Week 5 - The increase of Wickedness
Scripture: Genesis 6:1-8
Devotional:
From the earliest pages of the Bible, we see God's desire for His people to walk faithfully with Him and to be a light in the midst of darkness. Genesis 6 paints a vivid picture of a world consumed by corruption and rebellion. Amid this chaos, Noah stood out because he "walked with God." In response to the spiritual and moral decline of humanity, God gave Noah a mission: to build the ark and preserve life as part of His redemptive plan.
This calling to live faithfully and follow God's commands is echoed in Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19. He calls His followers to “make disciples of all nations,” teaching and baptizing in His name. The Great Commission reminds us that God’s work is not limited to certain individuals but is an invitation extended to all believers.
Like Noah, we are called to trust and obey God, even when it feels countercultural or challenging. The spiritual opposition we face today may look different, but the mission remains the same: to reflect God’s love and truth in a world that desperately needs it. Just as Noah’s obedience became part of God’s plan to bring renewal, our faithfulness can have a lasting impact on those around us.
As you reflect on these passages, consider how God is inviting you to live out His mission today. What does it look like to faithfully "walk with God" in your context and share His love with others?
Reflection Questions:
What lessons can we learn from Noah’s faith and obedience in the midst of a corrupt world?
How do you see God calling you to live out the Great Commission in your daily life?
In what ways can you remain faithful to God’s mission despite challenges or spiritual opposition?
How can your unique gifts and experiences be used to further God’s kingdom?
What practical steps can you take to encourage and support others in their faith journey?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling us to be part of Your redemptive plan. Help us to walk faithfully with You, as Noah did, trusting in Your guidance and strength. Equip us to face challenges with courage and to live out the Great Commission with love and humility. Open our hearts to the needs of those around us, and show us how to use our gifts to glorify You. May our lives reflect Your truth and grace in all we do. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Week 4 - The Heart of Worship
Scripture:
"Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard."
—Genesis 4:2b-5a
Study: This passage highlights Cain’s failure not simply in the offering he brought, but in the heart behind it. Abel gave the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions, a deliberate act of worship and recognition of God as the ultimate source of all provision. Cain, on the other hand, gave out of obligation rather than devotion. His offering revealed a heart focused on himself rather than God.
The Purpose of Worship
From creation, humanity's purpose has been to know God and reflect His glory across the earth (Genesis 1:27-28). Worship through offering is an outward expression of our inward relationship with God. Abel’s offering glorified God, acknowledging His goodness and sovereignty. Cain’s offering, however, failed to honor God, exposing his inward resistance to God's rightful place as Creator and Sustainer.
Cain’s Missed Opportunity
When God corrected Cain, it was an opportunity to turn toward Him in repentance and deepen his relationship. Instead, Cain’s anger and jealousy revealed that his heart was not aligned with God's will. God’s words, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” remind us that God desires a willing and worshipful heart, not begrudging compliance.
Discussion Questions:
Heart Check: What does your attitude toward worship and giving reveal about your relationship with God? Are you offering Him your first and best, or just what is convenient?
Purpose and Glory: How can we actively align our lives with God’s purpose to fill the earth with His glory?
Responding to Correction: When God reveals areas of sin or weakness in your life, how do you typically respond? How can Cain’s story encourage you to respond differently?
Sin’s Warning: What steps can you take to “rule over” sin when it is crouching at your door?
Living for God’s Glory: In what practical ways can you show that knowing God is your ultimate desire, not just outwardly but inwardly?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You with humility, recognizing that You see our hearts. Help us to give You our first and best in all things—not out of obligation, but out of love and devotion. Forgive us for the times we have worshiped You with divided hearts or held back what rightfully belongs to You. Teach us to know You deeply and to live for Your glory. May our lives reflect Your goodness and truth, and may we resist sin through the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Week 3 - The Fall
The Introduction of Sin
Scripture Passage
Genesis 3:1-15; Romans 5:12
Study
The story of Genesis 3 introduces us to the reality of sin and its devastating effects on humanity and creation. Sin enters the world through the deception of Satan, who misrepresents God’s word to Eve. Though God had made clear His command about the tree, Satan's lie ("You will not surely die") appealed to the human desire for autonomy and self-glorification. Adam and Eve, though made in God’s image and tasked with representing Him, surrendered their divine identity in exchange for a false promise of being "like God." This act of disobedience fractured their relationship with God, distorted their purpose, and brought shame, fear, and separation.
