According to Scripture, Adam was the first man and was specially created from the dust by God. Our understanding of the origin of morality is founded in the origin of Adam. Biblical concepts of morality are, then, inseparable from biblical concepts of origins. Recognizing Adam as the first human also refutes the possibility that any … Continue reading –>
Chief Asang was weeping, and no one could console him. I had no idea why he was upset, but I asked God to help me comfort him. I am a student missionary teaching the children of the chief’s people. As I approached the chief, he reached out and hugged me. “Thank you for coming,” he … Continue reading –>
[Thought questions for Creation and Morality January 30, 2013] 1. Depending on the Creator. What was God’s intention when He created mankind? Did He have a grand plan or did He just want to create a pleasant and invigorating environment for His new friends through eternity? Why do you think God laid down a firm rule about not eating … Continue reading –>
In an earlier lesson, we looked at Paul’s sermon to the men in Athens (Acts 17:16-31). Follow the line of reasoning he used, noting not just where he started but where he ended. What’s so important about the conclusion he came to, particularly regarding the question of origins and morality? Paul’s sermon to the men of Athens … Continue reading –>
Around a hundred years ago, when I was a teenager, a country singer by the name of Barbara Mandrell, sang, “He grew the tree that He knew would be used to make the old rugged cross.” The song brought out, that even at creation Jesus was planning our redemption. This song could not be any … Continue reading –>
Where does morality come from? How do humans decide how to behave? As a Christian we see that moral behavior is a product of my belief in a Creator God. But what if a person does not believe in God? What dictates his morality? In a sermon on “Evolution and the Christian Faith,” Phillip E. … Continue reading –>
God created us in His image, which means among other things that He intended for us to resemble Him in character. That is, we are to be like Him, as much as humanly possible (notice, to be like God is not the same thing as to aspire to be God, a crucial difference). In order for us to be … Continue reading –>
Key Thought : Creation morality encourages belief in fixed standards of right and wrong and calls us to serve and protect that which we have power over. [Teaching plan for Creation and Morality January 28, 2013] 1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 2:16,17. A. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the … Continue reading –>
In Genesis 2:23, Adam is given the task of naming his wife, whom he called Havah. This word is related to the Hebrew verb hayah, which means “to live” (Jews sometimes use the related expression lehayim, “to life!”). The Hebrew word for “Eve” (Havah) can be translated as “life-giver.” Eve’s name represents the fact that she is the ancestor of all humans. We … Continue reading –>
Read Genesis 1:26-28. What special attribute was given to humans that was not given to the animals? What exactly is “the image of God”? This question has generated a great deal of discussion, and opinions vary. But the verses provide some clues regarding the nature of the idea. First, note that to be made in the … Continue reading –>
Genesis 2:7 depicts God as creating Adam individually, and represents him to be an intelligent moral being rather than as an animal. The text does not say, but one can imagine God using His hands to form the dust into the intended shape and size. One might think that the great Sovereign of the universe would … Continue reading –>
Read for This week’s Study: Gen. 2:16-17;Gen. 1:26-28; James 3:9;Acts 17:26;Prov. 14:31;Matt. 5:44-48;Rev. 20:11-13. Memory Text: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly … Continue reading –>
