3rd May 26 am - Fixing the World's Problems

Devotional

Day 1: Bricks Against Heaven

The people of Shinar molded bricks with bitumen, stacking ambition toward the sky. They said, “Let us build a city—a tower reaching heaven—to make a name for ourselves.” Their hands worked swiftly, united by one language, one vision of self-glorification. But God saw their hearts: resistance masquerading as progress, rebellion dressed as unity. [29:33]

God confused their speech not to punish, but to protect. Their tower symbolized humanity’s oldest lie—that we can fix ourselves without Him. Babel’s collapse revealed the futility of self-salvation. Jesus later offered a better way: surrender, not striving.

Where are you stacking “bricks” of self-reliance? What project, habit, or goal subtly resists God’s authority? Identify one area where you’ve said, “Let us build” instead of “Thy will be done.”

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
(Genesis 11:4, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one specific way you’ve sought to “make a name” instead of glorifying God. Ask Him to dismantle your pride.
Challenge: Write down three “bricks” of self-reliance in your life. Burn or tear the paper as a surrender ritual.

Day 2: Fish on Dry Land

The people of Babel gasped for spiritual air, flapping in the dust of their own making. Like fish rejecting water, they traded life under God’s care for the illusion of freedom. Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing”—yet we still squirm toward independence. [33:49]

God designed us to thrive in the river of His presence. Sin strands us on barren ground, suffocating our souls. Pentecost reversed Babel: the Spirit’s breath revived dead hearts, uniting divided tongues to proclaim Christ.

When did you last feel spiritually breathless? What “dry land” choices—entertainment, avoidance, busyness—have you made this week? Jesus stands ready to return you to living waters. Will you let Him lift you?

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
(John 4:14, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal where you’ve chosen spiritual dehydration. Thank Him for the river of grace.
Challenge: Spend 10 minutes outdoors today—notice water (a puddle, glass, sink) and pray for renewed dependence.

Day 3: Tongues of Fire, Tongues of Grace

Flames danced over the disciples’ heads as the Spirit gave them new languages. Parthians, Medes, Egyptians—all heard God’s wonders in their mother tongues. Pentecost undid Babel: where pride fractured, humility united. The Gospel became the glue. [52:08]

Jesus didn’t send a better tower—He sent Himself. The Spirit transforms hearts, turning rebels into worshippers. Our call isn’t to build empires, but to kneel at the cross and declare Christ’s name, not ours.

Whose “language” do you struggle to understand—a neighbor, coworker, or family member? The same Spirit who bridged Babel’s divide can help you love across differences. Will you ask Him?

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
(Acts 2:4, NIV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to help you speak grace to someone who feels “foreign” to you this week.
Challenge: Initiate a conversation with someone outside your usual circle—listen more than speak.

Day 4: A Name Scattered, A Name Gathered

God scattered Babel’s builders but promised Abraham, “I will make your name great.” The difference? One sought glory, the other received it. Abraham’s descendants outnumber stars; Babel’s tower lies buried. Jesus fulfilled both: the Name above all names, born in a stable. [36:10]

We glorify God not by climbing, but by kneeling. Every act of obedience—visiting the sick, forgiving an enemy, serving unseen—etches Christ’s name deeper into a broken world.

What “small” obedience have you avoided lately? Cleaning, encouraging, or giving secretly? Do it today as a love letter signed “Jesus.”

“I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
(Genesis 12:2, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for the honor of bearing His name. Repent of craving personal recognition.
Challenge: Perform one anonymous act of service—leave a meal, note, or gift without credit.

Day 5: Daily Bread and Daily Surrender

The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father,” not “My kingdom.” Jesus redirects our hunger from self-sufficiency to daily dependence. Like manna in the wilderness, God’s grace meets us one sunrise at a time. Babel’s builders stockpiled bricks; we’re called to gather only enough trust for today. [57:03]

Praying “give us this day our daily bread” starves our inner tyrant. It admits, “I can’t fix the world—or myself.” But the One who split languages and sent flames can.

When you pray today, pause after “daily bread.” What anxiety, plan, or regret are you clutching? Open your hands.

“Give us today our daily bread.”
(Matthew 6:11, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to expose one area where you’re hoarding control instead of trusting His daily care.
Challenge: Write out the Lord’s Prayer. Circle every “our” and “us” as a reminder: you’re not alone.

