2 Cities Church Podcast Jeff Struecker

Big Idea: What happens when we follow God’s leading and not the world around us?



In the Beginning: Jacob

Genesis 31:1-21



I. Situational awareness matters 1-3

Now Jacob heard what Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s and has built this wealth from what belonged to our father.” And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before. The Lord said to him, “Go back to the land of your ancestors and to your family, and I will be with you.”



 II. Know the facts and talk it out 4-16

Jacob had Rachel and Leah called to the field where his flocks were. He said to them, “I can see from your father’s face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me. You know that with all my strength I have served your father and that he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not let him harm me. If he said, ‘The spotted sheep will be your wages,’ then all the sheep were born spotted. If he said, ‘The streaked sheep will be your wages,’ then all the sheep were born streaked. God has taken away your father’s herds and given them to me. “When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females. In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ and I said, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see: all the males that are mating with the flocks are streaked, spotted, and speckled, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’ ” Then Rachel and Leah answered him, “Do we have any portion or inheritance in our father’s family? Are we not regarded by him as outsiders? For he has sold us and has certainly spent our purchase price. In fact, all the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So do whatever God has said to you.”



III. Finish strong 17-21

So Jacob got up and put his children and wives on the camels. He took all the livestock and possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, and he drove his herds to go to the land of Canaan, to his father Isaac. When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, not telling him that he was fleeing. He fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.



So What? 


Life is hard
God is always there
The choice to listen and act rests with us



Next Steps: 


Believe - I surrender my all to the glory of God and in faith to King Jesus.
Become - I will seek to find where God is moving in my life and align with His movement.
Be Sent - I will live out obedience in my actions and follow Him wherever He leads.



Growth Group Questions: 


When did your faith compel you to stand out against the crowd?
What are some examples of situations where it can be challenging to follow God's leading instead of the world around you? 
How can you develop situational awareness to discern whether we are following God's leading or the world's? 
What are some benefits of following God's leading even when it goes against the norm? 
How can you effectively relate to others when you are following God's leading when they don’t understand or agree with you? 
What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith and courage to step out from the crowd and follow God's leading?
Pray for the Holy Spirit to use us to demonstrate what a life lived for Jesus looks like to the world around us.

Big Idea: Healthy boundaries are gates, not fences. 



In the Beginning: Jacob

Genesis 30:25-43



I. Set boundaries around what is most important. 25-28

After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me on my way so that I can return to my homeland. Give me my wives and my children that I have worked for, and let me go. You know how hard I have worked for you.” But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor with you, stay. I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” Then Laban said, “Name your wages, and I will pay them.”

 

II. Boundaries hold everyone accountable.   29-36

So Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you and how your herds have fared with me. For you had very little before I came, but now your wealth has increased. The Lord has blessed you because of me. And now, when will I also do something for my own family?” Laban asked, “What should I give you?” And Jacob said, “You don’t need to give me anything. If you do this one thing for me, I will continue to shepherd and keep your flock. Let me go through all your sheep today and remove every sheep that is speckled or spotted, every dark-colored sheep among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the female goats. Such will be my wages. In the future when you come to check on my wages, my honesty will testify for me. If I have any female goats that are not speckled or spotted, or any lambs that are not black, they will be considered stolen.” “Good,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” That day Laban removed the streaked and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats—every one that had any white on it—and every dark-colored one among the lambs, and he placed his sons in charge of them. He put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob. Jacob, meanwhile, was shepherding the rest of Laban’s flock.



III. Givers must set boundaries because takers never do. 37-43

Jacob then took branches of fresh poplar, almond, and plane wood, and peeled the bark, exposing white stripes on the branches. He set the peeled branches in the troughs in front of the sheep—in the water channels where the sheep came to drink. And the sheep bred when they came to drink. The flocks bred in front of the branches and bore streaked, speckled, and spotted young. Jacob separated the lambs and made the flocks face the streaked sheep and the completely dark sheep in Laban’s flocks. Then he set his own stock apart and didn’t put them with Laban’s sheep. Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob placed the branches in the troughs, in full view of the flocks, and they would breed in front of the branches. As for the weaklings of the flocks, he did not put out the branches. So it turned out that the weak sheep belonged to Laban and the stronger ones to Jacob. And the man became very rich. He had many flocks, female and male slaves, and camels and donkeys.



Next Steps: 


Believe: I need God’s help to remove the boundary I’ve set over my soul.
Become: I need the Holy Spirit’s help to set healthy boundaries this week.
Be Sent: This week, I will set boundaries on my time to better serve Jesus.



Growth Group Questions: 


What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy boundaries? 
How do you identify when your boundaries are being violated?
How can setting healthy boundaries improve your relationships with others over time? 
What are some effective ways to communicate your boundaries without making them sound like an attack? 
What does a lack of appropriate boundaries say about your self-respect?
What are some relationship clues that demonstrate it’s time to set a healthy boundary?
Pray and surrender every relationship to the authority of the Holy Spirit.

Big Idea: 4 rules to overcome Envy & Every Enjoyment Vexes You.



In the Beginning: Jacob

Genesis 30:1-24



I. Everyone’s success doesn’t make you a failure 1-8

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God? He has withheld offspring from you!” Then she said, “Here is my maid Bilhah. Go sleep with her, and she’ll bear children for me so that through her I too can build a family.” So Rachel gave her slave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife, and he slept with her. Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; yes, he has heard me and given me a son,” so she named him Dan. Rachel’s slave Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Rachel said, “In my wrestlings with God, I have wrestled with my sister and won,” and she named him Naphtali.”

