Introduction/Recap

Bethel vs. Ai (Genesis 12)

Adversity (anxiety/fear) vs. Faith (Gen. 12)

Abundance (apathy/pride) vs. Humility (Gen. 13)

Two Kings: Sodom vs. Salem (Gen. 14)

Reflection Questions

In Genesis 13, abundance (wealth, livestock) becomes a new test for Abram and Lot, shifting from adversity/fear to apathy/pride. How does abundance sometimes test our faith differently than hardship does? Can you think of examples where "having it all" leads to drift? 

The sermon warns about being "Sodom-adjacent"—close to sin or worldly patterns without fully diving in, yet still at risk. Where might you (or people you know) be "Sodom-adjacent" in life, media, relationships, or habits? What’s the danger of pitching your tent too close? Is there a danger of isolating and separating too far? 

After rescuing Lot, Abram faces two kings in the King's Valley: Melchizedek (king of Salem/peace, priest of God Most High) and the king of Sodom. How do these two figures/voices represent contrasting invitations or kingdoms in our lives?

The passage ultimately points to Jesus as the greater Rescuer who delivers us from the domain of darkness (Colossians 1:13). How does reflecting on Christ's rescue mission change how you face your own wrestlings or temptations?

Melchizedek brings bread and wine, blesses Abram, and reminds him that God is the source of victory. How does this point forward to Jesus (as the sermon notes, with bread/wine at the Last Supper and His role as Priest-King)? What does it mean that Abram gives a tenth in response?

Introduction: From Beginnings to Wrestling

Reflection Questions

How can the concept of 'wrestling with faith/fear' help us understand our struggles in our spiritual journeys? How might this wrestling challenge some traditional notions of “faith”? 

Why is it significant to recognize that Abraham was not perfect, yet still held a pivotal role in God's plan?

What are some 'Egypts' in your life where you tend to run for security instead of seeking God?

Think about the importance of building an altar between Bethel and Ai (Gen. 12:8). Look up what those two places mean and reflect on the deeper significance of putting an altar right in the middle. 

How can you apply the principle of building altars instead of towers (Babel) in your own life?

Introduction: 

I. Clean Slate, Crooked Hearts (Genesis 9:18–28)

II. One Family, Many Nations (Genesis 10)

III. One Language, One Rebellion (Genesis 11:1–9)

IV. From Scattering to Gathering: The Babel Reversal (Acts 2:1-11)

V. From Every Nation to One People: The Final Gathering (Revelation 7:9–10)

Reflection Questions

What does Genesis 9:18-11:9 reveal about the nature of the human heart and its inclination towards sin?

How can the story of the Tower of Babel relate to what we see in today's society regarding unity and rebellion? 

What steps can individuals take to ensure they are building altars for God, rather than towers for their own glory?

What is the significance of Pentecost in reversing the division caused by Babel?

How can the Church act as an 'anti-Babel' in our modern world, promoting unity of the spirit despite the divisions we see in our country and world?

I. When You Hit Rock Bottom (vv. 8–9)

II. Who You Trust When You’re Empty (vv. 9–10)

III. How God Chooses to Work: Through the Prayers of His People (v. 11)

IV. What Runs Our Church?

Reflection Questions

What does it mean when Paul states that God allows us to experience weakness so we learn to rely on Him?

Reflecting on a time you hit rock bottom, how did it shape your understanding of God and reliance on prayer?

When life gets heavy, what do you instinctively run to for relief or control? (Distraction, entertainment, food, work, isolation, people, prayer, etc.) What does that say about what “fuels” you right now?

Paul tells the church, “You also must help us by prayer.” How does this change the way you view prayer—not as passive support, but as real participation in God’s work

Becoming the Boiler Room: As a group, let’s name three main things our church needs God’s help with right now. Would you commit to praying for this regularly this year?

After the Storm (Genesis 8:20-22)

The Sign in the Sky (Genesis 9:12-17)

The Greater Rainbow

Life Under the Covenant

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to live under the covenant of grace as described in the sermon?

How does the concept of covenant in the Bible differ from a contract?

What does it mean for God to 'remember' us according to the sermon?

In what ways can the promise of God remembering His covenant bring peace to your life?

What does it mean to you that God's promises do not depend on human actions or memory?

In what ways can you share the message of God's grace and promise with your friends?

Gensesis 7-8

Flood

Ark 

Dove 

Altar 

Aroma

Cross

Reflection Questions

1. Noah obeyed God before he could see rain or results. Where might God be asking you to trust and obey Him right now, even when it feels costly, confusing, or misunderstood?

2. What similarities do you notice between the creation story and the sending of the dove? Why do you think Scripture wants us to see the flood as a kind of “new creation”?

3. Read Ephesians 5:1–2 and Genesis 8:21 together. How does Christ’s sacrifice fulfill what Noah’s offering only pointed toward? What does it mean that Jesus is called a “fragrant offering” to God?

