Grow Guide | September 12
God Is - We Are
Genesis 1:1-5 and 1:26-2:3
Connecting Questions
What are some things starting up this fall that get you excited?
Tell a story of when you got to help create something new.
Context
This week we begin a new worship series called “God is--We Are.” We will explore stories of who God is and who we are as God’s people from the book of Genesis. This is a book of beginnings and we, as the church, are in a new kind of beginning this fall. Here are some of the questions that will frame our series: What promises does God make right here in the beginning of the Bible that can continue to guide us into our new reality together? How do the actions, good and bad, of God’s people in Genesis help us understand who we are?
This week we focus on Genesis 1. This is the first creation story of the Hebrew people. Keep in mind that the people who told this story and placed it in writing in the scripture were a people who had recently returned from 70 years of exile in the Empire of Babylon. They also had a long memory of when their ancestors were slaves in Egypt. They experienced the brutality of the world’s superpowers and wondered how the God revealed to Abraham and Moses made sense in a world of pain and suffering. These are the stories that shape the mind and soul of the Hebrew people, and ultimately the theology of Jesus...and us.
Look at the Book
Read Genesis 1:1-2:4a.
What was already present when God started creating the heavens and the earth? How did God interact with it?
The term “deep” or “the waters” quite often refers to a state of chaos, disorder, or meaninglessness in the ancient world. As you walk through the days of creation, imagine how each day brings order from chaos. How might this change the way you read the text?
Notice which days God refers to as “good” and “very good.” Reflect on possible reasons why the days are labeled in this way (some neutral, some good, some very good).
How is humankind described?
What is God’s blessing on humankind? The terms “have dominion” and “subdue” are best understood as being stewards or caretakers of something. How does this understanding inform the blessing and purpose of humanity?
What did God do at the end of the creative process (look at chapter 2 verse 2)?
Taking it Home
This creation story shows us that God is in the business of bringing order out of chaos. Everything has its place and its purpose. In what ways do you see this character of God demonstrated in the natural world? How does that make you feel?
Humans are blessed and instructed to be caretakers of God’s creation. How does that help you understand our collective purpose and your own part in what God is doing in the world today?
In what ways will you meditate on God’s creation and your part in it this week?