Sermon Summary

The congregation hears about an upcoming sabbatical that will include study and a short holiday, and plans for ministerial training in Washington DC. An internship initiative called Anchored will onboard two young men for two years of practical ministry training alongside study at the Ministry Training Academy in Aberdeen, supported by a committed financial pledge from the church. The program will combine classroom formation, hands-on involvement in services and pastoral visits, and a short mission trip to Romania, with an appeal for regular prayer and financial support to free interns for ministry. A reminder follows that regular giving and gift aid enable sustained ministry and create space for apprenticeships that form future leaders.

Attention then turns to Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel. The text portrays human unity after the flood as technically impressive but spiritually corrupted. Advanced building techniques and a desire to make a name for themselves reveal self-centeredness and resistance to God’s command to fill the earth. God’s intervention by confusing languages breaks the delusion of human self-sufficiency and redirects people back to the mission he gave. The action displays divine grace rather than arbitrary punishment; scattering restores the order God intended and removes the pathway to further self-glorification.

The narrative moves to Acts 2 as a counterpoint. Pentecost brings the Holy Spirit, enabling disciples to speak so that visitors hear in their native tongues. Where Babel produced fractured communication born of pride, Pentecost creates true unity rooted in the proclamation of Christ. The Holy Spirit diagnoses human self-centeredness and empowers change that mere willpower cannot achieve.

The practical call is twofold: cease resisting God and stop centering life on self, and instead allow the Spirit to place God at the center. The text urges repentance, regular dependence on scripture and prayer, and acts of obedience undertaken for God’s glory rather than human praise. The Lord’s Prayer functions as a model for daily dependence and reorientation. The hope remains that God will ultimately put all things right, and in the present he invites people to trust his wisdom, embrace his fellowship, and live as those restored to their intended habitat.

Key Takeaways

1. Invest in formative ministry training [07:15] Long-term, structured apprenticeships cultivate spiritual depth and practical skill in ways short-term exposure cannot. When learning combines theological study, pastoral practice, and real congregational responsibility, students grow into ministers who understand both doctrine and people. Supporting such training preserves future gospel ministry and prevents burnout from premature placement.
- Generosity sustains church mission
Financial giving functions as a concrete expression of worship that undergirds ministry priorities and communal formation. Regular, sacrificial contributions enable the church to free people for full-time discipleship and to underwrite training, missions, and pastoral care. Gift aid amplifies that commitment by stewarding public resources for kingdom work.
- Sin makes unity a false good
External harmony and technical achievement can mask inward rebellion when motives center on self-promotion or resistance to God. True flourishing requires alignment with God’s command, not merely communal success for its own sake. Recognizing this prevents the idolizing of progress and redirects ambition toward God-glorifying ends.
- Holy Spirit reverses Babel’s curse
Pentecost shows that only God’s Spirit can overcome the fragmentation sin produces and create repentance-filled unity around Christ. The Spirit exposes self-centeredness, equips proclamation in diverse tongues, and enables obedience that human effort cannot sustain. Relying on the Spirit leads to communal life ordered to God’s glory rather than human acclaim. [07:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:09] - Sabbatical and Training Plans
[07:15] - Introducing the Anchored Internship
[08:16] - Funding the Internship Commitment
[12:55] - Giving, Gift Aid, and Worship
[24:02] - Transition to Scripture: Genesis 1-11
[26:36] - How Can We Fix the World?
[29:03] - Babel’s Technology and Ambition
[31:14] - Self-Glorification and Dispersion
[37:22] - God’s Response at Babel
[49:10] - Acts 2 and Pentecost Reading
[52:31] - Spirit-Driven Unity and Application
[55:24] - Closing Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Genesis 11:1-9 (ESV)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Acts 2:1-11 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

Observation Questions

In Genesis 11:4, what two goals did the people of Babel have for building the city and tower? How did these goals conflict with God’s command in Genesis 9:1?
How did God’s response to Babel (confusing languages and scattering people) actually reflect grace rather than mere punishment? [37:22]
In Acts 2:6-11, what specific detail about the disciples’ speech amazed the crowd, and how does this contrast with the confusion at Babel?
According to the sermon, what two recurring human tendencies does sin produce? [36:39]

