Genesis Part 4
Discussion Guide
Murder
March 27 | Genesis Series Part 4
Note for the Leader
The guide below is broken into three separate “discussion topics.” You will most likely not have time to cover all of the discussion topics during your gathering. Please read through each topic before you meet, prayerfully asking God to guide you to the topic (or topics) that would best serve your group.
Also, there is a “Before You Close” invitation and an Announcement at the bottom of this guide.
Overview
Genesis 4 tells the familiar origin story of Cain and Abel. Following a similar pattern as Genesis 3 (temptation - sin - consequences - God’s provision), this story explores Cain’s journey from firstborn to wanderer all in relationship to a God of both justice and mercy, who pursues and provides.
Discussion
Discussion Topic 1: Sharing Our Shadow
In the Cain and Abel story sin is not described as breaking the rules or missing the mark, but is described as energized or active: alive. “Sin is lurking at the door, its desire is for you” (Gen. 4:7). Sin is pictured as an enemy waiting for you, its desire to kill. It seems hidden and quiet and inactive, but will one day rob you of life if you don’t master it.
Do you have a crouching sin? Do you have a “shadow” or aspect of your personality that gets you into trouble? Share only at a level that is comfortable.
Do you have a friend/mentor/community who knows about your shadow and loves and supports you in it? Who grieves with you in losses, celebrates in victories. If not, have you had that at some point in your life? What was that experience like?
When someone brings their shadow or sin to you, how do you tend to respond? Do you tend lean heavier toward justice or mercy? How do you show someone (kids, spouse, roommate) support and love while also having a concern for right/wrong?
Discussion Topic 2: Processing Emotions
In the story, despite the pleas of God, Cain refuses to bring his lurking sin to the light and kills Abel. Toshi suggested that Cain killed Abel because he couldn’t kill God. How different would it be if Cain directed his anger toward God?
How do you tend to deal with or process your anger, bitterness, or sadness? What has worked well for you in the past? What has not worked?
In what ways can we bring our anger, bitterness, sadness, etc. to God before taking it out on our brother?
Is there a practice or spiritual discipline God might be inviting you to take on to help process your emotions with him?
Discussion Topic 3: Fading Dreams
It is easy, especially with a story like Cain and Abel, to overemphasize or dwell too long on our own sin, faults, and brokenness. Some of us maybe once had great dreams of the person we hoped to be or of God’s calling on our lives, but our struggle with sin has left us feeling unworthy or incapable, and those dreams have faded.
But as Toshi shared, “The great tragedy is not [the sin]. The great tragedy is that the evil one uses those things to strip you of a dream you once had.” Jesus’ death on the cross is the ultimate display of God’s mercy and his justice. Our past, present, and future sins have been paid for. Romans 8, “There is now no condemnation,” is not just the language of mercy, it’s the language of justice too.
Is there a dream you had for the person you thought you’d become or of God’s calling on your life? Where are you at today in relation to when you first had that dream?
Think back to a time when the good news of the gospel felt liberating. What were the circumstances? What was that experience like?
For many Christians, the reality or “good news” experience of the gospel comes and goes or feels different in different seasons throughout our lives. Where would you say you are at today? What spurs you on or gives you hope?
How can you invite God into your journey wrestling with dreams, disappointments, and experience of the good news? Is there something you could try this week?
Before You Close
Invite someone in your group to read Romans 8:1 & 8:37-39 as a prayer of blessing.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Announcements
Is anyone in your group interested in baptism? If yes, email their names to David or invite them to sign up at refugeabq.com by April 3rd.
Close in Prayer
Before you end your time, pray, asking the Spirit of God to fill and empower you. Take some time to pray for other prayer requests as they come up.
