September 18, 2016

Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.

O God, our faith can be shaky and temperamental. Show us your steadfastness and restore our hope in you. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.

Sunday: Abraham’s Descendants, Genesis 15:1-6

Monday: Abraham’s Sacrifice, Genesis 22:1-19

Tuesday: Isaac and Rebekah, Genesis 24:1-67

Wednesday: Jacob Steals Esau’s Blessing, Genesis 27:1-29

Thursday: Jacob Marries Leah, then Rachel, Genesis 29:9-30

Friday: Jacob Wrestles an Angel, Genesis 32:22-32

Saturday: The Rape of Dinah, Genesis 34:1-31

How do the people in these stories try to take matters into their own hands?

Connect: Discuss the following questions.

What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?

Where do you see people in your community trying to take matters into their own hands? Where do you see God acting on their behalf?

What has God promised you? How might you live and behave this week knowing that those promises are upheld?

Do: By acting on what we learn we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.

Go outside at night. Watch the stars. Imagine that those stars represent the people God promised to bless through Abram. Which ones shine brightest? Why?

Adapted from Clergy Stuff.  Copyright © 2016 Clergy Stuff. Used and adapted with Permission. Find more at http://www.ClergyStuff.com.