What did Jesus believe about the creation of our world? Read Mark 13:19.

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1 Genesis 1:3 2:3 September 11, Before we look at creation in Genesis, please read and summarize these verses which explain what the early church believed about the origin of the world. Acts 4:24 Colossians 1:15-16 Hebrews 1:1-2 Hebrews 11:3 What did Jesus believe about the creation of our world? Read Mark 13: What essential discipline must we exercise in order to embrace these same beliefs? Reread Hebrews 11:3. What are some specific things that you might do to deepen your faith in this area? 3. Read Genesis 1:1-2 to review last week s lesson. What words are used to describe the earth? What additional words come to your mind as you focus on these verses? Now read Genesis 1:3-5. What obvious contrasts appear as the six days of creation begin? What might these contrasts represent? Read 1 John 1:5, John 3:19, 1 Corinthians 14:33, 2 Corinthians 4:6 and Ephesians 5:8.

2 Genesis 1:3 2:3 September 11, 2014 Page 2 4. Begin reading the amazing story of the six days of creation. After each day, stop and record your insights. Day 1 Genesis 1:3-5 Day 2 Genesis 1:6-8 Day 3 Genesis 1:9-13 Day 4 Genesis 1:14-19 Day 5 Genesis 1:20-23 Day 6 Genesis 1:24-31

3 Genesis 1:3 2:3 September 11, 2014 Page 3 5. According to the beginning of each daily creation verse (verses 3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 26), how did God create? As Moses divinely penned this truth, what realities would the Israelites learn about God when they considered how God created? Remember that Israel was a nation surrounded by pagan nations who worshipped man-made gods. Also read Psalm 33:8, 9. What do we learn about God today when considering the power of His Word? Read John 1:1-5, We read in the creation story that God saw that it was good. What realizations about creation might we learn when considering that God pronounced His work good? 7. Read Genesis 2:1-3. What do we see in verse 3 that demonstrates God s sanctification of the seventh day as a unique day? Why was it set apart? Read Hebrews 4:9-10. What are the works God has called us to do before our final heavenly rest according to Ephesians 2:10? 8. One day we will all sing together the words of Revelation 4:11. Read this verse. Did God have a plan for creation? How should we respond to God s creative power? 9. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

4 - September 11, 2014 Beginnings Genesis 1-11 TREASURES FOR THE TAKING Within the creation account are treasures of truth that our faith in God. DAY ONE- LIGHT Genesis 1:3-5 Who is God? God first spoke into existence light, which instantly changed a world clouded in darkness. Knowing the Light of the world has taken us from darkness into the realm of the. GOD IS HOLY, GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS MERCIFUL, GOD IS REDEEMER DAY TWO- EXPANSE TO SEPARATE THE WATERS Genesis 1:6-8 God brought out of the chaotic waters. DAY THREE- DRY LAND AND PLANT LIFE Genesis 1:9-13 God s work involved taking that which was barren and establishing fullness and fertility. In the Hand of God our emptiness and brokenness is transformed to. GOD IS PEACE, GOD IS HEALER, GOD IS ABLE DAY FOUR- SUN, MOON AND STARS Genesis 1:14-19 God assigned the heavenly luminaries to rule over the heavens & serve as signs for seasons. DAY FIVE- CREATURES OF THE SEA AND THE SKY Genesis 1:20-23 Life came into being by the direct of God. GOD IS MIGHTY, GOD IS RULER, GOD IS LIFE, GOD IS FAITHFUL Who are we? DAY SIX- LIVING CREATURES AND MAN Genesis 1:24-31 and 2:1-3 This day reveals both the culmination and the goal of creation. We are entrusted to conform to the image of Christ, who is the image of our Creator Father. As God s creation, we will be restless until we find our in Him. MAN BEARS GOD S IMAGE, MAN HAS DOMINION, MAN SERVES GOD KEY: anchor, righteous, order, abundance, command, rest

5 GENESIS 1:3 2:3 September 11, 2014 ROMANS 1:19,20 FOR WHAT CAN BE KNOWN ABOUT GOD IS PLAIN TO THEM, BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM. FOR HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES, NAMELY, HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE, HAVE BEEN CLEARLY PERCEIVED, EVER SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. ISAIAH 45:18 FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD, WHO CREATED THE HEAVENS (HE IS GOD!), WHO FORMED THE EARTH AND MADE IT (HE ESTABLISHED IT; HE DID NOT CREATE IT EMPTY, HE FORMED IT TO BE INHABITED!): I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER. EXODUS 20:11 FOR IN SIX DAYS THE LORD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, AND RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY. THEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY AND MADE IT HOLY. ISAIAH 9:2 THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; THOSE WHO DWELT IN A LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS, ON THEM HAS LIGHT SHONE. JOHN 8:12 AGAIN JESUS SPOKE TO THEM, SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE. PSALM 147:3 HE HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED AND BINDS UP THEIR WOUNDS. JOHN 10:10b I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. PSALM 147:4,5 HE DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF THE STARS; HE GIVES TO ALL OF THEM THEIR NAMES. GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND ABUNDANT IN POWER; HIS UNDERSTANDING IS BEYOND MEASURE. COLOSSIANS 1:15-17 HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION. FOR BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR DOMINIONS OR RULERS OR AUTHORITIES- ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM. AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER. JUDE 24,25 NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING AND TO PRESENT YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH GREAT JOY, TO THE ONLY GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN. PSALM 62:1,2 MY SOUL FINDS REST IN GOD ALONE; MY SALVATION COMES FROM HIM. HE ALONE IS MY ROCK AND MY SALVATION; HE IS MY FORTRESS, I WILL NEVER BE SHAKEN.