Embracing Technology for God's Glory and Purpose

 

Summary

In today's rapidly evolving digital world, we find ourselves at a unique juncture in history. For thousands of years, the horse was the fastest means of transportation, but in the last two centuries, technological advancements have accelerated at an unprecedented pace. This rapid change presents both challenges and opportunities, especially for Christians. As believers, we are called to harness these new technologies to glorify God and fulfill His purposes on earth.

The Bible provides a framework for understanding our relationship with technology. From the beginning, God commanded Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it." This mandate required the invention and use of technology to fulfill God's command. Similarly, Jesus' Great Commission to "go and make disciples of all nations" necessitates the use of technology to spread the gospel globally.

Throughout history, Christians have embraced new technologies to advance the gospel. The Roman roads, the printing press, radio, and now digital technologies have all been used to spread God's Word. Today, we have unprecedented tools at our disposal, and it's our responsibility to use them wisely and effectively for God's glory.

However, with every technological advancement comes the potential for misuse. Technology can be a double-edged sword, capable of both great good and great harm. We must be vigilant and discerning, ensuring that we use these tools to honor God and not to indulge in sin. The challenge is to use technology to further God's kingdom while avoiding the pitfalls of distraction and misuse.

As Christians, especially the younger generation, we are called to be innovators and stewards of technology. We must ask ourselves how we can use these tools to fulfill God's purposes, rather than merely seeking personal gain. The task before us is urgent and significant, and we must commit to using technology in ways that align with God's will.

Key Takeaways:

- The Historical Context of Technology: For most of human history, the horse was the fastest means of transportation. This illustrates how recent and rapid technological advancements have been, highlighting the unique opportunities and challenges we face today. [02:31]

- Technology as a Divine Mandate: From the beginning, God commanded humanity to fill the earth and subdue it, which inherently required the creation and use of technology. This underscores that technology is a good gift from God, meant to help us fulfill His purposes. [08:49]

- The Great Commission and Technology: Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations necessitates the use of technology to spread the gospel. Throughout history, Christians have leveraged new technologies to advance God's kingdom, demonstrating the importance of innovation in fulfilling the Great Commission. [09:56]

- The Dual Nature of Technology: While technology can be used for great good, it also carries the potential for misuse and harm. We must be discerning and intentional in how we use technology, ensuring it aligns with God's purposes and does not lead us into sin. [16:51]

- The Call to Innovate and Steward: Christians, especially the younger generation, are called to be innovators and stewards of technology. We must seek to use these tools to further God's kingdom, rather than merely for personal gain, recognizing the urgent and significant task before us. [21:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - The Speed of Change
- [01:27] - Historical Context of Technology
- [02:31] - The Advent of the Train
- [03:28] - Rapid Technological Advancements
- [04:34] - Opportunities for Christians
- [05:09] - Privilege and Responsibility
- [06:12] - The Dual Nature of Technology
- [07:18] - The Creation Mandate
- [08:49] - Technology as a Divine Mandate
- [09:26] - The Great Commission
- [10:29] - Historical Use of Technology by Christians
- [12:11] - The Challenge for Young Christians
- [14:28] - The Risks of Technology
- [16:51] - The Dual Nature of Technology
- [19:42] - The Call to Innovate and Steward

