Posts Tagged ‘Reflection Guides’
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…
Read MoreFight 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…
Read MoreInto 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)…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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 MoreAlive 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 MoreNew Creations at Home and Work – Colossians 3:11-4:1: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Submit – The primary meaning of this word in the NT is to voluntarily “put oneself under” the authority or direction of someone or something else (see James 4:7 with respect to God, Rom 13:1 to government, and 1 Cor 16:16 to leaders). Paul uses the word obey when speaking of…
Read MoreGrowing Up In Christ, Part 3 – Colossians 1:1-17: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide *This is our last of four Sundays in this same passage. This week’s reflection guide is topical, focusing on one of the major theological themes of this section. Key Terms Justification – Justification is an act of God in declaring a person to be righteous, or in “right standing” with God, because of…
Read MoreGrowing Up In Christ – Growing Up In Christ: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Right hand of God – In ancient culture, the right hand signified the place of honor and prominence (e.g. 1 Kgs 2:19). This language of sitting at the right hand of God (v. 1) comes from Ps 110:1 and is used of Jesus’ position throughout the NT (e.g. Acts 2:33-34, Heb…
Read MoreCommon Mistakes Spiritual Seekers Make – Colossians 2:16-23: Reflection Guide
Reflection Guide Key Terms Festival/new moon/Sabbath – These are Jewish holy days found in the OT with the Sabbath being a weekly celebration, new moons a monthly celebration, and festivals as annual celebrations. Shadow – With this term Paul is using a popular image from Greek philosophy of a “shadow” and corresponding “substance.” Plato famously…
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