In Genesis 38, we find one of the strangest and most shocking stories in Genesis. Judah proves himself to be self-righteous, hypocritical, and deceptive. But God is gracious to Judah and through him and his failures will ultimately bring the savior into the world. We walk through this story in two parts: 1) Judah’s Sons and 2) Judah’s Shame.

In Genesis 37, we find God’s wise providential hand working through the worst of Joseph’s experiences. God is always working in every detail of human history to accomplish his purposes for redemption. This will be abundantly clear through Joseph’s life and it is clear in our lives as well. We comfort ourselves and comfort one another in the providence of God. There are three main parts to this story: 1) Joseph’s dreams, 2) Joseph’s death, and 3) Jacob’s deception.

In Genesis 36 we find the genealogy of Esau. Genealogies have always helped to preserve the history and identity of ancient people. Esau’s lineage helps us remember that God is ultimately Lord over the nations. There are four features of this genealogy: 1) Esau’s wives, 2) Esau’s departure, 3) Esau’s multiplication, and 4) Esau’s Conquest.

In Genesis 35, God’s grace is very clear towards Jacob as the story of Genesis transitions our focus off Jacob onto his sons. We walk through this story in two parts: 1) gracious-renewal and 2) heartbreaking-sorrow.

In Genesis 34, we find the desecration of of Dinah and the vengeance of Israel. This text is meant to anchor our hope in the perfect justice of God and to work for as much righteousness as possible with the short life that we’ve been given. We also consider three applications: 1) we should respond appropriately to evil, 2) we should run from the wrath of God, and 3) we should rest in the justice of God.

In Genesis 31, Jacob flees from Laban by returning to the land of Canaan. Jacob begins his own exodus-like experience and through it all his faith continues to mature as he recognizes all the ways God has been faithful to his covenant. This text reminds us that every believer also experiences a New Exodus as we journey our way home to heaven and we must remember our identity as spiritual-pilgrims. We walk through this text in three parts: 1) The Procession to Canaan, 2) The Pursuit of Laban, and 3) The Protection of the LORD.

In Genesis 29.31 - Genesis 30, we find that sin has plagued Jacob’s household. And yet, through all the mess, God continues to prove that he is trustworthy and faithful to his covenant promises. We walk through this story in two main parts: 1) the multiplication of Jacob’s offspring and 2) the multiplication of Jacob’s possessions.

In Genesis 29.1-30, we find one of the most humiliating moments in the life of Jacob. And yet God sovereignly providentially works through this situation to both humble Jacob and to continue his plan to bring messiah into the world through his unwanted bride, Leah. So that ultimately, Jacob's humiliation points us forward to the humiliation of Christ. We walk through this story in two parts: 1) Jacob meets Rachel and Laban (1-14) and 2) Jacob marries Rachel and Leah (15-30).

In Genesis 28, we find that God’s grace comes to some of the worst of sinners as illustrated in God’s pursuit of Jacob. Jacob is not good guy and yet, God graciously reaffirms his covenant promises to him and this encounter will change Jacob forever. We walk through this story in three parts: 1) Jacob’s Departure, 2) Jacob’s Dream, and 3) Jacob’s Devotion.

In Genesis 27, we see how unchecked sin doesn’t just lead to dishonoring God, but to ruinning our relationships with one another. This story reminds us that we are all desperately in need of grace and that there are no heroes but God. We can see this all four parts of the sermon: 1) Rebekah Schemes Against Isaac, 2) Isaac Blesses Jacob, 3) Isaac Curses Esau, 4) Esau Schemes Against Jacob

This Sunday we took a break from Genesis to celebrate the gift of gospel partners as we had the privilege of having one of our international partners visiting us. In Philippians 1.3-30, there are four ways we see the blessing of faithful friends in the gospel. We see this through: 1) Paul’s Gratitude, 2) Paul’s Prayer, 3) Paul’s Suffering, and 4) Paul’s Charge.

In Genesis 26, the focus shifts away from Abraham to his son Isaac. This shifts helps reinforce that Isaac has now inherited his father’s covenant blessings and responsibilities, but more importantly we find four clear ways that God demonstrates his steadfast love for Isaac: 1) God’s Promises, 2) God’s Protection, 3) God’s Provision, and 4) God’s Peace.

In Genesis 25 we see God sovereignly-chooses which son preserves the line of promise and inherits his covenant-blessings. God chooses Isaac over Ishmael and the sons of Keturah and God chooses Jacob over Esau. None of these individuals did anything to earn or deserve God’s choice. All this highlights God’s electing-mercy in salvation – that you might grow in humble-confidence before our sovereign God. We see this in two parts: 1) the Sons of Abraham and 2) the Sons of Jacob.

In Genesis 24 we find the marriage of Issac and Rebekah. Through the events of this chapter, we can trace the providential hand of God working all things together for the good of his covenant people and his glory. And because of that, you really can trust in all the details of your life, he is actively working to care for you if you belong to him. This text can be broken down into four parts: 1) Abraham and the Servant, 2) the Servant and Rebekah, 3) the Servant and Rebekah’s Family, 4) Rebekah and Isaac.

In Genesis 23, we find Abraham honoring, the life, death, and legacy of Sarah, his bride. This story reminds us that all of us will leave a legacy behind when we’re gone. Sarah left behind a legacy of faith. The question is what will our legacy be? We walk through this narrative in four parts: 1) Sarah’s death, 2) Abraham’s possession, 3) Sarah’s burial, and 4) Sarah’s legacy.

In Genesis 22, we find God testing Abraham in order to confirm and strengthen his faith. This test will require the difficult act of obedience God had ever asked of Abraham. What we learn here is that God always graciously provides what he requires from his people. We walk through this story in three parts: 1) An Agonizing Obedience, 2) A Proven Faith, and 3) A Substitutionary Sacrifice.

This world will promise you peace. The problem is the world only offers temporal superficial and self-manufactured peace. The world cannot give you the kind of peace that you desperately need. In John 20.19-23 we see that only the resurrection of Jesus can bring us true and enduring peace with God.

In this world, we will continually be disappointed by broken promises. But in Genesis 21, God keeps his word to Abraham. We see this in each part of this story: 1) Isaac’s Birth, 2) Ishmael’s Exile, and 3) Abraham’s Sojourning. Through it all Genesis 21 teaches us that the everlasting God is the only perfect promise keeper, worthy of our complete trust.

In Genesis 20, we find one of the lowest points in Abraham’s spiritual life as he commits the same sin as he did in Genesis 12. Abraham’s failures are meant to drive the point home that salvation ultimately depends not on our faithfulness, but on God’s. Praise God that we are not saved by our own righteousness but by grace through faith. We walk through this story in four parts: 1) Abraham deceives Abimelech, 2) God warns Abimelech, 3) Abimelech obeys God, 4) God heals Abimelech.

This week we jump back into Genesis 19.23-38 thinking specifically about the wrath of God. There are many who want to deny the reality of God’s righteous anger against sin, but without it there is not justice, no mercy, no cross, no Christ, no Christianity, and no hope for the nations. God is wrathful and that is only good news for those who trust in Christ. There are two ways God’s wrath is revealed in our text: 1) the destruction of Sodom (23-29) and 2) the depravity of Lot’s daughters (30-38).