Embracing God's Covenant: Stewardship, Justice, and Grace

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound narrative of Noah and the flood, drawing connections to the Christmas season and the broader themes of new beginnings and divine covenants. The story of Noah is not just about survival but about God's unwavering commitment to creation and His willingness to offer second chances. This narrative invites us into three essential relationships: with the Earth, with all people, and with God Himself.

Firstly, our relationship with the Earth is one of stewardship. We are called to care for creation, recognizing that God has entered into a covenant not just with humanity but with all living creatures and the Earth itself. This covenant signifies a saving relationship, highlighting that our sin has impacted the natural world, and God is committed to its redemption. We are reminded that nature, though fallen, is a testament to God's glory and that we are to honor and respect it as part of our divine calling.

Secondly, we are called into a relationship of justice with all people. Every human being is made in the image of God, and thus, every life is precious and deserving of dignity and respect. This call transcends cultural, social, and religious boundaries, urging us to act with love and justice towards all, regardless of their beliefs or actions. It challenges us to be indiscriminate in our charity and to see the image of God in every person we encounter.

Lastly, the narrative points us to a personal and intimate relationship with God, grounded in grace. The rainbow, a symbol of God's covenant, reminds us of His promise of no more condemnation. It signifies the grace available to us through Jesus Christ, who bore the wrath of God so that we might experience His mercy. This grace empowers us to live out our callings in stewardship and justice, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and love for the beauty of God and His creation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Stewardship of Creation: We are called to a personal relationship with nature, recognizing it as a testament to God's glory. Our role is to help creation continue to glorify God, respecting and honoring it as part of our divine calling. This stewardship is rooted in the understanding that God is committed to renewing all of creation. [11:42]

2. Justice for All People: Every human life is precious, made in the image of God, and deserving of dignity and respect. This calls us to act with love and justice towards all, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. Our actions should reflect the value God places on every individual. [20:18]

3. Grace in Relationship with God: The rainbow symbolizes God's promise of grace, reminding us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. This grace empowers us to live out our callings in stewardship and justice, motivated by gratitude and love rather than obligation. [30:03]

4. The Beauty of God's Creation: Nature speaks to us of God's glory, and it is our responsibility to ensure that its voice continues to be heard. This involves respecting and honoring creation, recognizing its role in God's redemptive plan. [12:44]

5. Living Out Grace: Our relationship with God, based on grace, should be the foundation for all our actions. This grace transforms our motivations, allowing us to serve others and care for creation out of love and gratitude, rather than self-interest. [40:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - God's Covenant with Creation
- [01:09] - The Promise to Noah
- [02:15] - The Sign of the Rainbow
- [03:13] - The Christmas Connection
- [04:12] - Second Chances and New Beginnings
- [05:22] - Three Great Relationships
- [06:11] - Relationship with the Earth
- [09:11] - Human Sin and Creation
- [12:06] - The Meaning of Christmas
- [18:22] - Ecological Stewardship
- [20:18] - Justice for All People
- [29:29] - Relationship with God
- [30:03] - The Rainbow as a Symbol of Grace
- [37:42] - Living a Life of Grace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 9:1-17
2. Romans 8:19-21
3. Psalm 19:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What covenant does God establish with Noah and all living creatures after the flood, and what is the sign of this covenant? ([01:09])

2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between human sin and the natural world? ([09:11])

3. What are the three great relationships that God calls us into according to the sermon? ([05:22])

4. How does the rainbow serve as a symbol of God's grace in the sermon? ([30:03])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the covenant with Noah reflect God's commitment to creation and His desire for new beginnings? How does this relate to the Christmas theme mentioned in the sermon? ([03:28])

2. How does the sermon suggest that our relationship with nature should be influenced by the understanding of creation, fall, and redemption? ([11:42])

3. What does the sermon imply about the value of human life and how should this influence our actions towards others? ([20:18])

4. How does the concept of grace, as symbolized by the rainbow, empower believers to live out their callings in stewardship and justice? ([40:18])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current relationship with the natural world. What specific actions can you take to better fulfill your role as a steward of creation? ([11:42])

