Building Relationships: Connections for Life by Youth with a Mission (Author)

Chapter One

In The Beginning ... Relationships Genesis 1:1-3:13

The alarm sounded at 6:45 A.M. Michelle woke up from another restless night. How will I make it through another day ? she wondered as she lay there. Billy and Samantha would be waking up in a little while. The household would be chaotic as she dressed them for school, prepared their lunches, and got ready for work herself. And then, to add to the wild morning routine, she had to phone the plumber to arrange when he could come to fix the leaky kitchen faucet.

As she headed downstairs for her coffee, the loneliness hit her again full force. Why had Peter left her and the children? What had possessed him? She longed for her mom and dad, but they were in heaven now, she guessed. That made her think of God. Who in the world was he anyway, and did he really care? As she turned on the television to hear the morning news, Michelle's attention was drawn into someone else's cruel world. Pain, hatred, loneliness-it was all there. They're just like me , she thought.

Michelle desperately needs God. She needs to know that he is a God of relationship, who is not distant, but longs to relate intimately with each of us regardless of our situation. From the beginning, men and women were created in the image of God-designed for relationship with him and with each other.

Preparing Heart and Mind

What needs do you find that pets and things cannot fulfill?

Which relationships in your life mean the most to you and why?

When you're caught doing something wrong, how do you respond?

Engaging the text

Read Genesis 1:-2:3

1. Briefly identify what God creates and when (1:5, 6-8, 9-13, 14-19, 20-23, 24, 26-31; 2:2).

2. When God uses the pronouns us and our (1:26), what does this tell us about him? (See also Setting the Stage.)

3. How is the creation of Adam and Eve different from the rest of creation (1:26-31)?

4. How do your responses to Questions 2 and 3 deepen your understanding of the importance of relationships?

Read Genesis 2:4-25

5. In this passage, God's relationship with Adam is illustrated in more depth. In what ways does God provide for Adam? (See verses 7-9, 15, 18-22.)

6. Think about God's invitation to Adam to name the animals (vv. 19-20). What does this reveal about how God wants to relate to people?

What does this imply for you?

7. Verse 25 states that there is no shame between Adam and Eve at this point. How do you imagine their relationship to be?

8. Consider how your relationship with God and others might be different if shame did not exist.

Read Genesis 3:1-13

9. Shame enters because of sin. Describe the various elements that lead to Eve's disobedience.

10. What are the consequences of Adam and Eve's choice to disobey God, both in their relationship with one another and with God? (See also Setting the Stage.)

11. Why do we, too, make choices which are destructive to our relationships with God and others?

12. Given that God is relational and wants relationship with us, how do you think he feels when he calls out to Adam, "Where are you?"

13. We see that relationships are vitally important to God. How important are they to you? What adjustments might you need to make to improve your relationships?

Setting the stage

Genesis 1 and 2 give two accounts of the one creation story. Genesis 1-2:3 provides an overview of creation while Genesis 2:4-25 focuses on God's relationship with Adam and Eve.

God is a relational being (Genesis 1:26). He is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one perfect, loving relationship. He therefore understands men and women's need for relationship and intimacy.

God delegates to humankind authority over creation and the wisdom and knowledge to exercise that responsibility (Genesis 1:26-28).

God's only requirement of Adam and Eve is not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). The penalty of disobedience is death. Adam and Eve are in perfect relationship with God and each other in the garden of Eden until they disobey God's commandment.

"Adam" is not only the name of the first man, but it is also the Hebrew word for "humanity" as a whole, both male and female.

Made for Relationships

As he looked at the animals that God had brought to him, Adam must have felt very alone. As fascinating as elephants, giraffes, and lions were, there was something different about him. Did God really think they would be the companions he longed for?

Not for one moment! God was teaching him about his humanity. When Adam saw the woman God had made, he knew immediately that she was what he had been waiting for!

We were made for relationships: for the intimate union of man and woman; for sacrificial, caring love in families; for the rich stimulation of friendships. We were made to talk and listen; to think deep thoughts; to create beauty together; and to work alongside each other as partners in the care of the earth. These are just a few dimensions of all that it means to be made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).

What do you most appreciate about the way God created you? Take a moment to thank him for his good work.

Sorrow in Judgment

"The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain" (Genesis 6:6).

This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It was in Noah's time, and sin had taken over to such an extent that the only solution was to wash the earth clean and start over with one family. We see that God judges sin, but he does so in deep sorrow. God has a broken heart, and we are the ones who broke it.

We often think of the effects of sin on us, but have we considered the effects of our sin on the Father? If he was grieved over sin in the past, does he grieve today when we sin? Of course he does. He grieves when church leaders become proud and unteachable, when marriages break apart, when children are abused, and when poor or defenseless people are exploited. Because he is a just God, he must eventually bring judgment for sin, but it gives him no pleasure to punish sin. He feels the pain of a rejected father, who can no longer shield rebellious children from the consequences of their actions.

Ask God to show you what he thinks and feels about what's going on around you ... and in your life.

(Continues...)

Finding Your Purpose: Becoming...