4. Read Titus 3:3–7 slowly as a group. What words or phrases stand out to you? How does this passage echo the movements of the flood story—judgment, rescue, renewal, and promise? (flood, ark, dove, altar, aroma, cross) 

5. Scripture says we are now “the aroma of Christ” to the world (2 Corinthians 2:14–15). What kind of “fragrance” do you think your life is currently giving off to others, and how might God be inviting you to more intentionally reflect Christ this week?

Introduction: 

I. God’s Eyes — “The LORD Saw” 

II. God’s Heart — “He Was Grieved”

III. God’s Hand — Judgment and Reckoning

IV. God’s Grace — “But Noah Found Favor”

Small Group Discussion Questions

Paul David Tripp says in the realm of faith, imagination helps us perceive what is real but unseen. How has your imagination or spiritual vision been shaped by life for the better or for the worse? What role does the Holy Spirit play in our sight?  

How does the Flood force us to hold together God’s holiness, humanity’s sinful rebellion, and God’s right to judge—without losing sight of His mercy/grace?

Genesis says God was “grieved to His heart.” How does it change your view of God to know that sin grieves Him?

Genesis 6:8 begins with the word “But”—“But Noah found favor.” Why is that word so important in the story of salvation? 

The ark points forward to Christ. How so? And what does it mean practically to be “in Christ” rather than trusting your own goodness, effort, or religious activity?

Introduction: Strange, but Sacred 

CLASSROOM: THE TWO VIEWS 

Sethite View:  

Fallen Angel View: 

Conclusion and Exhortation: 

Small Group Discussion Questions

Facing the Strange: What do you usually do when you come across a “strange” or confusing passage in Scripture? How can trusting that “all Scripture is God-breathed” change your approach to those moments?

Boundaries and Rebellion: Whether you hold to the Sethite or the fallen angel view, what does this story teach us about the danger of crossing God’s boundaries—spiritually, morally, or relationally?

The Depth of Sin: Genesis 6:5 describes humanity’s heart as “only evil continually.” How does that verse challenge our modern assumptions about human nature and our need for grace?

God’s Preserving Grace: In a world filled with corruption, Noah “found favor in the eyes of the Lord” and “walked with God.” What does walking faithfully with God look like for you when the world around you seems to reject Him? How can we walk like Noah today? 

The God Who Is For Us: The sermon ends with the reminder that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” What difference does that truth make when we face our own “giants”—whether fears, temptations, or spiritual battles?

Introduction: 

Magi (Matthew 2:1–12)

The Mystery (Ephesians 3:1–6)

The Message (Ephesians 3:7–9)

The Means (Ephesians 3:10-12)

Small Group Discussion Questions

The sermon contrasted searching everywhere with seeking where God has already revealed Himself. Where do you most often look for meaning, comfort, or control when you feel unsettled—and what would it look like to seek the Lord there instead? (Matthew 2; Isaiah 55:6)

God revealed the King not in Jerusalem’s palace but in Bethlehem’s humility. Where might God be working in your life or community in ways that seem small, ordinary, or easy to overlook?

Paul describes the gospel as “unsearchable riches.” Which aspect of those riches—forgiveness, adoption, hope, access to God, or resurrection life, and much more—do you most need to remember or receive right now? Why? (Eph. 3:8)

Paul says God now displays His wisdom through the Church—to the world and even to the unseen spiritual realm. What is one concrete way God may be calling you this year to help shine Christ’s light through our church—by praying, building, serving, or sharing the gospel with others? (Ephesians 3:10–12)

Introduction: 

I. The Invitation We All Need: Acknowledging Our Thirst (Isaiah 55:1)

II. The Futility of Empty Pursuits: Rejecting What Doesn't Satisfy (Isaiah 55:2)

III. Grace as Our Hope: Embracing God's Eternal Promises (Isaiah 55:3)

Conclusion:  

Small Group Discussion Questions

Share a fun or relatable moment from your holiday season this year—maybe a time when things didn't go perfectly (like family squabbles or holiday chaos), or when you received an unexpected gift that felt truly undeserved. How does that moment make you think about the idea of grace in the sermon?

The sermon highlights how rare truly free gifts are in our world—everything seems to come with a price, expectation, or condition. How does the reality of God's grace being offered "without money and without price" strike you personally, and what difference could embracing that unearned kindness make in how you relate to God and others?

In Isaiah 55:3, God calls us to "incline your ear" and promises an everlasting covenant of steadfast love through Christ. What does it look like practically for you to "listen attentively" to God in the coming year, and how might that listening lead to deeper life and satisfaction in Him?

Thinking about the new year, the sermon encourages us to bring everything—regrets, hopes, relationships—to the living water of Christ rather than trying to earn our way forward. If you could let go of one thing from the "nice list" mindset (perfectionism, striving, shame, etc.) in 2026, what would it be, and how could God's grace empower that freedom?