Tag: Creator

“Humanity, God’s Rulers of Creation”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “In the Beginning,” drawn from Genesis 1-3. This is the first part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. This fifth week of the series, Pastor Femi Ibitoye preached about the calling and vocation of humanity from Genesis 1 and 2.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

God is…

  • Our Creator. Our Maker (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 95:6-7, Psalm 100:3), Nehemiah 9:6
  • Good, and all he does is good (Psalm 136, Psalm 100:5
  • Love.  He loves us
  • Sovereign
  • All powerful
  • Our great Provider
  • King

Humans made in the image of God 

Humans are like God, but not God.  We have immense value

Humans are created in God’s image, in part, to be able to rule the created world

Humans are created to glorify God and to enjoy him forever

Humans belong to God.  He is his.  He is our God.  We owe him our allegiance 

Humans are honored and valued (Psalm 8:4-8)

Humans to be rulers of God’ Creation

Humans to dominate and take care of creation.  Humans have a purpose

Humans are to rule, serve and reign. 

Humans to be a reflection of God’s glory

Humans to lead creation in worship and praise of God. We are royal priests (1 Peter 2:9)

Jesus the perfect Human.  In this Kingship, he served, cared for, loved his people

Humans to reign with Christ forever in the “world” to come

  • Be good rulers of creation. You will be rewarded for your stewardship (Matthew 25:14-30)
  • Remember you are royal Priests- Lead the worship of God with all creation
  • Be fruitful. Use your resources well and share with others.
  • Care for creation as an act of worship.  Worship God and care for the world.

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

“The Creation of Humanity” (Genesis 1 and 2)

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “In the Beginning,” drawn from Genesis 1-3. This is the first part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. This fourth week of the series, Pastor Ruth Carver preached about the creation of humanity from Genesis 1 and 2.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27)

The Creation of Humanity – Big Picture (Genesis 1:26-31)

  • God made mankind in His own image (Imago Dei).
    • God made them to rule over all other living things.
    • God made them male and female.
  • It was very good.

The Creation of Humanity – Zeroing in for a Closer Look (Genesis 2:5-24)

  • God formed the first man from the dust of the earth.
  • God gave him work to do.
  • God saw that something was lacking.
  • God formed the first woman.
  • God established marriage.

A Biblical View of Humanity

  • Human beings are not accidents.
  • People are more important than the environment.
  • God created the two sexes, male and female.
  • Our purpose as human beings is “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”.

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

  • Watch Noel Paul Stookey singing his Wedding Song inspired in part by Genesis chapter 2
  • Watch and listen to portions of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Creation (Die Schöpfung): Adam and Eve’s duet segment (in German with English supertitles starting at 1:19:21) and the wonderful chorus, “The Heavens Are Telling” (in English)
  • Listen to the imaginative meditation-sermon by James Weldon Johnson called “The Creation” from his 1927 sermon compilation, God’s Trombones

“A Garden and a Gardener, Four Rivers and Two Trees” (Genesis 2)

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “In the Beginning,” drawn from Genesis 1-3. This is the first part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. This third week of the series I preached from Genesis 2:4-15, walking through the Genesis 2 account of creation.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)

The Toledot Structure of Genesis

Ten toledot in Genesis:

The story of God’s work with generations and peoples

God Creates a Garden (2:8-10)

God is not only a craftsman but a gardener or farmer

God brings forth beauty and diversity in creation

God Creates a Gardener (2:7-8, 15)

God the gardener creates humanity as sub-gardeners

Humanity is rooted in creation

God’s Garden and the Four Rivers (2:10-14)

The one river 

The four rivers

God’s Garden and the Two Trees (2:9)

The garden with many trees

The two trees in the middle of the garden

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

“The Genesis 1 Account of Creation”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we continued our preaching series entitled “In the Beginning,” drawn from Genesis 1-3. This is the first part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. This second week of the series I preached from Genesis 1:1-2:3, walking through the Genesis 1 account of creation.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)

Approaching Genesis 1:1-2:3

The relationship between faith and science

The limitations of human understanding

Openness to receive Genesis on its own terms 

The Flow and Structure of Genesis 1:1-2:3

God’s ordering of creation through separation

God creates domains and then the entities which exist within them

The structure and variety within God’s creation

The “10” of creation and the “7” of God’s creation

The supremacy of God over all creation and all others

Day 0 (1:2)
Void and Vacuum
Day 1 (1:3-5)
Light		Day 4 (1:14-19)
Lights
Day 2 (1:6-8)
Firmament
Waters below		Day 5 (1:20-23)
Aviary life
Marine life
Day 3 (1:9-13)
Dry land 
Vegetation		Day 6 (1:24-31)
Land animals 
Human beings
Day 7 (2:1-3)
Creation completed
Holy

Genesis 1:1-2:3 and God 

God the Kingly Priest

God the Author of Delight

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

  • Memorize Genesis 1:1-2 or Psalm 19:1
  • Draw, ink, or paint the account of creation in Genesis 1:1-2:3. As you do that, thank and praise God for the wonderful variety of His creation. When you finish, consider sharing your prayer reflections and/or artistry with a friend.
  • Watch the Bible Project’s video, “Genesis 1”
  • Read one of the following:

“Before Anything, There is God the Creator”

Matt EricksonLeave a comment

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we began a new preaching series entitled “In the Beginning,” drawn from Genesis 1-3. This is the first part of a two-part series on Genesis 1-11 that will stretch from January through Lent up to Easter. This first week of the series I preached from Genesis 1:1-2 on the revelation of God as Creator in the book of Genesis.

At the very beginning of this message I share an update on a tragic situation within our church and lead in prayer related to this situation. The message from Genesis 1 begins right after that.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

An Introduction to Genesis

The name of the book of Genesis

The structure of Genesis

Questions raised by Genesis

Our focus in this series

Genesis as a Revelation of the Kingly Power of God

God’s power to create

God’s power to rule over creation

Genesis as a Revelation of the Creative Craftsmanship of God

God’s powerful creativity and the creation from nothing (ex nihilo)

God’s manifold creativity seen in the variety of creation

Genesis as a Revelation of the Triune God

The Father, the Eternal Word, and the Breath of God (1:1-3)The plurality within the One God (1:26)

Dig Deeper

This week dig deeper in one or more of the following ways:

  • Memorize Genesis 1:1
  • Consider going outside this week to explore God’s creation. Even in this cold time of the year, the world is full of wonders. Notice things and give God thanks for them. 
  • Watch the Bible Project’s video, “Genesis 1”
  • Read Tremper Longman’s book How to Read Genesis
  • Listen to all or part of Joseph Haydn’s The Creation