Genesis: God’s church is marching toward home. / Jeff Struecker 2 Cities Church Podcast

Big Idea: God’s church is marching toward home. 



In the Beginning: Jacob

Genesis 33: 1-20



I. Worship is a weapon of warfare. 1-7

Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.



II. Your property is temporary. 8-11

So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?” “To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered. “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.” But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.



III. Pitch your tent before pagans. 12-20

Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.” Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me, my lord.” That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth. After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.



Next Steps: 


Believe: I need to be adopted into God’s family today. 
Become: I will live for eternity this week. 
Be Sent: I will invite someone far from Jesus into my life.



Group Discussion Questions: 


What is the longest you’ve ever been away from home?
Do you find it difficult to keep your focus on eternity? 
Do you believe it’s okay to build wealth and success here on earth, knowing it’s just temporary?
Can you have an equal hold on here and heaven simultaneously?  Explain. 
Christians are accused of being too much like everyone else (don’t care about heaven) - or not care at all about everyone else (don’t care about here).  How did you do on that spectrum this week?
Did you live out your faith before someone far from Jesus this week? If so, explain.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus more on eternity tomorrow.