Why Every Christian Should Live Zealously for the Lord | John 2:12-25 | Darien Gabriel
Why Every Christian Should Live Zealously for the Lord | John 2:12-25 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Why every Christian should live zealously for the Lord

Scripture: John 2:12-25

1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:18-20; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Romans 12:9-11

Bottom line: Every Christian should live zealously for the Lord and his kingdom mission.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

"Another day in paradise," January 13, 2025, Bill Murphy, Jr.

"Honest to God, I just could not stop thinking of wonderful things that have happened to me and blessings that I've had, so it was lovely. It was lovely. And I got to a point of grace with about two minutes to spare when I found out it wasn't actually happening.

— Jim Carrey

Seek immediate shelter

It was a beautiful morning. But aren't they all in Hawaii?

A little below 80 degrees at the weather station in Oahu, with nearly no cloud cover: the kind of day that people on the mainland sometimes wish they had (but almost never get) at the beginning of January.

• Honeymooners were waking up in each others' arms in their hotel rooms. A woman named Lydia Warren and her husband were vacationing on the beach.

• A college student named Makena was showing her visiting boyfriend the Pearl Harbor memorial. (It's open at 7 a.m.; who knew?) Her father, a TV news producer named David Patterson, was on the freeway, about to dial into a conference call.

• Oh, and here's a quirky one: Actor and comedian Jim Carrey was up early, working on writing a memoir.

Then: panic. At 8:08 a.m., Hawaii's civil defense and emergency agency sent an alarming text to every single person in the state with a cell phone. It read, in all caps:

"BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

Local T.V. put a chyron message on the screen as well, against the backdrop of things like a college basketball game between Ole Miss and Florida, or else a Premier League soccer game from London between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton:

The U.S. Pacific Command has detected a missile threat to Hawaii. A missile may impact on land or sea within minutes. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. If you are indoors, stay indoors. If you are outdoors, seek immediate shelter in a building.

Remain indoors well away from windows. If you are driving, pull safely to the side of the road and seek shelter in a building or lay on the floor. We will announce when the threat has ended. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Take immediate action measures.

Can you even imagine? Of course, you probably remember this -- along with the fact that in the end, there was no inbound missile. By the way, the date was January 13, 2018, so seven years ago today.

In fact, officials at the civil defense agency realized this was a mistake pretty quickly, but it took them 38 minutes to confirm that and then figure out how to send a second message telling people that the first alert was in error.

There's a lot about this story - but the biggest part that has stayed with me is how people spent those 38 minutes when they thought they and everyone around them was going to die.

Lydia Warren and her husband raced back to their hotel -- not so much because they thought it would be safer, but because they thought that their bodies might be more easily identified someday if they were found near where they were staying.

David Patterson called his daughter and learned where she was. He told her to use her phone to record video of Pearl Harbor visitors processing the possibility of an imminent attack.

She later said this calmed her down, as she figured her father wouldn't tell her to spend what could be her last minutes videoing if he wasn't pretty sure the alert was a mistake.

My favorite reaction is probably Jim Carrey's. He was engrossed in work and missed the initial alert, but his assistant called to tell him they had 10 minutes to live.

He tried calling his daughter and some other family, wondering if there was any way to get off the island, and finally realizing everything was out of his control.

He explained all of this on an episode of The Tonight Show two years later (video here):

Jim Carrey: And we had to say goodbye. And I sat on the lanai and looked out at the ocean, and at that point, I started going, "Okay. Well, what can I do with this last moment of time?"

And I just decided to go through a list of gratitudes, and honest to God, I just could not stop thinking of wonderful things that have happened to me and blessings that I've had, so it was lovely. It was lovely.

And I got to a point of grace with about two minutes to spare when I found out it wasn't actually happening. And all I was planning to do was close my eyes an be thankful, 'cause it's been a good ride.'

Jimmy Fallon: What did you do when you found out that it was a fake missile test?

Carrey: Then I got pissed off, and heads rolled!

The front page headline in the Star-Advertiser newspaper the next day read, in giant type: OOPS! (And in smaller type: "'Wrong button' sends out false missile alert.")

Later, officials said that wasn't right; it was instead an employee who was absolute, 100 percent convinced that a missile was en route, and who sent the alert -- but was simply wrong.

I guess I've mentioned this theme a few times recently -- but isn't it funny that even being told you are going to die within a few minutes can turn out to be a gift?

At least that's what I take away from Carrey's account. Sometimes, I suppose you value things most when you're suddenly about to lose them.

As for everyone affected that day, I feel for them. It must have been hard.

Then again, after it was all over, they were still in Hawaii.

Jesus is Angry

Jesus is angry. How can Jesus be angry? If God is love, how can Jesus-who is God-get angry? Genuine love is compatible with anger.

In fact, genuine love is sometimes demonstrated by anger. At times anger proves love is authentic. Let me give you an example: a friend of mine is passionate about ending modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

He writes and speaks about it. He's visited Washington to meet with politicians. He has traveled to foreign countries to learn more about stopping it. He's worked hard to bring it to people's attention. I don't doubt his commitment to ending trafficking. I don't doubt his love for those in slavery. But I would doubt a claim that he never got angry about it. I know his love for the abused is real because he gets angry when he sees the abuse.

Jesus gets angry about how the Jews have turned his house of prayer and mission into a house of corrupt commerce.

The Court of Gentiles

The court of the Gentiles was the one place on the Temple Mount where anyone could engage with the God of Israel formally. But it was clogged with commercial enterprise instead of prayer, worship and evangelism.

Matt Carter writes, "Jesus levels a charge, but the charge is not unethical practices. They have twisted the purpose of the temple. Jesus is denouncing impure worship."

I would add they've forgotten the purpose of the outer temple court: mission to the nations.

We do that too when we make our Sunday worship experience all about our wants and needs. When we see the Lord as he truly is, we are transformed to live on mission with him 24/7.

CONTEXT

Last week, Ken showed us how Jesus first displayed his power at a wedding in Cana, not far from Nazareth and Capernaum. He discreetly turns water to wine demonstrating his power as Messiah to his disciples and mother. This was part of his first week of public ministry. John called it the first of his "signs," or, miracles that point to who he is and why he's come. From Capernaum, Jesus leads his family and disciples to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover together. It's about to get dramatic.

We pick it up with Jesus and his disciples in the temple in Jerusalem. This is the only temple of the Jews. It was the symbol of the nation and religion of Israel. It was the icon of their identity and the place where they 1) Met with God, and 2) atoned for their sins.   

SERMON

Every Christian should live zealously for the Lord and his kingdom mission.

Why? The answer is the message I'm about to give:

It's because of his power, his passion and his promise.

I. His power. (2:1-11) We saw last week how he powerfully transformed water to wine. He demonstrated this discreetly to reveal his power to his family and disciples; to help them believe he could powerfully transform our lives too.

II. His passion. (2:12-17) We see his passion and zeal for his father's house. In fact, his zeal consumes him. We see this in the cross.

Story by Kent Hughes, commentary on John, p. 47

"One evening the great conductor Arturo Toscanini conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was a brilliant performance, at the end of which the audience went absolutely wild! They clapped, whistled, and stamped their feet, absolutely caught up in the greatness of that performance. As Toscanini stood there, he bowed and bowed and bowed, then acknowledged his orchestra.

When the ovation finally began to subside, Toscanini turned and looked intently at his musicians. He was almost out of control as he whispered,

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" The orchestra leaned forward to listen. In a fiercely enunciated whisper Toscanini said, "Gentlemen, I am nothing." That was an extraordinary admission since Toscanini was blessed with an enormous ego.

He added, "Gentlemen, you are nothing." They had heard that same message before the rehearsal. "But Beethoven," said Toscanini in a tone of adoration,

"is everything, everything, everything!"

This is the attitude we need toward ourselves and toward the Lord Jesus Christ. I am nothing, you are nothing, but he is everything!

That was John's attitude, and it is the attitude of every authentic messenger of Christ."

III. He promise. (2:18-22) We will see his promise fulfilled in our resurrection one day based on his resurrection 2,000 years ago.

CONCLUSION

Application: When we're tempted to doubt or find ourselves lacking zeal, REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION!

From Tim Keller, The Songs of Jesus, p. 153

"MISUNDERSTOOD. David is being scorned for his zealous devotion to God (verse 9). When he prays and repents, he is laughed at (verses 10-11). His world is not so different from ours. Even when Christianity was taken for granted by Western society, the most devoted believers were silently laughed at.

Today they are also despised. The world does not understand the Gospel of grace, in which holy living is the result of humble, grateful joy, not a way to earn heaven. The world therefore sees all righteous living as self-righteousness and bigotry. We should not be surprised at this (2 Timothy 3:12), but we should also undermine this false narrative by living lives of humility, forgiveness, and sacrificial service to others."

Bottom line: Every Christian should live zealously for the Lord and his kingdom mission.

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Many today want to use this to say we shouldn't sell things in church lobbies because we tend to think of the church building as a house of prayer and mission too. And it is to the degree that it is filled with true believers. But I'd take it further. As a part of the better, spiritual temple of God, I must make sure I don't approach my time of worship as a transactional exchange with God where I show up, maybe serve a little bit, give a little bit, pray a little bit, and then expect God to bless me because I earned it.

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

ChatGPT 3.5

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipSigns and Glory, Darien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, bible believing church, non denominational church
Is Turning Water into Wine a Lightweight Miracle? | John 2:1-11 | Ken Dorrity
Is Turning Water into Wine a Lightweight Miracle? | John 2:1-11 | Ken Dorrity

John states the purpose in John 20:30-31.  30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

A.   The Ministry of the Pre-incarnate King (1:1-18)

B.    The Ministry of the Incarnate King (1:19-19:42)

C.   The Ministry of the Risen King (20:1-21:25)

Weddings could last a week, and supplies would be needed for all the guests.   


Responsibility for providing appropriate hospitality for the family, friends, and guests.    Running out of wine during the weeklong celebration would be insulting to all the guests, reflected poorly on the bridegroom, and could face a lawsuit.


John 2:4 - 

Jesus was not be disrespectful for calling Mary, "woman."  Like Ma'am or Madam today.  He used the same term from the cross in John 19:26

What was the hour?  The hour was the time of Jesus’ suffering and death.  John 7:30; 8:20; 12:23


DA Carson – “John prefers the simple word, ‘signs.’  Jesus’s miracles are never simple naked displays of power, still less neat conjuring tricks to impress the masses, but signs, significant display of power that point beyond themselves to the deeper realities that could be perceived with the eyes of faith.”


Is turning water to wine a lightweight miracle?  It might seem like it compared to raising someone from the dead, but like the other miracles, it points to Jesus being the Messiah


Do we have eyes of faith, looking around to see the little ways Jesus shows Himself to us?

Read More
Ken DorrityGrace Christian FellowshipKen Dorrity, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, non denominational church, John, Signs and Glory
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus? | John 1:35-51 | Darien Gabriel
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus? | John 1:35-51 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Scripture: John 1:35-51

Genesis 28:11-12; 2 Kings 6:14-17; Hebrews 1:14

Lean a tall ladder against the back wall on the stage. Or set it up as an A-frame closer to the front.

Bottom line: Following Jesus is humbling ourselves and apprenticing to lead people to Jesus as part of a supernatural way of life.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome 2025! Apparently, I'll be learning more new things in 2025. We've been homeowners for at least 25 years and I learned something new about owning a home this weekend. We had our house re-roofed recently and I learned that when that happens, a lot of debris rains down onto the things you have stored in the attic! So I learned something new!

We talk a lot about following Jesus here at Grace. And it's tempting to think that once you hear a sermon or two on that you're good to move on. But the Bible revisits it quite a lot. And since we're preaching through the Bible, we will repeat that a lot too.

But here's the thing: Every topic you could choose to hear a sermon on relies heavily on understanding what it means to follow Jesus. Well John is going to go there with us today. Both John's, in fact. So here we go!

CONTEXT

This series is called Signs & Glory. Zooming out, this book of the Bible by John the Apostle or Disciple is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. That's the point of this gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Zooming in further, we see this gospel account divided into 2 major sections.

The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths that illustrate and justify the teachings of Jesus.

Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth during the last week of his life.

In John 1:19-2:12, the apostle John begins his gospel narrative like the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) do: Beginning with John the Baptist. This chunk of scripture covers Jesus' first week of public ministry. It skips his actual baptism, though he implies it. It also skips his 40 days being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. John assumes his readers already know about this and, even if they don't, it's well covered in the synoptic gospels already. He's moving on so he can focus on the themes he feels led to focus on.

6 of the 7 days are mentioned so we'll point those out along the way. Verse 19 is day 1 of his first week.

The first 12 chapters of John are about the Signs of the Messiah. After that, John's focus is on the Glory of the Messiah.

SERMON

What does following Jesus mean/look like?

  • Learning/apprenticing (Disciple)

    • Information vs

    • Transformation

  • Going (Evangelist-->Apostle)

    • Most of disciples were brought to Jesus by a disciple of Jesus

    • Start with those closest to you

  • Leading Others #LOTDTS

    • Jesus modeled this from the beginning

    • This isn't about gifting--this is about obedience

  • Living/experiencing Supernatural life

    • Story 1

    • Story 2

  • Lord's Supper tie-in

CONCLUSION

"ON A DARK NIGHT about a hundred years ago a Scottish missionary couple found themselves surrounded by cannibals intent on taking their lives. On that terror-filled night the couple fell to their knees and prayed that God would protect them. It was a horrible time. Intermittent with their prayers, the missionaries heard the cries of the savages and imagined them coming through the door to take their lives. As the sun began to rise, to their astonishment they found that the natives were retreating into the forest. The missionaries were absolutely amazed and filled with joy. Their hearts soared to God. It was a day of rejoicing!

The couple bravely continued their work. A year later the chieftain of that tribe was saved. As the missionary spoke with him, he remembered the horror of that night and asked the chieftain why he and his men had not killed them.

The chieftain replied in surprise, "Who were all those men who were with you?" The missionary answered, "There were no men with us. It was just my wife and myself." The chieftain began to argue with him, saying, "There were hundreds of tall men in shining garments with drawn swords circling about your house, so we could not attack you."

That story, recorded in Billy Graham's book Angels, is one of the greatest stories in missionary history. The missionary was the almost legendary John G. Paton of the New Hebrides. What a glorious story for the church — a story not often repeated or experienced, yet one that does have contemporary parallels."

"Another vivid story was shared with me by a respectable Southern California pastor's wife. One evening she was driving down the Santa Ana Freeway, which is always busy. As she drove down that freeway, somehow the car door opened, and her four-year-old child tumbled out onto the freeway amidst the high-speed traffic. With her heart pounding and with horrible expectations, she pulled her car to a screeching stop and ran frantically back along the freeway. But she did not expect to see what she saw. Her child was sitting up in the fast lane of the freeway amidst the glare of headlights, his only injuries a few abrasions.

The first words that came out of his mouth were, "Mommy, Mommy, I saw Jesus put up his hands and stop the cars!" Was that a child's imagination? Possibly. None of the drivers saw anyone. They just managed to stop their cars and miss him. The boy had been raised in a pious home, so perhaps he was just parroting what he had heard others say. On the other hand, it may indeed have been angelic intervention, considering the incredible danger in that unusual situation."

Both from Kent Hughes commentary, pp. 51-52

Bottom line: Following Jesus is humbling ourselves and apprenticing to lead people to Jesus as part of a supernatural way of life.

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

OUTLINE  JOHN 1

John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.

I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)

A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)

1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.

2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.

B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)

1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.

2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)

A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.

B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.

1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.

2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.

C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)

1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)

a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.

(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).

(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).

b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.

(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).

(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).

(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).

c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)

(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).

(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).

2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)

a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)

b. Peter (1:40-42)

c. Philip (1:43)

d. Nathanael (1:44-51)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

ChatGPT 3.5

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipbible believing church, Ladson, SC, John 1, non denominational church, Signs and Glory, Grace Christian Fellowship
Who is Jesus According to John? | John 1:19-34 | Darien Gabriel
Who is Jesus According to John? | John 1:19-34 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: Who is Jesus according to John?

Scripture: John 1:19-34

Matthew 3:1-12

Malachi 4:4-5; Deut 18:18

Bottom line: John the Baptist comes as the voice of one pointing others to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We receive this forgiveness when we repent and believe.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Even if you're not an NFL fan nor a Swifty, you've probably heard about the budding romance between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce (tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs). Swifties who never cared about football before this have become KC fans. And some NFL fans have been learning how to "Shake it off" as they learn Taylor Swifts latest songs. There's nothing wrong with being a fan of TK or TS. If you are, that makes you a "Groupie" of the one you are a fan of.

However, there can become a point at which being a groupie is detrimental to your heart. It can lead you to sin.

As a groupie of TK or TS, if you are consumed with the idea of getting a selfie with them so that you can show everybody that you were with the star, that can be an unhealthy place to be. Because you're making it all about you.

In contrast, you could be a roadie. So TS has a crew that she pays but who gladly serve her behind the scenes so that her show comes off great and that she, as the star of her show, is easily seen and heard for her fans. They work tirelessly before, during and after the show for one purpose--to make much about the TS who is the star.

The same can be said of all the trainers and support team for TK and the KC Chiefs. The players are the stars and the support crew is all about making the stars look good and be successful as a team. These folks are behind the scenes and embrace their role gladly.

We as Christians believe that Jesus is worthy of all our worship. We believe that he is the Star of stars for all time. But do our lives look like that? Do we live gladly serving him behind the scenes making him look good while pointing others to him? Or do we want to be seen serving him or talking about him in such a way that others think we're great?

If someone were to follow you around for a week, what would they conclude about you? Who would they think you think is the star in your life?

John the Baptist is the best roadie I can find in Scripture. His whole life he lives in obscurity in the wilderness, preparing for over a decade for his brief public ministry. And what ministry is that? To make much of the Star, Jesus Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is where John the Apostle will take us today.

It had been 400 years since God had spoken through one of his prophets. (Malachi) God broke the silence through an Elijah-like prophet called John, later called John the Baptizer because he preached a message of repentance and at the invitation, if you repented, you immediately were baptized in the River Jordan. This was considered evidence of your sincere belief that you genuinely repented of your sins and that believed that God forgave you because of your faith.

This got a lot of attention. Soon crowds formed to hear the preaching of this great prophet.

What was provoking to the religious leaders in Jerusalem was the fact that he wasn't just baptizing Gentile converts to Judaism but Jews. They taught that as God's chosen people, they were already saved and settled in his kingdom. (Not that that is what the OT scriptures actually teach, but I digress)

There were rules and regulations about how to do things like preach, baptize, etc. John was unsettling the leaders because he seemed ok ignoring those rules. And, because he was getting large crowds, they knew they needed to investigate further and see if they needed to take action. Thus the inquiry in the desert.

CONTEXT

This series is called Signs & Glory. Zooming out, this book of the Bible by John the Apostle or Disciple is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. That's the point of this gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Zooming in further, we see this gospel account divided into 2 major sections.

The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths that illustrate and justify the teachings of Jesus.

Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth during the last week of his life.

In John 1:19-2:12, the apostle John begins his gospel narrative like the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) do: Beginning with John the Baptist. This chunk of scripture covers Jesus' first week of public ministry. It skips his actual baptism, though he implies it. It also skips his 40 days being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. John assumes his readers already know about this and, even if they don't, it's well covered in the synoptic gospels already. He's moving on so he can focus on the themes he feels led to focus on.

6 of the 7 days are mentioned so we'll point those out along the way. Verse 19 is day 1 of his first week.

