Embracing Curiosity: Discovering God in New Beginnings

 

Summary

God is a God of new beginnings, and today is a gift from Him. Embrace it with gratitude and curiosity. I am deeply thankful for the community that has supported this journey of faith and learning. Together, we explore the wonders of God and His creation. Today, I encourage you to be curious. G.K. Chesterton once said that there are no uninteresting subjects, only uninterested people. We are made to learn, understand, and explore. This is evident in Genesis, where God invites Adam to name the animals, allowing him to grow as an image-bearer and dominion exerciser. God could have named the creatures Himself, but He chose to involve Adam in the process, highlighting the importance of discovery and learning.

Naming in the ancient world was more than labeling; it was about discerning the essence of things. This act of naming was the beginning of zoology, biology, and taxonomy. God could have provided a manual, but He wanted Adam to discover and learn. This reflects the dual revelation of God: the little book of Scripture and the big book of the world. God delights in our pursuit of knowledge, and our understanding of Genesis can be compatible with modern science. Augustine, a Christian thinker, warned against Christians speaking ignorantly about the natural world, emphasizing the importance of understanding both Scripture and nature.

Curiosity leads us to explore God's creation and understand His revelation. It is a call to open our eyes, think deeply, and engage with diverse perspectives. Like Tom's father, who continued learning into his 90s, we should remain curious throughout our lives. My wife, Nancy, exemplifies this curiosity with her love for learning about California. We are invited to exercise dominion, learn, and engage with the life of the mind. Be curious about God's world and, most importantly, about God Himself. Ask how He is revealing Himself to you and how you can grow as a learner and contributor.

Key Takeaways:

- Embrace each day as a gift from God, filled with opportunities for new beginnings. Gratitude and curiosity are essential in our journey of faith, allowing us to explore the wonders of God's creation and His revelation. [00:42]

- God invites us to be co-creators and learners, as seen in Genesis when Adam names the animals. This act of naming is about discerning the essence of things, highlighting the importance of discovery and growth in our spiritual journey. [02:05]

- The dual revelation of God through Scripture and the natural world encourages us to pursue knowledge and understanding. Our exploration of Genesis can align with modern science, enriching our faith and expanding our understanding of God's creation. [04:18]

- Curiosity is a lifelong pursuit, as exemplified by individuals who continue learning and growing throughout their lives. Engaging with diverse perspectives and thinking deeply about God's world enhances our spiritual and intellectual growth. [08:40]

- Be curious about God and His revelation in your life. Ask how He is revealing Himself to you and how you can grow as a learner and contributor. This curiosity deepens our relationship with God and enriches our understanding of His creation. [10:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [01:33] - The Call to Curiosity
- [02:05] - Adam's Role in Naming
- [03:34] - The Significance of Naming
- [04:18] - Dual Revelation: Scripture and Nature
- [05:33] - God's Delight in Discovery
- [06:13] - Augustine's Insight on Knowledge
- [07:24] - Misunderstandings of Genesis
- [08:09] - The Tragedy of Misvaluing Science
- [08:40] - Lifelong Curiosity
- [09:22] - Engaging with God's World
- [09:53] - Curiosity About God
- [10:12] - Growing as Learners and Contributors

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 2:19-20 (NIV): "Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals."

Observation Questions:
1. What role did God give Adam in Genesis 2:19-20, and why is this significant? [02:05]
2. How does the act of naming the animals reflect Adam's relationship with God and creation? [03:00]
3. According to the sermon, why did God choose not to name the animals Himself? [02:44]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between curiosity and learning in the context of faith? [01:50]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the act of naming in Genesis 2:19-20 illustrate the concept of being co-creators with God? [02:44]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that curiosity can enhance one's spiritual journey and understanding of God? [09:53]
3. How does the dual revelation of God through Scripture and nature encourage believers to pursue knowledge? [04:18]
4. What might Augustine's warning about Christians speaking ignorantly about the natural world imply for modern believers? [07:07]

Application Questions:
1. How can you embrace each day as a new beginning and a gift from God? What specific actions can you take to start your day with gratitude and curiosity? [00:42]
2. Reflect on a time when you were curious about something in God's creation. How did that curiosity lead to a deeper understanding or appreciation of God? [09:53]
3. In what ways can you actively engage with both Scripture and the natural world to grow in your faith and knowledge? [04:18]
4. Identify an area of your life where you can exercise curiosity and learning. How can this pursuit help you grow as a learner and contributor in your community? [09:22]
5. Think of a person in your life who exemplifies lifelong curiosity. What can you learn from their example, and how can you apply it to your own life? [08:40]
6. How can you cultivate a habit of asking questions about God's revelation in your life? What specific questions might you start with this week? [10:12]
7. Consider how you can involve others in your journey of curiosity and learning. Who can you invite to explore God's creation and revelation with you? [01:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Each Day as a Divine Gift
Each day is a new beginning, a gift from God filled with opportunities to explore and grow. Embracing this gift with gratitude and curiosity allows us to see the wonders of God's creation and His revelation in our lives. By acknowledging each day as a fresh start, we open ourselves to the possibilities of learning and experiencing God's presence in new ways. This mindset encourages us to approach life with a sense of wonder and appreciation, recognizing the divine hand in the ordinary moments of our daily existence. [00:42]

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally recognize and embrace today as a new beginning, seeing it as a gift from God?


