In the Beginning (part 2): Image

TO START

To get your group talking tonight try one of the following conversation starters:

  • What’s the best job you’ve ever had? What did you love about it?

  • What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had. Explain. :)

  • Which of the following is messiest: Your bedroom, your car, or your desk at work? Which one space do you try to keep the cleanest?

TO DISCUSS

What did you find interesting, surprising, challenging, or moving about the sermon? 

Summarize the message in a sentence or two.

Justin said on Sunday, “God isn’t just bringing creation into being; he’s bringing creation into doing.” What does God put mankind to doing? 

  • What is the purpose of their work? 

  • What does the work God gives mankind tell us about God’s intentions for mankind? 

  • What does the work tell us about His relationship with humans? 

Is it surprising to you that living in Eden (God’s perfect world) involved work? Why or why not? 

Consider this quote from Dr. Kristin Swenson:

“Human beings have the unique responsibility, then, to work creatively at maintaining an order that allows each thing to be and do all of what it is and does. And that, this first chapter in Genesis declares, is good.”

  • What kind of work is she talking about? Describe it in your own words.

  • Share an example of work you’ve done that fits this description.

We said on Sunday that because God has called us into the holy work of making order we should do two things:

1. ACT LIKE OUR WORK MATTERS. (Because it does.)

2. BRING THINGS BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE IN THE BEGINNING

What do you do that matters? Find at least one recent example (btw work isn’t just our job; we do work at home, in our families, through our hobbies…).

Where could you “extend the garden”? What areas of chaos in your life (or a life close to yours) are aching for some order? What would it look like to bring Eden to that situation, place, or person?

TO READ

Read Matthew 25:14-30.

  • What does this parable have to do with what we talked about in the sermon on Sunday? 

  • What is the purpose of work in this passage? 

  • What happens to those who don’t do the work? 

TO PRAY

Tonight be sure to pray this simple prayer together, “Creator God, Empower us to embrace holy work and bravely extend the Garden.”

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