In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve a clear command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, a choice that represented either trusting Him or taking authority for themselves. Satan appeared in the form of a serpent to persuade them to eat the fruit, a choice that has led to mankind being alienated from God, each other, their own heart, and creation. Then God initiated a plan of hope and rescue.

In Genesis 3 we see God begin a rescue plan for man, whose decision to rebel against Him, through Satan's temptation, has resulted in death. God predicts that someday Satan will be judged and defeated through a conflict between Satan and a member of the human race--the Messiah. By making an animal hide covering for Adam and Eve, God foreshadows the day when a sacrifice will cover the shame and guilt of their sins. We should "take off" our ways of dealing with this guilt and "put on" Jesus' free provision of forgiveness.

In the story of Cain and Abel, we see man approaching God in 2 different ways, and God is pleased with one and displeased with the other. This contrast teaches us that God desires personal trust over mental assent and a reverent heart over religious formalism. God's interaction with Cain shows that while we can harden our hearts against God, God will never stop pursuing us.

A continuing study of the two humanities delving into the genealogies of Seth and Cain. As human society develops, we see both man's greatness in being made in God's image and man's corruption through godless egotism with a moral trajectory downward. We are all born into the line of Cain spiritually, but we can choose the line of Seth by entrusting ourselves to the God of the Bible. We all leave a legacy ? what step of faith can we take with the Lord TODAY toward a godly life legacy?\r\n

There is plausible historical and anthropological evidence to support the Biblical account that there was a worldwide flood that wiped out almost all people. Several New Testament passages help us understand the application of the event. First, we should prepare for Jesus' return, since, like the flood, it will happen unexpectedly. Second, as with the judgment of the flood, Jesus will judge when he returns. Third, just as God rescued Noah and his family, God offers us rescue from judgment through Jesus. Finally, we see Noah as a great example of faith in action.

After the cleansing of the flood, God makes a new promise to never again judge the earth through a flood, not because He thought man could be righteous, but because He would offer a sacrificial substitute for their sins. With this promise, He also gives new instructions that demonstrate the value of human life, and, through Noah's family dealings, makes new predictions about how He will work through human history to bring people to Him, including each one of us.

Genesis 10 and 11 tell the story of the Babal project, in which man sought to build a tower for astrological worship. The tower represented their attempt to unite humanity under human rule, in defiance of God's direction to spread out. God responded by thwarting their plan and confusing their language, forcing them to spread out. Through Biblical stories and history, we see God judging human empires, in keeping with His opposition to the "proud," but we also see God giving grace through the Messiah for those who humble themselves before God.

Find out why many scholars think the Abrahamic Covenant is the most important passage in the Bible and why God picked Abraham. God did the heavy-lifting in this bilateral treaty but Abraham responded in faith to His initiative. What is our response to God's initiation in our lives?

This famous passage on the beginning of our world is distinguished from other creation literature and shown superior. It is also harmonized with what science has discovered about the origin of the universe and life on earth. Genesis is history rather than myth and presents key theological truths to help us make sense of our lives. Will we respond to God speaking to us through His Word?

A profoundly important study on what it means to be human. Many voices are clamoring for our attention on this topic with many different answers. There are huge implications to the answers we base our lives on ? will we trust God and His Word and allow Him to transform us according to His design or not?

As we study the Bible's account of Abraham's life, we see that God's dealings with him mirror His dealings with Christians who have put their trust in Him to pay for their sins--the essence of faith. Abraham's life gives us a picture of a normal life of faith-lapses, as is common and normal for Christians, but also shows us that God is always faithful to people who have put their trust in Him--not because of their performance but because of His faithfulness. Understanding this will help us be more stable, have an answer for our fears, find growth through trusting Him and through His loving discipline, and, someday, see amazing results of our steps of faith.

This passage narrates a war between nine ancient kings and an encounter between Abraham and two kings. Insight into Abraham's developing faith is provided as he actively trusts God's promises of protection and provision. God works through Melchizedek, the king of Salem, to encourage Abraham's faith which has a ripple effect far beyond his own life. Melchizedek was the original ?man without the Bible? and reveals the incredible depth and unity of the Bible.\r\n

A fascinating narrative describing how God ratified a covenant with Abram and providing three key insights into living by faith. God declares us to be in right standing with Him when we simply trust in His promise. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is faith under strain. Faith submits to God's plan and to His timing for its fulfillment.

The last study of Abraham's life describing the peak of his faith while on Mount Moriah with Isaac. There are at least three principles of God's dealing with Abraham that apply to us: 1) God will test our faith in Him; 2) God tests in order to bless ? never to harm, and 3) God will work through our obedience to advance His plan to bless others. Remarkable foreshadowing of Jesus' sacrifice two thousand years later at the same place is detailed.

We can learn about having a vital faith by studying its antithesis in the tragic life of Lot. Though a true believer, he was a carnal believer and lived more like a non-believer; but the Lord was compassionate to him. An insightful explanation of the tragedy of and the hope for carnal believers is given. At any point, Lot could have decided to begin living by faith like Abraham and reaped the benefits.

An insightful overview of the first half of Jacob's life. God promised that He would provide for Jacob's major needs, but he struggled and schemed through his own means rather than trust Him. After resisting God his whole life, Jacob was finally broken of his self-sufficiency when he wrestled with God and surrendered. We all struggle with God ? by deeply mistrusting His goodness and by determining to control our own lives ? will we surrender to Him or not?

An overview of the life of Joseph--an incredible story of favoritism by Jacob, hatred, cruelty, deception, and guilt by his half-brothers, as well as faithfulness, perseverance, obedience, and forgiveness by Joseph. Like many of us, Joseph was victimized by many people, but he did not succumb to a victim mentality because he trusted in God's loving sovereignty. He was able to thrive in spite of ill-treatment and adversity and we can, too, through God's help.