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FALL 2016 | LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD | GENERAL EDITOR
UNVARNISHED TRUTH: LIFE’S GREATEST STORY UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL
LEADING SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST DECISION OF ALL One of the great joys of leading a group in Bible study is seeing group members deepen their walk with Christ. Everyone’s walk with Christ begins with an initial decision to follow Him in repentance and faith. People may be in your group who have not made that decision yet. Take advantage of your time with them to talk about becoming a Christian. As you tell your own story about coming to Christ, share these key truths: 1. W e are all sinners, and each of us needs to acknowledge before God that we are sinners. That acknowledgement involves repentance, which is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Refer to Romans 3:23; 6:23; and Acts 3:19. 2. The only way a person can receive the gift of forgiveness is by faith in Jesus as God’s Son. Use verses like Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 14:6 when talking about faith in Christ. 3. Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ means confessing Him as Savior and Lord. Share Romans 10:9-10,13. Invite the person to pray a prayer similar to this: “Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”
A Special Note about “One Great Commitment” (p. 62). “One Great Hope” on the inside from cover of the Personal Study Guide is the plan of salvation. It is built on the truths of salvation presented in the first four sessions of the study “Unvarnished Truth: Life’s Greatest Story.” The session “One Great Commitment” calls for those in the group to respond to the gospel. Use the “One Great Hope” outline to lead unsaved group members to faith in Christ. Challenge group members to use that gospel presentation to share Christ with others.
CONTENTS
Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A Word from Ronnie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Using Bible Studies for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Attributes of Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Article: Teaching from the Overflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Unvarnished Truth: Life’s Greatest Story SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 One Great Creator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
September 4
Session 1
Article: God Created: A Word Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
September 11
Session 2
One Great Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
September 18
Session 3
One Great Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
September 25
Session 4
One Great Savior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
October 2
Session 5
One Great Commitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
October 9
Session 6
One Great Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Article: 3 Reasons Why Consistency Beats Excitement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Unstoppable Gospel Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 October 16
Session 7
Unstoppable Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
October 23
Session 8
Unstoppable Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
October 30
Session 9
Unstoppable Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
November 6
Session 10 Unstoppable Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
November 13
Session 11 Unstoppable Courage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
November 20
Session 12 Unstoppable Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Article: The Areopagus in Athens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Give Thanks—Anyway! Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 November 27
Session 13 Give Thanks—Anyway! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Coming in Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 3
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Commentary Warren McWilliams wrote the commentary for “Unvarnished Truth.” He is the Auguie Henry Professor of Bible at Oklahoma Baptist University and a member of University Baptist Church, Shawnee, OK. Greg Miller wrote the commentary for “Unstoppable Gospel.” Greg is campus pastor for Vertical Church in Madison, MS. He is a longtime writer and a former editor at LifeWay.
Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide Volume 4, Number 1 Fall 2016 ERIC GEIGER Vice President, Church Resources RONNIE FLOYD General Editor LYNN H. PRYOR Team Leader
Ron N. Brown wrote the commentary for “Give Thanks—Anyway!” Ron pastors Crestmont Baptist Church in Burleson, TX.
CHRIS JOHNSON Content Editor
Group Plans
KEN BRADDY Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies
Sessions 1-6: Donna McKinney is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in Apex, North Carolina.
MICHAEL KELLEY Director, Groups Ministry
Sessions 7-13: Jennifer Denning is a QA Analyst and freelance writer from Raleigh, North Carolina, where she serves on the curriculum team at The Point Church..
Send questions/comments to: Content Editor Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, Tennessee, 37234-0175 Or make comments on the web at www.lifeway.com
This Leader Guide is designed for leaders of senior adults ages 70 and up. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter, and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide (ISSN: 23309822; Item 005075045) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2016 LifeWay. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, call (800) 458-2772, or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@lifeway. com, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail
[email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS—Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Printed in the United States of America.
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A Word from Ronnie
You are sitting in a group that can change the world. Over the next several weeks, you will participate in two studies that focus on the greatest gift—and the greatest message—we’ve ever been given. In the first study, Unvarnished Truth: Life’s Greatest Story, Blake Gideon walks us through the message of good news in Jesus Christ. It’s a message we all need to hear—and one we can—and should—share. I encourage you to invite others to join your group to discover how life’s greatest story can become theirs. Gregg Matte follows that study with Unstoppable Gospel, a study taken from the Book of Acts. What I love about this study is that Gregg helps us see how the early church took that gospel message into the world around them. As individuals, as a group, and as a church, we can follow the example of those early believers and impact our communities and the world with the gospel. I’ll say it again. You are sitting in a group that can change the world. And it will change you!
Ronnie Floyd General Editor Twitter: @ronniefloyd www.ronniefloyd.com
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USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE Invite the Holy Spirit’s Guidance Because the Holy Spirit is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with the Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application.
Personal Study Guide Read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group.
Leader Guide Follow the simple directives in the group plan, which will guide you in engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the commentary as needed during the group discussion.
Leader Pack The Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Pull in the Leader Pack items as referenced in the group plan. The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with:
>> JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint). Promote the study by placing these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images during the sessions to reinforce the study topic.
>> PDF file of each pack item, so you can create multiple posters. During your session, display the image on a screen using any presentation software, or post the image on social media to promote the study.
>> Sample Twitter® and email messages to post prior to your Bible study time in order to raise awareness and promote the session topic.
