Week 16: Bible Study Questions for Group Discussion
UNDERSTANDING THE ROOTS IN OUR “FAITH FAMILY TREE”
PROMISE:
ABRAHAM: FROM DOUBT TO FAITH AND THEN FULFILLMENT
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BROKENNESS: SARAI’S & ABRAM’S “LACK OF TRUST”
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 16:1-6
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How did both Abram and Sarai show lack of trust in the Lord’s covenant to give them a family?
2. How did Sarai’s compromise create problems for which she blamed Abram?
3. How might we have compromised with evil because of our lack of trust in His promises?
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 16:7-16
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What instruction did the Lord give to Hagar when she mistreated her mistress Sarai?
2. What does the name Ishmael mean and why was Hagar given this name for her son by Abram?
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SPIRIT: ABIMELECH WAS “MORE FAITHFUL” THAN ABRAM
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 20:1-13
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How was Abram’s betrayal of both his wife and his own integrity much like he committed earlier in Egypt?
2. How did the Lord protect both the life and integrity of Abimelech from committing adultery?
3. What are ways individuals still compromise their integrity regarding sexual purity and then rationalize?
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PROMISE: COVENANT “PROMISE AND SEAL OF CIRCUMCISION”
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 17:17
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are the definitions of Abram and Abraham and why did the Lord change his when He did?
2. For which ethnic, national and religious groups is Abraham seen as the father?
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 17:9-14
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What was the essential sign of the covenant which was commanded for every male in Abraham’s family?
2. How were the people of Abraham to view and relate with any uncircumcised male among them?
GOD’S WORD: 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been
given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also
circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but
with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him
through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When
you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive
with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was
against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:9-14, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. As Abraham was head of the faith family in pre-Christian times, Who is the head of His faith family now?
2. As circumcision was the essential Old Covenant believers’ seal, what is seal for New Covenant believers?
3. How do these three grace-gifts relate to spiritual circumcision which is our baptism into Christ: (a) Forgave
our sins, (b) Canceled the written code against us, and (c) took away the code and nailed it to the cross?
SPIRIT: THE LORD’S CARE FOR ABRAM’S “SON OF FAITH & SON OF DOUBT”
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 21:1-7
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. In what special way did the Lord show graciousness to Abraham and Sarah?
2. What was the special meaning of the name for Isaac, Abaham’s son of promise? (Clue: see verse 6)
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 21: 8-21
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How did Abraham’s and Sarah’s compromise with trust and integrity cause them pain with his two sons?
2. How and why did the Lord show special care for Abraham’s first son, Ishmael even when he sent him away?
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ETERNITY: LOT’S COMPROMISED LIFE LEADS TO “SALVATION THROUGH FIRE”
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 19:1-13
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What are the unique sins we associate with the men of the ancient city of Sodom?
2. How did Lot try to compromise with evil to save himself and his friends; can we reason with evil people?
GOD’S WORD: Genesis 19:15-26
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. How did Lot and his family escape the judgment of fire poured down on their city of Sodom?
2. What can we learn from Lot’s wife not to look back at the things we have escaped by the Lord’s mercy?
GOD’S WORD: 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11Since
everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy
and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about
the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his
promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. (2 Peter
3:10-13, NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. When will the Lord bring judgment again by raining down fire from the heavens?
2. How must Christ-followers prepare to escape the judgment of fire when it comes?