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(Genesis) Genesis 1:20-23
J. Vernon McGee

John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.
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In this sermon, the preacher discusses the creation story as described in the Bible. He emphasizes that when God created the world, it was good. He mentions that God created various creatures, including whales and birds, and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply. The preacher also addresses the topic of evolution, stating that while there may have been development and variation within species, he objects to the idea that everything originated from a single amoeba and denies that God is the creator in that scenario.
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Now, in verse 20, he says, And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Now, you do have here a certain amount, and don't misunderstand me now, evolution. Now, if you mean by evolution, not just everything came from one little cell, but that God made one of each creature, and you will notice it says he made each one after his kind, and that doesn't mean species, as even Darwin said. It means more than that. The word is filia. I have been reading what one scientist has said, and he's been looking around for another word. Well, I had a professor in seminary, a very brilliant man. He gave the name filia, and if you look that up, that would include not just one horse, but it would include every animal, including a zebra, everything that belongs to the horse family. God created one like that. Now, there's been development from those, by the way, and I believe that that is true, but to say that everything originated from one little amoeba, and God is not the creator, that's the thing we object to, there's been tremendous development, I think, and also development, and that means it went downward. God created great whales, every living creature that moveth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every wing fell after his kind, and God saw that it was good. Do you notice that? When God does it, it's good, and God blessed them, saying, be fruitful and multiply, fill the waters and the seas, let fowl multiply in the earth. And by the way, this scientist said that if we're going to teach the creation story, ought to teach the stork story. Believe me, the Bible certainly gets rid of the stork story if you read it very carefully. These animals had to bring forth, and it will be true of man also. You don't find little Willie under a stump, and the stork didn't bring little Susie either, but God did create the heavens and the earth, by the way. Now, will you notice, and the evening and the morning were the fifth day. Now, we have the first five days.
(Genesis) Genesis 1:20-23
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John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.