SUMMER 2018 LEADER GUIDE WHY ARE WE HERE? NEHEMIAH: BUILDING A LIFE OF SERVICE

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1 SUMMER 2018 LEADER GUIDE WHY ARE WE HERE? NEHEMIAH: BUILDING A LIFE OF SERVICE

2 LEADING SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST DECISION OF ALL One of the great joys of leading a group in Bible study is seeing group members deepen their walk with Christ. Everyone s walk with Christ begins with an initial decision to follow Him in repentance and faith. People may be in your group who have not made that decision yet. Take advantage of your time with them to talk about becoming a Christian. As you tell your own story about coming to Christ, share these key truths: 1. We are all sinners, and each of us needs to acknowledge before God that we are sinners. That acknowledgement involves repentance, which is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Refer to Romans 3:23; 6:23; and Acts 3: The only way a person can receive the gift of forgiveness is by faith in Jesus as God s Son. Use verses like Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 14:6 when talking about faith in Christ. 3. Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ means confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Share Romans 10:9-10,13. Invite the person to pray a prayer similar to this: Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. A Special Note about Why Did Jesus Come? (p. 48). As your group studies and discusses the passage in Luke 1, use it as an opportunity to lead unsaved group members to faith in Christ. Use The Ultimate Stain Remover on the inside front cover of the Personal Study Guide to connect Why Did Jesus Come? with each member s own need to trust Christ and receive His gift of salvation. The inside cover is a guide for understanding how Jesus acts as the Great Physician to forgive and give us eternal life.

3 CONTENTS Why Are We Here? SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF Don t Miss This! A Word from Your Team Using Bible Studies for Life... 6 The Attributes of Discipleship Article: Icebreakers: A Key to Building Group Relationships Introduction June 3 Session 1 Why Are We Even Here? June 10 Session 2 Why Are We In This Mess? June 17 Session 3 Why Can t We Fix It? June 24 Session 4 Why Did Jesus Come? Article Covenant as a Biblical Theme July 1 Session 5 What Should We Do Now? July 8 Session 6 What Happens Next? Special Focus: Tithing: An Obedient Response to a Gracious God. Introduction July 15 Session Tithing Article It s Time to Start a New Group When Nehemiah: Building a Life of Service... Introduction July 22 Session 1 Pray Article Nehemiah: A Historical Setting July 29 Session 2 Plan August 5 Session 3 Persist August 12 Session 4 Protect August 19 Session 5 Prioritize August 26 Session 6 Praise Coming in Fall BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3

4 Don t miss this! Social Media Connect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users. Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and link to great blog content. Get instant updates about new articles, giveaways, and Commentary Dig deeper into Scripture with the The Herschel Hobbs Commentary. It features in-depth Bible exposition on the passages studied in this book. EXTRA! Every week, you ll find additional suggestions and helpful add-ons for your group, as well as links to both magazine articles and the One Conversation page for parents. BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra Greg Miller wrote the sessions for the Why Are We Here? study and sessions 1-3 of Nehemiah: Building a Life of Service. Greg is a small group leader at Mountain Lake Church in Cumming, Georgia, and a former editor at LifeWay, and a former church planter. He and Nancy, his wife, have three grown children. Bob Bunn wrote sessions 4-6 of the Nehemiah study. Bob serves the First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, as a deacon, small group coordinator, and in various other capacities. He, too, previously served as an editor at LifeWay. He and his wife, Mary, have three children in college. Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide Volume 5, Number 4 Summer 2018 ERIC GEIGER Senior Vice President, LifeWay Resources LYNN H. PRYOR Team Leader CHRIS JOHNSON Content Editor KEN BRADDY Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies MICHAEL KELLEY Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by to chris.johnson@lifeway.com or mail to: Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN Or make comments on the web at Printed in the United States of America. Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide (ISSN: ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay. This Leader Guide is designed for leaders of senior adults ages 70 and up. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter, and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit For ordering or inquiries, visit call (800) , or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@ lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway. com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB ), Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Cliff Lea wrote the commentary for the special focus session on tithing. Cliff is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Florida. He and his wife Suzy have five sons. 4 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

