The Creation Story-Sermon Beyond Belief Genesis 1:26-31 06/10/12

Sermon Beyond belief? The creation story 6-10-12 Genesis 1:26-31

26 Then God said, “Let us(BO) make man(BP) in our image,(BQ) in our likeness,(BR) and let them rule(BS) over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air,(BT) over the livestock, over all the earth,[b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”27 So God created(BU) man(BV) in his own image,(BW)
in the image of God(BX) he created him;male and female(BY) he created them.(BZ)
28 God blessed them and said to them,(CA) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(CB) fill the earth(CC) and subdue it. Rule over(CD) the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(CE)”
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.(CF) 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life(CG) in it—I give every green plant for food.(CH)” And it was so.31 God saw all that he had made,(CI) and it was very good.(CJ) And there was evening, and there was morning(CK)—the sixth day.

Sometimes we think of some of the old testament stories as beyond belief
I hope that when we are done to day you will find much to have faith in

Lets talk a bit about why genesis was written
1. Not to answer every question – we ask American western questions
2. Not to give details of every single thing

I don’t want to argue over the 24 hour day
Don’t focus on the minutia

Wesley’s catholic spirit
Focus on the essentials
On the peripheral items, think and let think

3. It was written so Jews could teach their children about their origins
4. It will inform us as well about our origins

Some questions that we have about creation
Was the earth really made in 7 24 hour days
Were adam and eve really the first people
Where did cain get his wife

How does evolution fit in
How does science fit in
Why are there 2 creation stories?
Did we really come from dust

Now that we are at it…….
Am I a bad person if I have questions about this
Does this mean that I don’t respect the bible

Spend some time addressing the questions above
I have never been one to look for was to explain it away, I want to find ways to believe….
Was the earth really made in 7 24 hour days
Lutheran youth sponsor – creating, little trees, big trees, new rocks
Were adam and eve really the first people
Adam means man
Where did cain get his wife
• Maybe he wasn’t the only one created

How does evolution fit in
How does science fit in
Science and genesis – science points to faith
There was a void
The big bang
The order in the universe

Why are there 2 creation stories?
Creation, void and re creation
Did we really come from dust

Now that we are at it…….
Am I a bad person if I have questions about this
Does this mean that I don’t respect the bible

What is the concern?. Are we going to hell if you believe this or don’t believe this? where are the doctrinal police when you need them?

There must be another reason for these stories….

Lets talk about Origins
Who are you?
Whose are you?
We are all adopted
Song- “he’s big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough, to live within my heart.”

We are not going to have all the answers, but we know whose we are

Genesis 3:8-10 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking(L) in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid(M) from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”(N)10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid(O) because I was naked;(P) so I hid.”

Walking in the cool of the day
Adam where are you
As if god did not know
This is all about the relationship
He is looking for Adam. I know where you are……

I see you where ever you are
Where are you David?

One last thing……….God created it all and he said, it is good.
The earth is good. Animals are good. Creation is good. Life is good. You are good.
You. You. You are good. You are loved.


Let’s pray…