1. The First Verse of the Bible

2. Introductory Thoughts
Building on the wrong foundation almost always gives bad results
Our search for truth needs to begin at the right place – Proverbs 9:10
No coincidence that the Bible begins where it does
The first verse is the fundamental truth upon which the rest of God’s revelation to mankind depends
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

3. God is Real It is plain that the world exists –
There is something rather than nothing
But why is there something rather than nothing?
Two answered questions help us understand
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

4. God is Real Who is responsible for the fact that we exist?
This is the most practical question man ever asks
Life is unexplainable if God did not create the world and we simply cannot live without a basic explanation for life
It is in God that we live and move and have our being
Acts 17:28
Hebrews 1:3 – Hebrews 11:1-3
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

5. God is Real What shall be our response to this person?
Paul speaks of many who knew God but refused
to honor Him as such – Romans 1:20-21
The truth that God made the world has vast implications
We are accountable to God
He has authority over us
He will determine our destiny
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

6. God is Real – Right Now
Difference between knowing a thing theoretically and knowing it is true through experience
God becomes very “real” to us when we lie upon our deathbeds
The challenge is to live right now in such a way that God is real to us
Romans 1:19-20
Two Things Will Help Keep God Real to Us
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

7. God is Real – Right Now We need to spend more time with God’s world
Our move away from an agricultural society has
not been all “progress”
We need more significant contact with things God has made and less with things man has made
In our industrial / technological society, it takes effort to keep in touch with the world that God has made
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

8. God is Real – Right Now We need to spend more time in God’s word
God’s reality confronts us on every page of the scriptures
Bible study is about coming to know God Himself
We need to learn and consider what we learn about God
We need to practice the art of reflection, meditation, and serious thought
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”

9. Concluding Admonitions
The first verse in the Bible teaches us that we came from God – it is also true that we
will return to God
Considering our eventual return to God, we ought to live each day in practical recognition
of our accountability to Him – we ought
to live life for God
Proverbs 9:10
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom: and the Knowledge of the Holy Is Understanding”