The Great Adventure
Pastor Jeremy Helmuth
Sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22)
June 16-18, 2023
The MAKING of a GREAT Parent
When we become a parent, we have this pressure to give our children the best of everything. We want them to have every opportunity. We have a tremendous desire to set them up for success. If we aren’t discerning, we can falsely believe that the greatest thing we can do for our kids is to provide for them everything they want. But this account of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah teaches us the beauty of the greatest sacrifice of parenting.
God
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Discussion Questions
What is the Biggest “NO” you’ve said to your CHILD?
Share about a time in your life when you made the difficult decision to say “no” to your child so that God would be honored. How did God honor your decision? What is the hardest thing about being a parent? What is the hardest thing about being a child?
Is the Power of the RESURRECTION in this STORY?
“We will worship and then we will come back to you” (Genesis 22:5). What did Abraham mean when he told his servant these words? Did Abraham really believe that if he took Isaac’s life that God could resurrect his only son (Hebrews 11:19). Where would Abraham have gotten this idea? Do you have this kind of faith in Jesus Christ?
How do you know when God is TESTING you?
Discuss why God stated in the opening line that He was “testing” Abraham? Study the purpose of why God “tests” people (Deut 8:2; James 1:3; Psalm 11:4-5; 26:2; Jer 17:10; 20:12; Eccl 3:18; Prov 17:3; Isaiah 48:10; Job 7:17-18; Ezekiel 21:13; Zech 13:9; 1 Cor 3:13). When you are tested, what does God find out about your character?
Are you Putting Your Children BEFORE God?
What are the main areas of your life that you are putting your children or grandchildren in front of God? Or, if you are not a parent, what else could you be placing in front of God? What steps should you take to make sure your main priority is to worship God and not something or someone else?
Do you trust that God is your PROVIDER?
When you decide to honor God over “giving in” to what culture says is important, does God become “Yahweh Yireh” (God the Provider) to you in that situation (Phil 4:19; Deut 2:7; Mt 6:31-33; ? Why is it worth it to be loyal to God above any other human in your life?