A Comparison of Joseph and Jesus

From Prison to the Palace

From Prison to the Palace

Discussion Guide

9-30-2012

Text:  Genesis 50:20

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good

Summary

The story of Joseph is an amazing story that begins with a boy who is His father's favorite and has the coat to prove.  Joseph is disliked by His older brothers, to the point of hate.  They conspire and throw him in a pit, then sale him to itinerant  merchants.  All of this leads to the nation building that we have been talking about.  The nation of God grows while off in Egypt from 100 to 2 million, allowing them to begin to be the nation God would have them be.

 Discussion Questions

1.       Why was Joseph the favored son of Israel?

2.       Why did his brothers hate him?

3.       Which brother tried to spare his life

4.       How well did Joseph's dreams pan out? (his dream interpretations?

5.       Why would Joseph forgive his brothers?

6.       What caused the perfect storm at Potiphar's house?

7.       How well can you see the hand of God working throughout this story?

8.       Have you ever had anything bad happen to you?

Scripture

            Ge 37:3-8                                Ge 45:3-10

            Ge 37:18-24                            Ge 50:18-21                           

            Ge 37:32-34               

            Gen 39-41

            Ge 42:1-5

The Offering of Isaac points to the Crucifixion of Jesus

Here is the chart from Sunday's Lesson! The link below will take you to the website of origin.

The Offering of Isaac points to the Crucifixion of Jesus
Type (Model)	Antitype (Fulfillment)
Abraham offered his only son (Gen. 22:2, 12).	God offered his only Son (John 3:16).
Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice (Gen. 22:5).	Jesus carried the cross for the sacrifice (John 19:17).
Isaac cried out to his father (Gen. 22:7).	Jesus cried out to His Father (Mtt. 27:46; Mark 15:34).
Isaac escaped death after three days (Gen. 22:4).	Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (Mtt. 16:21; Mark 16:2-4; Luke 9:22).
Abraham indicated God will provide a lamb for the sacrifice (Gen. 22:8).	God provided Jesus as The Lamb for the sacrifice (Isa. 53:7; John 1:29, 36; Rev. 5:6+; 7:17+).
God provided a ram, a male sheep, as a substitutionary sacrifice (Gen. 22:13).	God provided a male, Jesus, as a substitutionary sacrifice.
The ram was caught by its horns (head) in a thicket (thorns) (Gen. 22:13).	Jesus wore a crown of thorns on his head (Mtt. 27:29), a symbol of the sin He bore (Gen. 3:18).
Sacrifice offered at specific location on Mount Moriah (Gen. 22:2, 9).	For hundreds of years, sacrifices would be offered from the same spot inside Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple (2Chr. 3:1). When Jesus is crucified outside the citywalls on the same mountain, the veil within the Temple is rent in two (Mark 15:38).
The ram was God’s provision (Gen. 22:13-14).	Abraham prophetically named the place pointing to the crucifixion where God made the ultimate provision: the sacrifice of His Son for sin (Heb. 9:26-28).

http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Book_of_Revelation/commentary/htm/04160301.htm

Father Abraham

Father Abraham

Discussion Guide

9-23-2012

Text:  Genesis 12:4

4. So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him;

Summary

Today's lesson continues to astonish us concerning how God works versus how we work as humans.

God's plan for man's salvation continues to roll forward, mankind just needs to hang on for the ride!

 Discussion Questions

1.  Where does the story begin? What is this area known for?

2.  What makes the man and woman unlikely candidates for the position of parents of a great nation?

3.  What impedes God's start of nation building?

4.  How important is attitude in your relationship with God?

5. What happened at Sodom and Gomorrah?

6. Name several ways Abraham demonstrated obedience?

7. What happens when our dreams surpass God in importance?

8.  What are ways the Sacrifice of Isaac point to Jesus Crucifixion?

9.  What were differences between Jacob and Esau?

10. Name some of Jacob's struggles  What does Israel mean?                   

Scripture

Ge 11:31-32                Ge 12:4-6                    Ge 19:27-28                Ge 27:41-42

Ge 12:1-3                    Ge 18:2-4                    Ge 21:2-6

Ge 12:4-6                    Ge 18:9-13                  Ge 27:18

Bang!

Bang!

