Finding Life in the Chaos (Genesis Part 1)
Time Stamps
00:00 Why Genesis Matters More Than Ever
03:05 What Happens When God Shows Up
09:18 How Nothing Became Everything
14:38 Meet The First Supercharged Human
19:13 Finding Life in a Bouncing Floor | Jack's Story
24:33 Let's Chat About Creation | Conversation Street
38:32 Starting 2025 With Fresh Purpose
When God Moves
We kicked off our new series on Genesis this Sunday – looking at the Bible's opening chapter to discover what these ancient words mean for our modern lives. And while you might think you know the creation story, Jack Mariner helped us to start to see it with fresh eyes.
God Shows Up in the Chaos
From the very first verses of Genesis, we see that God was present even before anything existed. When everything was "formless and empty" (or as Jack colourfully translated from Hebrew, "Tottenham" – sorry, Spurs fans!), God was there.
And He wasn't just present – He was active, bringing order from chaos and light from darkness.
This isn't just ancient history. It's a framework for how God still works today. Whether you're starting 2025 full of hope or dragging yourself into the new year, God is present in your situation. Sometimes, the chaos in our lives doesn't mean God is absent – it might just mean He hasn't moved yet.
“God is present amongst it all. That chaos doesn’t mean the absence of God - maybe he just hasn’t moved yet.”
Not Just Another Creation Story
One fascinating insight from the evening was understanding Genesis in its historical context. When this book was written, every culture had its creation stories – tales of quarrelling gods or deities making humans because they couldn't be bothered to work themselves. Genesis wasn't just another story; it was revolutionary. It presented one God, creating with purpose and love, bringing order from chaos.
What Makes Us Different?
Jack explored what it means to be made "in God's image" – the thing that sets humans apart from the rest of creation. It's not just about looking like God or having special abilities. It's about representing Him in the world, being part of His ongoing work of bringing order from chaos.
This led to a rich discussion about how we represent God in our daily lives – at work, in our relationships, through acts of service. While we won't always get it perfect (far from it!), we're called to be part of God's ongoing work of restoration and renewal.
“He takes what is chaos, He takes what is null and void, He takes little old me and you, He takes a situation and He moves, He steps into that space and He breathes life.”
Starting 2025 with Fresh Purpose
Jack's message wasn't just about understanding ancient text – it was about recognising God's movement in our lives today. Whether you're:
Ready to go, clear about your mission field for 2025
Still figuring out where God has placed you
Just about holding on, feeling like you're in the chaos
God is present, and He's not finished yet.
One particularly powerful moment was when Jack shared about his first house in Toxteth – literally bouncing floors and chaos everywhere. Over four years, that chaos turned into a beautiful home. It's a perfect picture of how God works: taking what seems broken or empty and breathing new life into it.
“There are seasons in our life when it is just chaos, and if that’s you, then you’re in a safe place, and all you can do is crawl to God, and here’s a loving Father that wants to give you a new chance.”
What Now?
Watch the complete service (links above), including our interactive Conversation Street segment. Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or have been around church for years, you'll find fresh perspectives on how these ancient words speak into our modern lives.
Join us every Sunday at 7pm UK / 2pm EST for more real conversations about faith and life.
RECENT EPISODES
RECENT LIVESTREAMS
More From The Genesis Series
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