Blood

For the next 4 Sundays we will be in a series entitled Blood.

The Bible seems to trickle with it. But more than just a ancient, barbaric culture's desire to utilize the unnerving and creepy- it's a picture of commitment and promise and life itself.

In week one, we will be talking about the context of the covenant that run in the background of Judaism, and so Christianity as well. When Jesus "brings us near" in His blood, this was not some new esoteric idea, despite the fact that many may not have understood it at first. This was, especially to the Jewish mind, a very old promise fulfilled. A promise made to and through Abraham to all people and to the entire creation.

In your discussion about the topic, understand that for some people this level of detail has always been intimidating or, in fact, unnerving. Our faith is easy when we relegate it to God being god, our being bad, and Jesus creating a bridge that provides a happy ending to anyone that believes the story. But when we look closely at the covenant creator that we worship, and jut what He has provided for us, it suddenly breathes new life into our faith and our trust that this whole thing rests on the shoulders of our almighty, loving God. 

Try and remain focused in your talk, not giving into the urge to study everything related to animal sacrifice (though that is pertinent and related to this covenant made to Abe- as Jews kept themselves in constant nostalgia about their own sin and the promise made to them by their great, redeeming and forgiving God!).

Once we understand the covenant and its terms, we fall that much more in love with God and His one and only Son, the Lamb of God.

Thaw

• What's the biggest thing you have ever been promised?
  
• What's the biggest promise you have ever made?
  
• What's the difference between that promise and any contract you have ever entered into?

• What most struck you about the message Sunday?
  

Read

• Genesis 12:1-3
  
• Thoughts?
  
• What do you notice about what God is setting up?
  

Leader note: Note that God, six times in just these three verses, says "I will". It's already based on Him, and He hasn't even gotten to the details yet. Also note that this is not a tribal or cultural or nation-based promise. This is supposed to be for everybody ( a very non-human thing to come across!). The actual hebrew terms translated here are "all the various tribes/families of the soil ("adamah") will be blessed because of you". This is something for all humanity, despite the rigid exclusivity that the Jews, and later the Christians, put on it.

Read 

• Genesis 15:1-12
  
• Thoughts?
  

Leader note: the don't be afraid, I am you shield and reward" statement by God is likely attributed tot he war Abram just got out of in the preceding chapter. he didn't take any spoils, so God saying "don't fear their retaliation, and what I will reward you with will be better that the spoils of war that you just turned down".

• Why would God count Abram's continued faith as righteousness, when he'd done nothing else at this point? Why is God so big on us trusting Him?
• Why do you think God had Abram reference the stars?
  

Leader note: They make the point of the innumerability of Abram's offspring very well. But also, remember, that Abram has been called out of a whole system that worships and depends on the close watching of the night sky to determine blessing. God is now teaching Abram to use it to remember the faithfulness of a REAL God!

• Why do you think God used an already established custom of covenanting with cut animals, verses creating something new to get His point of commitment across?
  

Leader note: God seems to, most times, take existing cultural norms and spin them. Circumcision already existed. Temples already existed. Law contracts with abbreviated summaries already existed (see the Torah and the 10 commandments for His spin on that custom!), eating bread and drinking wine were already sacred acts, baptism already existed, sacred writings already existed, hymns, psalms, prophecies, shepherds, sacrifice, etc, etc...)

• Why doesn't God correct Abram for all his questions? Does this seem like doubt? Do you express your doubts to God, or to people, or do you hide it? Why?
  

Leader note: the  "birds of prey" in verse 11 are "ayit", most likely carrion eating falcons. These falcons are identified with the Egyptian God, Horus, and is likely a wink toward the people of Israel's coming tussle with Pharaoh that would lest 4 centuries. But, the seed Abram would, in some sense, successfully shoo that bird away.

Read

• Gen 15:12-13, 17-18
  
• Thoughts?
  
• What are the implication of God walking thru the blood, Himself, alone and twice?
• Going back to the original chat with Abram in Gen 12, and now this- the whole plan seems to rest on the shoulders of God, Himself. So, then- what's the responsibility of Abram and all that would come after him?
  

Leader note: in the coming chapters, you find Abram lying, sleeping with a servant, Hagar, to "help" God with His promise, getting very little right and being largely clueless. God doesn't seem to be hoping we all have our lives all put together- so what is he desiring for us, and why???

• What's the difference between trusting the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- and being a religious person?

• Respond as a group to this statement: "God has obligated Himself to what He alone created. He has made Himself the sole guarantor to all creation being set right and redeemed. All our prayers for justice, all our hopes and dreams for being made whole in our own hearts and in all our relationships, all our cries that what is evil and ugly and broken be mended, go to a God that promised He would do all these things. God has bound Himself to fulfilling the purest ache for salvation in us. He has compelled Himself in His covenant to Abram to save the world and to redeem everything in heaven and earth. He must follow through."
  

Apply

• How do covenant relationships differ from contractual ones?
  
• How do we live as covenant people in a world that needs the blessing god promised thousands of years ago? What are some examples of stepping into the covenant in our own lives?

• Do you think this LifeGroup is an example of covenant relationships, or something else? If something else, what can the people of this group do to more fully give themselves to the others, despite some abstract lack of performance on the part of others?
  

Leader note: next week, we will discuss the New Covenant in Christ's blood. Be prepared to take communion with your group, and if you have questions about conducting this ancient, sacred celebration of the body and blood of Christ, contact Steve Daugherty.