Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read Genesis 25.
• Considering that Moses is writing Genesis for the children of Israel after exiting Egypt, why are Abraham’s other children listed here? Do you recognize any names that show up later in the OT?
• How did Abraham view Isaac compared with his other sons? What was the blessing God promised to Abraham that is being transferred to Isaac in v. 11? (See Gen. 12:1-3, 22:17-18, 24:1)
• How many sons did Ishmael have? How does this reveal the faithfulness of God toward Abraham? (See Gen 17:20-21)
• What new section of the book starts in v. 19? How do you know? Who is this section (up to ch. 37) mainly about?
• What does v. 21 say about Isaac? How was he different than his father here?
• How do vv. 29-34 fulfill what God said in v. 23?
• How does this chapter function in the book of Genesis?
• The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

• What does Abraham’s treatment of Isaac tell us about his faith? What does it tell us about Isaac?
• What significance does God’s blessing of Isaac contribute to our understanding of the plan of God?
• Why is v. 21 integral to the redemptive plan of God? What does this tell us about Isaac?
• Consider the fulfillment of v. 23 throughout the OT.
• According to v. 26 how old was Isaac when the twins were born? How old was he when he married Rebekah according to v. 20? How does this fill in v. 21 for us?
• What is the significance of this chapter in the scope of redemptive history?