Engaging Faith: Our Responsibility in God’s Institutions
Summary
Starting our worship service with baptisms is always a profound blessing, a testament to the transformative power of Jesus working in the next generation. Witnessing young people profess their faith is a reminder that despite the evil we see in the world, Jesus remains active and powerful. This morning, we also focus on the importance of being active participants in the institutions God has created: the family, the church, and the government. Each of these institutions is designed to bring glory to God, and as believers, we are called to engage with them in ways that reflect His glory.
In our current context, this engagement includes voting. Many Christians, especially younger generations, have become passive in political involvement, often citing God's sovereignty as a reason to abstain. However, the Bible calls us to be active participants in the governance of our nation, as it is one of the institutions God has ordained. Our involvement should be motivated by a desire to preserve the image of God in our society, which is under attack through issues like gender, marriage, and justice.
The Bible teaches that every human being is made in the image of God, and this truth should guide our political decisions. We are called to vote in a way that upholds the sanctity of life, the biblical definition of marriage, and the inherent dignity of every person. This is not about aligning with a political party but about aligning with God's heart for His creation. As we approach elections, our focus should be on candidates and policies that best preserve the image of God, allowing His truth to be proclaimed and His glory to be magnified.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Baptism and Testimony: Baptism is a powerful declaration of faith and a reminder of Jesus' active work in the next generation. It encourages us to see beyond the evil in the world and recognize the unchanging power of the gospel. [23:47]
- Engagement in God-Ordained Institutions: God has created the family, the church, and the government to bring Him glory. Our active participation in these institutions, including voting, is a way to honor God and reflect His image in the world. [37:43]
- Voting as a Biblical Responsibility: As Christians, we are called to vote in a way that preserves the image of God. This involves prioritizing issues like the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and justice, which are under attack in our society. [56:35]
- Preserving the Image of God: Every person is made in the image of God, and our political decisions should reflect this truth. By voting for candidates and policies that uphold this image, we contribute to the proclamation of God's truth and glory. [01:05:10]
- Aligning with God's Heart: Our political engagement should not be about party allegiance but about aligning with God's heart for His creation. This involves putting aside personal opinions and focusing on what honors God the most. [01:15:15]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:47] - Baptism and Testimonies
[25:15] - Operation Christmas Child
[32:05] - Gratitude and Community
[37:43] - Introduction to the Sermon
[39:12] - Politics and Religion
[41:21] - The Importance of Voting
[50:59] - Family and Church Institutions
[52:43] - The Role of Government
[55:10] - Satan's Influence on Institutions
[56:35] - Biblical Responsibility to Vote
[57:43] - The Structure of Government
[01:01:39] - Loving God and Neighbor
[01:05:10] - Preserving the Image of God
[01:15:15] - Aligning with God's Heart
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 43:7 - "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
2. Romans 13:1 - "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
3. Matthew 22:37-40 - "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three institutions mentioned in the sermon that God has created to bring Him glory? How are believers called to engage with these institutions? [37:43]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of baptism as a declaration of faith? How does it serve as a reminder of Jesus' work in the next generation? [23:47]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Christians in political engagement, particularly in the context of voting? [56:35]
4. What does the sermon suggest is the primary issue that should drive a Christian's vote in elections? [01:06:19]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Isaiah 43:7 inform the way Christians should view their purpose in life, especially in relation to God's glory? [37:43]
2. In what ways does Romans 13:1 challenge or affirm the idea of Christian involvement in government and politics? [56:35]
3. How does the greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-40 relate to the sermon’s emphasis on preserving the image of God in society? [01:06:19]
4. What are the potential consequences of Christians being passive in their political involvement, according to the sermon? [57:43]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current level of engagement with the institutions of family, church, and government. What steps can you take to ensure your involvement reflects God's glory? [37:43]
2. Consider the last time you witnessed a baptism. How did it impact your faith and understanding of Jesus' work in the next generation? How can you support young believers in your community? [23:47]
3. How do you currently approach voting and political engagement? What changes might you need to make to align your actions with the biblical responsibility outlined in the sermon? [56:35]
4. Identify one issue related to the image of God (such as gender, marriage, or justice) that you feel passionate about. How can you actively work to preserve this aspect of God's image in your community? [01:07:13]
5. The sermon emphasizes aligning with God's heart rather than a political party. How can you ensure that your political decisions are motivated by a desire to honor God above all else? [01:15:15]
6. Think about a time when you felt conflicted about voting due to the candidates or issues at hand. How can you seek God's wisdom and guidance in future elections to make decisions that glorify Him? [41:21]
7. How can you encourage others in your church or community to engage in political processes in a way that reflects their faith and commitment to God's glory? [57:43]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Baptism
Baptism is a profound declaration of faith, symbolizing the transformative power of Jesus in the lives of believers, especially the younger generation. It serves as a powerful reminder that despite the evil and chaos in the world, Jesus remains active and powerful. Witnessing young people profess their faith through baptism encourages believers to see beyond the darkness and recognize the unchanging power of the gospel. This act of faith is not just a personal milestone but a communal celebration of God's work in the lives of individuals and the church as a whole. [23:47]
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you witnessed a baptism. How did it impact your understanding of faith and community? How can you support the next generation in their faith journey today?