The first 12 chapters of John are about the Signs of the Messiah. After that, John's focus is on the Glory of the Messiah.

SERMON

I. Who is John the Baptist & what's he about, according to John the Apostle? (1:19–28)

II. What does J the B say about the Lamb of God, according to John the Apostle? (1:29–31)

III. What does J the B say about of Jesus’ Identity, according to John the Apostle? (1:32–34)

CONCLUSION

"In 1912, when the Titanic sank, a pastor named John Harper was aboard. As the ship went down, Harper ensured his young daughter was safely placed on a lifeboat but stayed behind to help others. Survivors later recounted how Harper swam from person to person in the freezing water, urging them to trust in Jesus. His final words to a man clinging to debris were, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."

-ChatGPT & Gemini

Bottom line: John the Baptist comes as the voice of one pointing others to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We receive this forgiveness when we repent and believe.

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How are you living today? Like a Jesus groupie or Jesus roadie?

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Groupies vs Roadies

Do you know the difference between a roadie and a groupie? If you're on tour with a rockstar and you are part of the crew that travels with the rockstar, that sets up before the rockstar gets there, that tears down after the concert is over, and that works all the things that have to happen behind the scenes like lights and sound, then you're the roadie. You're someone who exists to lift up the star and to make much about the star of the show.

In contrast, a groupie is a person who buys a ticket and shows up an hour before the show and then does everything they can to try to get a picture with the star of the show. They want it to be about them as much as it is about the star. They are not around for setting up or tearing down. They are simply there to be seen with the star.

John the Baptist is a roadie. He does not want to be seen with the star in the sense that he doesn't want to be in the in the limelight. He makes it very clear that he is not the star and that he's not even worthy to do the most menial task for the star Jesus. This is the posture that God calls all of his followers to have. It is what we see John the Baptist model as well.

“Charles Lamb was once in a group of men who were discussing what they would do if certain great men suddenly appeared in their midst. When the name of Jesus was mentioned, Lamb remarked that if other great men appeared, they would all rise but that if Jesus appeared, they would all kneel. Men in every age have felt this reverence, showing that among all who have known him is the feeling that he is far more than a prophet.” -Edward W. Bauman in his book the Life and Teaching of Jesus, pp. 195-196

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

OUTLINE  JOHN 1

John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.

I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)

A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)

1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.

2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.

B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)

1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.

2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)

A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.

B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.

1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.

2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.

C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)

1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)

a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.

(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).

(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).

b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.

(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).

(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).

(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).

c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)

(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).

(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).

2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)

a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)

b. Peter (1:40-42)

c. Philip (1:43)

d. Nathanael (1:44-51)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

ChatGPT 4.o

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipJohn 1, Signs and Glory, non denominational church, Ladson, SC, bible believing church
Is the Glory of God Revealed in Today's World? | John 1:14-18 | Ken Dorrity
Is the Glory of God Revealed in Today's World? | John 1:14-18 | Ken Dorrity

Is the Glory of God Revealed Today John 1:14-18


The Fantastic 4 - Genesis 1:1, John 1:1, John 1:14, John 3:16


The Ministry of the Pre-incarnate King (1:1-18)

The Ministry of the Incarnate King (1:19-19:42)

The Ministry of the Risen King (20:1-21:25)


“Became flesh” – incarnation - God entered into human history through Jesus Christ, 100% God and 100% man.  


Matthew, Mark, and Luke started with the humanity of Jesus.

John started with the divinity of Jesus.


“Dwelt” this word translated “pitched His tent” or “tabernacled” or “tented."


If Jesus remained God and did not become a man:

  • then he could not be tempted.

  • then he could not be an example.

  • then he could not die.

Read More
Ken DorrityGrace Christian FellowshipJohn 1, Signs and Glory, non denominational church, bible-believing church, Ladson, SC, Ken Dorrity
How Do We Receive the Life Jesus Promises? | John 1:6-13
How Do We Receive the Life Jesus Promises? | John 1:6-13

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: How do we receive the life Jesus promises?

Scripture: John 1:6-13

Bottom line: We receive the life Jesus promises by responding to the light, believing Jesus' is who he says he is and will do all he's promised to do.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Yes, we're talking about life eternal. But eternal life isn't worth much if it's not also amazing. Joyful; peaceful; purposeful; powerful; life-giving. But it all starts with having life in the first place. We are born into a dark world. We need rescuing from that dark world. And when you're life hangs in the balance, rescue is all you can think of.

The Lifeboat and the Drowning Sailor

In 1982, Steven Callahan was stranded in the Atlantic Ocean after his sailboat sank. For 76 days, he drifted in a small inflatable raft, battling hunger, thirst, and exposure. One day, he saw a rescue ship approaching, but it couldn’t immediately spot him. Desperate, he used a flare and a mirror to signal his location. Finally, the rescuers spotted him and pulled him to safety.

• Connection: The rescue ship was there, fully capable of saving him, but Steven had to signal his willingness to be rescued. He had to acknowledge his need and respond to the rescuers’ efforts. In the same way, Jesus has come into the world as the Light and the source of life, but we must respond to Him by receiving and believing.

Steve recognized the rescue ship. God gave him the ability to see his potential rescue.

Steve responded to the presence of this ship by sending up the flare and by using the mirror.

Steve relied on the ship to do what he himself could not do--rescue him from his life and death situation. His belief that the ship could rescue him was seen in his willingness to acknowledge his need for a rescuer and that it could actually happen.

This is what John will be talking about today in this passage.

-ChatGPT helped me with this

CONTEXT

This series is called Signs & Glory. Zooming out, this book of the Bible by John the Apostle or Disciple is written that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. That's the point of this gospel account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

Zooming in further, we see this gospel account divided into 2 major sections.

The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths that illustrate and justify the teachings of Jesus.

Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth during the last week of his life.

The first few weeks of our series, we zoom into one of the most important and profound passages in the Bible: The Prologue, John 1:1-18. This tells us a lot about who Jesus is and all he's promised to do.

Today we'll focus on verses 6-13. We'll be introduced to John, but not the John who likely wrote this gospel. Instead, John the Baptizer, the greatest prophet to ever live, according to Jesus. John does what he calls each of us to do. Be a witness. Testify to the light to a dark world.

What do you do when someone is ready to receive Jesus? Do you know how to lead someone to walk in the light with Jesus? John and John will tell us how today!

SERMON

Read and comment on John 1:6-13. Connecting the theology of the passage to practical application:

Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." In this passage, we see that gives us the opportunity this Christmas season to recognize the light (Jesus), maybe for the first time, respond to the light (by grace through faith), maybe for the first time, and then, truly relying on the light (power of God) to deliver on his promise stated in John 8:12.

1. Recognize the Light (vv. 6–9)

• John the Baptist came to point others to Jesus, the true Light. Like him, we must clearly recognize that Jesus is the only source of life and truth in a world of spiritual darkness.

• Application: Examine your own life—are you seeking truth and guidance from the Light of Christ, or relying on other “false lights” such as human wisdom, tradition, or personal effort?

2. Respond to the Light (vv. 10–12)

• 2 Reponses:

1) The world rejected Jesus because it failed to know Him.

2) But to those who receive Him and believe, He offers the incredible gift of becoming children of God.

• Application: Respond to Jesus personally through faith.

Have you truly “received” Christ or are you still keeping Him at a distance?

If you have, are you living like children of light fleshing out the power of God each day?

Don't be duped believing that you're a Christian because

    1. You have the right lineage or heritage. My dad is a pastor or I am a Jew. These will not save you.

    2. You have decided to be a good person and to count on your good, moral behavior to save you. Even if your standard is the best in this world, you could never attain perfection. But the standard is perfection. "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." -Jesus

    3. You have decided that your kids will become Christians so you're going to do all the "right things" and believe that that is enough. Growing up in the Church is a great start. And it gives your kids every opportunity to hear the gospel and respond by grace through faith. However, it's no substitute for you showing and telling it yourself in your home where they see who you really are. Sending them to Christian school can be good. But if what they hear there contradicts with what they see at home, they will become disillusioned and perhaps do the opposite of what you think they need.

The bottom line is there is no salvation with out God's power. And there's not activating God's power without genuine, saving faith on the person's part. Just like these baptisms signify today!

3. Rely on God’s Light (Power) (v. 13)

• Becoming a child of God is not about heritage, human effort, or others’ influence—it is a supernatural work of God’s grace. Our salvation and spiritual growth depend on Him.

• Application: Let's humbly rely on God for salvation, spiritual renewal, and power in our daily walk.

Note: Help on this outline came from ChatGPT in the writing of this section.

CONCLUSION

Here’s another true story you can use:

The Rescue of the Chilean Miners

In 2010, 33 miners were trapped 2,300 feet underground in a collapsed mine in Chile. For 69 days, they endured intense heat, darkness, and dwindling supplies. Rescuers worked tirelessly to drill an escape tunnel, eventually sending down a small capsule to bring the miners to safety. When the capsule arrived, each miner had to make a choice: climb in and trust the rescuers, or remain in the darkness. All 33 chose to step into the capsule, and every one of them was safely brought to the surface.

• Connection: The rescuers provided the way to life, but the miners had to trust and respond. They couldn’t save themselves, but they had to step into the capsule to be rescued. Similarly, Jesus has made the way to eternal life, but we must respond by believing in Him and receiving the life He offers.

1. The Capsule Was Cramped and Claustrophobic

2. The Ascent Was Long and Unpredictable

3. Physical and Emotional Strain

4. No Other Way Out

-ChatGPT

Bottom line: We receive the life Jesus promises by responding to the light, believing Jesus' is who he says he is and will do all he's promised to do.

What about you?

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Yes, the rescue of the Chilean miners involved significant risks, especially for those stepping into the capsule. Here’s a more detailed look at what the miners faced:

1. The Capsule Was Cramped and Claustrophobic

• The capsule, called the Phoenix, was only 21 inches wide and barely large enough for one person to stand inside. For miners who had been trapped in darkness and isolation for over two months, stepping into such a confined space required tremendous mental strength.

• Parallel: Faith in Christ often requires stepping out of fear and into trust, even when the way forward feels narrow or uncertain (cf. Matthew 7:13-14).

2. The Ascent Was Long and Unpredictable

• The journey to the surface took about 15-20 minutes per miner, and there were risks of the capsule getting stuck or equipment failing during the ascent. The miners knew there were no guarantees, yet they chose to trust the rescuers.

• Parallel: Trusting Jesus means placing your life in His hands, even when you can’t control the process or fully see the outcome.

3. Physical and Emotional Strain

• Many miners struggled with physical weakness and psychological trauma after weeks of confinement. Some feared they might panic during the ascent, but they still stepped into the capsule.

• Parallel: Coming to Christ involves admitting our weakness and need for rescue, trusting that He will carry us through despite our brokenness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

4. No Other Way Out

• The capsule was the only way to escape the mine. If a miner chose to remain underground, they would have faced certain death. Accepting the risks of the capsule was their only hope for life.

• Parallel: Jesus is the only way to eternal life (John 14:6). Just as the miners had no alternative but to trust the capsule, we have no alternative but to trust Christ for salvation.

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

OUTLINE  JOHN 1

John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.

I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)

A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)

1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.

2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.

B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)

1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.

2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)

A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.

B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.

1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.

2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.

C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)

1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)

a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.

(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).

(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).

b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.

(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).

(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).

(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).

c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)

(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).

(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).

2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)

a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)

b. Peter (1:40-42)

c. Philip (1:43)

d. Nathanael (1:44-51)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, John, signs and glory
Who is Jesus and Why Did He Come? | John 1:1-5 | Darien Gabriel
Who is Jesus and Why Did He Come? | John 1:1-5 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "Who is Jesus and why did he come?

Scripture: John 1:1-5

1 John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:1:15-17, Phil 1:5-11, John 17:5, 20:31

Bottom line: As God in the flesh, Jesus came to call people from death to life by faith in him.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Last week we started at the end where John tells us of his purpose in writing about Jesus. He said that he writes these things so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God and that by believing have life in his name. We will see this purpose unfold in his first words in his gospel account.

John was one of the 12 and the disciple/apostle who lived the longest. He was the only one who wasn't martyred for his faith. Word is he lived into his 90's and died in the 90's--the AD 90s.

John wrote to give us the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from another angle. The other 3 synoptic gospels are each unique but share many of the same history, miracles and teachings. John will share less well-known history, miracles (he calls them "signs"), and teachings. Many see them as most profound. I share this perspective.

This series is called Signs & Glory. The first 12 chapters will show us the 7 signs of belief along with many others truths the illustrate and bring credibility to the teachings of Jesus. Chapters 13-20 will show us the glory of God on full display. We'll see the light, life and love of God through his divine AND human son, Jesus of Nazareth.

CONTEXT

John starts his gospel account with a poetic prologue. The book is broken up into 2 main parts:

1--7 sections on Jesus' public ministry followed by people's reaction to it. (Signs, John 1-12)

2--The Passover weekend which includes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Glory, John 13-20)

John loves the number 7 as it represents completeness. As a result, he structures his gospel around this number for theological purposes.

  • Ex. 7 signs

  • Ex. 7 "I am" statements

SERMON (lots of help from Carter)

Read and comment on John 1:1-5.

Then answer these questions:

  1. Who is Jesus?

    1. The Word. (1:1)

      1. To tell us the way to true life.

      2. Implying we're ignorant of the truth that sets us free from sin & death.

    2. The Life. (1:2-4)

      1. He came to call us from death to life.

      2. Implying we're dead in our sins.

        1. At physical death, our soul is separated from our body.

        2. At spiritual death, our soul is separated from our Creator, God, forever.

      3. It's all about life.

        1. He created/creates life.

        2. He sustains life.

        3. He brings new life.

        4. He brings abundant life.

        5. He brings eternal life w/ God forever.

    3. The Light. (1:4-5)

      1. To show us the way to true life.

      2. Implying we're blind and cannot see the truth.

    4. The Overcomer. (1:5)

      1. To free us from the kingdom of darkness forever.

      2. Implying we feel believe we're defeated.

      3. Darkness has not nor cannot overcome light.

      4. Therefore, death has not nor cannot overcome life.

        1. Yes, there are times when there is temporary overcoming that looks like defeat.

        2. But in light of eternity, light and life (& love) cannot be overcome forever.

    5. God (1:1) in the flesh (1:14).

      1. To show and tell us the way to true life through his divine and human son, Jesus Christ. ↘️✝️🪦↗️

      2. Implying we're dead (separated from our Creator God) forever without a Savior.

  2. How do we receive spiritual and eternal life?

    1. By trusting and following Jesus Christ.

      1. Trust/belief saves.

      2. Following shows evidence that we're truly saved.

      3. Further fruit is that we'll show and tell others the way to true life through faith in Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: As God in the flesh, Jesus came to call people from death to life by faith in him.

So what? What about me?

  • There's no meaning or purpose in life apart from Jesus Christ. As the Word, he reveals the true Logos which includes reason, logic and purpose in creation. But it also includes his personal, relational interaction with his creation.

  • We wouldn't even exist unless Jesus created us on purpose and sustains us for a purpose.

  • He revealed true reality to us so that we can see and know the truth that sets us free.

  • He gives us hope that:

    • There's more to life than this life.

    • But, also,  that this life really matters.

    • We can and will overcome the darkness in this world through Christ.

  • If Jesus is truly God, then

    • What he taught and modeled is true, good and authoritative for all his creation.

    • He holds our life in his hands (physically and spiritually).

    • He means for us to live purposefully in line with his purposes.

    • We're not an accident.

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

"In the first century, the term logos carried rich and layered meanings in both Greek philosophy and Jewish thought, making it a powerful term for John to describe Jesus in the prologue of his Gospel (John 1:1-18). Here are the key aspects of its meaning in that cultural and historical context:

1. Greek Philosophy

In Greek philosophical traditions, particularly in the works of Heraclitus (6th century BC) and later Stoicism, logos referred to:

• Reason or Rational Principle: The divine reason or organizing principle that governed the cosmos and gave it order and meaning.

• Universal Logic or Wisdom: A kind of divine intelligence that permeated everything, serving as the unifying force behind existence.

For Greeks, logos was not a personal being but rather an impersonal, abstract force that structured the universe.

2. Jewish Thought

In Jewish contexts, particularly within Hellenistic Judaism:

• God’s Word in Creation: Logos aligned closely with the Hebrew concept of dabar (word), as seen in the Old Testament. For example, in Genesis 1, God speaks creation into existence, demonstrating the power of His Word.

• God’s Revelation and Wisdom: In texts like Psalm 33:6 and Proverbs 8, the Word (or Wisdom) of God is personified as an agent of creation, revelation, and sustenance.

• The Memra in Aramaic Targums: In Jewish Aramaic paraphrases of the Hebrew Scriptures, the term Memra (word) was often used as a way to describe God’s interaction with the world, sometimes even personifying it as a bridge between God and His creation.

3. John’s Use of Logos

John’s use of logos synthesizes these ideas and transcends them:

• Personalized Logos: Unlike the Greek philosophical idea of an impersonal force, John presents the logos as a person—Jesus Christ, who existed with God and as God from the beginning (John 1:1).

• Creative Agent: The logos is explicitly tied to creation: “All things were made through Him” (John 1:3), echoing both Jewish and Greek understandings of logos as central to the origin and order of the world.

• Revelation and Incarnation: John declares that the logos became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), revealing God in a way that was tangible, relational, and deeply personal—something neither Greek nor Jewish thought fully envisioned.

Summary

By calling Jesus the logos, John bridges cultural contexts, addressing both Greek and Jewish audiences. For the Greeks, he redefines the logos as a personal, relational God. For the Jews, he identifies Jesus as the divine Word through whom God creates, sustains, and reveals Himself. This term powerfully communicates that Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s wisdom, reason, and purpose, now incarnate among humanity."

-ChatGPT 3.5

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

OUTLINE  JOHN 1

John begins his Gospel by talking about the deity of Christ, then describes the ministry of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized and calls his first disciples.

I. FACTS CONCERNING THE PREINCARNATE CHRIST (1:1-5)

A. His relationship to the Father (1:1-2)

1. Christ's eternality is declared (1:1a, 2): He already existed in the beginning.

2. Christ's deity is declared (1:b): He is God.

B. His relationship to the world (1:3-5)

1. He is the sole creator (1:3): Nothing exists that he didn't make.

2. He is light and life (1:4-5): His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.

II. FACTS CONCERNING THE INCARNATE CHRIST (1:6-51)

A. The miracle (1:14): God became human and lived on earth among us.

B. The mission (1:10-13): He came to save sinners.

1. Some rejected him (1:10-11): The world and even the people in his own country did not understand him.

2. Some received him (1:12-13): Those who believed him became children of God.

C. The men (1:6-9, 15-51)

1. Christ's faithful forerunner (1:6-9, 15-34)

a. John the Baptist and the crowds (1:6-9, 15-18): John makes three key statements to the people.

(1) He is to serve as a witness to Christ (1:6-9).

(2) Christ is greater than John or Moses (1:15-17).

b. John the Baptist and the critics (1:19-28): John speaks to the Pharisees who are sent to cross-examine him.

(1) John says that he is not the Messiah (1:19-20).

(2) John says that he is not Elijah (1:21).

(3) John says that he has been sent to prepare the way for the Lord (1:22-28).

c. John the Baptist and the Christ (1:29-34)

(1) He introduces the Savior (1:29-31).

(2) He baptizes the Savior (1:32-34).

