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And God Formed
Man
(Genesis
2:7–17)
Introduction
Genesis 2:7–17 reveals God’s intentional design: He formed man from
dust, breathed life into him, placed him in Eden, gave meaningful
work, and set holy boundaries through the two trees.
Formed with
Careful Design
“The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7).
The verb formed pictures a craftsman’s thoughtful shaping. Humanity
is not accidental; we are purposefully fashioned from earth’s
material by God’s wise hand.
Life by the
Breath of God
God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a
living being” (Genesis 2:7). Physical life is God’s gift. In a
moment, inert dust became a living person. From the beginning, our
life is derived, precious, and accountable to our Maker.
Placed in a
Prepared Garden
“The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put
the man” (Genesis 2:8). God prepared a place suited for human
flourishing—a royal park with trees pleasant to the sight and good
for food (Genesis 2:9). A river watered the garden and parted into
four heads; Scripture elsewhere identifies
Hiddekel as the Tigris
(Daniel 10:4). Eden’s exact location is unrecoverable, yet its
purpose is clear: God’s goodness provides beauty, order, and
provision.
Work as a
Gift for Human Flourishing
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to
tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Work preceded the fall. Stewarding
and guarding the garden gave Adam godly purpose and a wholesome
sense of accomplishment. Human beings are blessed when labor is
received as vocation under God.
Boundaries
for Holiness and Joy
“Of every tree… you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:16–17). Generous
freedom was framed by a single clear boundary. God trains character
through obedience. Self-control and trust in God’s word are
essential to true joy.
The Two
Trees and the Test of Trust
In the garden’s midst stood the tree of life and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). The tree of life signified
ongoing life with God; later Scripture shows it in the heavenly
city, where its leaves are for healing (Revelation 22:1–2). The
prohibition regarding the second tree tested faith: would man honor
God’s voice? The fruit was not evil in itself; breaking God’s
command would be.
The
Foreknown Remedy
God knew our need before time. Christ is the Lamb “foreknown before
the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20), “slain from the
foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). The plan of redemption
anticipated Eden’s failure and provides cleansing for every penitent
sinner through the blood of Jesus.
Responding
to the Giver
God still provides life, work, grace, and clear boundaries. He calls
each soul to turn to Him, confess Christ, and obey the gospel. In
Christ there is forgiveness, renewal, and hope for life with God.
And God Formed
Man Sermon Outline:
Text:
Genesis 2:7–17
Big Idea:
God intentionally forms, animates, places, assigns, and commands
humanity for flourishing with Him—calling us to grateful work,
obedient trust, and gospel hope.
Purpose:
Lead hearers to receive life as God’s gift, embrace vocation under
God, honor His boundaries, and respond to Christ for cleansing and
new life.
I. Formed
with Divine Intent
(Genesis 2:7;
Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 64:8)
-
God “formed”
(craftsman’s term) humanity from the dust—design with purpose.
-
Implications:
dignity of every person; accountability to the Maker.
-
Applications:
honor life; embrace God’s design for body, mind, and soul.
II. Life by
the Breath of God
(Genesis 2:7; Job
33:4; Acts 17:25)
-
“Breathed… the
breath of life”—life derives from God’s own giving.
-
Stewardship of
life: gratitude, humility, dependence, prayer.
-
Applications:
dedicate breath, time, and strength to the Lord.
III. Eden
Prepared—Provision and Beauty
(Genesis
2:8–14; Daniel 10:4)
-
God planted
a garden; trees “pleasant to the sight and good for food.”
-
River of
supply; ordered environment for human flourishing.
-
Applications: cultivate gratitude; order the home and heart;
practice contentment.
IV. Work as
Vocation—Tend and Keep
(Genesis 2:15;
Proverbs 12:11; Colossians 3:23)
-
“Tend” and
“keep” (serve and guard): work precedes the fall.
-
Work under
God’s gaze shapes character and brings wholesome satisfaction.
-
Applications: labor diligently, guard what God entrusts, seek
fruitfulness.
V.
