6.30.19 - Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood (Kenny Camacho)
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 6:5-9:17
The story of Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood is a staple in children’s books, Sunday School classes, and throughout Christian culture. But right alongside this amazing story of animals in pairs, doves looking for olive branches, and miraculous deliverance is another story of violence, disbelief, rejection, and catastrophic judgment. Together, these two stories establish the boundaries of the human experience: on the one side, God’s unfailing commitment to the redemption and restoration of his Creation...and on the other, the inescapable consequences of our sin. This week, we want to explore the story of the Great Flood from both sides of the waves: what does a narrative as full of violence as this teach us about who God is, who we are, and how we can find hope in our own time?
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Read Genesis 6:6. How does that make you feel? What do you think about when you read that?
Do you feel like the flood seems like an appropriate response to the violence on the earth?
Genesis 6:22 says Noah did all that God commanded him. List everything Noah had to do and discuss the character of Noah that emerges as you contemplate his actions.
Why do you think God makes this covenant with everyone/thing he’s already saved? What does that indicate about God and his creation?
How does studying this story as an adult compare to what you learned as a child (if applicable)?
What do you think this story can teach you about God and your own life? How can you apply this?