2. Christ's first five followers (1:35-51)

a. Andrew and John the apostle (1:35-39)

b. Peter (1:40-42)

c. Philip (1:43)

d. Nathanael (1:44-51)

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, John 1, Signs and Glory, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, non denominational church
Why Did John Write About Jesus? | John 20:30-31
Why Did John Write About Jesus? | John 20:30-31

Series: Signs & Glory

Title: "Why did John write his Gospel? Or Why did John write about Jesus?

Scripture: John 20:30-31 NIV

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bottom line: God sent Jesus that by trusting in him, we might have life to the max.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Why did John write his gospel? Why did he write about Jesus?s

There's a line in the amazing movie called the Polar Express that has always bothered me. It's near the end when the main boy character gets off the train after finally getting to the place where he believes in Santa. He's about to run home as Christmas Day is about to break when the conductor says, as if to summarize the entire evening,

"Conductor: watch your step please.

Boy: thank you.

Conductor: No thank you...One thing about trains...it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on."

My girls will attest to what I'm about to tell you. In our house, right after he says this, I will say out loud in the room, "Yes it does matter where the train is going!"

Why? Because believing in belief is foolishness. It's from the religion of the Oprah's of the world. Doesn't matter what you believe as long as you sincerely believe it.

Oh yeah, what about the terrorist who believes if he straps on a vest of explosives and kills a bunch of infidels in the name of Allah because he sincerely believes that after he dies he'll wake up in paradise with 70 virgins.

It matters what you believe in.

Even the atheist, if they are honest, believes there is no God. They can't prove it.

Why did John write about Jesus Christ?

The short answer is that we might believe.

Believe what? I'm so glad you asked!

CONTEXT

In the book of John, John the Apostle is not calling us to believe  in belief, like Oprah. He's calling us to believe--to trust in with our whole self--in someone specifically. And it's not just a good, godly person willing to die for his beliefs. He's the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, who showed us what God looks like in the flesh and what his kingdom looks like down to personally pitching his tent with us.

Why did John write his gospel?

He tells us:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John was one of the 12 disciples and then 12 apostles. He wrote his gospel after the other 3 were written, most likely.

SERMON (lots of help from Carter & Wredberg on this; see bibliography below)

I. What do we need to believe?

  1. That Jesus is the Christ/Messiah = anointed one (prophet, priest, king)

    1. We believe that Jesus is who he says he is, and

    2. That he'll do all that God promised he would do. Which includes:

      1. He's the snake crusher. He'll defeat sin and death. (Genesis 3:15)

      2. He'll end all injustice and rebellion. (Psalm 2)

      3. He'll willingly suffer and die as a perfectly righteous person for our sins in our place so that we can freely live in his place for his glory. (Isaiah 53)

      4. He'll establish his eternal, universal kingdom. (Daniel 7)

    3. So when John says we need to believe, it's that Jesus is who he says he is and that he'll do all that God's promised he would do.

  2. That Jesus is the Son of God. God in the flesh. Fully divine. As Jesus of Nazareth, he's also fully human. (Phil 2:6-11)

II. What does it mean to believe?

  1. It means more than, "I believe it's going to rain today." Something that you'll change as soon as you get more information. Oh, just 5% chance? Ok, I no longer believe it's going to rain today.

  2. Believe means to trust in someone or something with all your weight or self.

  3. Ex. You're hiking in the Himalayas and you come to a long bridge that goes over 1,000 foot drop. The bridge is one of those swinging type bridges. You say intellectually to yourself, it looks unsturdy but it's been here a while and people have been using it. Then you watch people walk across it. You believe it could hold you up if you walked across it. That's intellectual belief. But until you actually walk across it, you aren't believing like the Bible means when it says believe. You are trusting the bridge to hold you up.

  4. Ex. There as a circus performer who stretched a rope or cable across Niagara Falls. To the crowd he asked, "Do you think I can walk across this cable?" They all shouted, "Yes, we believe you can." "Do you believe I can walk across pushing this wheelbarrow across?" "Yes, we believe!" "Who will volunteer to ride in the wheel barrow as I push it across?" No one volunteered. Why? Because they didn't trust with their whole self that he could do it successfully.

III. Why do I need to believe?

  1. We need to believe because our lives depend on it. Because we're born dead sinners which means we're born dead spiritually. We are no longer in the garden of Eden where the tree of life sustains us. Only he can give us new life now.

    1. John 1:4

    2. John 3:16

    3. John 5:24

    4. John 11:25-26

  2. The life we need - spiritual, eternal life, delivers us from hell or eternal separation from life with God. Hell = spiritually dead.

  3. Life is not a one-time transaction only either. Like adoption.

    1. There is legal paperwork that follows an intentional decision to adopt followed by a lot of hoops to jump through. But it ends in signing paperwork that transfers legal guardianship from the birth parents to the adopting parents. At that moment, the child becomes a legal family member. And salvation starts out that way too. When we trust Christ, we are born again into the family of God. We are justified by grace through faith.

    2. However, neither adoption nor salvation end there. They continue as you learn to live your new life in your new identity as a member of a family of people. Your salvation continues to unfold through a process called sanctification. As an adopted child, you eat meals together, share the flu together, celebrate holidays together, and even grieve the loss of life together. You do life together. In Christ, you do this forever.

  4. Why did John write the gospel of John? So that we could believe or trust him with our whole self into new life with him and his family of grace.

CONCLUSION

  1. Have you begun this journey?

  2. How do you begin this journey?

I wish the movie Polar Express had ended with these words by the Conductor instead:

Conductor: The thing about trains is that their all headed somewhere different. It matters which train you get on. It matters where it's going. But even if you pick the right train, it won't get you there unless you get on. That's what it means to believe.

Optional

In the movie Mannequin, Andrew McCarthy's character cleans a department store with the night shift while the store is closed. There are mannequins everywhere. He doesn't pay them much attention because they're not real people. Until one night one wakes up! It's alive!

Some department stores use models posing as mannequins (until they decide to move and freak someone out!) Models and mannequins are wearing the same clothes in the same place for the same company. But one is clearly alive.

In Christ, we are made "alive with Christ" (Ephesians 2:1-10). This life is everything as there is nothing more precious.

Bottom line: God sent Jesus that by trusting in him, we might have life to the max.

One more thought on belief, if you haven't already picked up on it. Whenever the Bible talks about faith, trust or belief, the writer is not only talking about the first time you believe. God, through the writer, is talking to each of us about believing all the time. Especially when we're tempted to doubt him.

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper passages

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

N/A

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

ChatGPT 3.5

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, John, Christmas, Signs and Glory, non denominational church, bible believing church
What Does God Think About Us? | Genesis 10-11 | Darien Gabriel
What Does God Think About Us? | Genesis 10-11 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "What does God think about us?"

Scripture: Genesis 10-11

Genesis 3:14-15; 12:1-3; 15:1-6

Philippians 2:5-11

Bottom line: God is aware that we're lost without him, and he's preserved a pathway that leads to life in him.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Review the primeval preservations (later followed by patriarchal preservations) of Seth's line:

Seth (3-4)

Flood (5-9)

CONTEXT

In the wake of God's flood of judgment and rescue effectively restarting creation, we see the righteous, blameless, faith-filled and faithful Noah sin along with his son, Ham. So while we see God re-create the world, it doesn't start without sin this time. Temptation and sin are still present.

Centuries later, mankind is still gathered largely in one place in a city or cities. They persist in rebellion seeking to make a name for themselves through a mighty tower. God deals with their sin with justice and mercy.

Note that chapter 10 probably follows chapter 11 chronologically. However, Moses probably arranged it in this order to show through literary structure that God's response to the Tower and their arrogance was not just judgment but also mercy. Arranged chronologically, it would read as if God only judged them. God's way includes mercy.

In the course of this time in history, mankind discovers/invents a piece of technology on the level of the printing press, internet and iPhone. The brick. 🧱 Not a joke.

SERMON (lots of help from Hughs; see bibliography below)

Genesis 11:1-9 is one extended chiasmus (Hughes). The center point is the main point of this story in history. It answers at least 2 questions:

  1. What does God think about this? (series of events in Gen 11)

  2. What does God do about it? (Also in Gen 11)

Genesis 11:5 is the hinge point from which follows the answer to these questions.

We see in these 9 verses 3 things:

  1. Human arrogance (1-4)

    1. One language unified the people, but around the wrong agenda:

      1. Make a name for themselves

      2. Not scatter instead of what God commanded

  2. Heaven's awareness (5) - God is aware of humanity's lost ness

  3. Heaven's reversal (6-9)

    1. God reverses humanity's plan

    2. God preserves a line of hope back to life in himself

Genesis 12:1-3

  1. Shows God's agenda for the nations/whole world.

  2. Let God make a name for you that will be remembered if he wants to.

Genesis 15:1-6   

  1. God shows that he wants to bless the nations/whole world. (1-5)

  2. Abram shows what pleases God is taking his word for it. (6)

Philippians 2:5-11

  1. Jesus didn't make a name for himself.

  2. God made Jesus' name great forever!

What are we living for?

  1. Our name, reputation and legacy?

  2. Trying to avoid what God called us to be and do?

God called us to follow Jesus which is doing and being like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: God is aware that we're lost without him, and he's preserved a pathway that leads to life in him.

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

N/a

OUTLINES

Outline from Willmington's Outline Bible

H. Noah's sons (10:1-32)

1. Japheth (10:2-5): a list of his descendants, including Gomer, Magog, Tubal, and Meshech

2. Ham (10:6-20): a list of his descendants, including Canaan and Nimrod

3. Shem (10:21-32): a list of his descendants, including Peleg (who may have lived during the tower of Babel dispersion). He was the ancestor of Terah (the father of Abram) and Abram and Sarai

SECTION OUTLINE FOUR (GENESIS 11:1-32)

This section describes the confusion of all things.

1. THE SIN (11:1-4): All human beings attempt to unify themselves for their own glory.

II. THE SENTENCE (11:5-9): God scatters them by confusing their language at the tower of Babel.

III. THE SETTLEMENT (11:10-32): A history is given of Shem's descendants. Shem is the ancestor of Abraham.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. What do I want them to know?

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

  3. What do I want them to do?

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

  5. How do they do this?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, Chaos to Covenant, bible believing church, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship
What Can We Learn from Noah and His Sons? | Genesis 9:18-29 | Darien Gabriel
What Can We Learn from Noah and His Sons? | Genesis 9:18-29 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "What can we learn from Noah and his sons?"

Scripture: Genesis 9:18-29

Hebrews 11:7; Gen 6:8-9; 7:5; 9:8-9; Micah 6:8

Bottom line: We learn from Noah and his sons that as fellow image bearers we love and value each other as an act of faith in God's good plan for us.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

"A rubbernecker is a term used to describe someone who slows down or stops to stare at something, often out of curiosity, especially at accidents or incidents on the road. The term comes from the idea of “rubbernecking,” where someone cranes their neck, almost stretching it like rubber, to get a better view of something happening.

Examples:

• A driver slowing down to look at a car crash on the side of the highway.

• A pedestrian stopping to watch emergency responders at a scene.

This behavior is often criticized, especially when it causes traffic delays or gets in the way of emergency workers. It’s a mix of curiosity and distraction that can sometimes lead to further accidents." -ChatGPT

CONTEXT

In the wake of God's flood of judgment and rescue effectively restarting creation, we see the righteous, blameless, faith-filled and faithful Noah sin along with his son, Ham. So while we see God re-create the world, it doesn't start without sin this time. Temptation and sin are still present.

SERMON

  1. What do I want them to know?

    1. That even in success, we're all vulnerable to temptation and misusing God's blessings.

    2. That we're all made in his image.

    3. That sin has consequences...sometimes for generations.

    4. Honoring > Gossiping, which dishonors God and people.

  2. Why do I want them to know it?

    1. We're a blessed people meaning we're vulnerable right now unless we humble ourselves and become vigilant.

    2. We're blessed no matter our circumstances because we're image bearers.

    3. A lot hangs in the balance because the consequences of our sins has a long reach.

    4. Not honoring/dishonoring is a serious sin.

  3. What do I want them to do?

    1. Humble themselves.

    2. Remain vigilant.

    3. Walk as an image-bearer

    4. Honor others instead of gossiping about them.

  4. Why do I want them to do it?

    1. Because the consequences are great.

  5. How do they do this?

    1. Prayer for themselves and others.

    2. Care for themselves and others.

    3. Share with others what God is teaching you today.

CONCLUSION

  1. How do they do this?

    1. Prayer for themselves and others.

    2. Care for themselves and others.

    3. Share with others what God is teaching you today.

Main takeaways:

  • We're all from one race made in the image of God. Therefore, love and value each and every person.

  • Even mature believers can fall into sin; humble yourself and stay alert for temptations are ever-present.

  • When we see someone sin, we have a choice. We can

    • Honor them by respectfully and discreetly leading them towards repentance.

    • Dishonor them by gossiping about reveling in their shameful actions.

  • Sin has consequences that can ripple for generations.

  • Even flawed people can be used by God. Don't let your sinful past keep you down. Repent, believe and move forward. Also, don't let the sin of others against you keep you down. Forgive and more forward whether they reconcile or not.

Bottom line: We learn from Noah and his sons that as fellow image bearers we love and value each other as an act of faith in God's good plan for us.

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

Good summary: Lessons from Noah & his Sons: A Tale of Blessing, Sin, and Redemption

Text: Genesis 9:18-29

Main Points with Answers

1. What does the unity of humanity’s origins teach us about God’s plan for all nations?

• All nations come from one family, showing that God’s plan is for unity, shared purpose, and relationship with Him. This underscores our responsibility to love and value all people as part of God’s creation.

2. How does Noah’s sin remind us of our vulnerability to temptation?

• Even the most faithful people are not immune to sin. Noah’s failure after his great obedience shows the need for vigilance and humility in guarding against temptation.

3. How do Ham’s actions and Shem and Japheth’s response challenge us to honor others?

• Ham’s disrespect highlights the destructiveness of dishonor and gossip, while Shem and Japheth’s actions demonstrate the importance of covering others’ failures with grace and respect.

4. What do Noah’s blessings and curses reveal about the consequences of our actions?

• Ham’s dishonor led to a generational curse, while Shem and Japheth’s honor brought blessings. Our choices have lasting effects on us and those who come after us.

5. How does Noah’s life and death point us to God’s grace and covenant faithfulness?

• Noah’s story shows that even flawed people can be used by God. His faithfulness to Noah’s family reminds us of His unchanging promises and grace despite human sin.

-ChatGPT

3 Question version:

Lessons from Noah & his Sons: A Tale of Blessing, Sin, and Redemption

Text: Genesis 9:18-29

Main Points in Question Form (ChatGPT inspired)

1. What does Noah’s sin teach us about the ongoing struggle with temptation? (Genesis 9:20-21)

• Even the faithful are vulnerable to sin,

        • reminding us to remain vigilant and humble.

2. How do Ham’s actions and Shem and Japheth’s response challenge us to honor others? (Genesis 9:22-23)

• Ham’s dishonor shows the harm of gossip,

        • while Shem and Japheth’s actions highlight the power of love and respect.

3. What do Noah’s blessings and curses reveal about the impact of our choices? (Genesis 9:24-27)

• Our actions carry lasting consequences for us and future generations,

        • but God’s faithfulness remains constant.

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

    1. Creator/re-creator

    2. Holy judge

    3. Merciful rescuer

    4. Father of humanity and creation

    5. Provider of good things; blessor

    6. Curser of those who dishonor him and his people

    7. Sustainer of life

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

    1. Creates/restores

    2. Judges

    3. Rescues

    4. Parents

    5. Provides

    6. Blesses

    7. Curses

    8. Sustains

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

    1. His creation created in his image; image-bearer

    2. His child

    3. His rescued, forgiven rebel child

    4. Receiver of his blessings and/or curses

    5. The one whom he sustains

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

    1. Bear his image

    2. Follow his lead

    3. Join him in rescuing others far from God but close to me

    4. Bless and not curse

    5. For the rest of my life

  5. How do I do it?

    1. Pray for those far from God but close to me.

    2. Care for those far from God but close to me.

    3. Share with those far from God but close to me.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Genesis, chaos to covenant
What's the Bible All About? Part 2 | Genesis 8:1-9:17 | Darien Gabriel
What's the Bible All About? Part 2 | Genesis 8:1-9:17 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "What's the Bible all about? God remembers his promises." Part 2

Scripture: Genesis 8:1-9:17

Luke 17:20-33; Hebrews 11:7-10

The Bible is all about God's story.

Here, Noah’s story is a snapshot of the Bible’s grand narrative—a holy God seeking to redeem, restore, and renew fallen creation by a merciful covenant through Jesus Christ.

God remembers his promises to his people.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Stories of the brave, acts big and small, sacrifice and service are what we remember today. Like the story of Vietnam War hero Jimmy

G. Stewart, an Army staff sergeant from West Columbia, West Virginia - one of the 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in combat during the conflict. When five fellow Soldiers of his six-man squad were wounded near An Khe in May 1966, Stewart held his position to protect his men, crawling through heavy fire to retrieve ammunition from his comrades and tossing back enemy-thrown grenades. When reinforcements arrived, 23-year-old Stewart continued to fight and was eventually killed while holding his position. The wounded he gave his life to protect were recovered and evacuated. A year later, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. This year marks 50 years since the last combat troops left South Vietnam.

I share this story for a few reasons relevant to today.

  1. Our veterans are potential stories like this. They willingly choose to put themselves in harms way for the sake of defending others from tyranny. On Memorial Day we remember those like Jimmy G. Stewart here for giving his life in the line of duty because he went above and beyond the call of duty to love others with his whole life. What a picture of Christ. We honor our veterans as they put themselves in a position to do that for others.

  2. They fight of an imperfect nation that is founded on principles gleaned in part from scripture that empowers her citizens to live differently in all of life.

  3. We remember these who have fallen and these who serve our country in this way, we see in Genesis 8:1 that God remembers his promises to Noah meaning he is moved to act mercifully on behalf of sinful people in this world.

  4. We will see how precious human life is to the Lord. Stewart saw it as worthy of his own which is at least in part why he was willing to sacrifice his own.

  5. At least twice in scripture, Rachel and Hannah, saw barren women be remembered by God and given a child, the desire of their heart. God sees you in your pain even if that pain is of your own making. He remembers and this moves him to act mercifully and redemptively. Redemption of sinful people is at the forefront of his loving acts.

  6. The thief on the cross calls on Jesus to remember him when they cross over. Jesus remembers him and says today you will be with me in paradise. This is a great picture of what God remembering looks like.

His acts on our behalf are in light of our needs...our greatest needs. Needs that only He can satisfy.

CONTEXT

In the wake of God's flood of judgment is a new, redemptive creation. God judged sin and humanity and creation had to deal with the consequences. God takes sin seriously. Sin has consequences.

And Noah believed that God's word is trustworthy. So he believed and acted accordingly building an ark to save his family from God's flood of holy judgment. And that ark saved his family and a remnant of the animal kingdom.

Now we see God's judgment swing to his faithful covenant with Noah and creation. He is starting over. He is giving humanity a second chance.

SERMON

Outline modified from Bethancourt

I. GOD IS HOLY AND JUST. HE MUST PUNISH SIN. Noah and God's judgment (6:1-22) LAST WEEK

A. The purpose of God's judgment (6:1-7)

B. The patience of God's judgment (6:8-16)

C. The promise of God's judgment (6:17-22)

II. GOD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS LOVE MAKES A WAY BACK. Noah and God's rescue (7:1-8:19)

A. God rescues us from the penalty of his judgment (7:1-16)

B. God rescues us from the power of his judgment (7:17-24)

C. God rescues us from the presence of his judgment (8:1-19) THIS WEEK

III. GOD IS SOVEREIGN CREATOR REDEEMING US THROUGH HIS SON'S COVENANT OF LOVE. Noah and God's covenant (8:20-9:29) THIS WEEK

A. The Lord and the covenant with creation (8:20-22)

B. The Lord and the covenant with Noah (9:1-11)

C. The Lord and the sign of the covenant (9:12-17)

D. The Lord and the lineage of the covenant (9:18-29)

Big ideas in this passage today:

Hinge point in the story: Gen 8:1 "God remembered Noah..."

