Lesson 1       Introduction to Genesis

By examining the time, place, message and people of Genesis, we will better understand the crucial place the Book of Genesis plays both in the scriptures and in our lives in this modern world.

Objectives:
·         Provide two outlines of Genesis to understand its purposes and content.
·         Reflect on the place of Genesis in the Pentateuch and the Bible through charts.
·         Get a better confidence in the unity of the Book of Genesis by looking at time charts.
·         Provide six graphic ways Genesis truths are interweaved into the whole Bible.
·         Challenge us to the necessity of embedding the truths of Genesis in our lives to live strong Christian lives.

Lesson 2                               Genesis 1:1-2:3   

Creation and the Worship of God

Man's perspective of God, the world and self is largely formed from the truths of Genesis 1 to 2:3.  The different major concepts of God, including atheism will be presented under the task of obtaining a scriptural view of the world (cosmology).

Objectives:
·         Understand what the scriptures say about the creation of the world.
·         Show why every person is responsible to worship God with His whole heart.
·         Give evidence of the need to consciously lean upon God for both our physical and spiritual needs.
·         Recognize that God is free to use creation to serve His own purposes.

Lesson 3                                Genesis 2:4-17       

Relationship of God and Man

Genesis 2:4-17 defines how our relationship with God should function. We see God's great desire to enter into an intimate relationship with man, which, in turn, becomes man's supreme purpose in life. This relationship is fortified by our complete obedience.

Objectives:
·         Show how important our relationship is with God through.
·         Describe how the relationship between God and man works.
·         Encourage each person to have a personal relationship with God through Christ.
·         Convince all that to maintain a good relationship with God is the most important pursuit in life and requires obedience, repentance and acceptance of His gestures of love and obedience.

Lesson 4                                 Genesis 2:18-25     

The Foundations of Marriage

When God first created man and woman, he also established marriage and the family relationship on which every society is built. It outlines for us the principles that we need to abide by to have a healthy and strong marriage.

Objectives:
·         Understand the true intimacy we should have with our spouses.
·         Recognize the uniqueness of a marriage relationship.
·         Appreciate the distinct roles of man and woman in a family.
·         Understand the proper role of our parents after marriage.

Lesson 5                                     Genesis 3:1-13

The Fall

This section details for us how God created mankind in innocence but not without responsibility to trust and obey God his/her creator under whose sovereignty he had the freedom, innocence and vice-regent position. The God of the Bible had given clear-cut boundary for Mankind's own good. A third player, the devil, evil personified, seeks to kill, steal or destroy man’s welfare, worship and allegiance to God. The devil acts by deceit and succeeds in his goals only when we set aside our trust and obedience to God. Put to the devil's test, Adam and Eve failed and incurred death (both spiritual and physical) of far enormous consequences than the glory that the devil/serpent promised; all their descendants, which inherit the sentence of death, is dominated by a sin nature. We struggle with this condition and stand in need of redemption from the rule of sin and death.

Objectives:
·         By examining the line of questioning by the serpent, Eve’s decision making process, and Adam's response, we seek to understand the critical lessons to all subsequent mankind, fallen or redeemed, on the critical priority of knowing what God has said.
·         Underscore the importance of trusting Him enough to take his word the most seriously and putting it above all other considerations and promises of advancement or glorification made by anyone (other than God) in making all decisions of life, trivial or serious, and including temptations.
·         Realize God never asks us to set aside His precepts in order to obtain His promises.

Lesson 6                                      Genesis 3:14-24

God’s Grace in a Fallen World

We often get angry with God and the world for things that go wrong. We would ask: “Why did God allow these bad things to happen?” and think we deserve better things because we are good. Genesis 3 documents the original sin and the curse that was placed on the world as a result of that sin. However, we have the assurance God triumphs over evil and His grace is sufficient for us even in this sinful world.

Objectives:
·         Recognize the deviation from God’s original design after sin was introduced into the world.
·         Understand the inevitable consequence of sin.
·         Realize God’s provision and His love in the midst of sin.
·         Look forward to God’s ultimate victory over sin.

Lesson 7                                      Genesis 4

Anger and Violence

The seeds of sin sown by Adam and Eve in their lives by trusting the devil and acting against the clear command of God led to death—a state in which sin has dominion in their lives and is passed on to subsequent generations. As we examine the lineage of Adam via Cain to the 6th generation, we see the characteristics of the acquired sinful nature unfold even more. Two horrible murders in the descendants of Cain: Cain is unable to offer a sacrifice acceptable to God but his brother Abel is. Out of jealousy and anger, Cain kills his own brother Abel for outperforming him before God! Lamech, out of vengeance, kills a young man for hurting him.

Objectives:
·         Explore how God expects and commands Cain (fallen man) to deal with these very destructive traits in a godly manner.  
·         Explore how God expects and commands redeemed man in the same context.

Lesson 8                                      Genesis 5-9

The Godly Seed

As God-mandated procreation continues from Adam and Eve, the generations go along two distinct lines - that of Cain and that of Seth. As Seth’s line reaches Noah, we see the progression of the dominance of sin in the lives of mankind, and very forcefully in the general culture and thinking. While man couldn’t/wouldn’t care about God, that did not make him free from his accountability to God, nor deprive God of his sovereignty, ability and will to judge and punish mankind.

Eventually this merciful and patient God, thought to be ignorable, of no consequence, unbearable or wished dead by the dominant culture, exercises his sovereignty by destroying all mankind and flesh by the flood. Only one man and his family were spared, a tiny percentage but a very serious exception and example. God spared him, not because he did outwit God but because he found grace before God. This God still reigns!

