This week marks the first week of spring. It is truly a beautiful time of year as temperatures begin to warm up and things bloom. However, spring is unpleasant for allergy sufferers, and much of their time will be spent indoors to avoid significant allergy symptoms. Yes, it is beautiful this time of year, and the temperatures are pleasant, but stepping outside makes allergy sufferers sick. Friends, it was never supposed to be this way. Many things in life were never supposed to be the way they are. God intended humanity to live in paradise, where sin and pain did not exist. Unfortunately, sin invaded everything when Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, and things were no longer what they should have been. This is not good news but praise God that as soon as sin entered the world, He made a plan to restore everything. This means that one day, everything will be made right again.
BREAK THE ICE
If you could solve one world problem, what would it be? Why?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. When bad things happen, what do most people think are the causes of these things?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Genesis 2:8-17. Describe the garden in Eden where God placed Adam and Eve. What are some reasons God may have had for placing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden?
Genesis 2:8-17
"Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground-trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13 The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14 The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates. 15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden- 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."
"Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground-trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. 13 The second branch, called the Gihon, flowed around the entire land of Cush. 14 The third branch, called the Tigris, flowed east of the land of Asshur. The fourth branch is called the Euphrates.
15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, "You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden- 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."
3. Read Genesis 3:1-6. Why did Eve eat the fruit?
Genesis 3:1-6
"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" 2 "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. 3 "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" 4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. 5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too."
"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"
2 "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. 3 "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'"
4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. 5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too."
4. Read Revelation 21:1-4. Describe the new heaven and new earth that followers of Christ will be able to enjoy one day.
Revelation 21:1-4
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."
Application
1. Based on what you read and studied about Eden, describe how God intended things to be here on earth for humans.
2. How have you seen God bring restoration, even now, when it comes to the things that were never supposed to be this way?
3. What is one thing that is not the way it is supposed to be that you are waiting for God to restore?
MOVING FORWARD
Everyone around us is looking for the hope of Christ. As followers of Christ, we have the opportunity to spread that hope that the world desperately needs, playing a small role in restoring things to how they were always meant to be. One of the ways that we can do this is by inviting others to join us for weekend services. Have each group member think about a friend who needs the hope of Christ who they can invite to join them at one of our services this weekend. Next, have everyone share who they will invite. Finally, end your time together praying for these people. Pray that God would continue to work in their lives and bring them to have a relationship with Him one day.
GOING DEEPER
Sin wreaks havoc in so many areas of our lives. No part of our lives is left untouched by sin’s harsh impacts, from our relationships, to our health, to our relationship with God. Sin is destructive, but God is a God of restoration, and He will make everything right that was made wrong. Today we will look at three specific areas that sin corrupted and see how God restores each of these areas of our lives.
Sin impacted our relationship with God:
The most heartbreaking consequence of sin is how it impacted our relationship with God. Adam and Eve went from unhindered communication, walking, and talking with God daily to being banned from the Garden of Eden and having a broken relationship with God. There was still hope, however, because as soon as sin entered the world, God made a plan to rescue us through His son Jesus.
1. Read Genesis 3:20-24. How did sin impact Adam and Eve’s relationship with God?
Genesis 3:22-24
"Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
2. Read Ephesians 2:11-13. How did God restore our broken relationships with Him that were brought on by sin?
Ephesians 2:11-13
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ."
3. How can we experience a right relationship with God, even today?
Sin Impacted our relationship with others.
One of the consequences of sin is that we have broken relationships with others. We have conflicts that arise and say words that hurt the people around us. Adam and Eve were told that they were going to have conflict because of sin, but it would not end with Adam and Eve. We all face conflicts with others and say and do things we regret. Although sin impacted our relationships in a way God never intended, He even restores the relationships that seem impossible to restore.
1. Read Genesis 3:16. This verse addresses the relationship between Adam and Eve, but it gives us a window into how all relationships would be impacted because of sin. How was Adam and Eve’s relationship impacted because of sin?
Genesis 3:16
"Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you."
2. Read Ephesians 2:14-18. How does God restore our broken relationships with others here on earth?
Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us."
3. How is peace possible with others even today?
Sin impacts our physical bodies.
Sin ultimately leads to death. Unless Jesus comes back in our lifetimes, every single one of us will die one day. In the meantime, our bodies get sick and break down. We face physical pain, great and small. While our bodies are breaking down daily, we can hold on to the hope that if we place our faith in Christ, our stories will not end in death but life.
1. Read Genesis 3:19. How were our physical bodies and lives impacted because of sin?
Genesis 3:19
"By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
2. Read Romans 6:20-23. How will God restore us and bring life instead of the death we deserve because of sin?
Romans 6:20-23
" When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
3. How does this passage of Scripture bring hope as you think about the reality of death that was brought about by sin?
Reflect:
Sin has invaded every area of life, but we are not without hope. God is in the business of restoring every single thing. This is the greatest news. It is too good to keep to ourselves. Take a few moments in your group to review the Bridge Diagram, a tool to help you share this good news of the hope that is found in Christ. Then, pair up into groups of two or three and practice sharing it. Look for opportunities throughout the next week to share the hope and peace of Jesus with the people around you.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4
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