Archive for the ‘humanity’ Tag
Made In The Image Of God
Bible Verse: Genesis 1:26-31
Introduction:
Because the primary goal of God-Father-Son-Holy-Spirit is that we share in the Divine nature, as it says in 2 Peter 1, we are properly pointed to the primary point of all Christian teaching!
Theological Theme:
God the Father created everything good for His Son. He also created everything good in His Son Who is the pinnacle of creation — sharing in our humanity. In doing so, The Father-Son-Holy-Spirit-God created people to be unique from the rest of His creation and to bear His image in every facet of life. It is in bearing God’s image revealed in Jesus Christ that we find our dignity and purpose and the foundation for our relationships with God and others.
Christ Connection:
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, and as such, He is the perfect Ruler over the world, the One whose perfect work earns our everlasting rest, and the One who restores our relationships with God and others.
Missional Application:
Because we are image bearers of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit we reflect His glory in how we steward the earth, work and rest, and cultivate relationships with Him and others.
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In Jesus, The Church Is God’s New Humanity!
Part A:
Part B:
Full Message:
Bible Verse: Acts 2:42 – 47 Romans 8
Introduction:
Because Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son has come and lived, and suffered, and died, and risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, in our glorified humanity, sending the Holy Spirit to us, a new world order has been inaugurated from the Father, through Jesus the Son, and in the Holy Spirit! A new humanity is breaking in and rising up in believers who share in the responses of Christ in the holy Spirit, through Jesus, and to the Glory of the Father! This New Humanity, or New Creation, breaking into our present is what it means to be a part of the Church, a part of the Father-Son-and-Holy-Spirit-God’s New Community!”
Theological Theme:
“There can be no doubt, however, that the New Testament is pervaded with the joyful sense of God’s actual presence in Jesus Christ, and with the realisation that the coming age has already broken into the present and overlaps it. That is precisely the good news of the gospel, that here and now in Christ Jesus God is present in all his royal power, not only to speak a word of pardon but actually to enact it and fulfil it in the liberation of the children of God.” – T.F. Torrance
Christ Connection:
“…when we do hear God’s voice through Jesus Christ, It calls us out of ourselves into community with God and man. And then individual Gospel and social Gospel become all one. We can’t separate them, without killing both, and running away from God…God was incarnate in Jesus Christ, and He created in the world a new community – the fellowship of the Holy Spirit – to draw us out of ourselves into community with God and man, for our own salvation and the salvation of the world.” – Donald Baillie
Missional Application:
“And if you, my friend, feel your heart pierced, in this your day and generation, by the woes of your fellows, that is perhaps the beginning of God’s work in your heart, saving you from yourself, drawing you out of yourself, into a life worth living, where you wiIl be lifted above your own temptations and defeats by the enthusiasm of the service of God and man, in the Community of the Holy Spirit. God is beginning that work in you – let Him have his way.” – Donald Baillie
The scriptures indicate what Salvation in Christ sounds and looks like in Acts 2:
“36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”
Photo Compliments: http://www.redemptionchurch.org
Job And The Dilemma Of Suffering!
Part 1a: 25min
Part 1b: 31min
Full Message: 56min
Main Passages
“The story of Job confronts us with the question “Why do good people suffer?” And the story offers us insight into right and wrong ways to pursue the answer to this question. The suffering of Job points us forward to the ultimate answer to the problem of evil—the redemptive suffering of Jesus Christ and the promise of a world made new. And as Jesus’ followers, we seek to alleviate suffering as we walk alongside others.” – The Gospel Project
Theological Theme
God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, does not give us the answer to why we go through suffering, but He does give us Himself.
Christ Connection
In his time of suffering, Job yearned for a mediator—someone to stand between him and God. Jesus is the mediator who suffered, even though He had never sinned, in order to pay the price for human sin and to put an end to suffering on earth.
Missional Application
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to comfort people going through a time of suffering, not by answering every question but by assuring them of God’s great love.
“Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way”
― Karl Barth
Photo Compliments http://www.krexy.com
The Foolishness Of a Once Wise King!
Full Message: 24min
Main Passages
Luke 11:31; 1 Corinthians 1:30
“Near the end of Solomon’s reign, he put foolishness on display. Solomon’s story is a reminder that all of us are capable of derailing our walk with God by making foolish choices. It is also a reminder our only hope is in the true King whose wisdom and righteousness are perfect—Jesus Christ. As believers, we repent of our foolishness, rely on God for wisdom and salvation, and then call others to trust in Him.” -The Gospel Project
Theological Theme
Foolishness is the failure to give God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit, glory in every area of life.
Christ Connection
Solomon was a king whose reign was marked by prosperity and peace. Unfortunately, at the end of his reign, Solomon’s sinful compromise led to the division of the kingdom. During His earthly ministry, Jesus spoke of Himself when He claimed “something greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11:31). Whereas sinful choices divided Solomon’s kingdom, Christ’s righteous submission to God established a new unity for God’s people.
Missional Application
God, through His Holy Spirit, calls us to proclaim the foolishness of relying on our own wisdom for salvation and to lift up Jesus as the only hope.
“As Christians, we pledge allegiance to Jesus as King. We believe that Jesus, the Messiah of Israel who was crucified for our sins, has been raised from the dead and is now Lord of the universe. This means that we are to put our trust in his sacrifice and live submissively under his lordship.” –Trevin Wax
“Therefore let us repent and pass from ignorance to knowledge, from foolishness to wisdom, from licentiousness to self-control, from injustice to righteousness, from godlessness to God.”
—Clement of Alexandria
Solomon Builds The Temple
Part 1a: 22min
Part 1b: 21min
Full Message: 43min
Main Passages: 1 Kings 5:1-5, 1 Kings 8:10-14,54-61
“Solomon built a temple for the Lord, and that temple bore God’s name, manifested God’s presence, and represented God’s glory to the world. As Christians, we belong to the church, described by the apostles as “the temple of God.” In the Old Testament, the temple referred to a place. In the New Testament, the temple refers to a people. We are being built together as God’s residence—a beacon of light and hope to the world.”- The Gospel Project
Theological Theme:
Because of the Holy Spirit’s presence, God’s people are the temple of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit today, the people who bear His name and join His mission.
Christ Connection:
The temple was to be a place where the name of God would be upheld and the presence of God would be experienced so that the nations would know that the Lord is God. Jesus spoke of Himself as God’s temple, and in His life, death, and resurrection, He upheld God’s name, embodied God’s presence, and extended God’s mission.
Missional Application:
God through His Holy Spirit, calls us to be devoted to Him in obedience so that the original purpose of the temple can be fulfilled—the people of the earth will know our God is King.
“The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.”, – C.S. Lewis.
photo compliments – Corpedo.com
“Jesus! : Humanity’s Participation In God’s Yes and No!”
Part 1a: 27min
Part 1b: 27min
Full Message: 54min
Main Passages: Romans 1:1-6
Because God has said “YES, humanity, you will live!”, then he must necessarily say “NO!” to sin and everything which destroys life!
“God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is so for us that He has accomplished a HUGE NO on our behalf but it is only a NO that serves His YES!” “How will YOU respond to your resurrection in Jesus Christ?” – TJBrassell
“God is the ‘Yes’ in our ‘No’ and the ‘No’ in our ‘Yes’, the First and the Last…” – Karl Barth
Photo Compliments: http://dustoffthebible.com