ADAM AND EVE
1. The Bible says that the first couple was Adam and Eve.
2. According to the Genesis account the first couple was treated quite well.
3. They were given dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens.
4. Their power extended to every living thing on the earth (Gen. 1:28).
5. Other blessings are described in Gen. 1:29-30 – READ.
6. Another important reference is Gen. 2:16 – READ.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FIRST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE WE FIND THAT THE FIRST COUPLE HAD EVERYTHING THEY COULD POSSIBLY WANT. MAN WAS IN SYNC WITH THE CREATION; THERE WAS UNITY BETWEEN MAN AND BEAST. THERE WAS ALSO UNITY WITH GOD. THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR FEAR OR WORRY. MINIMAL EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN THE CROPS THAT WERE GROWING. THE OPENING CHAPTERS IN GENESIS PICTURE A PERFECT SITUATION.
A. In spite of this perfect arrangement the first couple made some bad choices.
B. Beginning today I want to look at the lives of some bible couples.
C. It is my goal to study some of the people who were married.
D. Since Adam and Eve constitute the first couple we are beginning with them.
2. This couple is unusual in that they had it all.
3. They didn’t need to work a lifetime to make a comfortable living for themselves.
4. When these people were brought into the world they had everything that they could ask for.
5. The whole earth belonged to Adam and Eve.
6. The only restriction was, “Do not eat of the tree of good and evil”(Gen. 2:17).
A. Most know that Satan came along and tempted Eve.
B. The first lady decided that the devil’s offer was pretty good.
C. It was too tempting to pass by.
D. Eve bought into the “greener grass” theory.
E. This is the idea that people are missing out on something.
F. If another path or choice is taken people will have a better (or more enjoyable) life.
G. The greener grass syndrome is often felt by those continually wonder “what if.”
H. What if we could do something that is forbidden?
I. What if we could live like someone else?
J. What if we could be someone else?
7. From what we can tell these kinds of thoughts must have gone through Eve’s mind.
8. What if I eat the fruit?
9. Am I missing out on something by not eating that food?
10. Satan suggested that there was greener grass.
11. It was implied that God was holding out on the first couple.
12. If Eve would just be a little adventurous she could get to the better part of life.
13. The Bible shows that Eve decided to see what was on the other side of the fence.
14. Adam went with her. Both ate the fruit that was forbidden.
15. What did this couple find?
16. They found that the grass was definitely not greener.
17. They found something new but this was not pleasant.
A. Gen. 3:6 suggests that the fruit was tasty.
B. This fruit certainly did make Adam and Eve more knowledgeable.
C. Notice the other consequences – Gen. 3:10 – READ.
D. The so-called greener grass led to fear. The greener grass led to shame.
E. The first couple may have also experienced feelings such as remorse and regret.
F. Eating
the fruit led to some other unpleasant things –
G. The chapter closes with verses 23-24 – READ.
18. Satan suggested that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence.
19. Adam and Eve both tried what was said to be greener grass but they were disappointed.
20. The grass was not any better.
21. THIS SAME TYPE OF LIE
IS STILL BEING PRESENTED IN OUR WORLD.
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ARE TOLD THAT THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON THINGS; THE
GRASS IS SUPPOSEDLY A
A. Other people in the Bible thought that they too had found greener grass.
B. Jonah was someone who thought he had found a better alternative.
C. Instead
of going to see the people of
D. He found out that the other direction was not a very good choice.
E.
F. Solomon apparently thought that more than one wife was greener grass.
G. His multiple wives turned him away from God.
H.