Up to this point, the flood story has been one of judgment. From 8:1 on it's a story of redemption.

"God had not forgotten Noah and his family. To 'remember' in the Bible is not merely to recall to mind; it is to express concern for someone, to act with loving care for him. When God remembers his people, he does so 'with favor' (Neh 5:19; 13:31)." -NIV Study Bible, 1985

"When Genesis 8:1 says, “God remembered Noah,” it doesn’t mean that God had forgotten Noah and then recalled him suddenly. In the Bible, the phrase “God remembered” is often used to signify that God is about to act on His promises or fulfill His covenant.

In this case, God’s “remembering” Noah signifies His care and commitment to Noah and all creation, especially after the long, intense flood. This “remembrance” marks the beginning of the floodwaters receding, as God brings about a new stage in His plan for humanity and the earth. Here, God is staying true to His covenant with Noah by preserving him, his family, and the animals through the flood...it means that God is intervening in a meaningful, faithful way to fulfill His promises or enact His plans.

So in Genesis 8:1, “God remembered Noah” signifies divine care and the beginning of restoration after judgment." -ChatGPT

"Throughout the Bible, when God “remembers” someone, it signifies His attention, compassion, and faithfulness, often resulting in His direct intervention. Here are some key examples:

1. Abraham and Lot (Genesis 19:29): When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He “remembered Abraham” and spared Lot. God’s covenant relationship with Abraham led to His merciful action in delivering Lot from the judgment on the cities.

2. Rachel (Genesis 30:22): After a long period of barrenness, “God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive.” God’s remembrance here signifies His compassion and care for Rachel, ultimately fulfilling her longing for a child.

3. Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:24): When the Israelites were suffering under slavery, “God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” This remembrance prompts God to act by raising up Moses and setting in motion the liberation of His people from Egypt.

4. Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19): After Hannah prayed earnestly for a son, “the Lord remembered her,” and she conceived and gave birth to Samuel. God’s remembering here shows His response to Hannah’s heartfelt prayer and His intervention in her life.

5. God’s Promise to Israel (Psalm 105:8): The psalmist declares that God “remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations.” This indicates God’s unwavering commitment to His promises and His ongoing relationship with His people.

6. The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:42-43): Although the word “remember” is used differently here, the thief’s request, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” appeals to Jesus’ mercy and faithfulness. Jesus’ reply assures him of eternal life, demonstrating the compassion inherent in divine “remembrance.”

In each case, God’s “remembering” is more than mere recollection—it signals His intention to act faithfully and mercifully on behalf of His people, often in response to their need or in fulfillment of His covenant promises." -ChatGPT

Perhaps we should ask Jesus to remember us as well...

The flood story reveals four main characteristics of God. God is...

1. Holy and Just: God judges human wickedness, showing His intolerance for sin.

2. Gracious and Merciful: He offers time for repentance and preserves Noah’s family.

3. Faithful to keep his Promises: God promises to sustain creation, never to destroy it by flood again.

4. Sovereign Creator: He controls nature, demonstrating His power to both judge and restore.

These qualities reveal a God who is just, merciful, faithful, and sovereign, committed to both righteousness and renewal.

Said another way...

The story of Noah and the flood reflects the broader story of God in the Bible by capturing key themes of Creator-God, sovereignly creating a good world where humanity sins/falls and reaps judgment. Despite this, merciful God makes a way for wicked humanity to find redemption and restoration through the covenant relationship with Creator-God through Christ Jesus, our Savior.

CONCLUSION

What do I want them to know?

  1. God sees, remembers, and keeps his promise of mercy.

  2. The story of God in macro and how our story fits in micro. God judges sin but remember mercy.

Why? Because his character is holy love.

What do I want them to do?

Show and tell their story in the context of God's story. Remember that God sees, remembers and keeps his promise of mercy.

Why?

This is how we rescue people close to us but far from God.

How?

By learning this macro story, seeing our story within that context, and then sharing that story with others where we live, work, learn and play.

Bottom line: Noah’s story is a snapshot of the Bible’s grand narrative—a holy God seeking to redeem, restore, and renew fallen creation by a merciful covenant through Jesus Christ. God sees and remembers his promise of mercy.

At the end of the day, my question to you is this: "Are you in the boat?" Is your life protected from God's holy wrath? Have you entered through the only door to salvation? His name is Jesus. Cf. John 14:6

Jesus spoke of Noah as well:

“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.

Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)

Pray

NOTES

My early notes:

Genesis 8:1a "God remembered Noah..."

God "remembering" is the cue for God about to act redemptively i.e. He's about to rescue; mercy and grace are enroute. God acts with his covenant in mind because God is faithful and God is merciful.

At this point, God's story pivots from his holy, justified wrath and judgment to his extravagent mercy and redemption offered to his people by grace through faith.

His rememberance leads to merciful action on God's part. From destruction or de-creation to renewal or re-creation.

Applications that might follow from this:

  1. Rest in God's "remembering." God "remembering" is God acting on your behalf in a redemptive, life-changing way. It's renewal replacing wrath. (8:1)

  2. Wait patiently for God's timing. (8:6-12) Noah waited patiently for God to speak before he disembarked from the ark.

  3. Worship God today. (8:20) Noah's first act after disembarking was to worship God. Worship is our response to God's remembering. He is always worthy whether we act like it or not.

  4. Nurture a culture of life. (8:21-22) God is the creator and sustainer of life. He treasures all life. He calls us to as well. Animal life, but more importantly, human life. All life is precious--human life is sacred. So sacred, you forfeit yours when you take someone else's. We're called to lead the charge on protecting life and that includes nurturing a culture that values life above all else.

  5. Respect and Protect Life. (9:1-7) Valuing life includes protecting those who cannot protect themselves (unborn, children, disabled, elderly, dying).

  6. Live securely and confidently in the covenant relationship we enjoy in Christ. (9:8-11) A marriage rooted in God's covenant relationship with us will give us confidence and security to love when tempted to fear.

  7. Remember and rest in God's promises. (9:12-17)

  8. God will remember his covenant with us. He'll remind us that he remembers through his bow in the sky that he is faithful and keeps his promises.

  9. These rest on the fact that God remembers; he acts on behalf of his people with compassion, mercy, and faithfulness. He grows our confident assurance in his trustworthiness when we are tempted to forget.

Where is Noah's ark today?

"The location of Noah’s ark remains one of the great mysteries, as no definitive archaeological evidence has been found to confirm its location. According to Genesis 8:4, the ark came to rest “on the mountains of Ararat,” traditionally associated with the region of Mount Ararat in modern-day Turkey. This has led many explorers and archaeologists over the centuries to search that area, but no conclusive evidence has been found.

There have been several claims of sightings and discoveries on or near Mount Ararat, including photographs and wooden structures reportedly found at high altitudes. However, these claims have not been substantiated with enough verifiable evidence, and most remain controversial or unconfirmed.

In the end, whether or not the ark will ever be found is uncertain. Some believe that the wood may have been repurposed by Noah’s descendants after the flood or that it has simply deteriorated over time. Others suggest that, if it exists, God may allow it to remain hidden as an enduring element of faith rather than empirical evidence.

For many, the ark serves more as a theological symbol of God’s salvation and judgment, rather than something that needs to be found physically to affirm the biblical account." -ChatGPT

It could also be in western Armenia or even northwestern Iran as those are close to Mt. Ararat in Turkey.

Summary

"You’re absolutely correct. Genesis 8:1 is indeed the hinge point in the flood narrative, marking the transition from judgment to salvation, from divine wrath to mercy. The phrase “God remembered Noah” encapsulates the shift from destruction to renewal and signals that God’s redemptive plan is at work. Given this centrality, all application points could indeed flow from or relate to this theme of God’s remembrance. Here’s a revised approach:

1. Rest in God’s Faithfulness and Care (8:1)

• Application: God’s “remembering” Noah reminds us that, even when we feel forgotten or isolated, God is actively mindful of us and our needs. His faithfulness is unwavering, especially during seasons of hardship. This calls us to trust that God’s timing is perfect and that He is present and working, even when we can’t see it.

2. Wait Patiently for God’s Timing (8:6-12)

• Application: Because God “remembers” us, we can wait with hope, just as Noah waited for the waters to recede. Waiting isn’t passive but an active faith in God’s provision and guidance. Instead of rushing ahead, we’re called to trust God’s process, knowing He will bring us through in His timing.

3. Respond to God’s Faithfulness with Worship (8:20)

• Application: When Noah leaves the ark, his first act is to worship through sacrifice. This is a fitting response to God’s faithfulness in remembering him and his family. When we recognize God’s merciful intervention in our lives, we are called to respond with gratitude, worship, and dedication to Him.

4. Trust in God’s Commitment to Life (8:21-22)

• Application: God’s promise never to curse the ground again is a direct result of His remembering Noah and His commitment to sustaining creation. We can trust that God values and sustains life. This invites us to live in hope, knowing that God’s sustaining power is over creation and our lives, even in a broken world.

5. Respect and Protect Life (9:1-7)

• Application: Because God “remembers” and values humanity, He commands respect for life and emphasizes human dignity. We are called to value life as sacred, reflecting God’s heart for His creation. This includes protecting others, acting justly, and honoring the image of God in each person.

6. Live in Covenant Relationship with God (9:8-11)

• Application: The covenant with Noah flows from God’s remembrance and commitment to humanity and all creatures. God’s remembrance invites us to respond in covenant faithfulness, living in relationship with Him, and being stewards of His world.

7. Remember God’s Promises (9:12-17)

• Application: The rainbow is a visible reminder of God’s covenant and faithfulness to remember His promises. Just as God remembers us, we are called to remember Him and His promises. By clinging to His faithfulness, we strengthen our faith and are reminded of God’s enduring mercy and love in our lives.

By centering the applications around God’s remembrance, we underscore the passage’s message of God’s mercy, faithfulness, and the invitation for us to respond in trust, gratitude, and covenantal living. This “remembrance” becomes the anchor for our faith and actions in every part of life."  -ChatGPT

Key Themes

• New Beginnings: Noah and his family represent a fresh start for humanity, meant to live in obedience to God and care for creation.

• God’s Mercy: Despite humanity’s failings, God commits to sustain creation and gives humans renewed responsibility.

• Divine Justice and Human Dignity: God’s instruction against murder underscores the sanctity of life made in His image.

• The Covenant: The rainbow as a sign of the covenant is a powerful reminder of God’s promise and His ongoing relationship with humanity.

Genesis 8-9:17 highlights God’s mercy, the sanctity of life, and the importance of the covenant. It also sets the foundation for a worldview that values life and trusts in God’s promises, even amidst a broken world.

Good summary:

"The story of the flood in Genesis (chapters 6–9) tells us much about God’s character, values, and the way He engages with humanity. Here are some of the primary ways it reveals who God is:

1. God’s Justice and Holiness

• The flood is a response to human corruption and violence. Genesis 6:5-6 says that God saw the great wickedness on earth and was “grieved” in His heart. God’s decision to judge humanity with the flood shows His intolerance of sin and injustice. His holiness requires a world that aligns with His goodness, and the flood was a response to the pervasive moral decay of Noah’s time.

2. God’s Patience and Long-Suffering

• While the decision to flood the earth is swift in the biblical account, the story implies that God waited patiently while humanity had a chance to change. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), and his 120 years building the ark can be seen as a period when God gave people a chance to repent. This patience reveals God’s mercy, even in His judgment.

3. God’s Mercy and Covenant Faithfulness

• God’s decision to save Noah and his family highlights His mercy and commitment to His creation. Although humanity deserved judgment, God chose a path that preserved life. He instructed Noah to bring animals onto the ark, ensuring the survival of all living things. After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-17), promising never to destroy the earth with water again. The rainbow serves as a symbol of His covenant, highlighting His faithfulness to humanity despite their shortcomings.

4. God’s Sovereignty and Power Over Creation

• The flood narrative shows God’s absolute power over creation. He commands the waters to rise and fall, demonstrating His control over the natural world. The floodwaters are a reversal of the order He established at creation, where He separated waters to form dry land. By re-establishing the earth post-flood, God reaffirms His sovereignty as Creator, showing He can both judge and restore.

5. God’s Desire for a Righteous People

• God chooses Noah, “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time” (Genesis 6:9), and establishes a covenant with him, revealing His desire for a people who walk in righteousness. God’s plan for Noah’s descendants is one of blessing, hoping they would embody a restored relationship with Him and reflect His justice and goodness on earth.

6. God’s Grace and Renewal of Creation

• After the flood, God gives Noah a mandate similar to Adam’s: to “be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). This echoes the original creation mandate, suggesting that God’s intention for humanity and creation remains one of growth, flourishing, and harmony. He desires to partner with humanity in caring for and filling the earth with goodness.

7. God as a Covenant Maker

• The covenant with Noah is foundational, setting a pattern for the covenants God will establish later with Abraham, Moses, and David, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The Noahic covenant emphasizes God’s promise to preserve creation, foreshadowing the redemptive plan that would unfold over time.

In summary, the flood story tells the story of God as a holy and just Judge, yet also as a patient, merciful, and covenant-keeping Creator. It illustrates His commitment to renewal and restoration even in the face of human failure. Through judgment and mercy, God’s desire for a faithful, righteous humanity and His love for creation shine through. This story is foundational, pointing forward to God’s ongoing work to redeem and renew the world."

-ChatGPT

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGenesis 8, chaos to covenant, Darien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church
What's the Bible All About? Part 1 | Genesis
What's the Bible All About? Part 1 | Genesis

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "What's the Bible all about?" Part 1

Scripture: Genesis 6:9-7:24

Genesis 8:1a; Matt 24:36-44; Hebrews 11:7-10

The Bible is all about God's story.

Here, Noah’s story is a snapshot of the Bible’s grand narrative—a holy God seeking to redeem, restore, and renew fallen creation by a merciful covenant through Jesus Christ. We also see that God's word is trustworthy. Are you on the boat?

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Our church deployed a third team to FL this past week for disaster relief in New Port Richey. (Show pics and video)

As they recover from hurricane Helene, the folks in western NC probably feel like they've experienced a flood of biblical proportions. But, in fact, they only got a small fraction of what the world experienced in the Noahic flood.

How many of each animal did Moses put on the ark? The answer is none because Noah is the one that put the animals on the ark actually, God did. Kind of a silly joke, but in fact, Moses is writing Genesis telling the story of Noah in Genesis six through nine.

Let's say you're having lunch with somebody and they ask you the question what is the Bible all about your answer could be basically telling them the story of Noah and the arc because in this story, we see the character of God on display and we see the purpose for which God has Done in creation and a way that explains the macro story of God.

CONTEXT

Spiraling from the fall into more and more evil, the Way of Cain is dominating the world stage while the Way of Seth is a mere remnant of people. They don't have much of God's word to live on. They don't have the ways of God spelled out to them. They are in need of light in the darkness.

But they do have a prophecy. A word from the Lord. (Gen 3:15)

A light to hang hope on.

After seeing the Way of Cain summarized in Cain's evil genealogy, it's followed by the Way of Seth and his genealogy. Adam and Eve are still alive and watching this unfold with I can't imagine how much guilt and anguish over what they've done. The only thing keeping them alive and sane is the hope in the few words of God in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers (Jesus); he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal (at the cross)."

At the beginning of Seth's genealogy, we see God reminding us of how he created us--in his image. We were created God-like. Nothing in all of creation is more like God than humanity.

Now we're in a state of dreadful depravity. We're born sinners who are capable of incredibly evil attitudes, words and actions. And we don't have to look far to see not only the truth of that but that we're heading downhill towards a level of evil equal to that just prior to the Flood. But this reminder--that we're created in his image--is there to give us hope. Hope that the Way of Seth--the Way of Jesus--can and will deliver many from sin and death, shame and guilt, hell itself.

The whole thing here about the sons of God, daughters of men, and the Nephilim is simply there to show us how bad things had gotten in the world. To show us that “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬) To show us that things were so bad that God grieved and regretted that he'd created humanity in the first place. As a result, God would wipe out all of creation (except for the ones following the Way of Seth) and re-create the world.

SERMON

Outline modified from Bethancourt

I. GOD IS HOLY AND JUST. HE MUST PUNISH SIN. Noah and God's judgment (6:1-22) THIS WEEK

A. The purpose of God's judgment (6:1-7)

B. The patience of God's judgment (6:8-16)

C. The promise of God's judgment (6:17-22)

II. GOD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL. HIS LOVE MAKES A WAY BACK. Noah and God's rescue (7:1-8:19)

A. God rescues us from the penalty of his judgment (7:1-16)

B. God rescues us from the power of his judgment (7:17-24)

C. God rescues us from the presence of his judgment (8:1-19)

III. GOD IS SOVEREIGN CREATOR REDEEMING US THROUGH HIS SON'S COVENANT OF LOVE. Noah and God's covenant (8:20-9:29) NEXT WEEK

A. The Lord and the covenant with creation (8:20-22)

B. The Lord and the covenant with Noah (9:1-11)

C. The Lord and the sign of the covenant (9:12-17)

D. The Lord and the lineage of the covenant (9:18-29)

These are my main points today:

The flood story reveals four main characteristics of God. God is...

1. Holy and Just: God judges human wickedness, showing His intolerance for sin.

2. Gracious and Merciful: He offers time for repentance and preserves Noah’s family.

3. Faithful to keep his Promises: God promises to sustain creation, never to destroy it by flood again.

4. Sovereign Creator: He controls nature, demonstrating His power to both judge and restore.

These qualities reveal a God who is just, merciful, faithful, and sovereign, committed to both righteousness and renewal.

Said another way...

The story of Noah and the flood reflects the broader story of God in the Bible by capturing key themes of Creator-God, sovereignly creating a good world where humanity sins/falls and reaps judgment. Despite this, merciful God makes a way for wicked humanity to find redemption and restoration through the covenant relationship with Creator-God through Christ Jesus, our Savior.

CONCLUSION

What do I want them to know?

The story of God in macro and how our story fits in micro.

Why?

Because this is our mission: to show and tell the story of God through our story.

What do I want them to do?

Show and tell their story in the context of God's story.

Why?

Because this is why we're still here. This is how we rescue people close to us but far from God.

How?

By learning this macro story, seeing our story within that context, and then sharing that story with others where we live, work, learn and play.

Bottom line: Noah’s story is a snapshot of the Bible’s grand narrative—a holy God seeking to redeem, restore, and renew fallen creation by a merciful covenant through Jesus Christ. We also see that God's word is trustworthy. Are you on the boat?

At the end of the day, my question to you is this: "Are you in the boat?" Is your life protected from God's holy wrath? Have you entered through the only door to salvation? His name is Jesus.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

Good summary:

"The story of the flood in Genesis (chapters 6–9) tells us much about God’s character, values, and the way He engages with humanity. Here are some of the primary ways it reveals who God is:

1. God’s Justice and Holiness

• The flood is a response to human corruption and violence. Genesis 6:5-6 says that God saw the great wickedness on earth and was “grieved” in His heart. God’s decision to judge humanity with the flood shows His intolerance of sin and injustice. His holiness requires a world that aligns with His goodness, and the flood was a response to the pervasive moral decay of Noah’s time.

