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Genesis: In the Beginning
Genesis is the book of beginnings. The very first thing that was in the beginning was God (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1). God is the Creator of all things. Genesis reveals that God created the heavens and the earth, which includes all things both visible and invisible. The universe, and life itself, did not happen by chance. Humans are not the products of natural evolution. Rather, God created. He spoke, and all things came into existence because of His power.
On the sixth day of creation, God made man in His own image (1:26-27). Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and told to care for the garden. He gave them much freedom, but did place on restriction on them: they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they did, they would die.
The devil appeared to them in the form of a serpent and deceived Eve. She was tricked into eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, and Adam ate with her. They knew better, and when they realized it, they tried to hide from God. Of course, they could not. As a result of their sin, curses were placed upon man, woman, the ground, and the serpent. Sin had entered the world, and death, physically and spiritually, came as a result. However, God did leave one ray of hope by saying that the seed of woman, would crush the head of the serpent (3:15).
Discussion
1. What does the fact of creation tell us about God? What kind of God is He? (read also Romans 1:18-20.)
2. If God is our Creator, then what does that teach us about His right to tell us what to do?
3. What does it mean to be made in God’s image?
4. What is marriage? What kind of relationship should the man and woman have with each other?
5. Discuss sin. What is it? Why is it so bad? What are the consequences?
6. Discuss death, both physically and spiritually. Are there any benefits to physical death? Why do people die spiritually?