Sermons on Genesis
Good at Being a Woman
Reading: Genesis 2:23 In Genesis 2:23, Adam praises God’s creation of woman. He sees in her the ability to take the good he gives and make it grow and flourish. When she is good at being what God made her to be, this brings glory to God the Creator. If men build a house by their strength, women in their beauty and care make it a home. “A wise woman builds up her house, but with her own hands the…
Jesus Shaped Ethics – Jesus and Work
Genesis 2:15 — In 2014, the Barna Group published a report about trends in faith, work, and calling among people who self-identify as Christians in the United States. The report included the following paragraph: “Most churchgoers are craving more direction and discipleship when it comes to the theology of calling, especially as it relates to work. Barna research shows nearly two-thirds of churched adults say it has been at least three years or more since they heard church teachings on…
A History of Division: The Patriarchs
Genesis 18:16-19 –The Bible’s story opens with a compacted, yet masterfully narrated, account of God’s grand plan for humanity and of humanity’s rebellion against Him and His plan. God responded to humanity’s rebellion in a surprising way – He promised to bless the whole world through a man named Abraham. The introduction of Abraham results in the dramatic slowing of the Bible’s story as it traces the development of the promise through Abraham and his family. This lesson will consider Abraham’s family in the book of Genesis and their relationship to God and His promise as part of our ongoing series exploring the story of humanity in the Bible.
A Promise to Bless the World
Genesis 22:18–The Bible’s story opens with a grand vision of God’s intentions for humanity only to be quickly followed by a lengthy section tracing humanity’s persistent rebellion against God and His intentions. Humanity’s rebellion, however, did not negate God’s good intention. Beginning in Genesis chapter twelve, the Bible traces God’s promise to bless humanity by restoring His grand vision. This lesson will consider that promise and its fulfillment as part of our ongoing series considering humanity’s story in the Bible.
A Derelict Monarchy
Genesis 3: 1-6
This lesson continues an exploration of humanity’s story in the Bible and its relationship to our 2021 theme of “bonding”. In particular, this lesson consider humanity’s response to the honored place God gave them within the creation as the ones to whom He entrusted rule over His creation – humanity chose to rebel against God and His plan for them. The Bible’s narrative emphasizes the disorder and evil created by humanity’s rebellion, giving special attention to the ways in which it impacted the relationships God created humans to enjoy.
Kings and Queens
Genesis 1: 26-28
Well-written stories introduce main characters in both memorable and prescient ways. Whether subtle or heavy-handed, those introductions set the boundaries within which we come to understand the characters and the stories they inhabit. That storytelling technique helps us appreciate the way God introduces humanity in the Bible’s carefully crafted narrative. We will, in this lesson, briefly consider humanity’s introduction in the Bible and how it both prepares us to understand the rest of the Bible’s story and how it helps us understand our place and purpose in the world.
Trusting God When….
Trusting God When…
Genesis 50:19-21
It’s fairly amazing how quickly the word obey became a taboo in our culture. Think about it. People would rather hear something ugly than be told to obey. Which is why stories like Joseph in Genesis are significant. He is held up for his obedience as an illustration of trust, and even love, for God. Understanding Joseph helps us see the truth behind Jesus’ words “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.”
Public Reading of Scripture
Paul told Timothy to give attention to the public reading of scripture. This lesson uses that instruction as the motivation for its public reading, and exploration, of Genesis 18.
Finding Love
Genesis 24:63-67
God teaches us to respect love. In Genesis 24, God preserves the covenant through Isaac & Rebekah. He also gives us insight into finding and preserving lifelong love.
Gotta Serve Somebody
This lesson considers the Bible’s picture of humanity’s division into two groups in Genesis 3:15 (those who belong to God and those who belong to the serpent), how they are developed in its story, and what it means for us today.
The Creation and Me
Genesis 1:26-28 — Genesis describes the purpose God gave to humanity in the creation – to rule His creation. Although humanity’s rebellion changed its relationship with the world, it did not remove the obligation of that creational mission. This lesson will explore what it looks like to have a proper relationship with the creation.
A Story of Broken Relationships
Genesis 3:1-7 This year we will be dedicating ourselves to becoming more like Jesus. But that focus assumes something important that we need to make explicit – we need to become like Jesus because we are broken people. This lesson will therefore consider the opening chapters of Genesis and their narration of God’s relationship-oriented intentions for humanity and the way that humanity’s rebellion broke those relationships. Additionally, we will explore how humanity’s rebellion fractured three areas of relationships (God, self,…
Advent Part 1
We will begin by considering the beginning of the Bible’s story, moving from the creation to the introduction of Abraham. That narrative section of the Bible introduces God’s purposes for the creation, the sin problem that frustrated His intentions, and His promise to restore His creational purposes, a promise that would eventually find fulfillment in Jesus
Righteousness and Justice
This lesson explores the Bible’s presentation of righteousness and justice, which refer to an ethic of human relationships based on God’s character, and offers specific applications for our relationships based on Jesus’ revelation of God’s character. Genesis 18:19
Unchanged
Scripture Reference: Genesis 2:24
What is the Bible’s clearest & simplest statement explaining marriage? For all the different ways man has conducted it’s marriage vows over the centuries, there is one statement about marriage that the Bible repeats four times. What’s amazing is that this statement remains unchanged. Before we can defend our idea of marriage, we should recognize God’s profound and concise statement about this special relationship He created. As is so often the case, understanding God’s intention and expectation helps us to understand Him and live more hopefully and joyfully.
God Remembered Noah
God Remembered Noah
Genesis 7:17-8:1
It’s hard to picture how bad things must have been in Genesis 6 when every intention of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually. Did God forget about His creation? Does it ever seem like God has forgotten His people today? At this awful peak in man’s history, God extends His grace. He remembers Noah. I imagine Noah was eager to escape such a violent time. But God also extends grace to the world by patiently waiting nearly a century before the flood comes. We remember that Noah stood out for his obedience to God, but also that he held out hope as a willing messenger on behalf of God’s goodness and patience.
Healing Our Imperfection
Genesis 4
Luke 24:25
and
Psalm 103:11-13
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.”
More than Enough Isn’t Enough
Genesis 3:8-13 Entitlement goes back to the garden of Eden. The sense that I deserve more, or I deserve better, or I’m not getting my fair share for my work, has been around since Genesis 3. It’s easy to be disappointed in Adam and Eve’s unwillingness to submit to God. Still, I live with more than enough but always seem to be longing for more. What does it say about my heart that it’s easier to fill my emptiness with…
In God’s Image
Scripture: Genesis 1:26-28 Genesis teaches that God is Creator and that man is made in His image. A shadow is an image leading back to something of substance. In a similar way, man is made to be connected with God while also resembling Him. In the garden, man is given a place to belong and work to do, though is left to feel his need for companionship. Some needs are met before feeling them; others remain unfulfilled for a time.…