The Wells of My Father

August 10, 2025

Legacy matters—but it’s not enough. Every generation must decide: Will we repeat the sins of our past, rely on the religion we inherited, or find a living faith of our own? In the opening message of our new series Grasping for God, we focus on the often-overlooked story of Isaac to examine how faith is handed down, reclaimed, and renewed—through trust in the God who offers living water.

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Passage

Something to Avoid: The ##Sins## of My ##Father## (Genesis 26:1-11)
Something to Find: The ##Faith## of My ##Father## (Genesis 26:12-18)
Something to Do: ##Discover## New Wells of ##Living## ##Water## (Genesis 26:19-25)

Principle

##Sin## is generational. ##Religion## can be inherited. But only ##Jesus## offers the ##Living## ##Water## of ##salvation##.

Practice

Avoid ##Sin##. Embrace a ##legacy## of ##faith##. Pursue a ##living## ##faith##.

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

Think about your family story. Where have you seen the impact—good or bad—of the choices made by those who came before you? What legacy do you hope to leave behind? Why do you think it’s so hard to break generational patterns?

HEAR

Read Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 20:1-7, & Genesis 26:6-11

In these stories, both Abraham and his son Isaac repeat the same sin—lying about their wives to protect themselves. What other patterns and similarities do you notice in these passages?
Why did Abraham lie to Pharaoh? Why might he have repeated the same lie to Abimelech? Why would Isaac also lie to Abimelech, and where could he have gotten the idea?
Some people say that the similarities in these stories show contradictions or mistakes in the Bible. Others see them as signs of repeating family patterns. What do you think? Have you ever caught yourself repeating the sins of past generations?

Read Exodus 20:5-6 & Deuteronomy 24:16

How long does God's steadfast love reach to the families of those who love Him and obey His commandments? How many generations suffer because of a father's iniquity? 
How does Deuteronomy 24:16 help you understand Exodus 20:5-6? Are there ways you’ve suffered because of the sins of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents?
Do you believe that your love and obedience to God today will influence future generations? Why or why not?

Read 2 Timothy 2:2

How many generations are referenced in this verse? How do these “generations” differ from those mentioned in Exodus? Is this a valid understanding of family? (See Ephesians 2:19; John 1:12; Matthew 12:48-50)
How does Jesus break the curse of generational sin and provide a new inheritance through faith? (See Galatians 3:13-14; Romans 5:17-19)
As a spiritual family, how can we pass down blessings—not just to our biological children, but also to the next generation of believers? What role does our church or group have in this?

HUDDLE

Have you noticed any generational patterns—whether sins or blessings—in your life? Are there habits you’ve formed that could influence your children or spiritual descendants, for better or worse? Discuss it, hold each other accountable, and pray together.

Daily Reading

As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Day 1: Genesis 20
Day 2: Genesis 21
Day 3: Genesis 22
Day 4: Genesis 23
Day 5: Genesis 24
Day 6: Genesis 25
Day 7: Genesis 26

Think Deeper

How have the sins of previous generations affected your life and faith?
Did you grow up with parents who followed Jesus? How did their faith impact your life?
When did your faith really become your own rather than something you inherited from your family?