The Story Introduction Series 1 – God Forms His People Series 2 – God Pursues His People Series 3 – God Saves His People Finding Your Story in God’s Story Series 1 – God Forms His People Series 2 – God Pursues His People Series 3 – God Saves His People Finding Your Story in God’s Story

The Story Creation – The Beginning of Life as We Know it Series 1 - God Forms His People

I. Creation and Choice Earth made for man Man/Woman created in the image of God Man made for fellowship with God – cool of the day walk – Genesis 3:8 Man’s response is a Choice Genesis 2:15-17

Adam and Eve’s sin – make ourselves God Pandemic – Sin and Death Romans 5:12 (NLT) 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

“They Chose…Poorly”

“Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, of who you are, into something a little different from what it was before. With all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature; either into a man that is in harmony with God, and with others, or else into one that is in a state of war with God, and with others. To be the one kind of creature is joy and peace; to be the other means madness, rage and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.” C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity “Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, of who you are, into something a little different from what it was before. With all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature; either into a man that is in harmony with God, and with others, or else into one that is in a state of war with God, and with others. To be the one kind of creature is joy and peace; to be the other means madness, rage and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.” C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

State of War with God and others – relationships affected by sin

II. How to Come to God Cain and Abel – Genesis 4

Abel’s Sacrifice accepted Cain’s was not Cain’s choice – do what is right and be accepted or sin will control you

Cain’s chooses – his own way Cain’s sin – there are many ways to God

III. Starting Over – Genesis 6-9 Genesis 6:5 Every intent Totally evil Continually The People’s Sin – totally reject God

Humanism – we are God Tolerance – many ways to God Atheism – there is no God Genesis 6:8 - Noah found favor with the Lord He walked in close fellowship with God Did everything as God commanded him

Matthew 24:37-39 (NLT) 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

Genesis 1-2 and Revelation a world without sin Now nothing is as it should be – the result of sin God’s upper story – redeem man to again be right with him