5 A Word from Your Team The Bible Studies for Life Team Recently I traveled from Nashville to the city of Russell in northeastern Kentucky, to the church I served as pastor before coming to LifeWay twenty years ago. A dear friend, Bob McKenzie passed away so my wife and I returned to celebrate his life with his family and the church. Bob served as Sunday School director when I was his pastor. His son R.B. teaches an Adult Bible Fellowship class. While there, I discovered the church uses Bible Studies for Life. I reconnected with those who teach and engage with Bible Studies for Life every week. This summer we will look to God s Word for answers to questions most of us have asked at some time in our lives in the study Why Are We Here? The last session deals with the question, What Happens Next? While I was with my friends in Russell, grieving Bob s death, we were reminded of the promises from God s Word regarding eternity. Then we will look at lessons from the life of Nehemiah and discover how to build a life of service. Nehemiah realized that God s hand was on him (Neh. 2:8,18), and the task of rebuilding the wall in 52 days was accomplished by God (Neh. 6:15-16). As a young pastor in Russell, I learned what it meant for God s hand to be on a church. Twenty years later, God s hand is still on this church as He continues to accomplish things that only He can do. So, this is a shout out to all of my friends at First Baptist Church in Russell, Kentucky! Chris Johnson, Content Editor BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 5

6 USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE Invite the Holy Spirit s Guidance Because God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with the Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application. Personal Study Guide Then read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group. Leader Guide Follow the simple directives in the group plan, which will guide you in engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the commentary as needed during the group discussion. Leader Pack The optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Pull in the Leader Pack items as referenced in the group plan. The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with: > > JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint). Promote the study by placing these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images during the sessions to reinforce the study topic. > > PDF file of each pack item, so you can create multiple posters. During your session, display the image on a screen using any presentation software, or post the image on social media to promote the study. > > Sample Twitter and messages to post prior to your Bible study time in order to raise awareness and promote the session topic. > > Promotional videos to introduce the six-session studies. > > > > Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study. An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print. 6 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

7 Additional Ideas Additional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are available online at You ll also find all the magazine articles we mention in this study guide. Prepare Your Group Members Encourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the meeting as a way to follow up and reflect.) Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/BibleStudiesforLife), our blog (BibleStudiesforLife.com), or on Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife). For Those Who Want to Go Deeper The Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more extensive commentary. It includes CSB-based exposition of each session s Scripture passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the setting of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and interactive responses to help readers apply God s truths to their lives today. The Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and provides a comprehensive exposition of each session s Scripture passage. Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James Version but interacts with all major English translations. Each quarter, Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics, and lesson-targeted articles. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway.com/ biblical illustrator or by calling Forty additional articles (in PDF form) that support this quarter s Bible studies are available at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 7

8 MY GROUP S PRAYER REQUESTS 8 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

9 MY GROUP S PRAYER REQUESTS BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 9

10 MY GROUP S PRAYER REQUESTS 10 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

11 MY GROUP S PRAYER REQUESTS BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 11

12 THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISCIPLESHIP How do you measure discipleship? Research conducted by LifeWay revealed eight factors that are consistently present in the lives of believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. These attributes of discipleship form the foundation for the scope and sequence of studies used in Bible Studies for Life. By regularly engaging these studies, your group will experience an intentional plan for discipleship in the following eight ways: Bible Engagement. Transformation can be recognized when our mind is sharpened by the Bible, our perspective is shaped by the Bible, and our actions are directed by the Bible. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Obeying God and Denying Self. Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. Transformation can be seen when we progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities. Then he said to them all, If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23). Serving God and Others. Transformation is evident when personal needs and even dreams are set aside for the needs we see in others. And the King will answer them, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (Matt. 25:40). Sharing Christ. Even as we need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it. But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Pet. 3:15). Exercising Faith. Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God s will. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:19b-20). Seeking God. Transformation is seen when our desire is to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you (Matt. 6:33). Building Relationships. Our faith is personal but it is not intended to be private. Our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42). Unashamed. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting his or her own life as being aligned with Christ. See page 13 for more details. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek (Rom. 1:16). 12 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

