Transform your preteen's nighttime dreams into a lifelong connection with God with this 6-week interactive Bible study that teaches them to biblically decode their dreams and hear His voice.
Below is a sneak peek into the first chapter of the book I am pitching next week to two different publishers. I would appreciate your prayers for favor.
The Dream Adventures’ Field Guide: A Closer Walk with God Through Night Parables
Chapter 1 The Journey
Day 1
Memory Verse:
“Then the LORD shall be my God.” Genesis 28:21
Jacob’s Story: The Trick
Jacob tricked his father Isaac and stole the special blessing that belonged to his brother Esau. In those days, getting a blessing from your father was a massive honor. The blessing included powerful words of encouragement, details about the family inheritance, and prophecies about the future. Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, wanted this honor for Jacob. To pull off the trick, she dressed Jacob in Esau’s clothes. She put goat skins on his hands and neck so his skin would feel hairy like Esau’s. Then she cooked some delicious food and sent Jacob to serve it to his father.
Even so, Isaac recognized Jacob’s voice. Three different times Isaac asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” Every single time, Jacob lied. Finally, Isaac believed him and gave Jacob the blessing he had intended for Esau.
Right after Jacob left the tent, Esau arrived with fresh meat he had hunted for his father. Esau expected to get his blessing, but Isaac had already given it away to Jacob. Esau began to cry loudly and violently. Three times he begged, “Bless me also, my father! Haven’t you kept back any blessing for me?” He was completely heartbroken and could not be comforted. Isaac did give Esau a blessing, but it felt more like a curse.
Esau was furious with Jacob. He calmed himself down by planning to kill Jacob as soon as their father died. When Jacob’s mother found out, she sent Jacob away to live with her brother Laban until Esau’s anger cooled down.
Traveling completely alone and separated from his family, Jacob must have been terrified. He probably felt like he had made a huge mistake. But that night, God met Jacob in a powerful dream.
Discover For Yourself
Read the dream in Genesis 28:10-22.
What is the main action of the dream? _____________________________
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What is the main emotion of the dream? ______________________________
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What is the setting of the dream? (What was Jacob thinking about and praying about before he fell asleep)? __________________________________________________
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What did God promise Jacob? __________________________
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How did Jacob respond? ________________________________
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Jesus references Jacob’s ladder in John 1:51. How does Jesus fulfill Jacob’s dream?
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Talk About It
- If God came to talk to you in a dream, what might He say?
- How do you feel knowing that God still wants to talk to you and be close to you, even when you've made a huge mistake?
- When Jacob woke up from his dream, he didn't just forget about it. He built a stone monument and made a serious promise to God. Over the next six weeks as we learn about dreams, how can you actively get ready to listen to God? (For example: keeping a notebook by your bed). What are your ideas?
Your Story
God gives you an incredible promise: He will always be with you, and He will watch over you wherever you go. Jesus is the ultimate ladder to reach heaven. With Jesus you will step into every single one of God’s promises.
The kind of relationship God wants with you is close, real, and personal. He wants you to learn to recognize His voice and know how to respond when He speaks to you.
Because hearing God is so important, we are going to spend the next six weeks studying how to understand dreams. We want to learn all the different ways that God connects with us.
Begin your personal adventure with God today!
Prayer
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus as my ladder to reach You. I accept Your invitation to step into the great adventure of following You. Lord, open my heart and mind to your presence. Teach me how to recognize Your voice in my waking hours and in my dreams. Amen.