Embracing Our Role in God's Ongoing Renewal
Summary
Today, I explored the profound theme of renewal and creation, emphasizing our role as Christians in shaping and cultivating culture in alignment with God's transformative work. I began by delving into the scriptural foundation of God's promise to make all things new, as declared in Revelation 21. This promise is not just a future expectation but an ongoing reality that we are invited to participate in actively.
I highlighted the importance of understanding our identity and purpose as God's creation. From the very beginning, as seen in Genesis, humanity was placed in the Garden of Eden not just to maintain it but to cultivate and create within it. This original intent shows that our role is not passive but actively involves creating and shaping the environment around us.
The narrative of human history shows both the beauty of creation and the tragedy of our fall, which led to a broken relationship with God and with each other. However, God's plan did not end with this fall. Through Jesus Christ, God initiated the restoration of all things, including our relationship with Him and with one another. This restoration is not just about being saved from sin but about being renewed for a purpose.
In discussing the practical implications of this renewal, I emphasized that as Christians, we are not to withdraw from the world but to engage with it creatively and redemptively. We are called to be culture makers, shaping our societies in ways that reflect God's kingdom. This involves discerning engagement with the world around us, recognizing where we need to challenge cultural norms and where we can affirm and enhance what is good.
Throughout the sermon, I shared personal reflections and examples from church history that illustrate how Christians have engaged with culture in transformative ways. From the early Christians who cared for the sick during plagues to modern examples of Christian involvement in social issues, we see a consistent theme of God's people working towards the renewal of all things.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Our Role in Creation
We are not merely inhabitants of this world; we are its cultivators and creators. Just as Adam was placed in the Garden to work and keep it, we are placed in our contexts to create and cultivate. This is not just about physical creation but about cultural and relational creation as well. Our work, when done in the Spirit, is imbued with eternal significance and contributes to God's redemptive narrative. [24:25]
2. The Ongoing Reality of Renewal
The renewal of all things is not a future event to passively await but an ongoing reality we are called to participate in. This participation involves personal transformation and active engagement in societal transformation. As we align ourselves with God's purposes, we experience and facilitate the renewal of our surroundings. [01:24]
3. Engagement with Culture
Our engagement with culture should be transformative, not conformative. While it's easy to either reject culture entirely or mimic it uncritically, our call is to infuse culture with the values of God's kingdom. This means creating and participating in cultural expressions that reflect God's beauty, truth, and goodness. [06:36]
4. The Power of Redemptive Presence
The history of the church shows that transformative cultural engagement often comes from a place of redemptive presence. By choosing to remain in challenging contexts and serve the needs around us, like the early Christians during plagues, we demonstrate the love and power of the gospel in tangible ways. This presence has the power to change narratives and heal brokenness. [29:55]
5. Creating a Culture of Renewal
As leaders and members of our communities, we have the responsibility to foster environments that reflect God's renewal. This involves intentional actions to cultivate a culture of love, mercy, and justice within our spheres of influence. By doing so, we not only live out our calling but also invite others into the transformative work of the gospel. [31:19]
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome
01:24 - The Promise of Renewal
06:36 - Engaging with Culture
24:25 - Our Role in God's Creation
29:55 - The Church's Redemptive Presence
31:19 - Cultivating a Culture of Renewal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 21:1-5
2. Genesis 2:15
3. Ephesians 1:7-10
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Revelation 21:1-5, what are some of the specific promises God makes about the new heaven and new earth?
2. In Genesis 2:15, what task did God give to Adam in the Garden of Eden, and how does this relate to our role in creation today?
3. How does Ephesians 1:7-10 describe the purpose and plan of God in relation to renewal and redemption?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for Christians to participate in the ongoing reality of renewal as described in Revelation 21:1-5? How does this shape our daily lives? [01:24]
2. How can the task given to Adam in Genesis 2:15 be seen as a model for our engagement with culture and creation today? [17:19]
3. Ephesians 1:7-10 speaks of God's plan to unite all things in Christ. How does this vision influence our understanding of cultural engagement and renewal? [20:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current environment—whether at home, work, or in your community. How can you actively cultivate and create in a way that aligns with God's redemptive work? [17:19]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of engaging with culture creatively and redemptively. Can you identify a specific cultural norm that you feel called to challenge or affirm? How will you go about this? [06:36]
3. Think about a time when you felt the need for personal renewal. How did you experience God's transformative power in that situation, and how can you seek similar renewal in your current circumstances? [02:40]
4. The early Christians demonstrated a redemptive presence by caring for the sick during plagues. What are some practical ways you can show a redemptive presence in your community today? [29:55]
5. The sermon mentioned creating a culture of love, mercy, and justice within our spheres of influence. What specific actions can you take this week to foster such a culture in your family, workplace, or church? [16:04]
6. How can you balance the need to sometimes reject certain cultural elements while also embracing and creating new cultural expressions that reflect God's kingdom? [13:46]
7. Reflect on the idea of being a "culture maker" for Christ. What unique gifts or talents do you have that can contribute to building a Christ-like culture in your community? How will you use them? [14:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating Our Divine Role
We are not merely inhabitants of this world; we are its cultivators and creators. Just as Adam was placed in the Garden to work and keep it, we are placed in our contexts to create and cultivate. This is not just about physical creation but about cultural and relational creation as well. Our work, when done in the Spirit, is imbued with eternal significance and contributes to God's redemptive narrative. [24:25]
Genesis 2:15 - "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 cultivate and create in your current environment to reflect God's kingdom?