Objectives:
·         Understand how Noah found grace before God and how he could stand against such powerful trends of the culture, despite his own sinfulness. How that helps us in our day.
·         Recognize the characteristics of the dominant culture in Noah's day and how they mirror today's conditions and current trends in our dominant cultures.
·         Is the flood a myth or a fable that can be ignored? To examine the significance of this event in the rest of Scripture, in history and the future.
·         Affirm that regardless of what the culture thinks, this God still reigns and has not lost any of His abilities. He is able to and will judge mankind and sin. He also knows how to deliver the righteous from His wrath and judgment.

Lesson 9                                      Genesis 10-11

Unity & Diversity

The development of the nations as revealed in Genesis 10 and 11 not only enable us to trace Abraham's line back to Noah's godly line but also to discover the keys to understanding our modern society's linguistic and national groups.

Objectives:
·         Depict the connection between the ancient world of Abraham with Noah and the modern world through the genealogical records.
·         Show the development of language.
·         Deepen our faith and commitment to the God of the scriptures.
·         Caution the class on the subtle threats and dangers of today's world culture.

Lesson 10                                   Genesis 12-22

Abraham's Journey of Faith

An analysis of Abraham's life in Genesis 12 to 22 shows us how to grow in our own faith. We will not only see the places Abraham had to wait upon God but also explain the spiritual principles needed to grow in our faith.

Objectives:
·         Examine how Abraham's trials in life became the place that his faith grew.
·         Describe the importance faith plays in a Christian's life and how to cultivate it.
·         Outline some practical steps for us to be men and women of faith.

Lesson 11                                   Genesis 12-16

Avoiding the Detours of Life

The three detours in Abraham's life in Genesis 12 to 16 help us avoid making detours in our own spiritual journeys.

Objectives:
·         Better identify with Abraham so that we can learn from his life.
·         Show how insecurities develop and explain how to avoid such paths.
·         Challenge each person to live faithful to God's Word in this relativistic age.
·         Prioritize living by faith and rejecting the making of life decisions by our senses.

Lesson 12                                   Genesis 18-19

Steps to Destruction

Lot's life in Genesis 18-19 gives us a clear picture of the tensions and temptations of living in a degenerated society. The steps on how a society decays will be explored.

Objectives:
·         Understand the facts of why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed and how they stand for a symbol of God’s anger upon wayward cultures of today.
·         Better understand the tension of living in a pagan culture and how to resist sin.
·         Deepen our discernment of the world in our own culture and God’s hatred for those things.
·         Personally make those decisions that would keep us from the touch of the world.

Lesson 13                                   Genesis 21-28

Isaac’s Life and Model of Godly Wife

The account of Isaac and Rebekah gives us a glimpse of the lives of a God-fearing couple. Genesis chapters 21 to 26 shows in minute detail the thoughts and actions, successes and failures of the patriarch. In particular, it provides a role model for Godly courtship.

Objectives:
·         Recognize the importance of submission to God rather than fleshly desires in all areas of life.
·         Examine the qualities of a Godly woman.
·         Demonstrate God faithfulness and blessing in spite of our weaknesses and failures.

Lesson 14                                   Genesis 27-36

Jacob Learning to Trust and Yield

The story of Jacob reveals the struggle between trusting God and relying on oneself. It reminds us that trusting and yielding to God is a decision we need to make at every occasion. Obedience brings more blessings while disobedience brings hardship and suffering.

Objectives:
·         Recognize that God works through circumstances to provide for our needs.
·         Be confident that God’s timing is always the best.
·         Realize that our old nature is constantly trying to assert its control in our lives, drawing us away from God.

Lesson 15                                   Genesis 27-36

Appreciating God's Discipline

Jacob's life as found in Genesis 27 to 36 provides us special insights into how the tendency to pass sin from one generation to another occurs. From this we can learn how to escape the devastating effects of intergenerational sins.

Objectives:
·         Observe the way sins were passed down to Jacob’s life.
·         See and understand the consequences that always follow sin.
·         Make decisions to uncover our own sins and repent from them.
·         Keep searching for other sin infested areas of our lives.
·         Better appreciate God’s grace in working with Jacob who later became Israel.

Lesson 16                                   Genesis 37-50

Joseph: An Example of Faith & Forgiveness

Joseph’s rags-to-riches story teaches us the key to a successful life is to trust God. By allowing God to use him wherever He pleases and whenever He chooses, God is able to use Joseph to the fullest. Through the ups and downs of his life, Joseph knew God was with him even when circumstance do not make sense.

Objectives:
·         Recognize that obstacles in life can be used by God to train and mold us for greater effectiveness.
·         Affirm that God’s plan is the most optimal and His timing is always the best.
·         Understand the proper perspective on forgiveness.

Lesson 17                                   Genesis 37-50

Joseph’s Fortitude Against Temptations

When success comes, so do temptations. Joseph’s success was established on his commitment to live his life in accordance with God’s principles. Joseph carefully avoided the temptations that would cause him to stray onto the wrong path. Just as in our lives, there were many distractions along the way in Joseph’s life.

Objectives:
·         Understand the nature of temptations.
·         Recognize tactics Satan uses to cause us to stumble.
·         Become familiar with ways to withstand temptations

Lesson 18                              Review and Discussion

The overall goal of the class is to help the students grasp the basic principles presented in the book of Genesis in order to retain and apply the lessons learned.

Activities:
·         Final Exam
·         Question and Answer session
·         Brief time of sharing