GENESIS 2

DISCIPLESHIP CONTENT

Dust

GENESIS 2:4-7

"...then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground..."

Sermon Summary

1. God Forms Humanity from Dust
  • Genesis 2:4-7 shifts the creation focus from the cosmos to humanity, showing God’s personal involvement.
  • God forms Adam from the dust of the ground and breathes life into him—formed from dust, filled by the divine, revealing both human frailty and God’s intimate design.

2. Sin Hardens the Heart and Leads to "the dust of death"
  • Israel rejects the Potter, attempting to shape their own lives apart from God, leading to exile and spiritual decay.
  • Like hardened clay, sin causes hearts to dry, crack, and eventually return to dust, showing the devastating effects of rebellion.

3. God Forms Humanity from Dust
  • On the cross, Jesus experiences the “dust of death” (Psalm 22:15), fully embracing human frailty to break sin’s curse.
  • Through His resurrection, Jesus reverses the fate of dust, inviting us to share in His new life—restoring what was broken and reshaping us in His image.
  • One day, the Potter will return in glory, and the dust will rise, fully transformed, to reign with Him forever.

▶︎ Watch the Sermon
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Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:7. What does it reveal about God’s personal and hands-on involvement in forming humanity? 
  • Read Isaiah 64:8 and Isaiah 29:16. How does God describe Himself as the Potter, and how does Israel’s rejection of Him reflect the hardness of their hearts? In what ways do we try to be the potter of our own lives instead of trusting His hands to shape us?
  • Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. How does Jesus’ resurrection turn dust and death into victory? What does it mean for us that “death is swallowed up in victory”?
INSIGHT: God intimately forms humanity from dust, breathes His life into us, and through Jesus, restores what sin has broken.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • How does knowing that you are “formed from dust, filled by the divine” shape your understanding of your value, identity and purpose?
  • In what ways do you see the effects of sin hardening your heart, making you resistant to God’s shaping? What areas of life do you find hardest to surrender to Him?
Repent and Believe 
  • Where have you been trying to be the potter of your own life rather than trusting God’s hands to shape you? Repent of self-reliance and believe that Jesus, the true Potter, restores and transforms you.
IDENTIFY: True life is not found in shaping ourselves, but in surrendering to the Potter’s hands—trusting His work to form, break, and restore us for His glory.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • How can you surrender more fully to God’s shaping work in your life this week?
  • Where do you need to trust that God’s hands are forming something good, even in difficult seasons?
  • How can your group encourage one another to remain soft and mouldable in the hands of the Potter?
ACTION: Identify one area where you’ve been resisting God’s work in your life. This week, actively surrender it in prayer, trusting that the Potter is shaping you for His glory. Share this journey with your group and encourage one another in trusting His hands.

Breath

GENESIS 2:7

"...and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."

Sermon Summary

1. God’s Breath Gives Life
  • Genesis 2:7 shows God’s intimate involvement in creation, breathing life into Adam’s nostrils.
  • Humanity is “formed from dust, filled by the divine”, created to live in close communion with God’s presence.

2. Sin Suffocates and Brings Death
  • Sin cuts us off from God, our life source, leading to spiritual and physical death (Job 34:14-15).
  • After the flood, Noah's sacrifice is a pleasing aroma (Genesis 8:21), symbolising how God’s breath of judgment is replaced by a breath of grace through the "Covenant Breath" of sacrifice.
  • God promises a new breath 2.0 that will bring life 2.0 to what is dead (Ezekiel 37:4-6).

3. Jesus Restores the Breath of Life
  • On the cross, Jesus's sacrifice is THE "pleasing aroma", giving up His final breath to take on the judgment we deserved (Luke 23:46).
  • But through His resurrection, He breathes new life into His disciples (John 20:21-22), and one day, He will defeat all evil with the breath of His mouth (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

In Christ, we no longer live breathless, striving in our own strength—His Spirit (Ruah) fills us with resurrection power, sustaining us with eternal life.