2. God’s Patience and Long-Suffering

• While the decision to flood the earth is swift in the biblical account, the story implies that God waited patiently while humanity had a chance to change. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), and his 120 years building the ark can be seen as a period when God gave people a chance to repent. This patience reveals God’s mercy, even in His judgment.

3. God’s Mercy and Covenant Faithfulness

• God’s decision to save Noah and his family highlights His mercy and commitment to His creation. Although humanity deserved judgment, God chose a path that preserved life. He instructed Noah to bring animals onto the ark, ensuring the survival of all living things. After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-17), promising never to destroy the earth with water again. The rainbow serves as a symbol of His covenant, highlighting His faithfulness to humanity despite their shortcomings.

4. God’s Sovereignty and Power Over Creation

• The flood narrative shows God’s absolute power over creation. He commands the waters to rise and fall, demonstrating His control over the natural world. The floodwaters are a reversal of the order He established at creation, where He separated waters to form dry land. By re-establishing the earth post-flood, God reaffirms His sovereignty as Creator, showing He can both judge and restore.

5. God’s Desire for a Righteous People

• God chooses Noah, “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time” (Genesis 6:9), and establishes a covenant with him, revealing His desire for a people who walk in righteousness. God’s plan for Noah’s descendants is one of blessing, hoping they would embody a restored relationship with Him and reflect His justice and goodness on earth.

6. God’s Grace and Renewal of Creation

• After the flood, God gives Noah a mandate similar to Adam’s: to “be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). This echoes the original creation mandate, suggesting that God’s intention for humanity and creation remains one of growth, flourishing, and harmony. He desires to partner with humanity in caring for and filling the earth with goodness.

7. God as a Covenant Maker

• The covenant with Noah is foundational, setting a pattern for the covenants God will establish later with Abraham, Moses, and David, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The Noahic covenant emphasizes God’s promise to preserve creation, foreshadowing the redemptive plan that would unfold over time.

In summary, the flood story tells the story of God as a holy and just Judge, yet also as a patient, merciful, and covenant-keeping Creator. It illustrates His commitment to renewal and restoration even in the face of human failure. Through judgment and mercy, God’s desire for a faithful, righteous humanity and His love for creation shine through. This story is foundational, pointing forward to God’s ongoing work to redeem and renew the world."

-ChatGPT

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipChaos to Covenant, Darien Gabriel, Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, South Carolina, non denominational, bible believing church
Are You Calling on the Name of the Lord? | Genesis 6:1-8 | Darien Gabriel
Are You Calling on the Name of the Lord? | Genesis 6:1-8 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "Are you calling on the name of the Lord?"

Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8 & 4:26

Gen 4:19-26; 5:1-2

Bottom line: The Way of Seth (and Jesus) is to walk with him. We walk with him by calling on and seeking him by grace through faith each day.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

My opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

In the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) epic tale, there are two opposing forces at work--the way of Sauron who wants to enslave all of middle earth and the way of freedom that is very generically portrayed as some Providential power of good. This is not unlike many epic tales of good versus evil. This flows from the early pages of Genesis where we see it displayed as the way of Cain (evil) and the way of Seth (good, hope, prophecy).

Genesis 3-5 is not unlike the new Amazon Prime series called the Rings of Power (ROP) which serves as the prequel to the LOTR epic. The ROP sets the stage for the tremendous evil storm coming in and through Sauron which is where the LOTR begins.

Throughout the story (LOTR), the main characters Frodo, Gandalf and Aragorn all seem to have this unified belief that Providence (my word, not Tolkien's) is at work on their behalf (or that they are working on Providence's behalf), though Tolkien works with super subtly to avoid anything close to an allegory.

The true story of Noah and the Ark and the flood (which we'll begin next week) is being set up even now. The tremendous wickedness across the planet at the time of Genesis 6 is unprecedented. And like in the LOTR series, there will be those who seek to rearrange their entire lives around seeking the favor of God, pleasing God, and seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness.

What does it mean to "Call on the name of the Lord?"

I think it's a posture of humility rooted in the conviction that we need God more than air. A conviction that causes us to arrange/rearrange our lives around his priorities.

This is what we see the characters in LOTR do.

This is what I see scripture repeatedly calling us to do.

It's more than praying, though it is praying. It is earnestly seeking his word, his ways, his will and his wisdom with the intention of putting it into practice daily.

It is surrendering your life to the One who saved yours.

Are you calling on the name of the Lord daily?

Are you seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness daily?

Are you finding favor with the Lord daily?

Are you pleasing God by believing that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him?

Are you surrendering all to Him today?

CONTEXT

Spiraling from the fall into more and more evil, the Way of Cain is dominating the world stage while they Way of Seth is a mere remnant of people. They don't have much of God's word to live on. They don't have the ways of God spelled out to them. They are in need of lights in the darkness.

But they do have a prophecy. A word from the Lord. (Gen 3:15)

After seeing the Way of Cain summarized in Cain's evil genealogy, it's followed by the Way of Seth and his genealogy. Adam and Eve are still alive and watching this unfold with I can't imagine how much guilt and anguish over what they've done. The only thing keeping them alive and sane is the hope in the few words of God in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers (Jesus); he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal (at the cross)."

At the beginning of Seth's genealogy, as Chris mentioned last week, we see God reminding us of how he created us--in his image. We were created God-like. Nothing in all of creation is more like God than humans.

Now we're in a state of dreadful depravity. We're born sinners who are capable of incredibly evil attitudes, words and actions. And we don't have to look far to see not only the truth of that but that we're heading downhill towards a level of evil equal to that just prior to the Flood. But this reminder--that we're created in his image--is there to remind us and give us hope. Hope that the Way of Seth--the Way of Jesus--can and will deliver many from sin and death, shame and guilt, hell itself.

The whole thing here about the sons of God, daughters of men, and the Nephilim is simply there to show us how bad things had gotten in the world. To show us that things were so bad that God grieved and regretted that he'd created humanity in the first place. As a result, God would wipe out all of creation (except for the ones following the Way of Seth) and re-create the world.

SERMON

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. 1. The utter wickedness all over the earth; how bad we were and are

  1. The consequences of sin are real bad

  2. The judgment of God on our sinfulness is holy and just

  3. The depravity of humanity is on full display here

  4. It's setting the table for God's flood of judgment...and mercy

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because it's God's story being written by and through those of us with the humility, faith and courage to live it out. It's a costly journey.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. 1. Call on the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26)

  1. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matt 6:33)

  2. Live to please him by grace through faith (Heb 11:6)

  3. Enjoy the Lord's favor (Gen 6:8)

  4. Follow Jesus (Luke 9:23)

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. Do I understand the world and epic I'm in?

  2. Do I believe God has called me into this story? His-story? History?

  3. Do you not see the hand of God working in your life to this end? The end of an unlikely hope that will come through humble, courageous, hopeful men and women, boys and girls, who have hope in their Creator's epic story called life?

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is the Pearl of Great Price. This is the Treasure Hidden in a Field. He is worthy of everything in my life. My whole life. Luke 9:23

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

  1. Call on the Lrod daily to show you the way.

    1. 4:26 "At that time, people began to call on the name of the Lord."

    2. God is light, life and love. (1 John)

  2. Remember who and whose you are in Christ. If you follow Jesus Christ, like follow him words, ways and works, then you'll remember...

    1. We're a son/daughter of Adam --born sinners in need of a Savior

    2. But, we're also a redeemed, forgiven son/daughter of Jesus Christ (the Way of Seth)

    3. We're created God-like from birth (in his image) (Gen 1:26-28; 5:1)

    4. We're created on purpose for a purpose (Gen 1:26-28; 5:2)

      1. Depraved, yes.

      2. Unredeemable, no!

      3. Unforgivable, no!

      4. Being created in God's image means we're more like God than anything else in the universe! Ex. I can't preach this message to any other creature on earth and move them to act like God calls us to. Only people can be inspired by God's word.

      5. We have to decide:

        1. Do I believe that?

        2. Will I act on that belief?

    5. Don't look to people to be your heroes. They are not your hope. Jesus is your Hero capital H. He calls us to live heroically (sacrificially) for his glory-not ours.

    6. Find favor in God's eyes by walking with God. (Gen 5:21-24; Micah 6:8)

CONCLUSION

Are you calling on the name of the Lord each day? Are you seeking first...really seeking first...his kingdom and his righteousness? Are you rearranging your life around his priorities and perspective? This is all just pre-k for the rest of eternity. Do you get that?

Examine your life right now. As we soberly remember the price that was paid by Jesus Christ when he died in our place for our sin to free us, he reminds us that he passes the baton to us to share this good news that forgiveness is available to all, though not automatic. If we don't tell them, who will? If we don't live this out, do we really believe it?

Bottom line: The Way of Seth (and Jesus) is to walk with him. We walk with him by calling on and seeking him by grace through faith each day.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Invitation

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, 29456, non denominational church, bible believing church, chaos to covenant
What Can We Learn from Genesis 5? | Genesis 5:1-32 | Chris Karpus
What Can We Learn from Genesis 5? | Genesis 5:1-32 | Chris Karpus

What can we learn from Genesis 5? What if…?

From Adam to Noah

5 This is the written account of Adam’s family line.

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.  2  He created them male and

female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” [a]  when they were created.

3  When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him

Seth.  4  After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.  5  Altogether, Adam

lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

6  When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father [b]  of Enosh.  7  After he became the father of Enosh,

Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters.  8  Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and

then he died.

9  When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.  10  After he became the father of Kenan,

Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters.  11  Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years,

and then he died.

12  When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.  13  After he became the father of

Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters.  14  Altogether, Kenan lived a total of

910 years, and then he died.

15  When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.  16  After he became the father of

Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters.  17  Altogether, Mahalalel lived a total

of 895 years, and then he died.

18  When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.  19  After he became the father of

Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.  20  Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962

years, and then he died.

21  When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.  22  After he became the father of

Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and

daughters.  23  Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.  24  Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he

was no more, because God took him away.

25  When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.  26  After he became the father

of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters.  27  Altogether, Methuselah

lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

28  When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son.  29  He named him Noah [c]  and said, “He will comfort us

in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”  30  After Noah was

born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters.  31  Altogether, Lamech lived a total of

777 years, and then he died.

32  After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

1. Why pause and study this chapter?

- Our message series are based on a Book of the Bible and not current events or Life Skills 101,

starring Jesus. Genesis 5 is the next passage…it’s in the Bible, so it’s important.

- Our messages are exegetical, not eisegetical…or exegesis vs. eisegesis.

Exegesis - objective interpretation of the text to discover it’s original meaning

Eisegesis - Involves reading one's own ideas into the text, and is not concerned with the

original context.

2. What can we learn from Gensis 5?

- Genesis 5 is the beginning of the next major section of Genesis

- It documents the faithfulness of God as He preserves what would be the bloodline of Jesus, through

Noah’s son, Shem. In that, Genesis 5 presents an early genealogy of the people of God.

- Consider the possibility that this genealogy exists for the sake of the Gospel.

- For those in Christ, it’s an early family tree

- It’s a wide-angle view of redemptive history after the fall

- Genesis 5 connects God’s faithfulness from Adam through Noah and ultimately to all of us who

belong to Him through our faith in Jesus.

- That’s a pretty legit reason for us take a closer look, right?

3. Genesis 5 opens by echoing Chapter 1:

Genesis 5:1-2

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.  2  He created them male and

female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” [a]  when they were created.

- Mankind = the human race

- Just a reminder that God created mankind – in His own likeness – male and female and He

blessed them.

4. A unique inclusion in this genealogy is verse 3:

3  When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him

Seth. 

- So just as God fathers Adam and makes humanity in His likeness, so Adam reflects the image

of God by fathering a son who embodies his own likeness and image.

o It seems to really emphasize the importance of this bloodline – which we know now

leads us to Jesus

5. The most shocking aspect of Genesis 5 is that it bluntly documents a series of deaths – reminding us

that things were not the way they were originally designed to be prior to the fall.

Genesis 5:4-5

4  After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.  5  Altogether, Adam lived

a total of 930 years, and then he died.

- So in this chapter, right at the start, we get a heads up to the God-inspired redemption offered

through this bloodline – knowing that this genealogy leads to Jesus, while simultaneously

receiving a sobering reminder of the fall – the reason why redemption through Jesus was

necessary.

It may be a stretch, but I believe the genealogy in Genesis 5 is a very early reminder – in retrospect, of

the reality of Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23

“23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [a]  Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- those “…and then he died” statements are chilling compared to the life God intended for Adam

and Eve…and all of us.

- from the fall forward, humanity is held in slavery…

Hebrews 2:14-15

“14  Since the children have flesh and blood, he (Jesus) too shared in their humanity so that by his death he

might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—  15  and free those who

all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

-As Adam tastes death as a judgement for sin, Jesus comes as a second Adam, who not only tastes

death, but overcomes it and reverses the curse. “crushes the head of the serpent” from Genesis 3:13

Romans 5:12-17

“12  Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way

death came to all people, because all sinned—

13  To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s

account where there is no law.  14  Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of

Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the

one to come.

15  But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much

more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the

many!  16  Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed

one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought

justification.  17  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much

more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in

life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

This genealogy shows us the very beginning of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

5. There are 25 genealogies in the Bible

- They recount deaths and births

- But uncommon elements seem to stand out – those included people or asides that break from

the typical script – This should catch our attention because it happens for a reason.

- Everyone’s family tree has folks who stand out a little more than others – there’s

something distinct about them.

- Even in Amy’s and my family trees, there are folks that got a bronze metal in the

Olympics (Amy’s), busted Al Capone (also Amy’s), a former president (naturally Amy’s)

and a gangster - former Public Enemy Number 1 (OK…my tree)

6. Adam’s descendent Enoch, born of the line of Seth, was one of those uncommon people…

Genesis 5:21-24

21  When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.  22  After he became the father of

Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and

daughters.  23  Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.  24  Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he

was no more, because God took him away.

- Up to this point, for each generation, we have a man living a certain number of years,

fathers at least the son mentioned, lives longer, then dies.

- Yet – we have a pause, or disruption with Enoch – why?

- Obviously, Enoch had a close relationship with God. How do we know? Because the text

takes a break from the pattern to tell us that Enoch walked faithfully with God

o It suggests an intimacy unseen since before the Fall

o This “walking with God” suggests a righteousness that comes by faith, and shows us

the intimate relationship we, as Christians, should have with God as described

throughout the New Testament.

- Enoch shows us the difference between being welcomed by God instead of facing death –

rather than die like Adam’s other descendants, Enoch gets taken by God. Hebrews 11:5

shines a little more light on what happened with Enoch:

Hebrews 11:5

5  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found,

because God had taken him away.” [a]  For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased

God.

- One could say that the faith of Enoch led to the favor of God…for Christians, this might

mean:

- One could say that the Believer’s future is not based on his or her work, but his or her walk

which of course, does include works prepared in advance by God)

- A believer’s future is not based on credentials, but based on character

- It’s defined not by pleasing others, but by pleasing God.

- In fact, Hebrews 11:6 follows saying:

Hebrews 11:6

6  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that

he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

- God is pleased with those who wholly believe what His word says about Him.

- Also, God rewards those who seek Him

- Enoch also believed that God judges those who reject Him…How do we know this?

Jude 14-15

14  Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon

thousands of his holy ones  15  to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they

have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against

him.”

- What we see in Enoch’s walk was that it was rooted in deepest intimacy with God: he knew

God.

- His walk rested on great faith – he believed in God with his whole heart

- He believed that God would judge and reward all who live

- This doesn’t describe the high point of his life, but his entire life – over 300 years of a

progressively closer walk with God.

- Then “God took him away”

When Enoch was just a young man…365 years old…” he was no more, because God took him away.”

- What are they saying here? How did God just take him?

- Maybe it was similar to how God took Elijah…in a chariot of fire. It DOES sound a little

familiar when 2 Kings 2:11-12 says “…and Elisha saw him no more”

2 Kings 2:11-12

11  As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared

and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.  12  Elisha saw this and cried

out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he

took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

- What we can surmise by this, is that Enoch was taken from earthly life to eternal life.

- God will do the same for us…probably not the same way, but certainly for the same reason

and the same goal…through Jesus

So how does Enoch relate to or inform us as Christians?

- What if what happened to Enoch was to encourage all of us to walk with God.

- What if what happened to Enoch is intended to awaken all of us to the hope of life after

death.

- I would think it awakened something in his contemporaries…hey had a LOT of time to think

about it.

- His son, Methuselah had 969 years to mull this over!

- Even as we discuss Chapter 5 as the beginning of the genealogy of Jesus, before Jesus was

born, we see this hope manifested in some of the greats of the Old Testament:

Job 19:25-27

- 25  I know that my redeemer [a]  lives,

    and that in the end he will stand on the earth. [b]

26  And after my skin has been destroyed,

    yet [c]  in [d]  my flesh I will see God;

27  I myself will see him

    with my own eyes—I, and not another.

    How my heart yearns within me!

Daniel 12:2-3

2  Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to

shame and everlasting contempt.  3  Those who are wise [a]  will shine like the brightness of the

heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

- Don’t these verses foreshadow the New Testament promises of Christ’s return?

SO – How do we walk faithfully with God?

1. Pray – always

a. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16  Rejoice always,  17  pray without ceasing,  18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the

will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

- You cannot have a flourishing relationship with someone you don’t talk to.

- Prayer is a time to tell God what is going on in our lives, to ask for guidance and wisdom, to

repent of our sin and to enjoy His presence. It is a time to admit that God is greater than we

are and to trust Him

-

2. Surrender to His will and way of life

a. Galatians 2:20

20  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave himself for me.

b. Surrendering your life requires an eternal perspective

- Prayer of Darren’s friend –

o Thank you God for one more day, and thank you God for one less day.

- c. This means surrendering everything you are

- your job

- your family

- your money – your security

- your past, present and future

-

3. Read the Bible

- The inspired word of God

- Psalm 119:105

- “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

- You can’t walk with God in the dark.

4. Live like Jesus

a. Obey His commands

b. 1 John 2:6

“6  whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

- “My dad is my hero”

5. Confession ad Repentance

a. Recognizing and confessing sin

i. The world doesn’t determine what sin is – God does

ii. If you pray, surrender your life to Him, read His word, and live like Jesus, you’ll

recognize the sin in your life, you’ll know what to give Him

iii. He’s already died for it – give it to Him

1 John 1:9

“9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to

cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

iv. How many of us are sitting in a prison cell with door already opened?

v. Walk out of the cell that Jesus opened, and walk with God.

Read More
Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChris Karpus, Genesis 5, Chaos to Covenant, non denominational church, bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowshiop, Grace Christian Fellowship
What Happens When a Society Rejects God? | Genesis 4:16-26 | Mikey Brannon
What Happens When a Society Rejects God? | Genesis 4:16-26 | Mikey Brannon

What Happens When A Society Rejects God?

Grace Christian Fellowship

Mikey Brannon

October 13, 2024

[Gen 4:16 ESV] 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. • Went away from the presence of the Lord.

o 4:6-7 Cain is filled with rage against his brother, but is gracious to him and gives him an opportunity to repent.

o How sin is conceived (like a baby) in Gen 4:6-7, James 1:14-15

o God uses vivid language to describe his sin (4:7) “crouching desire”. (ref. 1 Peter 5:8)

o Cain’s biggest issue

 Cain conceived the sin of murder in his heart

 His desire for sin was greater than his desire for God

 While cain was religious, fundamentally he was a non-believer!