 

II. Nothing can satisfy your soul but Jesus 9-13

When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took her slave Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. Leah’s slave Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “What good fortune!” and she named him Gad. When Leah’s slave Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, Leah said, “I am happy that the women call me happy,” so she named him Asher.



III.Vent to the Holy Spirit 14-21

Reuben went out during the wheat harvest and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother Leah, Rachel asked, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But Leah replied to her, “Isn’t it enough that you have taken my husband? Now you also want to take my son’s mandrakes?” “Well then,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So Jacob slept with her that night. God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my slave to my husband,” and she named him Issachar. Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. “God has given me a good gift,” Leah said. “This time my husband will honor me because I have borne six sons for him,” and she named him Zebulun. Later, Leah bore a daughter and named her Dinah.



IV.You can rejoice at another’s success 22-24

Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph and said, “May the Lord add another son to me.



Next Steps: 


Believe: I need Jesus to change my heart.
Become: I need more contentment.
Be Sent: I will help someone find freedom in Christ.



Growth Group Questions: 

1. What’s your first thought when a friend succeeds?

2. What does watching win do for your emotional health?

3. How much time did you spend on social media yesterday?  How did you feel about your life after?

4. Read Philippians 4:11-13.  What does it mean to be content? 

5. Is contentment something that you receive or earn? Explain your answer.

6. What do your prayers sound like when your dreams don’t come true?

7. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill your life with contentment this week.

Big Idea: No one can love you- or hurt you- like family.

In the Beginning: Jacob

Genesis 29:13-35

  

I. When your home isn’t a safe space. 13-20

When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him, and kissed him. Then he took him to his house, and Jacob told him all that had happened. Laban said to him, “Yes, you are my own flesh and blood.” After Jacob had stayed with him a month, Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” Now Laban had two daughters: the older was named Leah, and the younger was named Rachel. Leah had tender eyes, but Rachel was shapely and beautiful. Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.” So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

 

II. Who can you trust, if not family?   21-30

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with her.” So Laban invited all the men of the place and sponsored a feast. That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave. When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?” Laban answered, “It is not the custom in our country to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. Complete this week of wedding celebration, and we will also give you this younger one in return for working yet another seven years for me.” And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban for another seven years.

 

III. Families should fight for, not against, each other.  31-35

When the Lord saw that Leah was neglected, he opened her womb; but Rachel was unable to conceive. Leah conceived, gave birth to a son, and named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction; surely my husband will love me now.” She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon. She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “At last, my husband will become attached to me because I have borne three sons for him.” Therefore he was named Levi. And she conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.



Next Steps: 


Believe: I need to be adopted into God’s family today.
Become: I need Jesus to heal my broken family.
Be Sent: I will invite my family to join God’s family.



Growth Group Questions: 

1. On a scale of 1-10, how emotionally healthy is your immediate family?

2. Have you ever experienced any hurt or betrayal from a family member?

3. If so, where did you turn after the pain?

4. Have you ever confronted a family member about the pain they caused you?  How did they respond?

5. How do you respond when a trusted friend or family member lies?

6. What would it be if you could change anything about your family today?

7. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you heal broken families. 

The true meaning of Easter

Hebrews 11:17-19

 

Easter has the power to change Bad Bunny and rotten eggs. 

 

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.



I.        Forget yesterday’s hurt     V. 17

 

II.       Free up today’s heavy load    V. 18



III       Find hope for tomorrow     V.19



Next Steps: 


Believe: I need Jesus to bring my dead heart to life.
Become: I need Jesus’s help with my struggles.  
Be Sent: I will help someone learn about Jesus this week



Group Questions: 

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition?  Why?

2. What do you want your grave marker to say about you?

3. How would you explain Easter eggs or bunnies to a new Christian?

4. What sacrifice is God asking you to give to offer him?

5. What burden do you need Jesus to help you carry today?

7. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you Easter hope throughout the week. 

Big Idea: The importance of going on a journey led by God.

Genesis 29:1-12


1. Find a well.



Genesis 29: 1-3

Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country. He looked and saw a well in a field. Three flocks of sheep were lying there beside it because the sheep were watered from this well. But a large stone covered the opening of the well. The shepherds would roll the stone from the opening of the well and water the sheep when all the flocks were gathered there. Then they would return the stone to its place over the well's opening.


2. Confirm your location



Genesis 29: 4-8

Jacob asked the men at the well, "My brothers! Where are you from?" "We're from Haran," they answered. "Do you know Laban grandson of Nahor?" Jacob asked them. They answered, "We know him." "Is he well?" Jacob asked. "Yes," they said, "and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with his sheep." Then Jacob said, "Look, it is still broad daylight. It's not time for the animals to be gathered. Water the flock, then go out and let them graze." But they replied, "We can't until all the flocks have been gathered and the stone is rolled from the well's opening. Then we will water the sheep.


3. Celebrate your arrival at your destination. 



Genesis 29:9-12

While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep for she was a shepherdess. As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban's daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban's sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. He told Rachel that he was her father's relative, Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father. 



Next Steps:


Believe: I want God to lead me on my journey this week.
Become: I will seek guidance from God's GPS.
Be sent: I will set the example for others to trust God as they travel this week.  



Discussion Questions: 


1. Do you seek counsel from God on your journey?

2. Is there a time or point in your life where you question God in reference to His direction for you?

3. What advice do you seek from God at different points in your life?

4. Why do we try to take shortcuts to get to or do what God wants us to?

5. Should Christians take the time to celebrate how far God has brought them? Why or why not?

6. Do you have family or friends you would like to take with you on this Christian journey? If so, who and why?

7. Pray for guidance on your journey this week.