Interpretation Questions

Why might unity and technological progress (like Babel’s tower) become harmful when disconnected from God’s purposes? How does this apply to modern achievements?
The sermon describes Pentecost as a reversal of Babel’s curse. How does the Holy Spirit’s work in Acts 2 address the root issues of self-centeredness and resistance to God? [52:31]
The Lord’s Prayer was highlighted as a model for dependence on God. How do phrases like “Your kingdom come” and “Give us this day our daily bread” reorient our priorities away from self-sufficiency? [57:03]

Application Questions

The church committed to funding internships to train future leaders. What practical step could you take to support initiatives that invest in long-term spiritual growth for others (e.g., prayer, giving, mentorship)? [12:55]
Reflect on a time when you prioritized personal achievement or recognition over obedience to God. What would it look like to surrender that area to Him this week?
The sermon warned against “idolizing progress” for its own sake. Where do you see this tendency in your work, relationships, or hobbies? How could you intentionally redirect those efforts toward God’s glory? [26:36]
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to overcome self-centeredness. What specific habit (e.g., daily prayer, Scripture meditation, serving others) could help you rely more on the Spirit’s strength than your own willpower? [52:53]
The Lord’s Prayer includes “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from? What step will you take to address this?
How might you use your skills or resources to foster unity in your community that reflects Pentecost (centered on Christ) rather than Babel (centered on self)?

Sermon Clips

But such is his love, it is his longing, it is his cry, it is his utter desire, and so devoted to this is he that he sent his only son. That the only way a way could be made for us to return to him, to deal with our resistance and our self glorification, was for Jesus himself, God the son, to come in flesh, humbled himself, and die on the cross, that by believing in him, you might receive eternal life. [00:43:44] (40 seconds) #SentHisSonForUs

So I want to come back to my question. With all that in mind, we've done the marathon. How can we fix the world's problems? We fix the world's problems by doing the opposite of what we've been doing. We stop being self centered and we start glorifying God. We stop resisting God and we start obeying him, trusting that what he calls us to do is for his glory, but also for our good. [00:45:42] (32 seconds) #FixTheWorldGlorifyGod

And so Babel finds himself as any of us here this morning who does not have a living active relationship with Jesus Christ, who doesn't know him as Lord, which means like king, ruler, boss or literally master, who directs our life, our savior, recognizing our own sin and that Jesus died on the cross to remove our sins that we might have a relationship with him. If you don't know him as Lord or savior today, you are spiritually suffocating. [00:34:51] (41 seconds) #KnowJesusAsLord

God recognizes the more humanity achieves, the greater her false sense of achievement will become. As humanity's confidence in ourselves grows, so does our self centeredness and our resistance to God. And the fact is that God loves us too much to just leave us in our own mess. [00:38:17] (25 seconds) #AchievementBreedsPride

And outside of him, we find ourselves spiritually disconnected and spiritually dead. God calls us back because he wants to see us flourish in our rightful habitat and such a life glorifies him by seeing that he's not being controlling, he's not spoilt. He's not a spoiled sport, he's not a tyrant, but he is the owner who cares for us. It's recognising life is beautiful in the confines of God's guidance. [00:34:16] (35 seconds) #LifeInGodsGuidance

And I don't trust myself to sort the world's problems, but I do trust God. And one day he says all things will be put right. But for now, in this time until his son returns in glory, we're to stop and repent of our resistance and turn and follow him. [00:47:26] (23 seconds) #RepentAndTrustGod

That's why God gave the people of Babel a different language and brought confusion. He was saving them from the delusion of their own grandeur, the self glorification of themselves, and therefore the greater resistance to God it would only lead to their own death. [00:42:49] (17 seconds) #BabelConfusionSavedThem

The flood has passed, but the people were just as sinful. The flood's not there for God, it's for us. It's for us to realize that there isn't really a way of changing us. Noah wasn't good enough to change the whole nation and the whole world [00:31:59] (16 seconds) #FloodWasForOurLearning

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3rd May 26 am - Fixing the World's Problems

Devotional

Day 1: Bricks Against Heaven

Day 2: Fish on Dry Land

Day 3: Tongues of Fire, Tongues of Grace

Day 4: A Name Scattered, A Name Gathered

Day 5: Daily Bread and Daily Surrender

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

3rd May 26 am - Fixing the World's Problems

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