From Eden to Eternity

Service Times: 9:15a & 10:45a

From Eden to Eternity

The Bible as a Story:

The Bible tells one unified story that leads to Jesus. Readers often feel frustrated because they treat the Bible like a reference manual or a self-help book. While Scripture does guide us toward the best way to live, its primary purpose is to tell a story: the account of a faithful God’s relationship with unfaithful people.

Understanding this story helps us know God’s character and see our own lives more clearly. When we read about God’s guidance for Abraham, we see how He leads us today. When we read about the broken expectations of Israel in exile, we see how God meets us in our own brokenness.

The Trustworthiness of Scripture:

The Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of God. But what does that mean practically?

  • Inspired: Scripture is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). Every book has two authors: the human writer and the Holy Spirit who guided them.
  • Infallible: The Bible is without error in its teaching on God, theology, and our relationship with Him. It will not steer you wrong in understanding who Jesus is or what it means to follow Him.
  • Authoritative: The Bible is the truth we base our lives around. It has the final say in what we believe and how we discern right from wrong.

The Bible is trustworthy, worth building a life upon, and essential for spiritual growth. Most importantly, it reveals the heart of God.

We believe that the Bible is infallible, meaning it is without error in how it teaches us about God, theology, or how we relate to God. The Bible won’t steer us wrong in our understanding of who Jesus is or what it means to follow him. Lastly, the Bible is our authority. It is the truth we base our lives around; it gets the final say in what we believe and what is right and wrong. 

The Bible is trustworthy, it’s worth building our lives around, utilizing to grow spiritually, and it reveals to us the character of God. 

Sermon Discussion Guide

Week 1 - (June 7) Creation

  1. Read Genesis 1:26–28 and Genesis 1:31. What stands out to you from the text? 
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: Is Genesis 1 Really About How the World Was Made?
  3. You were created on purpose and for a purpose. When you think about your purpose, what comes to mind? 

Week 2 - (June 14) The Fall 

  1. Read Genesis 2:15–17; Genesis 3:1–11, 15, 21–23.
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: This Is the Hope For Ending the Evil that Affects Your Life
  3. All of us are equally created in the image of God and yet fallen. Where do you see the effects of the fall in your own life? 

Week 3 - (June 21) Abraham

  1. Read Genesis 12:1–3; Genesis 15:1–6.
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: A Way God Wants to Connect With You (You Might Not Think Much About)
  3. Where in your life do you feel like you have had to take a leap of faith? 
  4. How did you see God show up in that season?

Week 4 - (June 28) Exodus 

  1. Read Exodus 2:23-35; 6:2-9.
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: The Repeating Pattern from The Exodus You May Not Have Noticed
  3. The Exodus story shows how God saves his people. What stood out to you from the sermon or the exodus story? 
  4. In Exodus God’s people were saved to go on mission. Where in your life is God calling you to represent Him to the world around you?

Week 5 - (July 5) The Ideal Kingdom

  1. Read 1 Samuel 17:41-47 (We are jumping in mid-story in the fight between David and Goliath. This is the portion where David confronts Goliath). 
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: David the Priestly King
  3. What about stories or heroes gets you excited? Why do you think we resonate with heroes so much? 
  4. Notice what David says to Goliath. Who does David represent? What about David makes him a good hero?

Week 6 - (July 12) Kingdom Divided & Exile 

  1. Read 2 Kings 17:14-20.
  2. Watch this Bible Project video: 3 Ways to Choose to Live in "Babylon" (and Which Jesus Chose)
  3. The story of the Exile is when everything goes wrong. Where in your own story do you see similarities with the exile?
  4. As Christians we are called to a similar “way of exile.” How do you see your life reflecting a sense of “exile” now? How do you find encouragement to live faithfully?

Sermons