• Read or listen to Genesis 15-17

As we continue on in the story of Abram, we will see God make him some pretty amazing promises. We will also see he and his wife Sarai struggle to believe, and at the same time sometimes show incredible faith. So like you and me.

• What kinds of things do you learn or see about God’s character from these chapters?
• What kinds of character traits do you see in Abram?

15:6 tells us that God credits righteousness to Abram because of his belief. Galatians 3:7 tells us that those of us who believe in faith become children of Abraham. We become an answer to this long ago promise.

The story of Hagar is amazing to me. God sees.

• When have you seen and known that God saw you right in the midst of your pain/ struggle/ grief?

• Read or listen to Genesis 11:27- 12:20

After we leave the story of Noah, the flood, and the covenant, we see the people again grieving God by building a large tower. So they get scattered all over the earth and receive new languages. We then zero in on one man and his lineage: Abram.

• What does God reveal about Himself in these chapters?

I love that it says “the Lord said to Abram”. I wondered what that looked like? How did God “say” what He said?

• How have you heard God voice in your own life?
• What do you learn about Abram in this section- there is a lot, both positive and negative!
• We see both trust and mistrust in Abram, a blend of strong character and weak. In your own life, where do you struggle to trust God?

Read or listen to Genesis 6-9

We left off yesterday with Adam and Eve leaving the garden that they tended to make their way in the world. The sin that they choose continues to follow them as one of their sons murders his brother. This lineage continues on with sin becoming rampant and normative until chapter 6 tells us that God is grieved that He created man.

• Who does God reveal Himself to be throughout these chapters?
• What sort of challenges do you see Noah facing?
• Where do you see God’s compassion at work in these chapters?

In chapter 9, God makes a covenant, a promise to Noah and his sons. This promise continues on to today.

• Where have you seen God be faithful in your own life?
• I love that God “remembers” His promise when He sees the rainbow. When God sees you what promises are you wanting Him to remember?

Read or listen to Genesis 1-3

Today we see God creating all that we can see out of nothing. He then creates the man and the woman in His image, and gives them the free choice to follow their loving and gracious creator, or to usurp His authority and decide what’s best in their own eyes.

• How does God reveal His wisdom through all of His creating in these chapters?

• What are other characteristics of God that you see revealed in these chapters?

• How does God show value for the man and the woman in these chapters? Prior to as well as following the Fall?
• How do you hide today, from God and from others?

• What is one way that you could begin to allow others into your story?

Pray and ask the Lord to give you wisdom in your choices, and that daily you would turn towards Him rather than away from Him.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, our dayspring, the bright morning star, creator of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Show me Your light, illuminate my path. Father, help me give careful thought to all my ways.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

• On a separate piece of paper, write out a prayer of unity for yourself, those close to you, and for our spiritual body at Riverside.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, our dayspring, the bright morning star, creator of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Show me Your light, illuminate my path. Father, help me give careful thought to all my ways.

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

• On a separate piece of paper, write out the (above) Psalm.

Begin with this prayer:

O come, our dayspring, the bright morning star, creator of the heavens and all that I can see. I sit with You right now. I quiet my heart to listen to you. As I run the race you’ve set before me today, help me to look towards you who authored and are perfecting my faith. Show me Your light, illuminate my path. Father, help me give careful thought to all my ways.

Read these verses aloud several times or listen to the audio recording several times:

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

• What is being prompted in your spirit as you read? What do you sense the Spirit saying to you?