Day 2: Co-Creators in God's World
God invites us to be co-creators and learners, as demonstrated in Genesis when Adam names the animals. This act of naming was not merely about labeling but discerning the essence of things, highlighting the importance of discovery and growth in our spiritual journey. By involving Adam in the process, God emphasized the value of learning and understanding, encouraging us to engage with the world around us actively. This invitation to co-create with God is a call to explore, learn, and grow, recognizing our role in His creation and the responsibility that comes with it. [02:05]

"And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name." (Genesis 2:19, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you participate as a co-creator in your daily life, discerning the essence of the world around you?


Day 3: The Harmony of Scripture and Nature
The dual revelation of God through Scripture and the natural world encourages us to pursue knowledge and understanding. Our exploration of Genesis can align with modern science, enriching our faith and expanding our understanding of God's creation. This harmony between Scripture and nature invites us to see the world as a reflection of God's character and creativity, urging us to seek knowledge and wisdom in both realms. By embracing this dual revelation, we can deepen our faith and appreciation for the intricacies of God's creation, recognizing the interconnectedness of all things. [04:18]

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you integrate your understanding of Scripture and the natural world to enrich your faith and knowledge of God?


Day 4: Lifelong Curiosity and Growth
Curiosity is a lifelong pursuit, as exemplified by individuals who continue learning and growing throughout their lives. Engaging with diverse perspectives and thinking deeply about God's world enhances our spiritual and intellectual growth. This lifelong curiosity invites us to remain open to new ideas and experiences, fostering a mindset of continuous learning and exploration. By nurturing our curiosity, we can deepen our understanding of God's creation and our place within it, allowing us to grow as individuals and as members of a faith community. [08:40]

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one new area of knowledge or skill you can commit to exploring this week to foster your lifelong curiosity?


Day 5: Curiosity About God and His Revelation
Be curious about God and His revelation in your life. Asking how He is revealing Himself to you and how you can grow as a learner and contributor deepens our relationship with God and enriches our understanding of His creation. This curiosity invites us to seek God's presence in our daily lives, recognizing His hand in both the extraordinary and the mundane. By cultivating a curious heart, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and wisdom, allowing us to grow in faith and understanding. [10:12]

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively seek God's revelation in your life today, and what steps can you take to grow as a learner and contributor in His kingdom?

Quotes


God is a god of new beginnings thank God, so take a deep breath, let go of yesterday it's gone. Embrace this day this is God's gift to us lift up your hearts and let's find God together and I want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who have made a new beginning in life and work possible for me I'm deeply grateful. [00:28:38]

The great Christian writer and thinker G.K Chesterton said one time there are no uninteresting subjects, all that exists are uninterested people, so today don't be one of them be curious and you were made for this you were made to learn and to understand and assert and explore, discover. [00:99:29]

Now obvious question we're reading through this is why didn't God name the creatures themselves because he made them and he's perfectly creative and inventive and he could have done that quite easily but he doesn't because he is allowing the man to develop and to grow into his capacity as an image Bearer and a Dominion exerciser. [00:157:92]

As you may know in the ancient world naming was Far More Than Just attaching some neutral label to something to name something was to observe it carefully to discern its essential nature and give language to that, so when we see the man naming the creatures this is the beginning of zoology and biology and taxonomy. [00:218:15]

Christians used to write sometimes about how God has given us the little book the book of scriptures that we read about God in but also the big book and that's the book of his world where we learn also about God and not just that the text says that God brought the animals to the man to see what the man would name them. [00:254:40]

God limits himself God limits his willing so that human beings can have their own Little Kingdom so that you can will God limits his naming so that the man is able to name God limits his knowing so that the man is able to reveal the names that he has to God and God wants for us to expand our minds. [00:314:94]

When we are learning about Genesis when we're learning about ancient near Eastern history we actually discover more about the intent of Genesis and what it means about The Human Condition and that in turn actually enables us to understand that what the Bible says in Genesis is perfectly compatible with what we're learning through science in the 21st century. [00:345:66]

Usually even a non-Christian knows something about the Earth the heavens and the other elements of this world about the motion and orbit of the stars and even their size and relative positions about the predictable eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, the cycles of the years and the seasons and about the kinds of animals shrubs and stones and so forth. [00:384:66]

It is a disgraceful and dangerous thing for an Infidel to hear a Christian presumably giving the meaning of holy scriptures talking nonsense on these topics, and we should take all means to prevent such an embarrassing situation in which people show up vast ignorance in a Christian and laugh to scorn. [00:412:86]

Be curious about God's Earth, about biology and geology and Technology, people just drift through life on autopilot and God is still inviting human beings to exercise Dominion to learn to enter deeply into the life of the mind is as much as you are able to and to be curious about what it is that God made. [00:560:64]

Ask what and how and when and where and why and especially today and especially today be curious about God, it would be a sad thing even to be curious about the creation and not be curious about the creator of it, God how are you revealing yourself to me right now, how can I learn more about you. [00:590:04]

How can I learn more about you and about what you have made so that I too can be a Namer and a learner and a grower and a contributor. [00:617:04]

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Transcript
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