Discussion Guide

9-16-2012

Text:  Ge 1:1

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Summary

Today we start a  31 week series on the Bible. Remember to re-enforce that "The Story"  book is not a Bible Replacement.  It a tool designed to help us understand the bible better. Today we are going to glance at the first nine chapters of Genesis.  God created the world and everything in it.  He gave man everything he needed and the ability to make choices.  Man struck out,  by making bad choices from the beginning.

Discussion Questions

1.  What kind of action by God set everything into motion?

2.  What is the difference between the first three days of creation and the second three days of          creation?

3. What is God's crowning achievement in the creation story?

4.  What are two things that show God's love for mankind?

5.  Describe the two trees of prominence in the Garden.

6.  Do you think it is unusual that Adam and Eve choose to "see things like  God"?

7.  Why did God destroy the world and start over?

8.  Despite being a do-over what came off of the ark with Noah and his family?

Scripture

Gen 1:1                        Gen 6:5-6                    Gen 8:1-2

Gen 2:9                        Gen 6:9-10                  Gen 9:20-23

Gen. 2:17                     Gen 6:13-14

God's Great Passion Is To Be With YOU!

Chapter 1 The Story

Some movies start at warp speed.  Case in point: Star Trek.  From the opening scene to the end it barely lets you breathe.  If you slip out for popcorn you were sure to miss something important.  And yet, people did. 

This disturbs me greatly since I believe that you buy the food and then you stayed glued to the seat.  I think the way to maximize the movie-going experience is to be in your seat at least 20 minutes early.  Have you ever done that?  Then next time you go to a movie look around and spot the person that is in the prime seat — dead middle, eye level with the center of the screen.  That’s what 20 minutes early gets you. The perfect seat and the prime experience.   Popcorn and drink in hand, nothing except for an earthquake could move this person from their secured spot.

That’s where you need to be for God’s story.  Its opening scene also starts with a relentless pace that doesn’t let up.  The first line reads, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). 

Right off the bat we find the main character in the story is not you or me.  It’s God.  And the rest of The Story will unfold out of the nature and person of this character.  Just ten words in and there is enough action to leave you breathless. 

It doesn’t take long to find out what God’s great passion is.  Birds?  Nope.  Animals?  Not quite. Sun, moon or stars? Bright guess.  No, in Genesis 3:8 we find that God is walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve in the “cool of the day.” 

Sounds nice if you are in a hot, dry desert climate, doesn’t it?  And yet the “cool of the day” is not the focus.  God is, and he is near.  He is right with Adam and Eve.  And he is right here with us.  His simple vision for his creation was to spend time with them every day, to take a walk with them.  God’s supreme passion is to be with us.  

Some of you have lived your life with the idea that God is some angry cosmic kill-joy who sits in the heavens and watches you, waiting for you to make a mistake so he can zap you.  Or, you feel he is distant and doesn’t care or has simply forgotten you.

But from the beginning he has shown us this is not the case.  He wants to be with you.  He has not forgotten you.   In fact, this might be the perfect time for you to go for a walk.

*Thanks to Rick Brown for sharing these articles concerning the story. We are adapting his articles to help us in our study of the Bible as we journey through the story. Look for a new article each week.  Rick was one of the co-authors of the book, "Me Addiction," along with Jer and Glenn Villanueva.

The Story Is Not Over!

The Story Is Not Over!

Discussion Guide

9-09-2012

Text: Joshua 24:15

Jos 24:15

 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Summary

Its finally here. We hand  out books today  and start the journey.  This in many ways is commitment Sunday.  Is it possible for us to commit to reading the book and pursue God as we have talked about.  Today we will talk about God's pursuit of us  and our corresponding decision to that pursuit.

Discussion Questions

1.  What are some facts that set the Holy Bible apart from any other literary publication?

2.  What are the two perspectives that the bible is written in?

3.  What is the difference between the two?

4.  What is God's story about?

5.  What are some events that demonstrate God's pursuit of us?

6.  How important are "you" to God?

7.  How does Luke's gospel demonstrate the story is not over?

8.  What is your level of commitment?

Scripture

Luke 24:15-31                                     2 Timothy 3:16                                   Joshua 23 and 24                               

                       

            

Answer for worries, fears and anxieties. # 6

These have to be handled appropriately or we begin to gossip.  Sometimes our worries are blown out of proportion and others are hit in the crossfire.  We have to follow biblical precedence or there is collateral damage. We must consider everyone when we become worried and go to the source of stress first.