Genesis
The Book of Foundations
Teachers: Jesse, Marty, Michael, Paul, and Ridge
Oakland International Fellowship, Pittsburgh
Class completed
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The concepts that arise from Genesis build a fundamental understanding of life, society, and worship. While the media has hammered secular and evolutionary ideas into our minds to forge us into a new kind of society, God’s powerful truths revealed in Genesis provide the keys to understanding and building a great society and people–the kingdom of God.
Genesis
The
Book of Foundations
1) An Introduction of Genesis (1-50)
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 the way it undergirds our faith to live strong vibrant lives in this modern world.
Get a perspective of Genesis by making a rough chart while you speed read the book. Make a chart to get a better perspective. Download: pdf | docx
2) Creation and the Worship of God (Gen 1:1-2:3)
Creation is God's handiwork from which we can understanding the Lord and His grand purposes. This lesson clearly shows how Genesis 1 presents the gospel.
Pre/post class: Are you a creationist or evolutionist? Write down what you believe about creation and how this will shape your belief about God, mankind, sin, and the Bible.
Check out this blog from R.C. Sproul not only provides clear descriptions of the four positions common among Christians but his own journey of belief.
3) Relationship of God and Man (Gen 2:4-17)
Genesis 2:4-17 defines how our relationship with God should function. God's strong desire to hold an intimate relationship with people becomes a key element for us to understand, accept and embrace God’s purposes for our lives.
Are you a creationist or evolutionist? Write down what you believe about creation and how this shapes your beliefs.
Handout: docx
Slides: pptx
Audio: mp3
4) The Foundations of Marriage (Gen 2:18-25)
God provides the blueprint for marriage in the Bible and gives clear guidelines to having a fulfilling marriage relationship.
5) The Fall (Gen 3:1-13)
The fall of mankind away from God’s presence explains many problems encountered in our daily lives. Without knowing what happened in the Garden of Eden, we would have no understanding of temptation, sin or redemption.
6) God’s Grace in a Fallen World (Gen 3:14-24)
Did you ever ask: “Why did God allow these bad things to happen?” and think we deserve better things because we are good. Chapter 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.
7) Sin Leads to Death: Cain’s Descent (Gen 4)
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 ruled over the lives of all as it is passed down 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.
8) The Preservation of the Godly Seed (Gen 5-9)
Adam and Eve's ancestors follow two distinct lines–that of Cain and Seth. Seth’s line, the godly line, influences righteous Noah despite the dominant sinful culture around him and his family. God's uses a flood and an ark to preserve a godly line through Noah so He can communicate His Word to him and preserve hope for salvation.
9) Unity & Diversity (Gen 10-11)
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 and how modern society is connected to ancient civilizations.
10) Abraham’s Journey of Faith (Gen 12)
An analysis of Abraham’s life in Genesis 12 to 22 shows us how to grow in our own faith. Abraham not only had to wait for God’s promises but also show the spiritual principles needed to grow in our faith.
11) Responding to Life Challenges (Gen 12-16)
Our lives are full of events to which we must respond by faith in the Lord. Life detours result from a missing or misplaced faith bringing unnecessary consequences into God’s plans for us. A mature faith enables us to consistently trust God as our Guide, Provider, and Protector. The three detours in Abraham’s life in Genesis 12 to 16 help us avoid making detours on our own spiritual journeys. So practical!
12) Steps to Destruction (Gen 18-19)
Lot’s life in Genesis 18-19 gives us a clear picture of the tensions and temptations of living in a degenerated society. A special focus is given on the Lord's appearances to Lot and his allowing Abraham to bargain with Him.
13) Making Tough Choices (on Isaac– Gen 21-26)
The account of Isaac and Rebekah gives us a glimpse of a God-fearing couple though facing and failing in certain situations. Genesis chapters 21 to 26 carefully describes the thoughts, actions, successes, and failures of the patriarch and his family, but we will focus on chapter 25 and 26 where we learn much about the way God makes decisions, including a slight digression on the topic of predestination.
14) God’s Mercy to the Broken (Gen 26-29)
God has chosen to show mercy to the weak, broken and despised. In the story of Jacob, we experience the brutal honesty about the sinful state of humanity, even those of the line of Abraham. The mercy of God is personally extended to Jacob through his self-disclosure at Bethel. The LORD sets his affections on the undeserving to accomplish his sovereign plan for redemption through Abraham’s offspring.
15) The Making of a Man of God (Gen 31-32)
God wants us to win! Jacob’s life provides special insights into how God involves Himself in each of our lives to bring about spiritual life and display His grace.
16) Faith and Forgiveness Become a Blessing (Gen 37-44)
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, whenever He pleased, God was able to use Joseph to the fullest. Joseph knew God was with him even in circumstances that do not make sense. But without forgiveness, there is no success.
17) Resilience in Difficult Times (Gen 45-50)
Many trials await each one of us. We can safely get through these tests if we wait upon the Lord, look to Him for sufficient grace, and steadily get His will done. Joseph’s many trials are spread out before us, giving us the opportunity to learn from his resilience–despite the disillusionment, temptations, despair, loneliness, and desperate situations that he had to face.
18) Genesis Review and Discussion (Gen 1-50)
This class is now over. Please feel free to use the above resources.
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