It’s a Wonderful Life – Genesis 48:8-21: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 48–49 | It‘s a Wonderful Life Key Terms Joseph – Joseph was Jacob’s 11th son and the first son of Rachael—Jacob’s favorite wife. As Joseph grows up, Jacob shows him favor and Joseph’s brothers become angry at him, eventually selling him into slavery in Egypt. While in Egypt, Joseph advances to become…

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On the Road Again – Genesis 35:1-28: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 35:1–29 | On the Road Again Key Terms Foreign gods – Before leaving Shechem and returning to Bethel, Jacob instructs his family to put away their foreign gods (v. 2). These items were most likely taken from the destruction of Shechem and include earrings (v. 4), which were likely associated with the…

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Breaking Bad – Genesis 34:1-31: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 34:1–31 Key Terms Shechem – A prominent city in Canaan, 50 miles north of modern-day Jerusalem. Shechem is also the name of the son of Hamor—the ruler of Shechem in Genesis 33-34. In Israel – Genesis 34:7 is the first time Jacob’s family uses the new name Israel. Although just receiving this…

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Fight Club – Genesis 32:22-32: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 32:22–32 | Fight Club Key Terms Jabbok – A river that flows westward through a cleft in the Jordan Rift Valley mountains and empties into the Jordan. By crossing the Jabbok, Jacob and his family are heading towards Esau, not away. Today the Jabbok is called the Zerqa. Israel – In this…

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Into the Unknown – Genesis 32:1-21: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Genesis 32:1–21 | Into The Unknown Key Terms Mahanaim – Mahanaim (v. 2) means “two camps.” Jacob chooses this name when he comes to see that—in addition to his own camp—God is present with him as well. Angels/messengers – In Hebrew, the word for angel (v. 1) and messenger (v. 3 & 6)…

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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…

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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…

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Prayer & Worship Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide This Sunday we will spend extended time in worship and prayer. To prepare for our worship gathering, take some time to reflect on Jesus’ famous words in John 15 about abiding in him. Following the reflection is our latest all-church axiom, Prayer Is the Path to Spiritual Vitality, and some discussion questions based…

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Taking the Torch – Acts 28:17-31: Reflection Guide

Reflection Guide Key Terms Rome – The home of the Roman Empire, which spanned much of the Mediterranean region in the 1st century. Christians were present in Rome by the 40’s AD and the city would eventually become the base of the Catholic Church. Sect – Also used in Acts to describe Pharisees and Sadducees,…

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Advent Week Two Reflection Guide

We hope this reflection guide will help you and your family prepare your hearts for Christmas by taking some time each week to reflect on what Christmas truly means for us and our world. The theme for this week of Advent is love. This week’s guide considers how the second title given to the promised…

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