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The following reading is from the ESV Audio Bible, read by Michael Reeves.Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.To support or become a friend of Union, visit https://uniontheology.org/friends-of-union
“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9 NLT) “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These lyrics from “Joy to the World” remind us to embrace the fullness of the Christmas season. To be proactive in getting ourselves ready for the blessings and opportunities that are unique to this time of year. A good way to start preparing our hearts is to widen our focus from the familiar narrative of Luke 2 to the bigger story that starts in Genesis 3. There, we find a tree. Not a Christmas tree with brightly colored lights and ornaments, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. After God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a literal paradise, He gave them one restriction: Don’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You know how the story unfolds after that. The serpent tempted Eve. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. She gave the fruit to Adam. He ate it, too. They disobeyed God and lost their perfect fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3:15, we find the first Christmas verse in the Bible. God said to the serpent, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (NLT). Sin created a gulf between humankind and God—one that we can do nothing to bridge. Our only hope is a Savior, One sent by God who would live a sinless life, sacrifice Himself to pay the price for our sin, and then conquer death so that we might live forever. This is God’s plan of salvation. Yet just as our enemy interfered with God’s original plan, he also does everything he can to keep people from coming to salvation. That’s where the hostility of Genesis 3:15 comes in. The devil knew that a Messiah would come. He did everything in his power to stop it from taking place. Yet his power was a drop in a bucket compared to that of the Messiah who came. Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light and darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus—coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was with God. He was God. Jesus Christ became human without ceasing to be God. He did not become identical to us, but He became identified with us. The birth that we celebrate this season is that of God Himself, who came to this earth to live among us. To conquer sin and death. To show us how to live. To give His life so that we might live forever. Reflection question: What difference does it make, in your life and in your prayers, that Jesus knows what it’s like to be human? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is a sermon preached by David Appelt at Maranatha Community Church Canal Winchester on 11/30/2025.
Message from Brad Wheeler on November 30, 2025
Genesis 2:8-14 // Brooks NesseExplore Genesis 2:8-14 in this powerful sermon, focusing on the creation and geography of the Garden of Eden. Learn about the four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—and the significance of the gold, bdellium, and onyx stone found in the land of Havilah. This teaching offers deep insight into the earliest account of human history, God's provision, and the environment he prepared for humanity. Perfect for those studying the Book of Genesis and Old Testament origins.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2542/responses/new25.11.30
Genesis 2:8-14 // Rachel NesseExplore Genesis 2:8-14 in this powerful sermon, focusing on the creation and geography of the Garden of Eden. Learn about the four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—and the significance of the gold, bdellium, and onyx stone found in the land of Havilah. This teaching offers deep insight into the earliest account of human history, God's provision, and the environment he prepared for humanity. Perfect for those studying the Book of Genesis and Old Testament origins.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2509/responses/new25.11.30
This is a sermon preached by Kyle Bafia at Maranatha Community Church Pickerington on 11/30/2025.
Genesis 2:8-14 // Many CheryExplore Genesis 2:8-14 in this powerful sermon, focusing on the creation and geography of the Garden of Eden. Learn about the four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—and the significance of the gold, bdellium, and onyx stone found in the land of Havilah. This teaching offers deep insight into the earliest account of human history, God's provision, and the environment he prepared for humanity. Perfect for those studying the Book of Genesis and Old Testament origins.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2553/responses/new25.11.30
Genesis 2:8-14 // Taylor FairExplore Genesis 2:8-14 in this powerful sermon, focusing on the creation and geography of the Garden of Eden. Learn about the four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—and the significance of the gold, bdellium, and onyx stone found in the land of Havilah. This teaching offers deep insight into the earliest account of human history, God's provision, and the environment he prepared for humanity. Perfect for those studying the Book of Genesis and Old Testament origins.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2546/responses/new25.11.30
Genesis 2:8-14 // Jacob VangenExplore Genesis 2:8-14 in this powerful sermon, focusing on the creation and geography of the Garden of Eden. Learn about the four rivers—Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates—and the significance of the gold, bdellium, and onyx stone found in the land of Havilah. This teaching offers deep insight into the earliest account of human history, God's provision, and the environment he prepared for humanity. Perfect for those studying the Book of Genesis and Old Testament origins.SERMON NOTES (YouVersion): https://bible.com/events/PRAYER REQUESTS: https://ccefc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/2574/responses/new25.11.30
You are listening to the messages from Pastor Scott Tewell who is the Lead Pastor at Rosedale Baptist Church in Rosedale, MD. Each week we provide these messages to help you grow in your faith and find encouragement through God's Word.