2. Consider a time when you may have overlooked the dignity of another person. How can you actively work to see the image of God in everyone you encounter this week? ([20:18])

3. The sermon emphasizes living out grace in our daily lives. What is one area in your life where you can let grace, rather than obligation, guide your actions? ([40:18])

4. How can the understanding of God's covenant with creation influence your perspective on environmental issues today? ([18:22])

5. Identify a situation where you can practice indiscriminate charity. How can you ensure that your actions are motivated by love and gratitude rather than self-interest? ([24:47])

6. Reflect on a personal storm or challenge you are currently facing. How can the promise of God's grace, as symbolized by the rainbow, provide comfort and hope in this situation? ([41:28])

7. How can you incorporate the beauty of God's creation into your spiritual practices, such as prayer or meditation, to deepen your relationship with God? ([12:44])

Devotional

Day 1: Stewardship as a Divine Calling
We are entrusted with the care of creation, recognizing it as a testament to God's glory. Our role is to help creation continue to glorify God, respecting and honoring it as part of our divine calling. This stewardship is rooted in the understanding that God is committed to renewing all of creation. As we engage with the world around us, we are reminded that our actions have a profound impact on the environment, and we are called to be mindful stewards of the Earth. This involves not only preserving the natural world but also actively participating in its redemption and renewal. [11:42]

Genesis 2:15 (ESV): "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to better care for the environment and honor God's creation in your daily life?


Day 2: Justice as a Reflection of God's Image
Every human life is precious, made in the image of God, and deserving of dignity and respect. This calls us to act with love and justice towards all, transcending cultural and religious boundaries. Our actions should reflect the value God places on every individual. This means advocating for justice and equality, and ensuring that our interactions with others are marked by compassion and understanding. We are challenged to see beyond our differences and to recognize the inherent worth in every person we encounter. [20:18]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Who in your community is in need of justice and kindness today, and how can you be an advocate for them?


Day 3: Grace as the Foundation of Our Relationship with God
The rainbow symbolizes God's promise of grace, reminding us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. This grace empowers us to live out our callings in stewardship and justice, motivated by gratitude and love rather than obligation. It is through this grace that we find the strength to fulfill our divine purposes, knowing that we are loved and accepted by God. This grace is not earned but freely given, inviting us into a deeper relationship with God and encouraging us to extend that same grace to others. [30:03]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: How can you allow God's grace to transform your motivations and actions today, especially in areas where you feel obligated or burdened?


Day 4: The Beauty of God's Creation as a Testament to His Glory
Nature speaks to us of God's glory, and it is our responsibility to ensure that its voice continues to be heard. This involves respecting and honoring creation, recognizing its role in God's redemptive plan. As we observe the beauty of the natural world, we are reminded of God's creativity and power, and we are called to protect and preserve this gift. By doing so, we participate in God's ongoing work of redemption and renewal, ensuring that creation continues to reflect His glory. [12:44]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in preserving the beauty of creation, and how does this deepen your understanding of God's glory?


Day 5: Living Out Grace in Our Daily Lives
Our relationship with God, based on grace, should be the foundation for all our actions. This grace transforms our motivations, allowing us to serve others and care for creation out of love and gratitude, rather than self-interest. As we embrace this grace, we are empowered to live lives that reflect God's love and mercy, impacting those around us in meaningful ways. This involves a daily commitment to align our actions with God's purposes, seeking to be vessels of His grace in every situation. [40:18]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: How can you intentionally live out God's grace in your interactions with others today, and what specific steps can you take to ensure your actions are motivated by love and gratitude?

