Embracing Our Role in God's Creation and Renewal
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to embrace the profound truth that our story begins in a garden and ends in a city, a well-ordered garden. This narrative is not just about individual salvation but about participating in God's grand design for creation. We are reminded that we are created in the image of God, called to be co-creators, stewards of the earth, and participants in the ongoing work of creation. This is not a static existence but a dynamic one, where we are invited to partner with God in the renewal of all things.
The story of creation is deeply material, filled with trees, fruit, air, water, and soil. It is a story of harmony within hierarchy, where God is the creator, and we are called to steward creation. Sin disrupts this harmony, fracturing the relationship between God, people, and creation. It is not merely about breaking rules but about disrupting shalom, the peace and rightness with God. Our response to sin is confession and repentance, a turning back to God and our original calling.
The narrative of the Bible is not about evacuation but restoration. It is about God reclaiming the earth and restoring the world to its intended design. This restoration begins with us, as we are invited to return to our proper place within creation. The vision that directs our lives should align with God's mission of renewal, reconciliation, and resurrection. We are called to be ambassadors of this new creation, participating in the renewal of all things.
As we navigate this journey, we must remember the world that was, weep for the world that is, and work for the world that is to come. This framework guides our prayer life, our vision, and our participation in God's work. We are invited to join God in the renewal of all things, to be partners in His mission, and to live lives of consequence. This is the story we are a part of, a story of hope, restoration, and new beginnings.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Beginning and the End: Our story begins in a garden and ends in a city, symbolizing a well-ordered garden. This narrative invites us to participate in God's grand design for creation, emphasizing our role as co-creators and stewards of the earth. We are called to embrace this dynamic existence and partner with God in the renewal of all things. [05:56]
2. The Disruption of Shalom: Sin is not just about breaking rules but disrupting the harmony and peace with God, others, and creation. It fractures the intended order, and our response should be confession and repentance, turning back to God and our original calling. This understanding shifts our focus from sin management to restoring shalom. [24:28]
3. Restoration Over Evacuation: The biblical narrative is about restoration, not evacuation. God is actively reclaiming the earth and restoring it to its intended design. This restoration begins with us, as we are invited to return to our proper place within creation and participate in God's mission of renewal, reconciliation, and resurrection. [28:35]
4. A Framework for Living: We are called to remember the world that was, weep for the world that is, and work for the world that is to come. This framework guides our prayer life, vision, and participation in God's work. It invites us to join God in the renewal of all things and live lives of consequence. [45:03]
5. Joining God's Mission: We are invited to be ambassadors of the new creation, participating in the renewal of all things. This involves aligning our lives with God's mission, embracing our role as co-creators, and living out the vision of restoration and reconciliation. It is a call to live with purpose and join God in His work of putting it all back together. [54:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:05] - The Beauty of Community
- [00:24] - The Story Begins in a Garden
- [00:56] - The Two Trees
- [01:32] - The Year of Biblical Literacy
- [02:11] - The Grand Narrative
- [02:58] - The Disruption of Shalom
- [03:32] - The Invitation to Repentance
- [04:28] - Restoration Over Evacuation
- [05:03] - A Framework for Living
- [05:44] - Joining God's Mission
- [06:10] - The Call to Weep and Work
- [06:44] - The Vision That Directs Our Lives
- [07:29] - The Hope of Resurrection
- [08:03] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:24-28 - The creation of mankind in God's image and the call to stewardship.
2. Revelation 21:1-4 - The vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells among His people.
3. Colossians 1:19-20 - The reconciliation of all things through Christ.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Genesis 1:24-28 reveal about humanity's role in creation? How does this passage describe our relationship with the rest of creation?
2. In Revelation 21:1-4, what are the key elements of the new creation that are highlighted? How do these elements connect to the beginning of the biblical narrative?
3. According to Colossians 1:19-20, what is the scope of reconciliation through Christ? How does this passage expand our understanding of God's mission?
