Today’s Bulletin
OUTLINE
I. Oops I Did It Again (v.1-2)
II. Not Today Abimelech (v.3-7)
III. You Done Me Wrong (v.8-10)
IV. It’s Complicated (v.11-13)
V. Blessings Despite Blunders. AKA Grace (v.14-18)
Genesis 20
1 From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.” 4 Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 5 Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. And the men were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” 10 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” 11 Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ 12 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. 13 And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.”
Sermon Discussion questions
I Think I’ve Seen This Film Before: Genesis 20
Ice Breaker: If you could pick one annoying habit of yours to never do again (like repeatedly hitting snooze), what would it be and why?"
This Week Specific
Abraham's Fear and Distrust: In Genesis 20, Abraham falls into the same sin as before by lying about Sarah being his sister. In what ways have you found yourself repeating the same mistakes or sins? What do you need to change to not fall into that? Are there areas in your life where you're tempted to use deception or control because you fear the outcome? How can you trust God more in these situations?
Impact of Fear on Decisions: Abraham acted out of fear, assuming that there was no fear of God in Gerar. In your own life—whether at work, school, or with family—how does fear influence your decisions? How can you practice trusting God’s control over situations you can’t control?
Besetting Sin: The sermon discussed “besetting sins,” or habitual sins we struggle to overcome. What might be a besetting sin in your own life? How can you bring this into the light through prayer, community, and accountability? You can talk about this generally, don’t have to share your personal issue here.
Integrity vs. Self-Protection: Like Abraham, who deceived Abimelech out of self-protection, we sometimes compromise integrity to protect ourselves or our reputations. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to bend the truth? How might trusting God’s provision help you walk in greater integrity?
Community and Accountability: The sermon highlighted the importance of community in battling sin. Who in your life can you trust to help keep you accountable in areas where you struggle? How can you actively seek out community for support in your spiritual journey?
Weekly Questions
What stood out to you/challenged you most in this sermon?
What’s one area you feel the Lord wants to grow you into more Christ likeness?
How can this group pray for you this week?