The Originals (Student Series)

In this series, discover the ancient stories of people who took massive risks to follow God’s lead. See how their lives provide a blueprint for navigating our own world today with faith and integrity.

Podcasts + Discipleship: Click to Learn How to Use PursueGOD

PursueGOD is a new kind of discipleship curriculum for an increasingly complicated world. We use podcasts on a variety of topics to offer no-nonsense answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pick a series from our homepage. There's plenty to choose from!
  2. Each series contains multiple lessons. Click on the numbered tabs to open each lesson.
  3. Start by listening to the podcast on your own, before you meet as a group. Take notes as needed, and listen again if it helps. Consider starting a discipleship journal to track what you're learning.
  4. Meet as a group to talk through what you learned from the podcast. Each lesson includes shownotes, talking points, and discussion questions. Click on the # tab to explore additional topics.
  5. Listen to the podcast above for more helpful tips or check out one of our many training series.
Click for Lesson

1: Overview

Instructions: Have someone read this to the group.

Noah lived in a society that had reached a breaking point. The Bible describes a culture of rampant “wickedness,” where people were entirely focused on their own desires rather than God’s design. In the middle of this chaos, Noah stood out—not because he was a perfect superhero, but because he was “righteous” and “blameless.” This doesn’t mean he never messed up; it means he lived with integrity and stayed connected to God. When God called him to build a massive Ark to survive a coming judgment, Noah chose radical obedience over social reputation. His life reminds us that even when the world around us feels like it’s losing its way, we can choose to live differently. Ultimately, Noah’s story points us toward Jesus, who serves as our true “Ark” of safety and grace in a broken world.

 

2: The Activity

The “Cramped Ark” Challenge

  • The Concept: Noah wasn’t just dealing with a storm outside; he was stuck in a confined space with a lot of “personalities” (and animals) for over a year. This activity tests how we handle being “in the boat” together.

  • The Setup: Use masking tape to mark a square on the floor that is slightly too small for your group to stand in comfortably.

  • The Task: The entire group must get inside the taped square. Once everyone is in, they must stay inside the lines for 3 minutes.

  • The Challenge: While “on the boat,” the group must complete two tasks without anyone stepping outside the tape:

    1. Line up in order of height (shortest to tallest).

    2. Line up in order of birthdays (January to December) without speaking a single word.

  • The Point: Following God isn’t a solo mission. Noah had to lead his family and maintain peace in a high-stress, crowded environment. Being “in Christ” means we are also “in the boat” with other believers, and we have to learn to work together even when things feel cramped or difficult.

 

3: Summary Points

Instructions: Have someone else read this to the group.

  • Standing out for God isn’t about being self-righteous; it’s about having the integrity to walk with God even when it’s socially inconvenient. Genesis 6:9.

  • Faith isn’t just a feeling—it’s taking action on what God says, even when the “flood” hasn’t started yet. Genesis 6:22.

  • God is a judge of sin, but He is also a restorer who uses signs like the rainbow to prove His commitment to us. Genesis 9:13.

  • Just as the Ark was the physical means of salvation from the flood, Jesus is the spiritual means of our salvation from the consequences of sin. 1 Peter 3:20-21.

  • Choosing God’s way often requires us to prioritize His “well done” over the approval of our peers or the culture at large. Hebrews 11:7.

Discussion:
  1. Watch the video and read the lesson above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about this lesson (see video above)?
  2. Genesis says Noah was “blameless among the people of his time.” How do you define “integrity” when you’re in a group where no one else seems to care about God’s standards?
  3. Noah spent years building the Ark before a single drop of rain fell. What is something God has asked you to do (or stop doing) that feels like it’s taking forever to see the “why” behind it?
  4. In our activity, things got a little chaotic in the “square.” How can we stay focused on God’s mission when the people around us (even other Christians) are getting on our nerves?
  5. How do we balance being “preachers of righteousness” (sharing our faith) without coming across as judgmental or “holier-than-thou” to our friends?
  6. If Jesus is our “Ark” today, what are some practical things that try to pull you out of that safety and back into the “storm” of old habits or cultural pressures.
Click for Lesson

1: Overview

Instructions: Have someone read this to the group.

Joseph was one of the most prominent figures in the book of Genesis, known for his remarkable journey from being an enslaved teenager to the second-in-command of Egypt. His life is a powerful display of God’s providence, showing how He can take the betrayal, suffering, and injustice experienced by His people and turn them into a story of deliverance, forgiveness, and hope for an entire nation. Though he was stripped of his status, falsely accused, and thrown into a dungeon, Joseph remained faithful to God. Ultimately, Joseph’s story points us toward Jesus, who went through a period of suffering to ultimately bring salvation and become the true “Bread of Life” for a broken world.

 

2: The Activity

The “Hidden Treasure” Challenge

The Concept: Joseph’s brothers only looked at the outside—their father’s favoritism, Joseph’s coat, and his bold dreams—and it drove them to jealousy. They couldn’t see the grand plan God was working on the inside. This activity tests our ability to see past the surface.

The Setup: Bring 3 boxes or bags that look identical on the outside. Inside one, hide something valuable like candy or a small prize. Fill the other two with random junk items like a rock or crumpled paper.

The Task: Have everyone take turns guessing which box contains the real treasure before revealing what is inside.

The Point: Did the outside match what was on the inside? Joseph looked like a helpless slave and a forgotten prisoner on the outside, but on the inside, God was refining a leader. No matter how unfair or messy our outward circumstances look, God is always working behind the scenes on something valuable.

 

3: Summary Points

Instructions: Have someone else read this to the group.

  • God’s providence transforms our pain. Joseph’s journey shows that God can take betrayal, injustice, and seasons of suffering and weave them into a grander story of deliverance and hope. Genesis 50:20.
  • Integrity matters in the dark. Whether serving in Potiphar’s house or forgotten in a dungeon, Joseph refused to compromise his moral standards, proving that true faith remains steadfast even when life feels completely unfair. Genesis 39:9.
  • Sovereignty paves the way for supernatural forgiveness. Instead of seeking vengeance against the brothers who sold him into slavery, Joseph chose grace because he trusted that God was ultimately in control.
  • Joseph’s life points directly to Jesus. From being a beloved son betrayed for silver to being falsely accused and subsequently exalted to save a world, Joseph serves as a profound Old Testament shadow of Christ. John 6:35.
  • We choose to get bitter or better. Joseph’s life is a masterclass in trusting God when life feels unfair, proving that a heart of forgiveness is the ultimate evidence of a life transformed by God. Genesis 45:5.
Discussion:
  1. Joseph’s story proves that God can turn seasons of suffering into a story of hope. When has life felt deeply “unfair” to you, and how does Joseph’s perspective on God’s providence change the way you view those painful seasons?
  2. Joseph maintained his integrity in Potiphar’s house when no one from his family was watching. What can we learn from his refusal to compromise, and why is secret integrity so critical to our faith?
  3. In our activity, the outside didn’t match the inside. Why is it so easy to judge our current circumstances by how they look on the surface rather than trusting what God is doing on the inside?
  4. Why do you think it is often much harder to forgive family members or close friends who have hurt us than it is to forgive strangers?
  5. Read Genesis 50:20. How does anchoring your heart in the truth that “God intended it for good” help you practically handle a trial, disappointment, or betrayal you are currently facing?
  6. In what specific ways do you see the life of Jesus reflected in the character and suffering of Joseph? How does Joseph’s story deepen your understanding of the Gospel?
  7. Joseph had to choose between becoming bitter or becoming better during his years of captivity. Where in your life right now do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to choose trust and forgiveness over resentment?

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

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