February 16, 2020: Episode 30 | Speaking of Dysfunctional Families
The message that sparked the conversation ... Happy Families Are All Alike.
What’s the difference between a happy family and an unhappy one? Is dysfunction relative? Join us for a conversation about childhood memories, family trajectories, and the flood of forgiveness.
Discussion Questions
- Share a three-to-five-word description of the family in which you were raised. Now tell us more about that ...
- Would you share a childhood family memory in which you remember being especially happy?
- What about an unhappy memory?
- Leo Tolstoy, in his novel Anna Karenina, wrote the following line: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." What do you think about that? How do you react? What other thoughts does it spark for you?
- Whatever Tolstoy meant, it may simply be that unhappy families make for compelling drama. Such is the case for the story of Jacob's family recorded in Genesis 37-50. Listening to the close of this episode (Gen 50:15-26), what gets your attention?
- What do you get to know more deeply about the God and Father of Jesus through hearing this?
- How is there good news in this for you?
- What do you want to say to people in your household, church, or community?