The world has its own ideas about glory. The Broadway musical, “Rent,” expresses them well.

                                             One Song Glory, “Rent,” 1999

Glory is getting something so right that the world is at your feet and you are surrounded by the adulation of others—adulation which could work to your favor and personal gratification. On a higher note, glory redeems an empty life. Glory is something that lasts—it is an eternal blaze. It is not cheap, nor is it is easily attained.

If the world thinks glory is so necessary to a successful life, shouldn’t we spend our lives chasing glory?

In discussing proper attire in worship (modest, not drawing attention to yourself)—Paul goes back to the Creation account and makes a startling statement.

Something about the way we were created has an impact on how we will find glory. We are going to focus on the man first, then work through the family and society and come back to general principles in the course of this study.

Is this a men’s course? Yes! It is! You can’t have a smoothly functioning family without a man who recognizes his role in and duty to chase God’s definition of glory. You can’t have a happy wife of a man who has turned his back on the pursuit of glory. You can’t have a god-pleasing workplace where the boss or supervisor has a worldly sense of glory. You can’t have a society that will be strong for much longer without citizens convinced that the pursuit of God’s glory is their life’s work.

So let’s go to the start and get it right.

What does God give man at his creation?

What is that “image of God?”

What job does God give man?

How will possessing the image of God help man in his job?

Genesis 2 is a flashback to Genesis 1. It tells us the details about how God created mankind. He creates Adam first, forming his body out of the dust of the ground, breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. But he does not immediately create Eve.

Discuss ways why is it “not good” that Adam is alone.

What does Adam need?

What do the words “helper suitable for him” mean?

What will Eve’s role be in Adam’s life?

What will Adam’s role be in Eve’s life?

How does the Bible portray woman’s worth as opposed to man?

How does society portray woman’s worth as opposed to man?

This perfect situation did not last long. Adam and Eve fall into sin. We pick up the story right after Eve has been deceived.

Where had Adam been all the while Eve had been arguing with the serpent?

What was Adam’s responsibility toward Eve and how well was he doing it?

How does Adam show he is equally as guilty as Eve is in this whole turn of events?

How does God show he expected Adam to take the lead?

How has sin corrupted Adam’s sense of glory and leadership?

Complete the chart to clarify the issues

It gets worse! The curse of sin will continue to corrupt Adam’s ideas of leadership. Look at God’s words to Eve, especially about how sin will mar her marital relationship.

What does a wife desire her husband to be in their relation—write down the seven characteristics of such a man in the chart below.

Instead of getting such a man, Eve will find Adam ruling over her, because of that sinful human nature he has.

Let’s complete the picture—write down seven characteristics of a man who sinfully rules over his wife.

Now compare chart A with charts B and C.

Are women’s expectations of their husbands out of line?

Why aren’t men the men they are supposed to be?

It is about 1040 BC. The Children of Israel are united under the kingship of Saul, who has been duly selected by God and anointed by the prophet Samuel.

Evaluate Saul’s leadership abilities.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate Saul’s leadership, 10 being the best?

Why is not slaughtering all the livestock a bad thing?

How does the Lord immediately react?

In whose name was this war waged?

Who should get the glory?

How has Saul shown that his leadership has been corrupted?

What does Saul try to do with his sin?

Why isn’t he successful—he’s Samuel’s king!

How does Saul now try to conceal his sin?

Point out the falsehoods of Saul’s words in verse 15.

What is a leader’s responsibility to his men?

What was Adam’s responsibility to Eve?

Why is Saul acting just like Adam?

Does Saul even know right from wrong, judging by his words in verse 20-21?

What is the highest quality in a leader?

What does Saul confess about his leadership?

What should Saul’s power base as a leader be?

What has Saul’s power base been? Explain how it will continue to be this way, judging from the rest of his words.

Show Saul will not listen to the Lord’s commands in the future, either.

Where does true glory lie and why will Saul never have that glory as the king of God’s people?

Prove from his final words that Saul is now on the road to being a poll watching, cowardly and petty ruler.

Jesus Christ shows us true leadership and displays that glory in his life.

Contrast Jesus’ and Saul’s awareness of their power bases and how this affected their actions.

Contrast Jesus’ and Saul’s motivation

Contrast Jesus’ view of the future and Saul’s view of the future.

How will Jesus’ virtues help his followers?

Based on our discussion of leadership, why is Jesus so harsh on Peter?

Why does Jesus mention the betrayer and how does this contrast with Saul’s ability to be frank about the circumstances he finds himself in.

It is a zoo at the Arroyo Grande Little League ballpark. The first games are going on and the teams are starting to show up for their “warm-ups” for the late games.  Parents can’t find parking spots in the lot, so several of them have parked their big rigs along the "do not park" red curb in the driveway. Unfortunately, one father has decided to just drop his kid off in the middle of the driveway, blocking traffic in both directions. The kid takes forever.

Now, here’s the kicker. The SUV before Mr. “I Can Stop and Let My Kid Out Anywhere I Please” has found a precious parking spot right beside the last car waiting in line to get out of the driveway. He enters the spot, but his SUV is too big! So he backs up. You guessed it, right into the side of the lady who is waiting last in line. The damage is insignificant--he has some green paint on his SUV, she has a little nick on the black plastic door protector. He gets out of his SUV on the spot and approaches the woman, who has also gotten out of her car. Right at this moment, Mr. “I Can Stop and Let My Kid Out Anywhere I Please” has dumped his kid out and wants to leave, but he can’t, because you know who is now blocking his way.

Act out what is going to be said and done, first, in imitation of King Saul, then we’ll go back and act it out in imitation of King Jesus.

We started this chapter mentioning “One Song Glory” and testosterone.

Discuss who is tested by testosterone, why it is glorious to pass that test and is it testosterone that is to blame?

Next week: The Better Half and The Children Who Bear Your Image