Read an Excerpt
The Grand Sweep Leader Guide
365 Days From Genesis Through Revelation
By J. Ellsworth Kalas Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5018-3649-7
CHAPTER 1
GUIDES FOR GROUPS MEETING WEEKLY
Weekly study groups might meet during the Sunday school hour or for an hour on a weekday or weeknight. Some weekly groups may decide to meet longer than an hour. Study and discussion during the weekly meeting will concentrate on the Scripture participants have read during the previous week and on their written responses in The Grand Sweep.
All weekly session guides include the same elements and follow the same sequence of activity (see page 4). Adhering to time allotments indicated for each element in the session guides will enable the group to give attention to the large portions of Scripture being studied. More procedures are provided than can be used in the times allotted. Choose and adapt accordingly.
Use time efficiently by writing the instructions and questions on large sheets of paper ahead of time and displaying them for easy reference as you move from one activity to another.
In selecting a location for groups to meet, keep in mind the need of participants to have space to spread out their Bibles, The Grand Sweep, and writing materials.
Weekly meeting guides are designated by the week number that corresponds to the week number for the material in The Grand Sweep: 365 Days From Genesis Through Revelation. The Scripture reference under the week number indicates the block of Scripture covered in the week's assigned reading.
* * *
Week 1 GENESIS 1–13
FOLLOWING THE BIBLICAL STORY
(10 minutes)
Follow the sequence of the biblical story from its beginning to the settling of Abraham in Hebron (Genesis 1–13). In groups of four or six, work through the Scriptures chapter by chapter to identify where and how God acts. Identify the people in the story and describe how they act and react. Trace the course of the ongoing conversation between God and human beings. When is the communication going well, and when and why does it falter? Where are the signs of hope in the story?
OPENING SCRIPTURE TOGETHER
(15 minutes)
Explore the Cain and Abel story. Ask someone to read Genesis 4 aloud while others follow in their Bibles. Then in groups of three or four, study the chapter using these questions: How are the various kinds of alienation introduced in earlier chapters at work in this story? Where do you see the consequences of the sin of Eden? What understandings of God and God's relationship to people do you draw from this story? What would you like to ask God about this account of Cain and Abel? Where do you see evidence of God's grace extended to human beings? Recall insights into this story from your reading of the daily and weekly commentary on Scripture.
SCRIPTURE DAY BY DAY
(20 minutes)
Form pairs or threes to talk about the responses called for in The Grand Sweep to each of the week's Scripture passages. Quickly review the Scripture assignment for Day 1. Read the question or direction and allow persons to say how they responded to the question or direction. Follow the same procedure for Days 2–7, reviewing Scripture, reading the question, and responding in turn individually. Keep an eye on time in order to cover the seven questions in twenty minutes.
SEEING LIFE THROUGH SCRIPTURE
(10 minutes)
Consider what it means to be made in the image of God. Work in pairs. Begin by silently scanning the two accounts of Creation in Genesis 12. Then describe to each other the God portrayed in these chapters. What constitutes God's image? What is God like? Now talk about the responses each person made to the questions and comments in this section of The Grand Sweep. Join another pair and continue the discussion using these questions: What do we mean when we speak of God as person? What is the relationship between our understanding of the personhood of God and the way we define who we are as persons? In what sense is sabbath the basis for successfully living in God's image? What clues about the promise and the difficulty of living in God's image come out of the stories that follow the Creation accounts? How do the concepts of God as a covenant maker, a giver and keeper of promises, and a demander of accountability relate to how we live as human beings in relation to others? How does a person intent on expressing God's image live in a world at odds with God's purposes? What are the priorities?
PRAYER TIME
(5 minutes)
Lead the group in a brief time of directed prayer. Concentrate on praise to the Creator for the good creation and on seeking guidance in faithfully expressing the image of God. Invite sentence prayers from the group.
Close the session by reading aloud together "The Sum of It All."
* * *
Week 2 GENESIS 14–27
FOLLOWING THE BIBLICAL STORY
(10 minutes)
Concentrate on the covenant relationship between God and Abraham. To get the story in mind, work in groups of three or four to identify the various persons who appear in Genesis 14–27. Recall how the persons are related and how they fit into the covenant promise. Then consider what is included in the covenant. Locate and list the various promises God makes to Abraham. What is the sign of the covenant? What actions do you see God and Abraham taking to protect the covenant and to care for its future? What concerns, actions, or requests of Abraham and Sarah indicate times of difficulty in trusting God's promises? How does the story of Sarah and Hagar fit into the ongoing relationship of God, Abraham, and covenant? What points are being made through this story? What gave the relationship between God and Abraham such strength that it could tolerate doubting, questioning, testing? What is the significance of Abraham's purchase of a burial plot for Sarah?
