80 Beauty from Ashes 2015 LifeWay

Transcription

1 80 Beauty from Ashes

2 We ve all messed up. God's mercy brings redemption. No two human beings are exactly alike. Each of us has a unique personality, background, life experience, and even DNA. But we all share something in common: We ve all made mistakes and we ve all failed. Whether it s a speeding ticket, a bad business decision, or a failed marriage, we all know the pain of regrets and hurts. We often struggle with the consequences of our actions, feeling burned and abandoned in a pile of ashes after everything went up in flames. Yet, in these broken moments, Jesus comes to us with tenderness and grace, offering to do something beautiful in us and through us, for His glory and the good of others. Christ extends forgiveness for our sins. He offers mercy in the midst of our mess. Jesus has come to give us a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). This study looks at the lives of six people from Scripture who experienced God s redemption in spite of their failures. They received a crown of beauty instead of ashes. Clayton King Clayton King is an evangelist, pastor, and author. He s the founder and president of Crossroads Summer Camps, Crossroads Missions, and Clayton King Ministries. He s passionate about preaching the gospel, training leaders, and serving the church. Clayton is married to Sharie, and together they wrote True Love Project. Their ministry is located in South Carolina where Clayton is Distinguished Professor of Evangelism at Anderson University. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 81

3 Beauty from Ashes: Redeeming Your Broken Moments As you lead your group in this study, help your group members to know CHRIST and His gracious work, live as contributing servants in the COMMUNITY of faith, and effectively engage the CULTURE without losing distinction. Note in the group plans the icons (below), which identify activities to help group members connect in specific ways to Christ, Community, and Culture. Christ Community Culture Jesus is able to deliver us from our past, no matter the sin or circumstances. Our relationship with Christ is reflected in our obedience to His Word. 82 Beauty from Ashes

4 We are to exercise humility in how we interact and work together as the body of Christ. We should be content and thankful for the role God has given us in His church. The world needs to see believers who make a bold stand for Christ. A life content in Christ is a sharp contrast to the selfish ambition that permeates the world. Helping you move from where you are to where God wants you to be. This is your passion for your class or group. Yet helping different individuals each take their next step to grow as disciples is challenging. The Transformational Discipleship Assessment (TDA) is a quick and easy tool to help you discover how you and the members of your group are doing in eight essential areas of discipleship. The TDA provides next steps to help your group move from where you are to where God wants you to be. The assessment is online which allows each group participant to take it in the comfort and privacy of their home, office, or even on their mobile device. Discover more at: TDA.LifeWay.com BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83

5 BEAUTY FROM ASHES: REDEEMING YOUR BROKEN MOMENTS Session 1 Redeemed from Poor Choices Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 Session 2 Redeemed from Broken Relationships Genesis 27:41; 33:1-11 Session 3 Redeemed from a Critical Spirit Numbers 12:1-11,13-15 Session 4 Redeemed from Crippling Doubt Luke 1:11-20,63-65 Session 5 Redeemed from Devastating Failure Luke 22:54-62; Acts 4:8-13 Session 6 Redeemed from an Unbelieving Past Acts 26:9-20 Songs, Magazine Articles, and Book Excerpts are available online to support this study. Go to BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. Here are some examples: 84 Beauty from Ashes Session 2 Redeemed from Broken Relationships The song He Is Good to Us from Bible Studies for Life: Songs, Volume 2 invites us to discover love as it was meant to be. Visit LifeWayWorship.com to listen and purchase. Session 6 Redeemed from an Unbelieving Past It s All About New Life (LifeWay.com/YoungAdults) In this article, we explore how we aren t just improved or tweaked a little when we come to Christ. We re given completely new identities in Him.

6 The Point God s plans are always better than our own. The Passage Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 The Bible Meets Life Sometimes we re convinced we just know the right thing to do, but we discover our decision was ill-advised. We make a mess of our lives when we get ahead of God or ignore His counsel. Even when we move away from God s will, God is bigger than our mistakes. When we refocus on Him and return to a trust relationship, God can still work in us and through us. The Setting God called Abram to leave his relatives and his homeland for a land that God would show him. In addition to giving Abram the land, God promised to bless Abram, make his name great, and to make him into a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 7:2-4). So Abram left his homeland and settled in the land of Canaan. God made a covenant with Abram, promising him that he would have a son from whom would come countless descendants (Genesis 15:1-5). But Abram and his wife Sarai were advanced in years, and Sarai remained childless. Abram struggled with the tension between God s promises for the future and his present reality. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85