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:28 - "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"
2. Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Observation Questions:
1. What was the primary means of transportation for most of human history, and how does this illustrate the rapid pace of technological advancement today? [00:54]
2. How did the invention of the train mark a significant shift in human history, and why was it referred to as the "iron horse"? [02:31]
3. According to the sermon, what role did the Roman roads play in the spread of the gospel during the time of the apostles? [11:01]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how Christians have historically used new technologies to advance the gospel? [11:35]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command in Genesis 1:28 relate to the development and use of technology according to the sermon? [08:49]
2. In what ways does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 necessitate the use of technology, as discussed in the sermon? [09:56]
3. The sermon mentions the dual nature of technology. How can technology be both a tool for good and a potential source of harm? [16:51]
4. What does it mean to be a steward of technology, and how does this concept apply to Christians today, especially the younger generation? [21:58]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current use of technology. Are there ways you can better align your use of digital tools with God's purposes? What specific changes can you make this week? [19:42]
2. Identify a new technology or digital platform you use regularly. How can you use it to share the gospel or encourage others in their faith? [12:11]
3. Consider the potential distractions technology brings into your life. What steps can you take to minimize these distractions and focus more on your relationship with God? [20:15]
4. Have you ever found yourself using technology in a way that doesn't honor God? What accountability measures can you put in place to prevent this in the future? [19:07]
5. Think of a young person in your life. How can you encourage them to be an innovator and steward of technology for God's kingdom? [05:40]
6. How can you balance the use of technology for personal enjoyment with its use for fulfilling God's purposes? What practical steps can you take to ensure this balance? [06:12]
7. Reflect on the idea that God allows us to be part of His work through technology. How does this perspective change the way you view your daily interactions with digital tools? [21:58]

Devotional

Day 1: The Speed of Change and Our Response
In the past, the horse was the fastest means of transportation for thousands of years, but the last two centuries have seen technological advancements accelerate at an unprecedented pace. This rapid change presents both challenges and opportunities, especially for Christians. As believers, we are called to harness these new technologies to glorify God and fulfill His purposes on earth. The historical context of technology reminds us of the unique opportunities and challenges we face today. We must be mindful of how we respond to these changes and ensure that our actions align with God's will. [02:31]

Ecclesiastes 7:10-11 (ESV): "Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun."

Reflection: How can you embrace the rapid changes in technology today to better serve God and others in your community?


Day 2: Technology as a Divine Mandate
From the beginning, God commanded humanity to fill the earth and subdue it, which inherently required the creation and use of technology. This underscores that technology is a good gift from God, meant to help us fulfill His purposes. As Christians, we are called to view technology as a divine mandate, using it to further God's kingdom and not merely for personal gain. This perspective challenges us to be intentional and discerning in how we engage with technology, ensuring that it aligns with God's purposes. [08:49]

Genesis 1:28 (ESV): "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.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you use technology today to fulfill God's command to be fruitful and multiply, both spiritually and practically?


Day 3: The Great Commission and Innovation
Jesus' command to make disciples of all nations necessitates the use of technology to spread the gospel. Throughout history, Christians have leveraged new technologies to advance God's kingdom, demonstrating the importance of innovation in fulfilling the Great Commission. Today, we have unprecedented tools at our disposal, and it's our responsibility to use them wisely and effectively for God's glory. This call to innovation challenges us to think creatively about how we can use technology to reach others with the message of Christ. [09:56]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: What is one innovative way you can use technology to share the gospel with someone in your life today?


Day 4: The Dual Nature of Technology
While technology can be used for great good, it also carries the potential for misuse and harm. We must be discerning and intentional in how we use technology, ensuring it aligns with God's purposes and does not lead us into sin. This dual nature of technology requires us to be vigilant and wise, recognizing the potential for both positive and negative impacts on our spiritual lives. As Christians, we are called to navigate this tension with grace and wisdom, seeking to honor God in all that we do. [16:51]

1 Corinthians 10:23 (ESV): "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up."

Reflection: Identify one area where technology may be leading you away from God's purposes. How can you change your habits to ensure it aligns with His will?


Day 5: The Call to Innovate and Steward
Christians, especially the younger generation, are called to be innovators and stewards of technology. We must seek to use these tools to further God's kingdom, rather than merely for personal gain, recognizing the urgent and significant task before us. This call to innovate and steward challenges us to think deeply about how we can use technology to serve others and glorify God. It invites us to be proactive in our approach, seeking to make a positive impact in the world through our use of technology. [21:58]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can use your technological skills or resources to serve others and further God's kingdom this week?

