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Series: Beginnings (Genesis 1:1-3; 1:26; 3:1-6; 15:6)Series Description: When we were kids, mistakes were magically fixed with a “do-over.” As adults, God knows we still need “do-overs.” Good thing the Bible begins with a book called “Genesis.” It is not merely the beginning—it tells the story of “new-beginnings.” Generation after generation—Adam, Noah, and Abraham—God gave second chances. Perhaps it’s time for a reboot for you, your church, or your community! Sermon #1: Creation, Genesis 1:1-3Question: Why are we here?Introduction: The most basic question of life is this: Why are we here? It’s foundational for virtually every religion and philosophy. It’s a universal question. I don’t even need to ask if you’ve asked that question. We all have…we all do! And let’s not kid ourselves, it’s not easy to answer. Just because we’re in church doesn’t mean we can smugly quote a scripture and pretend this answers the question that all of us continue to wrestle with. The pain of life makes any easy answers seem insufficient. If you have experienced pain, you know the problem. [STORY: Insert a current story of someone you are ministering to who is going through a serious difficulty.] How would you answer their questions about the purpose of life? Or if you are in transition, perhaps a divorce, or moving away from home, or caring for aging parents. Both pain and life experiences force us to answer this question again and again. So, for this foundational question, let’s go back to the beginning—the very beginning:“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” [Genesis 1:1] What a seemingly simple statement. God made stuff…all stuff. End of story, right? Hardly. Perhaps you realize that Christianity is not the only religion that believes God created the world. However, our world view is radically different than virtually every other religion. This is not a criticism of anyone else just an explanation of why the biblical worldview is so different and why that matters so much to so many. It may even matter to you because however we answer this question will determine how we manage the most challenging seasons of life. Whether we have hope or despair; whether we pray or persevere, whether we see meaning beyond the seemingly random suffering in our world. So, let’s take a look at a simple statement with profound ramifications.God CreatedGod created the world. Most people would agree with that. However, it was actually a rare idea when it was first recorded. You see, every other religion of the ancient near east assumed that matter was eternal, and the gods arose out of matter. So, gods were part of creation, not the cause of it. Judaism shot a thunderbolt through philosophy by this simple statement in Genesis 1:1. Suddenly, God is the creator, not just a manipulator of material. Let me say that again, God is the creator, not just the manipulator of the material. You know why this matters even if you don’t know how you know this matters. Whatever we create we care about. Have you ever created anything? A poem, painting, business, team, garden, table, or Thanksgiving dinner. What is the last thing you created? [Share a personal story of something you created, perhaps even show it off]. To you, this may not look like much. But I love it! In fact, (this is embarrassing) after I finished it, I kept going back to look at it, to touch it, to ask my wife if she noticed it…AGAIN. I took a picture of it and posted it on Instagram. Why? Because it has my fingerprints on it. We all know this—when your fingerprints are on it your heart is in it. You know why? Because we’re like God. No, seriously, God embedded his creative instinct in me, you as well. That’s why we are all so insatiably creative. Whether it is art, architecture, poetry, welding, music, or interior design, we just love to make stuff and we love the stuff we make. Our creations are extensions of ourselves.If you get this, you will realize something truly magnificent: God is nuts about you for no other reason that you have his fingerprints all over you. He can’t help himself—you are HIS. Unlike other creation stories, our God is “bought in” and “sold out” to what he made because it is an extension of himself. Our God cannot be distant or disinterested. This is really powerfully good news. This is also distinctly a different world view and it’s straight out of Judaism.The Jewish God of creation was intimately connected to and invested in his creation. Unlike other worldviews where the gods were capricious or cruel, the God of the Bible walked with Adam and Eve in the garden and wants to walk with you as well. Listen carefully. When God is the Creator, he is also Father. He takes responsibility for this world. That’s a big deal. BUT, it gets better. The Jewish creation story paints God as a Father. What Christian teaching adds is far more. You see, we don’t just believe that God is Father, but also that he is the son and spirit.Spirit CreatedVerse 1 states that God created the world. Verse 2 says, “The Spirit of God was hovering over the chaotic waters.” The concept of the deep and the dark was a Jewish idea of chaos. The Spirit of God in Judaism was a lifeless force. Jesus, however, introduced the spirit as a unique person of the Godhead. Thus, in verse two we encounter the second member of the Trinity. And what is he doing? He is hovering. That Hebrew word indicates a kind of vibration or quaking. It is not unlike your grandmother 30 minutes before houseguests arrive. She is scurrying about, taking care of last-minute details, so that her home is in order and a safe environment for guests.The first time we meet the Holy Spirit, he is bringing order out of chaos so that we can thrive in an environment created by God. That’s a pretty good job description for what the Spirit always does. Where there is disorder, he brings order. Where there is chaos…Download the full sermon series kit for the complete sermon … ................
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