Boundaries for Holiness and Joy
(Genesis
2:16–17; Proverbs 4:23; Galatians 5:22–23)
-
Wide freedom
framed by one clear command.
-
Boundaries
train trust, self-control, and joy in God’s word.
-
Applications: set holy boundaries; practice Spirit-led
self-control; memorize Scripture.
VI. The Two
Trees—Choice and Destiny
(Genesis 2:9;
Deuteronomy 30:19; Revelation 22:1–2)
-
Tree of
life: sign of life with God; seen again in the heavenly city.
-
Tree of the
knowledge of good and evil: the proving ground of obedience.
-
Applications: choose life in daily decisions; keep God’s
promises before your eyes.
VII. The
Foreknown Remedy
(1 Peter 1:20;
Revelation 13:8)
-
Redemption
purposed before creation; the Lamb provided for sinners.
-
Grace
answers Eden’s failure with cleansing and new creation life.
-
Applications: come to Christ; live by grace; extend mercy to
others.
VIII.
Gospel Response
(Acts 2:38;
Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7–9)
-
Hear and
believe the good news.
-
Repent and
be baptized into Christ; walk in newness of life.
-
Continue in
confession and cleansing; abide in the light.
Transitions
& Helps (use as needed)
-
Illustration (Craftsman): A
potter shaping clay—purpose in every touch (Isaiah 64:8).
-
Illustration (Garden): A tended
garden thrives with beauty, provision, and boundaries.
-
Bridge
to Gospel: From breath in Adam to
Spirit-given life in Christ (John 20:22).
-
Congregational Moment: Invite
thanks to God for work, family, health, and daily bread.
Application
Grid (Head–Heart–Hands)
-
Head:
God designed life intentionally; His word defines good
boundaries.
-
Heart:
Desire the Giver more than the garden; treasure obedience.
-
Hands:
Order your week’s work under God; set one concrete boundary;
share Christ’s hope.
Call to
Commitment (for invitation)
-
Decide for
obedience where God has spoken.
-
Come to
Christ for forgiveness and new life.
-
Seek prayer for strength to tend and keep what
God entrusted.
Call to
Action
Receive your life as God’s gift and your calling as God’s trust.
Choose obedience where He has placed boundaries, and come to Christ
for cleansing and newness of life. Confess your faith, repent of
sin, be baptized into Christ, and walk daily in the light of His
word.
Key
Takeaways
-
God
intentionally formed man from dust and gave life by His breath
(Genesis 2:7).
-
God provides
place, beauty, and provision for human flourishing (Genesis
2:8–9).
-
Work is a
pre-fall gift that dignifies and blesses (Genesis 2:15).
-
Divine
boundaries train self-control and protect joy (Genesis 2:16–17).
-
The tree of
life points to our eternal hope with God (Revelation 22:1–2).
-
Redemption
in Christ was purposed before creation (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation
13:8).
-
The gospel
calls for repentance, baptism, and a life in the light (Acts
2:38; Romans 6:3–4; 1 John 1:7–9).
Scripture
Reference List
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Genesis
2:7 – God forms man from dust;
breath of life given.
-
Genesis
2:8–9 – Garden planted; trees
pleasant and good for food; two trees named.
-
Genesis
2:10–14 – River of Eden and four
heads; geographical notes for the narrative.
-
Daniel
10:4 –
Hiddekel identified
as the Tigris River in later Scripture.
-
Genesis
2:15 – Man placed to tend and
keep the garden.
-
Genesis
2:16–17 – Command regarding the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
-
Revelation 22:1–2 – Tree of life
in the heavenly city; leaves for healing.
-
1 Peter
1:20 – Christ foreknown before
the foundation of the world.
-
Revelation 13:8 – The Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.
-
Acts
2:38 – Repentance and baptism for
the forgiveness of sins.
-
Romans
6:3–4 – Baptism into Christ’s
death; raised to walk in newness of life.
-
1 John
1:7–9 – Walking in the light;
ongoing confession and cleansing.
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO |
The
church of Christ
