Block 1—The Story of the Universe
Week 3
God’s Goal for Man
Reading Reference: Gospel Outlines, Subject 9, I-II; Subject 3, IV B; Gen. 2:9; John 10:10b; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:21
Memory Verse: And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, as well as the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen. 2:9)
Suggested Songs: Why was a cup made?
Scripture Reading: Gen. 2:9; John 10:10b; 2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:21
Points to Emphasize
- Two trees—Gen. 2:9
Mention that after God created man, He put him in front of two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God intended that man would, by his own free will, choose God’s life and receive His life into him. God used the tree of life to depict God’s life, and God intended that man would contact the tree of life, that is, to contact God Himself.
- Life is God’s goal—John 10:10b
God’s goal for man is that man may have His life. Explain how God made man to be His vessel so that He may pour Himself into man. When man gets this life, he is up to God’s standard; he is no longer empty but is living in reality. He becomes a man of meaning.
- The meaning of man (why man was created)—2 Cor. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:21
Man is God’s vessel, made to contain God. Today man always has an empty feeling because he does not have God inside of him. For instance, as a Coke bottle should be filled with Coca-cola, and an electric lamp should be filled with light, so man also should be filled with God. In a simple and effective way, explain that man is for God; therefore, the meaning of man is to be for God.