December 8: Noah's Ark

This week’s study covers the great flood and God's provision for salvation (Genesis 6:1 - 9:19).We looked at why it came to flooding the earth and the lasting implications.

Here are some of the key things we looked at this week:

- The world was in a state of complete rebellion. Genesis 6:5 says that “…the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” This is really bad. God said that he would not endure it forever. He gave people 120 years to turn from their evil ways. Despite warnings, no one other than Noah’s family followed the ways of God. He followed through on His promise.

- There is both historical and scientific evidence that the flood occurred

- God had a plan to save His people. It was a plan that let them and two of each kind of animal survive for over half a year on a large boat.

- The earth changed after flood. For the first time there were seasons on the earth. The lifespan of animals and humans also decreased drastically.

- God commanded Noah in the same way he commanded Adam, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” Additionally, God created a covenant with Noah that he would not cover the earth with water again. As a sign for this he made the rainbow.

- Through this story we can see both God’s justice and mercy. This was a cleansing through water, however the next time it will be through fire. In both ways, God will be clear that destruction is coming and will provide a way for salvation.

The Origin of Satan

During our discussion I said I could pass along some verses on the origin of Satan and his demons.  Below is a list of verses that I was referring to:

Isaiah 14:9-17

Ezekiel 28:13-19

Matthew 25:41

Jude 6-7

December 1: Evil

This week’s study covers evil entering the world (Genesis 3:1 - 4:16).  We looked at the stories of the fall of Adam and Eve and their children, Cain and Abel.

Here is a recap of some of the main points we learned:

-       Satan is a deceiver.  He confuses Eve by making her think that God was withholding something good from her.  She is confused to the point that she forgets the details God’s command.  She indicates that she is not to even touch the fruit (see Gen. 3:3) when that was not part of God’s instructions (Gen 2:16).

-       The immediate results of disobeying God were:

Ø  Separation of Adam and Eve (they sent separately to cover themselves)

Ø  Knowledge of nudity and the resulting embarrassment

Ø  Separation from God (they hid from God in the garden)

Ø  Death/Sacrifice (God had to kill an animal to clothe them)

-       The long term results of disobeying God were:

Ø  Snakes will crawl on the ground and have to eat dust (meaning other animals that crawl in the dust) and snakes and women will hate each other

Ø  The offspring of the snake and the woman will fight.  The offspring of the snake will die (wound to the head) and the offspring of the woman will be wounded (bruised on the heel).  This is the first prophecy of Christ.  Evil will harm Christ on the cross, but he will defeat it.

Ø  Man will have to work and toil to provide for himself and his family

Ø  Childbirth, which should be a joyous time, will be filled with pain for the woman

Ø  There will be disharmony in marriage.  The woman will desire to compete with her husband, but he will be the leader in the relationship.  This is evidenced in that Adam names Eve after the fall in same way that he named the animals.  (I want to note that the woman is still made in the image of God.  Man’s role is over her in marriage, but this in no way equates her with the animals.  It just defines her role in marriage.)

Ø  Sacrifices for sin need to be a sacrifice and not merely an offering.  Cain’s “offering” of grain was not a sacrifice as was the first born of Abel’s flock.  The foreshadows as to why Christ had to pay such a price for us to sooth the righteous anger of God.

November 17: Creation

This is the first of our lessons from a bible study written by Bill Perry called “Storyteller’s Bible Study.”  This study focuses on 12 major stories from the bible that tell the story from creation to Christ.  We will see that God continuously points to himself and what he will do for us in Christ.

This week’s study covers creation (Genesis 1-2).  By looking at this story in a new way, we were able to learn things about God and understand His character more thoroughly. 

Through this study, we learned that God is:

-       Eternal and supreme

-       Perfectly powerful, perfectly intelligent, and present everywhere

-       A personal Creator and Communicator

-       Completely independent of His creation

-       Loving, caring, and good

We learned that the world:

-       Has order, design, and purpose because God created it that way

-       Was originally made “very good”

We learned that Man was:

-       Made in God’s image (likeness), that means he has personality which includes mind emotions and will

-       Made male and female

-       Made to live in harmony within marriage

-       Given perfect freedom with only one prohibition – not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil

-       Subject to death if they disobeyed God’s command

Study on the book of Ruth

For the month of October, we studied the short book of Ruth.  Much of the study and discussion was based on a book by John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence.  If you missed the study or want to get to know the story of Ruth in more depth, I highly recommend this book.

We summarized much of what we learned in this book through the following verse:

Romans 8:28
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."


Other high points from our study of Ruth:
- Naomi shows great faith in God throughout this book.  She consistently gives credit to God for things that are going well in her life and the things that are going poorly.  She knows that God is in control.  This is a great thing to remember in our times of trouble.  God is in control and He has a plan.
- Ruth shows great dedication to Naomi.  Ruth's dedication to her mother-in-law and her God are amazing.  Ruth also shows many of the characteristics of the woman in Proverbs 31.  God rewards this in Ruth by giving her Boaz.
- Boaz is a righteous man who is committed to following the laws of God.  He resists temptation in sleeping with Ruth before they were married.  He was willing to allow her to marry her closer kinsman-redeemer, which was right under the law, but would have been painful for him.  He does not delay in following the commandments of God, but works diligently to follow them.  God rewards this in Boaz by giving him Ruth.
- God is working through these tough times (Ruth takes place during the time of Judges) and circumstances to do something amazing:  continue the line of Abraham through Boaz and Ruth.  They become the great grandparents of King David, and ultimately the ancestors of Christ.

God is in control, and He has a plan.

Please add your comments to this post-
 - What were your thoughts on the study?  
 - What did you like or dislike?  
 - What did God teach you through the book of Ruth?  

Welcome

Welcome to John & Cayce's small group.  Here is some basic information about our small group:

Who:  TBC members and attenders
What: A bible study over various topics and a time to have fellowship with other believers
When: Wednesdays from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Where:  John & Cayce's Apartment (1-8-4-504 Higashiazabu)

Please email us if you would like to join:
john.rutledge@gmail.com
cayce.rutledge@gmail.com