13 UNASHAMED BY PHILIP NATION Everyone has a favorite something. It might be the college football team you cheer for in the fall or a preferred restaurant you enjoy. You may have chosen a hobby (like people who have a passion for running marathons) or a television show that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You wear your favorite team s colors (or jersey) or gather at lunchtime to discuss the latest development on a show. You talk to others about your favorite thing, whatever that is. Christians have even more reason to put something on display for the world to see. The more we grow in our spiritual maturity, the more we should be unashamed for others to know about our faith. Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God s power for salvation to everyone who believes. The gospel and its power to change us is what we want the world to notice when they see us. It should come as no surprise to find the trait of unashamed in the Transformational Discipleship research. It is natural that when we are following Christ we will be willing and eager to publicize our faith. The research noted that believers felt it not just appropriate but necessary for others to know we are Christians. When Christ is changing us, we want others to know about it. When we are unashamed about how Christ has changed us, then sharing Christ, exercising faith, and serving others become much easier. It will more naturally make us disciple-making disciples. They are unashamed about their pursuit of maturity to the level that they invite help in the process. Holiness is the character and the position that each believer has inherited by Christ s work. Because it is what He has done, they can unashamedly discuss it with others. It is not bragging about themselves; it is declaring the greatness of what Jesus does. Being unashamed about our faith ultimately brings an alignment with the heart of Christ. Disciples want to follow not just in name but in manner and method. Living in such a way is counter-cultural to the world. As we mature, we will put it on display because it is a way to pique the curiosity of unbelievers and galvanize the life of other believers. As you think about your life, ask yourself: What am I most unashamed about? Make sure to find Christ, the gospel, and the Word of God at the top of that list. The research also revealed that maturing believers want to be held accountable for a life exemplary of their faith in Jesus. The level of transparency in maturing believers invites the help of others along their journey. Dr. Philip Nation is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Bradenton, Florida and is the author of Habits for Our Holiness. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 13

14 ICEBREAKERS: A KEY TO BUILDING GROUP RELATIONSHIPS BY LYNN PRYOR If you want your preschool son to play major league baseball someday, you don t simply send him to Florida for a spring training tryout. You start with Little League. And you ease him into Little League by starting with coach-pitch baseball. And you ease into coach-pitch baseball by playing T-ball. And you ease into that with a giant red plastic bat in the backyard. That s also a wise approach to take with Bible study ease into it. Review your study from the perspective of a guest, someone new to the group, or even someone new to the Christian life. When we jump right into Bible study with a theological discussion, group members can feel lost. And certain questions early on can only intimidate them or leave them sitting silently in the corner. Such as: 14 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE

15 > > How have you experienced the blessings that come from following God s instruction? > > What is the difference between living by the law and living by faith? > > How do we navigate the tension between needing to keep God s standards and knowing we can t? We want discussion in our group, but the right question at the right time can make all the difference! The questions above are legitimate questions they are a part of a Bible study my team is currently developing but they come later in the study, after the passage has been studied and the interaction among the group members is comfortable. So how do we get group members comfortable? How do we ease them into digging into the study? Use icebreaker questions. An icebreaker question is one that doesn t require a lot of theological knowledge or even much thinking. It s a question for which a person can readily think of a response; he or she may even want to tell a story. Here are some icebreakers I ve used with my own group in recent weeks: > > When have you really enjoyed making a mess? > > When have you accomplished something you didn t think you could do? > > If you could have a lifetime supply of any product, what would you choose? > > What s your favorite comfort food? > > Who is a neighbor you re glad you ve gotten the chance to know? These may look like random questions, but they have a specific purpose: > > The question about making a mess is used to segue into the messes we make that aren t fun. It launches a study of how Jesus fixes our messes. > > The question about having a lifetime supply of something leads into a discussion of the grace of God, which is ours in unlimited supply. > > The question about comfort food segues into how some things can only offer temporary comfort. It launches a study of how we can be Christ to others and offer them real comfort. A good icebreaker can be identified as one that: 1. Is easy to answer. Everyone has an opinion or story of how they d answer. 2. Is non-threatening. No one is pressured to reveal too much about themselves or give an answer of which they re not certain. 3. Is fun to answer. It s not necessarily spiritual, because it s merely a lead-in to the topic of the Bible study. 4. Gets people talking. This is the key strength of an icebreaker. How do you get a room full of people who don t really know one another, or may only be casually acquainted, to talk? Through an easy question that makes people want to answer. And once they re talking to each other, they re far more ready and eager to engage in conversation as you dig into God s Word. The icebreaker question has um, broken the ice! Lynn Pryor is a team leader for adult resources at LifeWay. Follow him on his blog at lynnhpryor.com. This article originally appeared on the Groups Ministry blog. For more articles on leading your group, visit: BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 15

