Are You Kidding Me?! - After All They Did to Me?!

Genesis 45:1-24

Has anything specific jumped out to you, either in this passage or from the sermon on Sunday?

If you were in Joseph's place, do you think you could have forgiven your brothers for all they did and for all they caused you to go through?

Are there offenses that have been committed against you that are very difficult for you to forgive? What's that process been like?

What typically hinders you from fully forgiving someone else?

Joesph was betrayed by his brothers, his boss' wife and his friends in prison. Instead of becoming bitter, he trusted God. How can you avoid becoming bitter when you are betrayed?

How does your relationship with God effect your ability to forgive others?
(Joseph trusted God's plan and believed in His providence, which allowed him to forgive his brothers.)

How can you use this to help you now and in the future?

Is there a mistake you have made where you've found it difficult to forgive yourself? How can this story help you do something about that?

What did this part of Joseph's story show you about God?

How has this group been a good example of reconciling community?

Next Steps:

Will you choose to forgive? Ask the Lord to show you specific people, perhaps some that you are not aware of, that you need to forgive. Write out a prayer expressing your willingness for God to change your heart toward someone you need to forgive.

Thank God for forgiving you! Remind yourself that the forgiveness we extend to others is very small in comparison with the forgiveness that God extends to us.

Announcements:

If your rGroup is going to take a break from your regular weekly meetings, please let your group know what to expect. When's your last week before the break? Will you get together a couple times in the summer to serve or hang out? When will you start back again? What can you do to stay in touch, refresh, and use the summer to your advantage?

Also, stay tuned for a rGroup Leaders get-together coming up this summer. I don't have a date, time or place established yet, but this will be a great time for all of us.

In the meanwhile, please email me at stephen@discoverrevo.com if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. I enjoy hearing from you.

Are You Kidding Me?! - It's Your Own Fault

Genesis 42–44

This text is about how God used a series of tests to get Joseph's brothers' attention. The brothers never mentioned God, never thought about God, so God allows some things to happen in their lives to get them to focus on Him.

Who's got a funny story about how someone blamed someone else for something they did wrong?

What makes it difficult to accept responsibility for your actions?
(Because no one likes to fail.)

What feelings do people avoid when they constantly blame other people for their actions?
(Guilt, shame, attention, insecurity, etc.)

What does our tendency to blame others reveal about the human heart?
(We're selfish, and would rather someone else face the consequences of our failures.)

Why is it so important to take full responsibility for our sin, failures or shortcomings?
(When you blame others, you give up your power to change.)

God will test us to see if we are actually learning, growing, and moving forward from the things we admitted and took responsibility for. He wants us to grow up! Are there any tests you're in the midst of right now? How are you doing?

God doesn't test us because He doesn't know how weak/strong we are. He tests us because WE don't know how weak/strong we are. Have you ever gone through a test, and then realized how spiritually weak or strong you were? What was that like?

What test does God seem to be giving you over and over again? Why do you think he wants you to retake it?

Testing should make us spiritually stronger (James 1:2, 4). What do you need to do, and what do you need to ask God for help with in order to become stronger and pass your test(s)?
(The only way you're really going to know what you will do is to go through some things and be faithful to God. Stick with things, don't give up and run away, and don't blame everyone else for your problems.)

Next Steps:

Accepting responsibilities can be difficult, but this builds character and confidence, earns respect, and can motivate us to complete our work. What responsibility do you need to accept in order to accomplish the work God has for you?

Moving forward requires faithful actions. What area do you need to be faithful with in order to move forward in your walk with God?

Mother's Day: Desperate Housewives

Matthew 15:21-28

v 21-22 - The Gentile woman came to Jesus with her plea the first chance she got. When you're desperate for something from God, how do you typically go about that? For instance, how quickly do you go to God? How often? How long? How desperate do you get with Him? etc.

The woman came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter. Who is someone that you have desperately or constantly gone to God for?

v 23a - This woman was panicked, begging and pleading Jesus to respond, but Jesus was silent. How was Jesus not really ignoring her, but already involved in His work?

v 23b - Jesus' disciples got annoyed with her begging and tried to get her to go away. What kind of obstacles have deterred you from pursuing your faith? How can you overcome them?

v 24 - What happens when God says no to you?

v 25 - This woman shows great persistence in her faith and pursuit of Jesus. What's an area in your life where you need to become more persistent and not give up on pursuing God?

v 26 - Jesus says no to her request again. How can (or do) you worship God when you don't feel "blessed"?

v 27 - She's willing to take the little scraps from Jesus. How far will you go just to see God do one "little" thing in your life?

v 28 - Jesus says, "your faith is great." Describe what you believe it will take for God to say the same about you.

How do you think God is testing your faith right now? (or) What did this story teach you about your faith?

Next Steps:

Read Hebrews 11:6. How can you apply this verse to your life?

Write a brief prayer asking God to nurture in your life the kind of faith and persistence demonstrated by the Gentile woman.

Write down and commit to one step of great (persistent) faith you can take this week.

Are You Kidding Me?! - What's Taking So Long?

Genesis 41:1–46

1. Genesis 41:1 tells us that Joseph has been sitting in prison for two long years since he helped the cupbearer and baker.

• When have you had to wait a really long time for God to move you forward in challenging circumstances?
• How did God move you forward?
• What is the most important thing you've learned about waiting?

2. Training for greater things always takes place in lesser things. We all have dreams and desire for "greater things" in all areas of our lives.

• How are you being faithful today with the "lesser things"?
• What are the smaller platforms and opportunities that you have right now that are preparing you for what's next?

3. When we complain about things in our lives, it often is rooted in areas where we need to grow spiritually.

• What are the big areas in your life that you complain about most often?
• How can you avoid the complaining trap by "waiting well"?
• How would your life be different if you stopped complaining and started looking for ways to be faithful and obedient to God now?

4. Genesis 41:16 shows that despite everything that has happened to Joseph, he is still holding on and trusting in God.

• Is it hard for you to keep trusting God when you have to wait?
• What parts of life end up testing your ability to trust and wait on God the most?