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:7. How does God’s act of breathing life into Adam show His involvement with humanity?
  • Read Job 34:14-15. What happens when God removes His breath? How does this reveal the devastating effects of sin?
  • Read Ezekiel 37:4-6. How is God's creation breath that brings Life 1.0 different from the resurrection breath that brings Life 2.0 (new life)?
  • Read John 20:21-22 and Romans 8:5-11. What role does the Spirit play in providing new life to believers?
INSIGHT: God’s breath gives and sustains life, but sin separates us from His presence. Through Jesus, we receive His Spirit—restoring us to true, eternal life.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • How does knowing that God breathed life into you shape your understanding of your identity and purpose?
  • Where do you see sin suffocating your soul—cutting you off from the life and breath of God?
Repent and Believe 
  • In what areas of life have you been holding your breath, or trying to live in your own strength rather than trusting in YAH (inhale), WEH (exhale). Repent of self-reliance or shame and believe in the Spirit’s resurrection power to sustain and renew you.
IDENTIFY: Identify one area where you feel spiritually breathless—where sin, fear, or self-reliance has taken hold. We are not meant to live on our own breath—true life comes when we surrender and allow God to fill us with His Spirit.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • How can you intentionally breathe in God’s presence this week—through Scripture, prayer, and worship?
  • What would it look like to be slow to anger (long of nostril) and trust God in faith—that his Spirit would guide you in areas of anxiety, doubt, or control?
  • How can your group encourage one another to rely on the breath of God instead of striving in their own strength?
ACTION: This week, intentionally invite the Spirit into the areas of your heart that are suffocating from shame or sin through prayer, Scripture, and worship. Breathe deeply—trusting that His Spirit brings new life and resurrection power.

Garden

GENESIS 2:8-9

"And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east..."

Sermon Summary

1. We Were Made for Paradise
  • In Genesis 2:8-9, God personally plants a garden in Eden, creating a holy, life-giving paradise.
  • Eden was more than just a beautiful place—it was God’s presence dwelling with humanity (Psalm 16:11).

2. Sin Exiles us from Paradise
  • Instead of trusting God’s plan to expand Eden, humanity rejected Him, choosing their own way (Genesis 3:24).
  • Sin causes exile, resulting not only in a loss of paradise, but a loss of the presence of God (Genesis 3:24).

3. Jesus is The Paradise We Are Searching For
  • On the cross, Jesus opens the way back to paradise, offering Himself as our paradise - our true satisfaction (Luke 23:43).
  • Through His Spirit, we now carry His presence and like mini-gardens, we are called to finish the mission of expanding Eden in our lives and world (Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 3:16).
  • One day, Jesus will return, and paradise will be fully restored—God dwelling with His people forever (Revelation 21:1-3).

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:8-9. How does God’s personal act of planting a garden reveal His desire for humanity? How does this show that we were made for paradise?
  • Read Psalm 16:11 and Revelation 21:3. What do these verses reveal about God’s presence as the true source of paradise rather than just a beautiful place?
  • Read Luke 23:42-43 and John 17:3. How does Jesus redefine paradise? What about His response to the criminal stands out to you about who Jesus is and what He was about to do?
INSIGHT: True paradise is not about what we receive but who we are with. We were created to dwell with God, and through Jesus, He restores us to His presence.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • What is your ideal paradise? Complete this sentence: “If only I had…” Would it include delicious food? Rest? Beautiful scenery? No work, no stress, no pain?
  • Your answers to the first question reveal areas that could become idols. What does your “If only I had…” answer suggest you are chasing more than Jesus Himself?
  • How does knowing that Jesus is your ultimate paradise and satisfaction (and not just the one who brings paradise) change the way you relate to Him? (Philippians 3:8)

