4. Application Guide For Genesis
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Genesis Application Guide
Timothy F. Neu, Ph.D—Director
Tom Warren, D.Min—content writer
John Hutchins, M.A.—content writer
Tabitha Price—content writer and editor
October 2018
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Introduction
Genesis 12:1-5 ULB
1 Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country, and from your relatives,
and from your father's household, to the land that I will show you.
2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,
and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
Scripture tells us what Scripture is good for and what it produces:
1. Knowing the Scriptures will help you to be wise and to understand the way of salvation.
2. Scripture teaches us how to live our lives.
3. Scripture gives us the measure of right and wrong
4. The Christian who studies Scripture will trained in godliness, will be shown how to live,
will be taught how to have a relationship with God, and how to live with love toward
others.
5. The Christian who studies the Word of God has everything needed to live for the glory of
God.
The purpose of this guide is:
1. To provide a resource within the Christian community to gauge the effectiveness of
Scripture in their lives.
2. To teach believers who can read the Scripture in their own language, new ways to study
the Bible and apply it so they can experience the full measure of God’s design for their
life in him.
3. To provide the Christian community with a transferable, expandable, training guide to
lead Christians to a deeper understanding and knowledge of the Bible.
4. To explain difficult words and ideas that are found in the Bible, such as doctrine,
teaching, Law, practical living, help for in families, and in the local Church.
5. To help Christians discover ways of expressing love for God in worship that is built on
the teaching of the Word of God.
The results of using this guide are:
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1. The believing community will grow in their understanding of the Bible, and they will learn
how to understand its message and to follow the instructions for Christian living and the
worship of God.
2. Those in the churches will learn to serve and love other people as Christ has loved
them.
3. Christians will experience growth, the disciplines of the Christian life (prayer, generosity,
purity, and the like) as they live out their faith and as they grow in their trust in God.
The primary audience for this guide is:
1. Christians who want to understand the message of the Bible and who want to follow the
teaching of the Bible, so that God is honored and that Christians grow in spiritual
maturity.
2. Spiritual leaders in communities who have learned to teach the message of the Bible,
and so by their teaching they would encourage spiritual growth in the Church and that
would lead to spiritual maturity in those who worship and serve together in the local
Church.
The expected outcome of this guide is:
1. Christians and those who are interested in the Christian faith will find a deeper
understanding of the meaning of the Bible and they will be encouraged to apply the
message of the Bible in their own lives.
2. Those who use it will understand and apply message of the Bible individually as they live
their lives for God, and in the broader community of their neighbors, and especially with
other Christians in the worshiping community.
3. Those who use it will gain confidence in their translation of Scripture and be bold to
share it with others.
4. Those who use it will help others to understand and apply the Word of God to their lives.
5. Those who use it will be inspired and challenged to help other language groups to get
Scripture in their own language.
This guide is designed to be:
1. The Genesis Application Guide is an additional resource that stands alongside and
supports the teaching found in the Reviewers’ Guide.
2. A series of questions based on the passages used in the reviewer’s guide that ask the
participants to apply what they are reading to their own experience and life.
3. A group or community process overseen by a team leader.
To use this guide, a group of Christians with new access to Scripture in their heart language
could agree together to read and study the Bible together, and to discuss together the questions
that are included in this study guide. One spiritual leader from a Christian church (a pastor,
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teacher, or leader, or perhaps one of the translators, etc.) should give leadership to the group so
that the Applications Guide would be studied together in a group.
How to use this guide:
1. Scripture passages are listed before a series of questions. Read these passages in the
newly translated Scripture.
2. The group leader will then ask the group the questions that follow the passages.
3. If possible (in places with high literacy) one person should be assigned to take notes on
the answers to questions, especially any questions where individuals disagree or where
an answer is unknown.
4. Work through the questions slowly--allow time for everyone to think about the passages
and to answer if they choose.
5. At the end of each section of questions is a set of conclusion questions. The answers to
these questions should be recorded whenever possible to be shared with a larger
audience.
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If you have any questions or comments about this guide, please email us at:
translation_services@wycliffeassociates.org
Genesis 1:1-2:3
1. What about creation do you appreciate the most or think is the most beautiful? What do
you learn about God through his creation?
2. Knowing that God was pleased with his creation, what should a Christian’s attitude be
towards the creation? What are some ways that Christians can help take care of the
creation?
3. Genesis 1:27 says humankind is made in God’s image. How does this affect how you
should treat other people? How does this affect how you think about yourself?
4. Why do you think it is important for Christians to understand that God is the creator of all
things? How does this knowledge impact your faith?
5. What are other ways that people or other religions say the universe began? How is it the
same or different than what is taught in Genesis 1?
6. What are ways you could explain that Yahweh God is the creator of the universe to
someone who does not believe?
