Refurbished

Opening question: Have you ever bought something that was refurbished?

Read the following from the Bible about how man’s fellowship with God was ruined / refurbished

Broken fellowship -- Ecclesiastes 7:29
God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.

How it happened -- Genesis 3:1-8
1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

The result -- Romans 5:12; 6:23a
12 Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. 23 The wages of sin is death.

The repair -- 1 Peter 3:18
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Fellowship refurbished -- 1 John 1:3,4
3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may share our joy.

Discussion questions:
1. What was mankind’s problem in the very beginning stages of the human race?
2. What were some of the results of man’s choice to ignore God?
3. How did God repair man’s sin problem?
4. Do you think it’s important to have fellowship with God and with other people? Explain.
5. How can we experience being refurbished in our fellowship with God, and with others?
6. Have you been, or are you being, refurbished spiritually? Tell your (ongoing) story.