>> A short video presentation (approximately 5 minutes) for each session from the study author to help you prepare.
>> An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print. >> Leader articles to assist you as you lead your group. >> Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study. 6
Additional Ideas Additional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are available online at www.BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra. You’ll also find all the magazine articles we mention in this study guide.
Prepare Your Group Members Encourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the meeting as a way to follow up and reflect.) Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/BibleStudiesforLife), our blog (BibleStudiesforLife.com), or on Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife).
For Those Who Want to Go Deeper The Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more extensive commentary. It includes HCSB-based exposition of each session’s Scripture passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the setting of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and interactive responses to help readers apply God’s truths to their lives today. The Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and provides a comprehensive exposition of each session’s Scripture passage. Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James Version but interacts with all major English translations. Each quarter, Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics, and lesson-targeted articles. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway.com/biblical illustrator or by calling 1-800-458-2772. Forty additional articles (in PDF form) that support this quarter’s Bible studies are available for $3.00 per bundle at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator.
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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS
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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS
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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS
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MY GROUP’S PRAYER REQUESTS
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THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISCIPLESHIP How do you measure discipleship? Research conducted by LifeWay revealed eight factors that are consistently present in the lives of believers who are progressing in their spiritual maturity. These “attributes of discipleship” form the foundation for the scope and sequence of studies used in Bible Studies for Life. By regularly engaging these studies, your group will experience an intentional plan for discipleship in the following eight ways: Bible Engagement. Transformation can be recognized when our mind is sharpened by the Bible, our perspective is shaped by the Bible, and our actions are directed by the Bible. See page 13 for more details. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Obeying God and Denying Self. Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. Transformation can be seen when we progressively set aside earthly delights for kingdom priorities. “Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Serving God and Others. Transformation is evident when personal needs and even dreams are set aside for the needs we see in others. “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me’” (Matt. 25:40). Sharing Christ. Even as we need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it.
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“But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). Exercising Faith. Transformation is seen in believers when risk-aversion is set aside and our lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God’s will. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:19b-20). Seeking God. Transformation is seen when our desire is to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matt. 6:33). Building Relationships. Our faith is personal but it is not intended to be private. Our horizontal relationships should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Unashamed. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting his or her own life as being aligned with Christ. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
BIBLE ENGAGEMENT BY P H I L I P N AT I O N
>>The Bible corrects us. This correction guides us toward holy living.
The foundational practice of the Christian life is engaging the Scriptures. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself. Because it is God who has spoken through the human authors, the Bible is infallible and authoritative on all matters of life and doctrine. It is natural, then, that disciples will be regularly engaged with the study of the Scriptures. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, but the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy about the power of God’s Word in our lives. He wrote: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Christians need to engage in the Bible because of who it reveals to us and how it changes us. Since God is the main focus of the Bible, we must constantly seek what it says about Him. Ask about every passage: “How does this passage reveal the character of God and His activity of redemption?” In doing so, you can gain a deeper understanding of how He is at work in the world—and in your own life. As seen in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible also serves to shape our character.
>>The Scriptures teach us. They help us
understand the truth about God, the world, ourselves, the church, and a myriad of other things.
>>God’s Word trains us. God equips us to
participate in His mission and to face the difficulties of life.
Engaging the Bible is a practice to take seriously. Our devotion to the Word begins with simply reading it. Maturing Christians are intentional but not legalistic. Here are six ways to engage the Bible. 1. Read it closely to study the nuances of each passage. 2. Read the whole Bible comprehensively to see how God is at work throughout the story of redemption. 3. Memorize portions of the Bible so you can be ready with truth in the moment of need. 4. Read the Bible aloud to experience it as many of the original recipients of the Scripture did. 5. Engage the Bible with the community of faith through Bible study groups and your family members. 6. Meditate on God’s Word to allow the Holy Spirit to sink it deep in our hearts. As we engage the Bible, we will experience radical transformation.
>>The Word rebukes us. We receive conviction
from the Bible regarding our sin. Before salvation, we are rebuked about sin because of the coming condemnation. After our salvation, we receive conviction because sin interrupts our relationship with Christ.
Philip Nation is the Director of Content Development with LifeWay and serves as the teaching pastor for The Fellowship, a multicampus church in Nashville, Tennessee. His latest book is Habits for Our Holiness: How the Spiritual Disciplines Grow Us Up, Draw Us Together, and Send Us Out.
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TEACHING FROM THE OVERFLOW BY MIKE LIVINGSTONE
Effective Bible teaching is artesian in nature. The word artesian describes a well through which water rises naturally to the surface as a result of internal pressure. Charles Spurgeon used this metaphor with reference to preaching: “True preaching is artesian; it wells up from the great depths of the soul. If Christ has not made a well within us, there will be no outflow from us.” What is true for preachers is true also for small group Bible study leaders—God’s Word is most effectively communicated from the overflow of what God is doing in our lives. This being true, the key to transformational Bible teaching begins with recognizing the difference between preparing a lesson and preparing the leader of the lesson. Make no mistake; I’m a strong proponent of lesson preparation. Artesian teaching doesn’t negate the need for personal study, though a prepared heart is more critical. 14
If we have only prepared a lesson but have not spiritually prepared ourselves, we are unprepared to teach the Bible. How, then, can we prepare ourselves to teach from the overflow? Rather than offering a step-by-step process of preparation, let’s consider three general principles of spiritual preparation:
1. Prepare on your knees. It’s not the physical posture of kneeling that matters, but the posture of the heart—dependency on and submission to God. “A prayerless ministry cannot know God’s truth and, not knowing it, cannot teach it,” said E. M. Bounds. The apostles gave priority to two things in ministry, according to Acts 6:4: prayer and teaching the Word. Certainly this means they considered their responsibility to pray to be no less important than their responsibility to communicate the Word to others and knew the two priorities could not be separated.