7 What does the Bible say? Genesis 15:1-6; 16:1-5; 17:18-19 (HCSB) Credited (15:6) The Hebrew word translated credited means to reckon, or to count. In God s estimation, Abram s faith had the value of righteousness right standing with Him. Through her (16:2) According to the custom of the time, Sarai would adopt a son born of Abram s union with Hagar and that son would become the family s heir, replacing Eliezer. Covenant (17:19) The Hebrew term means treaty, alliance, or agreement. 15:1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 Abram continued, Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir. 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir. 5 He took him outside and said, Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Then He said to him, Your offspring will be that numerous. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. 16:1 Abram s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family. And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you. 17:18 So Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! 19 But God said, No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. 86 SESSION 1

8 THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. GET INTO THE STUDY DISCUSS: Invite your group members to discuss Question 1 on page 67 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG): When you were younger, what do you remember counting down to? Allow time for each person to respond. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Instruct your group to be completely silent and still for one full minute. Display a timer if possible. Afterward, ask: What did you find difficult in this exercise? Were you tempted to do something during this minute? What was it? Discuss how waiting, silence, and lack of movement can be difficult and especially so in our spiritual lives. 10 minutes Notes TIP: If your group has more than 6-8 members, encourage members to break into smaller groups to discuss the questions that appear throughout this session. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 68): Two friends of mine had an opportunity to purchase a piece of property that could ve been a great financial investment. Since the property was about to go into foreclosure, they could ve bought it far below market value, waited a year or two, and then sold it for a huge profit. But because they hated to wait, they purchased the property at full appraisal price. Six months later, the stock market crash of 2008 sucker-punched them and the value of their purchase plummeted. SAY: There is value in waiting. And when God is the One you re waiting on, there is great value in waiting. ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #7, Beauty from Ashes poster, to introduce the topic of this six-week study. GUIDE: Call the group s attention to The Point on page 68 of the PSG: God s plans are always better than our own. PRAY: Transition into the Bible study with prayer. Ask God to help you approach waiting with the understanding that He is always at work and with unwavering trust in His goodness. Display Pack Item #7 to communicate the study topic. Display Pack Item #8 for use with your discussion of Genesis 15:1-6. PLAYLIST PICK: The Cost by Rend Collective BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87

9 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 15:1-6 Notes 1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, Lord God, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3 Abram continued, Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir. 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir. 5 He took him outside and said, Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Then He said to him, Your offspring will be that numerous. 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness. DO: Divide your members into subgroups of three or four people each. Within each subgroup, direct members to complete the activity on page 71 of the PSG. NO FEAR: Make a list of five things you personally trust. Prioritize your list ( with 1 being the thing you trust the most and 5 the least). We take action based on what we trust. Where is your faith in Christ currently leading you? SAY: In Genesis 15, God called Abram to trust Him despite numerous obstacles. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Genesis 15:1-6. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How do we often respond when God s leading seems vague? SUMMARIZE: God handpicked Abram to be the father of the Jewish nation. God promised Abram (who was later named Abraham) that He would build a nation through which the world would be introduced to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Part of God s promise was that Abram would have a son. Through Abram s bloodline all the nations on earth would be blessed, and his descendants would be greater than the stars in the sky (15:4-5). DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 70 of the PSG: What expectations do we typically have when we take steps to follow God s leading? 88 SESSION 1 ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item #8, Abraham in Canaan Map, to show your group geographically where Abram s obedience would take him.

