Stranger on the Road to Emmaus lesson 1 (c. 2-3)

[disciple]

Session 1 Creation

God Alone in the Beginning -- The Creation of the World
The Creation of People -- The Garden of Eden

The Stranger On The Road To Emmaus
Chapters 2 & 3

SCRIPTURE:
Genesis 1 & 2

PERSPECTIVE FOR THE TEACHER:
Many people don’t believe in God at all. Many others believe that God exists but have a very limited understanding of Him. Is He just the creator? What is He like? What does He do? How does He relate to us?
The creation story answers these questions. It tells us a lot about God. He is in charge of everything and every person. He is the one who sets the rules. He Himself is perfect so He demands perfection. We are shown that He is a God of love and compassion. These and many more of His attributes are revealed in the story of creation.

LESSON OUTLINE:

I. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God …”
A. The beginning (Genesis 1:1)
1. This is where the story begins - with God alone.
2. None of the things around us were in existence before the beginning.
3. No human beings were in existence before the beginning.
4. Satan and no evil spirits were in existence before the beginning.
B. God was the only One there in the beginning.
1. God is greater than all.
2. God alone can tell us about the beginning.
3. God alone is eternal.
4. God is completely independent of everything and everyone.
5. God is supreme and sovereign.
C. God is in all places at the same time.
1. God is spirit
2. God is omnipresent
3. God is supreme and sovereign
4. God is Trinity

II. God created Satan and his angels
A. God created all the angels.
1. The angels were created to serve God.
2. The angels were created perfect by God
(All that God created was perfect - He could do in no other way)
3. One of the angels (Lucifer) rebelled against God (Isaiah 14:12-21)
4. Other angels followed him.
B. God is the creator/owner of all.
1. God has power and control over ALL the creation.
2. God has power and control over Satan and his helpers (demons/spirits).

III. “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth…” (Genesis 1:1-3)
A. God created everything out of nothing.
B. Darkness and chaos were over the earth. (1:1, 2)
C. God the Holy Spirit was waiting and ready to create everything. (1:2)
(God’s character and attributes are clearly seen in all of creation.)

IV. God spoke and the day by day creation began (Genesis 1:3-31)
A. First day: Light Created (1:3-5)
1. God spoke - it happened. (Showing God’s power)
2. God saw that it was good. (Showing God’s holiness)
B. Second day: Firmament (atmosphere) created. (1:6-8)
1. Consider all that is in this atmosphere.
2. Shows God’s power, control, and caring attributes.
C. Third day: Dry land, oceans, and plant life. (1:9-13)
1. God created all this for US. (Showing God’s love)
2. Everything was good. (Showing God’s holiness)
D. Fourth day: Sun, moon, stars (1:14-19)
1. Everything had to be in the exact location to work - to keep from falling.
2. The sun follows an exact route every day. (God’s law & order)
3. God is omnipresent - Everywhere, watching after His creation.
E. Fifth day: Sea life and birds (1:20-23)
1. God knew exactly what they needed to survive.
2. Everything was perfect.
F. Sixth day: God created animals and PEOPLE.
1. Animals created (1:24, 25)
a. Domestic, wild, and crawling animals. All are needed.
b. Even able to reproduce “after their own kind”.
c. God is perfect, flawless, and holy.
2. Man & woman created (1:26)
a. The earth was finally prepared for people.

V. God Rested (Day 7) Gen 2:1-3
A. He had finished.
B. He saw that it was good.
C. He owns it all. He is in control.
D. He can do whatever He wants with all this creation…including man.

VI. God created a perfect place - The Garden of Eden (Gen 2:8-17)
A. Everything was perfect because: Gen 2:8 “The LORD God planted a garden…”
B. God planted two special trees.
1. Tree of Life - people would live forever
2. Tree of knowledge of good and evil
C. He put the perfect man in this perfect place. (2:15)
1. He didn’t give Adam a choice. He’s the owner and makes the decisions.
2. Gave him simple instructions. (2:16-17)
3. God wanted to make the decisions of right and wrong. He knew what was best.
4. Adam had a choice of whether or not to obey these simple rules.
D. But, the results of disobedience were severe - DEATH (2:17)
1. Separation from God - Death of a relationship
2. Death of the physical body. (As with a green branch broken from a tree. Doesn’t die immediately, but doesn’t have the resources to continue living.)
3. Can’t live with God any more. Heaven is impossible.
4. The death will continue forever in the Lake of Fire.

VII. God created a woman (Gen 2:18-25)
A. Companion for him--from his rib (part of him)
B. God lived, walked and talked with Adam. (They were perfect)