Chapter 1 - Standing Up and Brushing Off the Dirt
Get Ready to Move
Getting started is often the toughest step, but working together as a group can make it easier. Today is the day you choose to stand up and take a stand. Since this is where the Bible began, it’s also where we will start.
“Genesis1:1-2 - The History of Creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (NKJV)
This verse emphasizes bringing order from chaos, renewal, and divine transformation—reminding us that only God can restore life through change. It describes the earth as "formless and void," which can be metaphorically likened to the process of preparing to move to your new home in Heaven in several ways…
Just as the earth initially lacked form or structure, a house before a move, or a new house after the old one has been cleared out, can seem like a chaotic mess. It carries a sense of disarray and emptiness, with everything in turmoil and nothing in its proper place.
Then, God brings order and fills the empty space with light, land, sea, and life. Similarly, during a move, order is established through packing, organizing, and placing belongings in a new space and place. Empty rooms are filled with furniture and personal touches, transforming the house into a home.
Moving is a creative process that involves establishing a new home and building a new life within it. It requires effort and creativity to turn a house into a home by decorating and personalizing it, much like how God brought order and beauty out of the initial chaos of the earth.
Both scenarios involve venturing into the unknown. The earth was first depicted as darkness over the deep surface, symbolizing the unknown that God was to bring under control. Moving means leaving behind familiar routines and surroundings (people, places, and things), and confronting the uncertainty of new environments and experiences.
The creation account symbolizes a new beginning and a divine intention for the earth. Moving, or moving on, can embody a new phase in life, offering an opportunity for personal growth and the pursuit of new goals and dreams.
It’s time to step into your destiny and the plan that God has for your life… Oh, the places you’ll go.
Make a list of the most obvious changes you need to make. (Where could you use a fresh start?)
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Pick an area to start.
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What steps can you take to bring order into this area?
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What areas do you think you will need help with?
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Who can you ask for help?
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Brain Teaser #1:
Genesis 1:1-2 - The History of Creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
This section states that God created the Heavens (plural) and the Earth, but it doesn’t mention Him creating the waters. Were the waters already there? Why is water plural? Interesting.
What do you think?
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Google AI Overview states:
According to the biblical creation narrative in Genesis, water existed before the specific creation of the heavens and earth, as it is described as being present as a formless void and darkness over the face of the deep, upon which the Spirit of God hovered. This suggests that while the earth and heavens were formed later, water, in some form, was already in existence.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Genesis 1:1-2:
The initial verses describe the state of the earth as "without form and void" and covered in darkness over the deep, with the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. This implies that water, in some form, was present before the specific creation of the heavens and the earth as described in Genesis.
- The "Deep":
The term "deep" (Hebrew: tehom) often refers to a vast, chaotic body of water. This reinforces the idea that water was present before the structured creation of the earth.
- Separation of Waters:
Genesis 1:6-10 describes God separating the waters above from the waters below, forming the sky and the seas. This further indicates that water was already a pre-existing element that God organized.
- Different Interpretations:
Some interpretations of Genesis view the initial state of the earth as a watery chaos, suggesting that water was a fundamental element from the beginning, even if not yet in its current form.
- Symbolic vs. Literal:
Some scholars interpret the Genesis account symbolically, suggesting that the "water" represents a chaotic, unformed state that God then brought into order. Others interpret it more literally, believing that water, in some form, was created at the very beginning of creation.
Google AI Overview provides the following picture to explain the text provided above…
Brain Teaser #2:
Genesis 1:1-2 - The History of Creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
This section states that God created the Heavens and the Earth. Why is The Heavens plural and the Earth singular?
What do you think?
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Google AI Overview states:
In Genesis 1:1-2, the word "heavens" is plural because it refers to the expanse above the earth, encompassing the atmosphere, outer space, and potentially even God's dwelling place. The term "earth" is singular because it represents the physical planet, the realm of humanity. There is no explicit mention of three layers of heaven in these verses, but the concept of multiple heavens is present in some interpretations.
Elaboration:
- Plural Heavens:
The Hebrew word for "heavens" (shamayim) is grammatically plural, which can be understood in several ways.
- Physical Universe: Some interpretations see it as referring to the physical expanse above the earth, including the atmosphere, clouds, and outer space.
- Dual Nature: The dual form of the word could also indicate a distinction between the physical heavens and the spiritual realm where God resides.
- Multiple Layers: In some ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, there were believed to be multiple layers or heavens.
- Singular Earth:
The word "earth" (eretz) is singular, representing the physical planet and the realm where humans live.
- Three Layers of Heaven (Interpretation):
While Genesis 1:1-2 doesn't explicitly mention three layers, later interpretations, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions, developed the idea of three heavens.
- First Heaven: The sky and atmosphere.
- Second Heaven: Outer space, including the celestial bodies.
- Third Heaven: The dwelling place of God, often associated with paradise or the highest spiritual realm.
- Not Explicit in Genesis:
It's important to note that the concept of three distinct layers of heaven is not explicitly stated in the initial verses of Genesis. It's a later theological development.”
Brain Teaser #3:
Genesis 1:1-2 - The History of Creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”
When was God first mentioned as referring to the trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) in the Bible… Was it in the first few verses of the New Testament? OR the Old Testament? Interesting. (WHO KNEW?)
What do you think?
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Google AI Overview states:
In Genesis 1:1-2, the pre-incarnate Jesus is believed to be present as the Word (Logos) of God, actively involved in creation. While not explicitly named as "Jesus" in the Old Testament, Christian theology interprets the creative acts described in these verses as manifestations of the divine Logos, who later became incarnate as Jesus.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Genesis 1:1-2:These verses describe the initial creation of the heavens and the earth, with God's Spirit hovering over the waters.
John 1:1-3, 14: John's Gospel identifies the Word (Logos) as existing with God in the beginning and being the agent of creation. It also identifies the Word as becoming flesh in Jesus.
Pre-incarnate Jesus: Christians believe that the pre-incarnate Jesus, as the divine Logos, was present and active during creation, even though he was not yet known as "Jesus".
Trinity: The concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is also relevant here. While not explicitly named, the Spirit's presence in Genesis 1:2 is interpreted as the Holy Spirit, and God's Word is identified with the pre-incarnate Son.
Theophanies: Some interpretations suggest that the "Angel of the Lord" or other divine appearances in the Old Testament were also manifestations of the pre-incarnate Christ, further supporting the idea of his active involvement in the events before his incarnation.