2. Pursue God. It’s one thing to go to the Bible in search of lesson material. It’s another thing altogether to go to the Scripture in pursuit of the Person of God. How important it is not to allow the former to take precedence over the latter! Leonard Ravenhill said: “A man may study because his brain is hungry for knowledge, even Bible knowledge. But he prays because his soul is hungry for God.” The effective Bible teacher prays not just that God will give him something to say; he prays because he desires God. In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord condemned the priests because of a grave sin: “The priests quit asking, “Where is the Lord?” The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the rulers rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols” (Jer. 2:8). Those who dealt with the law of God did not seek God and thus had no first-hand knowledge of what they taught. The Bible is God’s personal Word to the leader before it is lesson material for the next meeting.
3. Practice what you teach. “Never traffic in unpracticed truth,” Dr. Howard Hendricks used to say. Ezra, the Old Testament priest, scribe, and teacher of God’s law, provides a model. Ezra 7:10 says he “determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.” The order is significant: study, obey, and teach. If we haven’t studied the Word, we are not ready to teach it. If we’re not obeying it, we are not qualified to teach, for we can’t understand the truth of the Word if we are not practicing it. Let’s not emphasize lesson preparation to the point that we lose sight of the more important thing—heart preparation. Prepared hearts make prepared lessons. May Christ make a well in the depths our hearts out of which flows the truth of God’s Word in sincerity and power.
Mike Livingstone is a content editor on LifeWay’s adult ongoing Bible studies team, a position he has held for 23 years. Prior to coming to LifeWay, he served as a pastor and missionary in Kenya. He leads a weekly Bible study at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tennessee, and blogs at mikelivingstone.com. This article originally appeared on www.lifeway.com/groupministry. Visit the blog for more ideas on leading your group.
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UNVARNISHED TRUTH: LIFE’S GREATEST STORY
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What is truth? A lot of people have asked that question through the ages. Unfortunately, our own opinions or desires often obscure the truth. For many, truth becomes what we want to believe. If someone took a key and scratched down the side of your car with it, he could say, “I believe it was perfectly OK to do that. It wasn’t wrong, and that’s the truth.” But I’m sure you would disagree with him on the definition of truth! That may sound absurd, yet the same approach is used regarding the issues of life—morality, ethics, relationships—and death. So, what is truth? In much the same way a person strips away layers of old paint to get to the original beauty of a priceless antique, this study seeks to remove all the layers of lies and opinions to get to the unvarnished truth of what really matters. And in the process, we will see that the truth in Christ becomes our greatest story—the one we must believe to enter a relationship with God, and the one each of us must go and tell. Now, more than ever, our culture needs to see the unvarnished truth about Jesus Christ. And now is the time to share the hope that truth has brought to the world.
BLAKE GIDEON Blake Gideon serves as senior pastor for First Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is passionate about the gospel and finds his greatest joy in seeing the lost saved. Blake is married to Kelly, his best friend, and they have four children. Follow Blake on Twitter at @Blake_Gideon.
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GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct attention to the contents page in the Personal
SESSION 1
ONE GREAT CREATOR
Study Guide (PSG) page 3. Review the titles of this sixsession study about how the truth of Christ becomes our greatest story.
The Point
LEADER PACK: Point to
each of us.
God created us—and He knows
the session titles on Item 1:
The Bible Meets Life
“Unvarnished Truth.”
How did we get here? Some people
GUIDE: Invite members to
wrongly assume this question only
look at the picture (PSG, p. 12)
has two views: either science has
as you discuss Question #1
the answer in evolution or religion
(PSG, p. 12): When has an invention or discovery blown your mind?
has the answer in faith. Many scientists, however, hold to neither evolution nor a specific faith, but they contend there was an Intelligent Designer. Intelligent design doesn’t tell us
Direct attention to The Bible
much; it just presents a stronger argument than the random, purposelessness
Meets Life (PSG, p. 13.)
found in evolution. The Bible goes beyond talking about an intelligent
Highlight the points the writer
designer; it gives us a picture of the character of the Creator.
made about the two views,
The Passage
science and religion. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 13): God created us—and He knows each of us.
Psalm 33:6-9,13-15; Colossians 1:15-17
The Setting Psalm 33 is a hymn or psalm of praise. It almost certainly was intended for congregational times of worship, perhaps related to harvest season or times of covenant renewal, though specific details cannot be determined. The apostle
SAY: ”The Bible teaches
Paul wrote the Letter to the Colossians from prison, most likely in Rome. False
us that the Creator of the
teachers were threatening the Christian foundation in the church at Colossae.
universe spoke the world into
Paul wrote to counteract those teachers.
existence— and He knows us. What an amazing God!”
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S e ss i o n 1
STUDY THE BIBLE
Psalm 33:6-9 6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all
Psalm 33:6-9 10 minutes
the stars, by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap; He puts the
READ: Ask a volunteer to read
depths into storehouses.
Psalm 33:6-9.
