Finding God in Unexpected Places: Abram

Connect: 7:00-7:20

Share an experience when you found God in any unexpected place or situation.

True Example: Someone defrauded me out of a large sum of money. Reflecting back on the experience years later, God allowed me to see that He had returned that money to me in His own time and in His own way. I found God through a thief.

Topic of Sunday’s talk: We often find God in unexpected places. Abram waited years to have a son with Sarah who was well beyond child bearing years. God’s promise for a son wasn’t fulfilled right away. There was a long period of silence; Abram and Sarah tried to fulfill God’s promise without Him. Genesis 15:1-5

Surrender: 7:20-7:30

Are there any situations in your life right now that seem impossible to you or a situation in which you are waiting on God to fulfill a promise?

Read Genesis 15:1-2

Reflect on what it means that God can be your shield.

Reflect on what it means that God can be your great reward.

Pray and surrender yourselves to God knowing He is a shield and a great reward for you.

Grow: 7:30-8:00

Read Genesis 14:18-20

 Abram rescued his nephew Lot and the people of Sodom (Genesis 14) in a military victory. After this God spoke to Abram, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield.” Genesis 15:1

What do you suppose that meant to Abram at that time?

What does it mean to you that God could be a shield to you?

Read Genesis 14:20-24

 After having refused to take rewards from the battle, what do you think it meant to Abram when God said, “I am your very great reward?”

What does it mean to you that God could be a great reward to you?

Read Genesis 15:2 “What can you give me?” (Abram’s first words after hearing that God could be a great reward to Him).

 What does it say about us that we can’t be content with God as a reward?

Have you ever been in that place where God’s blessings (what you can get from Him) are more important to you than just having and being with Him?

How did you work through this?

 Referencing Abrams waiting for God to fulfill His promise of a son, Bruce said something like, “Does your Theology leave room for periods of silence from God?” Discuss this concept and its implications for our faithwalk.

 Abram and Sarai tried to preempt God’s plan by having Abram sleep with Sarai’s servant.

Talk about our tendency to “take matters into our own hands” while we are supposed to be waiting on God.

Bonus: In Daniel 10, Daniel’s answer to prayer was hindered by a battle in the unseen world. Could it be that God has answered a prayer of ours but that it is being delayed b/c of a spiritual battle behind the scenes?

Develop: 8:00-8:15

This is a good time to get feedback on how the group is being experienced by each person. Open up a discussion and make sure people feel safe sharing their thoughts. Don’t allow debate on issues, just a chance for people to speak their minds.

Talk about how to handle the holiday season in terms of when and where the group will or will not be meeting. If taking a break, schedule a date to begin again in January.

Share: 8:15-8:30

Next Salvation Army outreach 12/12 at 5pm downtown Framingham