Sarah - Barbara Lynn Seibel

May 14, 2023May 14, 2023

Are You Seeking God’s City?

There was a period in my life when I was reading through a variety of self-help books.

Something was out of whack in my life, and I was trying to figure out what it was.

Then, two different people within the same week asked me to explain my faith to them.

I struggled to respond to their probing questions, which bothered me greatly.

My solution?

I picked up a one-year bible and immersed myself in scripture. If I was going to claim to be a follower of Christ, I felt this was the right next step.

Making this one decision began a transformation in my faith life. Although not always easy, this decision has proven more powerful and encouraging than any other pursuit in my life.

What does this have to do with Genesis 18, Hebrews 11, and seeking God’s city?

July 31, 2022July 30, 2022

Family Conflict Truce at Funeral

At first glance, the picture above just looks like a beautiful garden.

On closer inspection, one realizes this is a graveyard that is well tended with plantings of perennial plants and decorated with things like a lantern.

The caretakers of this graveyard are showing care and love in memory of their ancestors.

What might the stories of these families be before their ancestors passed?
What if the remaining family members had years of conflict between them prior to the funeral?
How might these families have behaved at the funeral, given their history of conflict?
What can we learn from Genesis 25:9-10 about setting aside family conflict at these times?

April 10, 2022April 10, 2022

LETTING GO

When have you struggled with letting go?

What triggered your struggle with letting go?

Was it a person, place, or thing that you were letting go?

Recently I assisted my parents in their second process of downsizing.

The first downsizing occurred only four years prior from a ranch house that had been my childhood home. They had lived there at least fifty years.

This time they were downsizing from a duplex to a handicapped apartment.

Letting go of space, paper, furniture, timing, control, and so on, were the operative words for everyone involved.

Stress and tension were present due to fond memories of things that were forced into the category of letting go.

How does this relate to Bible Study?

April 3, 2022March 27, 2022

MATERNAL INSTINCTS

What do you think is happening in the picture above?

Is the dog simply curious about the kitten?

Or is the dog a threat to the kitten?

How do you know?

What if instead of a dog and cat, the picture was of two half-brothers?

One is your child. The other is the child of your husband with another woman who was your maidservant.

How do you interpret the photo now?

What does this have to do with Bible study?

March 27, 2022March 27, 2022

CELEBRATION TIME

What life transitions have you hosted a feast in celebration?

Perhaps a significant birthday?

A wedding or an anniversary?

Graduation from high school or college perhaps?

Did you ever host a celebration for weaning your child?

ESV Genesis 21:8 And the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

I personally have never been invited to or heard of someone hosting a celebration at the life transition of their child being weaned except in the verse above.

Why does scripture tell us Abraham celebrated this life transition?

February 13, 2022February 13, 2022