8 Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord; let all the
inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG,
9 For He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and
p. 14): What thoughts or
it came into existence.
emotions surface when you read these verses?
KEY WORD: Tremble (Ps. 33:8)—The word refers to an attitude of reverent fear or awe in the presence of the almighty, holy God who created the world.
NOTE: If members give one word responses to this
Psalm 33 is usually classified as a praise psalm or a hymn. Psalms in this category typically call for the worshiper to praise God and offer reasons to praise God. The motivation for praise might be who God is, including key characteristics, and what God has done. The author is not named, and we do not know any details about the historical context. We will focus on the verses about God as Creator.
question, ask “why” or another
God created me.
praise. Verses 6-9 emphasize
Verse 6. The unnamed psalmist highlighted the role of God as the Creator of the universe. This section of Psalm 33 is similar to other psalms that focus on God’s creation (Pss. 8; 104). The author used the covenant name for God, Lord, which is a translation of Yahweh, the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Ex. 3:14-15). The psalmist was not referring to a generic deity or god but to the true God who has a special relationship to His people, Israel. 1 God created the world by His word. The psalmist did not tell us the details of how God created the world. The point was that God spoke the world into existence, much as a military officer might bark out commands, and things happen! This emphasis on creation by God’s “word” reflects the way God created the world in Genesis 1. On each day of creation, God said “Let there be ___” and some component of the created world appeared (see Gen. 1:3,6,14,). In the opening verses of Psalm 33 the author stressed the moral characteristics of God. God’s ability to create the
Creator of all things. Use Bible
follow-up question to spark a deeper conversation.
SUMMARIZE: Psalm 33 is a psalm of thanksgiving and the power of God as the Commentary 1 to highlight that the heavens and all they contain were made by the word of the Lord. The psalmist’s point is that God spoke the world into existence.
GUIDE: Consider the Biblical Illustrator article “God ‘Created’: A Word Study,” on page 28 (PSG, p. 22) to supplement your preparation.
SUGGESTED USE | WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4
19
THE POINT
God created us—and He knows each of us.
GUIDE: Refer group members to the author’s points on PSG page 15 that give evidence of God’s power: • The complexities of the human body: Biology itself points to divine design. And divine design, in turn, points to a divine Creator. (Rom. 1:20). • The creation around us and our own consciences within us scream, “There is a God.” • The God who created all things is also the God who controls all things. As Creator He is omnipotent— He is all-powerful. As easily as we can control water poured into a bottle, God controls the turbulent seas (Ps. 33:7).
GUIDE: Use information in Bible Commentary 2 and KEY WORD (p. 19, PSG, p. 14) to explain the meaning of tremble.
20
S e ss i o n 1
world, reflecting His omnipotence or being all-powerful, is important, but God is also “trustworthy” (33:4), He “loves righteousness and justice” (v. 5), and He loves us (v. 5). The psalmist’s emphasis on God’s creation by “word” is part of his overall emphasis on God’s “work” (v. 4). The creator God is the same God who revealed Himself in many ways to His people and guides the course of history. In verse 6 the psalmist highlighted God’s creation of the heavens and the stars. Many readers identify with the sense of awe or wonder the Israelites probably experienced by looking up at this part of God’s world. When God appeared to Job and pointed out the awesome world He had made, God used the constellations as a key piece of evidence of His handiwork (Job 38:31-32). Verse 7. The psalmist also noted God’s role in controlling the forces of nature such as the waters of the sea. Genesis also refers to the separation or division of waters (Gen. 1:610). The psalmist used a poetic metaphor for God’s power over the sea; He put the waters into a heap or into a “bottle” (NRSV). The second part of verse 7 states the same main point in a slightly different way. God put the depths into storehouses. The Hebrew word rendered depths is the same word used in Genesis 1:2 for the “watery depths.” The psalmist likely had the Genesis creation account in mind as he reported God’s control over the waters. Some scholars, however, think the psalmist might also have echoed God’s control of the Red Sea when the Israelites crossed over on dry land. Moses and the Israelites praised God with a song of victory after their escape from Egypt (Ex. 15:1-18). Verse 8. How should God’s people respond to God’s creative activity? The psalmist stressed we should tremble and be in awe of God. The word does not refer to a cringing fear in the presence of brute force. You or I might cower in the presence of someone with immense physical strength who is threatening us. Or, we might cower in the presence of natural forces such as tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, or earthquakes. The psalmist meant we have the stance of reverent fear or awe in the presence of the almighty Lord and Creator of the universe. The Old Testament often accents the importance of healthy fear of God. When Isaiah saw the holy Lord on His throne, he confessed his sins (Isa. 6:1-5). The “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). 2
Today many people in our culture have a casual attitude about God. They might affirm the existence of God, but they view Him more as a grandfather than God the Father. They might want to emphasize God’s love and kindness to the neglect of God’s holiness, majesty, and omnipotence. The notion of God being a God of wrath or a jealous God is not part of their theology. Maybe they have unknowingly domesticated God by making Him more user-friendly. God is good! But as Creator, God deserves our reverence and awe. To acknowledge God as the Creator of the universe should prompt the responses of awe, humility, and obedience. Later in this psalm the author mentioned other aspects to our response to God. Because of God’s goodness and greatness, we should “rejoice in Him” and “trust in His holy name” (Ps. 33:21). We can also put our hope in God (v. 22). Verse 9. The psalmist reaffirmed in verse 6 that the world came into existence by the act of God. God spoke, and the world came into being; God commanded, and creation happened! In the ancient world many religions had creation stories involving a struggle between multiple gods or between a god and some eternal matter. The psalmist knew the true God’s creation of the world was effortless. As the all-powerful One, God could have created any way He chose. The word picture this psalmist was inspired to use was similar to God speaking the world into being in Genesis 1. In our society debates continue about how the world was created. The psalmist clearly affirmed that Yahweh was the creator of the world. Our response to God should include awe and reverence.
DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 16): What are the implications of accepting the reality of a Creator? (Alternate: What does creation reveal to you about its Creator?)
TRANSITION: Say, “God’s power as the creator of all things is evident to us as we consider His creation. The next verses reveal His personal care for us.”
STUDY THE BIBLE
Psalm 33:13-15 13 The Lord looks down from heaven; He observes everyone. 14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from His
dwelling place.
Psalm 33:13-15 10 minutes
READ: Ask a volunteer to read Psalm 33:13-15.
15 He alone shapes their hearts; He considers all their works.
God knows me. Verses 13-14. The God who created the world also cares about His creatures. The psalmist moved on to describe that God is aware of who we are and what we do. The key word picture involves “the eye of the Lord” (33:18). God 21
THE POINT
God created us—and He knows each of us.
SUMMARIZE: The psalmist declared in verses 13-15 that God is omniscient or allknowing. • God looks down from heaven and sees everyone (v. 13). • He watches over us and cares for us (v. 14). • He shapes our hearts (v. 15). • He knows us and knows what we do (v. 15). DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 18): Do you find it comforting or disturbing that God knows everything about you? Explain. (Alternate: Where do we see evidence of God’s care and concern in the world today?)
TRANSITION: Say, “Our next passage, Colossians 1:15-17, will give us a New Testament perspective on these truths. We will gain insight into Jesus’ role in creation, how He sustains what He created and His preeminence in all of His created work.”
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S e ss i o n 1
looks down from heaven and observes all of us. If the depiction of God as Creator highlighted God’s power, the focus on God’s watching us points to His love, concern, and providence. In traditional terms, verse 13 points to God’s omniscience, being all-knowing, while the earlier verses point to God’s omnipotence, being all-powerful. In verse 14 God gazes on the world from His dwelling place in heaven. Sometimes biblical authors stress God’s omnipresence. At other times they reinforce God’s majesty and holiness by noting His presence above us in heaven. In verses 13 and 14 the psalmist combined this biblical balance between God’s being “up there” and His care for us “down here.” In some biblical events humans gave special names to places where they experienced God in a special way. Jacob renamed two places where he met God (Gen. 28:16-19; 32:30). The ultimate revelation of God’s love and presence with us is Jesus, who bore the symbolic name Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The notion of God looking down on His creation could be misunderstood by some people today. A popular view of God across the centuries has been known as deism. Based on the Latin word for “god,” deism portrays God as distant, aloof, and unconcerned about the world. Two images that fit the deistic God are absentee landlord and watchmaker God (i.e., God made the world, set it in motion, then took a hands-off attitude toward it). A deist can affirm the existence of one God, but neglects or denies God’s concern for His creation. The psalmist clearly affirms that the true God both created the world and continues to care for the world. Verse 15. Besides watching over His creatures, God alone shapes their hearts. Here again the psalmist stressed God’s personal concern for His people. The Hebrew word translated “shapes” is the same word used in Genesis 2:7 when God formed Adam from the dust of the ground. God was actively involved in the creation of humanity, and He loves His creation. God knows what we do. He considers all of our works. God’s omniscience can be both reassuring to us or possibly threatening to us! Our reaction to the biblical emphasis on God’s omniscience partly depends on our relation to God. As an unrepentant sinner, you might be threatened by the notion of God knowing everything you think, say, or do. If you have a close, personal relation to God, then you are comforted by God’s awareness of your concerns and challenges in life.
Colossians 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation.
STUDY THE BIBLE Colossians 1:15-17 10 minutes
16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on
READ: Invite a volunteer to
earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or
read Colossians 1:15-17.
dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
GUIDE: Use information in
17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
Bible Commentary 3 on this page and page 24, and
KEY WORD: Firstborn (Col. 1:15)—The word firstborn points to the
Digging Deeper (PSG, p. 19)
supremacy or privileged status of Christ as the eternal Son of God. He is not
to lead in a brief discussion on
merely one of God’s children.
the meaning of image.
Paul’s letter to the Colossians is one of his prison letters (4:3,10,18). Although he was in jail, he wrote profound comments, especially stressing the supremacy of Christ. Scholars often discuss the identity of the false teachers he was responding to at times in this letter. Clearly his opponents had a deficient view of Jesus Christ, and Paul emphasized Jesus’ full deity (1:19; 2:9). Jesus is central to all of creation. SUMMARIZE: The
Verse 15. Paul used some vocabulary to describe Jesus that might perplex contemporary readers. Perhaps we are more accustomed to the way Jesus described Himself in the four Gospels or the way the Gospel authors described Him. Paul, who had met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, was inspired to describe some key aspects of Jesus’ identity. 3 Christ is the image of the invisible God. The Bible stresses God’s transcendence, which implies God cannot be captured in human language. Jesus, for instance, told the Samaritan woman at the well that “God is spirit” (John 4:24). As a spiritual being God is typically immaterial and invisible. At times God appears in physical form. God was one of the three visitors who stopped to see Abraham (Gen. 18:1,10-15). The ultimate revelation of God in human form was Jesus. As John reported, God’s Son took human form (John 1:14). Paul stressed Jesus is the “image” of God. Genesis says God created humans in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). When Paul described Jesus as God’s image, however, he did not point to
description of God as Creator centers on Jesus in this passage. Jesus is the Son of God, but being God’s Son is more than relational. Jesus is God. Jesus is the physical manifestation of the eternal God, He is the exact representation of God, because He is God (Heb. 1:3).
