The Bible is not easy, but it’s worth it. There are some difficult stories and we know difficult conversations may arise from the topics found in Scripture. Here are a couple of things to help guide your conversations:

• The Bible is bigger than each individual story. It all works together to make one big story of just how much God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. Power through the details.
• The characters in the Bible are flawed humans. We can learn from their mistakes and Jesus’ example.
• We weren’t alive when the Bible was written and often miss out on or are confused by some of the context. Taking time to learn context is tedious but definitely helps us understand what’s going on.

January 20: Genesis 4:17-26
Today’s Takeaways:

• After Cain killed Abel, Cain had a family and Adam and Eve had another son named Seth.
• People began to call on God, kind of like prayer is for us.

Today’s Talking Topic:

• Why was it important that people started calling on God?

January 21: Genesis 5:1-32
Today’s Takeaways:

• This is the history of Noah’s family.
• People lived a really long time back then.

Today’s Talking Topic:

• Why do you think it is important for us to know the family histories of important Bible characters?

January 22: Genesis 6:1-8
Today’s Takeaways:

• Humans were sinning all the time and it hurt God to the point that he decided to end humanity.
• Noah was the only person on earth who was still living to please God.

Today’s Talking Topic:

• Remember, just a few days ago when we were reading people were calling on God for help and so quickly everyone is sinning. Why is it so easy for us to turn quickly from trusting and relying on God to making choices that hurt Him?

January 23: Genesis 6:9-22
Today’s Takeaways:

• God gave Noah instructions for building an ark to survive the coming flood and to succeed after the flood was over.
• Noah followed God’s instructions exactly as they were given.

Today’s Talking Topic:

• This passage says, “Noah did everything just as God commanded”. Why do we, so often, feel we need to do things our own way instead of God’s way?

January 24: Genesis 7:1-24
Today’s Takeaways:

• Noah, his family, and the animals they chose survived the flood on the ark.

Today’s Talking Topic:

• Today’s passage says it rained for 40 days and then the earth remained flooded for 150 days. What do you think Noah and his family did all that time on the boat?

January 25: Jeremiah 17:7-8
Saturday Special:

• Each Saturday, we will work on memorizing these verses.
• Take it at whatever pace works for your family, but don’t sell yourself short, you can do it!

January 26: Romans 12:2
Sunday Special:

• Each Sunday, we will work on memorizing this verse.
• Take it at whatever pace works for your family, but don’t sell yourself short, you can do it!