Beautiful Mess_Part 1

 Beautiful Mess: Genesis 1:1‐2 Small Group Conversation Questions Basic small group structure: . Meal/snacks/decompression . Opening prayer/Announcements . Conversation around discussion questions/Study . Prayer and accountability Narrative of the Series Genesis means “origin” or “beginning”. This opening book of the bible is the story of the beginning of the universe, the human race, of sin, of redemption, and the beginning of a nation. Ultimately, this is the beginning of the story of the glory of the gospel. Though we currently live in a broken world and deal with messy relationships and situations, what God created in the beginning was very beautiful and what God does in us through Jesus is very beautiful. Genesis is about the beauty of God amidst the mess of a sinful and broken world. Genesis: A Beautiful Mess . Throughout this study we will journey through: 1) The character and nature of God 2) God’s original intention and design for creation 3) Human rebellion and the corruption of creation 4) God’s redemptive plan in the gospel As we read through these strange yet familiar stories together, work through these questions, and really wrestle with who God is and what he’s doing in this book. Work to discover Jesus and the gospel in the midst of the real darkness found in these pages. Opening Prayer (Optional Prayer) Father ­ we’re here for you, be here with us. Open our eyes and hearts to deal with your word honestly. Let us leave this conversation with a greater knowledge of and desire for you. Bring hope, healing, and restoration through our conversations. Send us out to be faithful witnesses to the gospel in our city. In your name we pray, Amen. Main Idea : What we believe about “the beginning” will inspire, and guide, our lives and it will shape our eternal futures. In the beginning there is hope, as God hovers over the void. In the beginning, God brings order to the chaos and light to the darkness. In this we see that God uses messed up people for His beautiful purposes; He redeems and restores our lives for His glory. We can rest in the fact that we serve a good and powerful Creator­God who guides our lives and shapes our eternal future. Scripture Genesis 1:1‐2 // “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Psalm 90:2 // “ Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Job 36:26 // “Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.” Colossians 1:15‐17 // “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Questions for Conversation 1. Summary question: after reading through the series narrative, ask each person in the group to think through and describe what stood out to them or what they remember from the message. 2. Read the text: Genesis 1:1­2. What would they beginning have been like? What do you think the world, formless, void, and dark would have looked like? What was the deepest darkness you’ve ever experienced (ie. a cave, dark house, really dark night in the woods, etc)? 3. What do you think it means for the “Spirit of God” to “hover over the face of the waters”? 4. What are some of the challenges you have had with the idea of creation and the origin of the universe according to the biblical account in Genesis 1? For further study, we recommend Genesis Unbound by John Sailhamer. 5. Ultimately, the biblical account of the origin and creation of the universe is about the character and nature of God, and His redemptive gospel­plan to glorify Himself in the world. In light of this, what do these first two verses reveal about the character and nature of God? (See also, Colossians 1:15­17). 6. Think through some of the messy and difficult parts of your life. How might the Lord step into those and gloriously work to wring out something beautiful through those moments? 7. How does Genesis 1 make sense of the chaos of this world? How can we press into the theology of this section (what is says about the character and nature of God) in order to find hope in the midst of the seeming chaos of our world? Prayer and Accountability 1. Give us an update (Group Leaders: Space below is to write down names, stories, and items for prayer). 2. How can we pray for you to take the next step you sense Jesus is leading you to take? __________________________________________________________________________
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