Roadmap Genesis

Roadmap Genesis is a faith-based film documentary that explains how the Biblical Book of Genesis is a roadmap to how to live a productive life and is as relevant today as it was at the time it was written.

Filmmaker Nolan Lebovitz had already found Hollywood success when his film, Tortured (Laurence Fishbourne, James Cromwell), became a hit. When he married and became a father, though, his perspective on the message he wanted his life to present began to change. While pursuing a calling to become a rabbi, he had an epiphany about the relevance of Genesis in the lives of people and wanted to share this discovery with others. His experience with and passion for filmmaking was the obvious choice.

Lebovitz traveled across the United States interviewing experts and public figures, as well as "man in the street" questions to get an overall feel of the importance others place on the first book of the Bible and its significance today. Some of the more well known people interviewed are Governor Mike Huckabee, Rabbi David Wolpe, Alan Dershowitz, Cardinal Francis George, and Ken Ham.


This is a very well made documentary from the technical aspects and from the material content. Genesis is a book that is rich in stories and relationships with God and with others. The points Lebovitz discusses cover a wide range of topics that continue to impact our lives today: racism, environment, family, faith, relationships with others and our relationship with God. His interviews, ranging from devout believers to skeptics and scoffers, made this a far more interesting film than one which only presented one viewpoint. There is a wealth of material to draw from in Genesis, but Lebovitz has made a general film demonstrating how we can learn much from Genesis and apply it to our lives.

I enjoyed watching this on my own, but also believe it would make a great DVD to use for a Bible Study group. Many people today believe the Bible is outdated or merely an old-fashioned rule book that has become meaningless, and this documentary could be just the conversation starter needed to help others explore the whys and hows of using the Bible as a roadmap. What better place to start than, "In the beginning..."? You can get a copy of your own by clicking here to order.

Roadmap Genesis website
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@RoadmapGenesis on Twitter
Roadmap Genesis on Google+
Roadmap Genesis on YouTube

Disclosure: I saw a prescreening of Roadmap Genesis through the BuzzBlogger.net division of BuzzPlant in exchange for my honest opinion.

Restless DVD Study Kit - Jennie Allen

In Restless, an 8-session, video-based small group Bible study, Bible study teacher and author Jennie Allen helps you discover a practical plan to identify the threads of your life and how to weave them together for God's glory and purposes.Restless explores this important question: “Do I matter?” And Jennie asks, "We live with lots of things, lots of people…but do we live for something?”
Using the story of Joseph, Jennie explains how his suffering, gifts, story, and relationships fit into the greater story of God-and how your story can do the same. She also introduces Threads – a tool to help you see your own personal story and to uncover and understand the raw materials God has given you to use for his glory and purpose.
Filled with practical tools and biblical teaching, Restless will equip you to:

Make sense of the seemingly random relationships and activities of life

Redeem life's hurts and scars

Place your story in context with God's greater story

Sessions include:

• Introduction
• God’s Story
• Gifts
• Scars
• Place
• People
• Passion
• Holy Spirit

Kit includes DVD, study guide, leader's guide, and discussion card set.
(The info above is from the Thomas Nelson product page.)

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My Review: 'Restless' is a word I have used to describe myself for a couple of years now, so I jumped at the opportunity to review a curriculum based on that word. When I saw that it was going to be based on a study of Joseph and how his story is woven from tangled threads into a beautiful picture of God's ultimate plan for his life, it all made sense. As Jennie put it, "Untangling the threads of our lives and assembling them together in one place reveals a beautiful plan designed by the Creator himself: God's Agenda + my threads + the need + the Holy Spirit = my purpose."

This 8 part dvd curriculum, meant for small groups, is interactive for members to respond to each session. The topics bring a focus the unique threads in your life: the Gifts, Scars, Places, People, Passions that combine to make you the person you are and can be used to fulfill God's purpose in your life. A part that struck a nerve with me was when Jennie used the example, "Why would I teach a Bible Study when Beth Moore is in the world?" I know how quickly I back away from projects because there are so many who do it so much better. It is easy to be restless when you keep retreating to a place filled with fear and self-doubt. This isn't a study that goes deep into Scripture, but I feel that it is one that can be as beneficial to the mature believer as it can to those new or seeking faith. This is a study that can meet people where they are today.

I highly recommend this curriculum. Even if you have never led a study group before, there are clear instructions and suggestions on the best way to use your time. I also liked the discussion cards to be used; sometimes you need spark to ignite a conversation and these work great. Of course, when you are being transparent with others, there will need to be trust among the group. So, while it could be abridged to fit the needs of a larger group, but it is still suggested you break into more intimate groups for discussion. I liked it just as a personal study and plan to go back through it again without having to make the notes I needed as a reviewer. The kit comes with the dvd, the leader's guide, a participant's study guide and a discussion card set.


Disclaimer: I was provided with these materials at no cost to myself by Shelton Interactive. There was no requirement that I give a good review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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