The following lesson was created by the staff at The Heights Church located in Prescott, Arizona. My wife and I are blessed to attend this church when we are in town on most Sundays throughout the year. The head pastor at The Heights is Pastor Lee Wiggins. You can check them out at www.HeightsChurch.com.

The Bible can be broken down into seven foundational key ideas. God, Garden, Fall, Cross, Identity, Choices, Eternity. The diagram below begins with God and stops with Eternity. 




OVERVIEW: Let’s explore these seven foundations.
God
A.W. Tozer once said “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.” What are some different beliefs people have about God (true or not)? How could each one of these beliefs shape the course of a person’s life? Think about one thing you believe about God and how it has impacted your work, marriage and parenting.
Garden
Skim Genesis 2 for a picture of life in the Garden of Eden. What do you discover about God’s original intent for us? How does this picture compare to what you experience on a day-to-day basis?
Fall
Take a look at Genesis 3. What does this chapter tell us about humans and the condition of our world today? What impact has the fall had in your home? In your workplace? Think about a specific story if you can.
Cross
Imagine that Jesus had never died on the cross and risen again. What impact would that have on you personally? How would your priorities be different? Would they be?
Identity
How does knowing who you are impact the way you live?
Choices
When we become aware of who we are in Christ, we are faced with a choice: Live like who I am or live like who I was. Think about one time this week you’ve been faced with that choice. What choice did you make?
Eternity
What are some different beliefs about eternity (true or not)? How do each one of these beliefs impact people’s lives and choices now?


Below are the seven foundations with greater clarity.
GOD
Let’s break down an A.W. Tozer quote:
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
Is this a true statement? Why or why not? If you were to ask the “average Joe” what is the most important thing about us, what do you think he would say?
“The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God…”
Think of the various religions and philosophies in our world. What do they teach about God (or god), and how has that shaped the lives of their followers?
“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him…” What kind of thoughts about God do we sometimes have that are unworthy of Him?
“The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God.”
What are some examples you have seen of churches surrendering their high opinion of God? How do we prevent that from happening here?

Let’s explore the five attributes of God a little bit.
God is everywhere present (omnipresence)
Read Psalm 139:9-10
Can you share one experience in your life where God’s “being there” was especially meaningful to you? How did knowing his presence help you?
God knows everything perfectly (omniscience)
Read Psalm 142:3
What’s one area of your life right now where your knowledge and wisdom is lacking? Read James 1:5-7.
God is all powerful (omnipotence)
Read Jeremiah 10:11-12
This may sound silly, but if Superman were at your side 24/7 how would you feel?
The God who created everything is infinitely more powerful than Superman, and He is at our side! (Besides that, He’s real!) So why do we so often wrestle with fear?
God is eternal (eternality) and does not change (immutability)
Read Psalm 90:2 and James 1:17
We live in a world where vehicles break down, household items need to be replaced, and health fails. If God were just like all these other things (i.e. he were created, he could change, and he would eventually disappear), how would your perspective on life change? What’s one changing situation in you.

Take a moment and pray: Ask the God who knows everything for wisdom.


GARDEN
Start out by reading Genesis 1:26-31. This passage teaches that God created us. God…created…us. How should that impact your worldview? What’s the best way to discover your purpose? How I should spend my time? Money? Effort? What are some of the purposes God gave to man in verse 28? Does this still apply today? What do we see about God’s character in verses 29-30? How have you have seen God’s great generosity in your own life? This passage also teaches that we are made in God’s image. We learned that God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and immutable. Obviously, we possess none of those characteristics! So what does it mean that we are created in God’s image? Name an instance where God’s image was clearly seen in someone you know.
Read Genesis 2:8-15. God planted a garden and placed Adam in it. Who do you sense is in control here? God or Adam? What about today—is God still in control? How different would your life look if you really believed this?

The Garden showed us God’s original plan for relationships as well.
1) Our relationship with him:
Read Genesis 1:26 and 3: 8. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” – We’ll talk more about the latter verse later, but it sounds like this was a normal thing – the man and the woman “hanging out” with God in the cool of the day. What do you think that must have been like – to see God face to face and talk with Him?
2) Our relationships with each other:
Read 2:19-25. What characterized the relationship between Adam and Eve? Is this what you see reflected in relationships today?
3) Our relationship with creation:
Read 1:28-29. What is our relationship with creation supposed to look like? Should we care about creation? How do you know if that care has gone too far?
4) Our relationship with ourselves:
When it comes to who we are, how were Adam and Eve similar to us prior to the fall?
How were they different?


