This Sunday, Matt taught through the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-4) to reveal that idolatry is at the root of our sins. Our hearts are created with desires that only God can fully satisfy, yet in our unbelief we attempt to satisfy those desires with lesser things.
In light of the message this week, spend some time considering the following questions:
- What people or things do you use to satisfy your desire for home, to be known, and to find significance?
- On a daily basis, how do you settle for the mediocrity of the world rather than the greatness of God?
- If you trusted God to fulfill your desires, how would your long-term goals change?
- Beg God that He would be the only source of satisfaction in your life.
On Sunday, Jeff explained the importance of genealogies inScripture. Genealogies help toremind us of the character of God, our identities in Him, what He has saved usfrom, and the mission He has given us. Jeff went through Genesis 10 to show us each of these characteristicsthrough the sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Shem (reminds us ofthe character of God)
- How has God been faithful to you when you have not been faithful to Him?
- Do you always believe that God is trustworthy and faithful? Explain.
- Beg God to show your heart that He is always faithful.
Ham (reminds us of what He has saved us from)
- In what ways have you been like Nimrod? (i.e. You have felt as though you can do things without God)
- Jeff used Psalm 73 to show that one of the ways of fighting such arrogance is through community. What does Biblical community look like in your life?
- Live in Biblical community throughout the week, helping each other grow in Christ through admonishing, KEEP READING
This Sunday, Halim taught from Genesis 6-9, explaining that God was grieved by man's wickedness because He chose to bind His heart to ours', knowing that we would sin against Him. Halim showed how Noah, the flood, and the rainbow all point us to the redemptive nature of the Gospel.
Noah's righteousness and his family's undeserved salvation points to Jesus's righteousness and our own undeserved salvation.
By abiding in the ark, Noah was saved from judgment by the flood. By abiding in Christ we are saved from judgment by the cross.
The rainbow serves as a reminder that God's wrath is no longer turned toward those people who are saved by the righteousness of Christ.
In light of these truths, consider the following questions:
- What kept God from ending all of creation because of their wickedness?
- Do you view your life as a product of God's willingness to suffer? If not, what keeps you from believing that truth?
- Consider Noah and the salvation of his family. How do your responses KEEP READING
On Sunday, Jeff taught from Genesis 6:5-22 on the two great costs on Noah's life-the great cost of trusting God with everything, and the tremendous cost of being favored by God. Hebrews 11 says that Noah found favor with God because of his faith in Him, which caused Noah to believe God and to pursue God with all his life.
The Cost of Trusting God:
- How did Noah trust God with everything?
- In what areas do you trust God? In what ways don't you? How can you work on those things throughout the week?
- Pray that God would give you trust such that you trust Him with your whole life, and that you would trust Him in those areas throughout the week.
The Cost of Being Favored by God:
- What do you think it looks like to be favored by God?
- What does the Bible say being favored by God looks like (think Mary, Job, etc)?
- Are you willing, no matter the calling, to go "all in" with God? Are you willing to lay everything (money, possessions, house, job, etc) at the foot of cross to KEEP READING