Unity in Diversity (Part 1) - Pastor Rob

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

PATH

Your view of the GOSPEL depends upon your choice of WISDOM and God’sCHOICE of you.

 

POINTS

Your view of the GOSPEL

 

Read Genesis 1.26-31 and consider the amazing love God demonstrated toward Adam and Eve in their divine design, marriage relationship, complete authority and abundant provision to include Himself personally [Gn 3.8].

 

In light of all that God had done for Adam and Eve, do you think they lacked anything emotionally, physically, intellectually, spiritually or relationally?

 

Read Genesis 2.15-17 and consider…

o   Does God have the “right” to set rules and consequences for His creation? Why or why not?

o   Does God’s command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil seem vague, restrictive or unrealistic? Why or why not?

o   Does God’s stated consequence of death for eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil seem too harsh or too final? Why or why not?

 

Read Isaiah 55.8-9 and Psalm 103.13-14

o   Consider the similarities in relationship, responsibility and authority between God and His children and a loving parent and their children.

o   In light of this discussion, how is God’s setting of “rules and consequences” for Adam & Eve [and us] similar and yet different from that of a parent?

 

Read Genesis 3.1-7

o   Can you see any good reason why Adam and Eve should have trusted the serpent over God?

o   Consider the similarities between Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God and that of a child’s disobedience toward their parents. How are they similar/different?

 

Read Genesis 3.19, 22-24

o   Do God’s actions seem too harsh or unloving? Why or why not?

o   As a parent have you ever had to make decisions that seemed harsh to your children? Were these decisions enjoyable or difficult? Why?

 

Read and consider Rom 5.12, 3.23, 5.18-19; 1 Cor 15.21-22; Rom 6.23; Jn 3;16; Rom 5.8; Eph 2.1-5

 

Consider the love demonstrated and the difficulty endured by God the Father in His sending of His only Son Jesus to absorb the wrath we deserved.

 

Consider the sense of loss, sacrifice, weakness, vulnerability, shame, rejection, anguish, sorrow, pain and despair that Jesus willingly endured during His life of suffering and death in our place.

 

In light of God’s great sacrifice of love for your good and for your life, consider what you may need to sacrifice out of love that is not good in your life.  

 

PONDER

Meditate on 2 Cor 5.17-21 this week