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Life Groups Week of February 14, 2010 – Genesis 37:2-11 – “Joseph’s Dreams”

(This story will not be covered in a Sunday morning message.  Ken and Debbie Blackwell, missionaries in Guinea, West Africa, will be sharing with us on Sunday, February 21.)

* Please note that a good number of questions are provided below for you to choose from as you lead the group in learning and discussion.  Feel very free to pursue different angles the Holy Spirit provides you as you prepare!

WELCOME

COFFEE / FELLOWSHIP TIME

TRANSITION TO GROUP SHARING

Bridge to the story with this transition:  We’ve been covering a series of messages entitled, “I AM the God You Can Trust”  Tonight we begin to look at the life of Joseph, which begins in Genesis 37:2-11 – “Joseph’s Dreams”

OPEN - You might try asking a few questions prior to the story to prime people’s imaginations:

When you were a kid, did anyone ever tattle on you at school?  What had happened?  How did you feel toward the “tattler”?

Have you ever had to “blow the whistle” on anyone in your work place? 

TELL THE STORY: Genesis 37:2-11 – “Joseph’s Dreams”

Open your Bible to Genesis 37:2-11 – holding it open in your lap.  This indicates that it is God’s story, not just your own.  Tell the story - “Joseph’s Dreams”

RE-BUILD THE STORY FROM SCRIPTURE – Genesis 37:2-11 – “Joseph’s Dreams”

Have the group members open their Bibles and re-tell the story chronologically using the scripture.  Look for key points that might have been left out or details that might not have been correct.  You might facilitate this by asking questions such as, Who are the characters in the story?  Where are they?  What are some of the key details?  What responses do people have?

DIG – 

These questions are designed to help people wrestle with the story and the lessons that God has for us: 

Imagine the scene of Joseph tending the flock with his brothers:  Joseph was 17.  Turn to Genesis 30.  What were the names of his brothers?  How much older were they?

The story tells us that he brought back a “bad report” to his father?  What do you think his brothers were up to?  What motivated Joseph to do this?

Why was Joseph a favorite son?  Where had he learned to treat one child preferentially over the others?

Israel (Jacob) gave Joseph a special outfit.  How might parents give preferential treatment to children today?  How might that make the other children feel?

What does the phrase “adding insult to injury” mean?  How does that relate to what happened next?

Describe the dreams Joseph had.  Do you think he should have kept them to himself?

What is the significance of the details of the second dream?  Why does his father step in?

What do you think it means when it says, “His father kept the matter in mind”? 

Look at Genesis 43, especially verse 28.  What had come to pass?

REFLECT - 

These questions are intended to help develop deeper discussions about how the story applies to our personal lives.

When God wants to give you a special message, how does he do it:

-       Through the scripture?

-       Through dreams?

-       Through circumstances?

-       Through a vision?

-       Through friends?

-       Through the Holy Spirit?

-       Through a message at church?

What special messages has God given to you in the past and how did they come to pass?

What is one of the wildest dreams that you would love for God to bring about?

Where are you battling with envy or jealousy?

PRAYER TIME – Based on tonight’s discussion, how might the group pray for you?  What “BIG PRAYER” has your group come up with?

FOCUS ON SERVICE – A couple of opportunities for service are listed on the web site.  From the home page, click on the box “Outreach/Serve”.  From there, go to “iMissoula” to get some ideas!  Other ideas:  take a walk down your block.  Is anyone in need of your groups help?  How could you serve someone in the name of Jesus?

WRAP UP/DISMISSAL