Genesis

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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Parting Professions — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 50:15-26
Sermon Series: Genesis
February 9, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What have been your biggest takeaways from Genesis? How has God strengthened your faith through this series?
2.   Why are Joseph’s brothers afraid? Is their fear rational or irrational?
3.   How does Joseph respond to his brothers? How does he view the events that have transpired over the years?
4.   How has the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, which Joseph articulates in this passage, been of practical help in your life?
5.   According to Joseph what will God do for his people in the future? How does this help us to understand the nature of God’s ultimate salvation in Christ?

References: 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Romans 12:17; Genesis 45:1-15; Job 1:21; Deuteronomy 32:39; Hebrews 11:22; Luke 1:68-70; Revelation 22:20.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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The Passing of the Patriarch — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 49:29-50:14
Sermon Series: Genesis
February 2, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does the trust in God’s word among the Patriarchs heighten our view of Scripture?  How does it encourage you to spend more time reading the Bible?
2.   How would you describe Jacob’s mindset at his death?  How can we prepare to die well?
3.   What should grief look like for a Christian?
4.   How does this narrative reinforce the theme that God is in control of individual hearts and entire nations?
5.   What are the two reminders given at Jacob’s burial?  How would these have prepared Jacob’s descendants for what was to follow?
6.   Why didn’t Jacob’s descendants make an effort to stay and resettle in Canaan?  What does this teach us about the Christian life?

References: Genesis 15:6; Luke 16:22; Genesis 23; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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The Future Tribes — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 49:1-28
Sermon Series: Genesis
January 26, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How does this theme of blessing in chapter 49 bring us back to creation? What does this tell us about God’s larger plan through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
2.   Why do Reuben, Simeon, and Levi receive such hard words of rebuke? How can this be part of a “blessing” (v. 28)?
3.   Why should Jacob’s words to the first three sons encourage us to take sin more seriously?
4.   How are vv. 8-12 a prophecy of Christ? How does this passage characterize him and his coming?|
5.   What does the prospering of Jacob’s sons, especially Joseph, teach us about God’s dealings with his people? How does this grow our faith in him?

References: Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 1:28; 35:22; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2; Genesis 34; 38:26; 44:33; Daniel 7:14; Psalm 2:8; Revelation 5:5, 9; John 2:1-11; Matthew 28:18; Romans 1:5; Ephesians 1:3.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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The Blessing of the Adopted Sons — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 48:1-22
Sermon Series: Genesis
January 19, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   How have the narratives of Genesis changed or informed your understanding of faith? How does Hebrews 11 in particular aid our reading of these stories?
2.   What is the significance of the interchange of “Jacob” and “Israel” in v. 2?
3.   Why does Jacob begin his dialogue with Joseph by quoting God’s words from chapter 35?
4.   What makes Joseph’s desire to bring his sons to Jacob so remarkable given his position in Egypt? What does this teach us about worldly attainments?
5.   Discuss how faithfulness and faith are woven together in vv. 8-16. How does Jacob’s pronouncement of blessing over the two sons (vv. 15-16) provide insight into the Christian life?
6.   Why does God choose to carry his blessing forward by means of the younger son throughout Genesis?

References: Genesis 12:1-9; Romans 4:18-22; Hebrews 11:1, 13; Genesis 35:11-12; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2; Genesis 5:24; 6:9; Hebrews 11:21.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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A New Home — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 47:1-31
Sermon Series: Genesis
January 12, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Why does God settle his people in Egypt? How does this set the stage for the storyline of Scripture?
2.   Why is it important that this new settlement be official, based on Pharaoh’s command?
3.   Why is it significant that Jacob blesses Pharaoh? What is the immediate effect of this blessing in the narrative?
4.   Discuss the contrast between Jacob’s household and the people of Canaan and Egypt. How does this illustrate the contrast between believers and unbelievers?
5.   Why is Jacob so insistent that he be buried in Canaan rather than Egypt?