Through Adam, sin entered the world, and all of creation was subjected to the consequences of disobedience (Romans 5:12). Yet even in the midst of judgment, we find the first glimpse of the gospel. God promises a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15) who will crush the head of the serpent. This prophecy points to Jesus Christ, who restores what was broken, reconciles us to God, and offers us new life through His death and resurrection. Sin is devastating, but God's grace through Christ is greater.
Discussion Questions
How did Satan distort God’s word in Genesis 3, and why is it important to have a clear understanding of what God says?
What does the concept of "headship" teach us about Adam’s responsibility and the consequences of sin?
How do we see the nature of sin affecting Adam and Eve’s relationship with God, with each other, and with creation?
In what ways do we "hide" from God today, and how does this impact our spiritual life?
How does the promise of Genesis 3:15 point to Jesus, and what hope does this bring to us in light of sin's consequences?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You acknowledging the weight of sin in our lives and the world. We thank You for Your patience, grace, and mercy, shown even in the garden when You called out to Adam and Eve. Thank You for the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ, who crushed the power of sin and death. Help us to run to You instead of hiding, to trust in Your Word, and to live as Your image-bearers. Transform our hearts to desire Your glory above all else. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Week 2 - Creation Pt.2
Opening Scripture
Genesis 1:26–28:
"Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Study
God declares that humanity is created in His image. This identity is both a privilege and a calling. As image bearers, we are meant to reflect God's character, glory, and love in every area of our lives. Being created in God's image gives us intrinsic worth and purpose. It also calls us to see the same worth and dignity in others, regardless of their background, abilities, or differences.
Sin seeks to distort this truth, leading to division and devaluing others based on their function or circumstances. Yet, Christ—the perfect image of God—restores our identity and empowers us to live out our purpose: to represent God, reflect His glory, and multiply His presence in the world.
How are we living as faithful image bearers? Are we representing God well in our homes, workplaces, and relationships? And are we seeing others as He does—valuable, loved, and created with a purpose?
Discussion Questions
Identity as Image Bearers
What does it mean to you personally to be made in the image of God?
How does this identity shape how you view yourself and others?
Living with Purpose
Genesis 1:28 speaks of being fruitful, multiplying, and having dominion. How can these commands apply to your daily life and relationships?
What are practical ways to reflect God's glory in your family, workplace, or community?
Recognizing Value in Others
How can we better identify and affirm the value and dignity of others, especially those who may be marginalized or different from us?
What role does the church play in demonstrating the truth that all people are image bearers of God?
Christ as the Perfect Image
How does Jesus, as the perfect image of God, model what it means to live as an image bearer?
In what ways can His example challenge or inspire us to live out our calling?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us in Your image and for giving us the privilege and purpose of reflecting Your glory. Forgive us for the times we have failed to live as Your representatives or have devalued others. Help us to see the worth and dignity in every person and to treat them as You would. Teach us to live with purpose, to follow Jesus more closely, and to multiply Your presence and love in this world. May Your Spirit empower us to be faithful ambassadors of Your Kingdom, and may our lives bring You glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Week 1 - Creation Pt.1
Understanding the Creator’s Purpose
Opening Scripture
Genesis 1:1-3 (ESV)
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
Study
In this passage, we encounter the profound truth of God's role as Creator. The focus of Genesis 1:1-3 is not just on the mechanics of creation but on the God who purposed it. The text invites us to approach it with humility and openness, setting aside modern concerns about proving creation theories or fitting scientific narratives into Scripture.
Moses wrote Genesis to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness—a people who had witnessed God’s power in their deliverance. Through this passage, God revealed Himself as the eternal Creator, who not only made the heavens and the earth but also prepared creation with purpose and intention.
The primary subject here is not "the beginning" or the process of creation itself but the Creator, God. He is a God of order who brings meaning to what is formless and void. This same God desires to dwell with His creation, as evidenced by the structure and purpose of the days in Genesis 1.
As we study, let us remember to focus on God’s nature, character, and desire to be with His people.
Discussion Questions
How does Genesis 1:1-3 shape your understanding of God as Creator?
Why is it important to focus on God rather than the mechanics of creation?
What does the concept of God being a God of order reveal about His character and His desires for His creation?
How can we apply the truth of God’s purposes in creation to our daily lives?
Moses wrote Genesis to a wandering and weary people. How does this passage encourage you in your current circumstances?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You humbled by the power of Your Word. Thank You for being the Creator who brings order to chaos and purpose to all things. Help us to approach Your Word with open hearts, willing to be taught and transformed. May we focus on You, the eternal God, and align our lives with Your will. Just as You revealed Yourself to the Israelites in the wilderness, reveal Your presence and purposes to us today. We trust in Your desire to dwell with us and give You all glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.