Jesus in Genesis Season 1
Genesis 12
November 20, 2016 • Genesis 12
In Genesis 12, God calls Abram (aka Abraham) and promises to bless him "so that you will be a blessing." This is how God's blessings work: when He blesses us, we are to receive those blessings with open hands, so his blessings don't just flow to us, but through us. We are not to be collectors of blessings, but dispensers of blessings. We are not to just be beneficiaries of blessings, but agents of blessings. We are not designed to be cisterns, but aqueducts. Does your life represent the cascading blessings of God?
Genesis 10-11
November 13, 2016 • Genesis 10—11
However we feel, we must not overlook the phenomenal opportunity before the church today. We have an opportunity to live out the love of Christ by standing in the gap for all those who feel vulnerable, fearful, and alienated. We have an opportunity to boldly stand against anything that threatens life. So we stand with and fight for the unborn, the minority, the immigrant, for all who are oppressed and abused. We will use whatever influence we have to see that everyone is protected and treated fairly and equally. We stand against all injustice, lawlessness, and discrimination, wherever we see even a hint of it. Ultimately, we are not united by the United States. We are united by Jesus Christ, who died for tax collectors and publicans, and yes, for democrats and republicans. Genesis 10-11 fittingly speaks a profound Word into our cultural moment.
Genesis 9 (part 2)
November 6, 2016 • Genesis 9
One would think the story of Noah in Genesis should have concluded with a happy ending. However, tragically, it doesn't. The second half of chapter 9 tells us that Noah sinned, and so did his son Ham. The sin leads to a curse, and a forfeiture of blessing. Why? Somewhere along the way, Noah stopped striving for God's blessings. Unlike Jacob in Genesis 32:26 who told God "I will not let you go unless you bless me," Noah had stopped wrestling for blessing.
Genesis 8-9
October 30, 2016 • Genesis 8—9
As we continue our journey through the book of Genesis, and the story of Noah in particular, we see the very first rainbow in all of human history. After over a year in the ark, with his kids, lots of animals, and certainly not enough ventilation, Noah leaves the ark for dry ground and fresh air. Can you even begin to imagine the feeling of getting out of that boat? Over a year in a boat, in some less than ideal accommodations. I get stir-crazy on any flight over 3 hours! Noah comes out and his first reaction is utter bliss! His heart is overjoyed, humbled, and full of thanksgiving, so he responds by worshipping God through sacrifice.
Genesis 6 (part 2) & 7
October 23, 2016 • Genesis 6—7
Deep down inside, every single one us wants to (or has wanted to) live lives of consequence. We want our work to matter. We want our lives to matter. We want to matter. We all yearn for glory. Unfortunately, many of us don't understand one of the greatest paradoxes of the universe: if you live for your own glory, your life won't matter that much, but if you live for God's glory, you will live of life of great meaning, satisfaction, and blessing. This message gives us a deeper look into the life of Noah, and why the story and his life isn't really about him.
Genesis 6
October 16, 2016 • Genesis 6
However, the God of Holy Scripture is radically different. Scripture tells us God is love, and one cannot love from afar. God is intimately involved and wholly committed to us. One cannot become this involved in any relationship without becoming vulnerable. To love is to open up your heart, either to acceptance or rejection, to bliss or to grief. Genesis 6 gives us a glimpse into God's grieving heart.
Genesis 4 (part 2) & 5
October 2, 2016 • Genesis 4—5
As we continue our journey through the book of Genesis, we learn about the first city ever built. The city was built by Cain. Although God created everyone to find their deepest satisfaction in Him, by fully glorifying him, Cain seeks to build a life and city apart from God.
Genesis 3
September 18, 2016 • Genesis 3
In Genesis 1 and 2, the Lord God created the cosmos and humanity perfectly. He looked at all creation and proclaimed "it is very good." Everything was flawless. Chapter 2 ends with Adam singing a long song to Eve. After their wedding, they were meant to blissfully "live happily ever after" in paradise, with all of their needs met and desires satisfied. They had a perfect relationship with God, perfect relationship with each other, and a perfect relationship with nature. Unfortunately, the idyllic life didn't last. Genesis chapter 3 gives us a play-by-play recounting of humanity's fall into sin, suffering, and sadness. This account explains why the world is not as it ought to be and why we aren't the way we're supposed to be. This text makes sense of the brokenness of the world around us and the brokenness inside us. Fortunately, the text also foreshadows the Gospel. God will not leave humanity in it's brokenness. Instead, God promises to send the second Adam, Jesus Christ, who will deal the Evil One a crushing death blow.
Genesis 2
September 11, 2016 • Genesis 2
While Genesis 1 describes God's general purpose in creation, chapter 2 explains His more specific purposes for our lives. God reveals to us his plan for our work, rest, gender, sexuality, singleness, and marriage. Did we cover all those hot-button issues in one sermon? You bet. And you don't want to miss it!
Genesis 1
September 4, 2016 • Genesis 1
Many are familiar with Genesis and it's epic themes of Creation & Fall, of Calling & Blessing, of Covenant & Promise. Many are familiar with the timeless stories of Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah & the Ark, Babel & beyond. However, most Christians fail to understand Genesis as Jesus understood Genesis. Jesus interpreted Genesis as a book about Himself! In Luke 24, while traveling on the road to Emmaus with two disciples after His Resurrection, in order to bolster their faith in Himself, He took them to the Scriptures (instead of showing them his wounds and having them touch his resurrected body!). In Luke 24:25-27, Jesus says “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." Jesus revealed what the Old Testament had to say about Him, beginning with Genesis. What does Genesis say about Jesus? Listen in to this series and find out!