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Lessons on Assurance

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Integrity: Living the Truth

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Daniel

(Paperback)

Chapter One

In The Beginning ... Relationships Genesis 1:1-3:13

The alarm sounded at 6:45 A.M. Michelle woke up from another restless night. How will I make it through another day? she wondered as she lay there. Billy and Samantha would be waking up in a little while. The household would be chaotic as she dressed them for school, prepared their lunches, and got ready for work herself. And then, to add to the wild morning routine, she had to phone the plumber to arrange when he could come to fix the leaky kitchen faucet.

As she headed downstairs for her coffee, the loneliness hit her again full force. Why had Peter left her and the children? What had possessed him? She longed for her mom and dad, but they were in heaven now, she guessed. That made her think of God. Who in the world was he anyway, and did he really care? As she turned on the television to hear the morning news, Michelle's attention was drawn into someone else's cruel world. Pain, hatred, loneliness-it was all there. They're just like me, she thought.

Michelle desperately needs God. She needs to know that he is a God of relationship, who is not distant, but longs to relate intimately with each of us regardless of our situation. From the beginning, men and women were created in the image of God-designed for relationship with him and with each other.

Preparing Heart and Mind

What needs do you find that pets and things cannot fulfill?

Which relationships in your life mean the most to you and why?

When you're caught doing something wrong, how do you respond?

Engaging the text

Read Genesis 1:-2:3

1. Briefly identify what God creates and when (1:5, 6-8, 9-13, 14-19, 20-23, 24, 26-31; 2:2).

2. When God uses the pronouns us and our (1:26), what does this tell us about him? (See also Setting the Stage.)

3. How is the creation of Adam and Eve different from the rest of creation (1:26-31)?

4. How do your responses to Questions 2 and 3 deepen your understanding of the importance of relationships?

Read Genesis 2:4-25

5. In this passage, God's relationship with Adam is illustrated in more depth. In what ways does God provide for Adam? (See verses 7-9, 15, 18-22.)

6. Think about God's invitation to Adam to name the animals (vv. 19-20). What does this reveal about how God wants to relate to people?

What does this imply for you?

7. Verse 25 states that there is no shame between Adam and Eve at this point. How do you imagine their relationship to be?

8. Consider how your relationship with God and others might be different if shame did not exist.

Read Genesis 3:1-13

9. Shame enters because of sin. Describe the various elements that lead to Eve's disobedience.

10. What are the consequences of Adam and Eve's choice to disobey God, both in their relationship with one another and with God? (See also Setting the Stage.)

11. Why do we, too, make choices which are destructive to our relationships with God and others?

12. Given that God is relational and wants relationship with us, how do you think he feels when he calls out to Adam, "Where are you?"

13. We see that relationships are vitally important to God. How important are they to you? What adjustments might you need to make to improve your relationships?

Setting the stage

Genesis 1 and 2 give two accounts of the one creation story. Genesis 1-2:3 provides an overview of creation while Genesis 2:4-25 focuses on God's relationship with Adam and Eve.

God is a relational being (Genesis 1:26). He is three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one perfect, loving relationship. He therefore understands men and women's need for relationship and intimacy.

God delegates to humankind authority over creation and the wisdom and knowledge to exercise that responsibility (Genesis 1:26-28).

God's only requirement of Adam and Eve is not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). The penalty of disobedience is death. Adam and Eve are in perfect relationship with God and each other in the garden of Eden until they disobey God's commandment.

"Adam" is not only the name of the first man, but it is also the Hebrew word for "humanity" as a whole, both male and female.

Made for Relationships

As he looked at the animals that God had brought to him, Adam must have felt very alone. As fascinating as elephants, giraffes, and lions were, there was something different about him. Did God really think they would be the companions he longed for?

Not for one moment! God was teaching him about his humanity. When Adam saw the woman God had made, he knew immediately that she was what he had been waiting for!

We were made for relationships: for the intimate union of man and woman; for sacrificial, caring love in families; for the rich stimulation of friendships. We were made to talk and listen; to think deep thoughts; to create beauty together; and to work alongside each other as partners in the care of the earth. These are just a few dimensions of all that it means to be made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).

What do you most appreciate about the way God created you? Take a moment to thank him for his good work.

Sorrow in Judgment

"The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain" (Genesis 6:6).

This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It was in Noah's time, and sin had taken over to such an extent that the only solution was to wash the earth clean and start over with one family. We see that God judges sin, but he does so in deep sorrow. God has a broken heart, and we are the ones who broke it.

We often think of the effects of sin on us, but have we considered the effects of our sin on the Father? If he was grieved over sin in the past, does he grieve today when we sin? Of course he does. He grieves when church leaders become proud and unteachable, when marriages break apart, when children are abused, and when poor or defenseless people are exploited. Because he is a just God, he must eventually bring judgment for sin, but it gives him no pleasure to punish sin. He feels the pain of a rejected father, who can no longer shield rebellious children from the consequences of their actions.

Ask God to show you what he thinks and feels about what's going on around you ... and in your life.

(Continues...)

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Building Relationships: Connections for Life (Smyth Sewn)

Youth with a Mission (Author)

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