If we, as Keith has said, are to be rebuilt, we must first take stock of where we are.

We are going to take the next couple of days to pray and assess several areas of our life. The hope is that through this reflection, we will see accurately pieces of our lives and hearts that need attention.

As we pay attention to those areas, we will see the Lord move in us as individuals, and in us as a body. We cannot change what we don’t pay attention to.

• As you think back over the past couple of years, where are you at relationally with the Lord? How would you describe your relationship with Him right now?
• What are the parts of your relationship that are growing and thriving?
• What are the areas where you see gaps or hard spots?
• What are the circumstances that have contributed to the hard spots?

Colossians 2:6-7; 3:1-3

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Read through Exodus 1:1-22 a couple of times

• Where do you see the Lord’s blessing on His people despite the severe hardships?
• We are told that the Hebrew midwives feared God and disobeyed the King of Egypt. How do you suppose this fear of the Lord grew in them? Where do you think they learned about Him?
• Where and what, in your life right now, are the blessings of God?

As per our normal flow, we will begin by listening to our friends at The Bible Project share about the first part of the book of Exodus:

• Does anything pop out to you as interesting or confusing?
• Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to hear His truth in the coming weeks as we journey into Exodus.

This morning as you pray and prepare you heart to gather together for worship, watch the video from our friends at the Bible Project as they explain the book of Genesis.

Chapters 1-11:

Chapters 12-50:

Read or listen to Genesis 49: 29-50

The story resolves itself with the whole family moving to Egypt. They receive the good land and the blessing of Pharaoh to live and prosper there. Jacob is reunited with his father and has his sons blessed by him (albeit not as he would have imagined). And Jacob gives blessing to all the sons before his death.

• Again- how would you describe Joseph’s character in this section?
• How do you see God’s character being revealed? How would you describe Him?
• In verse 20, Jacob explains how God was working through all the circumstances for His ultimate good.
• In what situation in your own life do you need to hear this?

Read or listen to Genesis 42-45

Today we get a long chunk of story! Hopefully it is interesting and has enough plot twists to keep you reading!

• How would you describe God’s character as shown in these chapters?
• What about the others in the story- Joseph and his brothers, how do you see their characters growing and being changed?
• What about this long story through Genesis has given you encouragement?

Read or listen to Genesis 39-41

Meanwhile… while the brothers are lying to their father about Joseph’s death, Joseph faces a variety of situations.

• What do you see growing in Joseph’s character in these situations?
• Do you see God at work here? How would you describe Him in this story?
• How do you think Joseph’s character gets molded in such good ways during such unjust treatment (chapters 39-40)?
• How has your character been molded in the painful times of your own life?
• What character is God forming in your right now?