Repent and Believe 
  • We are all in danger of seeking God primarily for what He can give us rather than for who He is. Repent of pursuing lesser joys, and believe that He alone is your greatest delight. (Psalm 73:25-26)
IDENTIFY:  God delights in us (Isaiah 62:5) and we were created to delight in God, not just His gifts. When we seek Him above all else, we experience the fullness of His presence.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • Are any areas of your life feeling like a wilderness? Dry or desolate full of thorns and thistles (conflict or pain)?
  • What does expanding Eden look like in your everyday life—where can you bring beauty, peace, and the presence of God into your relationships, work, or community? (Isaiah 35:1-2, Matthew 5:14-16)
  • How can you practically shift your focus from seeking paradise as an escape to seeking Jesus as your ultimate joy? (Colossians 3:1-2)
  • How can your group encourage one another to see Jesus as the true paradise, rather than seeking satisfaction in temporary things? (Hebrews 10:24-25)
ACTION:  Identify one way you have been searching for paradise apart from God. This week, intentionally shift your focus to seeking Jesus Himself—through worship, prayer, and delighting in His presence (Psalm 37:4). Share with your group how this transforms your perspective.

Review

2 Corinthians 3:7–4:18

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Sermon Summary

 1. Formed as Fragile Vessels, Filled with Divine Treasure
  • Paul describes believers as jars of clay—fragile, ordinary, and unimpressive on the outside.
  • Yet, these jars contain an extraordinary treasure: the presence and power of Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 4:7).
  • Our worth and power come not from ourselves, but from the One who dwells within us.

2. God’s Power is Perfected in Our Weakness
  • We don’t need to be perfect, strong, or have it all together to be used by God.
  • It’s precisely in our weakness, struggles, and imperfections that God’s power shines brightest.
  • This frees us from striving and allows us to rest in His strength, reflecting His glory even in our brokenness.

3. Eternal Perspective Gives Unshakeable Hope
  • Though our outward selves are breaking down, inwardly we’re renewed by the Holy Spirit day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).
  • Our present struggles are temporary, but they produce eternal glory. We can endure anything because Christ lives in us.
  • Keep eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting the Holy Spirit to sustain and transform us until the day we see Him face-to-face.

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read 2 Corinthians 4:6-7. What does it mean that God has placed His treasure within us, fragile jars of clay?
  • Read 2 Corinthians 12:9. How does God’s power being perfected in weakness change our understanding of struggles?
  • Read Philippians 1:6. How does this promise give us assurance in difficult seasons?

INSIGHT: God’s power and presence dwell within weak vessels (us!), highlighting His strength and grace rather than our perfection.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • How does knowing that God chose to dwell in you despite your weaknesses shape your understanding of your worth and identity?
  • In what ways have you been trying to rely on your own strength rather than depending on the power of Christ within you?

Repent and Believe 
  • Where have you given in to discouragement or self-reliance, believing your weakness disqualifies you? 
    • Repent of this mindset and believe that Christ’s power is enough for you.
IDENTIFY: Your true strength and worth are found in Christ’s presence within you—not in your own abilities or perfection.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • Identify one area of weakness or struggle you’ve faced or are currently facing. How can you surrender this to Christ, allowing His strength to shine through you this week?
  • What practical steps can you take to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep an eternal perspective during challenges?
  • How can your group encourage each other to rely on Christ’s power? Where do you need it at this moment?
ACTION: This week, choose one area where you’ve relied on yourself and actively surrender it to Jesus in prayer. Share this journey with your group, encouraging each other in the truth that Christ’s strength is made perfect in your weakness.

The Tree of Life

GENESIS 2:9,15-16

"The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

Sermon Summary

The Tree of Life: A Gift, Not a Reward
  • In Genesis 2:9, 16-17, God places the Tree of Life in the centre of the garden, offering eternal life as a gift, not something to be earned.
  • Humanity was created to live forever by receiving life from God, trusting in His provision and wisdom.

Humanity Rejects the Gift of Life
  • Instead of trusting God’s wisdom, Adam and Eve grasped for life on their own terms, choosing the Tree of Knowledge instead (Genesis 3:22-24).
  • This decision brought separation from the source of life, leading to death and exile.

