God's Creation, Our Mission: Restoring Goodness Together
Summary
In our journey through the series "Backstory," we delve into the foundational narratives of the Old Testament, exploring the profound truth that God is the uncaused cause of all creation. This understanding challenges the cultural agenda that seeks to explain the universe without acknowledging a divine creator. The existence of the universe itself is a testament to God's creative power, a reality that even some scientists, like Francis Collins, recognize as pointing to a divine explanation. The question of how God created the universe is intriguing, with various theories such as literal seven-day creation, the day-age theory, and theistic evolution. However, the focus should not be on the method but on the fact that God did it. The real question is not how we got here, but why we are here.
The narrative of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden illustrates the turning point where creation, initially declared "good," became "less good" due to human disobedience. This story is not just about the past; it reflects our ongoing struggle with sin and the consequences that follow. Yet, even in the midst of failure, God seeks us out, calling us back to Himself. This pursuit is not out of anger but out of love and a desire to restore what was lost.
God's response to humanity's fall was not to abandon us but to initiate a plan to make everything good again. This plan finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who invites us to join Him in the mission of bringing heaven to earth. Our lives should reflect this mission, striving to live "on earth as it is in heaven" in every aspect, from our personal relationships to our broader communities. The journey back to good is ongoing, and we are called to be active participants in this divine project.
Key Takeaways:
- God as the Uncaused Cause: The universe's existence points to a divine creator, challenging cultural narratives that exclude God. The focus should be on the fact that God created, not the method of creation. This understanding invites us to explore our relationship with God and His purpose for us. [38:27]
- The Fall and Its Consequences: The story of Adam and Eve is a reflection of our own lives, where disobedience leads to a world that is "less good." This narrative reminds us of the impact of sin and the need for redemption, which God initiates through His pursuit of us. [56:31]
- God's Pursuit of Humanity: Despite our failures, God seeks us out with love and compassion, inviting us to return to Him. This pursuit is not characterized by anger but by a desire to restore and heal, as demonstrated through Jesus' life and ministry. [59:53]
- Joining God's Mission: We are invited to participate in God's project of making all things good again. This involves living out the principles of heaven on earth, transforming our lives and communities to reflect God's kingdom. [01:03:22]
- Living "On Earth as It Is in Heaven": Our daily lives should embody the values of heaven, impacting our relationships, work, and personal conduct. This mission challenges us to align our actions with God's purpose, contributing to the restoration of creation. [01:06:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Series
- [02:15] - The Old Testament as the Backstory
- [04:00] - God as the Uncaused Cause
- [08:45] - Cultural Narratives and Atheism
- [12:30] - Francis Collins and Divine Explanation
- [16:00] - Theories of Creation
- [20:15] - The Importance of Why Over How
- [25:00] - The Fall of Man
- [30:45] - God's Response to Sin
- [35:20] - God's Pursuit of Humanity
- [40:00] - Joining God's Mission
- [45:30] - Living "On Earth as It Is in Heaven"
- [50:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
- [52:30] - Preview of Next Week's Topic
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
2. Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
3. Matthew 6:10 - "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "God is the uncaused cause" mean in the context of creation? How does this concept challenge cultural narratives that exclude God? [38:27]
2. How does the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden illustrate the transition from a world that was "good" to one that is "less good"? [50:57]
3. According to the sermon, what is God's response to humanity's fall, and how does it reflect His character? [59:53]
4. What does it mean to live "on earth as it is in heaven," and how is this concept central to the mission of Jesus? [01:06:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding of God as the creator influence one's relationship with Him and their view of the universe? [38:27]
2. In what ways does the narrative of the fall of man reflect our own struggles with sin and the need for redemption? [56:31]
3. How does God's pursuit of humanity, despite our failures, demonstrate His love and desire for restoration? [59:53]
4. What are the implications of joining God's mission to make all things good again, and how does this align with the teachings of Jesus? [01:03:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of God as the creator. How does this belief shape your daily life and decisions? Are there areas where you struggle to acknowledge God's role in creation? [38:27]
2. Consider a time when you experienced the consequences of disobedience. How did it affect your life and relationships? What steps can you take to seek redemption and restoration? [56:31]
3. How do you perceive God's pursuit of you in your life? Are there moments when you felt God calling you back to Him? How did you respond? [59:53]
4. Identify one area in your life where you can actively participate in God's mission of making things good again. What practical steps can you take to reflect the values of heaven in that area? [01:03:22]
5. Think about your personal relationships. How can you embody the principles of "on earth as it is in heaven" in your interactions with others? What changes might be necessary to align your actions with this mission? [01:06:40]
6. In what ways can you contribute to transforming your community to reflect God's kingdom? Are there specific initiatives or projects you feel called to support or start?
7. Reflect on your current lifestyle and choices. Are there specific distractions or habits that prevent you from living out the mission of Jesus? How can you address these challenges to better align with God's purpose?
