Last week we finished one of our “case for” classes on the Old Testament, and in two weeks we will pick up with a new class called “A Case for the Old Testament, The History Continues…”. This week I wanted to present a new short film from “Genesis Apologetics” on the importance of having a solid Christian foundation built, not only on belief in God and an afterlife, but on the entirety of Scripture, especially the truths of Genesis that give reasons for the hope we have in Jesus. In 1 Peter 3:15, we are all called to “give an answer to all that ask about the hope that we have in Jesus, and to do it with gentleness and respect.”
The salvational issue is the main issue: Jesus died for our sins as a substitute for us, then defeated death and Satan by resurrecting from the grave. However, once we have made that confession in our lives, what’s next? We cannot continue on in the same manner, there must be some fruit to our new Christian walk! Producing “fruit” in the culture we live in today is becoming more and more difficult with atheism and skepticism on the rise. Recent research shows that for the first time since 1937 when polls were taken on this topic, Church membership (including Synagogues and Mosques) has fallen below the majority in the United States according to a March 29, 2021 article in the Washington Post citing a recent Gallup poll.
If we cannot answer basic questions about what we believe and why we believe it, including questions about Genesis, then our witness for Jesus becomes mute. In today’s culture we cannot be “wishy washy” when it comes to truth. We cannot compromise or say that parts of what we believe don’t really matter, while other parts of what we believe have eternal implications. The foundation of the Christian faith should be based on the knowledge of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, because it is so interconnected with one major theme of God’s overarching plan from Genesis to Revelation, that points directly to the person of Jesus. The Bible’s reliability is undeniable, with evidence and consistency above all others, from historical sources to archeological confirmation, and especially its fulfilled prophecy.
Check out Genesis Apologetics’ short film on the importance of having solid “Foundations:”
As we take a break from our regular class, it is important to not take a break from Bible Study. Below is our reflection practice for memorization and new weekly Bible study questions:
Reflection
Practice knowing the books of the Old Testament and their categories
- What are the 39 books of the Christian Old Testament and their categories, in order? (clue: 5-12-5-5-12)
- What are the major events, who are the major players and what are the major Covenants in the book of Genesis?
Bible Study
Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.
Read Genesis Chapter 33 through Chapter 36 – Then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions. NOTE: The answers are found in the text (except for “Going Deeper”)
Jacob meets Esau; the treachery of Jacob’s sons; Jacob moves to Bethel; Esau moves
- (Genesis 33:1-20) In this chapter Jacob finally reunites with Esau:
- Describe what Jacob did when he saw Esau was coming.
- How did Esau respond to Jacob’s gifts and presentation of his family?
- Discuss: (Since the text doesn’t tell us) – Why you think Jacob implied that he was going to Seir to meet up again with Esau, but then stopped and settled in Shechem?
- (Genesis 34:1-31) This chapter tells a side story about Jacob’s daughter Dinah, the people of Shechem and some of her brothers.
- What happened to Dinah in this foreign land, and what did the leaders of that land hope to have happen with Jacob’s family?
- How did Jacob’s sons respond to the request made by the father of Shechem, and what did they ultimately do?
- Who were the two sons of Jacob that were responsible for this and what did their father say to them?
- Discuss: What could Jacob, or his sons, have done differently to handle this situation?
- (Genesis 35:1-21) In this chapter God tells Jacob to move to Bethel.
- What did Jacob say to his household and what did he require them to do?
- How did God protect them as they traveled?
- What did God do and say to Jacob when he blessed him; and what does his new name mean?
- What happened to Rachel?
- (Genesis 35:22-29) There are now twelve sons of Israel.
- What did the oldest son Reuben do that will later come back to bite him?
- Keep in mind what the first three sons have done in these chapters – list the twelve sons and hi-light where Judah fits in the list (we will see a prophecy later on in this book).
- How old was Isaac when he died, and who was there to bury him?
- (Genesis 36:1-43) This chapter focuses mainly on Esau and his genealogy.
- Why did Esau move away from his homeland and where did he go?
- Discuss: Why did Esau move away and not Jacob; and how does this relate to the Covenant Promise and God’s sovereignty over all things?
Join us next week as we continue our study of the Old Testament!
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15
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