Co-Creators in Christ: Embracing Our Renewal Calling
Summary
In the beginning, God created a world teeming with potential, a temple space where His presence would dwell among His creation. He entrusted humanity, made in His divine image, with a sacred calling: to cultivate wisdom, steward creation, and spread His order throughout the earth. Yet, this divine-human partnership was marred by sin, as doubt and rebellion ushered in a cycle of decay and death. Despite this, God's redemptive plan unfolded through covenants with Adam, Noah, and Abraham, promising restoration and blessing for all nations.
As we, the church, stand in the lineage of this story, we recognize that it is through Jesus Christ, the new Adam, that we become part of God's renewal project. In Christ, we are made new creations, called to break the vicious cycles of sin and decay and to initiate virtuous cycles of life and generativity. This transformation is not of our own doing but is the work of God, who reconciles us to Himself and empowers us to be His ambassadors of reconciliation in the world.
Our role is not passive; we are co-creators with Christ, called to bring life and renewal wherever we go. We are to reflect God's light, not cast shadows of judgment and criticism. Our past may be marked by cycles of hiding, abusing, lying, and stealing, but in Christ, these are turned into openness, care, truth-telling, and generosity. We are invited to consider Jesus, respond to Him, and embrace His covenant, becoming agents of transformation in a world groaning for redemption.
As we partake in communion, we remember the new covenant made through Christ's sacrifice, which enables us to live as God's new humans, bringing His authority and righteousness to the world. We are reminded that our sufferings are incomparable to the glory to be revealed, as we eagerly await the full adoption as sons and daughters of God.
Key Takeaways:
- God's original design for humanity was to partner with Him in stewarding creation, a calling that was disrupted by sin but restored through Jesus Christ. As new creations in Christ, we are empowered to bring renewal and life to the world, reflecting the divine image in which we were made. [35:01]
- The story of redemption is woven throughout Scripture, from the covenants with Adam, Noah, and Abraham to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. As followers of Christ, we inherit this story and are called to live out its implications, being agents of blessing to all nations. [19:24]
- True transformation is not self-generated but is a work of God in us. As we surrender to Christ, we participate in His redemptive work, seeing transformation in ourselves and extending it to others. This is the essence of being renewed people who bring renewal. [31:34]
- Our identity as God's workmanship, created for good works, is not a mystery but a life of wonder. Each day presents opportunities to step into the work God has prepared for us, works that honor His name, bring His kingdom, and accomplish His will. [35:41]
- The church is not merely saved from the world but for the world. We are God's plan for its renewal. As we live out our calling, we demonstrate the reality of the new creation, offering hope and pointing to the glory that is to come. [34:15]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV)
> "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV)
> "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
3. Romans 8:18-23 (ESV)
> "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Genesis 1:26-28, what responsibilities did God give to humanity at creation?
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, what does it mean to be a "new creation" in Christ?
3. How does Romans 8:18-23 describe the current state of creation and its future hope?
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how our past behaviors can be transformed in Christ? ([39:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-28) influence our understanding of our role in the world?
2. What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:20? How does this role impact our daily lives? ([22:36])
3. Romans 8:18-23 speaks of creation groaning and waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. How does this passage shape our understanding of the relationship between humanity and the rest of creation?
4. The sermon mentions that true transformation is not self-generated but is a work of God in us. How does this understanding affect our approach to personal growth and change? ([21:24])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life. In what ways are you currently fulfilling the role of stewarding creation as described in Genesis 1:26-28? Are there areas where you can improve?
2. As a new creation in Christ, what specific old habits or behaviors do you need to let go of? How can you actively embrace your new identity in Christ this week? ([21:24])
3. How can you act as an ambassador for Christ in your workplace, school, or community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to share the message of reconciliation. ([22:36])
4. The sermon discusses breaking vicious cycles and initiating virtuous ones. Identify a vicious cycle in your life. What steps can you take to break it and start a virtuous cycle instead? ([01:15])
5. Romans 8:18-23 talks about the sufferings of the present time. How can you find hope and purpose in your current struggles by focusing on the future glory that is to be revealed?
6. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being co-creators with Christ. What is one area in your life where you can bring renewal and life? How can you start this process today? ([04:04])
7. Consider the idea that the church is not merely saved from the world but for the world. How can your small group collectively act as agents of transformation in your community? ([34:15])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Stewardship
Humanity was created with a unique purpose: to partner with God in stewarding the earth. This sacred calling was not merely to oversee the natural world but to infuse it with wisdom and divine order. Sin disrupted this partnership, but through Jesus Christ, this calling is restored. As new creations, believers are empowered to bring life and renewal, reflecting the divine image in which they were made. This is not a passive existence but an active engagement with the world, cultivating and spreading God's goodness as originally intended. [35:01]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's stewardship of creation in your daily life?
Day 2: Inheriting the Story of Redemption
The narrative of redemption is a golden thread running through the tapestry of Scripture. From the early covenants with figures like Adam, Noah, and Abraham to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, God has been weaving a story of restoration. Believers are not mere spectators but inheritors of this story, called to live out its implications. As agents of blessing, they are to extend God's promise of restoration to all nations, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love and faithfulness. [19:24]
"And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you." - Genesis 17:7
Reflection: What does living as an inheritor of God's redemptive story look like in your community?
Day 3: Surrendering to Divine Transformation
True transformation is a divine work within us. It is not by human effort but by surrendering to Christ that believers participate in God's redemptive work. This transformation leads to a life that breaks the cycles of sin and decay, initiating cycles of life and generativity. As renewed people, believers are called to extend this renewal to others, embodying the change that God enacts in their hearts and lives. [31:34]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to experience God's transformation, and how can you open yourself up to His work in you?
Day 4: Created for a Life of Good Works
Believers are God's workmanship, not a mystery but a life of wonder, created for good works that honor His name. Each day presents opportunities to step into the work God has prepared, to bring His kingdom and accomplish His will on earth. This calling is not burdensome but a joyful expression of the new identity found in Christ, a daily adventure in living out the purposes of God. [35:41]
"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13
Reflection: What is one good work you can do today that aligns with the purposes God has prepared for you?
Day 5: The Church's Role in World Renewal
The church is not saved from the world but for the world. As God's plan for its renewal, believers are to demonstrate the reality of the new creation, offering hope and pointing to the future glory. Living out this calling means being ambassadors of reconciliation, showing the world a foretaste of the kingdom to come. This mission is not just a future hope but a present reality, as the church works to bring God's authority and righteousness to every corner of the world. [34:15]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." - 1 Peter 2:9
Reflection: How can you embody the role of an ambassador of reconciliation in your everyday interactions?
Quotes
1) "Through Christ we begin to participate in God's redemptive work, seeing transformation in ourselves and then starting to go into others, bringing the order and harmony back to creation." [31:34](Download)
2) "Renewed in Christ, we actually can take steps to see life spring up in all these different places. He restores our brokenness, reconnects us to God's purpose, fills us with the Holy Spirit's love, joy, and peace." [32:49](Download)
3) "We're not just saved from the world; we're saved for the world. We are His plan. We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." [35:01](Download)
4) "We become the builders, not the destroyers; the healers, not the wounders. We reflect the light of God instead of just throwing shade." [38:19](Download)
5) "My backstory had a vicious cycle of hiding, abusing, lying, stealing, and my encounter with Jesus at age 18 spun that into a virtuous cycle of openness, care, truth-telling, and generosity." [39:02](Download)
6) "If anyone is in Christ, new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself." [21:24](Download)
7) "We are now the new creations, and the world is waiting for us to do our job. We become the New Creations in Christ, empowered to bring newness to the world." [25:56](Download)
8) "If you're looking for what God is doing in the world, it's through Jesus, and it brings new creation. He is the new Adam, the new human, the new Noah, and He wants to make you into the new people." [39:37](Download)
9) "God wants human partners. He doesn't need it, but it is clear that He wants it. We move forward as His partners, bringing renewal to the world." [15:31](Download)
10) "We are God's plan for renewal. As we live out our calling, we demonstrate the reality of the new creation, offering hope and pointing to the glory that is to come." [34:15](Download)
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