Sisters Community Church

Steve Stratos Genesis 32:22-32

1. Daring to draw near to God can often feel like wrestling. What has that looked like for you?

2. His whole life, Jacob had tried to secure the blessing on his own terms. What was he missing?

3. How does culture rob us of experiencing God’s blessing?

4. Jacob’s limp brought him to a place where he was able to receive on God’s terms. Explain a time where that lesson came home to you.

5. Humility comes often in two different ways: enforced or by way of volunteering. Explain the difference and share from your own experience.

If you are interested in joining the mail list for SCC's Year of Biblical Literacy: The Pursuing God, visit sisterschurch.com/ybl

Ryan Moffat Genesis 12:1-9, 15:1-20

1. What did the Lord say to you through the Scriptures this week?

2. There are two worldviews: Grace (divine favor) vs. Works (human effort). What are some “cues” that you’re walking in grace? What are some “cues” that you’re focusing on works?

3. We see YHWH provide for Hagar- an outsider, an Egyptian, a slave- when He provides a well for her in Genesis 16. Hagar describes YHWH as “The God who sees”. How does God seeing everything impact you?

4. There are three gospel pictures we discussed in the Abraham story. Which gospel picture most impacts you? Why?

5. Did anything else stand out to you this week?

If you are interested in joining the mail list for SCC's Year of Biblical Literacy: The Pursuing God, visit sisterschurch.com/ybl

Mark Seekins Genesis 9:1-17

1. Can you share a time you wish you could just press “replay”, a time when you would have liked to start over, a chance to begin again?

2. How do you see the pattern of “sin and death” in your own life? What about in the world around us? Do you see that without Christ, the pattern of “and then he died” will continue?

3. We are all sinners who don’t deserve to be saved. Noah knew that. That’s what grace is for. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It’s getting what we don’t deserve. How do you recognize this grace in your life? How do you live a life of grace to others?

4. Do you functionally live like all life matters to God? It’s one thing to say it, but it’s another to live it. We might not have taken a human life, but what are some ways that we fail to recognize that all life is precious to God. For example, we could all say “abortion” is wrong, but what about our prejudices, biases, and even our heart’s posture toward those who are different than us?

5. “Never again” God says. If we truly believe that, then why do we worry? What’s the “rain” that causes you to doubt God’s promise? What keeps you from truly enjoying Him and each other?

6. It’s January! What new beginnings are you hoping for this year?

7. Re-read Genesis 9:1-17 and remember God’s great promise! Grace is available to you through the son Jesus Christ. Who can you offer that to this week?

If you are interested in joining the mail list for SCC's Year of Biblical Literacy: The Pursuing God, visit sisterschurch.com/ybl

Ryan Moffat Genesis 2:15-3:24

1. What did God say to you through the sermon this week?

2. How have you seen the strategy of Satan (the serpent) impact your real life?

3. Sin breaks four relationships: with God, with others, with self, with environment. How have you seen that play out in your life?

4. God comes to the place of hiding, shame, and brokenness in Genesis 3. How does that picture of God strike you? How is this different than the caricatures we’ve learned about God?

5. Anything else stand out to you?

If you are interested in joining the mail list for SCC's Year of Biblical Literacy: The Pursuing God, visit sisterschurch.com/ybl

Steve Stratos Genesis 1-2

1. Share a new beginning in your life and how it impacted you.

2. How would you describe being made in the image of God?

3. God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Why? What are the implications?

4. How have the “domestic” and “dominion” mandates influenced your life?

5. How does Genesis 1 & 2 form your worldview? Explain.

Steve Stratos Deuteronomy 8:1-5, Joshua 3:1-5

1. What are some of the markers of the past that give you confidence for the future?

2. What have you forgotten that needs to be remembered?

3. When did you experience a moment of deliverance that encouraged you to trust God?

4. What does “Consecrate Yourselves” mean to you as you move into your future?

5. “As go the priests so go the people!” What are the ramifications for leaders and followers?

Ryan Moffat Luke 2:25-38

1. What did God say to you through the Scriptures this weekend?

2. Describe a season in your life where waiting on God’s timing felt unbearable? What did you do during that time? What did God do?

3. Luke describes two acts of God in this passage: Consolation (comfort) and Redemption (being released from bondage). Which one of those resonates more closely to what you need from Jesus right now in your season of life? What can you do to position yourself (like Anna and Simeon) to receive?

4. What specific promise of God do you need to more intensely focus on? Share that with the group and receive prayer around that need.

Mark Seekins John 1:14-18

1. Mark quoted from a study about what Americans believe about Jesus. Can you add to the list of commonly-held heresies about Jesus or how we get to heaven?

2. To be even more practical and make this study more personal…what are some ways that we commonly live like Jesus isn’t enough?

3. What about Jesus becoming fully human is hardest for you to understand or comprehend?

4. In the world that we live in, it’s hard to grasp that Jesus would not seek his own glory. What does this say about him? About us and our world? Jesus is “unparalleled” according to John. What have you seen added to Jesus? How have you seen this sentence finished “Jesus and ________.”

5. What do you need from God today that he and he alone can uniquely provide? Power, mercy, wisdom, love, etc.?

6. Are you functionally trusting someone or something else for the salvation of you soul today? Who or what? What can you do to bring your heart back around to Jesus?

Re-read John 1:1-18 and remember that Jesus is enough. Enough to change the world. Enough to change you and me.

Steve Stratos John 1:1-5, 14-18

1. What does God becoming human mean to you? Name three things.

2. What does Jesus revealing God tell you about God?

3. What do you learn about reality based on the person of Jesus?

4. Jesus is the only one that was born into the world to die. What does that mean? Why is that important?

5. What does the life of Jesus teach us about the Logos?