Synopsis and Context – Session #1 Creation: The Beginning of Life as We Know It

The Story is the majority of the narrative portions of the Scripture that individually illustrate the acts of God and the events of the People of God. These vignettes, put together, help us to grasp the overarching message of Scripture. Put another way, these narratives that make up The Story are individual stones/tiles that collectively form the mosaic that fully depicts God’s great love for us – a story that describes the lengths God will go to help us find “home” with Him once more. Hence, The Story is not intended to take you away from the Bible in a simplistic manner, but rather to drive you back to its meaning, and with a better grasp of how it all fits together.

Formation, ‘Sin’ & Flood. God, by use of nothing but His Word, forms everything out of nothing. There was not, then He spoke and there was. There was not, then He spoke and there was: light, land, living creatures and likeness. This “likeness” was the climax of creation. “God created mankind in His own image.” pg. 3

God creates out of love; God acts first in a desire to bless, give, share and fellowship. “And, it was good.” Of course, this goodness lasts but three pages. Even as God is responsible for the formation, man is responsible for the what is described as “the fall.” pg. 5

In the exchange that follows, the LORD isn’t just assigning blame, nor is God simply seeking to make a point, when He cries, “What is this you have done?” What is apparent is that God laments: This action will change everything. “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.” pg. 6

The action and consequences of Adam and Eve are propelled into life outside of the Garden and to the first offspring. Here the notion of sin is seen to broaden to what we can bring against our brother [literally with the description of Cain and Abel].

Fall leads to flood. The LORD does not simply lament the fall, He ends up lamenting that He formed to begin with. “The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” pg. 8

Yet, The LORD does not wash away everything! God preserves two of all creatures and one family, which though fallen in nature, still cling to God in penitence and faith. The flood sets in stage the dual nature of God’s relationship to His people; that of order and grace. In one and the same act God condemns sin in fallen humanity and yet also grants redemption. Through the flood God pours out the fullness of the LORD’S wrath and at the same time through an ark grants the fullness of God’s grace. This chapter not only sets in stage the rest of the story to follow but provides a pattern of how our God will deal with that which He has formed. To know the “second half” of God’s story is to reflect upon the fact that the LORD will, in time, no longer simply walk among what He has formed as its Creator, but will ultimately choose to enter creation itself – in the second person of the Trinity, by being formed in the womb of woman.

Chapter (Session) #1 - The Beginning of Life as We Know It is ‘woven’ from Genesis Chapters 1—4 and 6—9. If you wanted to read the fuller story, here’s the outline:

Ch. 1 – Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath (Creation Story Pt. 1 – Genesis 1.1-2.3) Ch. 2 – The Garden of Eden (Creation Story Pt. 2 – Genesis 2.4-3.24) Ch. 3 – Expulsion from the Garden Ch. 4 – Cain murders Abel; Beginnings of Civilization *Ch. 5 – From Adam to Noah (Genealogy) NOT IN The Story Ch. 6 – The Wickedness of Humanity; The Command to Build an Ark Ch. 7 – The Great Flood Ch. 8 – The Flood Subsides; God’s Resolve Not to Destroy Ch. 9 – The Covenant with Noah; The Sons of Noah *Ch. 10 – Nations Descended from Noah NOT IN The Story *Ch. 11 – The Tower of Babel; Descendants of Shem; Descendants of Terah NOT IN The Story

There are some big themes to cover in Chapter 1 of The Story—events and concepts that have been studied for centuries appear in this first chapter alone. This is not a “final word,” but a narrative that invites you to explore and live into more fully. God Creates—It’s All Good (Genesis 1-2) • In the very first sentence of The Story, Genesis 1:1, the first four words are, “In the beginning

God...” The main character of the whole Bible is introduced in the first phrase—God. • After all of the things God created, He calls them “good.” But after He created man, He said it

was “very good.” So man is a unique creature, unlike any other of God’s created beings.

“Sin is established”—Everything Falls Apart (Genesis 3:1-7) • Genesis 3 recounts the day humanity’s struggle between good and evil began. It is a pivotal

moment in the story and one that we can all relate to. First, the serpent QUESTIONS God’s Word: In the garden he said to Eve, “Did God really

say you can’t eat from any of this fruit?” Then the serpent DENIES God’s Word: “You will not surely die.” Then the serpent REVERSES God’s Word: “Your eyes will be open, you’ll really live!” And sin becomes a CYCLE—passed from Adam and Eve onto their son Cain, and all the

way till the time of Noah when God destroys the earth with a flood.

