This week, we will be exploring Genesis 26:1-33 together, Digging Wells According to God.
I originally titled this chapter, "Flashback according to God." A strange title. But in Genesis 26, you really have an interruption in the narrative with a flashback to an earlier time in Isaac's marriage (before the twins) with many parallels to Abraham's life before the birth of Ishmael and Isaac.
Isaac follows in his father's footsteps in many ways...both good and bad.
But Genesis 26 as a whole focuses on Isaac digging wells.
Not the most relevant topic in today's world but a vital project when you live in the desert.
Isaac tries to restore Abraham's wells and digs four of his own--Esek, Sitnah, Rehoboth, and Shebah.
So what is the point of all these wells in Genesis 26?
Actually quite a lot.
In the midst of uncertainty, difficulty, and opposition, Isaac chooses to keep digging wells rather than building walls. He pursues peace. He learns to trust the Lord even in unfair circumstances. And he experiences greater and greater blessings from the Lord.
There is a message to all of us in Genesis 26. There is also a small glimpse into the conflict that is taking place in the Middle East even to this day.
May God fill us with His Spirit, give us His wisdom, guard our hearts with His peace, and empower us to serve Him!

This week, we will be exploring Genesis 25:29-34 together, Foolishness According to God.

Esau and Jacob are very different twins. Esau is hairy. Jacob is smooth. Esau is an outdoorsman. Jacob is an indoorsman. Esau is physically strong. Jacob is mentally strong. Esau is a fool. And Jacob is a heelcatcher who knows how to take advantage of a fool.

Genesis 25:29-34 is a strange passage in many ways. It is only six verses long but it packs massive implications for the story of Jacob and Esau. The birthright of the oldest son does not mean as much to us today but back then it meant everything, particularly in this case when the birthright is tied to the blessing of God.

Esau traded a treasure for a trifle.

He gave up the blessing for a bowl of soup.

He despised what was significant to get what was insignificant.

He put immediate gratification over enduring satisfaction in God.

Neither Esau nor Jacob are "heroes" in this story. Both are acting selfishly. But whereas Jacob is a finagler, Esau is a fool. And his foolishness exhibits a heart that is totally oblivious and obstinate toward God.

This week we will revisit the differences between Esau and Jacob and the struggles in the family. We will then examine the danger of putting the temporal over the eternal, of pursuing immediate gratification over enduring satisfaction in Christ.

May God fill us with His Spirit so that we will walk in His wisdom and pursue the things that really matter in this life and in eternity!

For the next twelve weeks, we will be exploring the life of Jacob in Genesis 25-35.
Jacob's life is quite interesting. He is not much of a "hero" in the traditional sense of the word. He has his faults, failures, struggles, weaknesses, sins, and just plain foolish decisions. There is not much to admire in his life and he doesn't have any great acts of faith that make us want to tell flannelgraph stories about him in children's church.
But God loved him...and changed him...and used him for His glory.
Jacob's story is one of struggle and transformation.
Indeed, God calls Himself the "God of Jacob" which is an unusual title when you consider what the name "Jacob" means and all the failures that he had.
But in many ways, we are all "Jacobs" trying to control life, make things work, and wrestling against God's will in our lives.
And God still loves us and wants to change us and use us for His glory.
I love the story of Jacob and I pray that it is an encouragement to you and our congregation this summer.
This week, we will be exploring Genesis 25:19-28 together, Twins According to God.
It is not the best title. A better one may be Different Personalities According to God or Family Problems According to God.
Jacob and Esau are twins who are as different as night and day. And their births have a great impact on Isaac and Rebekah, mostly in a negative way.
But there is much to learn from this passage and from the story of Jacob as a whole so I pray that you will pick up a study guide and dive into God's Word this summer!
Study guides will be available in the foyer this Sunday. A $5 donation will help cover the cost of printing. You can also access a digital file online by visiting the Digital Resources section of our website, 516church.org.

This Sunday, May 18 (9am, 10:45am), is our 516 Vision Sunday.
Every year, on the Sunday closest to May 16, we take time to remind ourselves of our vision as a local church.
We desire to be the community of Christ in order to reach our community for Christ.
To be the community of Christ, we focus on God's love for us in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), our love for one another as believers in Jesus Christ (1 John 3:16), and our love for the Word of God as followers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:16).
To reach our community for Christ, we recognize the importance of being a healthy church of vibrant believers who are praying fervently (James 5:16), walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16), shining the light of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:16), and rejoicing always in His grace (1 Thessalonians 5:16)!
This Sunday we will review these 316 and 516 verses, rejoice in God's faithfulness to CBC in the past, share some of the things going on at CBC in the present, and give praise for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ for the future!
May God fill our hearts with His Spirit so that we might bear fruit for His glory!

This week we will be exploring Genesis 24:29-67, Success According to God.
What does it mean to be successful?
What is your view of success?
Do you feel like you are successful?
Success is a tricky word. How you define success depends on what you think the goal or purpose of life is all about. Our world defines success as wealth, fame, and power. God's view of success is much different.
In Genesis 24, the Hebrew word for "success" is used four times. But it is never used in reference to wealth or fame. Instead it refers to God's guidance, direction, and achievement of His purpose in the lives of His people.
True success is being aligned with God's purpose.
This is the successful life. This is the blessed life.
On Sunday, we will share seven principles of a successful life based on Genesis 24.
May God fill us with His Spirit and empower us to fulfill His purpose for our lives!

This week we will be exploring Genesis 24:1-28, Guidance According to God.
Genesis 24 is a love story unlike any other love story (unless you can remember someone coming to your hometown on a load of camels with gifts galore and enticing you to travel 500 miles to marry someone that you have never met or even seen before 🙂.
Though it appears as merely a love story, Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in Genesis indicating its importance to the redemptive narrative.
Isaac, the promised seed, receives a bride!
How that bride is found is what makes this story so interesting, inspiring, and informative.
This week we will focus on the servant and his prayer for guidance.
Have you ever had a massive decision to make and did not know what to do?
Have you ever wondered what God's will is for your life?
Have you ever prayed that God would make your next step clear to you?
Life presents us with a multitude of choices every day...and sometimes those choices have major implications for our life, for our family, and for our future.
Genesis 24 provides us with some biblical principles for discerning God's will in our lives. We will explore those principles on Sunday.
May we trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding and may we acknowledge Him in all our ways so that He will direct our paths!