EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Navigating Family Conflict – Session 3

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Date: October 27, 2024

Isaac and Rebekah: Family Favorites

The Point: Love should be without favoritism within the family.

Get Into the Study

Read the following after discussing the opening question:

Taylor Swift has now become the world’s richest female musician. Her sold out “The Eras Tour,” which went through Swift’s entire discography, pushed her overall net worth around $1.6 billion, allowing her to edge out the former title holder, Rihanna.

Swift’s popularity has surged since her debut in the early 2000’s and is seen as a “generational talent,” becoming one of the most popular musicians of this age. Her popularity is seen in the high earnings from her music sales, merchandise revenue, and earnings from streaming deals and concert tickets. “The Eras Tour” concert movie was personally financed by Swift in 2023, which became the first independently released film in a decade to be as successful as it was, with ticket sales bringing the final totals well past $250 million globally.

Many people consider Swift to be their favorite artist, citing her talent and relatable lyrics. While it can be okay to pick a favorite artist, we must take care to not let our personal tastes affect our relationships with those around us. Enjoying a particular thing is fine, but it can cross a line when we allow it to influence all our choices and interactions with others.

Get Into the Study [Option from the Adult Leader Guide]

In advance, play a video clip showing someone who clearly has favorites. Then ask Question #1.

Live It Out

Share the following as you discuss the application ideas under Live it Out:

On October 3^rd, culture ministers of France and Madagascar announced that they would be working together to repatriate human remains that were seized while the island nation was a French colony. Madagascar was a French colony from 1896 to 1960. During the French colonial reign, King Toera of the Sakalava people was beheaded by French troops while attempting to suppress a rebellion in the region of Menabe. A joint scientific committee will conduct a review of the legal title, the king’s skull, and the remains of two Sakalava chiefs, with a desire to see the remains returned to their people in Madagascar.

This agreement between the countries comes after a French law was passed last December that mandates the state to repatriate all human remains held in public collections. This law was meant to target the objects that were taken from violent acts in former French colonies. A member of France’s parliament, Christophe Marion, says that this is “an act of reconciliation” between the two countries, and a Madagascan counterpart, Volamiranty Donna Mara, says that the return of the royal remains is a “significant step” for the Malagasy people.

Just as France is attempting to make restitution for previous actions, believers should seek to reconcile with and give restitution to those they have wronged. When we choose to pick favorites with those around us, particularly in our family, we can cause significant harm to the people we should care about. We should seek to repent of our actions and work to improve relationships with those around us..

EXTRA was written by Emily Duncan, a Southern California native currently living in West Georgia with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. God saved her from Wicca when she was sixteen, and she now serves alongside her youth pastor husband as a girls’ leader at New Hope First Baptist Church in Dallas, GA. Emily spends most of her time tangled in yarn while crocheting or reading outside in the hammock.

Additional Questions

Icebreaker

Why do children cheer for the same sports team as their parents?
What are your favorite foods?
What makes your favorite hobby your favorite hobby?
What was your favorite meal growing up/when you were a child?
What are some areas of life where you definitely have favorites?
What’s your favorite way of spending time together as a family?

Genesis 25:24-28

What are the consequences when parents opt to show favoritism?
What steps can parents take to avoid playing favorites?
In what ways does God model for us how we should love our family members without favoritism?
When has favoritism had a negative impact on your life?
What makes favoritism so common in families?
What are some issues that arise from parents having individual favorites among their children?

Genesis 27:5-10

When have you seen deception damage a family?
How might Rebekah’s actions have undermined the relationships Jacob had with his father and brother?
What characteristics does Rebekah display that have no place in a family?
What effect might Isaac’s favortism toward Esau and Rebekah’s deception have had in shaping Jacob’s character?
Why is honesty so vital in healthy family relationships?

Genesis 27:11-13

How did Rebekah’s deception impact others around her?
What are the implications of encouraging a family member to engage in sinful behavior?
How does sinful behavior within the life of the family impact the entire family?
What can we learn about Rebekah and Jacob from these verses?
How can we exemplify love without favoritism in our families?