Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 127

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group.

1  Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stays awake in vain.

2  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3  Behold, sons are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.

4  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one’s youth.

5  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

The Second Story of Creation

Genesis 2:4-25

1.       How does the LORD God form man physically? Spiritually? What does this say about a Patriarch’s responsibility for his offspring? How did your father train you physically? Spiritually? How would you assess your spiritual formation of your offspring?

2.       How does God include man in exercising dominion over creation? What occupations does the LORD God assign man? How do these relate to God’s first commands in Genesis 1? How do these apply to your role at home and work?

3.       Among the gifts God gives, God also gives freedom: “you may freely eat...except...” Why would God give freedom? What does God risk with man’s freedom? What is paternal about his warning to man? How do you both free and warn your offspring?

4.       What is “not good” for man? How does this apply to Patriarchy? What does God intend when he says “helpmate,” “helper,” or “partner”?

5.       Man is formed of “dust.” Woman is formed from the “rib.” What might be significant about this? How does man recognize woman? What does he call her, and why?

6.       How do “leaving” and “clinging” inform the vocation of a Patriarch? What does “naked” and “not ashamed” mean for man’s original intimacy with God and woman?

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own.  Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1.    I will pray a vocal blessing over each member of my household this week.
2.    I will discuss with my wife how we might increase the spiritual formation of our offspring.
3.    I will ask God in prayer how I might better “keep” or “protect” my home from any excessive or defective influences (substance abuse, phone/text interruptions during meals, internet excesses, pornography, television dependence, etc.).
4.    I will help my child to exercise dominion by including him/her in a new project or responsibility.
5.    I will breathe spiritual life into my children by praying with each of them vocally.
6.    I will better “cling” to my wife by writing her a letter or taking her on a date or surprising her with a gift.

Previous Resolutions - Genesis 1

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.