We hear often we are tempted by “the world, the flesh and the devil.” There is warrant for that in the Bible. Jesus’ temptations mirror this and St. Paul uses these categories to talk about our proclivity to sin. Genesis does the same, but inverts the categories—the devil, the flesh, and the world. Eve in the garden is tempted by Satan. This week, Cain’s sin against his brother Abel is the flesh. Then what follows in the next few chapters of Genesis, when men begin to build cities, is obviously the world around us.
The burden of the narratives centered around The First Family are many, and we do see the world getting worse and worse because of the curse of sin. But what you can’t miss is that God is always present, persistently wooing and pursuing. As bleak as chapter 4 of Genesis is, with the story of the first murder, what you can’t miss is God’s grace and forbearance toward Cain. Even his mark is an act of grace. But more on that on Sunday.
As I pondered this narrative I kept coming back to the song that Will sang here some time ago. “Our sins they are many, his mercy is more.” That really is the whole story of the First Family isn’t it? It really is your story and mine, isn’t it? That is, unless we, like Cain, continue to reject the overtures of God’s love and refuse to live under his mercy. We will talk about it Sunday. I hope to see you live and in person or via live stream.
Blessings,
Jim
P.S. I have included three verses of Matt Papa’s song—I hope it will heal your heart a bit, as it has mine.
“His Mercy is More”
What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all-knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more
What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins, they are many, His mercy is more
Our Sins, They Are Many - His Mercy Is More
February 7, 2021 • Rev. James M. Holland • Genesis 4:1–16
The Dance of Creation
January 10, 2021 • Rev. James M. Holland • Genesis 1, Genesis 2:1–3
When you watch sports on TV, you always have a couple of people in the booth commentating the game. One is the play-by-play person who is basically telling what is happening. The other person is called the “color commentator” and it’s their job to fill in details—to give depth, analysis, and make connections that perhaps you wouldn’t catch on your own. It is a good system and does usually make the game more enjoyable (with a few notable exceptions, and most sports fans know of whom I speak!). This Sunday we are diving into a year-long study built around The New City Catechism. The catechism follows a design of questions and answers which we will go through week by week in our smaller settings. From the pulpit, however, we will be preaching not on the questions themselves, but rather each series will be crafted around the themes that are being looked at on a weekly basis. In other words, our sermons will be more of a “color commentary” on the various questions you have been looking at on your own or in your small groups. We are starting off with a six-week mini-series called “The First Family,” which is a look at the origins of creation and how it all started. It does answer our first question, “What is our Only Hope in Life and Death?” While the bulk of the series does deal with our first parents, this week deals more with the home God built for them. I have watched many a person design and build a house. During the process, it is usually one of the most stressful things I have ever seen. Often, I have even heard it said, “I will never do that again.” I mean, think about the details! Genesis 1 is nothing like that! Here we see God as artist in a realm, delighting in the home he is building to place his image bearers in. I was joking with Josh and Will, as we were kicking around ideas, that I had a book I have read to all my children called My Nest is Best. It is about a mother bird, unhappy with her nest as she is about to have a baby bird, and so she sends her husband off to find a new one, only to find out that her original nest is really the best. They didn’t think it a good title for a sermon, but I would hope after Sunday you will marvel at the home God built for us in the created world. But more, I hope you will see a God who delights and glories in the “stuff” he created. So much so that he would come down to save it rather than abandon it. But I perhaps reveal too much! I will see you Sunday via livestream! Blessings, Jim P.S. One last thing – To go along with our study in the New City Catechism, Josh will be hosting a New City Bible Study, which will begin with the first video this Sunday. We’ll be looking at the memory verse paired with the question of the week and attempting to provide context and interpretative lenses, as well as some practical applications for us. You can use these as a Cyber Sunday School option, or as a Community Group discussion starter, or however else is helpful to you. NC Bible Study episodes drop Sundays at 8:00am on our Youtube channel
In His Image
January 17, 2021 • Rev. James M. Holland • Genesis 1:26–27, Genesis 2:7–8, Genesis 2:18–25
We are in a series called First Family. We are looking at the first few chapters of Genesis. Last week we looked at the creation account. It is a unique view of creation. It stands in bold relief to all the accounts of origins we read about, first ,the mythological accounts of creation where creation is usually because of a conflict among the gods and the gods and the gods look with disdain on the humans they created and the world that they created. And secondly, it stands against modern views of origins in that matter is not eternal, nor is man the measure of all things. No God stands before creation and orders it, therefore there is a design, an oughtness about the world. We can’t shape it the way we would like, we submit to the givens to find freedom in a created world. And it is the most positive view of the world possible. The creation of the world comes from the loving heart of a God who out of the overflowing joy of his own being creates a home for his image bearers. Now this week we look at chapter 2 and see this remarkable account of God filling the world with his images—human beings. And as in creation so with humans, to be fully human we can’t make up who we are, our persons, or our sexuality—we too are born with givens. So, let’s look at chapter 2 which is the sixth day of creation looked at in detail.
The Rise, Ruin, and Redemption of Culture
February 14, 2021 • Rev. James M. Holland • Genesis 4:16–25
We are all culture makers, like it or not. To be made in God’s image is to create culture. Culture is literally, “what we make of the world.” We could wax eloquent on this for days but this week we are talking about what culture is, what is wrong with it, and how we might be part of the restoration process. Genesis 3-4 shows the progressive nature of decline because of sin. Sin affects the individual, the family and, as we will see this week, the culture. What is interesting is that, while the fall is bad, it does not destroy humanity’s capacity to create culture and artifacts that serve the common good. Thank God that by his mercy all of us are most likely still alive because of cultural advances that were made by people who wouldn’t darken the door of a church or call on the name of the Lord! The text for Sunday lands us right in the middle of a cultural mess! So, we shouldn’t be surprised at the cultural mess we are in now—it started in Genesis 4. Also, an important reminder! This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Lent is upon us and starts with perhaps the most audacious service of the year, a service where we smear death on the faces of everyone in our community. And yes, even in COVID, we have found a way to do this service safely. This year during our Ash Wednesday Service, we will have ashes in the small communion cups, enough for a family. As you come forward, each family will administer ashes to their own family or, if you attend on your own, a minister will administer them to you. Different, yes, but we understand safety is still a primary concern. If you have young children who need to be in the nursery, please sign them up using this link. Bear in mind, the Winter Storm Watch has a forecast of snow and ice for Monday and Wednesday, so stay tuned for updates on the status of the service. Remember also, we’re having a Congregational Meeting after worship on Sunday to elect Elders. Dan Stimpson and Bob Conrad are both standing and have both served on the Session before. Please try to be present to cast your vote for your leaders. Have a great weekend and be safe. I hope to see you Sunday, live and in person or via livestream. Blessings, Jim