Genesis 2:8-17 "He Made A Moral Man"
Hey friends! Today we're in Genesis 2:24-3:7Mission of together in the word is to remind every single person that power of getting in the word together! Just me, you, maybe a friend, and the main guest is the WORD OF GOD:)Everyone reads the word of God differently, but the most important thing is that you are reading it! This is me getting in the Word with you as if I was by myself in my favorite reading nook:)
2025-08-18 - God's Best Gift ⧸⧸ Genesis 2 (Rich Valencia) [jAZ-jjQsY0k] by Salvador Flores III
Today we're reading Genesis 2:18-25. Why did God make Eve in a completely different way than Adam? Why did God put Adam into a deep sleep and then form Eve from his side (rib)? Why did God make Adam name animals almost as if he was looking for a help mate among the animals? If you've ever wondered these things, you're in good company. These are the kinds of details that will unlock Genesis 2 for you like never before. Be sure to check out our ministry resources below!Free Online Bible CoursesOrder My Book "Fruitful"Support This MinistryOur WebsiteOur Youtube ChannelOur Second Youtube Channel
In this sobering and soul-searching message, Pastor Karl dives deep into Matthew 5:17–48, where Jesus declares that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it—and then raises the bar of righteousness far beyond anything the scribes and Pharisees ever imagined.Through six piercing examples—anger that murders the heart, lust that commits adultery in the mind, casual divorce, manipulative oaths, retaliation, and hatred disguised as justice—Jesus exposes the truth we all try to avoid: outward obedience is never enough. God judges the heart. Every single one of us stands guilty before His perfect standard.Yet the bad news is meant to drive us to the best news. Pastor Karl powerfully unpacks how Jesus' command in verse 48—“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”—is not a cruel impossible demand, but the very reason the Son of God came. We cannot achieve the righteousness God requires, so God freely gives it to us through faith in Christ. Jesus took our unrighteousness and imputes His perfect righteousness to all who repent and trust Him.A hard-hitting, heart-exposing sermon that leaves no room for self-righteousness, but ends with the liberating joy of the gospel: guilty sinners can be clothed in the very righteousness of God and stand before Him as if we had never sinned. Essential listening for anyone who wonders, “How can I ever be right with a holy God?”Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm
God's Good Design For Marriage And Singleness, Part 2 (Genesis 2:18-25) | David Platt
Genesis 2:1-7 "God Rests"
Hey friends! Today we're in Genesis 2:18-23Mission of together in the word is to remind every single person that power of getting in the word together! Just me, you, maybe a friend, and the main guest is the WORD OF GOD:)Everyone reads the word of God differently, but the most important thing is that you are reading it! This is me getting in the Word with you as if I was by myself in my favorite reading nook:)
Today we're reading Genesis 2:8-17. Did you know that Adam was NOT made in the garden of Eden? Technically, he was made from the dust outside of Eden. And, there's a deeper reason why. You might not agree with this interpretation, but give me a chance to prove this viewpoint from the Scriptures. See, this small revelation blew my mind once I realized what was happening here. This is just one of the cool details we'll explore in this video on Genesis 2.Be sure to check out our ministry resources below!Free Online Bible CoursesOrder My Book "Fruitful"Support This MinistryOur WebsiteOur Youtube ChannelOur Second Youtube Channel
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God's Good Design For Marriage and Singleness, Part 1 (Genesis 2:18-25) | David Platt