Jesus is the True Tree of Life
  • Jesus came to restore access to eternal life, offering Himself as the new and better Tree (John 11:25-26).
  • Through His death on a tree, He reversed the curse, and in His resurrection, He invites us to receive eternal life as a gift, not a reward (Revelation 22:1-3).
  • Now, through His Spirit, we are called to expand Eden, bringing the life of Christ to the world (John 15:5).

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • What does the presence of the Tree of Life reveal about God’s intention for humanity?
  • Why does the tree of life being provided before (and not after) the warning about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil matter?
  • If God is good, then the trees are a test that leads to a deeper relationship of trust and blessing. If God is not good, the trees are a trap. Read the following verses to remind yourself of God's character; Psalm 34:8, Nahum 1:7, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 107:1, Exodus 33:19, Mark 10:18, James 1:17, Romans 8:28, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:25, Matthew 7:11, Psalm 119:68, 1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 7:3, Psalm 136:1.
INSIGHT: The Tree of Life was always meant to point us to Jesus—the only one who can give us true, eternal life beyond death.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • Read John 11:25-26 and John 3:16. How does Jesus fulfill the role of the Tree of Life? What does it mean that eternal life is found in Him, not just through Him?
  • How does knowing that eternal life is received, not achieved change the way you relate to Jesus?
  • What voices are shaping your view of what is good and what is bad? How does trusting in your own wisdom or desires impact your ability to receive what God freely gives?
Repent and Believe 
  • Are there areas, behaviours or thoughts in your life that you know are bad for you, but you do them anyway? These are areas you are likely being wise in your own eyes instead of trusting God to define what is good. Repent of striving for life on your own terms, and believe that Jesus has already passed the test for you.
IDENTIFY: Trusting in Jesus means surrendering control and receiving eternal life as a gift—not as something we must earn or take for ourselves. In which areas of your life are you not trusting Jesus?

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • How can you, in the ordinary of daily life, remind yourself that eternal life is a gift, not something to be earned?
  • Where is God calling you to expand His life-giving presence—to be like a “mini garden,” bringing His love, wisdom, and restoration into your world?
  • How can your group encourage one another to trust God’s wisdom over their own and rest in the eternal life He freely gives?
ACTION: Identify one way you have been living as if you must earn God’s blessing rather than receiving His gift of life. This week, intentionally rest in His finished work, reminding yourself that Jesus passed the test for you. Share with your group how this truth brings freedom and joy.

The River of Life

GENESIS 2:10-14

"A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers."

Sermon Summary

1. The River of Life Flows from God
  • In Genesis 2:10-14, a single river flows from Eden, dividing into four rivers that spread life beyond the garden.
  • This river points to God as the true source of life (Psalm 36:9, Jeremiah 17:13).

2. Sin Cuts Us Off from the River
  • When humanity rejected God, they were exiled from Eden, cut off from the river of life (Genesis 3:24).
  • Without this living water, we experience spiritual dryness and thirst (Jeremiah 17:5-6, Psalm 42:2).

Jesus Restores the River of Life
  • Jesus is the true source of living water (John 4:10, John 7:38), and through His death, a river of blood flowed from His side (John 19:34), cleansing us from sin.
  • His resurrection pours out the Spirit like living water (Isaiah 44:3, Revelation 7:17), and now, we are called to be rivers of life to the world.
  • One day, the river will flow from God’s throne, restoring all things (Revelation 22:1-3).

