AS YOU MEET WITH EACH OTHER THIS WEEK, CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:
This Sunday we looked at the first part of Genesis chapter 16, and what we saw was a clear allusion to Genesis 3. The mistake that Sarah and Abraham make is like that of Adam and Eve when they first sinned. In Genesis 3 and 16, both Eve and Sarah are led to doubt the trustworthiness of God. Pastor Charlie made the point that all sin flows out of the idea that we can't trust God and that His goodness can’t satisfy us.
1. How do you see this playing out in your own life? How does failing to believe in God's goodness and promises lead us to sin?
2. Similarly, what truths about God and his promises do we need to remember in order to see through the lies of the enemy and resist temptation? What scriptures are helpful for you to remember in times of temptation and in times of waiting on God?
3. Because Abraham and Sarah failed to trust in God's faithfulness, they went on to "take matters into their own hands," this brought much pain and family dysfunction. Yet we know very well that God works all things out for good (even our sinful choices), and that Abraham's story ends with him being a victor and a great man of faith. How does that truth speak into our own struggles, dysfunctions and failures? What encouragement can we gather from the failures of Abraham, the "man of faith (Gal 3:9)"