Now review Isaac's story from God's promise of Isaac through Isaac's blessing of Jacob. Why, do you think, did Abraham plead with God to consider Ishmael his heir? What was behind God's insistence that the covenant would be carried by Isaac? How is the story of Isaac's near-sacrifice more about Abraham and God than about Isaac? What was at issue? Why did Abraham insist his servant go get a wife for Isaac rather than sending Isaac himself? At what point does the promise pass from Abraham to Isaac?
OPENING SCRIPTURE TOGETHER
(15 minutes)
In the total group, hear Genesis 18:1-33 read aloud. Then in pairs or threes work on the passage a few verses at a time: 18:1-8, 9-15, 16-21, 22-33. Use these questions to guide the study of each group of verses: What is going on here? What is the mood or tone of the passage? Where and how is the covenant present? What insights do you get into the relationship between God and Abraham? Then discuss these questions in relation to the whole passage: Where do you see evidence of God's regard for Abraham? What glimpses do you get of God's patience? How do you account for Abraham's boldness in confronting and bargaining with God?
SCRIPTURE DAY BY DAY
(20 minutes)
Work through the responses called for in the The Grand Sweep. In pairs or threes read the question or direction for Day 1. Together recall the Scripture that lies behind the question or direction. Then hear each person respond individually. Follow the same procedure for Days 2–7, always keeping the question or direction connected to the biblical context.
SEEING LIFE THROUGH SCRIPTURE
(10 minutes)
Consider how we all move ahead and fall back in our faith struggle. Ask group members to decide which person from this week's Scripture they most identify with in their faith struggle. Instruct them to choose one event in that person's life through which to look at their own life. Allow time for silent reflection. Instruct groups of three to tell one another which person they chose and what they learned from that person's faith struggle. Then discuss some of these questions: At what points in your life do you find your faith wavering? When are you most aware of inconsistencies in how you live your faith? When, if ever, are you aware of God's dealing with your inconsistencies? What most convinces you that God uses persons in spite of their mistakes and weaknesses? How do you react to the fact that the Bible doesn't hide the truth about the people it portrays? Hear persons' written responses or reflections from this section of The Grand Sweep.
PRAYER TIME
(5 minutes)
Invite persons to pray silently for someone they know who is wavering or searching in their faith. Then lead the group in thanking God for God's faithfulness in our moments of weakness, for grace when resolve fails, and for strength to make new commitments to obedience.
Close the session by reading aloud together "The Sum of It All."
* * *
Week 3 GENESIS 28–45
FOLLOWING THE BIBLICAL STORY
(10 minutes)
Concentrate first on Jacob and his relationships with family. Trace the various relationships as they weave through the Jacob story. To whom does he relate? What is the nature of each relationship? How does Jacob operate in the relationship? How would you describe his relationships? By looking at the many sides of Jacob in his various relationships, what kind of person do you think he was? What was the effect of the importance of children in these relationships? Talk about how God is also at work in the lives of those to whom Jacob relates.
Next trace Jacob's relationship with God through the events in his life as described in Genesis 28–36. How is God working in Jacob's life? How would you describe the intimacy of the relationship between God and Jacob? How would you describe the kind of tension in their relationship? When does the covenant promise pass to Jacob? Where do you see God at work keeping the covenant alive? What sense do you have that God does not overlook Jacob's shortcomings?
Work in groups of four to express in a litany the providence of God at work in Joseph's life. List key events in Joseph's life. Use this refrain after mention of each event: The Lord was with Joseph, and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper. Read the litany as a total group.
OPENING SCRIPTURE TOGETHER
(15 minutes)
Read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37 twice. Read it the first time in pairs to identify the sequence of events. Then join another pair and read the story a second time identifying all emotional undercurrents. Discuss these questions: How were the brothers, Joseph, and Jacob all experiencing alienation? What is the price of such alienation? Where do you see one wrong compounded by another? Why is it so difficult in a family to admit to and talk openly about emotional undercurrents? If we didn't know the outcome of the story, what could we say about God at work here? How does this story fit into the overall story of God's covenant plan being worked out?
SCRIPTURE DAY BY DAY
(20 minutes)
Form two groups for hearing persons' responses to the questions and directions in The Grand Sweep. Ask Group 1 to concentrate on responses for Days 1–4 and Group 2 on Days 5–7. Hear responses from each person in each group for the assigned days.