Day 2: Participating in God's Renewal
The renewal of all things is not a future event to passively await but an ongoing reality we are called to participate in. This participation involves personal transformation and active engagement in societal transformation. As we align ourselves with God's purposes, we experience and facilitate the renewal of our surroundings. [01:24]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the renewal of your community this week?
Day 3: Transformative Cultural Engagement
Our engagement with culture should be transformative, not conformative. While it's easy to either reject culture entirely or mimic it uncritically, our call is to infuse culture with the values of God's kingdom. This means creating and participating in cultural expressions that reflect God's beauty, truth, and goodness. [06:36]
1 Chronicles 12:32 - "Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."
Reflection: What is one cultural norm you feel called to challenge or transform through your Christian values?
Day 4: The Power of Redemptive Presence
The history of the church shows that transformative cultural engagement often comes from a place of redemptive presence. By choosing to remain in challenging contexts and serve the needs around us, like the early Christians during plagues, we demonstrate the love and power of the gospel in tangible ways. This presence has the power to change narratives and heal brokenness. [29:55]
Jeremiah 29:7 - "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."
Reflection: How can you be a redemptive presence in a difficult situation or environment you currently face?
Day 5: Creating a Culture of Renewal
As leaders and members of our communities, we have the responsibility to foster environments that reflect God's renewal. This involves intentional actions to cultivate a culture of love, mercy, and justice within our spheres of influence. By doing so, we not only live out our calling but also invite others into the transformative work of the gospel. [31:19]
Micah 6:8 - "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: What specific action can you take this week to foster a culture of renewal in your community?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "So God is making all things new. It's a wonderful thing, a wonderful phrase because it's scriptural, it's real. It's truth. Behold, I am making all things new. Wow. The renewal of all things. And you know what? The renewal of all things has already begun. It's ongoing and we're called to be part of it." [01:24]
2. "We see a world crying out for something new. Because they've tried the old and they've been left with nothing. The old is gone, but there's nothing to replace it. And the church is there. To point people to the new. To point people to Jesus who brings new life." [02:40]
3. "God's transformation as renewal is far beyond what we can think. And we want him to renew what's been broken. Now ultimately, you know, we, I believe, are a gospel church. We are a church of good news. We're seeking to be a church that brings good news." [03:59]
4. "Culture can be so powerful, can't it? It's powerful because it actually reflects something of God's creation. It reflects something of God's nature. And I actually think we miss out if we just say, let's burn culture. And I think we miss out if we just say, let's copy culture." [11:10]
5. "God is interested in what we make. God is interested in what we create. And God did not design us just to consume. We are not a passive people just receiving culture. Even receiving a church culture. Because we can come passive in that as well. We get to make it. We get to shape it." [24:25]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Holy Spirit. It's time to cultivate. It's time to create. Hallelujah. I want us to go back to what Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15, 58, that we labor not in vain. And I'm going to finish with a song that, as leaders, we use when we gather together last autumn." [31:19]
2. "And he places human beings into it, in his image, to do what he's doing, to create. Genesis 2.15, the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Work, cultivating, creating is part of God's plan. This is pre-fall." [18:44]
3. "We are called to create and cultivate. To participate in the renewal of all things. Including culture. So when it comes to culture. Yes there are times we need to be anti some things. But the church sometimes can speak far louder about being anti everything than it can about actually building a Christ-like culture in our society." [21:33]
4. "The first person to be filled with the Holy Spirit in Exodus. Bezalel. Often attributed as the first person to be filled with the Spirit in Exodus 35 verse 30 to 33. What's it for? To be filled with the Holy Spirit? To devise artistic designs. To work in gold and silver and bronze." [22:58]
5. "We get to change the culture because we're creating something. And creating something goes back to God. Because God's first intention for our lives, going back to creation itself, in Genesis 1, the very beginning of the Bible story, where God creates this beautiful, wonderful planet." [17:19]
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