The Sacred Timeline Week 1

Big Idea: God is still creating us today.

Primary Scripture: Genesis 1:1, 1:26-27, 1:31

Supporting Scripture: Romans 1:20; Philippians 1:6

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CAPTURE (Why should students pay attention to and care about your message?)

· Have you ever watched a movie that was so good that when it ended you just sat there, staring at the screen, hoping there was more?

· For a lot of people, that movie was Avengers: Endgame.

· Avengers: Endgame was the 22nd movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing together almost every Marvel superhero from over 20 years of movies.

· When Endgame ended people stayed in their seats waiting for the famous post-credit scene, the thing Marvel usually uses to hint at the next big thing.

· But this time, there was nothing. No teaser. No mysterious character reveal. Just silence.

o Actually it was almost silence.

· You know how you hear something, and you know you recognize it, but you’re not sure where you recognize it from?

· Right after that part at the end of the credits where they thank a bunch of people in a font so small their parents can’t even read it— there’s this faint noise.

· What people heard was the sound of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man character building the first Iron Man suit.

· Marvel didn’t put a teaser there because they weren’t starting something new—they were giving a throwback to the very beginning.

· It was their way of saying: This is where it all started. This is what made everything else possible.

· Today, we’re starting a new series called The Sacred Timeline.

· We’re going to be looking at the big, overarching story of what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in our lives.

· We will go back to the very beginning.

SCRIPTURE (What does God’s Word say?)

· The first book of the Bible is Genesis, which is a word that literally means the origin of something.

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 – NLT)

· It’s not just the beginning of a story; it’s the beginning of the story.

· It’s really the beginning of your story, too.

· Let’s take a closer look at Genesis 1:1 by diving a little deeper into the word “created.”

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 – NLT)

[Teacher note: To help with the pronunciation of the Hebrew word bara’, here is a YouTube video you may find helpful: https://youtu.be/-dQNyxAJkuo]

· The Hebrew word translated here as “created” is בָּרָא, which is pronounced bara’.

· This word actually gives us the impression that God brought something (in this case, the heavens and the earth) into existence and specifically gave that something a purpose.

· When Genesis was written, people were less concerned with how our world was created, and more interested in exploring why it happened and what it meant.

· This is a story that is just as much about God giving humanity purpose as it is about God giving us life.

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  (Genesis 1:26-27 – NLT)

· When the author is talking about God, God is referred to as “He,” but when God is referring to God, God uses the word “Us.”

o Some Christian scholars believe that this is the earliest reference to the Trinity in the Bible, demonstrating that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have been at work together since the very beginning.

o Others think that God was speaking to all of the other heavenly beings, like angels.

o Others see this as the author simply pointing out that God is infinitely more complex than the people He is creating.

· I encourage you to just let that tension exist as we choose to focus on what this passage actually tells us.

o God said, “Let us make human beings in our image”

o So, God created human beings in his own image

o Male and female, He created them

· From the very beginning, God created us on purpose and with purpose.

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 – NLT)

· Have you ever made something, and when you were done, it turned out so well that you just stared at it for a second?

· That sense of accomplishment is exactly how God felt when He stepped back and saw the people He had created living in the world He had created.

INSIGHTS (What might this Scripture mean?)

1. Creation shows us God’s character.

· Genesis 1 doesn’t just tell us what God made, but it shows us whoGod is.

· When God speaks, things always happen.

· God’s words literally shaped our reality.

· Every part of creation had meaning and purpose, from how the stars were placed to the separation of day and night.

· It also shows us God is generous.

· Before He made us, He had made a world full of life and beauty, filled with everything we needed to survive.

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20 – NLT)

2. You are made in God’s image.

· God doesn’t have a physical body like ours, so it’s not talking about arms, legs, or facial features.

· When God made us in His image, He gave us parts of His character.

· We have the ability to love, to create, to think, to make choices, and to have relationships. We can experience joy, show compassion, and pursue justice.