10 THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 15:1-6 Commentary Trust what God tells you. Verse 1: After Abram returned to his dwelling place near the oaks belonging to Mamre (see 14:13), he received a message of reassurance from God in a vision. At first reading, the admonition do not be afraid may seem to refer to Abram s fear of reprisal from the kings he had defeated in rescuing Lot (ch. 14). More likely, however, God was referring to Abram s fear that Sarai would not bear him a child in fulfillment of God s promise to give Abram descendants (make him a great nation, 12:2). Verse 2: Abram had been in Canaan for 10 years (see 16:3), waiting for God to keep His promise to give him descendants. Abram did not question God s ability but expressed his natural perplexity and concern. Time had passed since Abram had answered God s call and received His covenant, yet Abram was still childless. At some point during Abram s long wait, he had designated Eliezer, his household slave, as his legal heir. The implication of Abram s designating Eliezer as his heir is that the patriarch had grown impatient and concerned at God s delay in fulfilling His promise of natural descendants. Verse 3: Either in the form of a mild complaint or of an impassioned request, Abram reminded God He had not delivered on His promise of offspring, specifically a son who would continue Abram s family line. The phrase a slave born in my house can be rendered a servant in my household. Abram was not comfortable with the possibility that Eliezer, a slave, would inherit his estate. Verse 4: God responded to Abram s concern. The covenant-keeping God would deliver on His promise to give Abram a natural heir. God solemnly declared He would keep His word. The phrase this one refers to Eliezer, Abram s slave and designated heir. Instead has the force of a sharp contradiction: but rather. Not Eliezer, but a son from Abram s own body would be Abram s heir. Through normal marital relations with his wife Sarai, Abram would father a son. Verse 5: After God responded to Abram s request/complaint, God took Abram outside and challenged Abram to count the starry host. The words if you are able to count them underline the impossibility of doing so. Then God assured Abram his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, too many to count. Verse 6: Buoyed by God s reassurance, Abram believed the Lord. The Hebrew term translated believed occurs here for the first time in the Scriptures and has the sense of Abram s relying on God as One who is true, stable, trustworthy, and faithful. It conveys the idea of Abram s having firm confidence in God. God s response to Abram s affirmation of faith is one of the key statements in the Scriptures. The Lord credited it [Abram s belief] to him as righteousness. Because of Abram s trust in God, God considered Abram to be in right standing with Him. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89

11 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 16:1-5 Notes 1 Abram s wife Sarai had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family. And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Genesis 16:1-5. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 72): It s easy to take the first steps of faith, but it can become more difficult as time passes and it seems like God isn t coming through. The period between the promise and the fulfillment is where Sarai grew anxious. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How would it change our experience of waiting if we embraced the process? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 71 of the PSG: When have you experienced spiritual growth during a time of waiting? (Note: As the leader, this is an excellent opportunity to share a personal experience of your own.) SUMMARIZE: Since God had not specified how Abram was to have a son, Sarai came up with her own solution. At that time, it was an accepted practice that a childless wife could give her female slave to her husband as a secondary wife for the purpose of producing a male heir. Sarai suggested this arrangement between Abram and Hagar. Abram agreed to the plan and Hagar became his wife. She soon became pregnant with Abram s child. Animosity grew between the two women and between Sarai and Abram. TRANSITION: In the next verses, we see God s response to the couples attempt to take matters into their own hands. 90 SESSION 1

12 THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 16:1-5 Commentary Don t take matters into your own hands. Verse 1: Abram s wife Sarai, who had been introduced in Genesis 11:29, was concerned that she had not borne any children. Doubtless, she was aware of God s promise of offspring for Abram. Ten years had gone by, and she had not become pregnant. She and Abram were advanced in age. Also, no doubt her childlessness was a stigma she bore. She settled on a plan to solve her problem of childlessness. Verses 2-3: Sarai believed the Lord had prevented her from bearing children. She suggested Abram have sexual relations with Sarai s slave Hagar in the hope that through her Sarai could build a family (extend the family line). Abram agreed to her proposal and approved of it. At that time, it was the accepted practice that a childless wife could give her female slave to her husband as a secondary wife for the purpose of producing a male heir. With Abram s approval, Sarai gave Hagar to him as his second wife. The Hebrew words translated took and gave make clear that Abram and Hagar were married; she was his wife, not a concubine. She would have been second in rank to Sarai. Verse 4: Abram had sexual relations with his new wife Hagar, and she conceived. When she became aware of her pregnancy, she treated her mistress with contempt. Hagar felt superior to Sarai and made no effort to hide her attitude. Verse 5: Hagar s air of superiority infuriated Sarai, and she turned on Abram. She charged that he was responsible for her suffering. Jealousy and injured pride may have caused her to lash out. An alternate view is that Sarai was not blaming Abram but was merely emphasizing his duty to correct the situation. Sarai acknowledged she had facilitated Hagar s pregnancy; she facilitated Abram s having sexual relations with Hagar. Sarai repeated what had been stated in the previous verse, that from the moment Hagar discovered she was pregnant, she had wronged Sarai by treating her as an inferior. With the words, May the Lord judge between me and you, Sarai called on God to determine who was right concerning the situation with Hagar and to settle the matter. In response to Sarai s demand that Abram deal with Hagar, he responded that Hagar was Sarai s slave and Sarai could do with her as she wished. Literally, Abram was right. Sarai retained authority over Hagar and could exercise that authority. The sense of Abram s words is not that Sarai was free to do anything she wished to Hagar but that she treat the slave properly. Sarai, however, mistreated Hagar so harshly that she ran away. She stopped by a spring in the desert, where an angel appeared to her and directed her to return to Sarai. The angel told her she would bear a son she was to name Ishmael ( God hears ). Hagar returned to Sarai and bore Abram s son (16:6-16). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91

