ORIGINS: Small Group Bible Study

Creation: Forming the World

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)

Lesson Two

Its unfathomable to imagine how powerful and great the Creator of the universe is.

Photo credits: Hannah Goldstein

Creation: Forming the World

Sharing Studying Praying Witnessing

Intro...
1. Welcome God's presence. 2. Share the BEST and WORST thing that happened to you this week. If a need for prayer is expressed take time to pray for that individual and need on the spot.

Key text...

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)

Scripture Passages...

Genesis 1; 2:7; 2 Samuel 22:29; Job 33:4; Psalm 8; 33:6, 9, 15; 36:9; 43:3; 51:10; 74:17; 119:105; 139; 148; Proverbs 3:5-6; 6:23; 4:18-22; Isaiah 9:2; 42:6; 45:7, 18; 49:5; 50:10; 55:11; 59:1-3; 60:1-3; Jeremiah 1:5; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Matthew 5:14-16; John 1:1-14; 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35-36; 15:7; 17:17; Acts 13:47; Romans 6:14; 13:12; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; James 4:8; 1 John 1:5; Revelation 4:11; 21:22-27; 22:5.

Todays World...
Milton Wright was a minister who travelled across the United States spreading the gospel. Once when he returned home from a trip, he brought a gift for his two sonsa toy helicopter with a rubber band that twirled its blades. Orville and Wilbur were fond of this gadget, and after playing with it many times, they made another one just like it. Eventually, they became so fascinated with aeronautics that in 1903 they built an airplane out of a wooden frame and canvas. They tested the plane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in the United States. It flew for 12 seconds

Lesson Impact...
Briefly share what points stood out for you in the lesson or how the lesson study has influenced you.

Reflection Time...

What is God saying to you, as you read carefully Genesis 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 49:5; 45:7; Psalm 33:15; 74:17; Isaiah 45:18; and 55:11? Just think about it, something from nothing; out of nothing, something. Focus on Genesis 2:7; Isaiah 55:11; Psalm 33:6, 9. What key point jumps out at you?

Re-creative Power...

Read and analysis: Isaiah 59:1-3; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17;

Romans 6:14; and John 15:7. Do you see the link?

Stop, Think & Link...

After David committed adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), he repented and pled with God to create in him a clean heart (Psalm 51). The Hebrew word David used for create is the same word used in Genesis 1:1bara. This word is used only in reference to Gods creative activities. Do you want to experience the re-creative power of God in your life? If so, let Psalm 51:10 be your prayer request to God right now

Creation & You...

Quickly scan Genesis 1. God formed this world from absolutely nothing. Creation was purely a product of His imagination, thoughts, and ideas. When He spoke, the worlds various parts instantly became a reality. The earth is an expression of His mind. Read carefully Psalm 139:13-16. God also formed you. David likens this birth process to the Creation story in Genesis 1. Just as the earth was fearfully and wonderfully made by God, so were you.

Your Purpose...

The purpose of your life is to be all that your Creator created you to be. At this point, you have the raw material

from which God formed you. It is up to you, with Gods help, to fulfil your potential for which you were created. STEP 1: JOB 33:4 Acknowledge that God created you. This is the most important step in being what God made you to be. Your life was conceived in the mind of God. The only true foundation and launching point in life is recognizing God as your Creator. STEP 2: JEREMIAH 1:5 Know that God created you for a specific purpose. As every created thing had a purpose in Creation, so God has a specific role for you to play. You are specifically equipped to accomplish this task, so it will be easier for you to succeed than to fail. STEP 3: PROVERBS 3:5-6 Ask God to show you your purpose. The Creator alone knows why He created you. So go to Him to discover your reason for existence. Develop a relationship with Him. Talk with Him. Listen to Him. If you make an effort to know Him, He will be more than willing to make Himself known to you. It is only in having a relationship with God that you will discover what you are to do with your life. STEP 4: JAMES 4:8 Stay in close contact with your Creator. When God created you, He had a plan for every phase of your life. Every day, seek understanding from Him as to what you are to do and be. You will please Him and live life to the fullest by staying in close contact with Him. Read Revelation 22:5; Genesis 1:1-3; John 1:1-5, 9, 12;

Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; 2 Samuel 22:29; Psalm 36:9; 43:3; Proverbs 4:18-22; Isaiah 9:2; 42:6; 50:10; 60:1-3; Matthew 5:14-16; John 3:19-21; 8:12; 12:35-36; Acts 13:47; Romans 13:12; and 1 John 1:5. Whats the significance of light both in the physical and spiritual realms?

Experiment...
Find a place that is completely dark with no visible light, perhaps a basement, a school darkroom, or a well blacked-out room. Spend a few minutes in that dark place; then turn on a small flashlight or light a candle to begin to push back the darkness. By this meagre light, read Genesis 1:15; Matthew 5:1416; John 1:114; and Revelation 21:2227.

Recommended Reading...
The Creation, Chapter 2, Patriarchs & Prophets, Ellen G. White. https://egwwritings.org/

Break into twos or threes and pray for one anothers needs, as well as for your friends and family...

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #2: THE CENTURIONS FAITH (Living by Faith)

Living by Faith

LESSONS ON FAITH
LESSON #2: THE CENTURIONS FAITH (Living by Faith)
In order to be able to know what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, it is essential to know, first of all, what is faith. Plainly, it must be to little purpose to urge upon a person the necessity of cultivating faith, while that person has no intelligent idea of what faith is. And it is sadly true that, though the Lord has made this perfectly plain in the Scriptures, there are many church members who do not know what faith is. They may even know what the definition of faith is, but they do not know what the thing is. They do not grasp the idea that is in the definition. For that reason the definition will not be touched now, but rather there will be cited and studied an illustration of faith an instance which makes it stand out so plainly that all can see the very thing itself. Faith comes "by the word of God." To the Word, then, we must look for it. One day a centurion came to Jesus and said to him, "Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed . . . When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matt. 8:6-10

There is what Jesus pronounces faith. When we find what that is, we have found faith. To know what that is, is to know what faith is. There can be no sort of doubt about this, for Christ is "the Author . . . of faith," and He says that that which the centurion manifested was "faith" -- yes, even "great faith." Where, then, in this is the faith? The centurion wanted a certain thing done. He wanted the Lord to do it. But when the Lord said, "I will come" and do it, the centurion checked Him, saying, "Speak the word only," and it shall be done. Now what did the centurion expect would do the work? "The word ONLY." Upon what did he depend for the healing of his servant? Upon "the word ONLY." Now, brother, sister, what is faith?

First published in the Review & Herald, Dec. 6, 1898 By A. T. Jones & E. J. Waggoner