1. Tim pointed out that after God promises to be with Jacob and keep him, Jacob almost immediate responds with his own caveat-filled transactional vow. Of this, Tim said that bargaining with God is part of living in a world we can’t control.

Think back to some of the times and so situations in which you have bargained with God, added caveats to God’s presence, or tried to negotiate that be God on your own terms. Do you see those times differently now than you did then? How so?

Share about some of the circumstances and experiences in which bargaining, adding caveats, and etc has felt most prevalent. Do you see any similarities or themes that are consistent from one instance or context to another?

Are there commonalities between your experiences and those of others? Common threads?

2. In considering the staircase in Jacob’s dream and the moment in his life at which Jacob has this dream, Tim said, “this dream is daring us to believe that there are no forsaken places.”

Does that seem difficult to believe? What types of places or circumstances might make it hardest for you to really believe this idea of no forsaken places?

Are there areas in your life or in yourself that you once feared might be forsaken, but now you see differently? How do you explain your shifted perception? What happened?

Are there areas within your self or your life that you fear are forsaken? What would it look like to believe - in light of those places - that there truly are no forsaken places? What would believing that change?

3. As Tim neared the closing of his sermon, he said, “if you want to make a vow, let it be this: no more transactions.”

What do you think this means? What would it mean for you?

Why do you think humans seem to naturally fall into this transactional mindset with God? How do you understand the role of control in that dynamic?

What would this look like in the rhythms of daily life? Would it change the practices and dynamics of your relationship with God? If so, how so?

Why do you think it is important to shift away from a transactional view of the relationship between ourselves and God? (If you don’t think it is, share about why.)

What could be impacted if we fully were able to step out of that transactional mindset in our faith? What might happen as a result?