Stepping into God’s Story - Episode One
Creation and Fall
Glenn Garvin
January 13, 2024
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, introducing yourself to someone usually doesn’t include a bunch of “stats-n-facts.” Usually, you tell a story. You lead with a story because you’re a person, God leads with His story because God is personal and wants us to know Him.
Q: What are some of your favorite stories? Why are those meaningful to you? How would you describe an epic story?
This week, let’s step into God’s big story and find out who He is, who we are, and (most importantly) find out who we are in Him.
The Bible is one book consisting of 66 books written by 40 authors, over a span of over 1500 years.
• The Bible is not primarily an
• The Bible is not just filled with people’s lives as examples to
So why was the Bible written?
Why is it still the top selling book? According to Guinness World Records as of 1995, the Bible is the best selling book of all time with an estimated 5
In fact, Bible sales are up 27 percent in North America!
Because it is the Story of God!
Because God created us for
Let’s look at episode one of God’s Story and look at three things:
• Introducing God … we learn five truths.
• Introducing Us … we learn three facts.
• The Disaster We created … we understand two disappointments.
Genesis 1:1-5
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.”
Five truths about God
- God is, God
- He is the
- He is
- He is gracious and
- He is
Genesis 2:7
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.”
Q: Why is it important for your understanding of God and His story to start “in the beginning” with creation?
Q: What verse, phrase, or truth stood out in Genesis 1:1–5 or 2:7?
Three facts about us
- We were created to reflect His
- We were created to rule over
- We were created to
The mess we created
- Instead of reflecting His image, we
- Instead of us ruling over creation, creation ruled over us
The TEMPTATION
Genesis 3:1-7
“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.”
Genesis 3:15
“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Protoevangelion - the first accouncement of the gospel…
Genesis 3:15, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
This presents the gospel from the very beginning of our existence. Jesus is foretold in the first episode of God’s story!
Stepping into God’s story is understanding these three critical points of what followers of Jesus believe.
And, knowing God’s story makes it a little easier to explain it to others who may ask, “so what do you believe?”
• Who is God?
• Who are we as human beings?
• And why is everything such a mess in this world?
After the fall and as a result of our rebellion
PEACE WITH GOD WAS BROKEN.
PEACE WITH EACH OTHER WAS BROKEN.
PEACE WITHIN OURSELVES WAS BROKEN.
PEACE WITH OUR WORLD WAS BROKEN.
Next week we find out how God begins fix the breech and the brokeness.
NOTES TO DIG DEEPER & GROUP QUESTIONS