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:10-14. Why does Eden have a river at its center? Why does it divide into four rivers and where do they go?
  • Read Psalm 36:9 and Jeremiah 17:13 and their surrounding verses. How do these verses describe God as the fountain of living water? What does this mean for those who reject Him?
  • Read John 7:37-38 and Revelation 22:1-3. How does Jesus fulfill the role of the river of life? What future hope does Revelation give us?
INSIGHT: God is the source of life, and apart from Him, we experience spiritual thirst. Jesus restores what was lost, giving us living water that never runs dry.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • Have you ever felt spiritually dry or distant from God? What does this reveal about your need for His living water? (Jeremiah 17:5-6)
  • How does knowing that Jesus alone quenches spiritual thirst change your dependence on things that don’t satisfy? (John 4:13-14)
Repent and Believe 
  • Comfort, power, control, approval, money, work, sex, entertainment, fashion, doom-scrolling, well-behaved children, good grades... What are the salty rivers you are drinking from—seeking life apart from God? What are you hoping will satisfy you? Repent of self-reliance, and believe that only Jesus can fully satisfy your soul (Jeremiah 2:13).
IDENTIFY:  Just as water revives a dry land, Jesus restores our souls when we drink from His presence daily.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • How can you daily drink from the living water—spending time in God’s word and his presence rather than looking elsewhere for satisfaction?
  • In what ways can you be a river of life to those around you—bringing God’s love, healing, and renewal into your community?
  • How can your group encourage one another to stay connected to the source rather than chasing empty wells?
ACTION: Identify one way you have been searching for life apart from Jesus. This week, intentionally drink from His presence—through prayer, worship, and Scripture. Share how this refreshes your soul with your group.

'River' נָהָר (nahar) Hyperlinks in Scripture

1. Old Testament Foundations
Genesis 2:10-14, Genesis 15:18, Genesis 3:17-18, Exodus 17:6, Psalm 36:9, Psalm 42:2, Psalm 46:4, Psalm 65:9, Psalm 104:10, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 35:6-7, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 65:17, Jeremiah 17:5-6, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Jeremiah 17:13, Zechariah 13:1, Zechariah 14:8, Joel 3:18, Ezekiel 47:12

2. Jesus as the Fulfilment
Matthew 8:2, Matthew 8:3, John 1:11, John 4:10, John 4:14, John 6:53-54, John 7:38, John 19:28, John 19:34, Luke 19:10, Acts 10:39, Romans 5:10

3. Worship, Mission & The Future Hope
1 John 1:7, Revelation 7:17, Revelation 22:1-3, Isaiah 2:2, Matthew 28:19

Work & Keep

GENESIS 2:17

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

Sermon Summary

1. Humanity’s Role: Priests in God’s Presence
  • God places Adam in Eden to work and keep—not just to garden, but to guard His sacred space (Genesis 2:15). 
  • These words (avad and shamar) describe the priestly role of serving and protecting God’s presence (Numbers 3:8, Leviticus 8:35).

2. Sin Breaks Our Role as Royal Priests
  • Adam fails to guard Eden, allowing sin to enter, and humanity is exiled from God’s presence (Genesis 3:24).
  • Israel repeats this failure, worshiping idols instead of keeping God’s covenant (Psalm 78:10, Exodus 19:6).

3. Jesus Restores Our Calling
  • Jesus, the true High Priest, perfectly works and keeps, securing our place in God’s presence (John 17:12, Hebrews 4:14).
  • Through His Spirit, we are restored as royal priests, called to guard the gospel and expand God’s kingdom (1 Peter 2:9, Romans 15:16).

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:15. What does it mean that Adam was placed in the garden to “work and keep” it? How does this reveal that his role was more than just gardening?
  • Read John 17:12 and Hebrews 4:14. How does Jesus fulfill the role of the true High Priest who guards and keeps His people?
INSIGHT: God designed humanity to work and keep His presence—a role that sin shattered, but Jesus fully restores.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • God calls us to work and keep His presence, just as Adam was called to cultivate and guard Eden. How’s that going for you? Where do you feel spiritually dry, distracted, or distant from this calling? (Colossians 3:23-24)
  • Jesus’ finished work doesn’t just remove burdens, it gives us a new purpose. Where in your life do you need to remember that you are:
    • Free from striving for approval → Free to work from security in Christ.
    • Free from spiritual laziness → Free to actively cultivate a relationship with God.
    • Free from self-reliance → Free to trust Jesus, the true Keeper (Psalm 121:5-8, John 19:30)
    • Are there any other "free from / to" areas of your life that you are failing to believe?
Repent and Believe 
  • Have you been working to earn God’s favour rather than working as an overflow of His grace? Have you neglected keeping what God has entrusted to you—your faith, your relationships, your witness? Repent of self-reliance and distractions, and believe that Jesus has finished the work for you (John 17:12, Hebrews 4:14).
IDENTIFY: We are not working to keep ourselves saved—we are working and keeping as a response to God’s love. Jesus has already done the ultimate work; now, we are free to guard what matters most.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • How can you intentionally work and keep your relationship with God this week—guarding your time in prayer, worship, and Scripture?
  • In what ways can you stand in the gap for others, protecting and interceding for them as a priest in your workplace, home, or community?
  • How can your group encourage one another to faithfully keep the gospel—both in how they live and how they share it?
ACTION: Identify one way you have been neglecting your role as a royal priest. This week, commit to keeping what God has entrusted to you—your faith, your relationships, or your witness—by trusting in Jesus, the Great Keeper. (Jude 1:24-25)

