Sermon Series: Sermons on Genesis

Dr Peter Masters

God, the divine craftsman, created the world, paradise and man in six days. Yet we are presented with the only meaningful explanation of evil in the world. Here is the promise of a Saviour from The Fall to Jacob’s death, the ongoing separation of the church and the world, and the great doctrines of the faith from the beginning of time.

The Beginning of the World

– Wednesday PM January 15, 2014
A new series in Genesis. Why God phased creation over six days; why the particular order; the full glories of light; the higher purpose of night; the picture of a divine craftsman working to the pinnacle of all – mankind. How the literal view deepens faith.

The Garden of Eden

– Wednesday PM January 22, 2014
Proving there are no contradictions between Genesis 1 and 2; the Sabbath established, and its purpose; the Garden located; its central trees; the covenant test of man; the profound method for forming the woman and its lessons for marriage throughout time.

The Fall of Man

– Wednesday PM January 29, 2014
The arrival of guilt and sin, shame and conscience. The serpent’s method then (and now), the choice of disobedience, the compound sin, the consequences, the beginning of enmity between the church and world, and the Gospel of the promised seed; with observations and application.

Beginning of the Two Nations

– Wednesday PM February 12, 2014
As Genesis 3 foretold, the ages-long history of hostility of the world toward the church begins, Abel then Seth representing the godly. Here also is the first death, God’s call of mercy to Cain, the warning, the curse, and the defiance of unbelief.

The Very First Church Compromise

– Wednesday PM February 19, 2014
Battle of Life
By Noah’s time the church of Adam and Seth had so degenerated that it became intertwined with the world – the line of Cain, and the moral breakdown of both was complete. Heroic Noah and family would alone survive. Here are the lessons of the Flood.

Great Principles from the Flood

– Wednesday PM February 26, 2014
In this historical event is the first imperative ‘come’ of the Bible, a rich type of faith, judgement to come, grace and eternal security. Here too are attributes of God, persisting human depravity, and the theme running through Scripture – the gulf between the world and the church.

The Deep Significance of Babel

– Wednesday PM March 12, 2014
The line of Shem (seed of the woman) had become too close to the line of unbelief when mankind rebelliously built Babel. Judgement forced dispersal to predetermined locations and called out God’s people. Here is the meaning of the dramatic event.

The Journey of Faith Begins

– Wednesday PM March 19, 2014
Abraham responds to God’s four ‘I will’ promises despite impediments to faith. Sarai’s view of marriage. A nomad for God – principles for today. The lie to Pharaoh to preserve the promised seed a momentary loss of the four promises; lessons for us.

Promises Opened by Faith

– Wednesday PM April 9, 2014
Abram’s renewed faith; how Lot, though godly, gradually declines in commitment to his earthly hurt; God’s enlarged promises to Abram and the condition of faith met; faith in the rescue of Lot; Abram discloses his vow to God and his refusal of earthly help, with lessons.

Abram’s Vision of the Future

– Wednesday PM April 23, 2014
Here is the first prophet of the Bible, the first vision, the first mention of justification by faith, and other ‘firsts’. How Abram’s seed resemble stars, and how Abram saw Christ as chief among them and believed God. Here also is the meaning of the burning furnace and lamp.

Abram Embraces Culture

– Wednesday PM April 30, 2014
At a time when many evangelicals want to be part of worldly culture, we take note of the sorry results of Abram and Sarai’s identical mistake – seeking a godly outcome by worldly means. Then the rich lessons for the Lord’s renewed covenant.

How the Church is Preserved

– Wednesday PM May 14, 2014
God disclosed to Abraham the destruction of Sodom because his descendants (the church) would ever need to be out of the culture of a world due for destruction. The deliverance of Lot pictures the embarrassment that believers may be found immersed in the world when judgement comes.

The Terms of Church Blessing

– Wednesday PM May 21, 2014
Unknown to Abraham God prepares for him a believing royal neighbour, but the patriarch repeats an old failing. Then Ishmael at 17 persecutes infant Isaac and Sarah realises the seed of the serpent aims to seize the inheritance. God restores separateness to the church. The lessons.

The Obedience of Abraham’s Faith

– Wednesday PM May 28, 2014
Abraham’s mature faith – noble, magnificent trust; why he received such a hard test; the lessons for us; his reasoning and conclusion; his secret of submission to God; Isaac’s heroic faith and young believers; Jehovah Jireh – the Lord sees ahead and provides; exercising precious faith.

Cementing Church and World

– Wednesday PM June 11, 2014
Battle of Life
Two distinct peoples were born to Rebekah. Isaac though godly never accepted that Jacob should have the entire heritage. He wanted Esau to head the family, while Jacob bore the seed royal. But God once again separated church and world. Here are the lessons.

Jacob’s Spiritual Journey

– Wednesday PM June 18, 2014
The theophany at Bethel and Jacob’s response. A sense of God the goal of preachers. The shocking fraud in marriage – what should Jacob have done? His spiritual virtues. His preparations for home; were his breeding methods credible? Lessons for posterity, and church and world again separated by God.

Jacob Wrestles in Prayer

– Wednesday PM July 9, 2014
Jacob, enriched, returns to the Promised Land after 20 years greatly afraid that Esau will attack him. His two prayers are here examined, especially the hours in wrestling and pleading with God. Here are God’s purposes with the encouragements and challenges for our praying.

Restoring Grace to the Church

– Wednesday PM July 23, 2014
Teenager Dinah goes into the Hivite town only to be seduced by the prince. Her motive; the hypocrisy of her brothers; their terrible revenge; the family imperilled. Why were Jacob’s offspring so wayward? The purpose and lessons to the church of this record. God’s restoration.

The Shaping of Joseph

– Wednesday PM August 6, 2014
14 chapters cover Joseph’s history! How can such a deliverer not be a type of Christ? We must reject trivial ideas that Jacob spoiled Joseph, who was disloyal and naive in reporting his brothers’ sins and telling them his dreams. Here are the realities of his spiritual training.

The Shaping of Joseph – 2

– Wednesday PM August 13, 2014
Joseph in Egypt being prepared by the Lord: the young man’s patience, diligence and integrity; plus fifteen ways in which he is undoubtedly a type of the Great Deliverer, with remarkable examples of God’s providential oversight of His own. Spiritual lessons for today from events.

Joseph’s Spiritual Work

– Wednesday PM August 20, 2014
While the guiding providence of God is notable in Joseph, equally vital is his life-long goal for the repentance and restoration of his brothers (a church typified). Here his strategy is traced for securing conviction, change, reconciliation and provision, mirroring (perhaps including) evangelical conversion.

God’s Secret Plans in Egypt

– Wednesday PM September 3, 2014
Jacob waits for God’s sanction before entering Egypt. Why his listed family names are so significant. God’s plans unfold. Why Egypt? The reasons unveiled – how the church and the seed royal would be spiritually preserved. Lessons from the adoption of Joseph’s sons and the blessing of Reuben.

Jacob’s Prophecies

– Wednesday PM October 1, 2014
Jacob’s sons and their tribes are formally blessed and assured of God’s future presence. Warnings are included and positive tribal traits listed, which would combine to equip all Israel. Here also are prophecies of Messiah, and lessons for Christ’s people today, which Israel typified.

The Future Promise

– Wednesday PM October 8, 2014
The funeral of Jacob shows the gratitude of Egypt toward him, the reformed character of his sons and the supreme importance in his life of the future promises. Here also is the training of Joseph and his legacy, and how we must always live for eternity.