Series: The Story of God’s Story May 22, 2011

Today: The Story of the Universe – Today we’ll explore some key concepts that lay the foundation for
our Christian worldview. Some of the 26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image,
things we believe, we’ve taken for in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the
granted but people at different times sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all
or different places may see the world the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move
around us very differently. We need along the ground.”
to understand this to understand
27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the
image of God he created them; male and female he
them. Our theology (understanding of
created them.
God) strongly informs how we live and 28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and
view the world around us. The Bible is increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule
God’s Word. Words tell a story – in over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over
this case a story of salvation – God’s every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant
story intersecting with our story. This
on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has
guide will provide questions and a fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And
reading plan to help you learn. Please to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky
read and share your questions on The and all the creatures that move along the ground—
City. This series is ambitious in scope everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every
green plant for food.” And it was so.
and will require us doing much of our 31
God saw all that he had made, and it was very
learning outside Sunday morning. good. And there was evening, and there was morning—
the sixth day.
Where we’re headed . . .

May 29 Genesis 3-11 The Story of Sin

June 5 Genesis 12-36 The Story of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Twelve Sons
June 12 Baptism Celebration!
June 19 Genesis 37-Exodus 1 The Story of Joseph and the Hebrews
June 26 Exodus 2 – Deuteronomy 34 The Story of Moses, the Law and the Birth of a Holy
Nation
July 3 Joshua The Story of the Promised Land
July 10 Judges – 1 Samuel The Story of Judges and a King
July 17 2 Samuel – 1 Kings 11a, The Story of the Glory Days of Israel
July 24 1 Chronicles
Job, – 2 Chronicles 9
Psalms, Proverbs, Wisdom Break
Song of Songs
July 31 1 Kings 11b – 2 Kings 25, 2 The Story of the Decline
Chronicles 10 - Esther
August 7 Isaiah - Malachi The Stories of the Prophets
August 14 Matthew - John The Story of Jesus the Messiah
August 21 Acts - John The Story of the Church
August 28 Revelation The Story of the End and the Beginning
Questions for the Road
1. Did you know that Genesis 1 and 2 are two different creation stories attempting to teach us two
different stories about God and us? Are you comfortable that the two stories don’t “square
up?” What have you been learning about yourself, creation, God that you didn’t know before?

2. What emotions/thoughts come to you as you reflect on being created in the image of God?

3. How do you reconcile or contrast with what science says about the origins and growth (age and
evolution) of our world to that of Genesis 1 and 2? What would you say to someone who says
that the creation story is myth therefore the whole Bible is not reliable?

4. What emotions/thoughts come to mind when you read the Jesus was involved in and central to
creating the universe?

5. How are you thinking or living differently in light of what you are learning about yourself and
God? How do you think a wrong understanding of God and our universe can have us living
differently than God intended?

This Week’s Readings – through the series - only five weekly readings per week – use the
weekend to catch up or use the extra days to read more!

o M Genesis 3:1-24
o T Luke 4:1-13
o W Genesis 4:1-15
o Th Genesis 6:5-22
o F Romans 5:12-19

Start bringing your Bible to gatherings!

from the Confession of faith of the EUB Church

Article I—God
We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal
Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all
things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom,
justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard
for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his
name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the
Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but
inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.