There are many things that we are in pursuit of today. Whether we pursue a spouse, dating relationship, career, financial success, or more, these things can become all-consuming if we let them. Today we are going to see as we study the Bible together that there is a better way. After all, Scripture calls us to pursue God above anything and everything else.
Who is a couple whose relationship you admire? What stands out to you about their marriage?
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some things you see people pursuing in their lives today?
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2. Read Genesis 24:1-9. Why do you think finding a wife of character was so important to Abraham?
Genesis 24:1-9 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?” “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.” So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
Genesis 24:1-9
Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
“No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.
3. How did Abraham and his servant refuse to settle in this story?
4. Read Genesis 24:12-20. What does Rebekah’s response to Abraham’s servant’s request show about trusting in God’s plan?
Genesis 24:12-20
“O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
“Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
Application
1. We were encouraged in the weekend sermon to become the person we are looking for. How is this applicable to both those who are looking for a spouse and those who are married?
2. If you are married, what are some things that you can do to ensure that you don’t settle in your relationship? If you are single, what are ways you can refuse to settle in your relationships?
3. What might be one way this week that you can honor God with your life and your relationships?
We must pursue God ourselves before we can pursue a spouse or have a thriving relationship with Christ. So take some time now to evaluate your relationship with God. Are you pursuing God about everything else? What is one thing that you want to do this week to pursue God about everything else?
Ephesians 5 is a passage of Scripture that gives us instructions and advice for relationships, specifically relationships between husbands and wives. However, before diving into instructions for husbands and wives in Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul, the author of the book of Ephesians, gives us instructions for everyone in the body of Christ. Today, we will look at this instruction and discover the call all followers of Christ have to live a lifestyle of submission.
Read Ephesians 5:21.
· How would you define the word submit? (Look up a dictionary definition if you need help!)
· What is unique about the submission described in this verse?
· Based on this verse, what is the basis for the submission we are called to show each other?
The call of Christ-followers in these verses is to submit to each other out of reverence, or respect, for Christ. Even more, Christ has provided us the ultimate example of what it looks like to submit. After all, He came to earth and laid down His life in obedience to God the Father to rescue humanity from our sins. Let’s look at Scripture, where we read about Jesus’s submission.
· Read Mark 14:32-36. How did Jesus express submission in these verses? What was the end result of His submission?
· Read Philippians 2:5-8, which gives us further detail of Jesus' attitude of submission. How do these verses describe Jesus’ submission?
· Did Jesus’ submission to God the Father limit or reduce who He was in any way? Why or why not?
After reading the verses above, let’s think about our own lives.
· What do you think it looks like in today’s world to “submit to one another?”
· As “the body of Christ,” why is this submission vital for the church to remain strong?
Now that you all have discussed the call in Scripture for followers of Christ to “submit to one another,” let’s take a look at our own lives. How are you all “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” in your small group, friendships, families, work, and beyond? What’s going well? What needs improvement. What is one way that you all can work toward living this lifestyle of submission that Scripture describes this week?
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2
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