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Nurture [Session 1]
God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
[Session 1] Introduction It has been said that for the human mind to capture God in his fullness is about as probable as being able to put the entire Atlantic Ocean into a bucket! Impossible!! However, our lives are shaped by the image of God we carry in our own minds, and if we are to be reconciled with God then we need to know what He is like and why humanity has been
separated from Him. So, you can see how vital it is that we begin to understand who God is, that we deal with any inaccurate views we may have, and that we grasp how we can have a relationship with the living God. This is what the Gospel, or good news, is all about (Mark 1:1, 14-15): God is restoring humanity back to Himself through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Who is God? -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐
God is the creator of all things (Genesis 1:1 to 2:2). God is all-powerful (Omnipotent) (Psalm 147:5) (Matthew 19:26) all knowing (Omniscient) (Psalm 139:1-6) and everywhere present (Omnipresent) (Psalm 139:7-10). God has an always will exist (Revelation 1:8). God is holy (Psalm 99:9) and good (Psalm 100:5). God is love (1 John 4:16) and hope (Romans 15:13). God is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
What do we need to know about humanity? -‐ -‐
Humanity was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and so everyone is significant (Psalm 139:13-16). Humanity was created to be in relationship with God (Psalm 8:3-8) and he has a plan and purpose for all people (Philippians 2:12-13). (Romans 8:28-30)
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Nurture
[Session 1] [Session 1]
God -‐ -‐
Humanity has been given the power of choice (Genesis 2:16) (Deuteronomy 30:19). Humanity was given everything to enjoy but they chose to rebel (Psalm 14:1-3) (Genesis 3). Their sinful choice separated them from God and resulted in physical and spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1-3) (Genesis 3:23).
How does this affect us? -‐ -‐ -‐
We have all sinned (‘missed the mark’) (Romans 3:23) and our sin will result in death and separation from God in hell (Revelation 20:10-15). God wants us to have a relationship with Him, but His justice require that the penalty for sin must be paid (Romans 6:23) (Romans 3:21-26). We have a choice. Either we live our own lives independent of God and pay for our own sin, or we live our lives dependent on God and believe His payment for our sin. We either reject Jesus Christ or accept Him.
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“Christianity is not about religion…it’s about a vital and vibrant relationship with a loving God.”
Conclusion Christianity is not about religion or a sticking to a set of rules; it’s about a vital and vibrant relationship with a loving God. God is saving us from death and offering us life.
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