Embracing New Beginnings: Hope and Redemption in God

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explore the profound theme of new beginnings and the divine help that God offers us. We are reminded to let go of past inadequacies and embrace each day as a gift from God, filled with hope and anticipation. The central focus is on the concept of salvation, which is not just a grand religious term but a call to place our personal stories within the larger narrative of God's work in the world. This involves asking for help and being willing to offer help to others.

The narrative of Genesis is revisited, where God observes the curse that follows the fall of humanity. However, God does not curse humanity directly; instead, He observes the brokenness that results from sin. This distinction highlights God's nature as a good and redemptive force, aiming to bring about healing and restoration. The curse is pronounced on the serpent, symbolizing evil and temptation, which is now limited and on a path to eventual defeat.

The sermon delves into the struggles of human existence, such as toil, alienation, and the desire for control, which are consequences of the fall. Yet, amidst this brokenness, there is a promise of redemption. The proto-evangelium, or the first gospel, is introduced as the promise that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent's head, symbolizing the ultimate victory over evil through Jesus Christ.

The story of Norman McLean and his brother Paul serves as a poignant illustration of the complexities of offering and receiving help. It underscores the pain of being unable to help those we love and the importance of placing our broken stories into God's hands. This narrative invites us to see our lives as part of a larger story, one that holds meaning, redemption, and hope.

As we navigate our daily lives, we are encouraged to seek God's help and to be conduits of His grace to others. We are part of a great story, and there is always hope.

Key Takeaways:

1. Embrace New Beginnings: Each day is a gift from God, an opportunity to let go of past failures and embrace hope. By placing our personal stories within God's greater narrative, we find purpose and redemption. [01:00]

2. Understanding the Curse: God observes the curse that results from sin but does not directly curse humanity. This highlights His nature as a redemptive force, aiming to restore and heal rather than condemn. [02:07]

3. The Promise of Redemption: The proto-evangelium in Genesis promises that the offspring of the woman will ultimately defeat evil. This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, offering us hope and victory over sin. [07:43]

4. The Complexity of Help: Offering and receiving help can be fraught with challenges. We may struggle to help those we love, but by placing our broken stories in God's hands, we find meaning and redemption. [10:21]

5. Living in Hope: Despite the brokenness of the world, we are part of a larger story filled with hope. By seeking God's help and being willing to help others, we participate in His redemptive work. [12:45]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [01:11] - The Greater Story
- [01:38] - The Curse and Its Observance
- [02:40] - Consequences of the Fall
- [03:39] - Creation's Frustration and Hope
- [04:41] - The Role of Agency
- [05:49] - Symbolism of the Serpent
- [06:19] - Forces of Good and Evil
- [07:24] - The Promise of Help
- [08:13] - Crying Out for Help
- [09:21] - The Nature of Help
- [10:21] - Pain in Offering Help
- [11:43] - Finding Meaning in Tragedy
- [12:45] - Living with Hope

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 3:14-19
2. Romans 8:20-21
3. Genesis 3:15

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Observation Questions:

1. In Genesis 3:14-19, what specific consequences are described as a result of the fall, and how do they reflect the brokenness in the world? [02:40]

2. How does Romans 8:20-21 describe the state of creation, and what hope does it offer for the future? [03:58]

3. What is the significance of the proto-evangelium in Genesis 3:15, and how does it relate to the promise of redemption? [07:43]

4. According to the sermon, how does God’s observation of the curse differ from directly cursing humanity, and what does this reveal about His nature? [02:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of new beginnings, as discussed in the sermon, challenge individuals to view their personal stories within the larger narrative of God's work? [01:11]

2. In what ways does the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ, as mentioned in Genesis 3:15, provide hope amidst the struggles of human existence? [07:43]

3. How does the story of Norman McLean and his brother Paul illustrate the complexities of offering and receiving help, and what lessons can be drawn from it? [10:21]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of human agency in the context of the fall and the larger story of redemption? [04:27]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a past failure or inadequacy that you need to let go of. How can you embrace each day as a new beginning and a gift from God? [01:00]

2. In what ways can you actively seek God's help in your life, and how can you become a conduit of His grace to others around you? [12:09]

3. Consider a relationship or situation where you have struggled to offer help. How can you place this broken story into God's hands and find meaning and redemption? [10:21]

4. How can you recognize and resist the forces of evil and temptation in your life, as symbolized by the serpent in Genesis? What practical steps can you take to align yourself with the forces of good? [06:19]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel alienated or frustrated. How can the promise of redemption and the hope of liberation from bondage, as described in Romans 8:20-21, encourage you? [03:58]