References: Genesis 17:8; 15:13-14, 16; 12:2-3; Hebrews 7:7; Genesis 46:4; 24:1-9; John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20-21.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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The Family on the Move — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 46:1-34
Sermon Series: Genesis
January 5, 2020

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What is your approach towards new year’s resolutions?  What areas of growth from the Lord are you seeking as you move into a new year and decade?
2.   Why does Jacob go to Beersheba and offer sacrifices to God? How does this guide us into a new year?
3.   How does God’s message to Jacob relieve his fears?  What is Jacob’s response?
4.   In what ways have you experienced delayed comfort?  How does this story help us to endure in those seasons of life?
5.   How does the genealogy point us to Christ?
6.   Why would Jacob’s reunion with Joseph have been a time of deep joy as well as worship?
7.   Why is Goshen an ideal place for Israel and his descendants to settle?

References: Genesis 12:2; 22:1; 28:13-15; 15:13-14; 10; Romans 9:5; Matthew 1:1-3.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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The Brothers Reunited — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 45:1-28
Sermon Series: Genesis
November 24, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Why did God send Joseph to Egypt, and how does this relate to our salvation four thousand years later?
2.   How would you describe Joseph’s view of God’s sovereignty? How does it differ from the way you have thought about this topic?
3.   How does Joseph’s view of God’s sovereignty provide fuel for forgiveness? What does this say about the relevance and practicality of such doctrines?
4.   Why is Joseph so emphatic that his brothers bring their father to Egypt? What does he want Jacob to know?
5.   What does it mean to say that our doctrine should devour our anger?
6.   What is Jacob’s response to the news that Joseph is still alive and is ruling over Egypt? How does this final scene encourage us in times of waiting and wondering?

References: Psalm 105:17; Proverbs 16:9; Romans 12:10; Hebrews 2:12; Genesis 41:37; Proverbs 30:33; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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Due to technical difficulties, the sermon audio recorder was unable to capture Pastor Lonnie’s opening statments, starting instead with his reading of the sermon text.

The Final Test — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 44:1-34
Sermon Series: Genesis
November 17, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Where do we see the principle of reaping what you sow in this chapter?
2.   What does the collective response of tearing the clothes and returning to the city say about the growth of the family?
3.   How have you seen testing both reveal and grow your heart?
4.   Why doesn’t Judah offer a defense to Joseph concerning the silver cup? What do his words in v. 16 reveal about his attitude towards God?
5.   In what ways does Judah’s plea constitute a reversal of his past actions?
6.   Discuss how Christ is the substitute for sinners. How does this doctrine encourage us to trust, love, and serve him more?

References: Genesis 37:34; 42:21-22, 28; 1 Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:5-6.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

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Back to Buy, Guided by Grace — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 43:1-34
Sermon Series: Genesis
November 10, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   What are some of God’s attributes or characteristics that continue to be repeated in the Joseph story?   Which have most impacted you?
2.   How would you describe Jacob’s prayerful words to his sons?  What does it mean to say that we must remember in order to rely?
3.   In light of Calvin’s quote concerning Jacob’s actions, what does it look like to rely on God without being lazy?
4.   How does Judah anticipate Christ in this chapter?
5.   How have you seen God use negative circumstances in people’s lives to bring about repentance?
6.   What does Joseph intend to accomplish with his blatant favoritism towards Benjamin?

References: Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:3.

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

(NOTE:  Allow 30-90 seconds after clicking the START-arrow or Download-button for recording to begin.)

Famine for the Family — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 42:1-38
Sermon Series: Genesis
November 3, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Why would Calvin say that this chapter is the most “illustrious example of divine providence”?
2.   How does this narrative show us that God can do remarkable things with our past failures and tragedies?
3.   Why does Joseph treat his brothers this way? What clues are there that his actions are not revenge?
4.   What is God doing in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers? What does it look like to have godly sorrow?
5.   How would you characterize Jacob’s mindset at the end of this story? In what ways do we often struggle to trust that God is at work “behind the veil”?

References: Genesis 41:56-57; 45:7; Psalm 105:16-17; Genesis 37:1-11; Genesis 9:6; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11.