Quotes


This is an amazing, amazing time to live. And this is an amazing, amazing time to be a Christian. And that's because every new technology brings us a great new opportunity. Every new technology that comes along brings a new opportunity to bring glory to God by carrying out God's will here on earth. And as Christians, we are responsible before God to take these new technologies and to put them to use for God's purposes. That's our privilege, and that's our responsibility. [00:04:36]

If you go all the way back to the beginning of our timeline, all the way back to the creation of humanity, you find just two people living in a garden. God has created them, and He's set them there in this garden. Adam and Eve, they are humanity, and God gives them their marching orders. He creates them, and He gives them their purpose. He says, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heaven and over every living thing that moves on the earth." [00:06:42]

The only way they were ever going to carry out God's command was to invent things. The only way they could honor God was to create new technologies. If they were going to build homes, they would need to cut down trees, and if they were going to cut down trees they would need to find a way, invent a way of cutting it down. To cross the rivers, to spread over the earth, they need to learn how to build bridges. [00:08:21]

God's people could only carry out God's commission if they took advantage of technology. Alright, God told them to take the gospel to the entire earth, which means they had to find ways of getting to the entire earth. They had to find ways of getting this message to the entire earth. So again God expected that His people, these Christians, would use new technology, maybe even invent new technologies. [00:09:33]

You know what's amazing? If you look back through human history, you look back through the history of technology, just look what Christians have done. Whenever a great new technology has come along, Christians have taken advantage. You go back to the day when the apostles lived. The Romans were in power, and you know they created this vast road system. This was amazing technology in their day. And these roads were meant to carry their soldiers, to carry on trade, but especially to carry the army. [00:10:25]

In the 1500s, Gutenberg invented the printing press. What happened? The Reformation happened, right? The Bible was printed. Books were printed. The Christian faith was printed and sent out all around the world. In the 1900s, radio came along. Soon Christians were broadcasting all across the world, broadcasting God's Word. The TV came along, and Christians were using that to broadcast God's Word. [00:11:10]

So here's the challenge again, especially for young people. You need to learn how to do the very best thing with these new technologies. You need to learn to use what already exists, and you need to learn to evaluate what will soon exist so these two can be used to carry the good news of the gospel. Maybe you'll even be involved in inventing new things, in creating new technologies specifically for this purpose of carrying out what God has called us to do. [00:12:16]

Technology can be used to do very, very good things. And technology can be used to do very, very evil things. So even while technology is a good gift through which we can carry out God's will, it's also a very, very dangerous thing. With our technologies, we can honor God and we can dishonor God. We can glorify God, or we can heap contempt on His name. We can do such good to other people, and we can do them such harm. [00:15:40]

You see, you might invent a gun to protect yourself but then maybe it's used to harm other people, to attack other people. Well, the printing press that was used to print the Bible also prints the Book of Mormon. Really, Gutenberg's press printed Bibles and it printed papal indulgences. It printed both. The radio that broadcasts the good news two hours later might be broadcasting heresy. But it's even more complicated than that. [00:17:33]

He also calls us to be wise. He calls us to be careful. He calls us to be discerning, and we're wise to acknowledge that our sinful human hearts will at times want to use good gifts in bad ways, want to take God's things, good things and use them for evil purposes. And that's true of technology. We'll want to use very good devices in very bad ways. So this means we need to be very careful in examining our technologies to understand how we may want to use them for evil. [00:18:46]

None of this is meant to scare you away from technology, not at all. It's just meant to help you use it wisely, with maturity, with discernment. Our work is too important. It's far too urgent to get distracted from this work that God has called us to do. One of my great concerns, as I look at Christians and the way we use our technologies and especially digital technologies, is how distracted we become by them. [00:19:42]

God has been so good to allow us to be involved in the salvation of souls, to use us, to allow us to be involved in His work. He doesn't need us. God doesn't need us, but He chooses to use us. God allows us to be part of the most important work in the entire world. The question is will you join Him in this work? How will you join Him in this work? How will you use the good gift of human ingenuity, the good gift of creativity, the good gift of technology? [00:21:49]

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Transcript
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