The Other Son

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 36:1-43

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The Other Son — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 36:1-43
Sermon Series: Genesis
September 1, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Why does Moses include this genealogy in Genesis, and why does he put it in this place? What stands out most to you as you read it?
2.   What picture has emerged regarding Esau’s character and mindset in the lead up to our passage? How do the first eight verses of this genealogy correspond to that picture?
3.   How does the writer of Hebrews want Christians to apply the character of Esau to their lives?
4.   In what ways does Esau’s genealogy demonstrate God’s faithfulness to Abraham? How does this encourage us to trust in God today?
5.   Discuss the significance of the words in v. 31, “before any king reigned over the Israelites.” What does this teach us about the Christian life?
6.   How does Genesis 36 anticipate Christ as both Savior and King?

References: Genesis 3:15; 22:18; 25:32-34; 26:34-35; 27:38; Hebrews 12:16; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 2 Chronicles 25:20; Genesis 12:1, 7; 25:1-18; 17:4, 6; Deuteronomy 2:12; Joshua 24:4; Acts 17:26; Numbers 24:17-19..

The Next Recipient Of The Blessing

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 26:34-27:46

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The Next Recipient of the Blessing — Pastor Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 26:34 - 27:46
Sermon Series: Genesis
June 2, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Discuss how Rebekah and Jacob carried out their deception. How would you characterize the sins of each, and how have you seen these same sins play out in your life?
2.  In what sense did the actions of Rebekah and Jacob derive from faith?
3.  What does this passage suggest about Isaac’s mindset? How have you experienced the blinding effect of your own passions and preferences?
4.  How does this passage fill out our view of Esau as an earthly-minded man? What clues are there that he cares little for God’s promises to Abraham?
5.  What consequences do Rebekah and Jacob have to face as a result of their deceitful act? What does this teach us about our choices?
6.  How does this story remind us that there is only one Hero and there will be no “greats” in heaven?

References: Genesis 25:23, 34; Numbers 24:9; Hebrews 12:16-17; Genesis 4:19; Psalm 51.

The Next Generation, Part 2

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 25:19-34

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The Next Generation, Part 2 — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 25:19-34
Sermon Series: Genesis
May 12, 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  How does the description of Jacob in v. 27 align him with Abraham and Isaac? What does the description of Esau tell us? 
2.  How would you characterize Isaac’s favoritism? Why is this so destructive in a family?
3.  How can you fight against favoritism in your relationship with your kids?
4.  What does the conversation between Jacob and Esau reveal about the character of each man? In light of v. 34, how does the author want us to contrast Jacob and Esau?
5.  Discuss Esau’s sin. Why does the writer of Hebrews point to Esau to reinforce his charge not to be “sexually immoral or unholy”?
6.  How are we tempted to trade the eternal for the momentary? Why is Christ the only answer?

References: Genesis 4:20; Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 11; 12:16-17.

Sodom's Survivors

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 19:30-38

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.
34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

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Sodom’s Survivors — Lonnie D. Bell, Jr.
Genesis 19:30-38
3 February 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions

1.  How does Genesis 13 represent a defining moment in Lot’s life? How might your present choices be setting you on a trajectory to the cave?

2.  What does it mean to have a Lot-like Christian life?

3.  Discuss the sin of Lot’s daughters. How does it involve both cultural and familial dynamics?

4.  How should this story affect the way we view and use alcohol?

5.  What does this passage teach us about the impact of our sin on future generations?

6.  How does this story connect to Ruth? What does her place in redemptive history communicate about God’s grace?

References: Matthew 11:23-24; Genesis 13:10-13; Leviticus 18:6-7; Ephesians 5:18; Numbers 25:1-3; Zephaniah 2:8; Ruth 4:13-22.

Deliverance and Destruction

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 19:1-29

1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.
27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.
29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

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Deliverance and Destruction
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 19:1-29
27 January 2019

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.   Discuss the wickedness of the people of Sodom. How is Lot contrasted with them?
2.   How is Lot portrayed as a weak believer? What does this tell us about the effect that the world can have on us?
3.   Where do we see God’s patience and mercy towards Lot? What does this teach us about God’s attitude towards us?
4.   How does the story of Sodom and Gomorrah function as a warning? In what ways have you viewed sin lightly in your own life?
5.   How would you characterize the difference between Lot and his wife? How does this help us to distinguish between a weak Christian and a non-Christian?
6.   How does this passage (particularly v. 29) point ultimately to Christ as the only basis and means of salvation?

References: Genesis 11:5; 18:20-21; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:4-10; Romans 1:27.

The City of Man, Part 1

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Genesis 11:1-9

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The City of Man, Part 1 -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Genesis
Genesis 11:1-9
9 September 2018

Deep Sheet: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What support does Jesus give for the historicity of the events described in Genesis 1-11?
2.  How does the Tower of Babel story help us to identify worldliness and flee from it?
3.  Where do we see independence and misuse in this passage? How are independence and disobedience related?
4.  What does it mean to say that Babel is the mother of all pagan worship and false religion?
5.  What does it look like to live for our own “name”?

References: Daniel 4:30; 1 Peter 5:13; Revelation 17:5; 18:1-2; Mark 10:6; Matthew 23:35; 24:39; Revelation 18:5; 1 John 2:15; Genesis 13:11; 9:1; 3:24; 4:16; Isaiah 63:14; James 4:6; Matthew 23:12.