Quotes


The flood is about the fact that God is committed to creation and he's ready to give New Beginnings he's ready to give a second chance and it's real obvious in verse one you know that uh the Proctor's Second Chance theme is very poignantly shown in verse one then God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them be fruitful and increase the number and fill the earth. [00:04:20]

He's calling us into a relationship with the Earth which is the bringing up the issue of ecology he's calling us into a relationship with all the people of the earth which is bringing up the issue of justice and finally he's calling us us into a relationship with himself which brings up the issue of Grace ecology Justice and Grace it's very comprehensive. [00:06:11]

God never calls anyone into a covenant relationship unless it's a saving relationship God never calls anyone or anything into a CO Covenant relationships in the Bible means he's calling us into a anyone he calls into a covenant relationship he's calling into a saving relationship he's saying you're in trouble you're in trouble because of evil and sin and I'm going to enter into a relationship with you and be your savior and save you from sin. [00:07:54]

The Bible says creation is speaking to you the Stars the waterfall the animals the trees they have a voice they're telling you about the glory of God and it's your job as stewards of creation as stewards of nature to make sure they keep speaking to not let that voice go out it's your job to help them be themselves it's your job to help the waterfall be a waterfall. [00:12:44]

Human life all human life because every human being was made to image God in a special way every single person and every individual life whether a good person or a bad person whether a smart person person or a not so smart person okay whether whether a weak person or a strong person uh whether rich or poor whether female or male whether young or old or very very very old okay no matter how they smell no matter how they behave no matter what they look like no matter how they're performing God says I have put my honor and glory and dignity into every single one. [00:20:18]

We joyfully must as Christians invite every human being to Believe In Christ but we must not we must not give practical help only to people who believe like we do why this is saying that where they believe or not every human being is in the image of God and we have to show sacrificial service to the safety and the protection and the quality of their material and physical life into every and and and emotional life in other words we have to help people whether they believe like we do or not. [00:24:40]

We are called into an intimate personal not a general relationship everybody's got a general basic relationship with God even if you don't agree that he's there even if you one of the small number of people in the history of the world who said I don't believe in God you're still living as if he's there in many ways you still have a relationship to him but we're talking about a personal intimate Covenant relationship we are called into a relationship based on Grace. [00:29:29]

The rainbow is the gospel it's a symbol of the Gospel of a relationship with God based on Grace and here's the four things it tells you number one the first thing is the rainbow shows us the backdrop of God's grace you'll never find a rainbow on a sunny day never there'll always be some nasty dark stormy weather nearby and the same way let me put it this way often we don't find the grace of God unless troubles are happening to us. [00:30:03]

God says I'm laying my bow up I'm not going to destroy the Earth I'm not going to destroy humankind there's not going to be condemnation now does he think that this time everybody's going to live a good life of course not because what do you think verses four 5 and six is all about and S and8 he knows immediately they're coming out of the Ark right their second chance he's immediately making provision he knows he's going to be murder God is not naive but God is still saying let me show you how sweeping the promises of my grace I laying my bow up I'm going to put it up there no more judgment no more wrath. [00:33:56]

The rainbow he says if it was pointed down wouldn't that make you nervous you know God's saying no more wrath no more Justice you know I mean no more no more judgment right no more wrath no more judgment but you know if it's pointed down you're always a little scared like gosh any minute it could go Twang and down here it comes there comes the Wrath Here Comes everything he says Spurgeon says we should know the reason that God is able to lay his bow up because it's pointed up it's aimed up. [00:35:22]

On the cross of Jesus Christ we see the storm why God was so holy so infinitely holy so relentlessly holy somebody had to die but on the cross we also see the love of God he's so infinitely loving that the father and the son offered up the son in other words on the cross the storm of Eternal Justice and the son of God's love comes together and that's why you have a rainbow and every time you look into the heart of the storm and you see the rainbow of Grace you remember that that's where Jesus went he went into the heart of God's Wrath he went into the very heart out of love for us he got the lightnings so we could have the rainbow lightning for him that's why it's not pointed down it's pointed up rainbows for us. [00:36:40]

If I tell you to go out there and help the poor and do justice if you just go out there hoping that if I do this God will bless me you won't be doing it for their sake you won't be doing it for their sake at all Spurgeon tells this story which I like to tell especially in the Q&A times Spurgeon says once there was a gardener who grew a carrot and brought it to his King and said oh Lord this is the biggest carrot I've ever grown or ever will grow and I want to give it to you as a token of my love and the King said Thank You by the way I own the acre of land next to your garden I want you to have that so you can be twice the gardener you were before and he went home rejoicing. [00:38:16]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?