Theme:
Obedience
Title:
Cutting away the flesh
Desired Outcomes:
The aim of this uGroup is to help members understand that before entering into God’s promises, there will always be a season of spiritual preparation going hand in hand with obedience. Just because it might be associated with pain and discomfort, doesn’t mean that God is not involved.
Core Scriptures:
- Joshua 5:2-9
- Gen 17:11-14
Welcome:
Any fun and welcoming Icebreaker that gets the members moving, on their feet, where all the members can participate in. If there are new members be careful not to create a space where they feel exposed or uncomfortable.
Word:
Read the two passages of scripture as an introduction.
The following can be relevant questions to ask:
- What do you understand regarding circumcision?
- Why did Joshua circumcise the new generation sons of Israel?
- Did the procedure of circumcision involve any pain or discomfort?
- What represents the flesh in the NT?
- How can we apply this to our lives?
- Being saved by the Lord (our Egypt) and taken to Promise land He has for us?
- Will the journey always be easy? Is obedience important?
- What fleshly desires or obstacles are preventing you from possessing the promises God has for you?
Points to consider:
- Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of males. A procedure performed on the male Israelites on the 8th day after birth, separating them from other nations, consecrating them to God as His people.
- The older generation that God saved out of Egypt, though being circumcised never entered the promised land God wanted to give to them because of their disobedience to His voice. Though being circumcised they were not ready to receive what God had for them.
- So God raised up their sons in their place, a new generation, full of faith and obeying the voice of the Lord
- Though, before they could enter the Promised land, they still had to be circumcised, separating them from the rest of the nations and consecrating them to God as His people, including them in the covenant.
- In the new testament God speaks about circumcision of the heart. What does dis mean?
- Circumcision however is not a guarantee that you will receive the promises God wants to give you. It will require obedience to the voice of the Lord. Allowing Him to cut away the flesh /sin that prevents us from receiving what he wants to give us. Preparing us to possess the promises He has for us. Willingly accept that there might be seasons of pain and discomfort as he transforms us to look more like His people.
Supporting scriptures:
- Heb 8:10
- Romans 2:29