I. Where Did We Come From?

1. God created EVERYTHING.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Hebrews 2:10 (NCV) God is the One who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory

2. God thought of us first BUT HE CREATED US LAST.

Ephesians 1:4 (MSG) Long before he laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by His love.

3. God custom designed EACH OF US.

Psalms 139:13-16 (NLT) ¹³You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. ¹⁴Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. ¹⁵You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. ¹⁶You saw me before I was born.

II. Implications of all of this:

1. My life has SANCTITY.

Genesis 1:27 (NLT) So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.

2. My identity has DIGNITY.

a. because Jesus was SACRIFICED FOR ME

1 Peter 1:18-20 (NLT) ¹⁸For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life . . . ¹⁹He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ . . . ²⁰. . . And he did this for you.

b. because The Holy Spirit LIVES IN ME

1 Corinthians 6:19 (TLB) Haven't you yet learned that your body is the home of the Holy Spirit God gave you, and that he lives within you? Your own body does not belong to you.

c. because Jesus gives me A NEW IDENTITY.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (TLB) When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

3. My days have DESTINY.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

4. My problems have INTENTIONALITY.

Romans 8:28 (NLT) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

5. My future is ETERNITY

Psalms 23:6 (NIV) Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Ephesians 1:10 (TLB) this was His purpose: that when the time is ripe He will gather us all together from wherever we are--in heaven or on earth--to be with Him in Christ forever.

Romans 8:19 (NLT) For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.

John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God

Join a Small Group and receive a free 85 page study guide. Going Deeper: Read Chpts 11-15 in “The Good Life” by Chuck Colson. Go even farther with “Diving Deeper” using our “pdf” study guide. Go to www.4salem.org/fyw.htm for all resources and group possibilities. Thinking you’d like to be in on a discussion group but don’t want to sign up for anything – just come out Tuesday night’s at 7pm. Bring paper and pencil (if you like to take notes).

Daily Doses: For those with extremely busy schedules: Take just a minute a day to start out with a Word from the Lord. Read it! Listen Again! Write down how it applies to you. Finally pray about it.

qMon. Isa. 45:18	qWed. 1 Cor. 6:19	qFri. Eph. 2:10
qTue. Eph. 1:4	qThr. 2 Cor. 5:17	qSat. Rom. 8:28

Through the Bible in One Year "Parson Larsen's Quiet Time Notebook" or “Through the Bible In 1 Year” brochure study guides are available in the lobby of the church. This free resource should help you to develop a Bible reading plan that will certainly bless your week.