Maadi Women's Bible Study

11. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 4-5 Life Outside of the Garden)

Questions

1. Are there examples in your life where you take a gift or resource given by God and turn it into a possession that you have earned or created?
2. Knowing that repentance is of such great importance to God and yet such a challenge to our sinful nature how can we develop and practice a spirit of godly repentance?
3. Sin doesn’t just affect personal lives but affects and shapes culture. Discuss examples of this and its effect.

10. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 1:14-19, 2:1 Understanding the Cosmic Lands)cape of Genesis

Questions

1. Do you find a more populated and active spiritual realm bothersome or appealing to your own spiritual journey?

2. What is something new or conflicting with your previous understanding of the spiritual realm?

 

9. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 3:14-24 Curse and Consequence)

Questions

1. Have you ever felt like God wasn’t for you, that He didn’t have your best in mind? If so, how did that belief affect your choices and behavior?
2. How are you struggling with the effects of the Fall right now? Sin’s temptation affects everyone differently. Maybe you:

o Are frustrated at work that your “ground” isn’t producing the way it should despite your “toil.”

o Dominated by physical pain or suffering in your life.

o Are feeling tension in marriage relationship

 

8. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 2:24-3:7 Rebellion part 2)

Questions

1. “Eve saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye so she reached out and took.” How is this sinful pattern still at work in our lives today? (Key thoughts: overstepping boundaries, things that look good, things that seem to serve my need or purpose)

2. How has fear of vulnerability and shame affected your marriage and/or friendships?

3. How have you experienced Christ healing you in the area of shame and fear?

7. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 3:1-7 Did God Really Say...?)

Questions

1. What ideas have you heard today that challenge the familiar Rebellion Story that you have always believed? Does it make the story more or less potent and valid?
2. What did the serpent achieve by asking the question, “Did God really say…?” How might we experience a similar temptation in our lives today?
3. What were the positive aspects of the fruit that attracted Eve (3:6)? What was her mistake in pursuing these positive things? Have you made similar mistakes in your life?

6. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 2:4-24 The Garden IN Eden)

Questions

Read the passage out loud and try and draw out 5 new observations.

With this new understanding of Eden how does this affect your understanding of “Heaven?”

5. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 2:1-3 Keeping God's Rhythm)

Questions

1. Discuss the idea of “time” and your relationship with it. Consider ways that you demonstrate that time is your possession. 

2. Where has your management or concept of time hurt your relationship with other people? With God?

4. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 1:26-28 Invitation to Partner with God)

Questions on the Image of God

In Psalm 8, the poet is reflecting on humanity’s identity and calling to rule creation with God. He ponders how weak and “low” humans are compared to the stars and the heavenly beings, yet God is pleased to partner and share his glory with them.

Question 1:

Read verses 4-5 again and reflect on what stands out to you the most.

Question 2:

In this poem, humans are both weak and tiny, but also glorious and capable. Do you see yourself this way? What would change if you did?

Question 3:

What do you think it says about God that he invites humans to rule with him?

3. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 1:14- 31 Inhabiting the Space)

c. Questions

1. How does seeing the design and intentionality of the writer telling this story impact your understanding of God, or the Scriptures?
2. Can you see in your thinking where you are guilty of unconscious chronological snobbery?
3. Does anything we have discussed today or in past feel conflicting or threatening to your way of previous understanding? 

2. The Seedbed of Scripture (Genesis 1:1-13 Space and Place)

The liturgy that we opened with

In the midst of whatever follows, O Lord, let me meet your mercies anew, and anew, and anew.

In the midst of my dismay, fix my eyes again and again upon your eternal promises.

How this ends—that is up to you.

If the next news is favorable, I will praise you for the ongoing gift of life. If tomorrow’s tidings are worse, still will I proclaim your goodness, my heart anchored ever more firmly in the eternal joys you have set before me.

And when, whether days or decades from now, you finally bid me rise and follow you across the last valley, I will rejoice

in your faithfulness even there.

Especially there—

praying Thy will be done, and trusting by faith that it will be done. That it is being done. Even now.

Even in this disquiet.

I am utterly yours, O Christ.

In the midst of this uncertainty,

I abandon myself again to you, the author and the object of all my truest hopes.

Amen

A LITURGY FOR

Seasons of Uncertainty

COPYRIGHT © 2020 DOUGLAS MCKELVEY

Discussion Questions

1. What is something that struck you as new or useful in your understanding of creation and God’s work?

2.   How have you or do you see God working disorder into order in 

      your life?

3.   How can we pray for you this week?