Session 2: Genesis 1:26-2:25

Session 2: Genesis 1:26-2:25

Summarize:

• God creates mankind in His image and likeness(26-27)
• God bestows responsibility and authority to mankind(28)

Genesis 2

• God forms and breathes life into man(7)
• God prepared a place for man to live(8)
• God places the tree of life at the center of His garden(9)
• God appoints man to care for the garden(15)
• God gives man permission to eat from every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil(16-17)
• God declares that it is not good for man to be alone(18)
• God creates a helper that will be man's complement(18-22)
• God forms woman out of man's rib(22)
• God institutes/creates marriage(24)
• Man and Woman had no shame and were naked(25)

Analyze:

Read Ephesians 2:10, Ps 139:13-14, Jer 1:5

1. What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God?

1. Does being made in the likeness of God bear any relevance to our worldview and values? (i.e. sanctity of life, purpose in life)

2. How does the responsibility/authority God gives man relate to being made in God’s image?
3. What is different about the way God created man versus all the other living creatures?(7)(Isa 64:8)

1. How does the description of how God created man influence your understanding of God’s relationship to man?

4. Why is it important to know that the tree of life was in the middle of God’s garden?(midst means middle, heart of)(9)

1. What is the main priority of God’s garden according to the structure of the text?
2. What does this tell you about how man fits into God’s plan?

5. What does God provide man by placing him in the garden?(8-9) (a place to live, food, water)

Read Matthew 6:24-34 and Philippians 4:19

1. How do these passages relate to God’s provision for Adam?  How do they relate to how God provides for you?

6. What does God say to man in vs 16?

1. What is the positive command?
2. What is the negative command? What reason does God give to man for not eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
3. What reasons has God given man to not trust Him?
4. Did God give permission for man to eat from the tree of life?  What does this tell you about God’s original intention and purpose for man?

7. What does God provide for man in addition to what He’s already given in vs 22?

1. If man had fellowship with God then what is the significance of God saying, “it is not good for man to be alone?”

Read Ephesians 4:1-8, 11-13

2. How does the realization that God created us to be social creatures reshape your understanding of the necessity of the Church, the body of believers?  How does this knowledge affect how you will engage with your Church?
3. Different parts of the body connotate different symbolism and meaning.  For instance a foot connotates submission and servitude. A hand conveys strength and servant. What is the significance of woman being formed out of the rib of Adam? What is communicated about the relational position of man to woman? (20-21)
4. What is the purpose of vs 24 in commenting on what happens between man and woman?  

Read Jn 17:20-24, Eph 5:22-33

5. What does it mean to become one flesh? Is this simply a statement about the act of sex? What does becoming one flesh tell you about the level of intimacy between a husband and wife? How does this affect emotional investment between you and someone of the opposite sex you aren’t married to?
6. How does your understanding of godly marriage help you to understand unity within the body of Christ?

8. What does Genesis 2:25 say about the state of mankind’s relationship with God and each other?

Read Philippians 3:18-21

1. What is the relationship between obedience, sin, and shame?

Contextualize:

1. God has a special relationship with man because man is made in His image and likeness.
2. Man is totally dependent on God for his existence and completely trusts God.
3. Obedience to God results in perfect fellowship with God and man.

Actualize:

I will memorize Acts 24:16 and pray everyday that God would help me to live out the verse.