions into one sentence – ten words or less):

Isaac sins, Rebekah schemes, Jacob follows, Esau loses. What the?

Aim
(A main teaching point for the overall study of the passages):

TCTATS: To cause the audience to see that many have acted wrong under the idea of being useful in promoting the cause of Christ, but we must not think we need to act wrongly to further the plans of God for our lives.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Genesis 24; Lesson 19

Chuck's study this week:

Lesson     19
Passage Genesis 24

 Content (List of Topics or Events)

Servant’s commission from Abraham – Get a wife for Isaac from my family (24:1-11)
a. Abraham defines Isaac’s wife criteria (1-4)
b. Servant  confirms mission (5-8)
c. Servant sets off on mission (7-12)
Servant ‘s prayer involves God in Mission (24:12-27)
a.  Prayer for identification criteria (12-15)
b. Immediate answer with Rebekah’s confirming actions (15-25)
c. Servant’s prayer of thanks (26-27)
Rebekah and family accepts God’s selection of Rebekah as Issac’s chosen wife  (24:28-67)
a. Hospitality displayed by Rebekah’s family (28-33a)
b. Servant retells his mission and process (33b-49)
c. Laban and Rebekah’s mother recognize “of the Lord” and bless her (50-60)
d. Return to Isaac (61-67)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Division
Scripture
Servant’s commission from Abraham – Get a wife for Isaac from my family
Genesis  24:1-11
Servant ‘s prayer involves God in Mission
Genesis  24:12-27
Rebekah and family accepts God’s selection of Rebekah as Issac’s chosen wife
Genesis   24:28-67
   

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Abraham’s servant God-directed mission yields Isaac wife of own family

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

To Learn that faith directed missions with God at the center yield God’s desired result.

Specific Application Questions

1.       How do we listen to God’s direction and ask for clarity in our actions?
2.       What part does prayer have in taking action for God?
3.       In what ways to we bless others through our actions?
4.        

Principles to Remember

God has mission for us
Prayer is important to our success; God needs to be involved.
There are blessings in God’s plans