Family

The health of our families is the health of our nation. From the first book of the Bible to the latest news headline, every household has its own generational story of how they interacted, reacted, and treated one another. While some of the biblical accounts are encouraging, some are filled with unexplainable dysfunction—and these troubles still plague modern-day families. Why are we angry? Why are there so many single-parent homes? Why do we suffer with addictions? So much of our own brokenness is rooted in our childhoods. In a study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), researchers found an alarming percentage of adults who had grown up abused and neglected in dysfunctional homes, which has resulted in a myriad of health, mental, and family issues. Although we can’t go back and mend our childhoods, we do have the ability to break the cycle of brokenness and encourage our own children and others that they indeed have the power to live better lives. This small-group or individual Bible study offers reactive solutions and brings to light information about ACEs by discussing dysfunctional similarities between families found in Genesis and today’s families. The balance of anecdotes, statistics, and study questions will enable you to proactively dig to the roots of your struggles and empower you to rebuild and form healthier, stronger family relationships.