Complete Genesis Study Guide - Growing Christians Ministries

Genesis Study Guide for

Growing Christians Ministries

Box 2268, Westerly, RI 02891

Lesson 1

background notes

1. 2. 3.

God Created the Heavens and the Earth Genesis 1:1

doctrinal / teaching point

1. The Bible teaches the universe was created, but God is eternal.

practical application

1. Are your priorities in line with the first verse of the Bible?

questions

1. Who was the inspired author of the Pentateuch? What is the Pentateuch?

2. Events recorded in Genesis begin with ____________________, and end with the death of ____________________.

3. Is the creation account a) a Hebrewparable with symbolic language, b) a Hebrewpoem, or c) a historical narrative? Why do you think so?

4. Is it a reasonable faith to believe that the universe was created, but God is eternal? Why?

5. It requires faith to believe Genesis 1:1. Cite at least one other Bible verse to support this.

6. When is the word, "create," used in the Bible?

answers

1. Moses, who was an eyewitness to the events recorded in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The Pentateuch comprises the first five books of the Bible.

2. The events in Genesis begin with creation and end with the death of Joseph, taking place before the time of Moses. However, Moses wrote about these events. He may have had some historical documents, perhaps written by the earlier patriarchs, or God could have revealed them directly to him.

3. c) a historical narrative _________________________.

4. Yes. Because the only other logical option would be to believe that the universe is eternal. And a universe cannot just start out of nothing.

5. Hebrews 11:3, and Psalm 90:1-2.

6. The word, "create," is the Hebrewword, "bara." It is only used in the Bible for God's activity, and never used for man's activity. This emphasizes that God brought this universe into existence out of nothing. See Romans 4:17.

discuss / consider

1. The second lawof thermodynamics, a proven scientific lawin nature, indicates that the universe is running down and becoming more disordered as time goes on. Howdoes this relate to Genesis 1:1?

2. The first lawof thermodynamics states that matter or energy is not being created at the present time, but is only changing in form. Howdoes this relate to Genesis 1:1?

challenge

1. Are your priorities in line with the first verse of the Bible? Does God come first in your life? If not, list your idols. (An idol is anything that comes before God in your life; anything that comes between you and God).

2. See Hebrews 11:3 and 11:6. In what ways do these verses describe your own faith?

memorize

"In the beginningGod created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

Lesson 2

The Earth Was Without Form and Void Genesis 1:2

background notes

1.

2.

3.

doctrinal / teaching points

1. There was a time when the earth was formless and empty.

2. There was never a time when the earth was not under God's control.

practical application

1. Remember that your life is never out of God's care and control.

questions

1. Who formed the earth through a process? Who was controlling the process? 2. Those with a high viewof Scripture have two theories about the first verse of the Bible. What are they? 3. Howdoes the creation account give evidence not only of God's power, but of God's very divine nature? 4. What is the "matter-old, light-young" theory of the creation of the universe? 5. What is the "gap" theory of the creation of the universe? 6. Was there a time when the earth was not under God's control?

answers

1. God. The Spirit of God.

2. The verse is a summary statement of all that is to followin the creation account, or it is part of the first day of creation week.

3. One way God's nature is reflected in creation is in the fact that God created a tri-universe. That is, a spacematter-time universe. As God is a trinity (one in essence, yet three persons), so is the universe.

4. This theory states that Genesis 1:1 refers to the creation of the basic matter that God used to form this universe, but that it is not part of day one. Rather, it is billions of years in the past; Genesis 1:2 represents the millions or billions of years in time when God was slowly forming the earth; and Genesis 1:3 begins God's creation week in the not-too-distant past.

5. The "gap" theory, or the "ruin and reconstruction" theory, states that Genesis 1:1 describes an original perfect creation, including life; Genesis 1:2 represents a ruined creation, involving many years of time; and Genesis 1:3 begins God's re-creation or reconstruction week.

6. Never!

discuss / consider

1. Reviewthe matter-old, light-young theory. What are its shortcomings in light of Scripture?

2. Reviewthe gap theory. What are its shortcomings in light of Scripture?

challenge

1. Does your life at times seem dark and out of control? Remember that your life is never out of God's care and control. See 1 Peter 5:7.

memorize

"The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hoveringover the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2

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