23
THE POINT
God created us—and He knows each of us.
GUIDE: Use Bible Commentary 4 and 5 on this page and page 25, KEY WORD (page 23, PSG, p. 18) and Digging Deeper (PSG, p. 19) to explain the meaning of firstborn. The term firstborn in verse 15 means that Jesus is preeminent (most important, supreme, first place [Col. 1:18]), not that He was a created being. He is the Creator who entered creation in the flesh (John 1:14).
SUMMARIZE: Christ is supreme over creation because He is the Creator. He is the One who created everything. Christ is supreme over creation because all things were created through Him and for HIm.
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S e ss i o n 1
Jesus’ humanity. The key to interpreting Paul’s meaning here is the fact that the word image has several meanings. The word can refer to a reflection of something. When you look in a mirror, you see your image or reflection. The word can also mean a manifestation of a reality. This is the meaning Paul intended, which is similar to the depiction of Jesus in Hebrews 1:3 and John 1:18. Perhaps you have heard the illustration that if someone asked “What is God like?” the answer is “Look at Jesus” (John 14:9). Ultimately God is not some mysterious force or principle. God is uniquely revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 4 Paul also wrote Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. Firstborn has two basic meanings. Sometimes it does refer to chronological sequence. You might be the firstborn child in your family. Your birth date settles that! Bible scholars stress that this temporal or chronological sense is misleading in this context. Paul clearly did not think of Jesus as the first of many children of God. Bible scholars often note that firstborn can be a messianic title, as in Psalm 89:27. It can refer to status or a special relationship. In this more figurative sense firstborn had nothing to do with birth date. For Paul Christ was the eternal Son of God, not merely an ordinary human being. Like God the Father, God the Son has priority and supremacy over all of the created world. Verse 16. The overall witness of the Bible is that the totality of God was involved in the creation of the world. Although the word trinity does not appear in the Bible, the presentation of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is rooted in the biblical witness. Genesis 1 mentioned God and the Spirit of God at the beginning of the creation account (Gen. 1:1-2). The writer of Hebrews noted the role of God the Son in creation (Heb. 1:2). John referred to the role of the Word, God’s Son, in creation (John 1:1-3). Paul noted everything was created by Him, through Him, and for Him. Paul was not inspired to answer all our curiosity questions about Christ and creation! Somehow the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit all engaged in creation! To reinforce our awareness of the Son’s role in creation, Paul used several terms to describe the components of creation. Everything in the world, including heaven and earth, the visible and invisible, and thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, were created by Christ. These last four terms likely refer to spiritual beings. Although Paul did not deal in depth with these spiritual realities in verse 16, he devoted more attention to n Ephesians 6:10-17.
Some Bible students use the term “cosmic Christ” for passages such as verses 15 and 16. The term cosmic comes from the Greek word for “world” (cosmos). This traditional term points to Christ’s relation to all of the world, and it relates to issues such as Christ’s preexistence. God the Son became incarnate in Jesus (John 1:14). But as John and Paul noted, God the Son is eternal. For thirty or so years the Son of God took on bodily form, fully human and fully divine, but the New Testament acknowledges His eternal preexistence as well. Obviously Paul touched on some profound mysteries that baffle many Christians! Although we may not be able to plumb all the mysteries mentioned by Paul, we can hold on to two clear truths. First, Jesus, as God, Creator, and eternal Son of God, should have preeminence in our daily lives. Paul tackled some serious theology here early in his letter, but later on he dealt with practical application and ethics for his readers (Col. 3:1–4:6). 5 Second, Jesus is not a created being. Terms such as firstborn need to be interpreted in light of their context in Paul’s theology. Christ is the preexistent, eternal Son of God and Creator of the world. Christ is not merely another creature. An early Christian heresy tried to use this passage to demote Jesus to the status of a creature, superior to other creatures but not fully divine. Paul here clearly asserted the full Deity of Christ. Verse 17. Besides stressing that Jesus was involved in the creation of the world, Paul added two more emphases. First, Christ is before all things. As the eternal Son of God, Christ existed before any time began and before the world was created. Second, Paul noted that in Christ all things hold together. Theoretically, God could have made the world and left it running on its own. The Bible is clear, however, that God is concerned with His creation throughout time as we know it. God is not a watchmaker God who wound up the watch/world after making it and left it on its own. God’s revelation in and through His Son, Jesus, is clear evidence of His ongoing concern with the world. Studying these verses in Colossians might prompt you to re-evaluate your view of Jesus. Although the Gospels, especially John, mention Christ’s preexistence and involvement in the creation of the world, they highlight His earthly ministry, death, and resurrection. Paul directed our attention to the larger context, the “big picture” about Jesus. Jesus is certainly more than a prophet, social reformer, or great teacher. He is the eternal Son of God and Creator of the universe!
