:
Watch Live
Reston Bible Church

New to RBC? myRBC Give

  • Home
  • About
    • History of RBC
    • What We Believe
    • Sunday Services
    • Weekly Activities
    • Staff
    • Pastors
    • Elders
    • Contact Us
    • Weather Policy
  • Teaching
    • Live Stream
    • Sermons
    • Sr. High Audio
    • Jr. High Audio
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Women’s Ministry
    • Marriage
    • Iglesia Hispana
    • Special Events
  • Events
    • Men
    • Women
    • Children
    • Jr. High
    • Sr. High
    • Community
    • Family Life
    • Classes
  • Ministries
    • Worship
    • ETS Courses
    • Shepherd Groups
    • Children’s Ministry
    • Jr. High Ministry
    • Sr. High Ministry
    • Young Adults
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Women’s Ministry
    • Family Life
    • Iglesia Hispana
    • ESL Classes
    • Missions
    • Prayer
  • Care
    • Deacons
    • RBC Cares
    • Living On Mission
    • Counseling
    • Food Pantry
    • Community Garden
    • Guilford Elementary
    • Legal Clinic
    • GriefShare
    • Addicted Loved Ones
  • Resources
    • 2022 Annual Report
    • Jobs at RBC
    • Volunteer
    • myRBC
    • RightNow Media
    • Starting Point
    • Financial Peace
    • Believer’s Baptism
    • Parent-Child Dedications
    • Memorial Services
    • Weddings
    • Giving
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
    • History of RBC
    • What We Believe
    • Sunday Services
    • Weekly Activities
    • Staff
    • Pastors
    • Elders
    • Contact Us
    • Weather Policy
  • Teaching
    • Live Stream
    • Sermons
    • Sr. High Audio
    • Jr. High Audio
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Women’s Ministry
    • Marriage
    • Iglesia Hispana
    • Special Events
  • Events
    • Men
    • Women
    • Children
    • Jr. High
    • Sr. High
    • Community
    • Family Life
    • Classes
  • Ministries
    • Worship
    • ETS Courses
    • Shepherd Groups
    • Children’s Ministry
    • Jr. High Ministry
    • Sr. High Ministry
    • Young Adults
    • Men’s Ministry
    • Women’s Ministry
    • Family Life
    • Iglesia Hispana
    • ESL Classes
    • Missions
    • Prayer
  • Care
    • Deacons
    • RBC Cares
    • Living On Mission
    • Counseling
    • Food Pantry
    • Community Garden
    • Guilford Elementary
    • Legal Clinic
    • GriefShare
    • Addicted Loved Ones
  • Resources
    • 2022 Annual Report
    • Jobs at RBC
    • Volunteer
    • myRBC
    • RightNow Media
    • Starting Point
    • Financial Peace
    • Believer’s Baptism
    • Parent-Child Dedications
    • Memorial Services
    • Weddings
    • Giving
  • Blog

Blog

Sunday Rewind | 8.9.2015

Jesse TraskResources, Teaching SeriesAugust 10, 2015 1 Comment0

Sunday Rewind

MUSIC & SCRIPTURE

Open Up Our Eyes (Ephesians 1:18-19a) – Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Unstoppable God (Luke 1:37) – Wake up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

In Your Presence (Deuteronomy 31:6) –Nothing is Wasted by Elevation Worship

Your Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4a) – Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

Great Things (Worth It All) (Galatians 6:14) –Wake Up the Wonder by Elevation Worship

 

TEACHING: The Patriarchs, Part 5: Isaac

The manipulation of man will never trump the sovereignty of God.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SERMON AUDIO & VIDEO

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SHEPHERD GROUPS

  1. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful or difficult to understand from this sermon?
  2. How would you define the words “manipulation” and “sovereignty”?
  3. Read and discuss Genesis 27:1-36. Identify the main characters and their characteristics in this account. Who do you relate to the most, and why? What might we observe about our human nature through this account?
  4. “One deception leads to another – one lie leads to another.” How do you see this play out in the verses about? Have you seen this principle play out in your own life?
  5. How would you describe the tension between the sovereignty of God with the moral responsibility of man?
  6. Discuss the following statement: “Our five human senses are a blessing from God, but they are never the final determining factor in the moral realm.”Can you think of Scriptures that support this statement?
  7. Is there some situation or circumstance in your life or someone else’s that you are trying to manipulate? Why? How do you think it will turn out? What would it look like for you to trust God in that situation or circumstance?
  8. Spend some time in prayer for any situations mentioned in the previous question. Give thanks to God that He is completely trustworthy and pray that we would have the strength and faith to trust Him when we are tempted to manipulate.

