Growing Up Is Learning What To Want (Genesis Part 7)
Time Stamps
00:00 - Welcome and Introduction with Matt & Sharon
03:32 - Talk: Growing Up Is Learning What To Want | Jenny Mariner
14:00 - The Surprising Truth About Good Choices
23:50 - Why God Wants Us To Make Mistakes
27:01 - Conversation Street: Tough Questions About Trust & Choice
38:00 - The Paradox of Choice: Making Decisions God's Way
51:30 - Next Week's Preview: Understanding Evil
When Following Your Heart Isn't Enough
"Just follow your heart." It's the mantra of our age, isn't it? But in this service, Jenny Mariner challenged us to think differently about desire and decision-making as we continued our journey through Genesis.
“We’re not made as robots. We’re made for relationship with him. And that’s what God is teaching Adam and Eve, and that’s what God is still teaching us today.”
The Choice That Changes Everything
Sometimes, the most straightforward choices can be the most revealing. From that five-year-old having a meltdown in the Co-op over which sweet to choose (Jenny's parenting confession had us all nodding in recognition), to the life-changing decisions that shape our futures – our choices matter. But how do we make good ones?
Using everyday objects like a plastic apple and a balloon, Jenny helped us understand why God put the Tree of Knowledge in Eden. Turns out, it wasn't just about testing obedience – it was more like Mr. Miyagi's "wax on, wax off" in The Karate Kid. Sometimes, the lesson isn't in the obvious place.
“The more you walk with God, the more you get to know him, the more you get to know him... it doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to make better decisions, but at least you know what the right decisions are.”
The Heart of the Matter
One of the topics was vulnerability. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve could be completely vulnerable with each other and with God. But the moment they chose their own wisdom over God's, they felt the need to cover up. Sound familiar? In our world of carefully curated social media profiles and private browser windows, we're still trying to hide our shame.
Learning to Want What God Wants
There comes a point when we realise that spiritual maturity isn't about having all the right answers – it's about learning to want what God wants. Jenny used a balloon to illustrate this beautifully: just as a balloon only fulfils its purpose when filled with air, we only truly become who we're meant to be when filled with God's Spirit.
“With the gospel of Jesus... God knows what we’re like inside anyway. And where Jen said that we can, there’s safety in God because although he says these things are wrong, he doesn’t just cancel us. It’s like we can come to him and we get forgiveness and we get grace.”
Conversation Street Goes Deep
The discussion afterwards tackled some meaty questions. How do we make thousands of daily choices when the Bible doesn't specifically mention Netflix subscriptions or which jam to buy? Matt shared fascinating insights about "the paradox of choice" and how too many options can actually paralyze us.
The conversation also explored why Adam stood by passively while Eve was tempted – a pattern of passive husbands that unfortunately repeats throughout Genesis. Sharon reminded us that true freedom comes not from hiding our struggles but bringing them into God's light.
What Now?
Whether you're wrestling with big life decisions or just trying to navigate daily choices, this message offers fresh perspective on how to walk with God. Jenny's practical advice? Start with daily habits – reading Scripture, praying, being in Christian community. Over time, these small choices shape our desires to align more with God's.
Join us next Sunday as Will Sopwith tackles another big question: What is evil, and where did it come from? In person at 6:30pm or online at 7pm.
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