Genesis
Genesis is the foundational book in the whole of the canon. Without at least a cursory understanding of Genesis nothing in the Bible or the biblical worldview is coherent. In Genesis, God created humanity out of the dust in his own image to be like him and to represent him. We see the framework that holds the entire Bible together: covenants. God cuts covenant with his people and the whole rest of the Bible is about his people’s faithlessness and his faithfulness. Finally, Genesis provides the origin of the messianic hope that runs through the storyline of Scripture and finds ultimate fulfillment in Revelation 21-22.
As we near the close of Genesis, Jacob blesses his family and we see his trust in God’s promised blessing and find hope for ourselves.
Resources:
Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham
Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner
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Embrace God’s Plan
Resources:
Tim Shutes
Genesis 46-47
https://www.esv.org/Genesis+46/
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God is with us to redeem our past for his purposes, therefore we are free to repent of our sins and free to forgive those who have sinned against us.
Resources:
Genesis 42-45
WBC, Genesis, by Gordon Wenham
Preach the Word, Genesis, by Kent Hughes
Forgiveness: What it is and isn’t (article at acts29.com) by Sam Storms
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The secret to remaining steadfast under trials is knowing the God who is with you to exalt you through trials.
Resources:
Genesis 39-41
Word Biblical Commentary, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
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God will stop at nothing to redeem you
Resources:
Genesis 37-38
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Jacob and his family members are sinners and sufferers who receive amazing grace from God, reminding all of us to never be grace graduates.
Resources:
Genesis 34-36
Word Biblical Commentary (Genesis) by Gordon Wenham
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
Sexual Assault: Healing Steps for Victims by David Powlison
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In these chapters God calls Jacob to go home, but there is more to it than that. God is calling Jacob to come home to God himself. Like Jacob, followers of Jesus “come home” to God daily by leaving, dealing with God, and dealing with people.
Resources:
Genesis 31-33
Preach the Word (Genesis) Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
Counterfeit Gods by Tim keller
Press Through (sermon) by JD Graear
The World, The Flesh, & The Devil (article) by Ligonier Ministries (available online)
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God is with us when others mess up our lives and he is disciplining us, revealing our idols, and keeping his promises.
Resources:
Genesis 29-30
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
Redeeming Money by Paul Tripp
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God is with us in the fatal root of our mess, the bitter consequences of our mess, and God is with us to the very end
Resources:
Genesis 27-28
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Kenneth Mathews
ESV Study Bible
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
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God is with you by sovereign grace, therefore, you don’t have to be afraid, you don’t have to be impressive, and you don’t have to be manipulative.
Resources:
Genesis 25:19-26:35
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Mathews
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
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Trusting God’s providence with your future doesn’t lead to passivity or anxiety, but to obedient responsibility and fervent prayer.
Resources:
Genesis 24-25:18
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Kenneth Mathews
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible (Genesis Notes)
Concise Theology by JI Packer
The Providence of God (article) by John Piper
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In Genesis 22 Abraham learned that he must trust the Lord with his promised son. In Genesis 23, Abraham learns to trust the Lord with his promised land. In this chapter we learn how to live for the eternal land that God promises.
Resources:
Genesis 23
New American Commentary (Genesis), by Kenneth Mathews
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
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Genesis 22 is the culmination of Abraham’s journey of faith. For decades the Lord has taught Abraham to trust Him. In Genesis 22 the rubber hits the road: will Abraham obey the God he trusts when it costs him everything?
Resources:
Genesis 22
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Kenneth Mathews
ESV Study Bible (Genesis Notes)
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
Cost of Discipleship Part 3 by Ray Ortlund (immanuelnashville.com)
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In Genesis 21 the Lord fulfills his promise to provide Abraham and Sarah with a son. Throughout the chapter we learn three reasons why joy is found in taking God at his word.
Resources:
Genesis 21:1-34
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Kenneth Mathews
ESV Study Bible, Genesis Notes
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
Cost of Discipleship Part 3 (Sermon) by Ray Ortlund at Immanuel Nashville
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What is the Lord Doing When You Hit Rock Bottom?
Resources:
Genesis 20
New American Commentary (Genesis) by Kenneth Mathews
ESV Study Bible, Genesis notes
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
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Flee God’s Judgement; Look to God’s Mediator
Resources:
Genesis 18:26 – 19:38
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Trust God more than your doubts. We can do this because of grace, by acting according to his word, and because God can do the impossible. Learning from Abraham and Sarah how to overcome our doubts and place our hope in the finished work of Jesus.
