May 22 | Genesis Part 11
Discussion Guide
Sodom & Gomorrah
May 22 | Genesis Series Part 11
A Note for the Leader
This guide is a bit different. There is a lot that can be discussed from this sermon! Tonight here is the invitation:
have a shorter sermon discussion,
take communion together, and
discuss your group’s summer rhythm.
If you can, try to shorten the initial conversation and slow down for the communion practice. Please send your groups decisions on summer rhythms to David.
Sermon Overview
The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is famously difficult. It begins with God who hears an outcry, and makes plans to “go down and see.” But doesn’t God know everything? Maybe God is choosing to limit his knowledge for relationship, or perhaps he wants to go on a “fact finding mission” for justice, for the sake of those crying out.
Before going down, God invites a conversation with Abraham, who stands up to God. “Profanity!” Abraham boldly says to the idea that God would destroy Sodom with righteous people there. Underneath Abraham’s boldness is an unshakable conviction in God’s character, that he is holy and righteous.
When God goes down to Sodom by way of two messengers, they visit Lot’s house. The whole town gathers shouting, “Bring them out so we may know them!” (in the Bible, this is a euphemism for sex). Lot chooses to offer his daughters to the mob in place of the messengers—discharging his duties as a host, and forfeiting his duties as a father. Luckily the messengers blind the mob and save the family. They lead Lot’s family out of Sodom, Lot’s wife turns back, and Sodom is destroyed.
Necessity of Justice
What was Sodom’s sin? If you look at other places in the Bible, you’ll see suggestions that it was possibly sexual immorality, inhospitality, violence, and/or disregard for the poor. The term outcry is the key. When God hears an outcry he can only be patient for so long. He has to act.
What about us? We might be too quick to judge the story, and too slow to let the story judge us. What do we do when we hear an outcry? Justice is not a sense or feeling of fairness. Justice is when authoritative action is taken to right some situation. Doing justice is different than thinking justice-y thoughts or saying justice-y things. The outcries demand a response.
The Possibility of Grace
Everyone knows that the innocent get taken out by the guilty; that evil has a time-spanning, future creating impact. But the righteousness of the few has power to impact the future of the guilty many.
Jesus is the righteous One who makes grace possible for the guilty many. Jesus brings grace to the perpetrator and healing to the victim. And that is such good news because, of course, we are both the guilty and victim.
Questions for a (Shorter) Discussion
What is one issue of justice that you think God cares about that you are also passionate about?
With your chosen issue of justice, do you tend to do justice or do you tend to primarily think justice-y thoughts? Why do you think that is?
What is one way (small or big) you have been the victim or the perpetrator in your life recently? What is one way you need either Jesus’ healing or forgiveness? Don’t answer yet, you’ll share answers in the next section!
Communion
Toward the end of the sermon Ryan said:
“If you need forgiveness, because the sin of Sodom is the sin of you, throw yourself at the righteous one. And if you need healing because you’ve been the victim, through yourself at the feet of the righteous one… He, Jesus, has absorbed all the dark so all would be light.”
Tonight, take communion together. Take turns sharing one way you need forgiveness or healing. Be reminded of the saving power of Jesus.
Instructions
Grab whatever you have on hand (wine, juice, sparkling water; cracker, sandwich bread, chips), and pass the elements around to everyone in the group. You can involve the kids if it’s not too crazy!
As you hold the elements, invite one person to share: In what way do you need Jesus’ (1) forgiveness, or (2) healing? Be as general or specific as you feel comfortable.
After someone shares, as they eat and drink, have someone else speak to that person, “The body and blood of Christ, given for you.”
Go around the circle until everyone has shared and received communion.
Before moving on to the next discussion have someone close in prayer, speaking over the group: “Jesus has absorbed all the dark so all would be light.”
Discussion: Summer Rhythms
Please take a few minutes tonight to have a short discussion on your groups rhythm for this summer. The Genesis series will continue through the end of June, and discussion guides will be provided. During July and part of August there will be a Psalms series, and David will create a generic template for that series. Then we will start back up with a series called Everyday Spirituality on August 21st.
Do you want to continue meeting each week? Change up the rhythm for summer? Take a break altogether?
Do you want to schedule any events? Park nights, BBQs, trips, etc.?
Leaders, please email David your groups plans.