Is the grass really greener on the other side? Or is it time to water the lawn God's already given you? In this weeks message from Jim Ramos, discover Guardrail #3 from his upcoming book, Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage — how to stay emotionally connected to your bride and avoid the subtle drift that destroys marriages. Jim unpacks biblical truth from Genesis 2, explains the Hebrew word Dabaq ("to cleave"), and shows what it really means to pursue, protect, and stay bonded to your wife. You'll walk away knowing the difference between connection and attachment — and why it matters AND simple ways to guard your heart from emotional entanglement with others. This message is from The MAG, The McMinnville Area Gathering for men in McMinnville, Oregon. This episode is sponsored by Compassion International. Our goal is for the Men in the Arena tribe to sponsor 1,000 boys over the coming year! Help us reach that goal and make a difference in a child's life today. When you sponsor a child using our link, you'll receive a free copy of Jim's book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God! We are also sponsored by MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab, a Christian-owned fitness app. This app, combined with diet, has helped Jim get in the best shape of his life! Get 6 weeks free with the code ARENA30 at MTNTOUGH.com. Every man needs a locker room. Apply to join an exclusive brotherhood of like-minded men in The Locker Room, our monthly live Zoom Q&A call! We meet in the Locker Room once a month for community, fellowship, laughter, and to help each other find biblical answers to life's difficult questions. Locker Room members also get access to monthly exclusive leadership trainings, historically only available to the staff team at Men in the Arena. Membership is by application only. Go here to apply: https://patreon.com/themeninthearena Get Jim Ramos' USA TODAY Bestselling book, Dialed In: Reaching Your Full Capacity as a Man of God (https://tinyurl.com/dialedinbook)
Hey friends! Today we're in Genesis 2:8-17Mission of together in the word is to remind every single person that power of getting in the word together! Just me, you, maybe a friend, and the main guest is the WORD OF GOD:)Everyone reads the word of God differently, but the most important thing is that you are reading it! This is me getting in the Word with you as if I was by myself in my favorite reading nook:)
Today we're reading Genesis 2:1-7. Most of us are familiar with the creation story of Genesis 1. But, did you know, there's a second creation story in Genesis 2? This particular story reveals some details we don't see in Genesis 1, and we should be asking why. For example, why are we given a detailed account of Adam's creation? Why is he made from the dust outside the Garden of Eden? Why is the world presented as dry desert rather than chaotic, dark waters like we saw in Genesis 1? Why does this story open with God resting?Be sure to check out the ministry resources below!Free Online Bible CoursesOrder My Book "Fruitful"Support This MinistryOur WebsiteOur Youtube Channel
In this opening episode, Roland and Tammy dive into the very first picture of human connection: "The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." - Genesis 2:25Before sin entered the world, there was no hiding, no fear, no insecurity, only harmony, vulnerability, and unbroken intimacy with God and each other. Shame wasn't part of God's design. We were created to be fully known and fully loved.
Gods Good Design for Work, Part 2 (Genesis 2:15) | Mike Kelsey
Gods Good Design for Work, Part 2 (Genesis 2:15) | Mike Kelsey
Hey friends! Today we're in Genesis 2:4-7Mission of together in the word is to remind every single person that power of getting in the word together! Just me, you, maybe a friend, and the main guest is the WORD OF GOD:)Everyone reads the word of God differently, but the most important thing is that you are reading it! This is me getting in the Word with you as if I was by myself in my favorite reading nook:)
God's Good Design for Work, Part 1 (Genesis 2:5-15) | Mike Kelsey
Pastor Mike Rose Genesis 2:16-25
Hey friends! Today we're in Genesis 2:1-3Mission of together in the word is to remind every single person that power of getting in the word together! Just me, you, maybe a friend, and the main guest is the WORD OF GOD:)Everyone reads the word of God differently, but the most important thing is that you are reading it! This is me getting in the Word with you as if I was by myself in my favorite reading nook:)
Our Daily Portion Podcast is a daily podcast to help us stay in God's Word daily. We follow the Daily Torah Portion schedule utilizing the NASB translation. The scripture is read, a nugget is shared, and prayer closes us out. Go to pursuitfortruth.com for more information about WIT Ministries.
Join us this week as we continue our journey through Genesis! Pastor Matt teaches from Genesis 2, where God creates a helper suitable for Adam. Together, we'll explore how this passage points us to the hope we have in Christ — that through the Holy Spirit, we are united with Him and will bear His image for all eternity.
