08 Apr Discussion Guide: Liars, Cheaters, Thieves & Villains Week 1
PRAYER
Take the first few minutes of your time together to listen to what God is doing in one another’s lives and pray for any specific needs people in your group may have.
Today’s Discussion
This week we shift in our focus on the book of Genesis as we begin a new series titled Liars, Cheaters, Thieves & Villains. We will be taking a look at the unexpected heroes of Genesis and realize that the people God uses to shape history are sometimes the most dysfunctional. We will talk about the fact that if these are the people God used to pave the way for Jesus, then what might He be able to do in and through our lives today. With that said, let’s dive into the messiness of the founders of our faith.
Discussion Questions
Why do you think the need for acceptance, approval, and affirmation is so powerful in our culture today?
Porque crees que la necesidad de aceptación, aprobación, y afirmación es tan poderosa en nuestra cultura hoy?
Genesis 27:30-34
As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. He also prepared delicious food and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.” His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.” Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.” As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!”
What are some possible reasons Jacob would go to such great lengths to deceive his father and steal his brother’s blessing?
Why do you think Esau was so distraught by the fact that his father gave the blessing to Jacob instead of him?
Who would you say has had the biggest positive impact on your life (other than Jesus)? What did they do that made such an impact on you?
What’s the most hurtful or damaging thing someone has ever said to you? Why was it so hurtful?
How would you say the need for significance and approval affects our culture today?
Génesis 27:30-34
Pero tan pronto como Isaac había terminado de bendecir a Jacob, y apenas había salido Jacob de la presencia de su padre Isaac, su hermano Esaú llegó de su cacería. También él hizo un buen guisado y lo trajo a su padre, y dijo a su padre: “Levántese mi padre, y coma de la caza de su hijo, para que tú me bendigas.” Y su padre Isaac le dijo: “¿Quién eres?” “Soy tu hijo, tu primogénito, Esaú,” le respondió. Isaac tembló con un estremecimiento muy grande, y dijo: “¿Quién fue entonces el que trajo caza, antes de que tú vinieras, y me la trajo y yo comí de todo, y lo bendije? Sí, y bendito será.” Al oír Esaú las palabras de su padre, clamó con un grande y amargo clamor, y dijo a su padre: “¡Bendíceme, bendíceme también a mí, padre mío!”
Porque piensas que Esaú estaba tan perturbado por el hecho que su padre le dio la bendición a Jacobo en vez de a él?
Quien ha tenido el mayor impacto positivo en tu vida (además de Jesús)? Que hicieron para impactarte tanto?
Cómo dirías que la necesidad de significado y aprobación afecta a nuestra cultura hoy?
Billy Graham
“Many Christians give in to various temptations through peer pressure and find themselves surrendering to worldly passions, justifying pleasures the world offers.”
Has the need for approval or affirmation ever caused you to do something, or behave in a way, that contradicted what you knew you should have done? If so, why?
Billy Graham
“Muchos Cristianos sucumben a varias tentaciones por presión social y se encuentran rindiéndose a pasiones del mundo, justificando placeres que el mundo ofrece.”
Ha la necesidad de aprobación o afirmación alguna vez causado que hicieras algo, o te portaras de cierta manera, que contradijo lo que sabías debieras de haber hecho? Si es así, porque?
Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
If the Gospel is true, and through Jesus’ loving sacrifice and resurrection you have been adopted into God’s family as His son or daughter, and you have the perfect, unconditional love of the Father, how might that change your pursuit for approval and affirmation from others?
Efesios 1:3-6
Bendito sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que nos ha bendecido con toda bendición espiritual en los lugares celestiales en Cristo. Porque Dios nos escogió en Cristo antes de la fundación del mundo, para que fuéramos santos y sin mancha delante de El. En amor nos predestinó para adopción como hijos para sí mediante Jesucristo, conforme a la buena intención de Su voluntad, para alabanza de la gloria de Su gracia que gratuitamente ha impartido sobre nosotros en el Amado.
Si el Evangelio es verdadero, y a través del sacrificio amoroso y la Resurrección de Jesús, has sido adoptado en la familia de Dios, como su hijo o hija, y tienes el amor perfecto e incondicional del Padre, como eso podría cambiar tu búsqueda de aprobación y afirmación de otros?
Closing Thought
If that is true for you, who else in your life could it be true for?
Who is someone specific you can be praying for, and ministering to, who needs to experience this blessing from our Heavenly Father?
Pensamientos de Cierre
Quien es alguien específico por quien puedes estar orando, o ministeriando, quién necesita experimentar esta bendición de nuestro Padre Celestial?