Begin Again: "Forgiveness - Pt. 2" (Genesis 32)

Scripture Reading: Genesis 32

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1. Who did Jacob see after Laban's departure (v. 1-2)?
2. Who did Jacob send ahead of him to meet with his brother Esau (v. 3)?
3. What did he tell them to tell Esau (v. 4-5)?
4. What was Esau's message to Jacob (v. 6)?
5. What three things did Jacob do after hearing Esau's message (v. 7-23)?
6. Who did Jacob wrestle with and what were the two results (v. 24-32)?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Have you ever had to face someone you offended, or who offended you?
2. If so, what did you do to prepare for your encounter with them?
3. What have you done, or been willing to do, when you needed to receive a blessing from the Lord?

LIFE LESSONS:
1. Fear and distress should always lead us to our knees in prayer before God.
2. We cannot curry the favor of man apart from receiving the favor of God.
3. The Lord's favor and blessings are given to those who recognize their need for His goodness and mercy.
4. It is through brokenness that God bestows His grace.

For a devotional reading on the above Scripture, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog. 

Begin Again: "Forgiveness" - Pt. 1 (James 4:1-12)

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-12

Observation Questions:
1.  Where do wars and quarrels come from (v. 1-2)?
2.  What are the two reasons that we do not have what we want (v. 2-3)?
3.  What causes opposition between us and God (v. 4)?
4.  Who becomes envious or jealous when we want our own way, rather than God's way (v. 5)?
5.  Who does the Lord give grace to (v. 6)?
6.  In what four ways can we humble ourselves before the Lord (v. 7-10)
7.  If we do not humble ourselves, what will we be inclined to do (v. 11-12)

Application Questions:
1.  Have you been in a strife-filled situation with a brother or sister in the Lord, in recent months?
2.  If so, what happened and what, if anything, did you do to resolve the disagreement?
3.  Have you ever been disliked or been offended with a brother or sister for no obvious reason?
4.  If so, have you asked the Lord to reveal the root cause of your feelings?
5.  If you have ever been unforgiving toward anyone, what will you do to humble yourself?

Life Lessons:
1. When we envy the Lord's blessings in another's life, our best recourse is confession and repentance.
2. When we covet what others have, we are doubting God's goodness to us.
3. As children of God, our first and only allegiance should be to the will and ways of God!


For a devotional reading on the above Scripture reading, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog. 

Begin Again: "Forgiveness" - Pt.1 (Genesis 4:1-16)

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth , and his countenance fell . 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well , shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well , sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him . 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said , I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said , What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass , that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD. - Genesis 4:1-16


OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1.   Who was the first-born of Adam and Eve's sons (v. 1)?
2.   What were Cain and Abel's respective vocations (v.2)?
3.   What did each son offer to the Lord (v. 3-4)?
4.   What was Cain's response when the Lord did not accept his offering (v.5-6)?
5.   What was the Lord's warning and advice to Cain (v.7)
6.   How did Cain handle the situation (v.8)?
7.   How did Cain respond to the Lord's inquiry about Abel (v. 9)?
8.   How did the Lord know what had happened to Abel (v.10)?
9.   In what ways was Cain punished for Abel's murder (v.11-14)?
10. How did the Lord protect Cain (v.15)?


APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1.   Have you ever been envious or jealous of anyone? 
2.   If so, how did you feel about the person that you were envious or jealous of?
3.   How do you treat people that you are envious or jealous of?


LIFE LESSONS:
1.   Our worship is meaningless if we harbor bitterness in our hearts toward others.
2.   We always give the flesh control over us when we succumb to negative feelings.
3.   The Lord expects us to gain control over our fleshly (or carnal) nature.

For a devotional reading on the above Scripture, please visit Writer Roxanne Rogiers' blog.