Notes for January 22nd - is a day a billion years or just a day?

This week we will be reviewing the next several verses in Genesis 1. Here is some great info from our friends at gotquestions.org:

Question: "Does Genesis chapter 1 mean literal 24-hour days?"

Answer: A careful examination of the Hebrew word for “day” and the context in which it appears in Genesis will lead to the conclusion that “day” means a literal, 24-hour period of time. The Hebrew word yom translated into the English “day” can mean more than one thing. It can refer to the 24-hour period of time that it takes for the earth to rotate on its axis (e.g., “there are 24 hours in a day”). It can refer to the period of daylight between dawn and dusk (e.g., “it gets pretty hot during the day but it cools down a bit at night”). And it can refer to an unspecified period of time (e.g., “back in my grandfather's day...”). It is used to refer to a 24-hour period in Genesis 7:11. It is used to refer to the period of daylight between dawn and dusk in Genesis 1:16. And it is used to refer to an unspecified period of time in Genesis 2:4. So, what does it mean in Genesis 1:5-2:2 when it's used in conjunction with ordinal numbers (i.e., the first day, the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth day, and the seventh day)? Are these 24-hour periods or something else? Could yom as it is used here mean an unspecified period of time?

We can determine how yom should be interpreted in Genesis 1:5-2:2 simply by examining the context in which we find the word and then comparing its context with how we see its usage elsewhere in Scripture. By doing this we let Scripture interpret itself. The Hebrew word yom is used 2301 times in the Old Testament. Outside of Genesis 1, yom plus a number (used 410 times) always indicates an ordinary day, i.e., a 24-hour period. The words “evening” and “morning” together (38 times) always indicate an ordinary day. Yom+ “evening” or “morning” (23 times) always indicates an ordinary day. Yom + “night” (52 times) always indicates an ordinary day.

The context in which the word yom is used in Genesis 1:5-2:2, describing each day as “the evening and the morning,” makes it quite clear that the author of Genesis meant 24-hour periods. The references to “evening” and “morning” make no sense unless they refer to a literal 24-hour day. This was the standard interpretation of the days of Genesis 1:5-2:2until the 1800s when a paradigm shift occurred within the scientific community, and the earth's sedimentary strata layers were reinterpreted. Whereas previously the rock layers were interpreted as evidence of Noah's flood, the flood was thrown out by the scientific community and the rock layers were reinterpreted as evidence for an excessively old earth. Some well-meaning but terribly mistaken Christians then sought to reconcile this new anti-flood, anti-biblical interpretation with the Genesis account by reinterpretingyom to mean vast, unspecified periods of time.

The truth is that many of the old-earth interpretations are known to rely upon faulty assumptions. But we must not let the stubborn close-mindedness of some scientists influence how we read the Bible. According to Exodus 20:9-11, God used six literal days to create the world in order to serve as a model for man's workweek: work six days, rest one. Certainly God could have created everything in an instant if He wanted to. But apparently He had us in mind even before He made us (on the sixth day) and wanted to provide an example for us to follow

See you Sunday!

Notes for January 8th, 2012

Welcome to a new calendar year purposed and delivered by our Savior Jesus Christ.

This Sunday we will begin the study of Genesis.  I am excited to see what God will do with this book as we move forward.  Please let me know if you have questions.

This week I will provide an overview of Genesis including an in depth review of the first verse.  Please read the verse and come with any concerns or questions as we begin.

Please don't forget to add pictures to the poster board in the class or forward them to me and I can print and add them.  As well, we have some socials coming up so please email me if you have needs or suggestions.

Take care!

Andrew

Notes from December 4 and Questions for December 11

Hello Everyone!

I trust your Sunday was a great day of Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today we finished our first of four parts summarizing Romans.  We talked about 'What is your problem?' and if it is one of three areas:  People, Purpose, or THE Problem (sin).  We talked about how Paul's encouragement and warning to the Jews and the Gentiles in these  first 3 and 1/2 chapters.  Please look over these three chapters and ask yourself this December:  Why did Christ  have to come?  What did Christ do that is explained here? and When will we see Him as Savior AND Lord?  Shouldn't now, more than ever, our Passion for His People and His Purpose be clear?

Next week we will talk about how the need for help is met with a summarization verses of 3:21-23 and move through Chapter 5.  Please read from Chapter 3:21 to the end of Chapter 5 to be ready for this summary class.

Please get ready by answering the following questions:

What is your argument or ones you have heard regarding why they are special and don't need Christ?

When, be very specific, did Romans 3:19 come over you?  When did your mouth shut because you fully realized you were without any excuse nor any saving on your own?