Hyperlinks to "Work & Keep"

1. Old Testament Foundations
Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:10-14, Genesis 2:15, Genesis 3:21, Genesis 3:24, Genesis 4:2, Genesis 4:7, Genesis 4:9, Genesis 4:12, Exodus 3:12, Exodus 19:6, Exodus 20:11, Exodus 25:18-22, Exodus 34:21, Leviticus 8:35, Numbers 3:8, Numbers 6:24-26, Numbers 10:36, Deuteronomy 6:17, 1 Kings 9:6, 1 Chronicles 23:32, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 78:10, Psalm 121:5-8, Proverbs 31:8

2. Jesus as the Fulfilment
Matthew 4:10-11, Matthew 26:3-4, Luke 11:28, Luke 17:33, John 5:17, John 10:28, John 17:12, John 19:30, Acts 10:39, Romans 15:16, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 3:23-24, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 9:12, 1 Peter 2:9, Jude 1:24-25

3. Worship, Mission & The Future Hope
Romans 15:16, Ephesians 2:12-13, James 4:7, Revelation 12:9

Review

Genesis 2:9–15; John 15:4–5; Luke 6:43–45

"Planted. Flowing. Faithful."

Sermon Summary

1. Planted in Christ, Not in Performance
  • At the centre of Eden stood the Tree of Life—a symbol of God’s presence, provision, and our complete dependence on Him.
  • We often look for life in “false trees” like success, control, comfort, or the approval of others, but these can’t sustain us.
  • True spiritual health comes when we grow our roots deep into Christ, remaining connected to Him daily and drawing life from His presence.

2. Overflowing with the Spirit’s Life
  • Just like the river flowed out of Eden to water the earth, we are meant to be filled with the Spirit and overflow with God’s love to those around us.
  • What spills out of us when life “bumps” us reveals what we’re filled with (e.g. bitterness and anxiety or grace and patience).
  • God’s Spirit produces gospel fruit in our lives that refreshes others—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more.

3. Faithful Stewards of What God Has Entrusted
  • Adam was placed in the garden to “work and keep” it—serving as a priest-like steward of God’s creation.
  • We’re called to tend to our work, relationships, and our own hearts with intentionality and worship (Stewardship).
  • God strengthens us to be faithful in the everyday places He’s planted us—at work, in family, in community, and in the secret places of the heart.

▶︎ Watch the Sermon 
▼ Download Genesis 2 Formatted

Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:9–10. What does the Tree of Life and the river from Eden reveal about God’s desire to nourish and sustain His people?
  • Read John 15:5. What does Jesus say happens when we remain in Him?
  • Read Philippians 2:13. How does God empower us to do what pleases Him?
INSIGHT: God is the Source of life, nourishment, and growth. He doesn’t leave us to grow on our own—He supplies what we need as we remain in Him.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • What “false trees” are you tempted to draw life and identity from? (e.g. success, comfort, control, image, approval)
  • How have you seen the Spirit at work in your life, causing His character to flow out of you—even in hard or pressured situations?
  • Are there places in your life (work, family, community) where you’ve forgotten your priestly role to “work and keep” what God has entrusted?

