The Image of God and the Sanctity of Life (Genesis 1:24-31)
January 23, 2022 • Ben Purves • Genesis 1:24–31
Dear Church Family, As we come upon yet another anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we cannot help but grieve at the destruction of innumerable little ones. This great evil stands in stark opposition to the sanctity of life as upheld in God’s Word. This Sunday we mark as Sanctity of Life Sunday and we will turn our attention to the foundation of this doctrine in Genesis 1 as God creates humanity in his image. I invite you to read Genesis 1:24-31 in preparation for worship, and to come gather with us this Sunday as we worship the God who has formed and made each one of us. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Ben ______________________________________________________________________________________ Discussion and Response Questions 1. When you think of abortion/infanticide, do you think of this issue merely in terms of Roe v. Wade, or have you also thought about it globally and historically? How might considering it in those ways help reframe this issue? 2. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, does this have any impact the responsibility of the saints in relationship to the sanctity of life? 3. What is the significance of mankind being created in the image of God? What is the significance of the image of God for understanding mankind’s responsibilities in creation? 4. What are implications of the image of God for how we relate to other image-bearers? 5. What happens to the image of God in the fall? 6. What does it mean that Jesus is the true image of God? (2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3) 7. What impact does the gospel and our salvation have on our identity as image-bearers? (Col 3:10; 2 Cor 3:18) 8. How should we respond to God’s creation of us as image-bearers? (Gen 1, Ps 139) 9. What are some practical ways that you might uphold the sanctity of life?
Where Are You? Foundations for the Discipline of Prayer (Genesis 3:8-13)
January 9, 2022 • Jared Bridges • Genesis 3:8–13
Why is it so hard to pray? In our age of constant distraction, the things that are seen draw our attention away from a God whom we can't see. The Bible is full of passages revealing that prayer is foundational to our walk with God, but what are the foundations of prayer? This Sunday we'll look in an unlikely place (Genesis 3:8-13) to see some foundational questions that will help us posture ourselves for prayer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions If prayer is talking with God, how does Genesis 3 help you to think about prayer? What are some foundational questions that might help us posture ourselves for prayer? Consider Matthew 6:5-13. How is Jesus teaching his disciples to pray? Consider John Bunyan’s definition of prayer: “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.” What do you find helpful in this definition? What do you find helpful when you pray? What do you find difficult when you pray?
1. The Seed of the Woman is Promised (Genesis 3:15)
December 12, 2021 • David Schrock • Genesis 3
In one sentence, can you give the message of the Bible? A few years ago, Dane Ortlund asked this question and received answers from a host of pastors, scholars, and other Christians, but one answer stood out from the rest and has taken on a life of its own. The answer comes from the provocateur, poet, and pastor, Douglas Wilson. He writes, "Scripture tells us the story of how a Garden is transformed into a Garden City, but only after a dragon had turned that Garden into a howling wilderness, a haunt of owls and jackals, which lasted until an appointed warrior came to slay the dragon, giving up his life in the process, but with his blood effecting the transformation of the wilderness into the Garden City." In short: Kill the Dragon, Get the Girl. Whereby the Dragon is the Twisted Serpent of the Garden, the Girl is the Bride of Christ described as a glorious Garden City in Revelation 21–22, and the Slayer of the Dragon is the Son of God who took on flesh to come and save his damsel in distress by destroying the Dragon by means of his own death and resurrection. That in a short sentence is the message of the Bible. And this Sunday we begin a three-week Christmas series following this storyline. If you want a longer introduction, see this blogpost Or, you can pick up the book The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer by Andy Naselli. We will have a few on the shelf at church. For all of us, as we come to celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, let us remember why he came—to save us (his bride) from our sins and to deliver us from his enemy (the serpent). Sunday, we will celebrate both of these truths. And I look forward to joining with you and singing praises to our great God and King. For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Genesis 3:15 1. When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind? What part of Christmas is the most 2. Why might a sentimental, Charles Dickens Christmas mislead our understanding of the birth of Christ? 3. What is the context of Genesis 3? What does Genesis 3:15 have to do with Christmas? 4. How do the birth stories, serpent sightings, and bruised heads of the Bible teach us about Christ? 5. What does the first gospel promise teach us about God? About ourselves? About salvation? 6. How does the seed warfare of the Bible inform our understanding of the world? 7. How do we need to crush the serpent under our feet today? 8. What other questions or encouragements does Genesis 3:15 elicit?
2. On the Hill of the Lord . . . God Tests, Provides, and Blesses (Genesis 22:1-19)
September 19, 2021 • David Schrock • Genesis 22:1–19, Hebrews 11:1–19
God said what? He told his servant Abraham to go and sacrifice his son, only son, Isaac, the one whom he loved. And did he? Is that what God requires? Why would God do that? And why would Abraham obey? If the conversation about Genesis 22 is challenging, imagine how difficult the conversation between father and son was between aged Abraham and Isaac, his teenage son. As they walked for three days to the hill of the Lord: Isaac: Father, where is the sacrifice? Abraham: The Lord will provide, son. And indeed, the Lord did provide—for Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and us! In Genesis 22, we enter one of the richest passages in the Bible. Every verse says something to us about God, his demands on humanity, his provision for humanity, and the pathway of death that leads to life. Indeed, if you are feeling tried and tested and on the verge of despair and death, Genesis 22 is for you. In looking at Genesis 22 this Sunday, we not only see an incredible moment in history, we also see a picture of what Christ’s cross accomplished and how we are to carry our cross in obedience to Jesus. To prepare for Sunday, take time to read Genesis 22. Read it slow. Read it a few times. See what is there, and pray that God might speak to us this Sunday as we consider these words together. As God allows we will gather on Sunday at 8:30am and 11:00am to dig into this glorious passage. May the Lord give us faith as we behold the way he provides salvation for those who trust in him. For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions for Genesis 22 1. Before this week, how have thought about this passage? Has it been a source of comfort? Concern? Something else? 2. What does it mean that God tested Abraham? How is this unique to Abraham? And how is typical of all believers? 3. What is the arrangement of the text? How does seeing the structure help you see the drama? Why is important to slow down to see the drama in Scripture? 4. What are some of types and shadows that point to Christ? How do those types help us understand Christ’s cross? 5. How do we know that the connections from Genesis 22 to Christ are legitimate? What if we don’t make those connections? What are some of New Testament texts that help us make those connections? 6. What does Genesis 22 teach us about God and his provision? 7. What does Genesis 22 teach us about the gospel? 8. How does the experience of Abraham and Christ teach us to carry our cross? What does Genesis 22 teach us about discipleship? 9. How are you being tested today? How does Genesis 22 bolster your faith? How can we pray for you?
