God the Creator Bible Study Guide plus Streaming Video

Our Beginning, Our Rebellion, and Our Way Back

Randy Frazee

• Publisher: HarperChristian Resources
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9780310135210
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Biografie in ambito biblico

Heaven and earth are woven more closely together than we might think. In this 8-session video Bible study (streaming included), enter the creation of the world and the first movements of God's perfect plan to deliver his people.

Throughout the Bible—from its very first pages to the culmination of Christ's return—there are two parallel dramas unfolding:

• The lower story, which describes the events from our human perspective.
• The upper story, which reveals how the events unfold from God's perspective.

The objective of God the Creator —the first in a series of three small-group studies in The Story series—is to introduce you to these lower and upper stories as told in the Old Testament books of Genesis through Ruth. As you read these narratives—featuring characters such as Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and Ruth—you will see how God has been weaving our lower story into the greater upper story that he has been writing.

This study guide has everything you need for a full Bible study experience, including:

• The study guide itself—with discussion and reflection questions, video notes, and Scripture readings.
• An individual access code to stream all eight video sessions online (you don't need to buy a DVD!).

Sessions include:

• The Beginning of Life as We Know It (Genesis 1–11)
• God Builds a Nation (Genesis 12–36)
• From Slave to Deputy Pharaoh (Genesis 37–50)
• Deliverance (Exodus 1–17)
• Wanderings (Exodus 18–Numbers 27)
• The Battle Begins (Joshua 1–24)
• A Few Good Men... and Women (Judges 1–21)
• The Faith of a Foreign Woman (Ruth 1–4)

The God the Creator Study Guide is part of The Story Bible Study Series: a three-part Bible study drawn from Randy Frazee's bestselling The Story, which reveals the Bible as a single, continuous narrative of God and his people.

Streaming video access code included. Access code subject to expiration after 12/31/2027. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.

Session 1

THE BEGINNING OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

GENESIS 1–11

WELCOME

The story of the Bible begins with a “big bang.” In the opening pages of Genesis, we read that the Spirit of God was hovering over a place that was formless, empty, and dark. But then God initiated the spark that would lead to the creation of our world . . . and our universe. This big bang was no accident. God was intentional in creating the heavens, the earth, and all the amazing things that are contained within them. But the real point of Genesis is even more amazing: God created this place to be with us. He no longer wanted only to enjoy the perfect community he had as the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The Ultimate Author of this grand story wanted to share it with us. “In the beginning” God came up with a plan to perfectly connect his upper story with our lower story. He literally desired to bring heaven down to earth—first to create a paradise, then to create people in his own image, and then to come down and do life with us. Perfectly. Just as he had experienced perfect oneness as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

VIDEO TEACHING NOTES

Welcome to session one of God the Creator. If this is your first time meeting together as a group, take a few moments to introduce yourselves. Watch the video (see the streaming video access provided on the inside front cover) and use the following outline to record some of the main points. The answer key is found at the end of the session.

• God wants us to read the Bible like we gaze at a ________—a tapestry of individual stories that shout out a _________ message from God.

• The point of the _________, the purpose of the creation, the pride and joy of God’s ________ is revealed on the opening pages. What is the apple of God’s eye? The magnum opus of his work? ________—__!

• God’s grand ________ was to go on walks with his children; to be in their presence. God creates the ________ story so he can come down from the _________ story to do life with us.

• In one act of ____________, Adam and Eve rejected God’s vision in exchange for a vision to be _________.

• Living with a _______________, with other people with a _____________, on an earth that is ______________, is not the vision of life that God had in mind.

• The choice of Adam and the sin nature banished him from the ____________ of God. Every one of us are born with this sin nature, separated from a _______________ with God through the choice of one man.

GETTING STARTED

Begin your discussion by reciting the key verse and key idea together as a group. Now try to state the key verse from memory. On your first attempt, use your notes if you need help. On your second attempt, try to state it completely from memory.

KEY VERSE: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27).

KEY IDEA: God’s vision was to come down and to be with us in a beautiful garden. But the first two people reject God’s vision. Their decision introduces sin into the world and keeps humanity from experiencing community with God. The rest of the Bible is God’s story of how he made it possible for us to enter back into relationship with him.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Take a few minutes with your group members to discuss what you just watched and explore these concepts in Scripture.

1. What part of this week’s teaching encouraged or challenged you the most? Why?

[Your Response Here]

2. What do you think it means to be created in the image of God?

[Your Response Here]

3. What in the story of the garden gives you the most encouragement? Why?

[Your Response Here]

4. How does the story of Cain and Abel unsettle you or challenge you?

[Your Response Here]

5. What hope and promise do you find in the story of Noah?

[Your Response Here]

6. What is your biggest takeaway as you reflect on what you learned this week?

[Your Response Here]

CLOSING PRAYER

One of the most important things we can do together in community is to pray for each other. This is not simply a closing prayer to end your group time but a portion of time to share prayer requests and life, to review how God has answered past prayers, and to actually pray for one another. Use the space below to record prayer requests and praises. Also, make sure to pray by name for people God might add to your group—especially your neighbors.

Name	Request/Praise
[Your Response Here]	[Your Response Here]
[Your Response Here]	[Your Response Here]
[Your Response Here]	[Your Response Here]
[Your Response Here]	[Your Response Here]
[Your Response Here]	[Your Response Here]

FOR NEXT WEEK

Next week, we will look at the story of how God’s covenant promise with Abraham would accomplish his upper story plan through building the nation of Israel. Before your next group meeting, be sure to read through the following personal study, complete the exercises, and memorize the key verse for the session.

VIDEO NOTES ANSWER KEY

mural, single / story, handiwork, people—us / vision, lower, upper / free will, their own gods / sin nature, sin nature, cursed / presence, relationship

PERSONAL STUDY

Every session in this guide contains a personal study to help you make meaningful connections between your life and what you are learning each week. Take some time after your group meeting each week to read through this section and complete the personal study. In total, it should take about one hour to complete. Some people like to spread it out, devoting about ten to fifteen minutes a day. Others choose one larger block of time during the week to work through it in one sitting. There is no right or wrong way to do this! Just choose a plan that best fits your needs and schedule and the...