Asbury Church

So, I have some questions: Why do we think Noah’s Ark is a children’s story? And why does God decide to wipe away all that he has made? And then, why does he change his mind? What is this very strange story doing in the Bible? Good news: I think Genesis chapters 6-9—Noah and the Flood—are there to teach us.

And here’s the lesson I’ve been learning:

*Wherever You Go, There You Are.*

I don’t think you can read Genesis and NOT gain some important insights into human nature.

So this week I’m talking to men. And I have something I want to say:

I’m challenging every man in our congregation to take this one particular action.

In the middle of the Garden are two trees. And Adam and Eve had to walk right by the one to get to the other.

Today, it’s like we’re still standing between two trees. There is the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And they are *right* next to each other!

Here’s the thing, though: the Lord isn’t trying to trick or entrap us—he really wants to give us life, but we have to trust him.

Our problem is that we’ve believed the lie that God is holding back the good things from us.

Which is exactly backwards.

I want to begin our sermon series on Genesis by focusing on what ISN’T there.

And what isn’t there isn’t just a curiosity or an answer to a trivia question—it is EVERYTHING.

I’d like to explain why this matters to me personally.

There is what you’re supposed to think, and then what you *actually* think.

What if I told you that, when it comes to the Bible, what I am *supposed* to think and what I *actually* think are the same thing?

I’d like tell you today my plan for both my life and for my time as senior pastor of Asbury.

(Hint: it involves becoming more tree-ish.)

*Okay, it wasn’t “THE GREATEST” day, but it was pretty darn great.

Preacher: Andrew Forrest

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2022 [9:30 AM]

Scripture: Psalm 1