Last night, I began a new teaching series on the Book of Genesis. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since returning from my Grand Canyon trip last summer. We’re watching together the documentary “Is Genesis History?” as well as the accompanying Bible Study, plus some personal stories and lessons from my time in the Grand Canyon. Last night was our first night together, and it was a pleasant surprise to have 33 people show up!

The Book of Genesis teaches that God created the world in six days. How then do we respond to scientists, textbooks, and museums that tell us the universe is billions of years old? The purpose of this Wednesday night study is to look at both biblical and scientific evidence for a young earth, the importance of Noah’s flood, and how to talk with those who still favor evolution. Last night, we began by…

• Looking at the opening verses of Genesis
• Considering an important prophecy about the last days in 2 Peter 3
• Discussing the purpose and format of this class
• Seeing how even godly Christians disagree on the topic
• Sharing an overview of geology that will provide a framework

You can listen to my opening talk here:

The handout is also available to view or print here.

After these introductory comments, we watched the first 30 minutes of Is Genesis History? produced by Compass video and hosted by Del Tackett. You can watch this video on major streaming services or purchase on DVD or download. It is an excellent documentary on scientific evidence that supports the biblical record of history. Highly recommended for every Christian.

If you missed our first night, don’t worry! You are still welcome to join us, or you can get a Bible Study guide, follow along at home, and listen to my weekly lectures online. I will try to post new audio each week that captures the teaching and discussion.

This Hubble Telescope image reveals over 10,000 galaxies in distant space. The area of sky equals a 1mm x 1mm scrap of paper held at arm’s length.

“The most universally awesome experience that mankind knows is to stand alone on a clear night and look at the stars. Nothing gives a greater sense of remoteness and distance; nothing makes one feel more strongly one’s own littleness and insignificance. And we who live in the space age can supplement this universal experience with our scientific knowledge of the actual factors involved—millions of stars in number, billions of light years in distance. Our minds reel; our imaginations cannot grasp it; when we try to conceive of unfathomable depths of outer space, we are left mentally numb and dizzy.

“But what is this to God? ‘Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing’ (Is 40:26). It is God who brings out the stars; it was God who first set them in space; he is their Maker and Master—they are all in his hands and subject to his will. Such are his power and his majesty. Behold your God!”

                                                               -J.I. Packer, Knowing God

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the final blast-off of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, July 8. The “shuttle view” camera is mounted to the orange external fuel tank. Be sure to watch until the rocket boosters disengage about 3 minutes in. Very cool.

When Atlantis touches down next week, it will mark the end of the Space Shuttle era. All shuttles are being retired and will be moved to space museums across the country.

With over 2.5 million parts, the Space Shuttle has been called “the most complex machine ever built.” Interested in learning more? Check out this infographic.