• Knows God personally

• Talks with God

• Still does not trust God’s words

 Cain is the first cursed person. (4:11-12)

 The result of the curse is that Cain is forced to become a wanderer, a nomad, a homeless vagabond.

 Notice Cain willingly gives up religion and relationship with God, in order to rid himself of the precepts that come along with it. This is the choice of the sinner.

o “East of Eden” – Genesis language shows that as one moves Eastward they are moving further from the presence of God.

o “Land of Nod” Nod means wanderer, exile, or fugitive.

[Gen 4:17 ESV] 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. • Even this vile sinner found a wife to marry. Cain obviously married one of his sisters. Together they have a son named Enoch.

• “Built a City” - It is not what we expect the vagabond to do, establish a city. It is as if he says, I’ll show you God, I’ll settle my on place and I don’t need you to help. But even the name of the city suggest it is futile.

• The Hebrew verb tense suggests that Cain didn’t just build a city, but that he was continually building a city. Essentially we can picture Cain endlessly working to buid this city, but never finishing it, until he eventually turns it over to his son to whom it is named Enoch.

• This city that Cain would build would be common a city of apostasy and of the inhabatens present and future would be rejecters of God, and they will eventually be drowned.

[Gen 4:18 ESV] 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. • Our sin doesn’t just affect us but it affects others around us, and even future generations.

• In Chapter 5 and 6 we get 2 genealogies here in our text we have a genealogy of Cain, and in the next chapter we have the genealogy of Seth. More on that later.

• This geneology traces Cain to one of his descendants Lamech. Lamech is the arch type evil representative of what has come from Cain’s apostasy.

• Enoch means “dedicated”. Cain running from the curse God has placed on him attempts to build a city and he names his Son and his city “dedicated”. He dedicates his son to his city. As if his son may finally be able to stop running and wandering.

• Talk about how sinners try to find comfort somewhere other than God.

• Enoch is cains big dillusion.

• Our kids are not fooled by our dillusions are they, its very interesting what Enoch names his son, Irad, which can be loosely translated city dweller

• Then you have Mejujael and Methusahael, which scholars say means something like, God Blots out and violence to God

• Do you see the direction from cain to -> city dweller-> outright violence to God this is trendline of the society.

[Gen 4:19 ESV] 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. • The apostate generation culminates with a picture of a man named Lamech (conquerer).

• Instantly we encounter an issue with Lamech. He has 2 wives.

• We know that God has already established marriage as a union between 1 man and 1 woman. Any other version of this union is a sinful corruption. (Gen. 2:24)

• Some people encounter polygamy in the OT and they say see the Bible is wrong it condones things like that. Or that the Bible is inconsistent on its view on marriage. Not true.

• Whenever polygamy is shown in the OT it always results in hurt and devastation. (Abraham)

• As we can see here in our example text the Bible doesn’t come out and make a moral statement about polygamy here. Because it doesn’t need to. That is the entire point of this geneology.

[Gen 4:20 ESV] 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. • The “bal” brothers: Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal

• Stem bal means to produce

• Society was a great at producing things

• We have world leading agriculture, invention of music, of musical instruments, iron working, bronze instruments of all kinds

• Jabal was a shepherd who likely tended sheep. People in the city need someone else to produce meat and garments, so what we see here is the first glimmering of the agricultural industry.

• Discussion about how long they lived in this society Adam lived 930 years. In fact did you ever realize Adam almost lived long enough to see the birth of Noah. Cain lived 730 years.

[Gen 4:21 ESV] 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. • Jubal, invented music, and the first instruments. Can you imagine what an accomplishment, Chris Karpus level stuff here. They had likely had figured out things like scales, and chords, and how to construct various instruments to create harmonies.

• Now many of us in this room are musicians. How many of you feel like you have enough time to practice your instrument? How many of you feel like you have mastered it and there is nothing else to learn? Imagine if you had 700 years to work on it. Do you think you would be pretty good?

[Gen 4:22 ESV] 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. • Tubal-cain in a similar way had perfected the art of metal working. He is the father of blacksmithing and was the master of the craft. In a similar way having so much time on the earth to master the craft.

• These 3 sons were epic leaders of a godless city.

• Application: I wonder what outsiders would have said about the city of Nod as they passed by. Great city! Technological leaders, Innovative, Wealthy, luxurious? Does this sound like a cursed city to you?

• A society without God is striving to find satisfaction in something else, but they will ever find is emptiness.

• This is a society who works and works for the one thing they will never have, rest. Sabbath. Because they have rejected the ultimate rest. (Matthew 12:8)

[Gen 4:23 ESV] 23 Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. • Lamech becomes the poster boy for how far from God this society has come.

• Brags to his wives about his murderous rampage

o Notice how he speaks to his wives. How far has this Godless society gotten from what Adam first spoke, “bone of my bone flesh of my flesh”

o Murder of man

o Murder of a child

o In both instances Lamech brags about his brutality

o What we can observe here in this society that is far from God there is no longer an appreciation for human life.

o Why is murder such a heinous crime in the first place?

o Gen. 1:27, Gen.9:6

o So what we see in a society that is far from God, there is a loss of appreciation for human life

o Another way to say this is that the value you we place on one another comes from the value that we place in God.

o Another way to say this is, Love God, Love People

[Gen 4:24 ESV] 24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold." • The reference here is back to verse 4:15.

• Remember God had promised Cain protection of his life. Word got around.

• In hindsight now that we have studied this passage I think God allowed Cain to live just so that the fullness of his wickedness would play out. It would have been to easy for him to die. So Cain spends hundreds of years trying to outrun the curse, only to die in his futile attempts. It is a much more worthy punishment.

• Lamech makes a mockery of God’s curse. He is vile, and wicked, he even brags about his wickedness. This city is lost indeed.

• What a terrible story if it ended here!

[Gen 4:25 ESV] 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." • Able the presumed line of redemption is dead. Cain is unfit and cursed. The last time things looked this dark were after the fall.

• We think back to the promise (Gen. 3:14). And in God’s graciousness we find hope. This verse gives us hope.

• Adam and Eve have another son who can help fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:14, Seth.

• Seth is not the one to crush the head of the serpant, but we will find out in the next chapter exactly where is line will lead, ultimately to Christ, the ultimate head crusher. Luke 3:38

[Gen 4:26 ESV] 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. • Even in the early days apparently outside of the line of Cain people had begun to stray from God

• Enosh marks a period of revival where people began to again call upon the name of the Lord.

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChaos to Covenant, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, non denominational church, bible believing church, Genesis, Cain and Abel
What Does 'Raising Cain' & Sibling Rivalry Have in Common? | Genesis 4:1-1
What Does 'Raising Cain' & Sibling Rivalry Have in Common? | Genesis 4:1-1

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "What does 'Raising Cain' & sibling rivalry have in common?"

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-16

Jude 11, Hebrews 11:4, Micah 6:7-8, James 1:14-15, Matt 5:21-26, Matt 18:21-22

Bottom line: The way of Cain leads to sin, death and hell. The way of Able leads to grace, mercy and life.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. OUTLINES

  7. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him, and leading others to do the same.

INTRODUCTION

Canes

One of our sons-in-law lives in Charlotte. When he comes to visit, he tries to work in a visit to the chicken finger restaurant called Raisin' Canes. Apparently, they don't have any in Charlotte yet.:-)

Where did the restaurant name "Raisin' Canes" come from?

Raising Cane’s, the popular chicken finger restaurant chain, was named after the founder Todd Graves’ dog, a yellow Labrador named “Raising Cane.” When Graves was starting the restaurant in the mid-1990s, his initial plan to name the place something different was met with the suggestion from a friend to name it after his dog. Graves embraced the idea, and the dog became the namesake and mascot for the chain.

- ChatGPT

Expression

Where does the expression come from?

The expression “raising Cain” refers to causing trouble, making a scene, or behaving in a rowdy or disruptive manner. It comes from the biblical story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, where Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, kills his brother Abel out of jealousy. Because of this violent act, Cain became associated with sinful or rebellious behavior.

When someone is said to be “raising Cain,” it implies that they are acting in a wild, reckless, or disruptive way, much like the connotations of Cain’s rebelliousness in the Bible. The phrase became popular in the 19th century and has been used colloquially ever since.

- ChatGPT

This is also the origin of sibling rivalry.

CONTEXT

Adam and Eve are exiled and banished from the garden of Eden. They are living east of the garden and several generations have passed. Cain and Abel are the only sons of Adam and Eve. They likely continue to have daughters as well as Cain and Abel's sons and daughters. The tribe is growing.

There are two kinds of people in these clans and tribes. Those who follow the way of Cain and those who follow the way of Abel.

Another practice that has developed some is that of offering sacrifices to the Lord. The way Cain and Abel do this becomes a moment of revelation for us even today.

SERMON

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. There are basically 2 ways to live: the way of Cain and the way of Abel.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we will live one way or the other. There are consequences to following the way of Cain.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Reject the way of Cain and follow the way of Abel. Follow Abel as he follows the Lord.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So that you will find the favor and blessing of the Lord in your life.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

  1. Turn from your ways (ways of Cain) to the Lord (ways of Abel) asking for him to show you the way to that hope found only in Jesus Christ.

  2. Tell others how they can also find this hope.

CONCLUSION

Talk about sibling rivalry? My brother and I are 3.25 years apart (I'm the older). No other siblings either. You might say we had a rivalry going on--especially when no one else was around.

I can specifically recall several times when I thought, "I hate him and I want to kill him!" Now that might sound funny to you because you can relate to that emotion due to your own sibling rivalry. I'm glad you can relate but let me sober you a little. We're all capable of murder. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus makes it clear that when we hate someone it's the same in God's eyes as if we murdered them. It's the idea that in our rage we're ready to murder them--we just lack the opportunity to do so without getting caught.

Why do I share this? Because we all naturally go the way of Cain.

God's grace is that we don't have to if we go Abel's way.

Bottom line: The way of Cain leads to sin, death and hell. The way of Able leads to grace, mercy and life.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Invitation

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

The expression “raising Cain” refers to causing trouble, making a scene, or behaving in a rowdy or disruptive manner. It comes from the biblical story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4, where Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, kills his brother Abel out of jealousy. Because of this violent act, Cain became associated with sinful or rebellious behavior.

When someone is said to be “raising Cain,” it implies that they are acting in a wild, reckless, or disruptive way, much like the connotations of Cain’s rebelliousness in the Bible. The phrase became popular in the 19th century and has been used colloquially ever since.

-ChatGPT 10.06.24

Raising Cane’s, the popular chicken finger restaurant chain, was named after the founder Todd Graves’ dog, a yellow Labrador named “Raising Cane.” When Graves was starting the restaurant in the mid-1990s, his initial plan to name the place something different was met with the suggestion from a friend to name it after his dog. Graves embraced the idea, and the dog became the namesake and mascot for the chain.

There have actually been multiple “Raising Cane” dogs over the years. The first Raising Cane (Cane I) was the original dog the chain was named after, and subsequent Labradors have carried on the name as the brand grew. It’s a fun, personal touch to the restaurant’s identity!

- ChatGPT 10.06.24

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

OUTLINES

N/A

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipCain and Abel, Darien Gabriel, Grace Christian Fellowship, SC, Ladson, non denominational church, bible believing church, Chaos to Covenant
How is There Judgment and Hope? | Genesis 3:15-24 | Darien Gabriel
How is There Judgment and Hope? | Genesis 3:15-24 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: "How is there judgment and hope?"

Scripture: Genesis 3:15-24

Romans 5:15-19; Numbers 21:4-9

Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curses and judgment of humanity, there is hope for us in King Jesus.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. OUTLINES

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on our state and nation this past week. We want to pause and pray right now for those who are still dealing with that aftermath.

Why do we have hurricanes anyway? And earthquakes, meteorites, tsunamis, floods, droughts, and pandemics?

We have them because of The Fall.

CONTEXT

Adam and Eve have been created and married. They are in a blissful garden of existence where they have all that they need and their Creator, the Lord God, spends time walking and talking with them everyday. They have no relational distress with God or each other or creation. They are experiencing perfect peace and joy.

And yet they find themselves capable of being tempted to forget that God is good and doubt his trustworthiness.

They give into the temptation to doubt God's goodness and trustworthiness and disobey God's single, clear command. They fall from grace and we have the first--the original--sin. This sin has far reaching consequences too including Hurricane Helene.

SERMON

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. Sin has consequences including God's judgment. But it does sometimes come with God's grace too.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Because we should remember that there's always hope in Christ Jesus.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Embrace the judgment but lean into the grace and point others to it.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. So we don't despair and give up when we're tempted to.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

  1. Turn from your ways to the Lord asking for him to show you the way to that hope found only in Jesus Christ.

  2. Tell others how they can also find this hope.

NOTE the chiasm here in vv. 11-19:

  • Sin of Adam (9-11)

    • Sin of Eve (12)

      • Sin of Serpent (13)

      • Judgment of Serpent (14-15) But also the hope of his defeat prophesied (protoevangelion = first gospel)

    • Judgment of Eve (16)

  • Judgment of Adam (17-19)

What's at the focal point is: Sin, death and Satan will be defeated by Eve's offspring. Why not Adam's? Because her offspring is Jesus and he was born of a virgin, not of Adam or his seed.`

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Even in the face of God's curse and judgment of humanity, there is hope in King Jesus.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Invitation

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

Synonyms for

enmity

noun a world free from enmity between nations and races:

HOSTILITY, animosity, antagonism, friction, antipathy, animus, opposition, dissension, rivalry, feud, conflict, discord, contention;

My first question:

I have a question about Adam and Eve in the Bible. I am seminary trained so talk to me as if I have some knowledge about the Bible. My question is why did God remove Adam and Eve from the garden?

"God's removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24 is primarily to prevent them from accessing the Tree of Life after their disobedience. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they gained the knowledge of good and evil, which was not meant for them. Their newfound awareness brought sin and separation from God into the world.

Genesis 3:22 states, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" God immediately expels them from Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and thus living eternally in their fallen state.

So, the expulsion from Eden serves a dual purpose:

1. As a consequence of their disobedience (i.e., sin), they are removed from the place of God's direct presence and blessing.

2. It is also an act of mercy, ensuring they do not live forever in a corrupted state.

In a theological sense, this introduces the concept of death as a limitation, but also as part of God’s redemptive plan, allowing for eventual resurrection and redemption rather than eternal life in a fallen condition." -ChatGPT

My second question: But if Adam and eve stay in the garden and eat from the tree of life and while there repent and believe, would they still live forever in a corrupted state? I seems to me that they would be forgiven?

"That’s an interesting theological question, and you’re right to focus on the dynamic tension between the Tree of Life, repentance, and the consequences of sin.

Here’s the key theological consideration: **repentance and belief** are indeed central to forgiveness in the biblical narrative, but there’s more to the situation in Genesis than just forgiveness. The Garden of Eden is not simply about access to eternal life but also about the state in which that life would be lived.

1. **The Nature of the Tree of Life and Eternal Life**: In Genesis 3:22, God’s concern is not just about forgiveness but about the state in which humanity would live eternally. The Tree of Life represents the ability to live forever, but in the context of the narrative, eternal life in a corrupted state would be a disaster. Imagine living forever with the ongoing effects of sin—physical, emotional, and spiritual decay. Even if Adam and Eve repented and believed, they would still be living in a world now subject to the curse of sin (pain, toil, suffering, and eventual death as outlined in Genesis 3:16-19).

   So the problem isn't just moral guilt but the entire reality of living in a world where sin has entered. God’s removal of them from the garden was not simply about preventing eternal life—it was about preventing eternal life **in a corrupted world**. Repentance alone doesn’t reverse the cosmic consequences of sin. The entire creation needed restoration (Romans 8:20-22).

2. **The Larger Redemptive Plan**: While forgiveness is essential, so is the **plan of redemption** that goes beyond forgiveness to full restoration. For instance, the ultimate goal of the biblical narrative isn’t just the forgiveness of individual sins, but the **renewal of all creation**. This is why Christ’s work includes not just forgiveness but also the promise of **resurrection** and **new creation** (Revelation 21-22). Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Life after sinning might grant them eternal life, but not in the transformed, glorified state God intends for His people.

3. **Why Death is Necessary**: In God’s redemptive plan, death became a necessary part of undoing the effects of sin. God allowed death to enter the world not merely as punishment but also as part of the plan that ultimately leads to resurrection. Paul speaks of death as the last enemy to be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26), but through Christ, death becomes the gateway to new life. Had Adam and Eve eaten from the Tree of Life while in their fallen state, they might have bypassed death, but they would have missed out on the full restoration that comes through death and resurrection.

4. **The Typology of Christ and the Tree of Life**: Theologically, Christ is often seen as the fulfillment of the Tree of Life. In the new creation, those who believe in Him will once again have access to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). This shows that eternal life comes not just through forgiveness but through transformation. Christ doesn’t just forgive; He renews all things, including the body and the entire creation. Adam and Eve, even if they had repented and believed in the garden, would still need this fuller redemptive work to be fully restored to God’s ultimate intention for humanity.

In summary, even if Adam and Eve had repented and believed, staying in the garden and eating from the Tree of Life would have meant eternal life in a fallen state. Forgiveness alone would not have solved the problem of the corruption of their nature and the curse on creation. God’s plan required not just forgiveness but the eventual defeat of death and the renewal of all creation, something that could only be achieved through Christ’s redemptive work. The removal from Eden, then, can be seen as a merciful act, preserving them for a future, greater restoration." -ChatGPT

From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:

It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)

  • The Fall

  • Cain

  • Sons of God marrying daughters of man

  • The Flood

  • Tower of Babel

  • They all follow this 4-fold pattern:

    • Sin: the sin is described

    • Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin

    • Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin

    • Punishment: God punishes the sin

Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.

Notes from Bible Project Videos

1-11 God and the world

12:3 Hinge verse

12-50 God and Abraham's family

"Blessing" is a key word here

Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil

  1. Trust God's definition of good and evil, or

  2. Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?

Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

OUTLINES

OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington

This section describes the corruption of all things.

I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)

A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)

1. The treachery (3:1-5)

a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"

2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.

B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.

C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.

D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.

E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:

1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.

2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.

3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.

4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.

F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)

1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!

2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipDarien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, non denominational church, chaos to covenant, judgment, hope, Grace Christian Fellowship
What's Wrong With Our World? | Genesis 3:8-16 | Darien Gabriel
What's Wrong With Our World? | Genesis 3:8-16 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: “What's wrong with our world?"

Scripture: Genesis 3:8-16

Romans 5:15-19

Bottom line: Our world was broken by our sin but will be fully restored by Jesus Christ. Hope follows heartbreak.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. OUTLINES

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

In his book The Genesis Factor, David Helms says that Genesis answers many of life's questions.

He says or implies that Genesis 3 answers at least 3 questions:

  1. Is God really good? If God is good, why are there boundaries? (God's character)

  2. Can you trust God's word no matter what? (The Bible)

  3. What's the matter with us? (Humanity) What's wrong with the world?

Ask yourself this question: How would I feel if I did something that I knew God told me not to do that infected or cursed each and every one of my children, grandchildren and beyond? How would I feel? What would I do? This is what Adam and Eve had to live with. And did so for nearly a millennium.

When we ask the question, what's wrong with our world, the snarky answer could be, "Adam and Eve screwed it up. Now we're cursed." And that would be true.

But it's time that we realize that we can't pass the buck. We must take responsibility for our own thoughts, behaviors, attitudes and beliefs.

Our world is broken because of sin. Their sin, yes. But our sin too.

But there's hope. And it is found in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ as prophesied in Genesis 3.