FALL
In Genesis 3. we are dropped into the beginning of a battle. Read Genesis 3:1 and Revelation 20:2. Who is this serpent in the middle of the garden? Who is he battling against? Intel is a crucial part of warfare. Awareness of how an enemy operates is often a key to victory.
So let’s take a look at Satan’s mode of operation:
First, he questions in a misleading way. Read 3:1: “Did God really say you must not eat of any tree in the garden?” Now read God’s actual command in Genesis 2:16-17. How is what Satan said similar? How is it different? What is Satan trying to accomplish by twisting God’s words?
Second, he denies the penalty of sin. Read 3:4.
Third, he says eating the fruit will have positive results. Read 3:5. What does he say will happen if they eat the fruit? Adam and Eve respond to this temptation in 3:6-7. How should Eve have responded to the temptation to overcome it? Be specific.
Now jump to 2009. Talk about how Satan has used the same 3-pronged approach to tempt you.
What might he say to …
·    An unmarried couple facing strong sexual temptation
·    A married couple feeling emotionally distant and tired in their relationship
·    A young man who is offered meth by someone in the “in-crowd”
·    A single mom struggling to make ends meet becoming aware of some inappropriate “loopholes” she could take advantage of on her taxes.
How did God respond to Adam and Eve’s sin? Read Genesis 3:8-13. What does this tell you about God? Why didn’t He just destroy them instantly? Why did He come after them? Why does He come after us?
Read 3:14-24. Here God lays out the consequences of sin. What were the consequences for: The serpent? The woman? The man? Do you see these consequences at work today? How?
In the middle of these consequences, God offers hope for restoration. What hope do we find in Genesis 3:15? What does this tell you about God’s character?
Now read 3:21. Where did God get garments of skin? What sobering truth about sin does this point to?
Read I Corinthians 10:12-13.
Stop and pray that God would help you find the way out this week when you face temptation. Thank him for his grace.


CROSS
The Cross is the best-known symbol of all time. It shows up on more jewelry and clothing than any other icon. Why do you think that is? Have you ever wondered, “Does God really love me?”
Read Romans 5:8. Does this verse answer that question once and for all? Why or why not? Why do we sometimes doubt God’s love in light of this fact?
Think for a moment of your most heinous sin—the thing that would make your friends cringe. When you realize that Jesus knew about it even as He hung on that cross, how does that make you feel? What does that tell you about the nature of true love?
Read Isaiah 53:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:21. Why didn’t God just snap his fingers, causing sin and its consequences to disappear? Why did he go to such great lengths to restore our relationship with him? (Hint: Read Hebrews 9:22.)
Reading what Jesus said as He died on the cross gives us a glimpse into the heart of God.
In Matthew 27:46, He yells, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why did He yell this? What happened between Jesus and the Father? What does that indicate about the gravity of our sin? The holiness of God?
Also check out Luke 23:34 where He says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” speaking of the ones crucifying him. Can you imagine uttering this about people subjecting you to some of the most intense torture man has ever devised? What does this tell you about God?
Look at Luke 23:46 where He says, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.” And then He breathed His last. What does this tell you about who was really in control of the proceedings that day? Was Jesus merely a victim or something more?
Finally, look at John 19:30 where Jesus says, “It is finished.” The Greek word is “tetelestai” and was used by merchants to signify that something was “paid in full.” What was paid in full on the cross? How does that make you feel as you walk through the highs and lows of this life?
Read Romans 5:18-19. Whose trespass was condemnation for all men? Whose act of righteousness brought life for all men? The trespass came automatically to all of us. The righteousness is not automatic.
Read John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10. How do we receive this gift of righteousness that is for all men? Have you received it? Name one person you know who has not and pray for an opportunity to share the good
news of the cross with them this week.
Stop and pray God would help you understand more about the Cross. Praise God for the cross.


