Gen 28

Jacob flees and spend the night at Bethel

:11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

Q> Why there is no name?

:13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

:14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

:15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

- God’s promise to Jacob.

:19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

- Bethel – God’s existence : symbol

P> Church losing power
→ Closely related to psychology, humanity studies: future, self-development, discipline, etc. – most need is human itself rather than sticking to the traditional creeds or doctrines. Creeds that mostly developed in the past years when the Christianity were prevalent.

Q> What brings people to come to congregation?
→ Desperation