Genesis Three - The Fall


WARM UP: Have you ever deliberately disobeyed God thinking you "knew better" in some way? What were the consequences? Why did you do it?

The Study (for a small group)

1.(Genesis 3:1-3 NKJV) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" {2} And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; {3} "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

(a) Has God indeed said.....? What is the Devil trying to achieve here? Why is doubt one of his favorite weapons? (Matt 21:21, John 20:27, Romans 14:23, James 1:5-8)

(b) How had Eve "added to the word of God" (2:9, 2:15-17)

2.(Genesis 3:3-6 NIV) but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" {4} "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. {5} "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." {6} When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

(a) Lets do some cross-referencing and see how Eve's sin contains almost all the elements of sin. Look up the following verses and see how they apply to Gen 3. 1 John 2:16,17; Colossians 3:5; James 1:13-15; Romans 7:11; John 8:34.

(b) What were the consequences of this sin? See also Romans 5:12-21.

(3) Why did God let it happen? Romans 5:17-21, 11:30-36

(4) What was different about Adam and Eve's behavior after they sinned?

(5) What were the consequences for their relationship with God and their ability to find fulfillment in life?

(6)(a) How did God show compassion on them?

(b) Why do you think He blocked the way to the Garden?

On Your Own

Take five minutes to consider your obedience to God. Is there an area that needs to be put right straight away?

What in today's study most spoke to your heart?

Write out a prayer to God based on what God has said to you through His Word today.

What is God telling you to do as a result of studying these verses?

 

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