Creation and Fall

Sermon Theme: We tend to be curious about origin stories. They tell us things about ourselves or others in the present. Genesis tells us that humans are here on purpose for good (which is not what we might naturally believe). It also tells us that we have a problem we can't solve (which we also don't seem to believe). Ultimately, though, we aren't even the main characters of the story. God is. And God makes a way in spite of us, for us. And this is why there is hope. 

Reading Theme: This week we will see God’s faithfulness – both to punish sin and to graciously offer mercy and salvation to humanity. 

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Genesis 2:4-7 and 

Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-8

For more help use this Bible Study method

You will find the Sermon Notes for today’s message here.

REFLECTION

How Can I Be More Like Jesus and Less Like Eve?
by Elaine Pierce

Did God really tell you not to eat from any tree in the garden, Eve?  Don't you think you misunderstood? Surely, he wants you to be like him, knowing good and evil?   

Look what pleasures await you: the fruit [where did we get the idea that it was an apple, anyway?] will taste delicious, and it will give you wisdom. Surely God would want you to enjoy his creation? Right? [paraphrasing Satan in Genesis 3]

If only Eve had resisted - we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now, would we?  

Stop for a moment and think about times that you have listened to the serpent instead of to the Holy Spirit. Have you ever cut corners because no one was watching? After all, the rules of the road/workplace/family dynamics were silly in the first place. And, after all, you knew better. After all, no one will ever know--and after all, I deserve this pleasure - it can't possibly be wrong.

We've all done it. We've done it in little ways and in big ways. We're no different from Adam and Eve.

The serpent - Satan - never gives up tempting us. Jesus was tempted [read the story in Matthew 4:1-11] and again, Satan twisted God's word to lure Jesus into sin. But Jesus doesn't betray his Father like Eve did, or like we do. He answered Satan with scripture, and the devil left him.

A key part of our corporate Sunday worship is confessing our sins and receiving Jesus' forgiveness. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. " (Psalm 103:12).

Go back for a moment to Adam and Eve in the garden. After they enjoyed the forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened, and they realized they were naked. They hastily sewed fig leaf coverings - they were ashamed. And then they heard God walking in the garden, in this paradise in which they lived, and they hid from him.

Ah, dear friends, let's not hide from God. He will always find us. And he longs to bless us and give us all good things. Let's fall at his feet, confess our sins, and experience his love, his care, and his kindness that knows no end. Jesus paid the price and the way is clear to our Father.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SUNDAY

SCRIPTURES - Pray the Scriptures. Some examples are Psalm 91:1-15 / Psalm 121:5-8 / John 14:27 / Philippians 4:6-7 / 2 Timothy 1:7