Repent and Believe 
  • Where have you looked to something other than Jesus for your value, rest, or strength recently? Repent and realign your heart with the truth that Christ alone is your Source.
IDENTIFY: You are deeply rooted in Jesus, filled with the Spirit, and placed by God to live faithfully in the spaces and places He’s entrusted to you.

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • Choose one “false tree” you’ve been turning to this past week. How can you actively shift your dependence back to Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and community?
  • Chat in your discipleship group to help each other reflect on what’s “flowing out” of you in your responses, relationships, and habits.
  • What’s one area of your life (work, relationships, heart) where you sense God calling you to steward more intentionally and worshipfully this week?
ACTION: Identify one practical way to “tend the garden” God has given you this week—whether through encouraging someone, cultivating peace in your home or simply spending time in communion with Jesus. Share with your group how you can depend on Christ in this.

Deliverer

GENESIS 2:18-25

"Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”

Sermon Summary

God Sees What is Not Good, and Moves Towards It!
  • For the first time in creation, God declares something “not good”: that the man is alone (Genesis 2:18).
  • God’s solution is to provide an ezer—a divinely appointed delivering ally—as a partner and fulfill the mission.

God Delivers Through Sacrifice and Union
  • God doesn’t make the woman from dust, but from the man’s side—a costly act filled with covenant imagery and temple language (Genesis 2:21–22).
  • This sacred pattern—one made two, reunited into something better—is God’s blueprint for creation, marriage, and ultimately the gospel.

Jesus Is the Greater Deliverer
  • Like Adam, Jesus enters the deep sleep of death, His side is opened, and from it, God forms a Bride—the Church (John 19:34, Ephesians 5:31–32).
  • Through His death and resurrection, Jesus reunites what sin has divided, and invites us to be joined to Him and to one another in oneness (Colossians 1:19–20, Ephesians 2:11–22).

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Discipleship Questions

Discover

Who is God? What has He done?
  • Read Genesis 2:18–24. What does it reveal about God’s heart when He sees that something is “not good”? How does He respond?
  • Read Psalm 121:1–2. What does it mean that God is our ezer—our help and deliverer? How does this shape your view of His character?
  • Read John 19:34 and Ephesians 5:31–32. How does Jesus fulfill and deepen the imagery from Genesis 2? What does His opened side produce?
INSIGHT: God doesn’t ignore what is broken—He moves toward it. Through Jesus, He delivers us not only from sin and death, but into union with Himself and His people.

Nurture

Who Am I in Light of What He Has Done?
  • Sin divides. What relationships in your life currently feel marked more by separation than unity—whether with God, others, or even within yourself
  • Jesus is the Deliverer. On the cross, He gave Himself to unite us to Himself as His Bride, and to restore what sin has fractured. Where do you need to believe that unity is still possible because of the gospel? What relationships could Jesus begin to heal through His love and power?
Repent and Believe 
  • Repent of the sin, pride, fear, or disbelief that keeps you from pursuing unity. Trust that Jesus can and wants to bring healing—uniting you to Himself and to others in love.
IDENTIFY: You are no longer defined by division. In Christ, you have been delivered into a new kind of relationship—one of deep, secure union with Him and with His people. Are you truly believing this gospel truth for your relationships?

Act

What Should I Do in Light of This?
  • What small step could you take toward healing or reconciliation—not in your own strength, but as someone delivered by Jesus and joined to Him?
  • How can your group help one another believe that Jesus really can bring unity in places of deep division—both personally and within the Church?
  • You are part of God's rescue plan to deliver the lost. Who in your life is not yet a believer and you can pray for right now?
ACTION: Identify one relationship where you’ve felt separation or strain. This week, pray boldly that Jesus the Deliverer would move toward healing. Take one step—whether it’s a conversation, an apology, a prayer, or a word of encouragement—trusting that Jesus can bring unity where you can’t.

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