Point of Grace Online Worship - August 25, 2024

Point of Grace – 8.25.24 Sermon Notes – “In the Beginning God…” Genesis 9-11

The Repeated Cycle

-God is gracious creator/provider of “good” for humans!

-Humans drift from “trusting” God and “receiving” the “good” of life to determining for themselves how to get/take the “good” life God promised

-This always results in increased evil, wickedness and man’s inhumanity to man.

-God responds with some judgement but prevailing mercy to rebuild the relationship with humans.

Gen 9-11

The Noah story concludes with a restart for humanity!

Genesis9:1 “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” Genesis 9:20-23 “20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. So the cycle continues…. But ….. God has introduced something new into the picture as “creator and provider of ‘good’” Genesis 9: 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

God wants us to: “Remember He remembers His gracious promises to us. Even when it seems life (or even He) is against us (clouds) He is always for us because He loves us (rainbow).”

Even after Noah and his son try to “take” the good life for themselves God sends a reminder through the author of Genesis for us to, “Remember, He remembers His gracious promises to us. Even when it seems life (or even He) is against us He is always for us because He loves us.” Genesis 10 is all “genealogies” “32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.”

Genesis 11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

The people of Babylon had forgotten to, “Remember, He remembers His gracious promises to us. Even when it seems life (or even He) is against us He is always for us because He loves us.”

When is it hard to “Remember He Remembers”?

-When life is hard!

-Divine Thwarting

-The Father’s discipline

James 5 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father…. but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. “Remember, He remembers His gracious promises to us. Even when it seems life (or even He) is against us He is always for us because He loves us.”

We need so much encouragement to “Remember he remembers His gracious promises to us.”

“Take eat this is my body given for you …

“Take and drink this cup is the new covenant in my blood shed for you …

… do this in remembrance of me! (… do this for my remembrance!)

“Remember, He remembers His gracious promises to us. Even when it seems life (or even He) is against us He is always for us because He loves us

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 18, 2024

Sunday, August 18, 2024 “Faith that Works with God” The Faith of Noah – Part Two

Rev. Mike Coppersmith

Do you have an anchor? Do you know how to use it?

“Faith that Rests in God”

“Faith that Works with God”

James 2:14-17 says Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions. That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing and you say, “Well, goodbye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAITH THAT WORKS

BUILDS ON A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

GROWS WITH A HOLY FEAR

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Genesis 6:22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Genesis 7:5 And Noah did all the Lord commanded him.

Genesis 8:22 “For as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest…will never cease.”

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

PREPARES BECAUSE OF A WISE FORESIGHT

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Matthew 24:36-39 But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

PRIORITIZES A GODLY FAMILY

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Genesis 6:23 Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals, the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left and those with him on the ark.

Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

PROCLAIMS A DIVINE FORECAST

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

John 3:19 This is the verdict: light has come into the word, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

ANTICIPATES GOD-GIVEN FAVOR

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Mark 10:29-30 Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”

A FAITH THAT WORKS…

Builds on a Biblical Foundation

Grows with a Holy Fear

Prepares Because of a Wise Foresight

Prioritizes a Godly Family

Proclaims a Divine Forecast

Anticipates God-Given Favor

Genesis 7:1 “Come now into the ark, you and your family.”

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 11, 2024

Sunday, August 11, 2024 “Faith that Rests in God” The Faith of Noah – Part One

Rev. Mike Coppersmith

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF REST 

Genesis 2:2-3

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” 

Psalm 46:10

Cease striving and know that I am God”.  

Mark 6:31

“Come away with me to a quiet place and rest.”

 Genesis 5:25-29 

When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died. 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” 

THE RESTLESSNESS OF SIN 

Genesis 6:5-7

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, ‘“I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”  

Genesis 4:14

“And I will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 

THE RESTFULNESS OF GOD’S GRACE 

Genesis 6:8-9

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 

Acts 15:11

We are all saved by the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” 

Definition of God’s Grace:

God’s heart-cleansing forgiveness, life-changing kindness, and extravagant favor found in Jesus Christ and freely given to people who don’t deserve it and cannot earn it. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

GOD’S GIFTS OF GRACE 

THE SALVATION OF AN ARK 

Genesis 6:14-17

“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. 16 Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.” 

Hebrews 6:18

We who have fled to Christ for refuge can have great confidence as we hold by faith to the hope that  lies before us. 

Colossians 3:3-4

Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

THE PROVISION OF GOD’S PROMISES 

Genesis 6:18-22 

“But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.”   

1 Corinthians 1:20 

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are all ‘Yes” in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”  

THE GIVING OF AN INVITATION 

Genesis 7:1-6

The Lord then said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven pairs of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.” 5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him. 6 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. 7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.”   