God's Good Design For Rest, Part 2 (Genesis 2:1-3) | Eric Saunders
Genesis 2:4-25 4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven. 5 Now no shrub of the field was yet on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person. 8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused every tree to grow that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there as well. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “At last this is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called ‘woman,' Because she was taken out of man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed. BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com GIVE - The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here: https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net
God's Good Design For Rest, Part 1 (Genesis 2:1-3) | David Platt
Theologian Miroslav Volf reflects on solitude, loneliness, and how being alone can reveal our humanity, selfhood, and relationship with God.This episode is part 1 of a 5-part series, SOLO, which explores the theological, moral, and psychological dimensions of loneliness, solitude, and being alone.“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”Macie Bridge welcomes Miroslav for a conversation on solitude and being oneself—probing the difference between loneliness and aloneness, and the essential role of solitude in a flourishing Christian life. Reflecting on Genesis, the Incarnation, and the sensory life of faith, Volf considers how we can both embrace solitude and attend to the loneliness of others.He shares personal reflections on his mother's daily prayer practice and how solitude grounded her in divine presence. Volf describes how solitude restores the self before God and others: “Nobody can be me instead of me.” It is possible, he suggests, that we can we rediscover the presence of God in every relationship—solitary or shared.Helpful Links and ResourcesThe Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us WorseFyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and PunishmentRainer Maria Rilke, Book of Hours (Buch der Stunden)Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and FallEpisode Highlights“Nobody can be me instead of me. And since I must be me, to be me well, I need times with myself.”“It's not good, in almost a metaphysical sense, for us to be alone. We aren't ourselves when we are simply alone.”“Solitude brings one back in touch with who one is—it's how we stabilize ourselves so we know how to be ourselves with others.”“Our relationship to God is mediated by our relationships to others. To honor another is to honor God.”“When we attend to the loneliness of others, in some ways we tend to our own loneliness.”Solitude, Loneliness, and FlourishingThe difference between solitude (constructive aloneness) and loneliness (diminishment of self).COVID-19 as an amplifier of solitude and loneliness.Volf's experience of being alone at Yale—productive solitude without loneliness.Loneliness as “the absence of an affirming glance.”Aloneness as essential for self-reflection and renewal before others.Humanity, Creation, and RelationshipAdam's solitude in Genesis as an incomplete creation—“It is not good for man to be alone.”Human beings as fundamentally social and political.A newborn cannot flourish without touch and gaze—relational presence is constitutive of personhood.Solitude and communion exist in dynamic tension; both must be rightly measured.Jesus's Solitude and Human ResponsibilityJesus withdrawing to pray as a model of sacred solitude.Solitude allows one to “return to oneself,” guarding against being lost in the crowd.The danger of losing selfhood in relationships, “becoming echoes of the crowd.”God, Limits, and OthersEvery other person as a God-given limit—“To honor another is to honor God.”Violating others as transgressing divine boundaries.True spirituality as respecting the space, limit, and presence of the other.Touch, Senses, and the ChurchThe sensory dimension of faith—seeing, touching, being seen.Mary's anointing of Jesus as embodied gospel.Rilke's “ripe seeing”: vision as invitation and affirmation.The church as a site of embodied presence—touch, seeing, listening as acts of communion.The Fear of Violation and the Gift of RespectLoneliness often born from fear of being violated rather than from lack of company.Loving another includes honoring their limit and respecting their freedom.Practical Reflections on LonelinessQuestions Volf asks himself: “Do I dare to be alone? How do I draw strength when I feel lonely?”The paradox of social connection in a digital age—teenagers side by side, “completely disconnected.”Love as sheer presence—“By sheer being, having a loving attitude, I relieve another's loneliness.”The Spiritual Discipline of SolitudeVolf's mother's daily hour of morning prayer—learning to hear God's voice like Samuel.Solitude as the ground for transformation: narrating oneself before God.“Nobody can die in my place… nobody can live my life in my place.”Solitude as preparation for love and life in community.About Miroslav VolfMiroslav Volf is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. He is the author of Exclusion and Embrace, Flourishing: Why We Need Religion in a Globalized World, and numerous works on theology, culture, and human flourishing—most recently The Cost of Ambition: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse.Production NotesThis podcast featured Miroslav VolfInterview by Macie BridgeEdited and Produced by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Alexa Rollow, Emily Brookfield, and Hope ChunA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give
God's Design For Marriage
In considering God's gift of marriage, it's helpful to start at the beginning. Moses records God's institution of marriage in Genesis 2. Because it was not good for the man to be alone, God created the woman to be the helper he needed. Adam's joy at the gift of Eve is the same joy God gives to husbands and wives today as they take delight in each other, help each other, and receive the gift of children through their union. God's institution of marriage shows this holy estate to be anything but a burden— it is a precious gift. Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 2:18-25. To learn more about St. Michael's Lutheran, visit stmichaelswinchester.org. “God's Gift of Marriage” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that studies the Song of Solomon and other key texts from the Bible concerning marriage. Although the world is terribly confused concerning what marriage is, God's Word reveals how good a gift marriage truly is and points us to the relationship between Christ, the Bridegroom, and His Church, the Bride. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org
If Genesis 1 is an account of the creation of the world, why is the world recreated in Genesis 2? Dr. Bart Ehrman joins me to talk about whether these accounts can be understood as one story, or if something else is going on.