Perspective: Wk1 - GROUP GUIDE

INTRODUCTION: The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN:  If you had siblings growing up, what were some of the things they did that drove you nuts? If you were an only child, what were some of the things you loved about being an only child and what, if anything, would you have changed?

SCRIPTURE READING
Read together:  Genesis 37:2-36, Romans 3:23, Proverbs 29:11, Isaiah 43:19, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Notice from the very beginning of Joseph’s story, there is tension and dysfunction. This began long before Joseph was born, but maybe Joseph didn’t know any better, maybe he did. Either way, the beginning of his story begins with something familiar to us all…family drama.

HEAD: Explore the Text

1. Share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts you received just from listening to the text, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
2. Right from the start, we’re told about how Joseph was loved and elevated over his other, older, brothers. In their culture, priority should have gone from oldest to youngest. How do you think this made the other brothers feel? Why do you think Jacob was so overtly loving and showed favorites? (think about Leah and Rachel's story, plus mothers of the other brothers).
3. Do you think Joseph let this love and favoritism go to his head, or do you think he didn’t know any better? Do you think he had his brothers’ best future in mind, or that he was rubbing their noses in his favoritism? Do you think Joseph expected his dreams to be good news for his brothers?
4. As the other brothers plot to kill Joseph, Reuben tries to at least keep him from being murdered. Do you think Reuben was having compassion on Joseph or Jacob? Explain.
5. Why do you think the Isaiah 43:19 passage is shared during the first week of this story? What’s its potential application here?

HEART: Personal Reflection

1. One of the phrases that come to mind as we read through the deception of Joseph’s brothers both to Joseph, and to their father, is, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive.” Why do small lies often become big lies?
2. Name some of the dysfunctions we find in the beginning of this story of Joseph.
3. Why do you think God left, in His sacred word, all these stories about sinful human beings?
4. What hope do you find for your story knowing that God can bring good out of even the worst human beings and human circumstances.

HANDS: Practice This Week
Spiritual Practice: leaning on his everlasting love

• Knowing all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, what struggles are in your life right now that you want/need to lay at the feet of Jesus
• Knowing that God’s love can overcome and rewrite your sin/story, spend time this week in prayers of gratitude for how He loves you.
• Journal your insights through this experience as you meditate on these truths this week.

Invite the group to check in next week about their experience.

FINISH WELL: Bring It Home

• Looking back over the course of your life, what was broken inside of you that God has made whole? What negative situation did God bring something good out of?

CLOSING PRAYER (Psalm 51)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight…
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.