UTSOTB | Part 2 | Creation & Patriarchs

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Welcome

NO Midweek Bible Study next Wednesday due to Fall Break

Prayer Request Cards and Questions

Introduction:

Illus.: Tell the story of how Julie and I met.

When I hear the story of how folks met and how things got started I gain a great appreciation for those things.

This is true of lots of things...

Bibles

Houses

Crafts

Leather Goods

Food

There is something about knowing where something comes from that helps us to gain a greater appreciate for that thing.

Today, we are going to take a look at the beginning of the story. Since, we are quite a bit into the story, it is easy to under value all that has taken place.

My hope and prayer is that as we take a look at the beginning, we will gain a greater love for God and appreciation for His Word.

Study:

The Arc of Bible History

See the inside of today’s handout.

Display & Overview The Arc of Bible History

The Creation Era

Display The Arc of Bible History & Ask Them To Fill in Creation

Overview of the Creation Era

The Main Figure: Adam

The Main Location: Eden

The Story Line Summary: Adam is created by God, but he sins and destroys God’s original plan for man.

Four Major Events of the Creation Era

(1) Creation: Man created in the image of God (Genesis 1-2)

In Genesis 1 we see the account of the creation of the world. There are many different views within creationist theology and all them agree on one thing - God created the universe and all that inhabits it.

At the end of that creation God created mankind - male and female.

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

What does it mean that we are created in the image of God?

This is not physical likeness, but spiritual and personal likeness. Man has intellect, emotion and will. These are the characteristics that God shared with man.

Note: Since all people are created in the likeness of God, we should value and cherish all life. We should respect and honor all people as being created in the image of God. This means valuing life in the womb all the way to the tomb. This also means that we should view one another not based on what we see on the outside, but the image of God that is stamped on the outside.

Illus.: Talk about how I really like Bibles of all kinds. I recently ordered a new copy of the Greek New Testament. One of the things I love about Bibles is the imprinting in silver and gold on the outside. This imprinting shows the value and important of what is on the inside. The same is true for each image bearer that walks on the face of the planet.

(2) Fall: Sin entered the world (Genesis 3)

In Genesis 3 we see Adam and Eve walking around in Eden, but they are encountered by Stan appearing as a serpent.

Satan lures Adam and Eve into rebellion against God. This rebellion was against the image of God that was stamped into them.

Genesis 3:1–7 ESV

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

As a result of their sin, sin enters into the world. All the pain, suffering and evil ever endured by mankind can be traced back to this moment.

Note: Sin entered into our world through Adam and Eve, but sin enters our lives when we chose to sin. Sin is a choice. Obedience to God is a choice. A choice that can only be made by those who were made in the image of God.

(3) Flood: Judgment for sin (Genesis 6-10)

Over the next several hundred years man multiplies both in number and capacity for sin. Things get really bad in the world. So bad that God can only find 8 people who are willing to live a righteous relationship with Him - Noah, his wife, their three son and their wives.

Therefore, God judges the world by sending a global flood to wipe out humanity and restart the whole thing.

When I read this part of the story, I am blown away by these verses...

Genesis 6:5–8 ESV

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Note: God is looking for those who will walk with Him when no one else is willing to do so. As God’s children, we should be willing to walk with Him.

(4) Tower of Babel: Beginning of the Nations (Genesis 11)

After the flood, God gave a direct order to mankind. He told them to multiply and spread out all over the earth.

In direct disobedience to God’s command, they stayed in one place and started trying to build a tower to themselves. This is the Tower of Babel.

In order to force their obedience God confused their languages and scattered them abroad.

Genesis 11:8–9 ESV

So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Note: The people of the earth defied God’s command, because they thought more of themselves than they thought of God. We need to check our hearts daily to make sure that we think more of God than we do ourselves.

The Patriarch Era

Display The Arc of Bible History & Ask Them To Fill in Patriarch

Overview of the Patriarch Era

The Main Figure: Abraham

The Main Location: Canaan

The Story Line Summary: Abraham is chosen by God to “father” a people to represent God to the world.

Four Major Men of the Patriarch Era

(1) Abraham: Father of the Hebrew people (Genesis 12-23)

Due to Adam’s sin and the fall of man, God’s attention at this point is focused on a plan of redemption. He choses Abraham to bring this plan about.

The beginning of Abraham’s journey with God is recorded in Genesis 12.

Genesis 12:1–4 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Abraham (at this point Abram) begins this journey with God by taking his wife, his nephew’s family and servants.

He leads him to the Canaan where he settles and has two sons Ishmael (Hagar) and Isaac (Sara).

Note: Along the way Abraham made mistakes, but God still used him. We must remember that God is not looking for perfect vessel, He’s in search of willing vessels.

(2) Isaac: Second father of promise (Genesis 24-26)

Isaac is the Son Abraham and Sara.

He is referred to the the second father of promise, because God’s promise to Abraham extends through him.

He lives in the land of Canaan and becomes extremely wealthy.

He dies at an old age having fathered two sons - Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 27:27–29 ESV

So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him and said, “See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed! May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”

Note: Isaac was very aware of God’s blessing upon him and his family. As God’s children, we must be careful not overlook the blessings of God that exist in our lives.

(3) Jacob: Father of the nation of Israel (Genesis 27-35)

Jacob stole the blessing and birthright that was due his brother - Esau. (Gen. 27)

However, through a series of events were he is deceived himself, he mends his ways.

On this journey to mending his ways, he has an encounter were he wrestles with God (Gen. 32) and God changes his name to Israel.

Jacob (now Israel) fathers twelve sons, which makes him the father of the nation of Israel and her twelve tribes.

Note: Jacob’s story is one of the faithful pursuit and love of God. We must never forget that our life circumstances are not disconnected from God’s hand. He is working to accomplish His purpose in our lives.

(4) Joseph: Leader in Egypt (Genesis 37-50)

Joseph is the favored son of Jacob who gets sold into slavery by his brothers.

Joseph experiences ups and downs as he goes from the pit to the palace twice.

However, Joseph saw God’s hand in all of it.

Note: We must always see our lives through the lens of God’s Word and will.

Illus.: Share how I believe this pandemic that we dislike is not outside of God’s sovereign and divine plan.

Today’s Quiz

The Creation Era Quiz

Who was the main figure of the Creation Era?

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What was the main location of the Creation Era?

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What were the four major events of the Creation Era?

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The Patriarch Era Quiz

Who was the main figure of the Patriarch Era?

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What was the main location of the Patriarch Era?

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Who were the four major men of the Patriarch Era?

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