Preaching Outline on Genesis 1:1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
When we read Genesis 1:1-2, we are introduced to the beginning of everything – the moment when God created the heavens and the earth. The word “created” in Hebrew, “bara”, is powerful. It means to bring something into existence out of nothing. It is an act of God alone, for only he can create something out of nothing.
The text also reveals something profound about who God is. In Hebrew, the word “Elohim” is in the plural, but the verb “created” is in the singular. This already points to the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – involved in creation. John 1:3 confirms this by saying: “All things were made through him [Jesus], and without him nothing was made that has been made.” (Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2 also reinforce this role of Christ as Creator).
But something catches our attention in verse 2: “And the earth was without form, and void.” This description not only speaks of the physical creation, but also serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual condition of human beings before they come to know God. Today, we want to explore this idea and reflect on how our hearts can be “formless and empty” until Jesus comes into our lives.
The expression “without form and void” gives us a clear image of the chaotic and undefined state of the earth before God’s intervention. This same concept can be applied to the heart of man far from God.
In Song of Songs 1:15, the church is called “beautiful”. When the Holy Spirit enters our lives, He transforms and shapes us. He defines us as children of God, with clear purposes and an identity based on Christ.
On the other hand, the “formless and empty” man is the one who lives far from God, trapped in the consequences of the sin of disobedience. The only certainty he has is eternal death, as Romans 6:23 reminds us: “For the wages of sin is death.”
Verse 2 also mentions that “darkness was upon the face of the deep.” This image portrays the spiritual state of man who is far from God.
Genesis 1:2 goes on to say: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” This is a beautiful image of the Holy Spirit’s action. Just as He hovered over the chaotic earth to bring order and life, He acts in our lives to transform us.
When we accept Jesus, we begin to see the path that leads to life. We are in the light, separated from darkness, because light and darkness cannot coexist (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Man without God lives a “formless and empty” life – without purpose, direction or fulfillment. He is lost in darkness, trapped by the consequences of sin and the certainty of eternal death.
But there is good news! Jesus came to change this reality. He is the light that illuminates our path, the Creator who shapes our life and the Savior who fills our emptiness. When we allow him into our hearts, he transforms our chaos into order, our emptiness into fullness and our darkness into light.
May we, today, give our hearts to Jesus and allow him to do in us the creative work that only he can do.
Preaching Outline on Genesis 1:1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”