Worship Center
Don't trade God's lifelong gift to satisfy a short-term appetite.
Locations & Times
Worship Center
2384 New Holland Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Genesis 25:21-34 NIV
21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” 24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. 27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
Hebrews 12:14-17 MSG
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
The Esau syndrome is trading God’s lifelong gift to satisfy a short-term appetite.
1. Establish guardrails in advance.
2. Uproot bitterness within ourselves.
3. Pursue peace with everyone.
Small Group Outline & Discussion Questions
Connect:
Have each person share a high and low from this past week.
Have each person share a high and low from this past week.
Consider:
Don’t trade God’s lifelong gift to satisfy a short-term appetite.
Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Genesis 25:21-34. Have you ever made a decision when you were “hangry”?
▶ Read Psalms 37:4. What delights you about God?
▶ Read Hebrews 12:14-17 (MSG). Which comes most easily for you and which could you pay more attention to?
- Establish guardrails in advance.
- Uproot bitterness within ourselves.
- Pursue peace with everyone.
Don’t trade God’s lifelong gift to satisfy a short-term appetite.
Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Genesis 25:21-34. Have you ever made a decision when you were “hangry”?
▶ Read Psalms 37:4. What delights you about God?
▶ Read Hebrews 12:14-17 (MSG). Which comes most easily for you and which could you pay more attention to?
- Establish guardrails in advance.
- Uproot bitterness within ourselves.
- Pursue peace with everyone.
Commit:
Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with this question then share your thoughts.
Pastor Matt encouraged us to:
- Check our thoughts. Identify what is on replay in your mind or your imaginary conversations.
- Check our mouth. Consider if there are bitter words in what you post or what you say to others about someone else.
- Check our circle. Think about who in your life may be spreading bitterness.
Which do you want to be more aware of this week and how will you do that?
Spend 1-2 minutes in silence with this question then share your thoughts.
Pastor Matt encouraged us to:
- Check our thoughts. Identify what is on replay in your mind or your imaginary conversations.
- Check our mouth. Consider if there are bitter words in what you post or what you say to others about someone else.
- Check our circle. Think about who in your life may be spreading bitterness.
Which do you want to be more aware of this week and how will you do that?
Care:
Pray prayers of thanks for what delights you about God.
Pray prayers of thanks for what delights you about God.