Week 4 - The Old Testament

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Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:

How did discipline work in your family growing up? Did it work? What is discipline like in your family today? Is it fair? What would you change about it?

The Old Testament

Genesis 46-50 ~ Job 1-10

1.     Why do you think Genesis finishes where it does? Finishes how it does? How do you want God’s story about you to finish? How would you like your life summarized in a sentence or phrase?

2.     Here is a summary of Joseph’s life. (www.trustworthyword.com/joseph )  What are some of your favorite parts of his life?

3.     What do you think it would’ve been like to see the reunion of Jacob/Israel and Joseph? What relationships do you have that have experienced strain or distance? How might you pray or act to see those relationships restored or healed?

4.     What do you think of the blessings (like Jacob’s in Genesis 49) of sons prior to a father’s death? What can we learn from them? How might we practically “bless” our descendants before our death?

5.     Why do you think Joseph’s brothers were so afraid when their father Jacob died? (Genesis 50:15-21) What big seasons of life changes make you a bit anxious or nervous? Why?

6.     Read Genesis 50:20. Can you think of any other examples of this truth playing out in Scripture? How have you seen this in your own life?

7.     Job can be a hard-to-understand book, with long statements between Job and his friends throughout much of the book. Watch the Bible Project’s short video about the book of Job: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/job/

8.     What stands out to you from Satan’s schemes in Job 1 & 2? What do you think about the fact Job never directly saw Satan’s hands in his suffering? Why is it helpful to remember that we have an enemy like Satan? (Job 1 & 2)

9.     How does Satan accuse Job? How does Satan accuse us with mental attacks and lies? (Job 1:9-11, 2:4-5)

10.  Why is it dangerous to overestimate Satan’s power? Why is it dangerous to forget about Satan’s work and abilities? (Job 1:12,2:6)

11.  How did Job respond when he lost his sons, daughters, property, possessions, co-workers, work, and health? What challenging loss have you experienced? How did God grow you through that loss?

12.  How did Satan use Job’s wife against him? How does Satan attack people within their marriages today? (Job 2:9-10) What are some lessons of marriage you would pass down to the next generation?

13.  How does Satan attack Job through his three friends? How does Satan attack us today through our friends? (Job 4-10) What are some characteristics in friends we should look for? Look out for?

14.  How has Job made you more aware of Satan’s strategies and tactics against us? What can we do practically with this awareness? How does Ephesians 6:10-20 help guide our preparation?

General Discussion Questions

•   What did you learn about humanity or yourself in the readings this week? About your identity, character or purpose as a Christ-follower?

•   Application Questions: How do you need to respond to and apply these truths to your life? (Is there a sin to avoid? A command to obey? An example to follow? A prayer to offer? A truth to remember or memorize? An attitude to change? A teaching to share?)