4. The sermon mentions the concept of "shalom" being disrupted by sin. How is this disruption described, and what are its effects on creation and humanity? [24:28]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the idea of being co-creators with God, as mentioned in Genesis 1, challenge or affirm your understanding of your role in the world? [13:32]
2. The sermon emphasizes restoration over evacuation. How does this perspective influence the way one might view their purpose and mission in life? [28:35]
3. In what ways does the vision of a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21 shape the Christian hope for the future? How does this vision impact daily living? [19:55]
4. How does the concept of reconciliation in Colossians 1:19-20 inform the way Christians should engage with the world and with each other? [32:42]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. In what ways are you actively participating as a steward of creation? What changes can you make to better fulfill this role? [13:32]
2. The sermon calls for confession and repentance as a response to sin. Is there an area in your life where you need to turn back to God? What steps can you take this week to begin this process? [24:28]
3. How can you align your personal vision with God's mission of renewal and reconciliation? Identify one specific action you can take to contribute to this mission in your community. [28:35]
4. The sermon suggests remembering the world that was, weeping for the world that is, and working for the world that is to come. How can you incorporate this framework into your prayer life and daily actions? [45:03]
5. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you act as an ambassador of the new creation, promoting reconciliation and peace? Identify one relationship where you can apply this principle. [54:40]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of living lives of consequence. What does living a life of consequence mean to you, and how can you pursue this in your current context? [49:10]
7. Reflect on the idea of joining God in the renewal of all things. What is one area in your life or community where you feel called to make a difference? How can you take a step towards this calling this week? [51:44]
Devotional
Day 1: Our Story: From Garden to City
In the grand narrative of faith, our journey begins in a garden and culminates in a city, symbolizing a well-ordered garden. This story is not merely about individual salvation but about participating in God's grand design for creation. We are reminded that we are created in the image of God, called to be co-creators and stewards of the earth. This is a dynamic existence, where we are invited to partner with God in the renewal of all things. Our role is to embrace this calling and actively engage in the transformation of the world around us, aligning our lives with God's mission. [05:56]
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: How can you actively participate in God's creation today, whether through stewardship of the environment or nurturing relationships around you?
Day 2: Restoring Shalom
Sin is not just about breaking rules; it disrupts the harmony and peace with God, others, and creation. This disruption fractures the intended order, and our response should be confession and repentance, turning back to God and our original calling. Understanding sin in this way shifts our focus from mere rule-following to restoring shalom, the peace and rightness with God. It invites us to seek reconciliation and healing in our relationships and the world around us, aligning our lives with God's vision of harmony. [24:28]
Isaiah 32:17 (ESV): "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever."
Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life where shalom is disrupted? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?
Day 3: Embracing Restoration
The biblical narrative emphasizes restoration over evacuation. God is actively reclaiming the earth and restoring it to its intended design. This restoration begins with us, as we are invited to return to our proper place within creation and participate in God's mission of renewal, reconciliation, and resurrection. Our lives should align with this mission, embracing the call to be ambassadors of the new creation. This involves living with purpose and joining God in His work of putting it all back together. [28:35]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can actively participate in God's work of restoration today?
Day 4: A Framework for Living
We are called to remember the world that was, weep for the world that is, and work for the world that is to come. This framework guides our prayer life, vision, and participation in God's work. It invites us to join God in the renewal of all things and live lives of consequence. By embracing this framework, we align our lives with God's mission, living with intentionality and purpose. It challenges us to engage with the world around us, seeking to bring about God's kingdom on earth. [45:03]
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: How can you incorporate this framework into your daily life, ensuring that your actions align with God's mission of renewal?
Day 5: Joining God's Mission
We are invited to be ambassadors of the new creation, participating in the renewal of all things. This involves aligning our lives with God's mission, embracing our role as co-creators, and living out the vision of restoration and reconciliation. It is a call to live with purpose and join God in His work of putting it all back together. By embracing this calling, we become active participants in God's grand narrative, contributing to the transformation of the world around us. [54:40]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to align your life with God's mission and become an ambassador of the new creation?