7. Why is it important to have a day of rest? How does this bring you closer to God?
8. Describe what you learned about God’s character in this chapter.
Genesis 2:4-25
1. Why do you think the creation of man and woman is told again in Genesis 2? What more
is told here about how God created man and woman?
2. Why do you think God gives man work to do? How is work beneficial and a blessing to
people? How can we give glory to God through our work?
3. How could you use this chapter to help someone know that they are valuable to God?
4. What did you learn in this chapter about the relationship between man and woman? How
is the relationship between man and woman supposed to benefit each other?
5. Why do you think God did not want people to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil?
6. How do you feel when someone tells you not to do something? Why do you think God
prohibits people from doing certain things?
7. Describe what you learned about God’s character in this chapter.
Genesis 3:1-24
1. What are some things in this world that cause people to question God and his word?
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2. What did you learn from this chapter about the tactics that the Devil (the serpent) uses to
tempt people to sin?
3. What tempts you the most? What can you do to resist this temptation?
4. How did the world change after sin entered it? What do you see in the world today that is
a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin? How have you experienced the consequences
of sin?
5. Describe what you learned about God’s character in this chapter.
Genesis 6:5-22; 7:5-24; 9:8-17
1. What do these passages teach you about God’s attitude towards sin? What do these
passages teach you about God’s attitude towards obedience?
2. What would you say to a person who struggles with the idea of a loving God killing so
many people and animals?
3. In what ways did Noah show his faith in God through his actions? What can you do to
show your faith to others?
4. In what ways does God’s covenant with Noah bring you comfort today? What reminders
has God given you that he is with you and will always be faithful?
Genesis 12:1-8; 15:1-6; 17:1-8
1. What is something difficult that God has called you to do? Were you nervous about it?
How do you think Abram felt when he left his home?
2. Abram was older when God called him to leave his home. Do you think it gets easier or
harder to obey God as you get older?
3. What are some promises that God has made to you? Is it easy or hard for you to wait for
God to do what he promised you he would do?
4. In Genesis 15:2-3 Abram seems frustrated that God had not yet given him an heir. When
have you been frustrated with God? What did you do to get over your frustration?
5. Why do you think God sometimes makes us wait a while before he does what he
promised to do? What have you learned through waiting on God?
6. Abram’s relationship with God would have a large impact on Abram’s descendants. Has
the faith of an older relative impacted you? How has your faith impacted younger family
members? Or how do you anticipate it will impact younger family members?
Genesis 22:1-19
1. What did you learn about Abraham’s faith in this passage? Do you think you would have
responded the same as Abraham did?
2. How has God tested your faith? What did this test reveal about your faith? How did it
help you grow in your faith?
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3. Abraham responded very quickly to God’s command. Do you respond quickly when God
asks you to do something?
4. Abraham had faith in God and he obeyed God. Describe the relationship between faith
and obedience. Is it important for Christians to obey God? Why or why not?
Genesis 25:19-34
1. Have you ever spoken to God when you were confused or uncertain about something
happening in your life? In what way did God answer you? Did you feel more certain after
he answered you?
2. In this passage what did you learn about Jacob’s and Esau’s characters? Was either
one of them right or wrong in their behaviors? Why is it important for Christian family
members to treat each other well?
Genesis 32:22-31
1. In what ways do people wrestle with God today? Describe a time when you wrestled with
God? How did the experience affect you?
2. In an earlier passage, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. In this passage God
changed Jacob’s name to Israel. What do you think is significant about God changing a
person’s name?
Genesis 37:12-36
1. What did you learn in this passage about the character of Israel’s sons? Why do you
think God chose a family that had so many problems to be his people?
2. Have you seen Christians not get along with one another? In what ways have you seen
God continue to be faithful to a church even when the members do not get along with
each other?
3. Have you ever had someone you trusted betray you? What did you do in this situation?
Did this experience help you grow closer to God? Did you question why God was letting
this happen to you?
Genesis 45:1-28
1. Describe a time when everything that happened seemed bad but God used the situation
for good.
2. Have you ever wanted to get revenge against someone who hurt you? What did you
learn from Joseph about how Christians should act toward those who hurt us?
3. Why do you think it is so important for a person to be forgiving? What can happen when
a person does not forgive?
4. What did you learn through Joseph’s story about God’s provisions for his people?
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Genesis 50:15-26
1. By the end of Genesis, God still had not given the Promised Land to Abraham’s
descendants. After all that Joseph experience, why do you think Joseph was still able to
have faith that God would fulfill his promise?
2. What encourages you to stay strong in your faith? What in your life has taught you that
God will always be faithful?
Conclusion
1. What do you understand better about God, yourself, and others from studying Genesis?
2. Can you list five ways you could apply the message of Genesis to your life?
3. When you pray, what can you thank God for from Genesis?
4. Based on Genesis, can you think of anything you need to repent of before God?
If you have any questions or comments about this guide, please email us at:
translation_services@wycliffeassociates.org
