GENESIS
READING PLANS + STUDY QUESTIONS
READING PLAN
SESSION 1: GENESIS 1-5
NOAH + THE FLOOD
SESSION 2: GENESIS 6-11
NOAH + THE FLOOD
SESSION 3: GENESIS 12-19
GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM
SESSION 4: GENESIS 20-25
ISAAC + JACOB
SESSION 5: GENESIS 26-36
JACOB + ESAU
SESSION 6: GENESIS 37-50
JOSEPH + HIS BROTHERS
HOW TO USE
READ THE GENRE + BOOK OVERVIEW BELOW
READ THE CHAPTERS IN THE BIBLE FOR EACH SESSION
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS + REFLECT ON THE READING
This study encourages going at your own pace, allowing each session to be a day, a week, or however long you need. Each session contains questions to be used for individual reflection or small group discussion.
This study was made to be used alongside Bible reading. Although we have created chapter summaries, there is no substitute for reading God's Word.
SESSION ONE: GENESIS 1-5 CREATION + THE FALL
Read Genesis 1:26. Who or what was God referring to when He said, “Let us make man in our image?”
What did God do on the seventh day after creation? Was this necessary for God?
How did the serpent test Eve’s knowledge of God’s Word?
What does this tell you about the Enemy?
What does this tell you about the power of God’s Word?
What does God’s response to Adam and Eve’s failure tell you about how God responds to sin?
Do you see any significance in God’s choice to cover Adam and Eve with the skin of an animal?
Why would God allow Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge but not the Tree of Life?
Read Revelation 22:2. When God redeems the earth, what tree will be present?
Why do you think God was more pleased with Abel’s offering than Cain’s?
Since God hadn’t yet provided the Commandments, how did Cain know that murder was wrong?
SESSION TWO: GENESIS 6-11 NOAH + THE FLOOD
The Hebrew word used in Genesis 6:6 means “grieved.” Does it make more sense that God grieved the world than that He regretted creation? Can God experience regret?
How does the flood display both God’s hate for sin and His love for humanity?
Is the story of the flood hard for you to believe or comprehend? How can you see God’s Word as trustworthy and true?
What did Noah do after the flood? Does this show humanity’s desire for God or tendency to sin?
What does it mean to make a covenant with someone? What was God’s covenant with Noah? How has God kept this covenant?
What were the people attempting to do at the Tower of Babel? Why did God oppose this?
SESSION THREE: GENESIS 12-19 GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM
Read Genesis 12:1. Where did God tell Abraham to go? Did God give him all of the details?
How does Abraham’s promise from God resemble what the people were aspiring to do at the Tower of Babel?
Why is God’s promise to Abram surprising? What about Abram makes him an unlikely candidate to father a great nation?
Melchizedek is both a priest and a king (Genesis 14:18). Why is that significant, and how does it point us to Jesus?
Read Genesis 15:6. What made Abram righteous?
What is the significance of God changing Abram’s and Sarai’s names and introducing the covenant of circumcision?
How does Sarah’s response to God reveal her lack of faith (Genesis 18:13)?
What does Isaac’s name mean?
What does God’s willingness in Genesis 18:32 to spare the entire city for even ten righteous people reveal about His mercy?
In what ways does Genesis 19 highlight both God’s mercy and God’s justice?
SESSION FOUR: GENESIS 20-25 ISAAC + JACOB
What lie did Abraham repeat in Genesis 20, and what does it reveal about his faith (or fear?)
How does the tension between Sarah and Hagar reflect the complexities of God working through imperfect people?
Why would God test Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22)? What did Abraham’s response reveal about his faith?
What similarities do you see between Abraham’s offering of Isaac and Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross?
In Genesis 22, why is Isaac referred to as Abraham’s “only son” (v.2, 12, 16) when Ishmael was also Abraham’s son?
In Genesis 25:23, what did God tell Rebekah about her twin sons? How was this information counter-cultural?
How were Jacob + Esau different? Did Esau make a good trade with Jacob?
SESSION FIVE: GENESIS 26-36 JACOB + ESAU
In Genesis 26:3–5, why do you think God chose to repeat the covenant to Isaac? Why might that have mattered for Isaac’s faith?
How was Rebekah involved in the deception that led to Jacob receiving Esau's blessing?
How did God plan to bless the earth through Jacob’s descendants?
Leah was not Jacob’s first choice, but God saw her. How does her story show us God’s care for those who feel unloved?
How do Leah and Rachel attempt to take matters into their own hands? What does it say about God that He works through their brokenness to build the nation of Israel?
Have you ever experienced a time, like Jacob, marked by struggle or doubt? How can wrestling with faith deepen your trust in God?
What stands out to you about Jacob and Esau’s reunion? Did anything surprise you about their reactions?
Why do you think God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and how does that mark a turning point in his story?
What is significant about Esau fathering the Edomites? How did Jacob and Esau’s feud last for generations?
SESSION SIX: GENESIS 37-50 JOSEPH + HIS BROTHERS
How did Joseph’s dreams come across as prideful to his brothers?
How does Genesis 38 show that God works through broken family situations?
How did Joseph show integrity while working for Potiphar? What were the consequences of doing the right thing?
How did Joseph go from prisoner to ruler so quickly? What does Genesis 41 teach us about God’s timing?
Why did Joseph accuse his brothers of being spies even though he recognized them? How did Reuben respond to the situation?
How did Joseph test his brothers using Benjamin and the silver chalice? What do you think he was trying to discover?
How does Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh reflect his own story of receiving the blessing over Esau? What might this pattern reveal about how God works through unexpected people?
Genesis 49:8 says that the tribe of Judah will be praised. Read Matthew 1:1-17. Who were some significant descendants from the line of Judah?
Read Genesis 50:20. Joseph trusted that God would take the evil intentions of others and use them for His good. How does this verse show God’s protection and sovereignty?