In one sentence, can you give the message of the Bible?

A few years ago, Dane Ortlund asked this question and received answers from a host of pastors, scholars, and other Christians, but one answer stood out from the rest and has taken on a life of its own. The answer comes from the provocateur, poet, and pastor, Douglas Wilson. He writes, "Scripture tells us the story of how a Garden is transformed into a Garden City, but only after a dragon had turned that Garden into a howling wilderness, a haunt of owls and jackals, which lasted until an appointed warrior came to slay the dragon, giving up his life in the process, but with his blood effecting the transformation of the wilderness into the Garden City."

In short: Kill the Dragon, Get the Girl. Whereby the Dragon is the Twisted Serpent of the Garden, the Girl is the Bride of Christ described as a glorious Garden City in Revelation 21–22, and the Slayer of the Dragon is the Son of God who took on flesh to come and save his damsel in distress by destroying the Dragon by means of his own death and resurrection.

That in a short sentence is the message of the Bible. And this Sunday we begin a three-week Christmas series following this storyline. If you want a longer introduction, see this blogpost Or, you can pick up the book The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer by Andy Naselli. We will have a few on the shelf at church.

For all of us, as we come to celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, let us remember why he came—to save us (his bride) from our sins and to deliver us from his enemy (the serpent). Sunday, we will celebrate both of these truths. And I look forward to joining with you and singing praises to our great God and King.

For His Glory and your joy,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions for Genesis 3:15

1. When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind? What part of Christmas is the most
2. Why might a sentimental, Charles Dickens Christmas mislead our understanding of the birth of Christ?
3. What is the context of Genesis 3? What does Genesis 3:15 have to do with Christmas?
4. How do the birth stories, serpent sightings, and bruised heads of the Bible teach us about Christ?
5. What does the first gospel promise teach us about God? About ourselves? About salvation?
6. How does the seed warfare of the Bible inform our understanding of the world?
7. How do we need to crush the serpent under our feet today?
8. What other questions or encouragements does Genesis 3:15 elicit?