Go Forth and Multiply
May 26, 2024 • Gavin Hesse • Genesis 10, Genesis 11:1–9
Genesis 10:1-11:9 | Gavin Hesse | With the story of Noah and the Flood behind us, the story of Noah's descendants has only just begun. No surprise to the readers of Gensis' early chapters, we once again find mankind brazenly rebelling against the God of heaven and earth. MAIN IDEA God is our Sovereign King. OUTLINE I. God will multiply his people (vv. 1-32) II. God’s power is bigger than man’s pride (vv. 1-9) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What stands out about the genealogy in Genesis 10:1-32? What does the author add, comment on, or point out that seems important? 2. What repeated words or phrases are there in the genealogy? How do these frame the generations listed and reveal the meaning of the genealogy? 3. What is the real issue with the story of the tower of Babel? Is the problem simply their intention to build a large building? 4. How does this passage reveal to you your sin? How do you tend to rebel against God in favor of making a name for yourself?
Same Ole Same Ole
May 19, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 9:18–29
Genesis 9:18-29 | Ben Potloff | As Noah and his family exit the ark and resume life after the Flood, we're waiting to see what exactly is going to happen with this family and God's plan for all of humanity. Unfortunately, we see a return to Genesis 3 and 6 as sin and corruption once again appear in God's once-perfect creation. MAIN IDEA Humanity is sinful and needs a Savior. OUTLINE I. Drunkenness and dishonoring parents reveal mankind's depravity (vv. 18-23) II. God will conquer his enemies and redeem his people (vv. 24-29) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What does this story about Noah & Ham reveal about humanity after the flood? 2. Why do you thinking honoring parents is something commanded all throughout the Bible? What does this mean for your life? 3. Jesus said in John 3:3 that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. How is that need to be born again seen in Genesis 9:18-29? 4. What should it look like for you to live as someone who is born again and a new creation in Christ? Be specific.
What's Next?
May 12, 2024 • Max Janusch • Genesis 9:1–17
Genesis 9:1-17 | Max Janusch | We've seen the sinfulness of mankind on display, God's just wrath against that sin, and His gracious work of saving Noah and his family through the Flood. Now, what's next? How will mankind move on from the Flood? Here, we see how God values life, calls humanity back to its original purpose, and seals it all with a covenant promise. MAIN IDEA God values life and promises to preserve it. OUTLINE I. God determines the purpose and value of life. (vv. 1-7) II. God promises to preserve life. (vv. 8-17) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What similarities and differences are between Genesis 1:26–31 and Genesis 9:1-7? How do those similarities and differences inform your understanding of the significance of mankind's "new beginning" in Genesis 9? 2. How does your understanding of the "image of God" affect day-to-day life? How is life lived differently when you recognize the purpose and value that God has placed on mankind? 3. What characteristics and/or attributes of God are revealed in Genesis 9:1-17? What do we learn about God in this passage? 4. Thinking about the entire Flood narrative (Genesis 6-9), what has stood out to you the most? Has there been anything particularly encouraging or challenging?
Not Done Yet
May 5, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 8
Genesis 8:1-22 | Ben Potloff | All life has been blotted out from the corrupted and sin-scarred world; all except for God's chosen remnant, Noah and his family. But what will happen to these chosen people as the flood waters continue to cover the earth? And, how will humanity start again once back on dry land? MAIN IDEA A pleasing sacrifice secures God’s promise. OUTLINE I. God keeps his promise. (vv. 1-14) II. God’s grace leads to a second chance. (vv. 15-19) III. A sacrificial offering is pleasing to God. (vv. 20-22)
The Promise
April 28, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 6:9–22, Genesis 7
Genesis 6:9-7:24 | Ben Potloff | God, grieving over the sinfulness and escalating wickedness of humanity, decides to wipe humanity from the face of the earth. But, God shows mercy on a single family who will be a remnant for humanity. Here, we see God speaking to and saving Noah and his family as he punishes sin and floods the world. MAIN IDEA Sin leads to death, but God’s promise leads to life. OUTLINE I. God justly judges sinners. (6:11-13, 7:10-12, 17-23a) II. Even though humans are sinful, God establishes a relationship by grace through faith. (6:9-10, 14-21, 7:1-4, 23b-24) III. The right response to God’s grace is obedience. (6:22, 7:5-9, 13-16) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Did God overreact in sending the flood? Why or why not? 2. Beyond God’s justice, what does the story of the flood teach us about God’s character? 3. 2 Peter 3:8-10 says that a final judgment by fire is coming but that God is patient, allowing more to come to repentance and be saved. Who around you needs to trust in Jesus and be saved? Are you praying for them? Are you looking for opportunities to share the gospel with them? 4. The Bible calls us to obey while we wait for God to bring about his promises. What areas of your life is God calling you to obey while you wait?
Worse Than Ever
April 21, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 5, Genesis 6:1–8
Genesis 5:1-6:8 | Ben Potloff | Still being so early in the Genesis story, we begin to wonder how bad it will get. From the Fall to the murder of Abel and the boasts of Lamech, humanity's story goes from bad to worse. How bad can it get? When will God put a stop to this cycle of sin? MAIN IDEA God punishes evil, but provides grace. OUTLINE I. Mankind is wicked. (vv. 5:3-27, 6:1-2, 4-5) II. God is just 'and' gracious (vv. 6:3, 6:6-7, 5:28-32, 6:8) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Our culture says you should “follow your heart” or “trust your gut.” Based on what the Bible teaches about the human heart, is this good advice or bad advice? Why? 2. Sexual perversion was a result of sin from the beginning and we still see that playing out today. How does the Gospel speak to the sexual sin in our lives and in the world around us? 3. The Bible reveals God as both just AND gracious. How do we see that in Genesis 6:1-8? 4. Are you more prone to see God as just or gracious? How does that affect your relationship with Him? Why is it important to have a wholistic view of God as we relate to Him?
