God is Good - so we don’t need to look elsewhere.

MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM SPIRITUAL GROWTH SERIES - 11/5/10 Genesis 1-3

We asked five questions of the text:
1) What needs does God create us with?
Food, water, intimacy, community

2) Why are we created with needs?
• Gives God a regular opportunity to show us what he is like – that he is good.
• Look to him to fulfill those needs
• Reminds us of a deeper truth – we are dependant on him.

Why so many different things? Why so many good things? Why so many ways of meeting our needs? What does it tell you about Him? - God is Good
Can you see these rhythms of needs that God created us with are meant to act as signposts, that point us back to him. He could have made it that we didn’t have to drink, eat, make love, create, sleep.  It is like these physical needs remind us of a deeper spiritual reality.

3) What was at the heart of the lie that made Adam and Eve choose to eat the fruit? (Gen 3:1-7)

They believed God wasn’t good enough to provide for them. You can almost hear Eve saying that to herself “I will be more satisfied if I have the thing that God hasn’t given”
In other words, God isn’t that good. What he has provided wasn’t enough.

4) What are the results of Adam and Eve not trusting the goodness of God? (Gen 3:16-19; 23-24)
Death, pain, Separation, fear, relationship breakdown.
Can you see – it is a distortion of a ‘good’ thing into an ‘ultimate’ thing. Another word for this is idolatry.
2 types of idols:
External idols are the presenting object or person on whom the idolatry manifests itself whereas the Internal idol is the underlying reason for the idolatry. 

5) What would be the fruit in our lives if we truly believed that God was Good?

• Wouldn’t chase other stuff
• Less debt
• Marriages stronger – priority of time, relationships,
• Security - Identity issues
• Trust – wouldn’t run to the quick fix.
• No fear
• Obedience -
• chastity and purity – for sex to be enjoyed to it’s fullest, needs to be in context of marriage.
• friendships better –
• intimacy and fulfillment in relationship with God.
• Handling exams and essays?
• The kingdom!

Questions for Mission Group:
1) Tell the story of the creation of the world, mankind and the instructions given to Adam and Eve, in your own words.
2) Describe the difference between internal and external idols
3) Why do we make good things into ultimate things?
4) Talk about how you can spot when you’ve made good things ultimate things by using the checklist below.
Look at the fruit of your decisions:
Perhaps look at the fruit of your decisions:
Does your down time truly restore you?
Does it result in a greater love for others and God?
Is it best for the people you love?
Is t your agenda or the family’s agenda?
Are you growing in self control, joy, patience, faithfulness etc..(Gal 5:22-23)

5) What have you most enjoyed/learnt about during this spiritual growth series - how is your life different?