Finding an Awesome Mate Ben Davis April 22nd & 23rd, 2017
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Finding an A wesome Mate Ben D avis A pril 22nd & 23rd, 2017
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.” Genesis 24:2-4 “He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, ‘Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.’” Genesis 24:35-38 “The LORD has greatly blessed my master Abraham, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son, Isaac to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’” Genesis 24:64-65 “Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel. She said to the servant, ‘Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?’" Genesis 24:67 “…and Isaac took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her…” Three Bits of Wisdom 1.
Look for someone _______________________________
2.
Look to people __________________________________
3.
Look to ________________________________________
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Small Group Discussion Questions Finding an Awes ome Mate Main Idea The stories of love we find in God’s Word give us guidance for finding an AWESOME mate Icebreaker What is the craziest advice anyone ever gave you? (Whether you took it or not) Introduction Abraham sends a faithful servant on an important task, trusting that this servant would be a person of wisdom and discernment. Abraham only issued one requirement to this faithful man; that the woman he found to be Isaac’s wife be faithful to God. Read Genesis 24:12-14 12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” 1.
How many people in our lives would entrust us with an important task similar to the servant’s task, completely confident that we’d uphold their best interests? Could we think of someone we would trust with that kind of responsibility?
2.
What made Rebekah stand out to the servant in this Genesis story? How did she act out her faith?
5.
3.
Decisions in our lives can be difficult, especially when we make them alone. How often do we consider praying about a decision before we make it? Explain
Sometimes single people are made to feel like second class Christians in communities of faith. Why do you think this happens?
6.
Singles often receive unsolicited, hurtful, and unhelpful advice, as well as others in the faith communities. How can we speak to each other in ways that value their relationship status?
The servant prays and tells Rebekah about Isaac, asking if she’d be willing to leave her home and travel to be married. In Genesis 24:2829 it says” 28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and her hurried out to the man at the spring.” Rebekah goes first to the people she trusts and asks for their help and wisdom. She approaches people she trusts and cares for, where the relationship is established. 4.
Are we comfortable asking others for wisdom in our life choices like Rebekah did? Who do you talk to when you have a difficult decision to make?
Up until now, the Genesis story focused on marriage as a vital life decision, to be sure we aren’t lopsided, let’s remember that biblical attitudes toward marriage and singleness are complex; both are joyful and full of heartache. In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul speaks at length about married life and the role of sex in marriage. After that Paul continues, “6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.” Paul never married and we consider him one of the greatest of Jesus’ disciples. He didn’t need ‘help,’ he knew who he was called to be, and it was to be someone dedicated to his career of helping people find their way back to God. Paul wasn’t a second class Christian or somehow incomplete because of his singleness and neither are any of us.
We are one church family, united as brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers, friends and family. This life isn’t a journey alone, no matter what our relationship status is, we have people to journey with, people who can provide wisdom and encouragement. Let’s continue this week looking toward finding ways to share in that journey by making God number one. 7. Pray
How can we act in ways this week that show our commitment to God and encourage trust in each other?
Finding an A wesome Mate Ben D avis A pril 22nd & 23rd, 2017
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.” Genesis 24:2-4 “He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, ‘Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.’” Genesis 24:35-38 “The LORD has greatly blessed my master Abraham, so that he has become rich; and He has given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and servants and maids, and camels and donkeys. Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son, Isaac to my master in her old age, and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son.’” Genesis 24:64-65 “Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel. She said to the servant, ‘Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?’" Genesis 24:67 “…and Isaac took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her…” Three Bits of Wisdom 1.
Look for someone _______________________________
2.
Look to people __________________________________
3.
Look to ________________________________________
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Small Group Discussion Questions Finding an Awes ome Mate Main Idea The stories of love we find in God’s Word give us guidance for finding an AWESOME mate Icebreaker What is the craziest advice anyone ever gave you? (Whether you took it or not) Introduction Abraham sends a faithful servant on an important task, trusting that this servant would be a person of wisdom and discernment. Abraham only issued one requirement to this faithful man; that the woman he found to be Isaac’s wife be faithful to God. Read Genesis 24:12-14 12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.” 1.
How many people in our lives would entrust us with an important task similar to the servant’s task, completely confident that we’d uphold their best interests? Could we think of someone we would trust with that kind of responsibility?
2.
What made Rebekah stand out to the servant in this Genesis story? How did she act out her faith?
5.
3.
Decisions in our lives can be difficult, especially when we make them alone. How often do we consider praying about a decision before we make it? Explain
Sometimes single people are made to feel like second class Christians in communities of faith. Why do you think this happens?
6.
Singles often receive unsolicited, hurtful, and unhelpful advice, as well as others in the faith communities. How can we speak to each other in ways that value their relationship status?
The servant prays and tells Rebekah about Isaac, asking if she’d be willing to leave her home and travel to be married. In Genesis 24:2829 it says” 28 The young woman ran and told her mother’s household about these things. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and her hurried out to the man at the spring.” Rebekah goes first to the people she trusts and asks for their help and wisdom. She approaches people she trusts and cares for, where the relationship is established. 4.
Are we comfortable asking others for wisdom in our life choices like Rebekah did? Who do you talk to when you have a difficult decision to make?
Up until now, the Genesis story focused on marriage as a vital life decision, to be sure we aren’t lopsided, let’s remember that biblical attitudes toward marriage and singleness are complex; both are joyful and full of heartache. In 1 Corinthians 7 Paul speaks at length about married life and the role of sex in marriage. After that Paul continues, “6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.” Paul never married and we consider him one of the greatest of Jesus’ disciples. He didn’t need ‘help,’ he knew who he was called to be, and it was to be someone dedicated to his career of helping people find their way back to God. Paul wasn’t a second class Christian or somehow incomplete because of his singleness and neither are any of us.
We are one church family, united as brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers, friends and family. This life isn’t a journey alone, no matter what our relationship status is, we have people to journey with, people who can provide wisdom and encouragement. Let’s continue this week looking toward finding ways to share in that journey by making God number one. 7. Pray
How can we act in ways this week that show our commitment to God and encourage trust in each other?