Resources:
Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 2, Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham
Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner
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Learn to walk with the God you can trust by remembering who God is, remembering who you are, remembering the signs, and remembering to pass it on.
Resources:
Genesis 17:1-14
New American Commentary, Genesis 12-50 by Kenneth Mathews
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
Alive to God 17 by Ray Ortlund
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Continuing in the life of Abraham, we will see in Genesis 16 why we can trust in the God who sees us.
Resources:
Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 2: Genesis 16-50, Gordon Wenham
Preach the Word, Genesis, Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
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In this sermon we explore three reasons why we should live by faith in God’s promises rather than our worries from Genesis 15.
Resources:
Genesis 15
ESV Study Bible
Preach the Word (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
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Where is the good, blessed life really found? In Genesis 13-14, Abram’s life reveals the paradox that blessing is found in humility over pride, faith over sight, and giving over grabbing.
Resources:
Genesis 13-14
Preach the Word Commentary (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible
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God promises to bless all the nations of the world by choosing one man named Abraham to father one people that will be a blessing to all people. Through the life of Abraham we learn how to live by faith in Abraham’s true offspring, Jesus Christ.
Resources:
Genesis 12:1-20
New American Commentary (Genesis 12-50) by Kenneth Mathews
Preach the Word Commentary (Genesis) by Kent Hughes
ESV Study Bible (Genesis Notes)
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In the final sermon of Genesis 1-11 we focus on the end for which God created humanity and what it will take to accomplish it.
Resources:
Genesis 10-12:3
Genesis 1-11, New American Commentary, Kenneth Mathews
The Reversal of Babel by Ligonier Minsitries
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The God who gives second chances – Genesis 8:20 – 9:29
Resources:
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In Genesis 4:1-6:8 we learn how breakdown in our vertical relationship with the Lord leads to breakdown in our horizontal relationships with one another and the only hope that really matters.
Resources:
Genesis 4:1-6:8
New American Commentary, Genesis 1-11, Kenneth Mathews
A Tale of Two Cities by Tim Keller
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Sin ruins everything: Grace changes everything
Resources:
Genesis 3:7-24
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The Tempter’s core temptation is the terrible lie: God cannot be trusted. If you obey God, you will not be happy. We’ll look at the true Adam who can be trusted, where the first Adam failed.
Resources:
Genesis 3:1-6
The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis
Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham
Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner
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As the creation account rolls on, we learn in this passage that we were created not only for a task, but for relationship. The first and most basic human relationship is marriage, though even if it points to a great relationship.
Resources:
The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy and Kathy Keller
Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1: Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham
Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Derek Kidner
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God made humanity in his image to glorify him. But how do we glorify God? That’s the question we tackle together in Genesis 2:4-17.
Resources:
Genesis 2:4-17
New American Commentary, Genesis 1-11, Kenneth Mathews
Word Biblical Commentary, Genesis 1-15, Gordon Wenham
From Eden to New Jerusalem by T. Desmond Alexander
The Temple & The Church’s Mission by G.K. Beale
Various sermons on God’s glory by John Piper
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God made all of humanity in his image as his royal representatives. In this sermon we explore three implications that flow from this identity: Humanity has unified dignity, Humanity has designed diversity, and be who you really are.
Resources:
Genesis 1:27
New American Commentary, Genesis 1-11, Kenneth Mathews
God & the Transgender Debate by Andrew Walker
Making Sense of God by Tim keller
The Temple & The Church’s Mission by GK Beale
Marriage & the Mystery of the Gospel by Ray Ortlund Jr.
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At the pinnacle of His work, the unrivaled creator makes humanity in his image to live as his royal representatives in all the earth.
Resources:
Genesis 1:26-2:3
The Temple and the Church’s Mission by GK Beale
New American Commentary, Genesis 1-11, Kenneth Mathews
Creation & Blessing by Hugh Ross
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-is-the-relationship-between-the-cultural-mandate-and-the-great-commission/ (video)
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Since God ordered the universe by his sovereign word, we should order our lives by his written word under his sovereign care.
Resources:
Genesis 1:1-25
New American Commentary, Genesis 1-11 by Kenneth Mathews
A Commentary on the Psalms by Allen P. Ross
Redeeming Science by Tim Keller
Painting illustration borrowed from Mike Anderson
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In this sermon we explore what happened at the beginning of everything so that we can understand who God is, why we’re here and where everything is going.
Resources:
Genesis 1:1-2
Genesis 1-11:26, New American Commentary by Kenneth A. Mathews
ESV Study Bible
Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
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