Day 2: Engaging with God-Ordained Institutions
God has established institutions like the family, the church, and the government to bring Him glory. As believers, we are called to actively participate in these institutions, reflecting His image and glory in the world. This engagement is not passive but requires intentional involvement, including voting and other forms of civic participation. By doing so, we honor God and contribute to the flourishing of society according to His design. Our involvement should be motivated by a desire to preserve the image of God in our society, which is under attack through various issues. [37:43]
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your current level of engagement with the institutions of family, church, and government. What is one specific action you can take this week to reflect God's glory in one of these areas?
Day 3: Voting as a Biblical Responsibility
Voting is a significant way Christians can engage with the governance of their nation, an institution ordained by God. Many believers, especially younger generations, may feel passive about political involvement, citing God's sovereignty as a reason to abstain. However, the Bible calls us to be active participants, voting in a way that upholds the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and justice. This responsibility is not about aligning with a political party but about aligning with God's heart for His creation. [56:35]
"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." (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the upcoming elections. How can you prepare to vote in a way that aligns with biblical values and God's heart for justice and righteousness?
Day 4: Preserving the Image of God
Every human being is made in the image of God, and this truth should guide our political and social decisions. By voting for candidates and policies that uphold this image, we contribute to the proclamation of God's truth and glory. This involves prioritizing issues like the sanctity of life, biblical marriage, and justice, which are under attack in our society. Our political engagement should reflect the inherent dignity of every person, as created by God. [01:05:10]
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one policy issue that challenges the image of God in society. How can you advocate for change in this area, both in your personal life and within your community?
Day 5: Aligning with God's Heart
Our political engagement should not be about party allegiance but about aligning with God's heart for His creation. This involves putting aside personal opinions and focusing on what honors God the most. As believers, we are called to reflect God's love and justice in our political decisions, ensuring that His truth is proclaimed and His glory is magnified. This alignment requires humility, discernment, and a commitment to God's values above all else. [01:15:15]
"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?" (Micah 6:8, ESV)
Reflection: Examine your political beliefs and actions. Are there areas where you need to realign with God's heart for justice, kindness, and humility? What steps can you take to make this alignment a reality in your life today?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes from the sermon transcript:
1. "I just want you to be encouraged that Jesus is working in the next generation, and, uh, it is awesome to sit back and see what He's doing. And so, just be encouraged as a church that, um, you know, we, we turn on the news, and we see a lot of evil and bad, and Jesus is working. He's the same God, it's the same gospel, and it has the same power, amen?" [613:63] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I just want to say thank you, guys. You have no idea. Just how great and I know I say this and you're like, yeah, he doesn't mean it. I mean, every word of it, like how great of a privilege it is to pastor. Like this isn't just a profession or a vocation. I mean, this is our life. This is our family. Like, I don't think my kids separate the church and our family. You guys are their family. And so, like, I just love you guys. We love you guys." [1898:61] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "For those of you that have been with us for the last many weeks and many months, you've probably already noticed we're taking a break for just a week from our Genesis series. I'm doing something this morning that I very rarely do, and even when I do do this, we always look at one isolated passage. We exerge through that passage. For those of you visiting, I'm a firm believer in expository preaching, so we've been walking through the book of Genesis over the course of the last two years, and we're in about the middle of the book, but I think there's a lot of wisdom in preaching through books of the Bible that way." [2218:60] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And yes, some of you, regardless of what side of the aisle you are on, some of you might leave mad or maybe a little upset, because for whatever reason, it's become this Christian idea that politics and religion just don't belong together. And so we never talk about it. We never talk about the major issues our country faces. We kind of have this idea. We have this idea that we'll stay in our lane, and the government will kind of stay in theirs." [2308:86] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "But guys, when the government stopped being about infrastructure, and when they stopped being about national security, when it stopped just teaching math, and English, and when they began to define things like gender and human sexuality, when they began to define things like marriage, these things went from being political to being biblical." [2352:70] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "And so I want you to understand that everything that we talk about this morning, it's not politics at all. It's all biblical matters. And in these things, there really isn't any room for debate. I think the word of God is sufficient in these matters." [2373:04] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And so the first institution we see, it's the family. But the second that the Bible shows us is the church. And much like the family, God designed it. He created it with a specific structure in mind. He created the offices of pastor and deacon. Pastors are to spiritually care for the flock as under -shepherds. Deacons, they're to care for the flock as physical caretakers." [3204:04] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And so we see those words again, obey, submit. Of course, it's concerning elders, overseers, pastors. It's all the same word, talking about the same thing. And of course, we believe, just like the family unit is structured, we believe that men lead in the church. And so let me ask you this. If we know that Satan's going to step in and create this, this function when the man's passive in his leadership of his family, what do you think is going to happen when pastors or when men in general are passive in the leadership of the church? Same thing, right?" [3252:90] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "And God's in the process. He will bring this function to the body. And the reason for that is because Satan wants to rob God of his glory. We're his body. Jesus is our head. And together we function to bring God glory. That's our sole aim. That's our purpose. Why we're gathered here today is not to make you feel good. In fact, I don't think some of you will leave feeling good. And that's okay." [3310:96] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I hope you leave closer to Jesus, understanding the word of God in a greater way. We're here to bring glory to the Father together because all of us have been brought together through the unity of Jesus. We come from different backgrounds, different cultures, different problems, different sins. We're brought together. Under one thing, which brings glory to God." [3342:92] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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