We talked yesterday about imagining hanging out with God. Are there some places you wouldn’t want to take him? Why not? Why hide from him?

In Genesis 2 & 3, we learn that Adam & Eve used to hang out with God. What would you like to do, if God came to visit with you today?

Many kids aspire to see their names in a Hall of Fame when they grow up. In fact, right here in Waco, we have the Texas Sports Hall of Fame museum, which commemorates athletic achievements across the state. There are plenty others, of course, and not all of them are related to sports. (Personally, I’d love a Pulitzer, but I digress.) As I began thinking about our new sermon series on putting God at the center of our lives, I remembered another Hall of Fame, found in Hebrews 11.

This Hall of Fame doesn’t have anything to do with athletic prowess or geeky achievements; instead, it features champions of faith since the dawn of creation. Adam was 130 years old when his third son, Seth, was born. (Earlier in the story, Adam & Eve’s eldest son, Cain, murdered his brother Abel and was then exiled into the wilderness.) The Bible says in Genesis 4:25 that around the time Seth had his first son (at the age of 105), “people began to call upon the name of the Lord” (ESV). Isn’t it interesting that it took 235 years for people to start worshiping God?!?

Adam lived another 800 years after Seth was born, which meant that he was alive to see Noah’s father, Lamech. It also meant that he witnessed two of the champions in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame: his deceased son, Abel, and his great-great-great-great-grandson, Enoch. Genesis 5:24 tells us that Enoch “walked with God” and one day, he simply disappeared because God took him. Hebrews 11:5-6 fills in the details a bit by explaining that Enoch was a man of faith, and he did not experience death; he was simply taken to heaven directly. Wow!

Enoch also happened to be the great-grandfather of Noah, who is also described in Genesis 6 as someone who pleased God. Not surprisingly, Noah also made it into the Hebrews 11 roster. Enoch and Noah did not seem to have any superhuman abilities or extraordinary accomplishments (except for the whole building-the-ark thing, but that was after Noah had proven himself faithful to the Lord). They just walked with God.

So, as we talk about putting God at the center of our lives, we’re not discussing rocket science. It’s a simple matter of choice, day in and day out, to walk with him in faith and practice.

God speaks through his word. What are you reading in the Bible right now? What might he be trying to say to you through his word?

Chapter 1 of our faith story is how we came to know Jesus. Have you ever shared your story with someone? Pray for courage & opportunity.

Revelation 7:17 says that the Lamb is at the center of the throne. Why the Lamb? What does that say to you about Jesus’ sacrifice for us?

Imagine being John, as he saw the vision that became the book of Revelation. Wow! How does God speak to you, through everyday occurrences?

What is your favorite book or story of all time? What makes it so special to you? What do you think about being part of God’s story?

Are there parts of your life that are closed off to God? Talk to him about those areas today; give him a chance to work in those places.

What does it mean to you to say that Jesus is the center of your life? What does that look like, day in and day out?