Back to the Beginning

1. Genesis 1-3 are foundational to understanding so much of what the Bible teaches. Read Genesis 1:26-28. Why did God need to tell Adam and Eve what to do in his world? What did God tell Adam and Eve to do in Genesis 1:26-28? What do the terms "subdue" and "rule" suggest to you? In Genesis 2:15 what instructions did God give Adam that would help him understand his rule over creation? What would it mean for Adam to rule over creation and yet care for it at the same time?

2. The instructions given to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 come before sin. What does that say about the importance of what Adam and Eve were to do with creation?

3. Read Acts 17:25-28 and Psalm 139:1-10. How much of what you do in life is done in the presence of God? True or False…Everything in life is a platform for worship of God. Is there anything you do that is outside the presence of God? Living every minute of life before God can make one uncomfortable but it can be liberating as well. How so?

4. The church (generally speaking) has tended to divide God's world into a "secular" sphere and a "spiritual" sphere. To the latter belong church, church work, and religious vocations (pastors, missionaries, etc.). To the former belongs everything else. So, those working in the "spiritual" sphere are doing things that are considered more valuable than things done in the secular sphere. Thus, the church has created two tiers of people - those who do "spiritual" work and those who do non-spiritual work. The end result is that pastors (for instance) are viewed as engaging in work that is more important than what others do. In this line of thinking, pastors receive a special "call" to their work whereas an account or mechanic or teacher simply chose their line of work. The doctrines of creation and God's care for his creation teach that our vocations are equal. God endowed us with the skills to do our vocations; therefore since he is the giver of skills our vocations are equal because of him. Remember - when God visited our world he worked in a skilled trade. How does this change how you view your work?

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