Wednesday, January 16, 2008 – Matthew's Musings

Group Questions: Week 3

Until I get all the resources from our snowy and small (but wonderful) Wednesday night class up here, here are some of the discussion questions we looked at. Hope it’s good food for thought! :)

Group 1:
Read Matthew 26:38-46. What does the servant’s prayer have in common with Jesus’?
The servant got several physical signs. Other OT characters (Gideon, Abraham, Moses, Elijah) got them, too. Without signs like those, how does God help us make decisions? (see Luke 11:27-36)
Read Proverbs 3:5-6. How can we ensure spiritual success on our missions for him?
What else can we learn from this story?
Group 2:
Read Genesis 50:15-21. How does this story compare with Esau’s plan? (If you’ve read ahead…how does Esau’s plan turn out?)
Read Romans 9:12-14. Was this blessing situation fair?
Read Hebrews 12:15-17. What does unholiness or sexual immorality have to do with Esau?
What can we learn from these passages?
Group 3:
Read Exodus 20:17 and Proverbs 12:12. If everyone you just read about followed these passages, what would have been different?
Read 1Timothy 6:10 and Hebrews 13:4-6. What do we lose if we give in to materialism?
Read 1 Peter 2:23. What can we learn about solving problems from these examples?

When you flip through the pages of a church hymnal, you immediately think of the Bible’s Psalms. Several of our modern (and not-so-modern) songs have their roots in the book of beginnings

Genesis 24:59 and the preceding account of Abraham’s servant’s mission may be the inspiration for an old traditional piece, "I’m a Pilgrim." (I’m a pilgrim. I’m a stranger. I can tarry, I can tarry but a night. Do not detain me for I am going…)

The great song about the cross – (popularized by it’s performance on the sinking Titanic) Nearer, My God to Thee uses the story of Jacob’s ladder as a foreshadowing of the cross, a connection between heaven and man.

There are others, straight from the creation account linked with the Psalms. "I Sing the Mighty Power of God" was a children’s song designed to teach that God created all.

"God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is often associated with several stories of the patriarchs — even Joseph’s captivity and wrongful imprisonment by the hands of Potiphar’s wife.

You can view a list of songs that have allusions to Genesis over at the Cyber Hymnal.

Maybe I’ll turn more often to the pages of Genesis when I need a reminder of God’s faithful promise keeping!