Genesis Course Reading Guide

How to use the guide

Required reading stays focused

Watch the lesson video as the required viewing.
Read the assigned chapter or section from the enrolled course book.
Use optional deeper reading only when it is helpful.
No separate lesson audio is required.
Future lesson quizzes will include one or two questions from the required reading.
Read at your own pace; time estimates are approximate.

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Assigned course-book readings

Lesson-by-lesson reading map

Genesis Overview

An Introduction to Genesis

Required: An Introduction to Genesis — Objectives, The Genius of Genesis, and Genesis: Its Reliability and Unity.

PDF pages: 13-18 · About 8 minutes

This opening selection establishes the book’s purpose, structure, reliability, and unity.

Open lesson

Genesis Overview

The Theme of Grace in Genesis

Required: An Introduction to Genesis — Themes of Genesis through Themes of the Bible.

PDF pages: 19-24 · About 7 minutes

Follow the major themes that begin in Genesis and unfold through the rest of Scripture.

Open lesson

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Creation and the Worship of God

Required: Genesis 1:1-31 - The Worship of God the Creator — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 25-40 · About 25 minutes

Read the full creation study, focusing on God as Maker, Designer, Provider, Purpose, and Deliverer.

Optional deeper reading: Genesis 1 - Reflections on World’s Religions (PDF pages 41-46 · about 8 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 4:1-12

The Penetration of Evil: Religion Kills

Required: Genesis 4:1-12 - The Penetration of Evil — The Infiltration of Evil through the end of the chapter.

PDF pages: 143-156 · About 23 minutes

Concentrate on Cain’s worship, anger, refusal to repent, and the widening influence of evil.

Optional deeper reading: The Basic Worldview and Connecting Genesis 3 and 4 (PDF pages 137-142 · about 9 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 5-9

The Preservation of the Godly Seed

Required: The Pre-Flood Compromise and A Nasty Spring Cleaning — Genesis 6:1-13 and Genesis 6:14-9:29.

PDF pages: 162-180 · About 32 minutes

Trace the corruption before the Flood, God’s choice of Noah, the ark, judgment, and the renewed beginning.

Optional deeper reading: Genesis 5 Patriarchal Chart: Since the Beginning of Time (PDF pages 157-161 · about 6 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 10-11

Unity and Diversity

Required: Genesis 10-11 - Unity & Diversity: Noah’s Sons and Babel — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 181-196 · About 22 minutes

Read the table of nations and Babel study with attention to humanity’s unity, diversity, pride, language, and culture.

Open lesson

Genesis 12:1-9

Journey of Faith

Required: Genesis 12:1-9 - Our Journey of Faith — Your Journey of Faith through the Summary before He Faced Life Challenges.

PDF pages: 197-214 · About 31 minutes

Focus on Abram’s call, obedience, future promises, blessing, and dependence on God.

Open lesson

Genesis 12-16, 20

Responding to Life Challenges

Required: Genesis 12-16, 20 - Abraham’s Costly Detours — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 229-243 · About 23 minutes

Study Abraham’s place, person, and procedure detours and the consequences of stepping away from God’s direction.

Open lesson

Genesis 13:1-18

Our Life Journey

Required: Genesis 12:1-9 - Our Journey of Faith — He Faced Life Challenges and He Prioritized Spiritual Relationships.

PDF pages: 214-221 · About 13 minutes

Consider how obstacles, relationships, obedience, worship, and spiritual priorities shape the direction of life.

Optional deeper reading: Person Detour (Genesis 13-14) in Abraham’s Costly Detours (PDF pages 234-235 · about 3 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 14:1-24

Steps to a Growing Faith

Required: Genesis 14 - Abraham Saves Lot and Learns Much — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 244-265 · About 34 minutes

Follow the chapter’s three movements: observe God’s blessing, utilize His blessing, and secure your heart in God alone.

Open lesson

Genesis 21-26

Making Tough Choices

Required: Genesis 25:1-34 - Making Right Decisions — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 299-315 · About 25 minutes

Focus on family history, God’s promise, election, responsibility, and the long-term results of personal decisions.

Optional deeper reading: Genesis 25-35 - Appreciating God’s Discipline (PDF pages 290-298 · about 11 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 23

Living by Faith

Required: Genesis 12-22 - Abraham’s Journey of Faith — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 222-227 · About 7 minutes

Review the promise-and-faith framework that prepares Abraham to face grief and act in hope in Genesis 23.

Open lesson

Genesis 28:10-22

Surprising Encounters

Required: Genesis 28:10-19 - Surprising Encounters with God — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 316-331 · About 25 minutes

Study Jacob’s unexpected encounter, God’s self-revelation and promises, and Jacob’s response.

Open lesson

Genesis 31-32

The Making of a Man of God

Required: Genesis 31-32 - The Making of a Man of God — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 332-336 · About 6 minutes

Observe how God changes Jacob through pressure, fear, prayer, wrestling, brokenness, and blessing.

Open lesson

Genesis 39:1-23

Pursuing Integrity

Required: Genesis 39:1-23 - Pursuing Integrity — God’s Standards (Genesis 39:7-20) through the end of the chapter.

PDF pages: 348-365 · About 28 minutes

Concentrate on temptation, loyalty, God’s standards, false accusation, imprisonment, and continued faithfulness.

Optional deeper reading: God Oversees Our Life Affairs (PDF pages 339-347 · about 17 minutes).

Open lesson

Genesis 45-50

Resilience in Difficult Times

Required: Genesis 42-47:12 - Joseph’s Disillusionment — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 366-382 · About 28 minutes

Trace Joseph’s tests and his responses to loss, mistrust, hatred, delayed understanding, and God’s timing.

Open lesson

Genesis 50:15-26

Essentials of Forgiveness

Required: Genesis 50:15-26 - Essentials of Forgiveness — Complete chapter.

PDF pages: 383-392 · About 17 minutes

Study freely, fully, friendly, and forgetful forgiveness as Joseph entrusts justice and the future to God.

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