16 WHY ARE WE HERE? 16

17 Kids are inquisitive, aren t they? God gave us an innate desire to learn, and kids are quick to ask questions. > > Why is the sky blue? > > Why do I have brown hair? > > Why do I have two eyes if I only see one thing? > > Why don t crabs have eyebrows? > > Why did swear words get invented if we re not allowed to say them? As we get older, the why questions change. We contemplate the world around us and our place in it. We wonder if God exists. We think about life in new ways and our questions change but we still question everything. And somewhere along the way, we come to the most basic question of all: Why are we even here? Whole philosophies have sprung out of a quest to answer that question. Friends might offer their opinions. Thankfully, the Bible answers the basic questions of life. We re not left to guess or hope we get it right. In this study Why Are We Here? we will look at six of these questions and see what answers the Bible provides. We don t have to struggle to find purpose and meaning in life. The answers are just ahead. KEN BRADDY Ken provides leadership to the teams that create LifeWay s ongoing studies like Bible Studies For Life. He served as an education pastor for eighteen years. Married to Tammy for thirty-one years, they have two grown sons. Ken has coauthored four books on Sunday School and small groups, including 3 Roles for Guiding Groups, and teaches a weekly Bible study group at his church. Follow his blog at kenbraddy.com. 17

18 GET INTO THE STUDY 5 minutes GUIDE: Over the next six weeks we will consider some of the big picture questions of the Christian life. Invite members to turn to page 3 in the Personal Study Guide (PSG) and review session titles. LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item 1: Why Are We Here? to introduce the major theme of this study and the focus of each session. SESSION 1 WHY ARE WE EVEN HERE? The Point God created us to live in fellowship with Him. The Bible Meets Life Many of us go through life without considering the bedrock question of our existence. We are so busy going through the motions of day-to-day living, we never slow down to ask, Why am I even here? People with a completely secular worldview believe we are here by mere chance, but God created us with design and purpose. When we discover God s intent for our lives, we move from merely existing to truly living living with purpose. The Passage Genesis 1:1-5,26-31 DISCUSS: Draw attention to the picture on PSG page 12 and ask Question #1: When have you been awestruck by nature and thought, Wow! That s amazing!? GUIDE: Introduce The Point on PSG page 13: God created us to live in fellowship with Him. The Setting Genesis 1 introduces us to Almighty God the Eternal One who is beyond time and summarizes how He brought order out of emptiness at the beginning of history. This opening section of the Bible reveals God s original intent for His creation not only the purpose, order, and harmony of everything that exists, but also the original perfect fellowship of God with the crowning glory of His creation: human beings. 18 Session 1

19 Genesis 1:1-5 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day. KEY WORD: Created (v. 1) In the Old Testament, the Hebrew verb bara signifies the creation of something new or the transformation of something, and always has God as its subject. Verse 1. The early chapters of Genesis focus on God as the Creator of the world and everything in it. Authorship of the Book of Genesis is attributed to Moses, who obviously recorded the words long after the actual events took place. Ultimately God Himself was the Author of Genesis because He was the only One present as creation unfolded. 1 God (Hebrew, Elohim) is the subject of creation everything centers on His creative activity. In the Old Testament Elohim is a plural word that can refer to multiple pagan gods or (as here) to Almighty God, the God of Israel. When used of the one true God, most interpreters suggest the term refers to God s honor and/or majesty. Scripture states in the opening words of Genesis that God was present in the beginning; in fact, He was present before the beginning. God exists apart from His creation, outside of space and time. He is eternal, having no beginning or ending. The term heavens refers to everything that exists above and outside the earth. Taken together, the heavens and the earth refer to everything that was created the whole of the universe. As we read through the first chapters of the Book of Genesis, its good to remember that the account of creation in Genesis 1 2 does not go into details regarding all we may want to know about how and why specific things were STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 1: minutes GUIDE: Refer group members to The Bible Meets Life on PSG page 13. Point out the author s story of his college astronomy classes, looking at the Milky Way Galaxy through powerful telescopes. Read the three questions: Who am I in this vast, immeasurable universe? Do I randomly exist because human life accidentally developed from singlecelled organisms? Why are we even here? SUMMARIZE: Before reading the passage, set the context by summarizing the information in The Setting on page 18. READ: Read or ask a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1-5. SUMMARIZE: Refer to Bible Commentary 1 to the word used for God in Genesis 1, Elohim. Explain that it is a plural word that refers to God s honor and/or majesty. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF JUNE 3 19

