We didn't approach creation with discussions about Big Bang, Hesitation Model, Oscillation Model, Inflation Model, or Gap Theories. We talked about six areas of creation, attempting to process them from God's point of view.
Why did God create Adam?
For relationship.
Not for self-sufficiency and independence.
Why did God create Eve?
Additional good. 2:20 helper
Not to walk 6 steps behind a man, fully cloaked.
Not to be a feminist pushing for authority.
Not to be a sex object.
What was this marriage to accomplish?
1:28 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.
No mention of population control (1child/family) or abortion.
What misconceptions do people have about marriage?
What was their occupation? What shall I be when I grow up?
2:15 “...cultivate and keep...” Till the soil, tend the creation.
Not destroy the environment to create personal empires.
Why the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
Free will to choose obedience.
Why didn’t God intervene to prevent the fall?
Is this still the case?
Do we elevate our own knowledge acquisition over obedience?
What can we learn about worship from Cain and Abel?
There is a right and wrong way to approach God.
Do you believe that is still true? What does it mean?
Post-fall, it required a sacrificial lamb.
Post-resurrected Christ, is it only through the Lamb that was slain?
Does the world believe this? Do you?
4:7 Who must master sin? How did Cain do?
How do you do? Rom.6:12-14.
So, how did things go in the first 1500 years? How did people do in embracing God's intentions?
Why the flood?
Genesis 6:5 “...the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually...”
How did it affect God? 6:6 It grieved Him.
When man lives for man, without God, chaos is always created.
Conversely, the presence of God always brings order.
Do you see order or chaos in the world today - in Men, Women, Marriages, Occupation, Free will, and Worship?
What are misconceptions about marriage? I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer here, I think there are root problems Americans have in the way they think and these things may come to the surface and be more easily seen in marriage.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn’t God intervene to prevent the fall? Because without free choice love cannot exist, love doesn't force it offers. And yes this is still true today.
Do we elevate our own knowledge acquisition over obedience? For sure, in the west we recognize that knowledge is power however, James says if we know but don't obey then we are deceived. In John, Jesus says we are his friends if we do what he says.
We can learn from Cain and Abel that there is a right and also a wrong way to approach God. I do believe this is still true and can think of a few wrong ways to approach God but not a good quick summary.
How do we master sin? Romans 6:12-14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Instead of focusing on trying really hard not to sin, focus on God and His purposes for your life. David got into trouble when he took a step back from danger and decided to play it safe and stayed inside the city instead of going to war. Might be some truth in that saying in the older saying idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Is there chaos or order in the world today? Both, wheat and the tares.