SEEING LIFE THROUGH SCRIPTURE
(10 minutes)
Explore the idea that God is involved in personal and national history. In groups of three or four, hear persons' reflections and responses in this section in The Grand Sweep. Discuss the questions that appear there. Continue by describing together the various times and ways we confront or are confronted by God. How do we expect to come away from such confrontations? Unchanged? always happy? sometimes chastened? When have you been aware of God at work in your life putting you in the right place at the right time? In what sense do you consider your life a guided life? When do you particularly sense God's guidance in your life?
PRAYER TIME
(5 minutes)
Begin with a period of silent prayer for seeking God's guidance and comfort for resolving family conflicts or experiences of alienation. Invite personal requests before praying. Express thanks to God for the providence of God that goes before us and is at work behind and through the events of our lives.
Close the session by reading aloud together "The Sum of It All."
* * *
Week 4 GENESIS 46 — EXODUS 12
FOLLOWING THE BIBLICAL STORY
(10 minutes)
This is a good time to look back over the story of the biblical family from a geographical perspective. Use the maps that appear in people's Bibles or have several Bible atlases or display maps available. Trace the movement of the people from the call of Abraham to the settling of Jacob's family in Egypt (Genesis 11:26–50:26). Scan the chapters to identify key locations in the story of this biblical family and the key events that take God's people from one place to another. Work in pairs or threes. Notice that Jacob's going to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus centuries later.
Then recall and list the promises God made to Abraham that were passed on to Isaac and Jacob. What is the status of each of the promises at the time of Jacob's and Joseph's death?
Make connections between the events in the closing chapters of Genesis and the developments in the opening chapters of Exodus. How did the passage of four centuries affect the family of Jacob? What happened in those four hundred years that created the situation at the opening of Exodus? How did the four hundred years shape Israel's identity? If God was at work during those four hundred years, why does the Bible make a point to say God remembered his covenant and took notice of the Israelites? God is the real actor in the Exodus. What is God's purpose as God works with Moses and Aaron and Pharaoh? What message does God want them to have about who God is?
OPENING SCRIPTURE TOGETHER
(15 minutes)
Hear the story of Passover in Exodus 12:1-42 read aloud. Then ask groups of three or four to reread the story and make note of what they see, what they hear, and what they feel as the event unfolds. Next try to imagine what the people who were there saw, heard, and felt in the experience. Think of the Passover as the birth of the nation of Israel. What power does the memory of Passover have to tell the Israelites who they are? where they came from? where they are going?
SCRIPTURE DAY BY DAY
(20 minutes)
Form pairs or threes to respond to the questions and directions for Days 1–7 in The Grand Sweep. Hear from each person in turn. Then together consider the idea that God's purposes are almost always achieved through persons. What meaning does that fact have for you?
SEEING LIFE THROUGH SCRIPTURE
(10 minutes)
The Israelites and their ancestors experienced Exodus as salvation. Other terms are also used to describe that experience. In the total group talk about the different shades of meanings in these words: deliverance, freedom, redemption, salvation. Then in pairs consider the concept of salvation as being set free from sin. Discuss these questions: What does the word sin mean to you? How do people experience bondage to sin? When have you experienced a deep sense of your own capacity for sin and evil? How and when do you confront your sin? Also consider the ideas in this section of The Grand Sweep.
PRAYER TIME
(5 minutes)
Invite persons to pray for openness to hear God's call and for eyes to see God at work. Name and pray for people God is working through.
Close the session by reading aloud together "The Sum of It All."
* * *
Week 5 EXODUS 13–33
FOLLOWING THE BIBLICAL STORY
(10 minutes)
Exodus 13–33 shows God at work shaping a people. Divide the chapters among the group members. Ask them to review the assigned chapter(s) individually looking for ways God is shaping a people. Then in the total group hear what persons discovered about God's shaping actions. Discuss some of these questions: What clues do you get about how God feels toward the people? How does God speak to and about the people? When does God clearly act to carry out the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What roles does Moses play in God's shaping a people? How are the laws given to the people in the wilderness a window into their distinctiveness as a people? What makes this people distinct? How do these laws reflect a unique relationship between the people and God? What characterizes the life lived under God?
OPENING SCRIPTURE TOGETHER
(15 minutes)
To get some sense of how difficult the Exodus experience was for everyone involved, try reading Exodus 32:1-24, 30-35 from different perspectives. Begin by asking someone to read the passage aloud while others follow in the Bible. Then form four groups. Ask Group 1 to study the passage from the perspective of the people; Group 2, from the perspective of Aaron; Group 3, from the perspective of Moses; Group 4, from the perspective of God. Try to get some understanding of how difficult was the struggle to become a nation faithful to God. Then in the total group, hear what each group discovered through its study of the passage.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Grand Sweep Leader Guide by J. Ellsworth Kalas. Copyright © 2016 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
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