Genesis 1 - God

  1. Review the “Gospel on the Ground”. In your own words, walk through the gospel story using the 4 plot points: God, Man, Christ, Response. (if you need help, look here)

  2. Repeated words or phrases indicate their importance. What words and phrases are repeated throughout this passage? Take time to reflect on each of these repeated phrases and their significance.

  3. God is ONE. Read Genesis 1:3. One repeated phrase is “And God said” (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29). What is the significance of God creating alone, without any help or adversity?

  4. This word which God speaks creates. The creative power of God’s word is stressed throughout Scripture (e.g., Isa. 55:10–11; John 1:3; Rom 4:17). How does the creative power of God’s word strengthen our resolve to meditate on the written Word of God in our own lives?

  5. God is GOOD. Read Genesis 1:10. How does the goodness of creation reflect on God’s own character? What else in this chapter shows us the character and heart of God to be good rather than evil?

  6. God is HOLY. Read Genesis 2:1-3. The climax of the week of creation is God’s Sabbath rest on the seventh day (Gen. 2:3). Similarly, the seventh speech for the building of the tabernacle climaxes with instructions on the Sabbath (Ex. 31:12–17). God’s Sabbath rest hints at the purpose of creation, since divine rest is associated with temple building in other ancient Near Eastern accounts, as well as elsewhere in the Old Testament. Similarly, just as “And God said” frames his seven days of creation, so “And Yahweh said” frames the seven speeches for the creation of the tabernacle1 (Ex. 25:1; 30:11, 17, 22, 34; 31:1, 12). The psalmist explicitly compares the building of the sanctuary to the creation of the heavens and earth (Ps. 78:69). In light of all this, how should an understanding of the heavens and earth as a divine sanctuary affect our understanding of the purpose of the cosmos?

  7. As you reflect on these three attributes of God in Genesis, which one stands out to you as most significant in this season of your life? Why? Take time to share with one another, pray for one another, and worship God together.

    • Some questions adapted from Mitchell Kim’s Genesis: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible Book 1) (p. 12). Crossway.

Robb EsperatComment