Compare and contrast these three verses regarding justification:

Romans 3:24
Romans 3:28
Romans 5:9

Review the following verses - what are their main themes?

Ephesians 2:8-10
Titus 3:8
Galatians 5:6
Phil 2:11-12
Romans 4:3 (incl Gen 15:6)

Summarize the following for yourself (what does this mean in your words and how do you live it out) and be ready to share in class:

Romans 5:1-5

NOVEMBER 6 - PLEASE READ!

Next week on November 6 our class will be taking time to attend Greenwood campus and worship and fellowship there.  It looks to be great weather and great preaching!  I encourage ALL of you to attend with us next week.  Sunday School is at 9:00am and Service is at 10:15.  Please bring your families!

The classroom will have signage that we are serving at Greenwood so there will be NO class at Lenexa.

I will update any new information here and through email this week.

One last note - Remember Time Change is next weekend.  Enjoy the extra hour and see you at Greenwood!

Andrew

Email

In an effort to update the email list we are requesting that everyone either respond to the email for all or sign up on the yellow sheet in class.   If you are part of the Young Family 1 Sunday School class please make sure we get your address so we can update you on prayer requests from others in the class and upcoming events.

Updated Picnic Info for October 23

Tomorrow we will have another 'picnic after church' at the Park.  I checked again today and it looks like we need to have this at Shawnee Mission Park because Lenexa has a burn ban (including charcoal grills) in place so Sar Ko Par Park will not work.  Here are some details for you.

• Picnic by the Softball Field (a little north of where we were last time) at "Walnut Grove" - See Map Here…  http://jcprd.com/parks_facilities/map_shawnee_mission.cfm .  
• There will be hot dogs, chips, and water provided.  
• If you want to bring anything else for yourself or for anyone else please feel free to (we are not looking to have everyone have to bring something but more for the kids to play at the park and adults play and talk as well).
• There are picnic tables but I don't know how busy it will be tomorrow so you may want to bring some folding chairs
• We would love to have as many as can make it attend so please let someone know if they are not on the email list!

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

October 23 - Some Homework / Questions

Hello!  We have missed many due to them serving and attending a couple of the elective classes.  This week we will still miss several couples as they finish those up.  I trust God is working in all of your families and you are being sharpened in the Word.

This week we will finish the last part of Chapter 15 in Romans.  We most likely will not complete the chapter but will be close.  I expect that we will finish Romans some time right after the New Year begins.  As a heads up I plan to go right into Genesis at that time.  If you have some people that are thinking about attending church as the new year resolution hits them this may be an opportunity to start them off with an initial background on where we and our known universe began.  I will bring several items from the creation museum for our use.

Ok - so to this week -

Please read through Chapter 14 and 15.  They go together.  You will see where the heart condition is to bring us to the end of Chapter 15 and Paul's request that those in Rome would follow in the sanctification of the Gentiles as well as what they should speak of.  We will begin in verse 17 and at least make it to verse 22 so here are some questions to get you started:

Verse 17 - Why does Paul glory in Christ in his service to God?  May need to look back at the few verses before?  What stories do you have of Christ's glory day to day?  Who have you discussed and admonished in the truth to the Glory of God?  Pastor Larry used to ask me "what is the story of His glory in your life"?  What would God say are the times that you have helped in the sanctification of someone else?  Your children, your parents, your spouse, your co-workers, your church family?

Verse 18 - What is it that Paul will speak of?  In practical terms what is it then that we are to speak of?  Conversely - what are we NOT to speak of?  What is it that the Gentiles were to do and how did they see it in example?  Where are you an example?  Where are you not?

Verse 19 - Where does power come from?  Do we talk that way in all that we say and do?  When is the last time you acknowledged that to others?  Give a specific example.  Paul mentions the area that he was ministering to.  Name yours.  Where is it?  Name the specific streets, cities, places that are YOURS to minister to...

Verses 20 and 21 - What was Paul's ambition?  What is your ambition in regards to your relationship with God?  To put it another way - what has God 'laid on your heart'?  Why do you believe you are passionate about that?  Write it down here...  

What verse (see verse 21 here) comes to mind as to God's purpose in that passion?  Write it down here...

Verse 22 - Paul couldn't do everything and neither can we.  What part of your ministry have you had to wait on as you wanted to maintain quality somewhere else?  

We will be talking through and writing these down so if you have them done before class you will have more time for socializing (hint hint).

Please pray for those prayer requests - especially some of the updates that have been coming out - this week.

Andrew