The Blessing of Forgiveness

5 Now Lot, who was moving about with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.

7 And quarreling arose between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.
- Genesis 13:5-7

1 Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar.

2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.
- Genesis 26:1-2

12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.

13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.

14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.

15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up,filling them with earth.

16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”
- Genesis 26:12-16

25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized.

26 But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”

27 So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty.
- Genesis 21:25-27

19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.

20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him
- Genesis 26:19-20

Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.  
- Genesis 26:21

26 Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.  
- Ephesians 4:26-27

15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau.
- Hebrews 12:15-16

He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”
- Genesis 26:22

26 Meanwhile, Abimelek had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces.

27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?”

28 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’
- Genesis 26:26-28

30 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31 Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they went away peacefully.
32 That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “We’ve found water!” 33 He called it Shibah…
- Genesis 26:30-33

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Mixer

What was your dream job as a child - and what do you do now?

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

1. In Pastor Harry’s 9/28 entry, Going Green, he reminds us that we “can still do the right thing even in the worst conditions.” David did. Jesus did. The Olive Tree does. What about you? What will you say the next time someone cuts you down, cuts you off, or cuts you any way they want?
2. In Pastor Pam’s 10/2 entry, Slow and Steady, she asks us to re-evaluate the speed in which we are living our lives - and how slow and steady is the mark of a disciple. Begin to read the Psalms of Ascent (120-134) this week, and learn ways that allow for spiritual growth in your life.

Sermon Questions

Scriptures: Genesis 13:5-7; 21:25; 26:1-2, 12-16, 19-22, 26-28, 30-33; 4:26-27; Hebrews 12:15-16

1. How do you think Abram’s (Abraham’s) faith played into his handling of the quarrel between himself and Lot in Genesis 13? How do you typically respond in a similar quarrelsome situation?
2. As a group, read Genesis 26. What does it teach us about the path from jealousy to forgiveness? Who do you identify with, Isaac or Abimelech, and why?
3. Pastor Jared said to pay attention to our jealousy because “Jealousy hides itself in our moral superiority.” Is this true or false for you, and why? (Pastor Jared’s example: Walking into the room and thinking “Where did they get their money...?”)
4. Like Hebrews 12:15-17 tells us, a bitter root causes trouble. What is the healing that needs to be done so you know that you have truly moved from a place of unforgiveness to forgiveness?
5. Have you offered yourself forgiveness?
6. How do you know you have completely accepted the forgiveness and the freedom that comes through Christ?

Go Deeper - with Goodbook

Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Sermon on the Mount | Session 4 | The Power of Transforming Love (Matthew 5:38-48)

1. What is our natural tendency when others hurt or attack us? What are some examples of this from society or from the media (movies, etc.)?
2. What does Jesus say you should do when someone slaps you on one cheek? When they seek to take away your possessions? Does this seem unreasonable?
3. In what way does the command, “an eye for an eye,” actually demand justice instead of vengeance? In what way is the government God’s agent for justice?
4. What does it mean that transforming love takes the offensive? What are some ways we might overcome evil with good?
5. Is biblical love a feeling or an action? Why is this important with reference to the command to love your enemies?
6. In what way did God demonstrate his love for his enemies?

For the Zoom link to join the Tuesday Night 7:30pm online Q & A sessions: ken@thechurchrb.org

Serve

Mark your calendars! Serve Day is coming up on November 20th! More info to come!

Pray

This week, The Church at RB’s impact team is in Houston, Texas, joining in the efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Katrina since 2014. May God resource the team, keep them safe and healthy, and may these efforts be received in Houston as blessings directly from God. May His Glory be seen by all!

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

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