The story of Christianity doesn’t begin with Jesus in the manger or Jesus on the cross, but with God creating the heavens and the earth. In this series, we will go back to the beginning, to Genesis 1-3 specifically, and consider the origin of some of life’s most important features and what our response to them should be.
Over the course of this 10-week series we will consider a God-centered response to science & creation, the environment, work, rest & recreation, marriage, gender, family & procreation, and finally... the problem of evil and God’s response to it. The goal is that we will see Genesis as Scripture, not to be cast aside as fable and fairytale, but as a guide and gift that ultimately drives us to God and helps us make sense of the world and our part in it.
This sermon teaches that even in Genesis 3, the gospel's four pillars are evident, starting with Adam and Eve's example of faith in God's promises despite their failure. God's provision of animal skins to cover their sin foreshadows Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, which allows believers to fix their eyes on Him as their deliverer. The message encourages the congregation to face their trials with hope, embracing their new identity as beloved children of God.
This sermon on Genesis 3 teaches that while original sin has corrupted all of humanity and creation, God provides hope and redemption through Jesus. The message explains that sin distorts our relationship with God and others, but through Christ, we are freed from sin's bondage and offered a restored relationship with our Creator.
This sermon on Genesis 3 teaches that sin's primary aim is to make us doubt God's goodness, leading to shame and a desire to hide from Him. However, God, in His love, pursued humanity and ultimately sent Jesus to the cross to take on our shame, freeing us to embrace our new identity in Christ.
This sermon on Genesis 2 teaches that marriage, when plagued by self-absorption and apathy, can only find its purpose by pursuing the covenantal oneness that mirrors the Trinity. Ultimately, marriage is a picture of the gospel, meant to reflect Christ's faithful and loving pursuit of His Church.
This sermon on Genesis 2 teaches that God, the ultimate Gardener, created humanity from dust to work and live in a perfect garden, which served as a temple where He would dwell with them. By embracing His role as the new Adam, Jesus atoned for our sin on the cross—the ultimate tree—making it possible for us to return to God’s presence in the new, eternal garden city.
This sermon teaches that God's rest on the seventh day was not out of weariness, but a divine delight in His creation, which contrasts with our human restlessness and constant striving. The message explains that true rest is found by ceasing our striving and trusting in Jesus' finished work on the cross, which makes us right with God and allows us to delight in His provision.
This sermon teaches that humanity, created in the image of God, is uniquely designed for a life of compassionate stewardship and worship. It explains that our brokenness comes from failing to believe this truth, which has led to a life of exploitation and a fractured identity. The sermon concludes by proclaiming that Jesus, the perfect image of God, restores and transforms us into who we were meant to be, so that as redeemed people, we can live as better image bearers who reflect His grace.
This sermon teaches that Genesis 1's primary purpose is not to explain the mechanics of creation, but to declare that God alone created all things. The message explains that God, the one true Creator, brings order from chaos, and it connects this truth to Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God and the author of all life. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to stop trying to be God and instead worship Him alone, trusting that through Jesus, He can bring life to dead things.
This sermon on Genesis 1 teaches that just as God’s light brought order to a chaotic world, the light of His glory, found in Jesus Christ, illuminates our hearts and reveals our true selves. It encourages us to stop hiding in darkness and step into the light of God’s acceptance, trusting that Jesus entered our darkness and was crucified so we could be forgiven and declared good and beloved.