Quotes
"On Friday night, I was with a bunch of you up at the Avon celebrating a friend of ours, a film they had made, and it was this beautiful community experience, and then we all went out to the pub after, and we're hanging out, and talking, and laughing, and eating, and a good friend of mine, a leader in this community, just looked at me, and she goes, you know, whenever we talk about how we want to become a family that follows the path of Jesus, that's like how we do discipleship here, it's that family part that always gets me, and upon like further prodding, and talking, and fleshing this out a bit more, the what got her, and what got all of us standing around talking was how much of a family has formed here." [00:16:16] (51 seconds)
"The story begins in a garden, the story ends with a city, and at the center of both of them is a tree. In Genesis, there's the tree of life, which is a symbol of abundance and provision and eternal communion with God. And then in Revelation, which we'll get to in a moment, the tree of life appears and where we read in Revelation 22 too, the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nation. The beginning and the end are deeply, deeply connected." [00:03:05] (36 seconds)
"God, being this God of love, who wants to be near us and dwell with us, gives us a choice on whether we would like to participate in God's good creation. This morning, I just wanna talk about these two trees. Unless you think like, sweet, not an arborist, not into it this morning. The series that we're in, it's like a series embedded in another series embedded in another series." [00:04:03] (31 seconds)
"That biblical literacy is not as high as it should be. And the most important things, A .W. Tozer says, that a person can think are their thoughts on God, our thoughts on truth. We need to be people, yes, who have habits and practice the way of Jesus together. We need to be people who are open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and be empowered by the work of God. Be zealous for Him and His heart and His love." [00:04:51] (25 seconds)
"Showing that they are distinct. The creation isn't to be worshipped. Instead, there's a creator distinct from creation, which would have been just a bit of a shift. Those of you who come from pagan roots and pagan backgrounds, you know how radical that shift is. The universe is not sort of trees, rocks, and everything in it. God moves and is present in it. Moreover, creation has been endowed by the creator to make more of itself." [00:10:40] (24 seconds)
"Sin is not just breaking the rules. It is fracturing harmony. It is the disruption of the way things are supposed to be. It's rebellion against that hierarchy that we just talked about in Genesis 1. Against the order God created. There is creator. There is creation. And humans are called to steward creation. Sin says, I don't like the way this is arranged." [00:23:34] (22 seconds)
"Sin distorts the proper relationship between God, people, and creation itself. Instead of worshiping the creator, we worship creation. Instead of stewarding the earth, what do we often do? We exploit it. So when Christians are like, like Christians don't care about environmental things, I'm like, what Bible are you reading? Instead of receiving from God, we grasp." [00:25:08] (21 seconds)
"Sin is personal, but it is not just personal. It is cosmic. It's why we see exploitation instead of flourishing. It's why we see corruption instead of justice. It's why we see violence instead of peace. Sin is also not just like bumping up against the hierarchy. It's just participating in that old order. In Genesis 1 and 2, it tells a story again of the world moving forward. And if that's the case, then sin is participation in an old order." [00:25:32] (31 seconds)
"Repentance is not just about what you've done, but what you are being invited into, to step back into the story. Because the story, getting the story right and starting at the right place helps us understand what God is up to. The story is about a God who wants to put it all back together." [00:28:26] (20 seconds)
"Central to the Jewish world of Jesus was the belief that God had not given up on creation, but was actively at work within it, bringing it back to how he had intended it to be. The prophets had a way of talking about this movement. They spoke of God's reclaiming the earth and restoring the world. They didn't talk about people going somewhere else at the end of time, by and large. There are consequences to sin. Hell is real, however we are to rightly conceive of it." [00:28:47] (29 seconds)
"Joining God in the renewal of all things. This is what God is up to. Behold, the end of the story says, Jesus is making all things new. So what is the vision that will direct your life? The vision that will direct your life is that God is making all things new. And so how do we live lives of consequence? We join God in the renewal of all things." [00:44:23] (29 seconds)
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