This week, pastor Ben Erickson from Barton Church visits and walks through Paul's closing remarks in 2 Thessalonians. As Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to not follow after the world, he includes disciplined work as a feature which characterizes such separation. If indeed there are any who are unruly and idle, not working so as to provide for themselves and others, then they are to be admonished as a brother so that they might learn to honor the Lord through work. Within all of this, Paul encourages all of them not to lose heart in doing good.

On the sixth day of creation, God filled the land he created on the third day first with creatures according to their kinds. Finally, as the pinnacle and vice-regent of His creation, God created man in His own image. Man's duty was to have dominion over creation, to subdue it, and to be fruitful and multiply over the face of the earth, spreading God's image over all creation.

On the fifth day of creation, God fills what he created on day two with animals. Each was created according to its own kind, again portraying the order of God's creation. Thus God not only proves his complete sovereignty over the creatures of the earth, but also his wisdom in structuring a world devoid of chaos.

On day four of creation, God created the heavenly lights to rule the day and the night. These lights govern all of God's creation - the heavens and the earth he created on day one. Throughout Scripture we are constantly pointed back to the lights which rule as a sign of the Light that is to come and save through judgment.

As we see God create both the sea and the dry land, we stand in awe not only at his creative power but also at his sovereign will in redemption. For just as Moses here depicts God's power, he simultaneously introduces us to God's wisdom in producing life and fruit on the third day, signaling to the first fruits of the new creation which will be wrought in Christ.

In day two of creation, God creates an expanse, separating the waters above from the waters below. What we see at the very beginning is that God created with purposeful design, with a structure in mind. These initial verses prove why the heavens above do indeed declare the glory of God (Psalm 8:1).

In the beginning, God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God separated the light from the darkness and called it good, thereby formulating judgment not only over what is and is not, but also over what is good and what is not good. In this way, God manifested his power over all creation, both corporeal and incorporeal.

In the beginning, God created everything. Not only did he create everything ex nihilo, but he set in motion his plan for creation, namely, its purpose in glorifying His Name. Just as well, God creates for the purpose of dwelling with His creation, seen most clearly in temple-garden of Eden where He walks with his image-bearers.

Join us as Pastor Jason introduces a sermon series on Genesis 1-11 where Moses tells of the creation of the world, its fall into sin, and God's plan of restoration and redemption. The creation of the world sets the stage for God's wonderous plan, so understanding these first chapters thus becomes key to understanding the rest of Scripture.

As all eventually come to know, life consists of suffering, both small and great. James, in writing to the early church, speaks of the purpose God has for suffering in the life of the Christian. Those who follow Christ are to count it all joy when facing trials, knowing that the Giver of all good gifts is using such suffering to produce in them steadfastness and wisdom.