13 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 17:18-19 Notes 18 So Abraham said to God, If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! 19 But God said, No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Genesis 17: SUMMARIZE: God renewed His promise to give Abram and Sarai a son who would be the first of many descendants. He even told them to name the child Isaac, which means laughter. In Genesis 21:1-3, God delivered on His promise. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born. DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 72 of the PSG: What does this passage reveal to you about the heart of God? SAY: When Abram and Sarai tried things their way without the desired result, they refocused their attention on God and His plan. Neither His promise nor His character had changed. God intended all along to deliver on His word and He did. ALTERNATE QUESTION: In what ways do we try to control our own lives? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 73 of the PSG: How can you develop deeper trust in God s timing and God s plans? (Note: Highlight the things God has given us to remind us of His covenant with us. His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church are just a few.) ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Display a set of blueprints for a home or building. Invite your group to discuss what they think the final structure will look like based on the specifications laid out in the blueprints. Highlight the fact that God s instructions for us may be very clear, partially clear, or unclear to us at times. However, the process and ultimate future God has for us is for our best. Like a builder follows a set of blueprints to build precisely what s needed, we re called to faithfully follow and trust the instructions God gives us. ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #8, Abraham in Canaan Map, to illustrate Abraham s journeys in Canaan. 92 SESSION 1

14 THE POINT God s plans are always better than our own. Genesis 17:18-19 Commentary Refocus on God s plan. Verse 18: Abraham voiced an impassioned plea to God: If only Ishmael were acceptable to You! Literally, Abraham pleaded that Ishmael might live before God in the sense of experiencing God s favor or blessing. One interpretation of Abraham s words is that he was asking God to work through the son he already had. An alternate view is that Abraham was not asking that Ishmael be the promised son instead of one born to Sarah; rather, he was asking that Ishmael not be excluded from God s covenant promises. In either view, Abraham expressed his concern for Ishmael. Evidently, he loved his son deeply. Verse 19: The word no translates a Hebrew word that can mean no, but. If that is the proper rendering, God turned down Abraham s request that He work out the covenant through Ishmael to give Abraham descendants. The Hebrew term also can mean verily or of a truth. If that is the correct reading, God emphatically assured Abraham that Sarah would bear the son of promise. God directed that Sarah s son be named Isaac, which means he laughs, and reflects Abraham s laughter when God declared Sarah would bear a son (see 17:17). (Later, Sarah also would laugh silently at the promise that she and Abraham would have a son [see 18:12].) Isaac s name stressed that his birth would be a source of genuine, great joy. In addition, God would confirm (make, establish, ratify) His covenant with Isaac and his offspring; it would be an everlasting covenant. With God s promise of Isaac s birth, Abraham received details of His plan. In His perfect timing, God revealed what Abraham needed to know to continue his journey of faith. We can be sure He will deal with us in the same manner. Read the article Eliezer, Abraham s Faithful Steward in the Spring 2016 issue of Biblical Illustrator. A previous Biblical Illustrator article Abraham s Family: An Overview (Summer 2013) relates to this lesson and can be found on the DVD in the Leader Pack. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles Abraham s Family: An Overview (Summer 2013), Covenant As a Biblical Theme (Summer 2013), Canaan in the Patriarchal Age (Spring 2008), Isaac (Winter 1993), and Ishmael (Fall 1987) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at biblicalillustrator. Look for Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93

15 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: How can you deepen your trust in God and His plans? GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 74 of the PSG. Evaluate your responses to the activity No Fear on page 71 of the PSG. If your trust in God didn t rate as high as you d like it to, ask Him to develop within you a deep confidence in Him. Get an assist. Meet with a trusted Christian friend this week and discuss one area of your life where you feel like God is calling you to trust Him. Ask him to commit to pray for this opportunity as you place your trust wholly in God. Say yes to one thing God is calling you to do. Start with something relatively easy and pay attention to how God uses your obedience to instill within you a deeper sense of who He is. Wrap It Up SAY: No one likes waiting. But waiting takes on new meaning when we realize that God has a purpose in His process. He s always at work shaping our faith and preparing us for all that lies ahead. Now that is something worth waiting for. Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife). 94 SESSION 1