Lean on Me – Genesis 30:25-31:55: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 30:25–31:55 Key Terms Speckled/Spotted/Black – Speckled and spotted goats and black lambs were the opposite coloration of typical goats and lambs and were less desirable (Gen 30:32 & following). Household gods – Although it’s unclear exactly what these household gods are (Gen 31:19, 34, & 35), they are most likely figurines made…

Read More

Desperate Housewives – Genesis 29:31-30:24: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide – Genesis 29:31-30:24 Key Terms Bilhah & Zilpah – Bilhah and Zilpah were Rachel and Leah’s personal servants. Though this story sounds strange and even offensive today, the practice of bearing children through a slave serving as a surrogate was common in the ancient world when a couple could not have children. My…

Read More

Can’t Buy Me Love – Genesis 29:1-30: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Laban – Laban is Rebekah’s (Isaac’s wife and Jacob’s mother) brother. He first enters the story in Genesis 24 when Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. Now, Isaac has sent his son Jacob to find a wife and Isaac again comes to Laban. In their culture, it was…

Read More

Stairway to Heaven – Genesis 28:10-22: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Paddan-aram/Haran – These two place names are used interchangeably in the narrative to refer to the same place (or it’s possible that Paddan-aram is the region containing the city Haran). Thus when Isaac sends Jacob to Paddan-aram in v. 6, Jacob is being obedient when he goes to Haran (v. 10).…

Read More

The Masquerade Party – Genesis 27:1-46: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Blessing – In Ancient Near Eastern culture, it was common to pronounce blessings or curses on others. These blessings/curses were not seen as mere wishful thinking but were believed to be influential ways to call upon God to act in a certain way towards an individual or a nation. This means…

Read More

The Hunger Games – Genesis 25:19–34: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Abraham – Abraham was called by God to become the father of God’s people—Israel, and to ultimately be a source of blessing for all nations (Gen 12:1-3; Abraham’s story can be found in Gen 11:26-25:8). Isaac & Rebekah – Isaac was Abraham’s son. He was promised to Abraham and Sarah by…

Read More

Personal Growth Guide

Redemption Church exists to make authentic followers of Jesus who live for the glory of God and the good of our world.  We believe that following Jesus is a lifelong process of walking faithfully with our God. Whether it’s the simple stresses of everyday life, good things that demand our attention, personal hardships, or the…

Read More

Alive in the Mission of God – Colossians 4:2-6: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Being watchful – The phrase being watchful (v. 2) could have two emphases. It’s possible Paul is encouraging believers to be “watching” for Christ’s return (see Col 3:4; when Christ…appears). However, this word basically means “to be awake” and is used more often in the NT to encourage Christians to be…

Read More