God Promises—There is Still Hope (Genesis 3:15) • While Adam, Eve, Cain, Noah, and each of us are struggling with “sin” in the lower story, the

God of the universe is unfolding His Upper story. • Even in the midst of the chaos of the world, there are three hints of hope in Chapter 1 of The

Story: 1) The first Messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15; 2) God killing an animal to cover the shame of sin in Genesis 3:21; 3) The rainbow that symbolized God’s promise after the flood in Genesis 9:13. Conclusion Even in the midst of the world appearing all but bleak there is the ‘revelation’ of hope. This too becomes cyclical within The Story.

God’s Story – YOUR story! As one of Adam and Eve’s descendants, what does this chapter mean for you personally?

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The Story Chart of Bible References Topic Focus Text

The Beginning of Life as We Know It Creation Genesis 1 -8 God Builds a Nation Abraham Genesis 12-13, 15-17,

21-22, 32-33, 35, Romans 4, Hebrews 11

Joseph: From Slavery to Deputy Pharoah Joseph Genesis 37, 39, 41-48,50

Deliverance Moses Exodus 1-7, 10-17

New Commands and A New Covenant Moses Exodus 19-20, 24-25, 32-34,40

Wandering Moses Numbers 10-14, 20-21, 25,27 Deut. 1-2;4;6;8-9;29-34

The Battle Begins Joshua Joshua 1-2, 6, 8, 10-11, 23-24

A Few Good Men…and Women Judges Judges 2-4, 6-8, 13-16

The Faith of a Foreign Woman Ruth Ruth 1-4

Standing Tall, Falling Hard Saul 1 Samuel 1-4, 8-13, 15 From Shepherd to King David 1 Samuel 16-18, 24, 31,

2 Samuel 6, 22 1 Chronicles 17, Psalm 59

The Trials of a King David 2 Samuel 11-12, 18-19, 1 Chronicles 22, 29 Psalms 23, 32, 51

The King Who Had It All Solomon 1 Kings 1-8, 10-11, 2 Chronicles 5-7, Proverbs 1-3, 6, 20-21

A Kingdom Torn in Two Rehoboam/ 1 Kings 12-16 Jeroboam

God's Messengers Prophets 1 Kings 17-19, 2 Kings 2, 4, 6, Hosea 4-5, 8-9, 14, Amos 1, 3-5, 9

The Beginning of the End Fall of Israel 2 Kings 17-19, Isaiah 3, 6, 13-14, 49, 53

The Kingdoms’ Fall Fall of Judah 2 Kings 21, 23-25, 2 Chronicles 33, 36, Jeremiah 1-2, 4-5, 13, 21, Lamentations 1-3, 5,

Ezekiel 1-2, 6-7, 36-37

We all have inherent value and worth in God’s eyes regardless of health, possessions, abilities, accomplishments, or physical appearance. No matter what others think of us, each one of us is loved and valued by God. Because we are created in God’s image, we are inherently valuable and important to the LORD. Even though none of us are perfect, and we may not feel valuable, God still wants a relationship with us. Nothing we can do, have, or earn can make the LORD love us more or less.

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The Story Chart of References (continued)

Topic Focus Text

Daniel in Exile Daniel Daniel 1-3, 6, Jeremiah 29-31!

The Return Home Ezra Ezra 1-6, Haggai 1-2,

Zechariah 1, 8

The Queen of Beauty and Courage Esther Esther 1-9

Rebuilding the Walls Nehemiah Ezra 7, Nehemiah 1-2, 4, 6-8, Malachi 1-4

The Birth of the King Jesus Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; John 1

Jesus’ Ministry Begins Jesus Matthew 3-4; 11; Mark 1-3; Luke 8; John 1-4

No Ordinary Man Jesus Matthew 5-7; 9; 14;

Mark 4-6; Luke 10; 15; John 6

Jesus, the Son of God Jesus Matthew 17; 21; Mark 8-12; 14;

Luke 9;22; John 7-8; 11-12

The Hour of Darkness Jesus Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14; 16-19

The Resurrection Jesus (Easter) Matthew 27-28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 19-21

New Beginnings Early Church Acts 1-10; 12

Paul’s Mission Early Church Acts 13-14; 16-20;

Romans 1; 3-6; 8; 12; 15; 1 Corinthians 1;3;5-6; 10; 12-13; 15;16; Galatians 1; 3; 5-6; 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Paul’s Final Days Early Church Acts 20-23; 27-28;

Ephesians 1-6; 2 Timothy 1-4

The End of Time A New Revelation 1-5; 19-22

Beginning !

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