What are some of your favorite stories? What is it about them that you like?
Why do you think people are fascinated by stories?
From our earliest years, we’re telling stories to our parents, to our friends and eventually to our own children. Why are we like this? Because our God is a storytelling God. And in the Bible, is telling a story—a story filled with amazing characters, astounding events, terrible tragedy and unspeakable joy. It’s the story of an earthly dilemma that’s begging for a heavenly solution.
Read Genesis 1:1 – Genesis 2:3 together
Who is the first character, the hero, in the story?
What does this story tell us about God?
Genesis chapter one makes it clear: the Bible is a story about God. The Christian faith begins and ends with God. Here in the very first verse, God is pulling back the curtain; He’s revealing something about Himself, His glory, His majesty, His power, and authority. Our goal and purpose as Christians is to know and love our Creator God.
Why do you think the Bible tells us that God created but does not tell us exactly how He created?
Why is it important for us to remember God’s power and glory? What happens when we forget these aspects of His nature and character?
Every great story builds to a climax—the most important, most exciting, or most intense moment that changes everything. The story of creation is no different—all throughout these verses, as God creates and says “it is good,” the story is building to an important event. And the climax of the creation story is the creation of the first man and first woman.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26-27 NLT
In what ways were humans set apart from the rest of God’s creation? What comes to mind when you hear the word image or likeness?
What does it mean to be made in God’s image or likeness?
The term “image” refers to the aspects of reason, personality, the ability to make value judgments, and other qualities that cause a human being to resemble God. Just as family members take on the qualities and personality traits of one another, God created people in His own image to reflect some of His qualities.
How do these verses reflect the unique relationship between God and man?
How should knowing that we are made in God’s image affect your relationship with God and with other people?
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
Genesis 1:28-31 NLT
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:18-25 NLT
What responsibilities did God give to men and women?
What might the blessing and responsibilities God gave man and woman tell us about His view of them?
Creating human beings in His image so they would enjoy a unique relationship with Him and a distinct role in the world, God determined to make them male and female. Once God created the man and woman, He blessed them. By blessing the man and the woman, God implied that He looked with special favor on them. By speaking directly to them, He showed once more the unique place they occupied in His heart.
What specific command did He give both men and women?
When God made the man and woman, He gave them “dominion” over the earth. They were to live as His representatives in creation. They had the freedom to do whatever they wanted, go wherever they wanted, eat whatever they wanted—with one exception. He commanded them, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die” (Gen. 2:16-17). This was the only rule that existed in creation.
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 3:1-7 NLT
Eve knew the command to not eat of the tree’s fruit, so why do you think she was there?
What are some of the ways sin continues to tempt us to go our own way?
What do we tell ourselves when we face temptation?
Eve had the opportunity to make a choice—to obey the Lord’s command or to believe the serpent. She chose to believe the serpent. She saw the fruit as good for food and delightful to look at, and so she ate. And then she gave some to her husband who was right there with her. The choices of both Adam and Eve were disastrous. God had created all things and called them good, but their sin caused everything to fall apart.
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.”
Genesis 3:15 NLT
Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Genesis 3:20-21 NLT
What promise do these two passages point to?
Think about your own life. Where do you see Satan trying to convince you to taste the fruit of sin? How does this promise strengthen you to resist sin?
How does the purpose behind this story give you a solid superstructure in your life?