I. He thought that another place (a city) was greener grass.
J. He was wrong.
K. The
Israelites were told to enter into
L. It was said that the people of the land could not be overcome.
M. The
people of
N. They picked the wrong patch of grass.
O. Judas could have remained a faithful disciple of Jesus.
P. He considered 30 pieces of silver to be a more attractive offer.
22. The greener grass syndrome is throughout scripture.
23. This problem is introduced in the opening chapters of the Bible.
24. The first sin in the Bible shows us that the grass is almost always not greener.
A. People go through life wishing that they could do what is forbidden or be someone/thing else.
B. Other things in life may seem to be a lot more attractive.
C. The lives that others live may appear to be so appealing.
D. It is hardly ever the case that what we see is as good as we may believe.
E. Some have had people say to them, “I wish I had your job. You’ve got it made.”
F. Preachers hear this remark from time to time. Office workers hear this comment.
G. The people who own their own business are sometimes told how lucky they are.
H. People think, “I would like to have his job or the position she has.”
25. The greener grass syndrome is seen in all areas of life.
26. It is seen in the business world as well as in the home.
27. People wish they were married to someone else’s spouse or had someone else’s children.
28. People think, “I wish I had married him. I wish she were my wife.”
29. “Why couldn’t we have had children like they have?”
30. What is known as greener grass is actually a form of envy.
A. The greener grass idea is both sinful and misguided.
B. The grass is not greener.
C. We, by in large, make our own grass.
D. If it is green it is that color because we care for it.
E. If grass is lush and thick it is because we have put some effort into making it that way.
F. Many want a better life but really don’t want to work for it.
31. I know a woman who has been married four times.
32. Each time she thought her new mate would be just right.
33. For her the next mate was always the “right one.”
34. Her greener grass always turned brown. She is now looking for a 5th husband.
35. Thousands of people have become unhappy with a mate and gotten a divorce.
36. People have reasoned, “There is greener grass out there.”
A. Those who pursue the avenue of divorce do find a new life.
B. Adam and Eve found a new life.
C. A new life is not always an easier or better life.
D. Many who have gotten a divorce have found that the new grass is no more appealing than before.
E. I remember a story about a couple who I will call Gina and George.
F. George would go to work each day, come home, eat dinner, and fall asleep in front of the t.v.
G. He was anything but romantic. He kept the bills paid but he was not exciting.
H. He hardly spoke to Gina and never did anything fun. With him life was dull.
I. On a scale of 1-10 Gina rated him a –3.
J. Gina finally became so upset with George that she made a new friend—Fred.
K. Gina liked Fred. Fred talked to her. He listened to her opinions. He valued her as a person.
L. When Friday came it was time for Gina to get hair done.
M. Gina decided that when she got home she would tell George that she wanted a divorce.
N. She was going to marry her new love Fred as soon as a divorce could be finalized.
37. Gina slipped into the beauty chair and out came a new hairstylist.
38. The stylist was in a talkative mood.
39. She wanted to know what Gina thought of divorce.
40. The stylist was married to a man who was very dull.
41. He mate went to work each day, came home, ate dinner, and fell asleep in front of the t.v.
42. He was anything but romantic. He hardly spoke a word and never did anything exciting.
43. Can you guess the name of the stylist’s husband? FRED.
44. It was the same Fred that Gina had fallen in love with.
45. The grass was no greener. It only appeared that way.
46. Out of curiosity I logged on to the internet a few days ago.
47. I ran a search using this criteria: Is the grass greener?
A. I used about 50 minutes to skim several web pages.
B. It is impossible to tell whether or not most of the people who designed these pages are religious.
C. On the pages I examined one thing was quite consistent.
D. People repeatedly affirmed that the grass is not greener.
48. People who changed jobs still had the same amount of problems.
49. Those who divorced their mate and married someone else found that things were about the same.
50. Many reported that the conditions in their life had worsened.
51. Some said, “we don’t have any grass after the change. We need to plant it all over again.”
52. The first couple in the Bible shows us that the greener grass theory is a lie.
53. This lesson is very helpful to anyone who is a Christian.
A. Our young people are influenced by those who are not Christians.
B. They are told, “You are really missing out on things because you don’t come with us.”
C. To those of you who are encouraged to give into peer pressure I will make things very simple:
D. What people are telling you is a lie.
E. The only greener grass in the world is the type of life called Christianity.
54. This is the only way to God.
55. The Christian life is also the best way to live.
56. If we want greener grass in our life this book tells us how to get it.
57. Have we become a Christian and are we trying to live as the Bible describes?
58. If we cannot give an emphatic “yes” to both of these questions something is wrong.
59. This morning we are ready to help you to either become a Christian or help you become stronger.
60. If you want greener grass come to Christ.