Foundations (Week 6)
Faith in a Corrupt World · Resources
Genesis 6
Watch & Listen
Summary
Genesis 6 is the hardest chapter yet in Foundations: a world so corrupt that every intention of the human heart was only evil continually, and a God grieved to His heart who determined to judge it. But in the middle of the darkness stands Noah, a shining star who found favor he did not earn. James Drake argues that God's judgment is not a contradiction of His mercy but a part of it, because before there was a flood, there was an ark. Like Noah, we are not called to be successful but faithful, and Christ is the one ark, the one door, who carries us through every storm.
Sermon Outline
- 1
Genesis 6, read aloud ▶ 0:00
The service opens with 2 Peter on the days of Noah and the full reading of Genesis 6 before James begins.
- 2
None of us like being judged ▶ 8:38
A hard chapter about judgment. We all love to judge (the soggy airport sandwich, other drivers) but hate being judged, and the corruption out there runs through us too.
- 3
Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt ▶ 19:09
Three times Scripture names the corruption. A flying car and the same old broken heart behind it: new day, same problem. Our deepest need is a new heart.
- 4
But Noah found favor ▶ 20:12
One small word holds back the dark. Noah did not earn favor; he received grace in a world that deserved exactly what was coming.
- 5
Christ died for the ungodly ▶ 22:38
Noah was righteous by faith, not performance; later found drunk and broken. Imputed righteousness means we are counted blameless when we trust God and not ourselves.
- 6
Not successful, but faithful ▶ 25:21
Noah built an ark longer than a football field over decades and only eight were saved. We are called to be faithful, not successful, in marriage, parenting and work.
- 7
Before there was a flood, there was an ark ▶ 28:15
God's covenant in the middle of judgment. Before judgment there is always mercy, and the ark had only one door: Jesus.
- 8
But God, but Noah ▶ 32:17
The Andy Pages story: a manager who believed in him when no one else did. Grace is God believing in you when you cannot. Keep stepping up and keep swinging.
Key Points
- Genesis 6 is about judgment, and God's judgment is not a contradiction of His mercy but a part of it.
- Noah found favor he did not earn; grace found him first, before any obedience.
- Noah was counted righteous by faith, not performance, the same imputed righteousness we receive in Christ.
- We are not called to be successful but faithful, in the ordinary places God has put us.
- Before there was a flood, there was an ark; before judgment there is always mercy, and Jesus is the one door.
Quotable Moments
Scripture
Genesis 6 (ESV)
Genesis 6:1-22 (ESV) When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them." Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Where are you quick to judge the world but slow to see the corruption in your own heart?
- 2
Where are you still trying to earn a favor from God that, in Christ, He has already freely given you?
- 3
What has God clearly asked of you that you keep postponing because it does not yet look like it is working?
- 4
What would change this week if you truly believed God is for you, even when you cannot believe in yourself?
Take It With You
- Stop auditioning for a favor you already have in Christ; grace is the ground you stand on, not the prize at the finish line.
- You can walk with God in the middle of your limp; the question is whether your trust is in Him or in yourself.
- Do all that God has commanded in the unglamorous place He has put you, and leave the results to Him.
- Walk through the one door that is already open, and keep swinging in Jesus' name.
The study guide above (summary, outline, key points, quotes, questions) was generated from the sermon transcript with AI and reviewed by our team. Spot something off? Let us know.
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.