January 2015

MONTHLY ARCHIVES: January 2015

With Purpose

Posted by Karah

Pause

Read through Genesis 1–2 again. Ask God to guide you by His Spirit, helping you to see how this passage reveals God’s purpose for humanity.

“The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” —Genesis 2:15

Read Genesis 1:26–2:25 in your Bible. Today, look for what this passage reveals about God’s purpose for humanity. Underline any words or phrases that give you insight.

Debrief by thinking through these questions:

God created humans in His image, which implies relationship and reflects His desire to know us. What does that teach you about His purpose for your life?

God placed Adam in the perfect garden, a place meant to bring Him glory. How does that help you to better understand God’s purpose for humanity?

God gave Adam a job to do before sin entered the world. This means that work is good. How Adam lived his life—what he did and how he spent his time—was meant to bring glory to God. How would living with that mind-set affect your daily life? Explain.

The Point

God created humanity with a purpose: to know Him and to live in a way that brings glory to Him.

Respond

God created Adam and gave him a purpose: to know God and to be a steward of all God had created. You are a steward, too. Think of all God has given you: salvation, resources, skills and talents, spiritual gifts, the gospel.

Evaluate your life. Are you using what God has given you to bring glory to Him? Why or why not?

Confess your desire to glorify God through what He has given you. Ask Him to help you have the courage and strength to do so, empowered by His Holy Spirit.

Jot down three things you know God has asked you to be a steward of. List the steps you’ll take to glorify Him, the Author of your story, with those things this week.

Behind the Story

The word translated work in Genesis 2:5 is the Hebrew word ābad. This word was commonly used for tilling the soil and other labor, but can also refer to service to another. Therefore, it’s often used to refer to worship (Ex. 3:12), and its noun form, ăbōdâ, is frequently used to describe the Levitical duties in the tabernacle and temple worship.

Posted in Boys, Devotions | Tagged Camp Ridgecrest Alumni and Friends, Camp Ridgecrest for Boys, Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission., Weekly Devotions | Leave a reply

In His Image

Posted by Karah

Pause

Read through Genesis 1–2 again today. Praise God for the creativity you see in His creation and thank Him for creating you.

What are some things that people think set them apart from the crowd?

Circle all that apply.

Income Hard work/effort

Intelligence Passion for something

Skills Family

Popularity Appearance

Relationships Power

“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.” —Genesis 2:7

Now, read Genesis 1:26-27 again. As you read, think about who or what is being set apart from the rest of creation in these verses. Consider these questions:

Of all the things that God created, only humans are made in His image. How does that set us apart from other created things?

What does that fact teach you about the kind of relationship God wants to have with us—even from the very beginning?

Read Genesis 2:4-7,18-22 in your Bible.

What examples of the set-apart, intimate relationship God wants to have with His children do you see in these verses? Explain.

Why is it important that we recognize that from the very beginning we were made to know God personally and be in fellowship with Him?

The Point

God, the Author and Main Character of Scripture, created us to be in relationship with Him.

Respond

Meditate on this thought: God created humanity in His image even though He knew—even in the very act of creation—that He would have to redeem us.

God wants to have a personal relationship with you and provided the way through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Place your faith in Him.

As Christians, God is continuing to conform us to His image, the likeness He has shown us in Jesus (Rom. 8:29). How can you see God at work in your life? If you don’t see God conforming you into His likeness, ask the Holy Spirit to give you spiritual eyes to see God at work or reveal any sin that is disrupting your relationship with Him.

Behind the Story

The creation of humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creative work. This is shown in that it was His final creative act, along with the personal nature of the way He created man and woman. In addition, of all God’s creation, only humans are said to be made in His image.

Three-In-One

Posted by Karah

Pause

Focus your mind on God and who He is. Listen or sing your favorite worship song to Him as an act of worship. Try “The Earth is Yours” by Gungor (Beautiful Things, 2010).

Read through Genesis 1:1-27 in your Bible, then focus on verses 26-27.

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” —Genesis 1:26-27

Ask yourself:

What do these verses reveal to you about the main character of Scripture? Explain.

Focus on verses 2, 26, and 27. How do these verses suggest the Trinity? Why is that important?

Now, read Colossians 1:15-20 in your Bible.

What was Jesus’ role in creation? Explain.

Why is it important to recognize that the God who created the world and set redemption into motion is a three-in-one God?

The Point

The Author of the story is our threefold God. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all active in creation—and redemption.

Respond

It’s easy to think that Jesus and the Holy Spirit didn’t enter the story until much later, but it is our threefold God—Father, Son, and Spirit—who set the world into motion, beginning with creation.

Praise God in all three Persons for their involvement in creation and the story of redemption.

Think about your personal story of redemption. Thank each Person of the Trinity for their role in bringing you into a relationship with the Father through the Son, empowered by the Spirit.

For further study, read John 1:1-13.

Behind the Story

The original audience of Genesis 1-2 would not have recognized Genesis 1:26-27
as a reference to the Trinity, since that concept wasn’t fully revealed until later in redemptive history. While theologians caution that we cannot derive the entire doctrine of the Trinity from one use of a plural pronoun, we can derive that there is plurality within the Godhead. This passage is the first of four Old Testament passages where the plural is found in divine dialogue. Genesis 3:22, 11:7, and Isaiah 6:8 are the others.

GODHEAD (n.) =Word used to refer to the three Persons of the Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Retro Friday: Ropes Course

Posted by Karah

Ridgecrest Summer Camps continue to grow each year, and with that growth comes new and exciting activities. One of the additions being made to camp this year is a new high ropes course! This high ropes course will be shared with Camp Crestridge, giving both boys and girls camp the opportunity for more outdoor adventure programming. More details about the course will be coming soon! For now, check out these pictures of some team building happening on the ropes course in the late 1970’s. See anyone you know? Which of the ropes course activities have been your favorite? Comment below!