Bible 10: 16 Sept. 2013 In Journals: In your opinion, what are the top 3 main events in the Bible?

Why is it important to know the main story of the Bible and/or human history?

The importance of Metanarrative: “Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives.” -Jean-François Lyotard (1924-1998)

Postmodernism defined by a late-20th-century style and concept in the arts, architecture, and criticism that represents a departure from modernism and has at its heart a general distrust of grand theories and ideologies as well as a problematical relationship with any notion of “art.”

A World in Need of Metanarrative Relativism – no absolute truth Individualism – I am at the center of my story Existentialism – There is no meaning, just be

As Lisa drove me home, my mind ached as I replayed Scott’s words As Lisa drove me home, my mind ached as I replayed Scott’s words. All the Old Testament and New Testament verses had one oddly familiar voice — one tone, one heart. I wondered, How could a book written by so many different people over the course of hundreds of years fit together perfectly as if one amazing storyteller has written the whole thing? The Holy Spirit began melting my vanity and arrogance with a power stronger than any hex, incantation, or spell I’d ever used. Suddenly, the blindfold I’d worn for almost 30 years was stripped away, and instantly I knew what I’d been searching for: Jesus! -Kimberly Shumate, “I Was a Witch” – Xianity Today

Read Genesis 1 Silently In Journals: What words did you see repeated? Which words seem important?

Read Revelation 21 Silently In Journals: What Similarities do Genesis 1 and Revelation 21 share?

The Universal Story Zoom out What is Our Role?

can fundamentally CHANGE Where the story begins & where the story ends can fundamentally CHANGE what the story is.

Beginning of the story… Genesis 1 Beginning of the story… Astrophysical Biological

Genesis 1 Historical context Competing stories Poetry

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Bara – to create

Genesis 1:2 And the world was formless and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Tohu vaVohu

Tohu vaVohu Day 1: Light & Darkness Day 2: Waters & Heavens** Day 3: Dry Earth & Vegetation

No more Tohu vaVohu Day 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars Day 5: Fish & Birds Day 6: Land Creatures & Us

Creation Day 1: Light & Darkness Day 4: Sun, Moon, & Stars Day 2: Waters & Heavens** Day 5: Fish & Birds Day 3: Dry Earth & Vegetation Day 6: Land Creatures & Us

Threes days of ordering days of filling “Bara” in 1:27

Sevens “And God saw…” “And it was so…” Days in the first week

“…according to their kind” 3+7=10 v. - To make “…according to their kind” “And God said…”

Six? “And there was evening and there was morning…” “And then God rested… … … …”

Genesis 1 - Creation is Good Good != Perfect Physicality 1:11–Dasha–Sprout, Bring Forth

V26-28 Rada – Rule, Have Dominion CULTURAL MANDATE Kabash – Subdue Participation in Creation Rada – Rule, Have Dominion CULTURAL MANDATE Kabash – Subdue Hierarchy & Shalom

V26-28 The world is growing and filled with potential… now do something with it!

Making things Art and Beauty Relationship Learning Organizing Developing

Beginning Eden No Death Rivers Tree of Life People God is there

Where you go to be with God after you die? HEAVEN in Genesis 1? Where you go to be with God after you die? No death… God is present… NOPE

Revelation 21:1-3

End New Earth No Death River of Life Trees of Life Nations God is there

Beginning  End Eden New Earth No Death No Death Rivers River of Life Tree of Life Trees of Life People Nations God is there God is there

Garden  DASHA!  City Eden New Earth No Death No Death Rivers River of Life Tree of Life Trees of Life People Nations God is there God is there