In the Word with Jeff Thompson

God's Ways Are Better // Genesis 16:1-4a

Most Christians don't lose their faith in a dramatic moment; they lose it because their expectations of the Christian life were never biblical to begin with. In Genesis 16, Abram and Sarai get tired of waiting on God's promise after ten years and make a mess that's still playing out in the Middle East today. This message traces the cost of impatience from one couple's bedroom to the breakdown of an entire culture — and lands on a single quiet conviction: God's ways are better. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read 2 Corinthians 4:16–18. When you first believed in Jesus, or started taking your faith seriously, what did you assume the Christian life would be like? How has reality matched what you expected, and where has it diverged? Where did those expectations come from in the first place? - Read Romans 8:18-25. Christians aren’t exempt from the natural consequences of living in a fallen world. Do you think you’ve been quietly holding on to any assumptions about the kind of life God “owes” you? - Read Colossians 3:1-5. Even good things — a spouse, a child, a healing, a career — can become idols when we put all our hope in them rather than in God. Has a good thing ever become an idol in your life? How do we tell the difference between a strong, godly desire and an idol? - Many Christians try to find a way to please God and people. Do you think this is possible when God and people hold opposite opinions (e.g., homosexuality)? What are the dangers of trying to please both God and people? - Before you pray, ask if anyone has things they are waiting on the Lord for. Pray for patience, faith, and peace as they wait.

The Covenant Maker & Keeper // Genesis 15:7-21

In Genesis 15, God doesn't meet Abram halfway—He walks through the bloody covenant alone, taking on Himself the consequences of every breach by either side. This message traces that picture from Abram's vision all the way to the Cross, where Jesus paid for the half of the covenant we could never keep. If you've ever feared you could blow it and lose your salvation, this one's for you. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read Genesis 15:7-21. Was there anything about the text that you didn’t understand? Did it raise any questions for you? What sticks out to you? - Read Lamentations 3:22–26. Share about a time you had to wait a long time for God to answer a prayer or fulfill a promise. Looking back, what did the waiting produce in you that you wouldn't have learned any other way? - Read 2 Timothy 2:11–13 and John 10:27–30. Have you ever feared losing your salvation? What did that fear sound like in your head? How do these two passages speak to that fear? - Jeff shared that his mom “never let go of the rope” and prayed him into the kingdom. Who are you holding the rope for right now, in prayer? Pray for each name as a group.

Do Not Be Afraid // Genesis 15:1-6

As God comes to Abram while he's wrestling with fear and doubt, we are given a lesson on God's character and how believers are to approach wrestling with these powerful enemies. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - Read Genesis 15:1-6. Have you ever experienced fear or doubt shortly after stepping out in faith, and how did God meet you in that moment? - How does the secular world (culture, medicine, psychiatry, pop psychology, etc.) approach dealing with fear and anxiety? What approaches are compatible with Scripture, and what approaches are contrary to Scripture? - Read Philippians 4:6-7. If/When you have followed Paul’s instructions while wrestling with fear and/or anxiety, how did these practices affect you? - Read 1 Peter 5:6-7. What does it look like practically to cast all your cares on God while still acknowledging the genuine pain and difficulty of your circumstances? - In what ways might fear and anxiety become an identity or a form of self-absorption that prevents us from serving others and obeying God's commands?

New Covenant Giving (Part 2)

As we continue our study of what giving looks like for the Christian under the New Covenant, we'll answer the questions, "Is tithing a perpetual command that predates the Law?" and "Can I give time and service instead of money?" We'll also look at Paul's instructions to the Corinthians regarding giving, which offer many insights still helpful to us today. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - What is the best and worst investment you’ve ever made? - Why does it matter that we serve God with our time and energy and our money? How does each expression affect our hearts? - Read Mark 12:41-44. What do you think Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that would require a change in their previous thinking about giving? - Is it any easier or harder for a rich person to store up treasure in Heaven than for a poor person? Why or why not? - Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. How does the Macedonian churches' response of begging for the privilege to give during their own extreme poverty challenge your understanding of what it means to give sacrificially? - How should a Christian balance sacrificial generosity in the present with responsible planning for the future?

New Covenant Giving (Part 1)

Tithing first appears in Scripture in Genesis 14. But is it still something that's relevant to Christians today? How are believers in the Church to approach the subject of giving? SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS: - How does viewing yourself as a steward of God's resources rather than an owner change your daily financial decisions and priorities? - Should giving to God make you more or less worried about money? Why? - Have you ever experienced God’s faithfulness to provide for material needs in miraculous ways? If so, share a story with the group. - What does it mean practically for your giving to be 'felt' or sacrificial, and how might that look different for people in various financial situations? - Why do you think Jesus spent about a third of His teaching time on money and material wealth? - How do you navigate the tension between wanting clear rules and being called to a Spirit-led relationship with God in areas like giving?