God promised Abraham a land and descendants like the stars, and he died owning a cave and holding two grandsons. Yet Scripture says he died “old and contented.” In this final study of Abraham's life in Genesis 25:1-11, we'll tie up some loose ends: what the New Testament says about Abraham's faith, a careful look at Sarah and 1 Peter 3, and the one question every listener has to answer — who will you be gathered to when you take your last breath?

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8 and Psalm 92:12-15. Genesis says Abraham died “old and contented” — satisfied, full of days. Jeff also pointed out that age peels away our ability to paint over who we really are: some people grow more beautiful every year, and some grow more bitter. Tell the group about someone you watched finish well — a grandparent, a mentor, an older saint at church. What did they have that you want? And honestly: if the trajectory you're on right now simply continued for 30 more years, which direction would it be heading?

- Read Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6-8. What are you doing to fill your mind with life-giving things? Is there anything you need to stop filling your mind with?

- Read Malachi 2:13-16 and Colossians 3:19. Peter's word to husbands came with a warning attached: live with your wife in an understanding way, honor her as a coheir, so that your prayers will not be hindered. Malachi said the same thing centuries earlier — God wasn't accepting the offerings of men who were faithless to the wife of their youth. What does it mean, and what does it not mean, for a husband to live with his wife in an understanding way?

- Read Mark 3:31-35 and John 1:12-13. Abraham was “gathered to his people” — not a bloodline, but the family of faith that went before him. Jesus redefines family the same way. Jeff asked, "Who are your people?" Do you honestly feel more at home with the church or with the world? If the answer is the world, why?

Paul is chained in a cold Roman prison, deserted by most of his friends, and Timothy is heartbroken at losing his spiritual father. In this message, Pastor Dave Bechtel walks through 2 Timothy 1:8-14 and shows how we can face lonely, heartbroken seasons supernaturally instead of naturally: don't be ashamed of the Lord or of the world's outcasts, join with others especially in suffering and by the power of God, hold on to and speak healthy thoughts, and protect the precious treasure God has entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit's power until that day.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- Was there anything in the message that especially stuck out to you (encouragement, conviction, etc.)?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:8 & Mark 8:38. Why is it tempting to be ashamed of the Lord, or of the people He loves, when the culture around us pulls the other way? Where are you most tempted to stay quiet about Jesus?

- Read John 10:10 & 3 John 1:4. When we're lonely or brokenhearted, we often isolate ourselves. Why is "disconnection the wrong direction," and who could you join with in this season, especially someone who understands what you're going through?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:13 & Ephesians 4:29. What does it look like to hold on to healthy thinking instead of letting your mind sink into destructive thoughts? Who are the trusted truth-speakers in your life, and how can your words build others up this week?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:12-14 & 1 John 4:4. What has God entrusted to you that you need to guard, and how does knowing that He guards what you've entrusted to Him give you confidence until that day?

Paul wrote his final letter from a Roman prison, deserted by friends and facing death — and yet it opens with promise, thanksgiving, and prayer. In this message, Pastor Dave Bechtel walks through 2 Timothy 1:1-7 and draws out five principles for facing our own tough times: remember His promise of life, thank God, keep your conscience clean, pray for your loved ones, and don't fear — because God has given us a Spirit of power, love, and discipline.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

- Was there anything in the message that especially stuck out to you (encouragement, conviction, etc.)?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:1-2 & 4:6-16. Summarize Paul's situation when he wrote this letter. Is it fair to call that a "tough time"? Are you in one right now, or can you share about a recent one?

- Read John 10:10 & Philippians 3:20-21. The first principle was "Remember His Promise." What promise was Paul remembering, and what are three different fulfillments of the Lord's promise of life? Which one is most meaningful to you in this season?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:3-5 & Psalm 100:4. Who are the loved ones you are praying for? Review the things Paul prays for in Timothy's life — his heart, his faith, his purpose. How are you praying for yours?

- Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7 & 1 John 4:4. Our default reaction to trouble is fear. Which of the three things God's Spirit gives — power, love, or discipline — do you most need to lean on this week, and what would that look like?