week of 9/29

Unit 01  Session 5

HUMANITY REBELS

gENESIS 11:1-9

 

Key Concept:

Humanity rebels against God's commands and needs to be restrained.

After living in the ark for just over a year, Noah and his family stepped out on dry ground. Then God made a covenant with Noah that He would never again flood the whole earth to destroy sin. Like He had commanded Adam, God commanded Noah and his sons to fill the earth by spreading out and multiplying. Creation had a fresh start. One would think obedience and a desire to walk with God would be foremost on the minds of every human being after the flood, but sin still corrupted the hearts and minds of each new generation. And once again, God would not tolerate their rebellion.

As you examine Genesis 11:1-9:

✞   Reflect on your attempts to bring God to our level or to worship Him on our terms.
     
✞   Identify ways God still restrains sin today.

week of 9/22

Unit 01  Session 4

SIN CORRUPTS

gENESIS 6:9-22

 

Key Concept:

Sin corrupts and must be judged, but God saves those who fear and obey Him.

If Adam and Eve had hoped their firstborn son, Cain, would be the promised Seed to defeat the serpent, their hopes were crushed when Cain murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy. Grieving the loss of Abel, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth - a son in Adam's likeness. Unlike Cain's descendants, who lived however they pleased, Seth's descendants walked with God and hoped for reprieve from the curse of sin. While sin and violence corrupted humankind, Noah, whose name means rest, was a righteous man who followed God. God would soon enact righteous judgment against sin on the whole earth, but God showed grace to Noah.

As you examine Genesis 6:9-22:

✞   Identify ways you can live blamelessly in a world that does not value what God values.
     
✞   Reflect on times when you have experienced the blessings of faithful obedience in your 

    own life.

week of 7/15

Unit 01  Session 3

HUMANITY HATES

gENESIS 4:1-12

 

Key Concept:

Sin leads us to disordered feelings and responses, and to hateful actions.

Adam and Eve, the first image-bearers of God their Creator, sinned and were banished from the garden of Eden. Exiled from the garden, Eve gave birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. As their story unfolds, we find the consequences of sin continue to spread from Adam and Eve's decision to take of the forbidden fruit, not trusting in God's good character and instruction. Thus begins he long story of humanity's pride and sinful ways, revealing our full need for a Savior and Redeemer Who will forgive us of our sins and make us new.

As you examine Genesis 4:1-12:

✞   Reflect upon parts of your life in which you fail to give your all or your best to God.
     
✞   Contemplate how sin derails our sense of purpose and productivity.

week of 9/8

 Unit 01  Session 2

HUMANITY DISOBEYED GOD

gENESIS 3:1-7, 15, 21-24

 

Key Concept:

Sin results in shame, separation, and death.

God created everything good: the sky, the land, the sea, the animals, and so forth. Then the writer of Genesis continued to recount in greater detail the creation of humanity. God formed Adam out of dust and placed him in the perfect garden of Eden. Adam was free to eat any fruit except from the knowledge of good and evil. Then God introduced into His creation Eve, who would help Adam fulfill God's purposes. Blameless, they were naked without shame. However, this changed after Satan came on the scene in the form of a serpent to deceive and manipulate.

As you examine Genesis 3:1-7, 15, 21-24:

✞   Identify lies Satan might use today to make us question God and His goodness.
     
✞   Think about how our view of God impacts our approach to repentance of sin.

week of 9/1

Unit 01  Session 1

GOD CREATED HUMANITY

gENESIS 2:7, 15-25

 

Key Concept:

God created humanity for relationships.

In the beginning, in Genesis 1, God created the heavens and the earth. In six days, God created the domains of the sky, sea, and land and filled them with lights and living creatures. But for all the wonder of the created world around us and the universe beyond us, the Lord made human beings as the pinnacle of His creation. We were created, both male and female, uniquely in the image of God. The world was created for humanity and humanity for the world, a realm to steward together in God's name. And God declared it all to be "very good" in His sight. In Genesis 2, the Scripture zooms in on the creation of the man and woman God made in His image.

As you examine Genesis 2:7, 15-25:

✞   Identify how we ought to relate to God and others because of how God created humanity.
     
✞   Contemplate the changes that ought to occur in your life if you believe in the Bible's 
    account of the creation of humanity.

week of 8/25

Unit 36  Session 3

WORHIPING OUR GLORIOUS GOD

REVELATION 21-22

 

When Jesus returns, He will renew all of creation and live with His people forevermore.

Amid all of the descriptions of judgment, it's easy to lose sight of the marvelous blessings of God's people found throughout the Book of Revelation. Sinners will be judged, but saints - those saved through faith in Jesus' work on the Cross - will be saved. Not only will they be saved, but they will inherit an eternal dwelling place that far surpasses the beauty of this earth primarily because sin, death, and pain will never be found there.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      renew His creation.

     * What are you most looking 

        forward to in the new 

        Heaven and earth?

     * How can we also be in the 

        business of renewing and 

        restoring in this life?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      reveal His glory.

     * How is God dwelling within 

        us without a temple appealing?

     * Whether light is literal or 

        figurative or both, how is 

        living in constant light appealing?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      reside with His people.

     * What do you imagine you will 

        spend your time doing in Heaven?

     * How is your longing to see Christ 

        face to face and eternally 

        reflected in your life?

week of 8/18

Unit 36  Session 2

WORHIPING OUR CONQUERING KING

REVELATION 19-20

 

Jesus will return one day to receive His bride, the church, and to end sin and death once and for all.

The worship that filled the first portion of the book of Revelation continued to overflow to the end. John's vision captured the heavenly worship that is taking place now and will take place in the future. Along the way, John highlighted the nature of Jesus' return, the fate of God's people, and the future for those who reject Jesus' offer of salvation.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      receive His bride.

     * How is Jesus' return like a 

        marriage celebration?

     * How can you praise God 

        for inviting you?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      crush all rebellion.

     * How does Jesus' justice 

        encourage you?

     * How can you see Jesus 

        as a warrior more?

✞   The Lord is coming again to 

      judge sin and death.

     * What makes the concept 

        of judgment difficult?

     * How should a believer 

        respond to the thought 

        of Heaven and why?