Genesis: Forget being blessed - focus on being a blessing. / Jeff Struecker

Big Idea: Forget being blessed - focus on being a blessing. 

In the Beginning: Joseph

Genesis 49:1-12

I. Squandered future. 1-4

Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come. Come together and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel: Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the firstfruits of my virility, excelling in prominence, excelling in power. Turbulent as water, you will not excel, because you got into your father’s bed and you defiled it—he got into my bed.

II. Swords of fury. 5-7

Simeon and Levi are brothers; their knives are vicious weapons. May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For in their anger they kill men, and on a whim they hamstring oxen. Their anger is cursed, for it is strong, and their fury, for it is cruel! I will disperse them throughout Jacob and scatter them throughout Israel.

III. Son of favor. 8-12

Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. Judah is a young lion— my son, you return from the kill. He crouches; he lies down like a lion or a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until he whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him. He ties his donkey to a vine, and the colt of his donkey to the choice vine. He washes his clothes in wine and his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth are whiter than milk.

Next Steps: 

• Believe: I want to be accepted into God’s family today. 
• Become: I want to live a life that blesses God this week. 
• Be Sent: I will bless someone far from Christ this week.
  

Group Discussion Questions: 

1. Have you ever compared your gift with someone else’s? How did you feel after the comparison?
2. Has the Holy Spirit shown you someone He wants you to bless? If so, how?
3. How did it impact your self-perspective when someone blessed you unexpectedly?
4. Blessing someone often doesn’t require money. How can your skills or talents bless others in need?
5. Is it easy to identify someone who needs God’s blessing if you don’t feel blessed by God lately? Explain your answer.
6. What is one way you can look for someone to bless this week?
7. Ask the Holy Spirit to shift your focus to someone else this week.