6. Think of someone in your life who may need help. What specific actions can you take this week to offer support and be a part of God's redemptive work in their life? [12:34]

7. How can you cultivate a mindset of hope and anticipation, even amidst the brokenness of the world, and what role does your faith play in this process? [12:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Each Day as a Divine Gift
Each day presents a new beginning, a chance to let go of past failures and embrace the hope and purpose that God offers. By viewing each day as a gift from God, we are invited to place our personal stories within the larger narrative of His work in the world. This perspective allows us to find redemption and meaning in our lives, as we align our daily actions with God's greater plan. Embracing new beginnings means acknowledging that our past does not define us, and that with God's help, we can move forward with hope and anticipation. [01:00]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What past failure or regret do you need to let go of today to fully embrace the new beginning God is offering you?


Day 2: Observing the Curse and God's Redemptive Nature
The curse that follows humanity's fall is a result of sin, yet God does not directly curse humanity. Instead, He observes the brokenness and aims to restore and heal. This distinction highlights God's nature as a redemptive force, always working towards healing and restoration rather than condemnation. Understanding this aspect of God's character encourages us to trust in His goodness and His desire to bring about redemption in our lives. By recognizing the curse's impact, we can better appreciate the hope and healing that God offers. [02:07]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: In what ways can you see God's redemptive work in your life, even amidst the brokenness caused by sin?


Day 3: The Promise of Redemption Through Christ
The proto-evangelium in Genesis promises that the offspring of the woman will ultimately defeat evil, a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This victory over sin and evil offers us hope and assurance of redemption. By understanding this promise, we can find strength and encouragement in the face of life's challenges, knowing that Christ has already secured the ultimate victory. This assurance invites us to live with confidence and hope, trusting in the redemptive work of Jesus. [07:43]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: How does the promise of Christ's victory over evil influence your perspective on the struggles you face today?


Day 4: The Complexity of Offering and Receiving Help
Offering and receiving help can be complex and challenging, especially when it involves those we love. The story of Norman McLean and his brother Paul illustrates the pain of being unable to help those we care about. By placing our broken stories in God's hands, we can find meaning and redemption. This process requires humility and trust, as we acknowledge our limitations and rely on God's strength. Understanding the complexity of help encourages us to be compassionate and patient, both with ourselves and others. [10:21]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: Who in your life is in need of help today, and how can you offer support while trusting God with the outcome?


Day 5: Living with Hope in a Broken World
Despite the brokenness of the world, we are part of a larger story filled with hope. By seeking God's help and being willing to help others, we participate in His redemptive work. This perspective allows us to live with hope and purpose, knowing that our actions contribute to God's greater plan. Living with hope means trusting in God's promises and being open to His guidance, even when circumstances seem challenging. It is an invitation to be a conduit of His grace and love in the world. [12:45]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can be a conduit of God's hope and grace to someone in your life today?

Quotes


god of the Bible the Living God is a god of new beginnings never do we see that more than what we look at today so right now take a deep breath that is the spirit Breath of God in you let go of yesterday let go of your inadequacy weakness sin guilt Embrace this day as God's gift you lift up your hearts lift up your hearts toward Heaven be filled with hope and anticipation we're going to find God and the word for today is help [00:00:31]

so after the fall God comes and he questions the man and he questions the women and there's pretty limited uh uh expression of agency so next comes what is sometimes called the pronouncement of the curse say a couple words about this uh the language is very interesting in Genesis it talks about God directly blessing blessing is an act of God's will uh He blesses the fish He blesses the human beings uh it doesn't say God curses what God does is to observe the curse or pronounces the curse he Will's blessing he observes cursiveness that comes when things are not as they are supposed to be and he pronounces this on the serpent that is the agent of evil and Temptation he pronounces it on the earth the ground he does not pronounce the curse over the man over the woman all that's showing us the nature of a God who is a good God who wants to bring about Redemption [00:16:22]

and then a sense of alienation and deep frustration you will labor by the sweat of your brow that's part of why when we talk to somebody and they want to let us know I'm doing really well can you do this project no sweat or I'm cool cool has become a big thing cool baby no sweat baby why because I don't want to be thought of as somebody who is under the curse and yet I am and yet God is up to something in this it is reflecting on this that causes Paul in uh he's loaded the church at Rome Romans 8 he says for creation itself was subjected to frustration the ground thorns and thistles there's a curse things are not as they're supposed to be creation itself was subjected to frustration not by its own choice but by the one who subjected it that is God in hope that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the Glorious freedom of the children of God there is a great story at work God is doing something nothing is the way it's supposed to be [00:32:56]

