Bible Reading
Genesis 8:1-12 (ESV) — > But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days the waters had abated, and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
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> At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.
Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV) — > But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Observation Questions
- In Genesis 8, what is the significance of Noah sending out both a raven and a dove? What do these two birds do differently? ([17:00])
- According to Galatians 5, what are some of the “works of the flesh” and what is the “fruit of the Spirit”? ([22:49])
- In the sermon, what does the olive branch brought back by the dove represent? ([28:39])
- How does the sermon describe God’s attitude toward Noah and his family during the flood and the waiting period? ([05:48])
Interpretation Questions
- The sermon says the greatest spiritual battles are often internal, not external. Why might the struggle with our own flesh feel more difficult than outside challenges? ([01:42])
- The raven is described as being content to live off the dead things of a passing world, while the dove returns with an olive branch. What does this contrast teach about the difference between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit? ([18:51])
- The olive branch is a symbol of God’s covenant love and new identity in Christ. How does understanding yourself as “grafted in” through Christ’s wounds change the way you see your relationship with God? ([30:10])
- The sermon mentions that transformation is often painful, like Eustace’s story in Narnia. Why do you think God allows the process of change to be uncomfortable or even hurtful at times? ([41:24])
Application Questions
- The sermon says that even after salvation, the struggle with the flesh remains. Can you think of a recent time when you felt this inner battle? How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? ([01:42])
- Seasons of waiting and uncertainty are described as the “soil” where faith, hope, and love are cultivated. Are you currently in a season of waiting? How can you trust God’s timing and process, even when you can’t see the outcome? ([09:10])
- The raven and the dove represent two ways of living: feeding the flesh or walking by the Spirit. What are some practical ways you can “starve” the flesh and “feed” the Spirit in your daily life? ([22:49])
- The olive branch points to Christ, who was wounded so we could be grafted into God’s family. Is there an area of your life where you need to remember your new identity in Christ instead of focusing on past failures or shame? ([30:10])
- The sermon says transformation comes not by striving, but by abiding in Christ and allowing the Spirit to work, especially through “crushing” circumstances. Can you share a time when a difficult situation led to spiritual growth in your life? ([33:13])
- Like Eustace in Narnia, we can’t peel off our own “dragon skin.” Is there something you’ve been trying to change in your own strength? What would it look like to surrender that area to Christ and trust Him to do the deep work? ([41:24])
- The fruit of the Spirit is produced through surrender and trust. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). What is one specific action you can take this week to cultivate it in your relationships? ([22:49])
