Genesis: in the beginning - guide

Opening Prayer

Come Holy Spirit and be with us.

Guide our conversation. Make room in our hearts for a new word or thought.

Bind us to one another with ties of faith, hope and love.

Amen.

On Sunday we began a new sermon series on Genesis 1-11 called “In the Beginning.”

Read Genesis 1:1-5

● What do you think of when you hear this passage? What images or thoughts come to

mind?

● What have you heard about Genesis 1 and 2? What have you thought about it? What

questions have you had?

Here are three big points from the sermon:

1. Genesis is old. It was written long, long ago. People were asking different questions

than the questions we are asking today.

2. Genesis is the beginning of a story. The first verse can be translated “In the beginning

God began to create...” and reads that way in some versions of the Bible.

3. Genesis tells us who God is and what he is like.

Our modern question is often “how did this world get here?” The first hearers of Genesis 1

seemed to be asking “what is the God who made this world like?”

Glance over Genesis 1.

● What does it say about God? List as many things as possible.

[ 1:1 God creates

1:3,6,9, etc. God speaks

1:10, 12, 18, etc. God likes what he sees. The world is good.

God is a God of order as he orders the world.

What else??]

Read Genesis 2:1-2. When God rests in his creation it means he is present in it and with it. God

lives in the world he created and kind of sits down in it to enjoy it.

● What parts of God’s world are most attractive to you?

● Where do you like to “rest” in his creation?

As Genesis 1 begins the story, so Revelation 21:1-3 speaks of the end. This is where God is

moving to take this world.

● How do you sense God might be asking you/us to join him in getting to Revelation 21?

Close with sharing and prayer