Devotional
Day 1: God as the Foundation of Creation
The universe's existence is a profound testament to the reality of a divine creator, challenging cultural narratives that attempt to explain the cosmos without God. This understanding invites us to explore our relationship with God and His purpose for us. The focus should not be on the method of creation, whether it be a literal seven-day creation, the day-age theory, or theistic evolution, but on the fact that God is the uncaused cause of all creation. This perspective shifts our attention from the "how" to the "why," encouraging us to seek a deeper understanding of our purpose in God's grand design. [38:27]
Isaiah 40:26 (ESV): "Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is missing."
Reflection: How does acknowledging God as the creator of the universe change the way you view your own life and purpose today?
Day 2: The Impact of Disobedience
The narrative of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden serves as a reflection of our own lives, where disobedience leads to a world that is "less good." This story is not just about the past; it highlights the ongoing struggle with sin and the consequences that follow. Despite the fall, God did not abandon humanity but initiated a plan for redemption. This narrative reminds us of the impact of sin and the need for redemption, which God initiates through His pursuit of us. [56:31]
Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV): "And to Adam he said, 'Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, "You shall not eat of it," cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you see the consequences of disobedience, and how can you seek God's redemption and healing today?
Day 3: God's Loving Pursuit
Despite humanity's failures, God seeks us out with love and compassion, inviting us to return to Him. This pursuit is not characterized by anger but by a desire to restore and heal, as demonstrated through Jesus' life and ministry. God's response to humanity's fall was not to abandon us but to initiate a plan to make everything good again. This plan finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who invites us to join Him in the mission of bringing heaven to earth. [59:53]
Ezekiel 34:11-12 (ESV): "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness."
Reflection: How can you respond to God's loving pursuit in your life today, and what steps can you take to draw closer to Him?
Day 4: Participating in God's Mission
We are invited to participate in God's project of making all things good again. This involves living out the principles of heaven on earth, transforming our lives and communities to reflect God's kingdom. Our lives should reflect this mission, striving to live "on earth as it is in heaven" in every aspect, from our personal relationships to our broader communities. The journey back to good is ongoing, and we are called to be active participants in this divine project. [01:03:22]
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (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. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can actively participate in God's mission of reconciliation and restoration in your community today?
Day 5: Living the Values of Heaven
Our daily lives should embody the values of heaven, impacting our relationships, work, and personal conduct. This mission challenges us to align our actions with God's purpose, contributing to the restoration of creation. By living "on earth as it is in heaven," we are called to transform our lives and communities to reflect God's kingdom. This involves a commitment to living out the principles of love, justice, and mercy in every aspect of our lives. [01:06:40]
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: In what specific ways can you embody the values of heaven in your daily interactions and decisions, and how can this contribute to the transformation of your community?
Quotes
The point of this is that God created. God is the uncaused cause of all that we know and all that we see. The uncaused cause. Logically, it is not possible to have an infinite series of causes. Chew on that one for lunch, right? I mean, you cannot have an infinite series of causes. [00:33:55] (28 seconds)
The Big Bang cries out for a divine explanation. It forces the conclusion that nature had a defined beginning, an uncaused cause. That set everything else into motion. I cannot see how nature could have created itself. Only a supernatural force that is outside of space and time could have done that. [00:37:40] (30 seconds)
In the first century, Paul, the apostle, writes to a group of Christians and just points out the fact that, no, no, this whole thing is designed the way it is because God created. Watch this. Watch this. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen by people like us, being understood by people like us from what has been made. [00:38:50] (29 seconds)
The integrity of your faith doesn't either. You can believe in God and you can believe God did it and God created it and still disagree with other people on the how. Why? Because how ain't the point. How's not the point. How is very interesting and creates nice banter over lunch. Right? But it's not the point. The point is that God did it and especially why he did it. [00:47:24] (26 seconds)
Because the big question is not, how did we get here? The big question is, why are we here? Which will propel us, as we will see, to the main story. And we'll get there. But the deal is, it's okay to have different views on how God did it. The point is, God did it. Let me take it one step further. [00:49:18] (23 seconds)
When God created, we just saw it. When God created everything, he said, it's good, even very good. And when they did what they did, and we do what they did, we do what they did and we do what we do, it becomes less good. In fact, that is a very healthy way to understand what sin is. [00:57:15] (27 seconds)
When we become less good and we make the things around us, our environments, less good, our heart becomes less good, our mind, our thoughts become less good, our relationships become less good, our community becomes less good. Look around the world and what we live. We know the world is now less good than it was, especially than what God intended from the very beginning. [00:57:42] (28 seconds)
That ought to tell you something about the view of God that you have assumed that I can tell you based upon the whole story is not the accurate view of God. What if the question sounded much more like, hey, guys, where are you? One of one heartbreaking. Yeah. Don't assume an angry tone when you read this. And here's the truth. Here's the point. [01:01:14] (43 seconds)
God began a process right there in the garden of making it all good again. And he invites us to join with him in this making it all good again project. But here's the truth, as we will see later on in the backstory. We can't fix people. We can't make this. We can't make it all better. We can't do this on our own. We ultimately are going to need a Savior. [01:03:22] (24 seconds)
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