Restoring Dominion - Teaching Plan

Key Thought: Our responsibility is to reflect God’s image in the way we interact with others and the way we care for His Creation.

Restoring Dominion – July 9, 2016

1. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 43:6,7.

Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. What does it mean that God has created us for His glory?
c. Personal Application : If someone were to ask you what the purpose of your life is, how would you respond, and why? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “If God made man in His own image for His glory, why do I see so many human beings that look and act and talk like the devil?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Genesis 1:26-28.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What does it mean to have dominion over the earth?
c. Personal Application : What are some specific boundaries you need to respect in regards to family and friends? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “I don’t understand dominion over the earth. Mankind wants to dominate each other, fight over territory and leadership and ideas. We put cement and tar and bricks over everything and call it progress. We are destroying ourselves and the environment.” Do you tend to agree or disagree with your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Genesis 2:15.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does God mean when He says that Adam and Eve were to replenish the earth?
c. Personal Application: Do you have any enjoyment in having a garden and working in it? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “The natural world to me is full of danger. There are wild animals, diseases, snakes, spiders, cockroaches, thorns, thistles, and overhanging tree branches. I’d rather stay in the house.” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 8:3-8.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does it mean man was made a little lower than the angels and crowned with honor and glory? Is this speaking of Jesus or of us?
c. Personal Application : Why did God give man dominion over the earth? How have we done in our dominion? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Comments

Restoring Dominion – Teaching Plan — 6 Comments

Ben Tamba on July 8, 2016 at 7:49 am said:

As I go over the lesson for this week - and last week - a question comes to mind:

1. Before the Fall, mankind was to procreate and multiply, and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28)
2. In Matthew 22, Jesus answered the Sadducees that in Heaven there will be no more marriage.
3. Based on the lessons so far, everything will be restored back to the way before the Fall, including procreation, etc.
4. Can someone explain on how to reconcile these two seemingly contradicting texts?

Ben Tamba

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- Paul Blanke on July 8, 2016 at 9:13 pm said:
  
  Ben, that is a question that often has been asked previously and in light of Matt 22, there are at least several problems that families wonder about. One is when we go to Heaven, will my husband or my wife be the same as when we were alive? Also with the family in mind, what about our children, in heaven? Will they still be family? Interesting what the answers might be.
  Jesus had answers that were often different from what might be expect. In Matt 22:39 Jesus mentioned two reasons for the questions. They were mistaken by what they knew and Who they knew. Though we may be concerned about missing out, we should also be aware of what God has prepared for the redeemed. What is in store, we can only imagine.
  
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- Michael Trunkey on July 9, 2016 at 8:53 am said:
  
  Before fall: fill the earth. Before they did we have record of their sin.
  Post Jesus says, speaking of heaven: you will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Neither black or brown, not male or female (Paul) we will be as the Angels in heaven (not procreation).
  
  I can imagine, but the scriptures are silent.
  
  Dominion was given, but we lost it. Restoration is through our Savior Jesus who procreates through us. Procreation was a gift to allow expression, when all knowledge is revealed, will we need it?
  
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Maurice Ashton on July 8, 2016 at 1:50 pm said:

Some questions such as these remain unanswered in the Bible and while some folk speculate as to what may happen, my preference is to live with the question. We actually know very little about Heaven, other than it is beyond our imagination. that is something to look forward to.

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Faston howa on July 8, 2016 at 10:06 pm said:

These two points are nt contradicting,yes they'l wl be nah marrieges in heaven,that means we'l be ther for 1000yrs waiting 4 da new and clean earth,where we shal labor bt nat as of this terrible earth.no sin shal be there.amen

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- Paul Blanke on July 9, 2016 at 12:38 am said:
  
  The question that comes to mind is, can someone point me in the right direction as to where Heaven is? The answer is-no. Maurice's thoughts about the question is as good an answer as possible. Most of us give little thought to heaven beyond what the Bible gives us.
  
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