GUIDE: Make the point that it has been said: “If you want to see what God is like, look at Jesus.” Use the bullet points on PSG page 20 to make this connection. • God is powerful, as we see in the miracles of Jesus. • God is caring and compassionate, as we see when Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and fed the multitudes. • God is holy and hates sin, as we see in Jesus’ righteous anger over the desecration of God’s temple (Matt. 21:12-13). • God is loving and just, as we see in Jesus’ death. Justice demands payment for sin; Jesus paid it all (2 Cor. 5:21).
DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 90): How do these verses influence your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus? (Alternate: What do you find most significant in this description of Christ?)
DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity (PSG, p. 20): “First Place.”
25
THE POINT
God created us—and He knows each of us.
LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: God created us— and He knows each of us. Review Live It Out (PSG,
LIVE IT OUT It’s amazing to think that the God who created the world and everything in it has intimate knowledge of us. At the same time, we should never lose sight of the fact that everything that was created by Him is for Him. How will you live out the truth of this study?
>> Evaluate. Does your life say you know God personally
or just know about Him? Acknowledge the preeminence and lordship of Christ in your life.
p. 21; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs.
Wrap It Up GUIDE: Emphasize that the God of Creation knows us and loves us. Jesus, the Son of God, created everything, including us, for His own purpose.
SAY: “It is absolutely amazing that the God who created the universe by speaking it into existence, knows us and shapes our hearts.”
PRAY: Thank God for His creation and for His intimate knowledge of us. Pray that we will give Jesus His rightful place, first place in our hearts.
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S e ss i o n 1
>> Study. Broaden your understanding of the scientific view of creation by reading a book such as Holman QuickSource Guide to Understanding Creation (Nashville: B&H, 2008).
>> Invest. Invest in someone this week and tell what the
created order communicates to you about God. Use this conversation as an opportunity to point to Jesus Christ.
Creator God. Christians differ as to
We were created to live in a
how and when God created the
relationship with God. That
universe.
relationship can only be
“While all Christians may not agree on the details of how God
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/LOUISE KOHL SMITH (33/36/12)
SHARING THE GOOD NEWS
experienced through faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
created the universe, all would
Overlooking the ruins at the ancient site of Ebla in modern northwest Syria. In the 1970s archaeologists unearthed tablets inscribed with stories similar to biblical accounts of the flood, the tower of Babel, and creation. However, the people of Ebla did not know or worship God.
agree that He is the Creator of it
Each week, make yourself
all. The Hebrew word to express
available either before or after
creation first occurs in Genesis
the session to speak privately
1:1 and is the word bara’. God is
with anyone in your group
always the subject of this Hebrew
who wants to know more
verb when it means ‘create.’
about becoming a Christian.
“The first chapter of Genesis
See the article, “Leading
uses the verb bara’ in only
Someone to the Greatest
three verses. In Genesis 1:1,
Decision of All,“ on page 2 for
the context indicates that God
guidance in leading a person
created the universe ex nihilo
to Christ.
“Young Earth Creationists believe
or ‘out of nothing.’ Such action
the universe is likely 6,000 to
is beyond human capabilities.
Remind group members that
10,000 years old and reject
‘The use of the term … strongly
evolution as an explanation for
supports the nuance of “bringing
the human species. Old Earth
into existence”… without the
Creationists generally hold that
utilization of previous material.’”
the earth is billions of years old and also often reject evolution. Those who affirm Intelligent Design would argue that scientific
The excerpt above is from the article “God ‘Created’: A Word Study (Summer 2013), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.
page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ.
evidence supports the belief in a
>> Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >> Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). >> Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 27
GOD “CREATED”: A WORD STUDY BY T. VA N M CC L A I N
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Overlooking the ruins at the ancient site of Ebla in modern northwest Syria. In the 1970s archaeologists unearthed thousands of tablets inscribed with stories similar to biblical accounts of the flood, the tower of Babel, and creation. However, the people of Ebla did not know or worship God.
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/LOUISE KOHL SMITH
Young Earth Creationists believe the universe is likely 6,000 to 10,000 years old and reject evolution as an explanation for the human species. Old Earth Creationists generally hold that the earth is billions of years old, and they also often reject evolution. Those who affirm Intelligent Design would argue that scientific evidence supports the belief in a Creator God. The BioLogos Foundation, for instance, argues that God did create the universe, but they also accept the processes of evolution as the explanation for how He created life. Opinions by Christians about how and when God created the universe are quite varied.
