Episode 3

This session starts at the beginning with the account of the creation and fall. Genesis tells us why God created the world and humanity and his purposes for both. God’s creation was good, but this goodness was catastrophically marred through the fall. Nevertheless, as image-bearers of God, we are called to cultivate this original goodness in our relationships with God, others, and creation.
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Episode Outline

Temple: God created and ordered the cosmos. The cosmos is like a sacred temple, but is not itself divine.

Humanity: We are made in the image of God. Humans are called to be kings (culture makers) and priests (cultural caretakers).

The Fall: The fall broke relationships, causing alienation and diminishing shalom (fullness of life), but it does not negate the goodness of creation. Amidst the brokenness of the world, God is working to redeem creation.

Vocation: We are invited to participate with God in his work of redemption. Shalom is restored in the cosmos through reconciled relationships with God, each other, and creation.
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Lecturer
Iain Provan

Interviews
Hugo Ciro
Andy Crouch
John Dickson
Amy Sherman
Loren Wilkinson
  

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Sample Questions

Reflection

  • What has God been saying to me through this episode (encouragement, challenge)?
  • What was significant or new? What questions did it raise?

Discussion

  • What do Genesis 1 and 2 tell us about who we are and God’s purposes for creation?
  • What does the fall mean for God’s original purposes?
  • How could remembering the beginning of the biblical story change how we think about our vocations and our culture?
  • Understanding the creation story helped resolve Hugo’s tension. What difference might this make for the tensions you experience?

Activity

Recall those times when you’ve had good coffee with family and friends (or if you don’t like coffee, remember when you’ve shared a good meal), when coffee has been a gift from God for enjoyment or for fostering friendship. The many moments of making and sustaining are part of everyone’s vocation. Think about the times where God’s good work of creation is reflected and continued through your work in the world.

Prayer

From Christina Rossetti (1830–1894), an English devotional writer and poet.

Give us grace, O Lord, to work while it is day, fulfilling diligently and patiently whatever duty you appoint us to do; doing small things in the day of small things, and great labors if you summon us to any; rising and working, sitting still and suffering, according to thy word. God with us, and we will go, but if you do not go with us, send us not; go before us, if you put us forth; let us hear thy voice when we follow. Hear us, we beseech you, for the glory of your great name.
 

Additional Resources

Episode List

Download Leader Guide (PDF, 4.4 MB)

Download Participant Guide (PDF, 4.3 MB)

Subtitles: Spanish | French | Korean | Traditional Chinese | Brazilian Portuguese