20 THE POINT God created us to live in fellowship with Him. SAY: God is the subject of creation everything centers on His creative activity. GUIDE: Use KEY WORD on PSG page 14 to provide insight about the word created. GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG page 15 to the list that teaches us five important truths about God: 1. God existed before there was a universe. 2. God created the heavens and the earth. 3. God created the heavens and earth simply by speaking them into existence. 4. God created order, separating light and darkness. 5. God showed His authority by naming portions of His creation. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 2 to provide background for verse 2: Now carries the sense that here is how the creation (verse 1) happened. created. Still, God s Word reveals what He wants us to know about His purpose and plan in creation, especially regarding the relationship He desires with humanity. 2 Verse 2. While biblical scholars have proposed different translations for this verse, the traditional interpretation understands it as further commentary on God s creative activity introduced in verse 1. Thus the opening word now almost carries the sense of here is how it (the creation mentioned in v. 1) happened. When God created the earth, it was initially formless and empty. These terms can refer to a barren wasteland without purpose or meaning. In this case, as Isaiah 45:18 emphasizes, God did not create the earth to remain empty, but rather with purpose and meaning. He is the Creator of the heavens, the God who formed the earth and made it, the one who established it (he did not create it to be a wasteland, but formed it to be inhabited). The darkness and watery depths on the earth do not signify evil, as some have suggested. Nor do they describe an earth controlled by some diabolical force. Rather, water and darkness were created by God and were part of His good creation even though they initially made the earth uninhabitable for human life. The Spirit of God hovered over the surface of the waters, overseeing creation and preparing for the coming transformation of the earth. The Hebrew word for hovering pictures a bird in mid-air not motionless but stationary (like a hummingbird) protecting its offspring. This term also appears in Deuteronomy 32:11, where it compares God to an eagle hovering protectively over its young. Verse 3. Having created the empty earth, God next began His work in creating a perfect dwelling place for the life that He would soon create, especially the human life that would be the pinnacle of His creation. The narrative is told from the viewpoint of someone watching the events from a distance, who is not a part of what is happening yet is fully aware of each distinctive action that takes place. 3 God s first action in creating a suitable habitation for life was to bring light into existence. Because this light did not come from a heavenly body (such as our sun, moon, or stars, which would be created later), it may have originated from God s presence. This was not the creation of the glory of God; rather, this light may be a reflection of His glory and a reminder of His presence. 1 The image of God s light (and 20 Session 1

