In the Beginning, God

▸ In the beginning, __________

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (New Living Translation)

• This first sentence brings together two great sources of human knowledge _____________________ and ________________

• Two primary reasons this verse so important to both believers and unbelievers:

1. The importance of a _____________________ God

2. The ________________________ of the Bible

▸ The Word of God __________________ each day

God said . . . and it became so

▸ The end of each day brought __________ to God

• What will you do today with what God gave you that He can say “it is good?”

▸ God planned creation using a __________________

Notice the process God followed:

Day 1 – created heaven, earth, light, and separated the light from the dark

Day2 – formed the sky

Day 3 – formed the dry land and its vegetation

Day 4 – filled the sky with sun, moon, stars

Day 5 – filled the waters with sea creatures and sky with fowls of the air

Day 6 – filled the land with every living creature and made humans

▸ God _______________ at the end

Why did God rest?

• God rested because He was _____________________

Hebrews 4:3 – . . . But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world. (New Century Version)

• He rested to give us an _____________________ to follow

Exodus 20:9–11 – 9 Work and get everything done during six days each week, 10 but the seventh day is a day of rest to honor the Lord your God. . . . 11 The reason is that in six days the Lord made everything – the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. On the seventh day he rested. . . . (New Century Version)

• He rested to fulfill His ____________ for the ages

Hebrews 4:9-11 – 9 The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. 10 God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. 11 So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, . . . (The Message)