Sermon Study Guide

Q1: Icebreaker: What were you most known for in your childhood years? e.g. a favorite food or activity, a most notable character trait? How did that become part of your identity today, or how did you overcome it?

Q2: : Who was in the wrong? Esau for despising and selling his birthright? Or Jacob for exploiting Esau in his moment of weakness?

Q3: For what would you sacrifice your part to play in God’s plan? It is easy to look at Esau’s example and distance ourselves, but we all are prone to sacrifice our role in God’s Kingdom purposes for the sake of immediate gratifications and comforts. What is your biggest comfort, a.k.a. what is your favorite “stew” that tempts you?

Q4: Isaac’s blessing upon Jacob and Esau meant a great deal to them in that culture. If you were to bless someone today, who would it be, and what would you say to them?

Q5: Rebekah led her son Jacob in the scheme to deceive Isaac to give his blessing to Jacob. Is it ok to lie and deceive in order to achieve God’s plans? Do the ends justify the means? Different commentators and preachers have varying viewpoints. What is yours?

Q6: What do you believe is your God-given identity? Even if you’re still on the path of discovering it or reshaping it, share/discuss it with a close friend, mentor, or loved one. Encourage one another and pray for each other along those lines.

Q7: Which part of this message on Jacob & Esau resonated with you the most? Which part surprised you the most?