21 glory) is found throughout the Bible. In Israel s wilderness travels during the exodus from Egypt, God s glory was evident in the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34 35). The psalmist pictured God as being clothed in light (Ps. 104:2). In the New Jerusalem God s glory will provide the only light needed by humanity (Isa. 60:19 20; Rev. 22:5). Note that God s creative activity happened instantly as a result of His authoritative word. Each day of creation contains a form of the phrase, Then God said and there was (or and it was so ), which is a reminder of the authority and power of the Creator. He had in mind a perfect image of what He wanted and that perfect reality came into existence simply by speaking. Verse 4. After He created the light, God saw that it was good. The Hebrew term for good has a wide range of meaning in both Genesis and throughout the Old Testament. It can be good in the sense of that which makes an individual happy, being visually pleasing or being beneficial. It can refer to something being of the highest quality, of ultimate value, or being morally righteous. In this instance, because the light dispelled the darkness that had covered the earth, it fulfilled the purpose for which God created it. Verse 5. Some scholars suggest that the creation of light indicated the creation of time. This could be the case since our understanding of time is based on the 24-hour cycles we live through that include day and night. These correspond to the periods of light and darkness that always occur during each rotation of the earth. Still, because the sun was not created for three more days this poses a difficulty in knowing whether each day of creation represented a day as we know it. There is honest debate among Christians on this issue. Some hold to the days being literal 24-hour days, while others do not. The original language is of little help here since the Hebrew word for day (yom) is used in different ways throughout the Old Testament. Its various meanings include a literal twenty-four hour day (Gen. 7:4), a particular time of the day (3:8), daytime (as opposed to the night, 31:23), a period of time (3:14,17; 4:3; 6:3), and a future unspecified period of time (for example, the day of the Lord). God told us everything we need to know regarding His eternal purposes and His eternal nature. These aspects reveal not only some of His eternal purpose but also aspects of His eternal nature: His sovereignty, perfection, power, and authority. We are reminded of God s authority throughout the creation narrative each time we encounter a common phrase: God called. This naming (of day, night, etc.) points The Spirit of God hovering over the surface of the waters pictures a bird in mid-air not motionless, but stationary, protecting its offspring. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 3 to provide further explanation regarding light in these verses: Light as a reflection of the glory of God (v. 3). He spoke light into existence, a reminder of HIs authoritative word (v. 3). It was good (v. 4) The creation of light could indicate the creation of time (v. 5). DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 16): What difference does it make that the Creator, not the creation, is at the center of the creation story? (Alternate: What does it matter what we believe about the origin of the universe?) 21

22 THE POINT God created us to live in fellowship with Him. TRANSITION: Next we will see the crowning act of creation, the creation of humanity. STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 1:26-27 to God s sovereignty His complete power and control over everything in His creation. Some suggest the order of the words evening and morning are the basis for the Hebrew understanding of a day, which for them began at sundown. While we cannot know this for certain, the words definitely signal the end of the first day of God s creative activity and prepare us for the days yet to come. Genesis 1:26-27 READ: Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 1: minutes GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG pp and point out that God created humanity to be different from the rest of the created order: God made humans in His own image. God made people to rule over animals. God made people to rule over the earth. GUIDE: Use the KEY WORD on PSG page 16 to provide insight about the word image. 26 Then God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. KEY WORD: Image (v. 26) The Hebrew word for image is synonymous with the word for likeness, which means a resemblance. It can refer to a carved statue or painted picture that represents something else. Verses The sixth day of creation is perhaps the most important period of God s creative activity. There is more descriptive emphasis in the text on this day than on any of the previous days. On this final day of creation God first created all the living creatures that dwell on the land including livestock, crawling animals (reptiles), and other wildlife (Gen. 1:24 25). His final act, however, and the high point of His creative activity, came in the creation of human beings. 4 Several features distinguish the creation of humanity from God s other creation. First is the dialogue. Then God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. In this verse we are introduced to this plural pronoun: us. There is obviously a discussion that occurred prior to God s ultimate creative activity. As noted previously, the Hebrew word for God (Elohim) is a plural word. While several ideas have been suggested about how to understand this plural, the most likely interpretation seems to be as a 22 Session 1

