WOW Factor for Men

(www.mensgroup.org – “Original Study”)

Description:
We look at the life of Noah in Genesis 6 to understand what the world was like in his time.

Message from Marsh: “Noah seems far away from us today, but I pray God will bring understanding to our lives how similar and important Noah’s time is to ours today. Blessings on you as you review Noah’s life.”

Marsh

Founder/President

Thank you for coming to: mensgroup.org

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Noah’s World

STARTING PRAYER: A suggested opening prayer for small group members or individuals to invite God to connect as we seek Him in His Word. Feel free to add your own words, “in prayer.”

Father, we pray that through this new lesson series, you will make us more aware of the world around us and the challenge within us to expand what we are doing to deepen our relationship with you.


OPENING QUESTIONS:

1.      What do you remember about the story of Noah?

2.      How do you assess the world around you as a Christian? 

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. He regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them (Genesis 6:5-7).

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth (Genesis 6:11-14).

LESSON:

Noah’s instruction by God to build an ark for an unimaginable event goes far beyond the lesson shared with children in church. It’s a powerful picture of the fallen world and what it means to be a righteous man of God. It’s unbelievable the world was crooked and perverse within nine generations from the Garden of Eden. And we are only in the 6th chapter of the Bible’s first book.

We see from the verses above; the world was increasingly wicked. Mankind’s hearts were inclined too evil. There was corruption and violence everywhere. Humanity was in a downward spiral, spinning out of control and unrepentant in their disobedience. It was much like today’s world: violent, rebellious, evil, and corrupt.

Other Biblical authors speak to the wickedness of the day and the righteousness of Noah.

Regarding the world’s ignorance of their impending future in Noah’s time, as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:37-39).

Luke echoes the words of Matthew: Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man (Luke 17:26).

Hebrews overviews Noah’s trust in God: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith (Hebrews 11:7).

Peter specifies who was saved: If he [God] did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others (2 Peter 2:5).

The thread woven through these verses is that the world was filled with wickedness. Noah was the only righteous person who could be saved. Moses, the writer, shines the light on Noah as one who did not take part in the depraved society, but separated himself from the entire world by his beliefs and actions.

God saw and had confidence in one person on the earth. Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. He was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God (Genesis 6:8-9). Noah’s story helps us stay close to God even when the world’s pull is strong.

What made Noah righteous? We investigate that in the next lessons and illuminate how relevant his actions were for men today to follow to live righteously amid the world’s influence. The WOW Factor for Noah can be the WOW factor for you today.

  • He walked with God daily (Genesis 5:22; 6:9)

  • He obeyed God completely (Genesis 6:22)

  • He worshipped God, respectfully (Genesis 8:20)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.      From the conditions present in Noah’s day, which strikes you the most? Why?

 2.      How is our time like Noah’s?

3.      In your lifetime, how have moral values changed?

APPLICATION:

1.      How much of the world’s disorders exist in your life?

2.      If the world is going in a downward direction, how do you stop moving in that same direction?

 CLOSING PRAYER:

Father, we do not want to follow the world into darkness. We know through the example of Noah, there is a way to be righteous and grow our spiritual lives. Help us accept the challenge of living in the world but not being a part of it.

Suggested Additional Resources:

Currently, there are no additional resources available for this lesson. We encourage you to explore the core material and engage in discussions with peers to enhance your understanding. If you would like to suggest additional resources that would complement this lesson, please send an email to mensgrouptopics@gmail.com and we will be happy to consider adding them here.

Note: All verses used are from the 2011 New International Version (NIV) of the Bible unless otherwise indicated.


Continue to Lesson 2 – Noah Walked with God

Or use these links to navigate to various parts of this study:

Overview | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5

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