There's hope after the heartbreak.

And, as for Adam and Eve, it's because of this hope that I'd like to think that they believed God and repented.

"What's wrong with the world today?"

David Helms writes,

"Put differently, which view makes better sense of the world in which we live —the voice of Genesis, or the voice of Peter Fromm? Is humanity basically good? Or has moral corruption touched us all?

Many years ago a famous correspondence in the London Times wrestled with these very issues. The editors of the newspaper asked individuals to respond to the question, "What is wrong with the world today?" The best letter of all was also the shortest. It read,

Dear Sir,

I am,

Yours faithfully,

G. K. Chesterton

Reader, do you believe that? If asked, "What is wrong with the world," would your response be, "I am?" You see, before you make a judgment on the rest of humanity, you must come to terms with the nature of yourself: Who are you, really?" -David Helms

CONTEXT

Adam and Eve have been created and married. They are in a blissful garden of existence where they have all that they need and their Creator, the Lord God, spends time walking and talking with them everyday. They have no relational distress with God or each other or creation. They are experiencing perfect peace and joy.

And yet they find themselves capable of being tempted to forget that God is good and doubt his trustworthiness.

SERMON

Q. What do I want them to know?

A. Two things:

  1. Our world is broken because of our sin.

  2. Our world has hope because of God's mercy.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A. Two reasons:

  1. Because it makes sense of why things are so broken, and

  2. Because it shows we don't have to give in to despair. Hope can follow heartbreak.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A. Two things:

  1. Rest in the hope that comes through the woman's offspring (Jesus Christ), and

  2. Share this good news with our broken world where you live, work, learn and play.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A. Because this is what you do with good news--you share it!

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A. Several ways:

  1. Train to remain (abide) in Christ daily.

  2. Train to remain in your mission field ready to prayer, care and share his love.

    1. Prayer-Care-Share where we live, work, learn and play:

      1. Pray for your neighbors (where you live, work, learn and play),

      2. Care for them as you become aware of their needs, and

      3. Share with them why you cared for them when the opportunity comes up.

NOTE the chiasm here in vv. 11-19:

  • Sin of Adam (9-11)

    • Sin of Eve (12)

      • Sin of Serpent (13)

      • Judgment of Serpent (14-15)

    • Judgment of Eve (16)

  • Judgment of Adam (17-19)

What's at the focal point is: Sin, death and Satan will be defeated by Eve's offspring. Why not Adam's? Because her offspring is Jesus and he was born of a virgin, not of Adam or his seed.`

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Our world was broken by sin but will be fully restored by Jesus Christ. Hope follows heartbreak.

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Invitation

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian, and literary critic known for his wit, paradoxes, and diverse body of work. He wrote in many genres, including essays, fiction, poetry, and journalism, and was a prominent Christian apologist. Chesterton is perhaps best known for his *Father Brown* detective stories and his book *Orthodoxy*, which defends Christian faith as rational and joyful.

A devout Christian, Chesterton converted to Roman Catholicism in 1922, and his faith heavily influenced much of his later writing. He critiqued secularism, materialism, and modernism, often engaging with prominent thinkers like George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells in public debates.

His style was marked by humor, irony, and a love for paradox, as he often used apparent contradictions to reveal deeper truths. His works continue to influence Christian thought and apologetics today.

My first question:

I have a question about Adam and Eve in the Bible. I am seminary trained so talk to me as if I have some knowledge about the Bible. My question is why did God remove Adam and Eve from the garden?

"God's removal of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:22-24 is primarily to prevent them from accessing the Tree of Life after their disobedience. After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they gained the knowledge of good and evil, which was not meant for them. Their newfound awareness brought sin and separation from God into the world.

Genesis 3:22 states, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—" God immediately expels them from Eden to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and thus living eternally in their fallen state.

So, the expulsion from Eden serves a dual purpose:

1. As a consequence of their disobedience (i.e., sin), they are removed from the place of God's direct presence and blessing.

2. It is also an act of mercy, ensuring they do not live forever in a corrupted state.

In a theological sense, this introduces the concept of death as a limitation, but also as part of God’s redemptive plan, allowing for eventual resurrection and redemption rather than eternal life in a fallen condition." -ChatGPT

My second question: But if Adam and eve stay in the garden and eat from the tree of life and while there repent and believe, would they still live forever in a corrupted state? I seems to me that they would be forgiven?

"That’s an interesting theological question, and you’re right to focus on the dynamic tension between the Tree of Life, repentance, and the consequences of sin.

Here’s the key theological consideration: **repentance and belief** are indeed central to forgiveness in the biblical narrative, but there’s more to the situation in Genesis than just forgiveness. The Garden of Eden is not simply about access to eternal life but also about the state in which that life would be lived.

1. **The Nature of the Tree of Life and Eternal Life**: In Genesis 3:22, God’s concern is not just about forgiveness but about the state in which humanity would live eternally. The Tree of Life represents the ability to live forever, but in the context of the narrative, eternal life in a corrupted state would be a disaster. Imagine living forever with the ongoing effects of sin—physical, emotional, and spiritual decay. Even if Adam and Eve repented and believed, they would still be living in a world now subject to the curse of sin (pain, toil, suffering, and eventual death as outlined in Genesis 3:16-19).

   So the problem isn't just moral guilt but the entire reality of living in a world where sin has entered. God’s removal of them from the garden was not simply about preventing eternal life—it was about preventing eternal life **in a corrupted world**. Repentance alone doesn’t reverse the cosmic consequences of sin. The entire creation needed restoration (Romans 8:20-22).

2. **The Larger Redemptive Plan**: While forgiveness is essential, so is the **plan of redemption** that goes beyond forgiveness to full restoration. For instance, the ultimate goal of the biblical narrative isn’t just the forgiveness of individual sins, but the **renewal of all creation**. This is why Christ’s work includes not just forgiveness but also the promise of **resurrection** and **new creation** (Revelation 21-22). Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Life after sinning might grant them eternal life, but not in the transformed, glorified state God intends for His people.

3. **Why Death is Necessary**: In God’s redemptive plan, death became a necessary part of undoing the effects of sin. God allowed death to enter the world not merely as punishment but also as part of the plan that ultimately leads to resurrection. Paul speaks of death as the last enemy to be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26), but through Christ, death becomes the gateway to new life. Had Adam and Eve eaten from the Tree of Life while in their fallen state, they might have bypassed death, but they would have missed out on the full restoration that comes through death and resurrection.

4. **The Typology of Christ and the Tree of Life**: Theologically, Christ is often seen as the fulfillment of the Tree of Life. In the new creation, those who believe in Him will once again have access to the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:14). This shows that eternal life comes not just through forgiveness but through transformation. Christ doesn’t just forgive; He renews all things, including the body and the entire creation. Adam and Eve, even if they had repented and believed in the garden, would still need this fuller redemptive work to be fully restored to God’s ultimate intention for humanity.

In summary, even if Adam and Eve had repented and believed, staying in the garden and eating from the Tree of Life would have meant eternal life in a fallen state. Forgiveness alone would not have solved the problem of the corruption of their nature and the curse on creation. God’s plan required not just forgiveness but the eventual defeat of death and the renewal of all creation, something that could only be achieved through Christ’s redemptive work. The removal from Eden, then, can be seen as a merciful act, preserving them for a future, greater restoration." -ChatGPT

From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:

It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)

  • The Fall

  • Cain

  • Sons of God marrying daughters of man

  • The Flood

  • Tower of Babel

  • They all follow this 4-fold pattern:

    • Sin: the sin is described

    • Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin

    • Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin

    • Punishment: God punishes the sin

Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.

Notes from Bible Project Videos

1-11 God and the world

12:3 Hinge verse

12-50 God and Abraham's family

"Blessing" is a key word here

Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil

  1. Trust God's definition of good and evil, or

  2. Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?

Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

Hamilton puts it this way:

"God acts and speaks; man rebels; God punishes; God protects and reconciles." P. 201

GOD ACTS & SPEAKS    MAN REBELS    GOD PUNISHES    GOD PROTECTS & RECONCILES

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

    1. God is present with his people. He was in the garden with A & E. He was with Israel when he lived as Jesus of Nazareth. He's with his people today in us as Holy Spirit.

    2. God is omniscient (all knowing/seeing/hearing).

    3. God is holy which means he's just.

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

    1. He walks and talks with his people who know and trust him.

    2. He is fully aware of all that's going on in our world and in our minds.

    3. He punishes his kids when they disobey. He pours out his wrath on those who sin but don't repent and turn back to him.

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

    1. I am his son in the Lord. I get to be with my father and learn from him and be known by him.

    2. I am known by him inside out.

    3. I am forgiven because even though I sinned and deserve God's wrath, he made a way for me to be forgiven. He did this by sending Jesus Christ to die in my place for my sins on the cross. I am forgiven because I believe that. However, if I haven't repented of my sin then I'm not forgiven yet. I am hell bound. I am heading where people who don't want to be with God go.

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

    1. I get to be his son and to enjoy all the benefits of being his son forever.

    2. I get to be known and loved.

    3. I get to live forgiven, beloved and intentionally sharing this good news with others. But if I don't believe, I live in misery doomed to be separated from my Creator forever.

  5. How do I do it?

    1. Rest in my identity as his son and serve others selflessly.

    2. Spend time with God listening and talking.

    3. I believe and receive his forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I readily forgive others by grace through faith.

OUTLINES

OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington

This section describes the corruption of all things.

I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)

A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)

1. The treachery (3:1-5)

a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"

2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.

B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.

C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.

D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.

E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:

1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.

2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.

3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.

4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.

F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)

1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!

2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

Read More
Darien GabrielGrace Christian Fellowshipnon denominational church, Ladson, SC, Darien Gabriel, bible believing church, Genesis, chaos to covenant
What's the Matter With Us? | Genesis 3:1-7 | Darien Gabriel
What's the Matter With Us? | Genesis 3:1-7 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: “What's the matter with us?"

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-10

Bottom line: When we forget or doubt that God is good and his word is trustworthy, we will give in to temptation and sin against our Creator.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. OUTLINES

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

[Holding an apple while I talk]

In his book The Genesis Factor, David Helms says that Genesis answers many of life's questions.

He says or implies that Genesis 3 deals with at least 3 questions:

  1. Is God really good? If God is good, why are there boundaries? (God's character)

  2. Can you trust God's word no matter what? (The Bible)

  3. What's the matter with us? (Humanity)

Who do you trust more than anyone in the world?

Now, imagine that that person is now also the most powerful person in America.They can do anything they want to. They are powerful and you trust them.

Now, imagine you're with them and they say to you, "I have a gift for you." They hand you what looks like a credit card. They tell you this card gives you unlimited access to every source of food in America. Restaurants, grocery stores, food trucks, farms...you name it...for free. This card also gives you access to any and every university, professor, expert, library or bookstore in America. Any source of wisdom you seek you have unlimited access to for free. Pretty amazing, huh?

They add that there's also a restaurant where you can find food that increases your health and extends your life. This super-restaurant is always open and you have unlimited access to it as well.

Now, they have one restriction. You cannot eat at the only 5 Star restaurant in town. The one in the middle of town. Let's say you drive by it every day too. This restaurant also has a supercomputer with the best AI on the planet. It has access to all knowledge in our world--good and evil. But if you order from there, if you partake from there, you will die.

So you enjoy the unlimited access you have to food, knowledge and wisdom all over town. But one day you notice the 5 Star restaurant you're restricted from eating at. You notice that the parking lot is full, though. You find yourself walking over. You can see people enjoying their food but not dying. So you walk in and the host welcomes you in. You ask why aren't people dying from the food? He answers, "Oh that's just to keep you from gaining the same power that your friend now has. You won't die if you eat this food or partake of this AI bar."

Forgetting what your trusted friend or family said, you find the host's words more believable the more he talks. You smell the food and see the expressions on everyone's faces. They all look like they're enjoying everything. You look around to see who's looking and then you go in and get a plate...and you eat.

What just happened?

You gave in to the temptation to ignore the one restriction you had from your most trusted person who gave you unlimited access to everything else. And you died.

CONTEXT

Adam and Eve have been created and married. They are in a blissful garden of existence where they have all that they need and their Creator, the Lord God, spends time walking and talking with them everyday. They have no relational distress with God or each other or creation. They are experiencing perfect peace and joy.

And yet they find themselves capable of being tempted to forget that God is good and doubt his trustworthiness.

SERMON

OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington

This section describes the corruption of all things. In other words, it answers the question:

What's the matter with us?

I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)

A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)

1. The treachery (3:1-5)

a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"

2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.

B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.

C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.

D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.

E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:

1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.

2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.

3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.

4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.

F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)

1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!

2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: When we forget or doubt that God is good and his word is trustworthy, we will give in to temptation and sin against our Creator.

Read Matthew 4:1-10 and see how Jesus resisted temptation. Three times he is tempted and three times he responds with scripture. He remembers that God's word is true and authoritative and that the Father is good.

We must immerse ourselves in scripture with people and on our own getting a good grip on the Bible so that we'll not sin against God.

Ps 119:11 "I've hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." -David

Sinning against God leads to death.

When we die spiritually, it's because we have been infected. We've been infected by a spiritual virus that can only be cured by a blood transfusion that uses Christ's shed blood at the cross. This blood coupled with our belief that it saves is what saves us from sin and death, shame and guilt, and hell itself.

"But God demonstrates his love in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8

There's hope even in Genesis 3

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:

Invitation

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

"Who are we really? Genesis 2 replies:

  • We are divine dust.

  • We are to live under divine rule.

  • We are divinely created for relationship."

- David Helms, p. 59

"What Is God's Mission?

What is God's mission in the world? If we, as Christians, are supposed to love God and obey him, it would certainly help if we knew what he was up to. Fortunately, God has given us the Bible, a book that tells us exactly what he is up to!

If we are going to understand God's mission, the first thing we have to understand is that the Bible is not primarily a storehouse of random facts about God or Israel or the world.

Nor is it primarily a collection of rules. Instead, it is primarily a fascinating and powerful story about God. This story is told in four acts:

1. Creation: The first act is Creation. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1).

God created the world and everything in it, and he called it "very good" (1:31). God loved and enjoyed what he had created!

At the pinnacle of his creation are a man and woman. They were different from the rest of his creation because he created them in his image and likeness

(1:26-28). Unlike the animals, they could be entrusted with managing the world God created (1:28), making families (1:28), and working to enhance the garden

(2:15). Also, unlike the animals, they were moral and spiritual beings who were instructed not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A good way to summarize the uniqueness of human beings is to say that they are spiritual, moral, social, and cultural beings who were supposed to use the totality of their lives to please God. And at the time of creation, they did please God. In fact, everything in the garden was just the way it was supposed to be.

Adam and Eve had a right relationship with God, with each other, and with the rest of the world.

2. The Fall: The second act is the Fall. Just after God created the world, the Bible's story takes a dark turn.

Adam and Eve decided to rebel against their Creator

(3:1-7). Instead of loving him supremely and obeying him completely, they disobeyed him and sought to take his place on the throne of the world and the throne of their lives. They believed the lie of Satan that they could become gods. In response to their sin, God cast them out from the garden of Eden.

Being cast out from the garden of Eden represented the fact that things were no longer the way they were supposed to be. Adam and Eve no longer had a right relationship with God, with each other, or with God's world. Each of us, just like Adam and Eve, has sinned against God. Each of us, like Adam and Eve, experiences broken relationships with God, with oth-ers, and with the world around us. Our lives are characterized not only by God's goodness but by sin and its consequences. Even as we experience the beauty and goodness of life in God's creation, we also experience the ugliness and badness of sin and its consequences.

3. Redemption: The third act is Redemption. Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God promised to send a Redeemer, a Savior, to save them from their sins (3:15).

This promise represents our first "peek" at the gospel.

Throughout the Bible, God continues to reveal more and more about who this Redeemer would be until, finally, in the Gospels, we learn that he is Jesus!

Jesus—fully God in all of who he is-came to earth and took on full humanity. He was fully man and fully God. He lived a perfect life, but was crucified at the hands of sinful humans. When he died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, he was making atonement for our sins and providing salvation for the world. On the cross, he took the guilt for our sins upon his shoulders so that he could suffer the condemnation that we should suffer. When he rose from the dead, he rose as a victor, having paid fully for our sins and secured the future salvation of the world."

-Bruce Ashford, I Am Going, pp. 4-5

From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:

It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)

  • The Fall

  • Cain

  • Sons of God marrying daughters of man

  • The Flood

  • Tower of Babel

  • They all follow this 4-fold pattern:

    • Sin: the sin is described

    • Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin

    • Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin

    • Punishment: God punishes the sin

Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.

Truths to note

  • God existed and exists eternally

  • God exists in plural unity as the Holy Trinity

  • God was in the beginning

  • God was before anything existed in our universe and the universe itself

  • God created everything that exists in the universe and the universe itself

  • God creates something from nothing Latin ex nihilo

    • An atheist scientist came to God and said, “We’ve figured out how to make a man without you.” God said, “OK, let me see you do it.” So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, “Oh, no you don’t. Get your own dirt!”

  • God creates with words. He spoke creation into existence. His words still have power.

  • God creates purposefully for his glory and our good.

  • God starts with light to display his creation and provide an essential ingredient for life.

  • God only creates things that are good. Together it was all very good and will be again.

  • God is a God of order and moves from chaos to order.

  • Elohim (gods) intensifies God's divine majesty, when used as a noun. When used as a verb, it's singular for there is only one true God.

  • God created all things. "Heavens and earth"

  • God created an "open" universe, not a "closed" one where he never interacts

Notes from Bible Project Videos

1-11 God and the world

12:3 Hinge verse

12-50 God and Abraham's family

"Blessing" is a key word here

Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil

  1. Trust God's definition of good and evil, or

  2. Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?

Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Let’s ask some summary sermon questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

OUTLINES

OUTLINE (GENESIS 3:1-24) by H. Willmington

This section describes the corruption of all things.

I. THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM (3:1-24)

A. Adam's disobedience (3:1-6)

1. The treachery (3:1-5)

a. Satan begins by casting doubt on God's Word (3:1-3): "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"

b. Satan concludes by denying God's Word (3:4-5): "'You won't die!' The serpent hissed...'You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil.'"

2. The tragedy (3:6): Both Eve and Adam disobey God and eat of the forbidden tree.

B. Adam's deceit (3:7-8): He attempts to cover his nakedness by making clothes from fig leaves. He then hides among the trees.

C. Adam's despair (3:9-11): He acknowledges his fear and nakedness before God.

D. Adam's defense (3:12-19): Adam blames Eve, but Eve blames the serpent.

E. Adam's discipline (3:14-19): God sets up his divine court in Eden and imposes the following sentences:

1. Upon the serpent (3:14-15): to be the most cursed of all creatures and to crawl on its belly, eating dust. Also, his head will be crushed by the offspring of the woman.

2. Upon the woman (3:16): to suffer pain in childbirth and to be ruled by her husband.

3. Upon the man (3:17-19): to endure wearisome labor as he grows food from unproductive soil and to eventually die physically.

4. Upon nature (3:18): to be infested with thorns and this-tles.

F. Adam's deliverance (3:15, 20-21)

1. The promise (3:15): Someday a Savior will defeat Satan, the serpent!

2. The provision (3:20-21): After Adam names his wife Eve, God clothes both of them with animal skins.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Genesis 3, Darien Gabriel, Ladson, SC, bible believing church, non denominational church
Where Did Marriage Come From? | Genesis 2:18-25 | Darien Gabriel
Where Did Marriage Come From? | Genesis 2:18-25 | Darien Gabriel

Series: Chaos to Covenant

Title: “Where did marriage come from?"

