On Point EVENING BIBLE STUDY HOMEWORK

Week 2 (9/9)

Creation (Weeks 1-3)

1. Why do we have the Bible? Who is the intended audience? How might that affect the
way in which we should interpret Scripture?

2. What evidence do you see in Genesis 1-2:3 that humankind was the crowning glory of
creation? Give references.

3. What privileges and responsibilities does being the crowning glory of creation have?

4. What did God want the man and woman to know about the day they were created?
(Review what you recorded in last week’s lessons from Genesis 1:24-31 and anything
else you see in the passage.)

5. From reading these passages what would you conclude is the goal or purpose of the
existence of man?

Look up these other passages that relate to creation, what do they tell you about God, creation
and man?

Psalm 19:1-4—

Isaiah 43:21—

Psalm 139:14—

Ephesians 2:10—

Psalms 8—

Isaiah 49:5—

1
On Point EVENING BIBLE STUDY HOMEWORK
Week 2 (9/9)

6. What does God mean when He says that creation is good? What is good about man,
animals, fish, birds, plants, stars, sun, moon, sky, water, light, darkness? What good do
they have in common?

7. What made the sixth day very good?

8. What is the opposite of good? How would man, animals, fish, birds, plants, stars, sun,
moon, sky water, light, darkness be evil?

9. What does it mean to be created in the image of God? In what ways do you share
characteristics of God?

10. Why does God bless the Sabbath?

How does practicing Sabbath remind us of God’s work?

11. What did Jesus tell us about the Sabbath in Mark 2:27?

12. How did the practice of Sabbath lose the focus on God’s blessing (Matthew 12:1-2, Mark
3:2-4, Luke 13:10-16, John 5:9-18, John 9:13--15)?

13. How do you think Sabbath rest prepared the women for the spiritual realities of the
resurrection? (Mark 15:42-16:1, Luke 23:54-56, John 19:31)

14. How could you practice Sabbath rest this week?—see Exodus 20:8-10 for complete
instructions.

2
On Point EVENING BIBLE STUDY HOMEWORK
Week 2 (9/9)

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF THE WEEK: Sabbath

Plan ahead to practice Sabbath Rest as God demonstrated Himself in the work of creation,
described for the Israelites and that Jesus practiced. Don’t get legalistic about it, but make some
decisions about what Sabbath Rest will be for you and do it. If you work on Sundays, plan
another day that you will do practice Sabbath.

I have been practicing Sabbath rest for years now and it has great benefits, but requires planning.
On Sundays, I do not do anything that would be a chore around the house or work. I don’t turn
on my computer until sundown on Sunday night. I don’t shop for groceries but I will go
shopping for clothes with my daughter because that is rest not work for me. I spend the time of
rest doing my Bible studies or reading a spiritual book, and sometimes I just watch mindless
movies that have no particular spiritual focus. I have been drawn so deeply into Sabbath rest that
I often just sit on the back porch swing and do absolutely nothing.

I can’t explain it, but my discipline of Sabbath has never gotten in the way of getting more done.
In fact, I think because I plan for it I am more productive on the other days. It’s a gift that God
has given me and I don’t want to miss out on its blessings.

“Charity lives in the intimacy of God and it is God who by his hands shaped the first works of
love and philanthropy in creating everything that is. For God is the first and foremost lover of
good deeds…”
--From a homily of Gregory of Nyssa “On the Love of the Poor”