· We didn't earn this, and you don't have to prove you're worthy of it.

· When you look in the mirror, you're not just seeing another teenager trying to figure out life—you're seeing someone who reflects the Creator of the universe.

· When others see you, they have the potential to see glimpses of God's character through how you love, how you create, how you choose to live.

· This is true whether we feel it or not. We don't lose God's image because we had a bad week or made a mistake.

3. God is still working in and through you.

· When God finished creating the world, the Bible tells us that He rested, but it never says that He stopped creating.

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 – NLT)

· God is still working on you. He’s still helping you grow.

· None of us are perfect, but that doesn’t mean that God messed up or that any of us are a lost cause—it means that there’s still work to do.

· That’s really good news because that means that you are not defined by your mistakes, your failures, or the things you wish you could change.

· It means that you are defined by the God who made you in His image and is still shaping you into the person He created you to be.

ACTION (How could we live this out?)

1. Take a nature walk.

· When was the last time you were outside simply to enjoy nature—without earbuds in or scrolling social media?

· This week, set aside 15 minutes to simply enjoy creation.

It’s gonna be over 70 degrees Friday and Saturday and it’s JANUARY! Go out and enjoy it!

o Then just pay attention.

o Notice how the clouds move. See how the light hits the trees. Listen to the wind blow, the birds chirp.

o As you notice, thank God for what you see.

o Do what you can to avoid being distracted this time.

· This is about remembering that the same God who made all of this, also made you, and He’s still not finished.

2. Create something.

STAGE SCRIPT: “Built to Create” (Sports + Singing Edition)

(2–3 minutes)

[Walk out bouncing a ball, holding a mic, or miming a warm-up stretch.]

Leader: Alright—real quick. How many of you play a sport?

[Pause for hands]

How many of you love drawing or painting or video games?

[Pause for hands]

How many of you sing—like on a team, on a stage, or loudly in your room?

[Pause / laugh]

And how many of you are thinking, “I don’t do either… I just vibe”?

Here’s the thing—all of that counts.

If God is the Creator, and we’re made in His image, that means we were built to create too.

Sometimes creation looks like:

Painting or building something

Writing a song

Training for a game

Using your voice to lead or worship

Or pushing your body to do something it couldn’t do before

Every practice. Every rep. Every note. Every game.

That’s creation in motion.

And here’s what all of those things have in common:

None of them are perfect the first time.

You don’t walk onto a field already great. You don’t step up to a mic already confident. You don’t create something meaningful without being shaped along the way.

This week, we want to challenge you to create something.

Maybe you:

Train harder than you normally would

Write or sing something meaningful

Create something with your hands

Or find a way to help someone in your community

And while you do, ask God this: “God, how are You shaping me from the inside out?”

And that’s exactly why NC TNT matters.

*Show TNT Slide*

TNT is like spiritual training camp.

It’s a weekend where:

Your faith gets stretched

Your confidence grows

Your team gets stronger

And God works on your heart, not just your talent

You don’t go to TNT because you’re already good enough. You go because God is still developing you.

Just like practice. Just like rehearsal. Just like training.

[Point toward sign-ups]

So whether you’re an athlete, a singer, or someone still figuring out your thing— TNT is for you.

Sign up. Don’t miss the weekend God uses to build what’s next.

You were built to create. Built to grow. Built for glorify God with your gifts.

We have a practice day this Sunday at 4pm here at church, where adults who are skilled in many different categories will help you prepare for this amazing event.

NC TNT Pics

Then next Sat, Jan 17 we will head to Charlotte to worship with & compete with churches from all across North Carolina.

TNT@TNU Pics

Then there’s an opportunity to advance to Regional TNT in April with students from 9 different states: Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia on the beautiful campus of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to discover your giftings, glorify God through them, and maybe even find the calling that God has for your life.

Sign up ends in a little over 24 hours-so step up, step out and take the gifts you’ve been given from God to glorify God!

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

*Prayer*

*TNT Sign ups on Small Group Sheets*