While all Christians may not agree on the details of how God created the universe and life, all believers would agree that He is the Creator of it all. The Hebrew word to express creation first occurs in Genesis 1:1 and is the word bara’. Other Hebrew verbs (such as yasar, meaning “to fashion something”) serve as synonyms of bara’. The term bara’ is unique, though, in that it “emphasizes the initiation of [an] object.”1
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/DAVID ROGERS/BRITISH MUSEUM/LONDON
God’s Initial Work of Creation Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”2 God is always the subject of this Hebrew verb when it means “create.” Said one Old Testament theologian and professor: The scope of the use of the verb bara’ is greatly limited. It is used exclusively to denote divine creation. … As a special theological term, bara’ is used to express clearly the incomparability of the creative work of God in contrast to all secondary products and likenesses made from already existing material by man.3 In English we can use the same verb in two sentences and the context will help determine the intensity of the action. For instance, we can say, “He closed the door.” Or, if someone slammed a door, we might say, “He didn’t just close the door; he CLOSED the door!” The second describes a more intense action. Similarly, Hebrew also uses variations to indicate action intensity. Some Old Testament passages use From the 6th century B.C., a bilingual Sumerian and Babylonian description of the bara’ to show intense action, and the verb means god Marduk and goddess Aruru creating the world. “to cut down” (Josh. 17:15,18; Ezek. 23:47). God is not the subject of the verb in these few verses, and these passages may have actually used a word similar to bara’. (Remember that Hebrew does not have vowels.) Or, bara’ originally may have meant “to cut, divide,” although this is by no means certain. In contrast, when the Hebrew text uses the less intense form of the verb bara’, it always means “to create.”4 The etymology of the word is quite disputed, as it occurs seldom if ever in the other Semitic languages.5 As with many English words, when the Hebrew Old Testament uses bara’, context is generally more helpful than etymology in determining the meaning. The first chapter of Genesis uses the verb bara’ in only three verses. In Genesis 1:1, the context indicates that God created the universe ex nihilo or “out of nothing.” Such action is beyond human capabilities. “The use of the term … strongly supports the nuance of ‘bringing into existence’ … without the utilization of previous material.”6 Other passages also affirm creation as ex nihilo. The writer of Hebrews wrote, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible” (Heb. 11:3; compare Ps. 33:6,9; Col. 1:16). In fact, the statement in Genesis 1:1 that God created the heavens and the earth is a way of saying God created the total universe. This does not mean, however, that bara’ always means “create out of nothing,” as I will discuss below. 29
The use of bara’ with reference to the creation of man indicates the special value that God places on humanity. In fact, man is the Lord’s highest creation, for man is created in His image. “The Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground” (Gen. 2:7)—a clear indication that bara’ in this instance does not mean to create out of nothing.
Continuous Creation Work
A mikvot or small pool for Jewish ritualistic cleansing, located near the synagogue at Gamla in northern Galilee. The Hebrew word miqveh means “gathering of waters” and first appears in the creation account.
God’s creative work did not end with what we see in Genesis. The word bara’ actually appears more times in the Book of Isaiah than any other Old Testament book, including Genesis. Isaiah promised that the creative work of God would be at work in the coming Messianic Age (Isa. 4:5). Much of the Book of Isaiah was written as a comfort for the people of Israel who would be in exile. Throughout the book, Isaiah reminded his readers that the Lord was the Creator. He further explained that just as the Creator God could fashion the universe, so He would give His Servant for a new covenant in the future, not only for Israel but also for the Gentiles (42:5-7). Also, the Book of Psalms uses bara’ in a couple of ways that highlight God’s continued creative work. Psalm 102:18 says, “This will be written for a later generation, and a newly created people will praise the Lord.” Does this phrase a newly created people mean that God creates every soul out of nothing at each person’s conception? Some would answer affirmatively, and this view is known as “creationism.”
30
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BRENT BRUCE (60/9493)
The next two usages of the word bara’ in Genesis chapter one highlight the creation of life, both animal and human life. Genesis 1:21 highlights the creation of animal life: “So God created the large seacreatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” Likewise, Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” The use of bara’ with reference to living creatures indicates that God affirms the value of animal life. They are a special creation of God.
Others would suggest that parents pass down the soul just as they pass down the body to their child. This view, called “traducianism,” teaches that humans propagate whole beings—body and soul. With traducianism, each person is still a result of the creative work of God. Supporters of traducianism hold to this view, arguing that the essential idea in creation is to bring something into existence that had not previously existed. Each view has its strengths and weaknesses, and notable theologians have not agreed on the best way to answer the question of how God creates each soul.7 Also in Psalms, David prayed, “God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10). David’s request affirmed his dependency on God’s continued creative work. God will still create a clean heart in one’s life today, if that person will only call on Him. David was asking that his heart be cleansed of sin; that cleansing is available for all who will place their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
God will still create a clean heart in one’s life today, if that person will only call on Him. Future Work of Creation All of those who have placed their faith in Christ will take part in God’s future work of creation. Isaiah 65:17 says, “For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.” The promise of a new heaven and a new earth that are made up of the redeemed people of God is one of the greatest promises of God’s Word. Just as scholars disagree regarding God’s initial creation and how that took place, they also disagree as to how and when God will create this new heaven and new earth that Isaiah promised. Will it immediately follow the second coming of Christ, or will it immediately follow the millennial reign of Christ on earth? However God brings it to pass, the re-creation or new creation of the heavens and earth will usher in a place of indescribable peace and joy, where believers are finally delivered from the presence of sin. I
1. Thomas E. McComiskey, (bara’, to create) in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), 1:127. 2. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holman Standard Bible (HCSB). 3. Karl-Heinz Bernhardt, bara’: III. Meaning” (bara’, to create) in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament [TDOT], ed. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. John T. Willis, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975), 246. 4. McComiskey, (bara’, to create), 1:127. 5. Bernhardt, bara’: II. 1. Etymology” (bara’, to create) in TDOT, 245. 6. T. V. Farris, Mighty To Save: A Study in Old Testament Soteriology (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993), 21. 7. For a fuller description of creationism and traducianism, see Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 484-86.
This article by T. Van McClain originally appeared in the Summer 2013 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator, by using your church’s quarterly literature order form, or by calling 1-800-458-2772.
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