23 Trinitarian reference, albeit a veiled reference. We have already been introduced to God s Spirit hovering over the dark, uninhabited waters (v. 2). Not until the time of Jesus would humans discover the role God the Son had in creation ( the Word as noted in John 1:1 3) or hear the terms Father and Son used alongside the Spirit (Matt. 28:19) which would give us a glimpse of God s Three in One nature. A second special feature of the creation of human beings is the differentiation between male and female, the first time such a distinction has been noted among individual creatures in God s created order. Certainly among all the other living creatures God distinguished between the sexes so they could multiply (Gen. 1:22), yet up to this point there was no mention of such a distinction. Perhaps this was intentional, in order to give greater emphasis to the complementary sexual nature of humans and set the stage for God s coming command to the man and the woman to procreate and give oversight to the rest of creation. Another feature on day six is God s plan to create man in His image, according to our likeness. The terms image and likeness are likely synonyms. It is a common Hebrew literary technique to repeat a thought, using different synonymous terms, simply for emphasis. The Hebrew term for man (adam) can refer to an individual or to all of humanity, both male and female (as it does here). Out of all of God s creation, only humans were created in His image. Scholars have long debated what God s image includes. Among the various suggestions are that it could refer to elements of character, personality, reasoning, morality, relationship, responsibility, and other special qualities of God which are found only in humans in all of God s creation. Perhaps part of its meaning is found in the appointed role of humans to rule over the other living creatures, including fish, birds, and livestock (v. 28). This is an incredible position of stewardship, which includes privileges and responsibilities not given to any other living creature. Because the rest of the Bible deals with God s interaction with human beings, however, being made in the image of God possibly also carries an interpersonal element and includes the idea of being in relationship with Him. God s image in the first humans was perfect and so was their relationship and fellowship with Him at least for a while. Yet when sin entered the world, God s image in humanity became tarnished and their relationship with Him was damaged. However, even then God had an ultimate plan, carried out through the death and resurrection of His Son, to restore His image in humanity and renew the relationship between Him and human beings. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 4 on page 22 and this page to provide explanation to verses Note the plural form of Let us make man in our image and share that this is most likely a Trinitarian reference. Differentiation between male and female. Possible explanations of the terms image and likeness. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 18): What does it mean for us to be created in the image of God? (Alternate: What is the significance of making the distinction that both male and female were created in the image of God?) TRANSITION: Next we will see God s blessing on humanity and His specific instructions and provision for them. 23

24 THE POINT God created us to live in fellowship with Him. STUDY THE BIBLE Genesis 1:28-31 READ: Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 1: GUIDE: Refer group members to PSG page 18 to the list of instructions God gave man: 1. Be fruitful. 2. Multiply. 3. Fill the earth 10 minutes 4. Subdue the earth. 5. Rule over all the creatures on the earth. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 5 to provide further explanation about these instructions. GUIDE: Use KEY WORD on PSG page 18 to provide insight about the word subdue. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 19): How would you describe our responsibility for taking care of the world God created? Genesis 1: God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth. 29 God also said, Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth everything having the breath of life in it I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day. KEY WORD: Subdue (v. 28) The term means to dominate or exercise control over. Adam, Eve, and their progeny were to subdue creation in the sense of serving as its caretakers. 5 Verse 28. God created human beings to enjoy His creation and to be His stewards over it. Then God blessed the first humans. In the Old Testament, a blessing from God was typically connected to a relationship with Him. God s blessing includes His favor and provision. Without these the man and woman would not have been able to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This command was given specifically to the first couple who would be responsible for having children and populating the world. While similar words were spoken to Noah and his sons after the flood (9:1), there is no biblical mandate for God s people to have as many children as possible (which some have suggested based on this verse). This does not suggest a requirement for all people to have children, since not everyone has the ability to reproduce and not everyone is married (see Matt. 19:12; 1 Cor. 7:8). 24 Session 1

25 Part of God s command was that they were to subdue the earth and rule over the other living creatures that are part of God s creation. The Hebrew word for subdue typically refers to exercising control over someone or something. The responsibility to rule over (exercise authority over) is focused here on the subjugation of fish, birds, and all the other creatures that move along the ground. The Hebrew term translated rule is connected to the actions of priests (Jer. 5:31) and kings (1 Kings 4:24). Often it is associated with force and violence, such as enslaving people or an army capturing and subjugating a city s population. In this instance, however, the emphasis is not on violent conquest, but rather on responsible stewardship. In addition to caring for the animals, subduing creation may also include the idea of creatively using the earth s resources (including water, minerals, plants, and so forth) for good purposes. 6 Verses God provided everything needed for the survival of living beings both humans and all the other creatures having the breath of life in it. God instructed the humans about the food He had provided for them to eat, which included every seed-bearing plant as well as every tree whose fruit contains seed (Gen. 1:11 13). God s care and concern for His creation is seen in the abundance of food available to the man and woman. God s provision obviously reflected a vegetarian diet for both humans and animals. While it was the perfect diet in the perfect environment, there is nothing in the rest of the Bible to suggest it is expected or required for God s people today. It wasn t until after the flood, however, that God would allow humans to add meat to their diets (9:3). God s words to the first man and woman included both privilege and responsibility. While they were free to enjoy all manner of food and other natural resources that God had created, they had a corresponding obligation to be good stewards of His creation. This privilege and responsibility was not limited to the first humans, however. It continues for us as followers of Christ (Luke 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:10 11). Verse 31. With the end of the sixth day God s creative activity came to a close. While each of the previous days ended with God s affirmation about the things He had created, on day six God looked at all that he had made and saw that it was very good. Everything worked perfectly and was perfectly suited for His ultimate purpose to experience fellowship with humanity. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 6 to show: God s provision for humanity. The privilege and responsibility of man s stewardship over creation. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 20): What does the creation story teach us about God? (Alternate: What are some ways you enjoy God s good creation?) DO: Invite volunteers to share responses to the activity God s Good Creation on PSG page 20. OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Enlist someone who is involved in the arts to share how they go about creating things. This could be a musician, writer, sculptor, painter, or craftsman. Ask the person to walk the group through his/her creative process, from inspiration or vision to completed project. Encourage group members to ask questions. 1. Kenneth A. Mathews, Genesis 1 11:26, vol. 1a in The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1996),