1 thought on “Sunday Rewind | 8.9.2015”

  1. RBC fan
    August 15, 2015 at 6:09 am

    I keep thinking about Mike’s message – it’s spurred me to think of other implications of ‘man’s manipulation.’

    Sometimes ‘man’s manipulation’ isn’t just active willful deceitful pursuit. Sometimes it disguises itself so it looks like ‘godliness.’

    For example, let’s say a believing family member chooses to pursue an unbiblical divorce. While the Bible is clear about what to do when a believer willfully pursues sin, perhaps some believing family members choose to ‘support’ her as she goes through a ‘difficult time’ so they can ‘be there for them.’ Or someone chooses to ‘look past’ a seasoned believer’s slander and gossip instead of confronting it as sin.

    It may feel ‘loving,’ but it’s actually man’s manipulation and not following God’s sovereign plan. We may think we’re being ‘godly,’ but we may actually be being a Rebekah (“Believing family, this is the plan… we’re going to love them through this”) or a Jacob.

    I heard one counselor refer to it as ‘idolatry of family’ when we elevate “but they’re family” over what God’s Word tells us to do.

    Living out God’s sovereign plan is actually the most loving, godly thing we can do for everyone, including sinning believers. ‘Man’s manipulation’ may sometimes feel ‘godly,’ and it may sometimes be more passive than what Jacob did. But God’s plan is always the most loving, triumphant one.

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Picture Imperfect: Follow-Up 3

Update on Bill Hurley

Blog Categories

  • Announcements
  • Bible
  • Celebrating Generosity
  • Children's Ministry
  • Community
  • Culture
  • Current Events
  • Devotional
  • Doxologies
  • Event Updates
  • Events
  • Family Life
  • Family Quest
  • From the Field
  • Gospel
  • Green Room Sessions
  • International Connection
  • Local Outreach
  • Media
  • Men's Ministry
  • Missions
  • Moms Connection
  • News
  • Next Generation Project
  • Pastor Mike
  • Preparing for Sunday
  • Quest Trail Guide
  • Resources
  • Service/Volunteer
  • Stay the Course
  • Take 2
  • Take 5
  • Teaching Series
  • Theology
  • Uncategorized
  • Women's Ministry
  • Worship
  • Young Adults Ministry
  • Youth Ministry

About Us

RBC exists to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known. We seek to accomplish that through biblical preaching, teaching, and authentic Christian community here in Northern Virginia and around the world.

Sunday Services:
9:00 and 10:45 a.m.
Phone: 703-404-5010

Learn more Connect with us

On the Blog

  • QUEST: Preschool Lesson for March 26
    QUEST: Preschool Lesson for March 26
    March 24, 2023
  • Preparing for Sunday | March 26
    Preparing for Sunday | March 26
    March 22, 2023
  • QUEST: Preschool Lesson for March 19
    QUEST: Preschool Lesson for March 19
    March 18, 2023
  • Preparing for Sunday | March 19
    Preparing for Sunday | March 19
    March 15, 2023
See the Blog

Upcoming Events

  1. Sr. High Bike Trip

    March 31 - April 8
  2. Palm Sunday Service

    April 2
  3. Seder Dinner at CFC

    April 5 | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
  4. Good Friday Service

    April 7 | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  5. Band of Brothers Men’s Breakfast

    April 8 | 8:00 am - 9:30 am

View All Events

Twitter Updates

  • RT @MrsG_LovesMath: It’s book fair week! So thankful to @restonbible who so generously donated funds for every student to purchase a book!… - 4 days ago
  • RT @millerIFT: Thanks to the 19 @GuilfordEle staff members, four @restonbible volunteers, and three @ChildSci volunteers @GuilfordEle was… - 17 days ago
  • Preparing for Sunday, February 26 | Songs + Scripture at https://t.co/eCuSCSdJQc https://t.co/6jMYs5UWPe - 30 days ago
Follow Us
Copyright 2020 Reston Bible Church | 45650 Oakbrook Court, Dulles, Virginia 20166