A Look in The Mirror
April 14, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 4:17–26
Genesis 4:17-26 | Ben Potloff | Now a fugitive, Cain's part in the story is not quite over. The second half of Genesis 4 shows us a bit of the lineage of Cain and what can go wrong when people reject God's design for His creation. MAIN IDEA God’s Word proves true. OUTLINE I. The curse of sin is passed down from generation to generation (vv. 17-24) II. Mankind’s sin cannot void God’s purpose and plan (vv. 25-26) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What stood out to you from Sunday’s sermon? 2. What does Genesis 4:17-26 reveal about the human condition? Does the world around us agree with what the Bible reveals about the human condition? 3. God giving Seth to Adam and Eve was Him keeping His Word in Genesis 3:15. In what ways can you “take God at His Word” in your daily Christian life? 4. How is God’s judgment AND mercy seen in Genesis 4:17-26? What does this teach us about God and how we are to relate to Him? How does the gospel impact this?
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From The Tree
April 7, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 4:1–16
Genesis 4:1-16 | Ben Potloff | Everything went wrong in Genesis 3, and things continue to go from bad to worse in Genesis 4. Here, we are devastated to see Cain murder Abel and we are filled with hope in light of the news of the one who will come to restore Creation to its original and perfect state. MAIN IDEA Sin turns family into fugitives. OUTLINE I. Two brothers, two offerings, and two responses (vv. 1-5a) II. Sin isn’t ruled but rules, and the result is murder (vv. 5b-8) III. God offers protection in the midst of punishment (vv. 9-16) DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Coming soon
Bad News
February 25, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 3
Genesis 3:1-24 | Ben Potloff | Over and over, the opening chapters of Genesis show us something being made from nothing, order brought to chaos, life and vitality where there was only a void, God's image bearers ruling over his creation. But, in chapter 3, everything goes wrong; created things misrepresent God, His image bearers rebel against his rule, and Paradise is lost at the foot of the forbidden tree. Now we ask, "Is God done with this world and this people that have rebelled against Him?" MAIN IDEA Disobedience leads to death. OUTLINE I. Eve was deceived by the serpent and Adam disobeyed God (vv. 1-13) II. God declared that the consequence for human sin is death (vv. 14-19, 22-24) III. In the midst of retribution God promised redemption (vv. 15, 20-21)
Wedding Day
February 18, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 2:18–25
Genesis 2:18-25 | Ben Potloff | Moses' closer look at the creation of humanity continues as, for the first time, God says that something is "not good." God creates woman from man in a wonderful and glorious act of creation that completes God's initial work of creation and begins human history. MAIN IDEA God created woman to complement man in the one flesh union of marriage. OUTLINE I. God created the woman to be the perfect helper to the man (vv. 18-23) II. God created marriage to be a permanent and exclusive union (vv. 24-25)
Paradise
February 11, 2024 • Max Janusch • Genesis 2:1–17
Genesis 2:1-17 | Max Janusch | At the finale of God's creation work, God rests and blesses the seventh day. Moses then returns his focus to the creation of man, the garden of Eden, and God tasking man to "work the ground" in obedience to God. Here, we are reminded that God is the Creator and we are the creatures. MAIN IDEA God places his people in paradise. OUTLINE I. God modeled rest for man as the finale to his creation. (vv. 1-3) II. God created man from his creation. (vv. 4-7) III. God put man in the best of his creation. (vv. 8-14) IV. God tasked man to obediently cultivate his creation. (vv. 15-17)
Identity & Purpose
February 4, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 1:26–31
Genesis 1:26-31 | Ben Potloff | God's work of creation comes to its high point with the creation of man on the sixth day. After speaking light and life, sky and seas, land and animals into existence, God forms human beings. Making them in his image, male and female, God then puts his creation under the stewardship of humanity who rule on his behalf. MAIN IDEA Humans bear God’s image to rule His world. OUTLINE I. God created man in His image (vv. 26-27) II. God created humans as male and female (v. 27) III. God created humans to have dominion (vv. 26, 28-31)
Just Say The Word
January 28, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 1:2–25
Genesis 1:2-25 | Ben Potloff | From the earliest verses of Genesis, we get a glimpse of how God brought forth something out of nothing. Here, it begins with God speaking the universe into existence. MAIN IDEA God’s Word is powerful. OUTLINE I. God created light and life by His Word. II. God’s creation by His Word was good. III. God’s shines light and creates new life by His Word.
Once Upon A Time
January 7, 2024 • Ben Potloff • Genesis 1:1
Genesis 1:1 | Ben Potloff | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1 ESV). What Christians believe to be true comes from what the Bible teaches the most and the clearest (Gavin Ortlund, Finding the Right Hills to Die On). From the very first verse of our Bible, God clearly and epically reveals one of the most important and foundational truths about himself: Before anything was made, there was God, and God made everything. MAIN IDEA God made everything. OUTLINE I. There is a God who has always been. II. There is a God who created all there is.
Calling His Shot
December 4, 2022 • Max Janusch • Genesis 3:15
Genesis 3:15 | Max Janusch | From the moments following the Fall in the garden of Eden, God has made it clear that his intention is to send a savior to crush Satan and deliver his people. It is from the ashes of Adam and Eve's disobedience that the first gospel is proclaimed. Here, we see that God will destroy the devil through the woman's womb.