Genesis 7:11-12

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. 

Genesis 7:20-23

The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than fifteen cubits. 21 Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. 22 Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died…23 Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. 

Isaiah 55:1

“Come, all of you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”  

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  

Revelation 22:17

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”  

THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN ANEW 

Genesis 8:1-5

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. 2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. 3 The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible. 

Genesis 8:15-22

Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.” 18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.’” 

2 Corinthians 5:17

If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 

Hebrews 4:3

Now we who have believed enter that rest.”

 Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 30 I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” 

Point of Grace Online Worship - August 4, 2024

Point of Grace – JESUS GENEALOGY

Genesis 5:1-3

1 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created. 3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

Genesis 5:21-24

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Hebrews 11:1-2; 5-6

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

1. The Seed is Sufficient.

Hebrews 12:2

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. It only takes a seed of Faith.

A Simple Prayer – Lord increase our faith.

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 28, 2024

 July 28, 2024

“Four on Four” – Four Lessons on Grace from genesis Chapter Four

Rev. Mike Coppersmith

DEFINITION OF GOD’S GRACE:

God’s heart-cleansing forgiveness, life-changing kindness and extravagant favor found in Jesus Christ and freely given to people who don’t deserve it and can’t earn it.

THERE IS NOTHING TO EARN, BUT THERE IS MUCH TO LEARN!

FOUR LESSONS ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD

Genesis 4:1-5

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.’”2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, he still speaks, even though he is dead.”

Lesson One:

GOD’S GRACE IS A SPEAKING GRACE

Genesis 4:6-7

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Lesson Two:

GOD’S GRACE IS A SEEKING GRACE

Genesis 4:8

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked and killed his brother Abel.

Genesis 4:9-12

Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘\”Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

Lesson Three:

GOD’S GRACE IS A PERSEVERING GRACE

Genesis 4:13-14

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

Genesis 4: 15-16

But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Romans 2:4

God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.”

Lesson Four:

GOD’S GRACE IS A SAVING GRACE

Genesis 4:17-24

Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Genesis 4: 25-26

Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.

Luke 3:38

…the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

Hebrews 12:22-24

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. 24 You have come to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 21, 2024

Point of Grace – 7.21.24 Sermon Notes – “In the Beginning God…” Genesis 3:9-24

“Oh No!”

Genesis 3:8-24 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 2 revealed that God created 3 beautiful relationships for people to thrive within:

•                     People and their Environment

•                     People and God

•                     People and People

Genesis 2 7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being… 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”….. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Genesis 3 reveals the “death” (ie…separation) of the Genesis 2 relational harmony. Hiding, blaming and self-justifying would now mark humanities broken relationship with God and each other. Hostility replaces harmony, even in their relationship with the rest of creation. Humanity’s attempts to fix themselves only worsen the “death” pains.

God’s Response? … … … Gracious Rescue!

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”

“If one looks at the passage within the larger scope of the purpose of the Pentateuch ... much more appears to lie in these words ... It seems likely that the author intends these words to be read as programmatic and foundational for the establishment of the plot and characterization of the remainder of the book. In the narrative to follow, there is to be war (‘enmity’). The two sides are represented by two seeds, the ‘seed’ of the snake and the ‘seed’ of the woman. In the ensuing battle, the ‘seed’ of the woman will crush the head of the snake. Though wounded in the struggle, the woman‘s ‘seed’ will be victorious. There remains in this verse a puzzling yet important ambiguity: Who is the ‘seed’ of the woman? It seems obvious that the purpose of verse 15 has not been to answer that question, but rather to raise it. The remainder of the book is, in fact, the author‘s answer.” John Sailhammer – The Pentateuch as Narrative

16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 14, 2024

Point of Grace – 7.14.24 Sermon Notes – “In the Beginning God…” Genesis 3

“Oh No!”

Genesis 3:1-8

Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made.

And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”

4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will [a]become like God, knowing good and evil.”

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings. 8 Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made.

“The character of the snake is a rich and dense narrative image with many layers of meaning. In Genesis 3:1, the snake is described as “shrewd” or “crafty.” This Hebrew word, “arum” (ערום ), is morally neutral, as it can describe the righteous and wise, like in the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 22:3 The “arum” sees the evil and hides himself, but the naive go on, and are punished for it.” Tim Mackie – Bible Project Classroom

3:1b-5 And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’”

4 The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! 5 For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.”

What is the serpent’s temptation strategy?

He is merely planting seeds of “doubt” in the goodness, trustworthiness and character of God … a wedge of doubt. As if he is saying,

“You can’t trust God’s generosity, His word, His intention with you…” therefore … you need to take matters into your own hands. God is holding out on you… He doesn’t have your best interest at heart.”