IDENTITY
When someone asks you who you are, what are the first things that come to your mind? Who or what has shaped your sense of identity?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What is the identity of anyone who has believed in Jesus? What has gone? What has come? Can you share some of the “old that has gone from your life” and some of the “new God is bringing about”? Be specific.
“In Christ” means our identity as believers is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ. We often wrestle with the question: “Why would God love me when He knows all of the garbage in my life?” How does the reality of being “in Christ” help answer that question?
Read Ephesians 1:1-14 together. What truths about who we are as believers
jump out at you?
If you’re a believer, fill your name in the blanks and read the following out loud:
“_____________ is a saint”
“_____________ is blessed with every spiritual blessing”
“_____________ is chosen”
“_____________ is adopted”
“_____________ is redeemed”
“_____________ is sealed”
Which of these means the most to you? Why? How could these realities help you respond to the following lies we sometimes tell ourselves? Be specific:
“I must have everyone’s love and approval”
“I can’t be happy unless things go my way”
“My worth is determined by my performance”
“God’s love must be earned”
“God can’t use me unless I’m feeling spiritually strong”
Read Romans 6:8-11. Do you really believe you are dead to sin? Alive to God?
Do you think “counting yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” is a once-and-for-all decision or something we must do every moment of every day? Why?
Stop and ask (pray) God to help you understand what He says about who you are: your identity in Christ. Ask Him to help you believe it.



CHOICES
What is one of the biggest choices you’ve ever been faced with? What voices/influences helped shape your decision? What choices are you facing right now? The Christian life is all about choices. Last week we learned that believers in Jesus have a new identity. For starters, we are dead to sin and alive to God. We are in Christ. We used to be slaves to sin, but now we have a choice: Live for self (the way we used to) or for
God (according to our new identity).
Romans 12:1-2 is all about choices. Read these verses:
“So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so welladjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2, The
Message)
3 Observations:
1. It’s all about God: “Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to work ,and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering”
What does it mean to place your life before God as an offering?
What’s one way you will offer your life at home to God as an offering this week?
What’s one way you will offer your life at school/work to God as an offering this week?
2. We’ve been trained poorly on how to respond: “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking… the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity”
In many situations we react with a programmed response acquired from the world around us instead of the right response God has given us. In each of the following situations, what is a programmed response, and what is a right response?:
Your spouse says something that cuts you to the core.
You hear that your best friend was gossiping about you.
You have a strong disagreement with someone you serve with at church.
3. What you believe manifests itself in what you do: “Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”
Read Psalm 119:9-11. What’s one effective way you’ve found to put God’s Word in your heart? Talk about a time when your focus on God’s Word helped you do the right thing.
Stop and ask God to help you make the right choices this week.


ETERNITY
Time impacts every one of us. Do you consider time your friend or your enemy? How does time shape your life each day?
The popular band “Coldplay” has a song called “42” that says, “Time is so short, and I’m sure there must be something more.” If we’re honest, there’s something inside all of us that tells us the same thing: “There must be something more.”
…And there is. Eternity.
For believers in Jesus Christ, Revelation 21:3 paints a vivid picture of eternity.
Read it and think about the following: Name the similarities between this future in eternity and the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. Why are the two so similar? What do these two scenes tell us about God’s intent? What about this picture excites you the most? Why?
Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Paul says that in the middle of life’s trials, believers don’t have to lose heart. Why? When did thoughts of eternity help you through a difficult situation? How did you fix your eyes on the unseen?
Read I Corinthians 9:24-27. Sum up in your own words how we should live in this life according to Paul. Why should we live this way? In what kind of strict training should a believer participate? We’d like to propose an idea. In light of eternity, believers should lead their lives with two questions always in mind:
·    What am I doing?
·    Does it Matter?
What things in your life really do matter? What things keep you from what matters?
Take a quiet moment alone—just you and God—and wrestle with this question: “Is there
anything in my life that is more important than hearing Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant.’”? If there is, confess it, and ask Him to show you what you need to do about it. Make a decision that, in His power, you will do it this week. If you would like, share with the group how God is
challenging you.
Eternity is a given for all of us; eternal life is not. Matthew 25 talks about a judgment before God.
Read Matthew 25:46. Two different groups are sent to two different eternities. How are their eternities different? According to John 3:17-18, what is the deciding factor? How does Jesus describe eternal life in John 17:3? Does this start now or after death? If you’re a believer, talk about one way you have already begun to experience this eternal life. How should the fact that those who don’t believe in Jesus are headed for eternal punishment impact the way you live today? Whom do you need to talk to?

If you have any questions or feel the need to talk to someone about Jesus Christ and the salvation he has to offer everyone, feel free to contact me anytime directly at 480-695-3142.

May God Bless you and Keep you close and draw you to Himself. Maybe someday I will see you in Heaven.

Lyle Book