Have you ever started watching a movie when it was already halfway through?

Transcription

1 THIS PARTICIPANT S GUIDE IS INTENDED FOR AND TO HELP FACILITATE GROUP DISCUSSION. IF YOU ARE LEADING A GROUP, TAKE THE TIME TO THE VIDEO AND READ OVER THE GUIDE BEFORE YOUR MEETING AND PREPARE SOME PERSONAL EXAMPLES TO ENCOURAGE DISCUSSION. REMEMBER TO PRINT OUT OR A COPY OF THIS PARTICIPANT S GUIDE TO EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP. GENESIS 1-3

2 Have you ever started watching a movie when it was already halfway through? It can be a confusing experience. Why is it so confusing? Because you missed the beginning where the main characters are introduced, the themes are presented, and the obstacle is revealed. When you miss the beginning, you miss everything. What s true about movies is also true about the world. People wonder, Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? And they wonder because they missed the beginning. In this 5-part series, pastor Arvind Balaram teaches through the opening chapters of Genesis to explain our beginnings and lay the foundation for the biblical story. ABOUT ARVIND BALARAM Arvind Balaram is Lead Pastor of Delhi Bible Fellowship Gurgaon. Arvind is a trained civil engineer but felt a strong call to full-time ministry after completing his engineering studies. He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA. He taught at Grace Bible College in Haryana before joining Delhi Bible Fellowship Gurgaon as Assistant Pastor in 2007 and became Lead Pastor in Arvind also serves on the leadership team for Yeshu Naam Stasang, the Hindi ministry of Delhi Bible Fellowship Gurgaon. He is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry degree from SAIACS in Bangalore. Arvind and his wife, Karisa, have three children.

3 THE CREATION OF THE WORLD The Creation account in Genesis reveals there is only one God who created the universe out of nothing, which is the foundation for understanding everything in the Bible. Why is it important to know the beginning of the universe? How does understanding the Creation story impact your life today? THE CREATION OF THE WORLD (8 MINUTES) What does the Creation story reveal about God? What are three important aspects of God? Arvind reminded us that the universe is good because it is created by God who is powerful and good. How does that reminder encourage you as you see so many broken parts of the world? During the first three days, God the earth, and during the next three days He the earth. How do the order and details of how God created the universe encourage you to trust in Him? Genesis 1:1 24 Read: Read Genesis 1:1 24. Enjoy: Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe what God has created around you. Make note of the beauty in the small details. Write down a prayer of gratitude to God about how He has provided for you through His creation. Share: Tell someone this week about the good you see in God s creation. Share with them something you noticed from your walk in the neighborhood and how that (view, vegetation, animal, beauty, weather, water) has impacted you. SESSION 1: THE CREATION OF THE WORLD 3

4 THE CREATION OF MAN God s final act of creation was to create humans, who He created in His image to represent Him on the earth in both work and rest. How are humans different than the rest of creation? THE CREATION OF MAN (10 MINUTES) Why is it significant that humans were created in the image of God? How can you represent and reflect God s image in your everyday life? What are five ways we resemble God? What does it mean for us to be stewards over the earth? What is our responsibility? How do we represent God what were we created to do? What does it mean that God rested? How do you rest? Genesis 1:25 2:3; Psalm 121:4; John 5:17; Hebrews 4:3; Matthew 11:28 Read: Read Genesis 1:25 2:3. Rest: Make time this week to appreciate where God has placed you. Find ways to reflect on how Jesus gives you rest for your soul, even as you do the work God has called you to do. Act: Consider how you take care of God s creation this week. Find an action, start a habit, or make a change to help steward the earth and bring glory to God. Some examples include: biking, recycling, cleaning up trash, conservation, community development. SESSION 2: THE CREATION OF MAN 4

5 THE GARDEN OF EDEN The account of the Garden of Eden gives a vision of what life was meant to be like in God s presence. We still experience God s presence though the Lord Jesus Christ. Why do you think God gave Adam and Eve work to do? THE GARDEN OF EDEN (11 MINUTES) How are you approaching your own everyday tasks? How are you helping your family and community thrive with your work? What is different in how God created Adam compared to how He created everything else? In your own marriage or the marriage of others, how have you seen the unique gift that God gave when creating man and woman for each other? What three gifts did God give to human beings? The Garden of Eden was like a temple, where God s presence dwelt continuously and now that temple is in the heart of every person who trusts in Jesus Christ. How are you enjoying God s presence in your life today? Where is the God s temple located now? Genesis 2:4 25; 1 Corinthians 3:16 Read: Read Genesis 2:4 25. Focus: Pick one day this week to pay special attention to each task you do at home, school, or work. Strive to do each job for His glory and thank God for the skills and abilities He has given to you. Memorize: Commit 1 Corinthians 3:16 to memory. Write it on a notecard or create a background for your phone with the passage. Recite it to yourself to remind you that God s temple is in your heart as you have trusted in Jesus Christ. SESSION 3: THE GARDEN OF EDEN 5

6 THE ESSENCE AND EXPERIENCE OF SIN The problems in our broken world is sin, which is doing what we want apart from God. How well do you acknowledge God s presence in your decisions? Where do you tend to leave Him out? THE ESSENCE AND EXPERIENCE OF SIN (11 MINUTES) What are some of the strategies you use to hide your flaws and sin from God and others? What is the essence of sin? In what three ways did Eve distort God s words about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What lies from Satan do you tend to believe about yourself or God s character? How can we be victorious over sin and death? How are you growing your faith through God s Word? Genesis 3:1 6 Read: Read Genesis 3:1 6. Prayer: Take time this week to confess in prayer the ways you might be hiding from God. Ask for grace and courage to live in obedience and walk in His forgiveness. Pray for ways to become more Christlike. Share: Talk to a fellow Christ follower about a sin or struggle you are dealing with. Invite him or her to help you stay accountable in your area of weakness or doubt. Ask him or her to pray for you and offer to pray for him or her as well. SESSION 4: THE ESSENCE AND EXPERIENCE OF SIN 6

7 THE EFFECTS OF SIN AND GOD S SOLUTION Everything bad we see in the world is a result of the Fall, but God provided our Savior as the solution to our sin. How have you seen the effects of the Fall in your life and in the world around you? (spiritually, relationally, physically, and in creation) THE EFFECTS OF SIN AND GOD S SOLUTION (10 MINUTES) What are three effects of sin? How does God s promise of a Savior in the middle of His judgment encourage you? Sin has not only affected the spiritual and personal realms, but the very itself. Arvind taught how Jesus s ministry on earth began to reverse the effect of sin every time He healed someone, cast out demons, taught truth, and offered forgiveness, through His sacrifice and resurrection. How are you seeing the sin s effects reversed today? What promise did God make in the middle of His judgement? What can you do to help God bring about His kingdom on earth until Jesus returns? Genesis 3:7 24 Select at least one activity below to complete after watching this session. Read: Read Genesis 3:7 24. Write: Spend some time writing down specific times God has forgiven you. Whenever you feel discouraged or defeated, read back over your list to remind yourself that God is with you and He has forgiven you. Share: Make time this week to share about God s love with someone who doesn t know Jesus. Share what God has done in your life. Tell them about God s grace and the life Jesus offers us if we follow Him. SESSION 5: THE EFFECTS OF SIN AND GOD S SOLUTION 7