A Life of Praise

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 24 to December 1

A Life of Praise. How does one praise God when life is in shambles? The focus of this week’s lesson is simply on the act of praising God in several “crucible” circumstances. Don’t worry about...

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Seeing the Invisible

• Lesson 8 for the week of November 17 to November 24

Seeing the Invisible. What is the difference between faith and hope? For Discussion: Hebrews 11:27: Moses sees the one who is invisible. Last week the focus was on hope; this week the focus is on...

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Indestructible Hope

• Lesson 7 for the week of November 10 to November 17

Indestructible Hope: To what extent can a believer hope with certainty? Or does “hope” always imply a gap between expectation and certainty? For Discussion: To what extent can a believer hope with certainty? Or does...

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Struggling With All Energy

• Lesson 6 for the week of November 3 to November 10

Struggling With All Energy. When you successfully struggle through a problem to safe ground, who gets the credit: you, God, or both? For Discussion: In assessing the role of the human and role of the...

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Extreme Heat

• Lesson 5 for the week of October 27 to November 3

Extreme Heat. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. What would be the modern equivalent to that test? Or is there one? For Discussion: Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac. Is there a modern equivalent...

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Seeing the Goldsmith’s Face

• Lesson 4 for the week of October 20 to October 27

Seeing the Goldsmith”s Face. When preparing his children for the kingdom, does God press the process of refinement to the point of absolute perfection? For Discussion: The title for our discussion this week is suggested...

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The Birdcage

• Lesson 3 for the week of October 13 to October 20

The Birdcage. To what extent are our sufferings a gift from God to help us grow and mature? For Discussion: The official study guide for this lesson uses a 19th century story as the keynote...

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The Crucibles That Come

• Lesson 2 for the week of October 6 to October 13

The Crucibles That Come. When troubles come our way, is it a good idea to try and find out the reasons why we are in trouble? The purpose of this week’s discussion is to survey...

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The Shepherd’s Crucible

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 29 to October 6

The Shepherd’s Crucible. Would you rather escape the fire, simply survive it, or actually be refined? Our GOOD WORD discussions for the next three months focus on the difficult times in life and how these...

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The End of the Beginning

• Lesson 13 for the week of December 23 to December 30

Read: Genesis 41:42 – 50:26 The book of Genesis closes with powerful examples of forgiveness and providence. Yet it is also a story that reveals the lingering effects of sin even after forgiveness has been...

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From Prison Cell to Palace

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 16 to December 23

Read: Genesis 37:2 – 41:40 Discussion themes and questions: The story of Joseph is one in which an overriding providence carries Joseph through a series of heartbreaking setbacks to a remarkable position of honor. The...

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Jacob becomes Israel

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 9 to December 16

Read: Genesis 25:19 – 29:30 Crooked Jacob, still haunted by his flawed genes and chromosomes, is still being blessed by God. And as he nears his homeland again, Jacob tussles with God until he receives...

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The Price of Duplicity

• Lesson 10 for the week of December 2 to December 9

Read: Genesis 25:19 – 29:30 The whole family knew how to cheat: Jacob cheated his brother and lied to his father; Jacob’s uncle, Laban, deceived both his daughters and Jacob by switching them on the...

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The Triumph of Faith

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 25 to December 2

Read: Genesis 20:1 – 25:10 The last years of Abraham’s life are a collage of failures, triumphs, and tragedies. He fails the test of honesty with Abimelech; he passes the test of loyalty on Mt....

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