Did God really create everything?

In Genesis 1, the Bible opens with five world-shaping words: “In the beginning, God created.” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows why how we understand creation shapes everything else we believe.

Genesis declares that God made the heavens and the earth out of nothing, by His word, and made human beings in His own image. Dr. Holt explains that this is the foundation of all right thinking about God and ourselves — “there is a God, and you are not Him.” Because God is the Creator, He sets the purpose of everything and has authority over every life. And because people are made in His image, every human life carries dignity and worth.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why do people prefer theories like evolution or the Big Bang? Because they remove a Creator to whom we are accountable. Genesis insists that a personal God made everything on purpose.

2. What does it mean that we are made “in God’s image”? That every person carries God-given dignity and worth. This grounds the sanctity of human life.

3. Why does the doctrine of creation matter so much? Because it establishes who God is and who we are. If God is Creator, He has authority over our lives and gives them meaning.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Genesis Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

How did one sin change everything?

In Genesis 3, a single act of disobedience plunges the whole world into ruin. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains the fall of mankind — and the first promise of a Savior.

The serpent tempts Eve by twisting God’s word and questioning His goodness, and both Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. Shame, blame, and death follow at once, and the curse spreads to all of creation. Dr. Holt explains that this one sin shows how serious sin is and how holy God is. Yet even in the curse comes the first gospel promise: a coming “Seed” of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head — pointing ahead to Christ.

Questions this study answers:

1. How did the serpent tempt Eve? By questioning and twisting God’s word and casting doubt on His goodness. He made her believe God was withholding something good.

2. How serious was this one sin? Serious enough to bring death and to curse all creation. It shows both the gravity of sin and the holiness of God.

3. Where is the hope in this dark chapter? In Genesis 3:15 — the promise of a coming Savior, the Seed of the woman, who would crush the serpent. It is the first announcement of the gospel.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” — Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Genesis Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why did Cain kill his brother?

In Genesis 4:1-12, the first child ever born grows up to commit the first murder. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Cain and Abel reveal the deep reality of sin in every human heart.

Cain and Abel both bring offerings to God, but God accepts Abel’s and not Cain’s — because of the heart behind it. Instead of repenting, Cain grows furious and murders his brother. Dr. Holt notes that there was no bad upbringing or culture to blame; Cain’s sin came from his own fallen nature. God had warned him, “sin lies at the door,” and the same warning applies to us. Humanity divides into two lines, with no neutral middle ground.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God reject Cain’s offering? Because of the heart behind it. The problem was not merely what Cain brought, but the attitude with which he brought it.

2. What did God mean that “sin lies at the door”? That sin was crouching, ready to master Cain — and that he needed to rule over it. It is a warning to every heart.

3. Is sin “at our door” too? Yes. The same fallen nature is in all of us. Like Cain, we must recognize sin’s pull and turn from it to God.

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” — Genesis 4:7 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Genesis Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.