Scripture: Genesis 2:18-25 NIV

Matthew 19:4-5; Ephesians 5:21-34

Bottom line: Marriage came from God. It was his idea. Marriage is a covenant (not contract) before God between a man and a woman for life.

  1. INTRODUCTION

  2. CONTEXT

  3. SERMON OUTLINE

  4. CONCLUSION

  5. NOTES

  6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  7. OUTLINES

  8. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  9. MAIN REFERENCES USED

INTRODUCTION

Men, we need help. But we're often the last to believe it. We'll resist help at every turn.

The recent commercial of a couple on their way to a fancy party illustrates my point. He's in a very expensive car, both are dressed to the nines, and he comes to a fork in the road. The GPS says continue on the paved road as the best route and gets them there on time. However, seeing the dirt road fork off to the right, the man says, "I know a short cut" and takes the dirt road.

We need help.

Guys, I'm not picking on you. We're guys! We've got this, right?! I mean it's just a bookcase. We can assemble this. Sure, it's from IKEA and there are instructions but we've got this!

We need help.

I could go on but you get what I'm slinging, right?

Men, let's be honest. There are times, maybe, possibly, ok, yes, there are times when we need help.

I'll go one step further (at great personal risk)...

Men, let's be honest. There are times, maybe, possibly, ok, yes, there are times when we need help...from our wife.

Let's look at Genesis and ask ourselves 2 questions as we do:

  1. God, what are you saying to me today?

  2. God, what do you want me to do about what you're saying to me today?

CONTEXT

We're in the second of two creation accounts: one from satellite view (ch. 1) and one from a closer, birds-eye view. (Ch. 2)

In this second (earlier?) view, we zoom in on day 6 where God created man and woman: Adam and Eve. Last week we focused on Adam. Today, we join Adam in seeing God create Eve.

Not only does God create Eve...he creates an amazing covenant relationship called marriage.

Basic Outline:

I. Primeval history (1-11)--God and the world

II. Patriarchal history (12-50)--God and Abraham's family

SERMON

I. "Not good". (Gen 2:18) "Warning, warning, Will Robinson." (-Robert, Lost in Space)

  • Narrator Moses says God said, "not good for the man to be alone."

  • "We're better together" and "We need each other" -both from Pastor Rick Warren.

    • This is true in your marriage.

    • This is true in your family and extended family.

    • This is true where you live, work, learn and play.

    • This is true in life.

  • God's take is community > isolation (even if you're an introvert, although you may prefer less community than an extrovert and that's ok)

  • God continues...

    • "I will make a suitable (equal, complementary, similar yet different) helper (needed partner for him to obey God's command in 2:15 and 1:26-28)."

      • I = God

        • This is God's decision, not Adam's request. Adam doesn't even see that he needs help yet! (Yes, that's where we get it, guys)

        • This is God's work. He doesn't make mistakes.

        • This is God's gift.

      • Of all the ways that God could have helped the man, woman is how God chose to do it. And she was perfect and exactly what he needed.

      • One more thing. Helper. To our modern ears, "Helper" sounds pathetically demeaning. I would simply point out this: In the Bible, the nation of Israel, God's chosen people, often need a helper. The Bible says that God is their helper. Think about that. God is called Israel's helper. Sounds like good company and rare air. Ladies, do not see Adam's helper as anything but a divine appointment that honors you and blesses him.

      • Paul digs into this in Ephesians 5:21-34.

II. Help needed? The man needs to know and believe he is unable to carry out God's command to rule, work, and take care of the garden alone.

  • So God asks the man to do a very vice-recently thing. To use his God-given authority to name all of the animals.

  • In the process, Adam realizes that

    • He's similar to animals but not an animal like they are.

    • There are male and female versions of these animals.

    • There's only one of him.

  • God summarizes what Adam comes to understand: "But for Adam no suitable helper was found." Now Adam knows and believes he needs help.

  • We hate to ask for help (because we are not convinced that we need it. Often just pride and ego). But Adam has (finally) come to his senses and sees he's in great need.

  • So like any good man with a need and epiphany, he takes a nap. And "deep sleep" means there's no better anesthesia than God putting you to sleep. (I think it's at least worth noting here that scripture never says that man ever came out of his sleep. But I digress)

III. God makes a helper. We're not just talking hamburger helper here...we're talking divinely inspired and divinely created help.

  • Over and over in scripture God is called Israel's helper. The helper of his chose people. So when God calls woman a helper, we're not talking hamburger helper kind of helper. We're talking this man needs God-sized help and only a woman can provide him what he needs.

  • Enter Eve.

  • God games some of Adam's stuff (side, rib, part) and builds Eve from him (instead of from dust). Similar to Adam, he crafts and builds her with great care, skill and then breathes life into her. We ay that because she is like Adam (mostly) (image of God), though there are some very obvious and amazing differences that do not displease Adam at all.

  • Adam exclaims with the first recorded words of a person. And both was he excited!

  • Whoa-man! This time (unlike with the animal naming) this is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh (strength and weakness). We are nearly the same. She shall be called isha (wo-man) because she was taken from ish (man).

IV. First wedding and marriage

  • The man leaves his father and mother (allegiance to the family switches) and cleaves (sticks, glues) himself to his wife giving her his earthly allegiance under God for as long as they both shall live. And they lived to over 900 so there's that.

  • They commit/surrender to one another, under God, and enter a biblical covenant relationship consummated intimately, fusing into "one flesh." That is one flesh that isn't dissolved without consequences. i.e. when divorce happens, by design, there are terrible consequences no matter who is at fault. Consequences...

    • In future relationships

    • In sex life

    • In kids lives

    • In extended family life

    • In church life

  • This is why marriage is taken so seriously by God. It's a covenant that shouldn't be broken until death.

  • Marriage's ultimate purpose is to illustrate to the worl dhow our relationship with God should look and work. (Eph 5:21-34)

  • Both naked. Neither ashamed. Why? Because they have no reason to be ashamed. No sin. They're married. Let's go!

CONCLUSION

Bottom line: Marriage came from God. It was his idea. Marriage is a covenant (not contract) before God between a man and a woman for life.

Applications to consider:

  1. Community > Isolation

    1. We are better together.

    2. We need each other.

    3. Do you believe this? Does your way of life indicate that?

    4. Are you making a real effort to faithfully engage in healthy community with God's perspective in mind?

  2. Do you need help?

    1. Help in general? Reach out

    2. Help from your spouse? Tell them

    3. Help from God? Ask him

  3. Marriage

    1. Marriage is between a male and female, no matter what the culture is saying

    2. Marriage is for life

    3. Marriage was God's idea

    4. Marriage is a covenant (100-100) not a contract (50-50)

    5. Marriage is for God's mission and glory

    6. Marriage is for our good

    7. Divorce shreds the couple leaving scars that impact the rest of their lives their kids' lives

    8. Do you need help with yours?

Invitation

““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Bottom line:

  1. What is God saying to me right now?

  2. What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.

What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.

[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.

Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.

Pray

NOTES

From David Helms, p. 59

"Who are we really? Genesis 2 replies:

  • We are divine dust.

  • We are to live under divine rule.

  • We are divinely created for relationship."

I share this due to the nature of the topic of women doing things men can do in light of the creation of Eve. Plus it's interesting.

Free to the world by Bill Murphy Jr.

https://click.convertkit-mail.com/qdure6d67ec7h7k3xqrcgu8kx6wkkb4/8ghqhohlv5d9qesk/aHR0cHM6Ly9ja2FyY2hpdmUuY29tL2Ivd3Z1MmhnaDUwZHo4d2Y5cjU1MnJxdG54ODU5eHhzOD9sY3RnPW8zcGVnZXJw

We're going to commemorate two milestones from history this weekend, and they both seem a bit entwined even though they were mostly unrelated back when they actually happened:

  • September 8, 1916: Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren arrive in Los Angeles, as they complete a 60-day motorcycle tour across the United States.

  • September 8, 1921: A 16-year-old named Margaret Gorman won the Inter-City Beauty Contest and the Atlantic City Bathing Beauty Contest, which was eventually retconned as the first Miss America.

Let's talk about the Van Buren sisters first. They were actually following in the footsteps of a mother-and-daughter team named Avis and Effie Hotchkiss who had ridden a motorcycle with a sidecar from New York to California the year before.

Still, I remain impressed. Challenges along the way:

  • Lack of roads and easily available gasoline,

  • Lack of navigation tools and maps, and

  • Angry local law enforcement kept arresting them for wearing pants. (Not kidding.)

To put the achievement in perspective, the Van Buren sisters were riding four years before women could vote in the U.S., and three years before a lieutenant colonel (and future president) named Dwight Eisenhower led a famed and epic 81-vehicle convoy from east to west, which took 62 days.

Unencumbered by men and military bureaucracy, I suppose, the Van Buren sisters did it two days faster. Their goal was to demonstrate that women could be counted on to do things like serve as military dispatch riders in the upcoming U.S. entry into World War I, and generally to act like badasses.

(Aside: I learned while reading up on all of this that I'm not the first Bill Murphy to write about the Van Burens' trip. That honor goes to a Michigan writer named William M. Murphy, who wrote a short book about them called Grace and Grit, back in 2021.)

Their adventure is striking to me because five years later—and no offense to anyone involved in pageants, but I've never liked the whole concept—the milestone of the first Miss America contest seems a little out of place.

Details: Gorman was a high school junior in Washington D.C., still only 15, who was apparently "scouted" months before the contest by a pair of Washington Herald reporters trying to find pretty girls to send to Atlantic City.

Come to think of it, assuming these reporters were grown men, the whole idea of “scouting” 15-year-olds sounds more than a little creepy. But, I guess things were different then? Anyway they met Gorman's family in Georgetown and convinced them all to head north so that Gorman could pose in a bathing suit for the contest.

This was an early 20th century bathing suit: "dark, knee-high stockings and a chiffon bathing costume with a tiered skirt that came almost to her knees."

I’m wearing a t-shirt and shorts as I write this, and probably showing more of the ol’ skin than Gorman’s getup did back then.

It's not clear to me what, if anything, Gorman got out of winning the contest besides a trophy.

These days the winner gets $100,000 in scholarships plus a salary for the year (which honestly, I don’t know; still doesn't seem all that much). Gorman said the pageant organizers were cheap and didn't even reimburse her for her expenses years later, when she agreed to attend contests as the winner number-1.

The obituaries that appeared around the time of Gorman's death in 1995 suggest that being crowned Miss America—and then carrying the crown like a burden for the next 70+ years—seemed to sum up her life story.

As for the Van Buren sisters, Adeline went on to law school at New York University, while Augusta became a pilot who was active with a flying group known as the 99s.

Here we are, a century later, and I doubt most readers will have known any of the three women’s names but for this article (or perhaps another one like it).

Of course, the Miss America pageant continues, and a few years ago about 200 women retraced the sisters' ride across the United States together on motorcycles to mark the one century anniversary.

So even if their names aren’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue, their legacies endure.

Frankly, its the juxtaposition of these two events, the trip and the pageant, five years apart but on the same day that stand out to me. I think it's worth it simply to point out their anniversaries in history.

I think I'll let Gorman have the quote of the day, quoting this line from a 1980 interview. I like it because reading it made me question my assumptions once again. Also, because while she was directing it to someone else, it sounds as if she were talking to me:

"Write this down, young man. Life has been extremely, I say extremely, kind."

From Wilmington's Bible Handbook:

It's primeval history (universal world history) of the world (universe) made up of 5 stories with the same structure. (1-11)

  • The Fall

  • Cain

  • Sons of God marrying daughters of man

  • The Flood

  • Tower of Babel

  • They all follow this 4-fold pattern:

    • Sin: the sin is described

    • Speech: There is a speech by God announcing the penalty for the sin

    • Grace: God brings grace to the situation to ease the misery due to sin

    • Punishment: God punishes the sin

Patriarchal history (12-50) or the history of Israel's founding fathers. It continues to reveal the many graces of God based on the gracious promise God made to and through Abraham in Genesis 12:3.

Who wrote Genesis? According the Old and New Testaments, Moses c. 15th century BC. Jesus confirms this, with the exception of Genesis. The religious leaders of Jesus' day credited Moses with writing it (Luke 20:28) and early Jewish writers viewed Moses as the author of all 5 books.

During his years in the Egyptian royal family, Moses could have become a skilled writer and historian as the Egyptians were quite advanced and he'd have had access to top tutors. He was, after all, a prince of Egypt.

Moses would have been an eye-witness and contemporary to all that happened and was recorded in Exodus-Deuteronomy. However, not so for Genesis. So how did he write this?

God gave it all to him.

Passed down orally.

Passed down in writing.

Any of these would make Moses an editor or compiler of ancient history from Adam to his day around after he led Israel out of Egypt in and through the wilderness enroute to the Promise Land.

Abraham c. 2,000 BC

End of Genesis c. 1,800 BC

Exodus c. 1,500 BC (1.440s) after 400 years in Egypt

Truths to note

  • God existed and exists eternally

  • God exists in plural unity as the Holy Trinity

  • God was in the beginning

  • God was before anything existed in our universe and the universe itself

  • God created everything that exists in the universe and the universe itself

  • God creates something from nothing Latin ex nihilo

    • An atheist scientist came to God and said, “We’ve figured out how to make a man without you.” God said, “OK, let me see you do it.” So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, “Oh, no you don’t. Get your own dirt!”

  • God creates with words. He spoke creation into existence. His words still have power.

  • God creates purposefully for his glory and our good.

  • God starts with light to display his creation and provide an essential ingredient for life.

  • God only creates things that are good. Together it was all very good and will be again.

  • God is a God of order and moves from chaos to order.

  • Elohim (gods) intensifies God's divine majesty, when used as a noun. When used as a verb, it's singular for there is only one true God.

  • God created all things. "Heavens and earth"

  • God created an "open" universe, not a "closed" one where he never interacts

Notes from Bible Project Videos

1-11 God and the world

12:3 Hinge verse

12-50 God and Abraham's family

Disorder --> Order

Adam = human

Humanity created to:

  1. Reflect God's character (image)

  2. Represent God's rule (reign)

  3. Harness creation's potential and create beauty and order

"Blessing" is a key word here

Choice: Tree of knowledge of good and evil

  1. Trust God's definition of good and evil, or

  2. Seize autonomy and define good and evil for themselves?

Serpent (against God) tells a different story. He lies when he tells them that if they eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they will be like God. Because they already are like God (made in his image).

Heavens and earth aka skies and land

Formless and empty aka wild and waste

Deep abyss = dark, chaotic ocean

Days 1-3 God splits apart and forms this disordered waste into 3 ordered realms:

  1. Realm: Time. God splits darkness and light on Day 1.

  2. Realm: Sky & Seas. God splits the waters into water canopy or clouds (or both) and sea on Day 2.

  3. Realm: Land. God brings land out of water and includes vegetation on it on Day 3.

Days 4-6 God

  1. Day 4 brings lights--sun, moon and stars to reflect his light in space.

  2. Day 5 brings creations to fill the sky and sea

  3. Day 6 brings land animals and humanity to fill the land.

First poem in the Bible (1:27) celebrates God's creation where he completed the skies, land and inhabitants. God completes and rests and dwells in this sacred space he treats as a temple. The world or at least the garden of Eden is his temple.

"As America’s “loneliness epidemic” continues to impact Americans nationwide and foster increased social tension, there could be a simple cure: “Make a new friend,” our old friend David French argued in the New York Times. “There is a class divide in the percentage of Americans who can rely on someone to give them a ride to the doctor, lend them a small amount of money in an emergency or offer a place to stay. Another way of putting this is that the Americans who are most vulnerable to losing the informal social safety net of friends and relatives may be the people who need it the most. … The thought that so many millions of our fellow citizens feel as if they don’t belong, as if they can’t call anyone for help or simply lack the pure joy of fellowship with close friends should grieve us all. It should change the way we behave. It should make us be more intentional about reaching out to people. And it should call us to action in our own neighborhoods and communities.”" -morning dispatch

The Pattern

See D. J. A. Clines, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, No. 38 (1976), pp. 487, 488. Clines explains that Gerhard Von Rad initially observed a pattern of sin, mitigation, and punishment. Then Claus Westermann discerned another element, that of divine speech. Though he did not include it in the pattern, Clines does. Thus the following chart:

I.

II.

III.

IV.

SIN

SPEECH

GRACE

PUNISHMENT

  1. FALL

3:6

3:14-19

3:21

3:22-24

  1. CAIN

4:8

4:10-12

4:15

4:16

  1. SONS OF GOD

6:2

6:3

6:8, 18ff

7:6-24

  1. FLOOD

6:5, 11f

6:7, 13-21

6:8, 18ff

11:8

  1. BABEL

11:4

11:6f

10:1-32

11:8

Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes, chapter 1, note 3, p. 625

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Let’s ask some summary sermon questions:

Q. What do I want them to know?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to know it?

A.

Q. What do I want them to do about it?

A.

Q. Why do I want them to do it?

A.

Q. How can they begin to do this?

A.

OUTLINES

Outline for Genesis (Willmington)

I. GOD'S WORKING SCHEDULE (1:1-2:19)

A. First day: creation of light (1:3-5): "Then God said, 'Let there be light.'" He then divides the light from the darkness.

B. Second day: creation of space and water (1:6-8): He separates the atmospheric, upper water from the earthly, lower water.

C. Third day: creation of plant life (1:9-13): First he separates the water from the land. The earth then brings forth green grass, plants, trees, and vegetation of every kind.

D. Fourth day: creation of sun, moon, and stars (1:14-19)

E. Fifth day: creation of fish and fowl (1:20-23)

F. Sixth day: creation of land animals and people (1:24-31; 2:7-20)

1. The brute creatures: livestock and all wild beasts (1:24-25)

2. The blessed creature, who is given two things:

a. The image of God (1:26-27)

b. The instructions from God (1:26-31; 2:15-19)

(1) People are to rule over all nature (1:26, 28),

(2) to fill the earth with their own kind (1:28),

(3) to cultivate and care for their beautiful home, the Garden of Eden (2:15),

(4) to eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:16-17),

(5) and to provide names for all the other creatures (2:19-20).

G. Seventh day: God rests (2:1-6): His creative work is complete and is pronounced good. God blesses and sets apart the seventh day.

II. GOD'S WEDDING SCHEDULE (2:20-25)

A. The making of Eve (2:20-22): Eve, the first woman, is formed from the flesh and bone of Adam's side.

B. The marriage of Eve (2:23-25): Eve is returned to Adam's side.

"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is josted so his mare, and the two are united into one." This marks history's first marriage.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/

  1. Read the passage together.

  2. Retell the story in your own words.

  3. Discovery the story

    1. What does this story tell me about God?

    2. What does this story tell me about people?

    3. If this is really true, what should I do?

  4. What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)

  5. What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)

  6. Who am I going to tell about this?

Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast

Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:

  1. Who is God?

  2. What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?

  3. Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)

  4. What do I do? (In light of who I am)

  5. How do I do it?

Final Questions (Write this down)

  • What is God saying to you right now?

  • What are you going to do about it?

MAIN REFERENCES USED

“Genesis,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes

Exalting Jesus in Genesis, by Bethancourt

The Genesis Record, by Henry Morris

The Genesis Factor, by David Helms & Jon Dennis

“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)

“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)

“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)

Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)

Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)

NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/

Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)

ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org

The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com

“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)

Claude.ai

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Darien GabrielGrace Christian FellowshipGrace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Chaos to Covenant, Darien Gabriel, marriage, Genesis 2, non denominational church, bible believing church