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

Under temptation she saw the tree in a new light… her light … it became for them a way to be “independent” from the God who created them “dependent”. The serpent promised they would “become like gods”… the crazy thing is they were already made in the image of God – “like God”. The serpent lead the to “take” for themselves by their own authority what was already “given” them by their generous creator Father. They usurped God’s path into wisdom fullness of life and “took” over their story… choosing “self-rule” and independence.

Genesis 3:7-10 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings. 8 Now they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

Without the “breath of God” intimacy in their dependent relationship with God, the man and woman cratered under the weight of independent existence. They discovered shame, aloneness, fear, a new life of hiding from themselves, each other and God. They hid themselves from the “presence of God” and what does God do? “Where are you?” … the Creator God pursuing His “beloved” ’ayekah’ Where are you?

“It's the first word of the book of Lamentations, which is all about the exile. The tragedy of Israel's exile from the promised land. This is why I've come to refer to God's poem In Genesis 3, as God's lament. It's God's song of grief. That's what the book of Lamentations is. And it's his first question in the garden. ’ayekah’ Where are you? And when you use the vowels .... It's an exclamation. It's not even a word. It's just an exclamation. “Oh or oh no”….. very powerful. Yahweh’s first response is actually just a visceral, “Where are you? Oh no!” Tim Mackie – Bible Project Classroom

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 7, 2024

“In the Beginning God…” Genesis 2:4-25 July 7th 2024

3 Key Themes:

1. God as the Author of Blessing

2. Man as a Dependent Royal Priest

3. God as one who wants to be Found

God as the Author of Blessing

Genesis 2:5, 18, 20b

5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for

the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground,

18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable

for him.”…But for Adam no suitable helper was found.

When God is the originator, blessing flows, When God is the afterthought, death reigns

Genesis 2:10-14

10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four

headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of

Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are

also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of

Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And

the fourth river is the Euphrates.

• 4 rivers named: Gusher, Buster, Rusher and Bloomer

• Literally "Increase, bursting forth, swift, and fruitfulness"

• They water the 4 areas where the entire bible takes place.

God's blessing, while found concentrated in a specific place is for the world

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when

you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God’s first command is not a prohibition, instead it is to enjoy to the fullest.

Man as Dependent Royal Priest

Genesis 2:7

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his

nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

• No other creature is created in the way Humans are created.

• Mankind is a God-filled image bearer.

Genesis 2:8-9

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he

had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were

pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

To hunger and to thirst is apparently important for what it means to be human.

We are designed for dependency.

Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and

take care of it.

"Work it and care for it.” | “To serve and to keep” | (abad / ע) בד ) & shamar ( ש / מר

Bible Project Classroom

• The phrase “to serve and keep” (abad / ע) בד ) & shamar ש / מר ) refers to a priestly

service of worship. These verbs are used together as a phrase elsewhere only in

descriptions of the priests and Levites working in and around the temple.

• The word "work" is commonly used in a religious sense of serving God, and in

priestly texts, especially of the tabernacle duties of the Levites

• “to keep” has the simple sense of ‘guard’, but it is even more commonly used in

legal texts of observing religious commands and duties

“The tasks given to Adam are of a priestly nature: caring for sacred space. In ancient

thinking, caring for sacred space was a way of upholding creation. By preserving order, nonorder

was held at bay … the point of caring for sacred space should be seen as much more

than landscaping or even priestly duties. Maintaining order made one a participant with

God in the ongoing task of sustaining the equilibrium God had established in the cosmos.

…’to complete what was unfinished, and to preserve the existent, not as a status quo but in

a continuing, dynamic, even revolutionary process of remodeling and improvement.”’

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the

garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when

you eat from it you will certainly die.”

God’s first command is to enjoy to the fullest.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Bible Project Classroom

Notice that the first command has to do with eating from all of the trees, not the prohibition

of the one (Gen. 2:16). The divine command is not arbitrary and is directly linked to

humanity’s continued enjoyment of life in the garden of Eden.

The prohibition’s purpose is to safeguard the divine intent for humanity to enjoy God’s own

life in the garden.

Whether or not to act with dependency on God’s is the question

every biblical “hero” must face

God as one who wants to be Found

Genesis 2:8-9

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he

had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were

pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and

the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

God is creating a centralized location where both His Blessing and Himself can be

experienced & found.

There is a “located-ness” to God

How does this help us understand scripture better?

Jesus..

is the perfect Author of Blessing

is the perfectly Dependent Royal Priest

is the one who can be Found

Is the one who Finds