there is a goodness and a blessing that we did not put into the world and there is a Brokenness inside me and with other people that I can't fix uh God also speaks to the woman I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing with pain you will give birth to your children your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you and I have talked before about the fact that the husband ruling over the wife was not God's original intent for humankind is part of the curse that Jesus came to Deliver Us from it's interesting that right after this in the 20th verse of Genesis 3 it says Adam named his wife Eve he doesn't name her before the coming of the curse and some Old Testament Scholars will say naming often implied a kind of authority over another being the man names the animals and now he names EV he didn't do that before because he was not yet trying to rule over her before [00:45:54]

and I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your Offspring and hers now what's the Serpent's Offspring God is not talking about little snakes they're going to be crawling around the idea here is that there are two great forces in life there is evil and there is good and to be a child of evil or to be a child of good is to be characterized by that and of course the reality for all of us is with this combination of them God says I will put enmity as a really good thing to say I don't want evil I don't want to be that kind of person and uh when Genesis goes on to talk about uh Cain is a picture of The Offspring of evil of murder but then it says between your Offspring and hers he will crush your head and you will strike his heel somebody's coming help is coming and he will crush he will destroy he will bring an into the curse and Evil [01:04:04]

and this is sometimes called Old technical language for it is proto-ethangelium the the first or embryonic picture of the Gospel the promise that help is on the way that The Offspring of the woman would be born one day and in the early church they came to understand that this offspring of course was Jesus this is the first promise of Jesus Paul when he writes to the church at Rome I think it's chapter 16 verse 20. he says and the God of Peace will soon crush the Satan under your feet and so we cry out for help this is the promise we Face somehow a life and forces death alienation sin Brokenness that is too much for us [01:14:58]

when the authors I love is Norman McLean the son of a Protestant Presbyterian minister and uh he taught for his whole career at Northwestern when he was an old old man he wrote his first book his first Novella called A River Runs Through It and one of the themes in that book is help it's the story of Two Brothers Norman and his brother Paul and Paul struggles with demons addiction and and attraction to gambling um Norman is never able to give his brother the help that he knows that he needs his dad isn't his dad his dad's this wonderful Presbyterian minister at one point Norman takes up with a uh girlfriend who's a Methodist and Norman writes my father did not think much about methodists he considered them Baptists that could read [01:24:10]

but he's reflecting in one of his sermons about the nature of help he says help is when you give a part of yourself to another person that accepts him willingly and yet Norman and his father was never able to do this for Paul who was a person of great grace and beauty very skilled as a fisherman and yet unable to overcome his demons at one point they're talking about trying to help somebody else and Norman says to his brother you know I just don't think he wants to be with us he doesn't want us to help him and Paul's responses maybe he just likes the idea of somebody trying to help him and Norman realizes maybe that's the longing of his brother Paul [01:31:39]

after Paul is killed his father in his final sermon is reflecting on the nature of help and he talks about the pain he says all too often what happens in this world is um either we are unable to give to the other person the help that they need or the help that we are able to offer them is not the help that they want and there's great pain I know and having somebody in your life where you want so much to help them and they will not or having somebody who would receive help if you're able to do it but you can't and so we take our broken lives and our broken stories and our broken relationships and we put them into God's hands we put them into his story [01:40:08]

Norman McLean wrote another book he was still writing it when he died as an old old man young men in fire it's about a man goes fire back in the 1940s and these young smoke jumpers who tried to put it out 13 of them died lots of controversy around that he talks about it was the story of young men like there's another story of a young man who descends from the Heavens to the Earth to try to save people who are in Peril and McLean writes that he he wrote that story to see if he could take what was a catastrophe and understand it as a tragedy because a catastrophe is just a random event but a tragedy is a story and if it's a story it has meaning and if it has meaning it could have Redemption and if there is redemption there is hope and there is hope and there is hope [01:50:59]

so today that's the prayer God help me God help the people that I love that I'm unable to help in the way that I wish I could how many know how to carry the burden of love me to know how to speak as well and wisely as I'm able helping to make decisions the best I can I can't God you can I want to let you and then God how can I bring help to the people I'm with today who needs help right now where I might be able to do something maybe I can't help the person I most want to help but there's somebody that I can help maybe in doing that somehow Grace is set free where help will come to the one that I love as well we're part of a great story and there is yet hope [02:07:27]

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Transcript
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