26 THE POINT LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes God created us to live in fellowship with Him. LIVE IT OUT God created us to live in fellowship with Him. As you go about your life this week, do one of the following as a way to live out that truth: GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: God created us to live in fellowship with Him. REVIEW: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 21); (see text to the right). Encourage each group member to follow through this week with at least one of the applications. WRAP IT UP GUIDE: Remind group members of the goodness of God s creation. Point out the responsibilities we have as stewards of all God has made. > > Remember your Creator. Ecclesiastes 12:1 encourages us to remember your Creator. When you gaze at the night sky this week, remember that God spoke every star and planet into existence, and thank Him for His creativity and power. > > Memorize Matthew 6:26. Consider the birds of the sky: They don t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren t you worth more than they? God cares more for you than He does for a sparrow. Repeat this verse when you re tempted to think He s no longer on your side. > > Begin a relationship with God. God created you for a purpose and to relate to you. His Son, Jesus, died for you. Talk with your group leader or pastor about beginning a relationship with God. You don t have to wonder or guess why you re here. You were created to live in fellowship with God. PRAY: Father, thank You for being the Creator who by Your power spoke the world into existence. Help us to always be aware that You desire to live in fellowship with us. 26 Session 1

27 ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ DAVID ROGERS/ BRITISH MUSEUM/ LONDON (555/24) Dated to the sixth century BC, a bilingual Sumerian and Babylonian description of the god Marduk and goddess Aruru creating the world. While all Christians may not agree on the details of how God created the universe and life, all believers would agree that He is the Creator of it all. The Hebrew word to express creation first occurs in Genesis 1:1 and is the word bara. Other Hebrew verbs, such as yasar, meaning to fashion something, serve as synonyms of bara. The term bara is unique, though, in that it emphasizes the initiation of [an] object. Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God is always the subject of this Hebrew verb when it means create. Said one Old Testament theologian and professor: The scope of the use of the verb bara is greatly limited. It is used exclusively to denote divine creation. As a special theological term, bara is used to express clearly the incomparability of the creative work of God in contrast to all secondary products and likenesses made from already existing material by man. The etymology of the word is quite disputed, as it occurs seldom if ever in the other Semitic languages. As with many English words, when the Hebrew Old Testament uses bara, context is generally more helpful than etymology in determining the meaning. The first chapter of Genesis uses the verb bara in only three verses. In Genesis 1:1, the context indicates that God created the universe ex nihilo or out of nothing. Such action is beyond human capabilities. Other passages also affirm creation as ex nihilo. God s creative work did not end with what we see in Genesis. The word bara actually appears more times in the Book of Isaiah than any other Old Testament book, including Genesis. Isaiah promised that the creative work of God would be at work in the coming Messianic Age (Isa. 4:5). Much of the Book of Isaiah was written as a comfort for the people of Israel who would be in exile. Throughout the book, Isaiah reminded his readers that the Lord was the Creator. He further explained that just as the Creator God could fashion the universe, so He would give His Servant for a new covenant in the future, not only for Israel, but also for the Gentiles (42:5-7). The excerpt above is from the article God Created : A Word Study (Summer 2013), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator. Free additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra 27