Hope Amidst Ugliness: God's Plan for Humanity
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. I am Brian Goff, the senior pastor here at Highline Community Church. I want to start by wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mother figures among us. Today, I want to talk about the ugliness in our world and the hope we find in God's ultimate plan for us.
Our world is filled with ugliness, from personal tragedies to global conflicts. I shared the story of Joel Kine, who, in a drunken state, caused a car accident that killed Erica Nembeck, a dedicated fourth-grade teacher. This tragedy is a stark reminder of the ugliness that pervades our world. We see this ugliness on a macro level, like the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, and on a micro level, within our communities and families. G.K. Chesterton once responded to the question, "What's wrong with the world?" with a simple yet profound answer: "I am." We all contribute to the world's ugliness, and it's exhausting.
But amidst this ugliness, we find hope in the Bible's overarching story, which spans 66 books, written by various authors over more than a thousand years. This story culminates in the book of Revelation, where we see God's ultimate plan for humanity. We are in the final chapter of this story, and it's crucial to understand where God is taking us.
In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of a new city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This city is a picture of indescribable beauty, representing the culmination of God's grace. It's a vision of what the world will be like when God's grace fully has its way with us. The city is described as having massive walls, 1,500 miles high and 200 feet thick, symbolizing the ultimate security we will have in God's presence. The city has no need for a temple because God Himself will dwell with us, and there will be no night, only light.
This vision also shows us that we, the church, are the bride of Christ. We are the city, and God is making us beautiful. Just as a sculptor chips away at a block of stone to reveal a masterpiece, Jesus is chipping away everything in us that is not beautiful. He is committed to making us reflect His glory and character. One day, we will be a repaired, restored, and beautiful people.
In this new city, we will be secure. The walls and gates symbolize our ultimate safety, and there will be no more fear or anxiety. We will be a united people, with every tribe, tongue, and nation coming together in worship. This unity stands in stark contrast to the divisions we see in our world today. The church is called to reflect this future reality by being a place of racial, ethnic, and social diversity, where people are wildly for each other.
Finally, we will be satisfied. The deepest longing of our hearts, which cannot be filled by any earthly accomplishment or relationship, will be fulfilled in our relationship with God. The city is described as a perfect cube, symbolizing the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwells. We will walk with God and dwell with Him, just as Adam and Eve did before the fall. This is the ultimate satisfaction our hearts long for.
In conclusion, this vision of the new Jerusalem gives us hope and reminds us of God's ultimate plan to make us beautiful, secure, united, and satisfied. Let us hold on to this hope and strive to reflect this future reality in our lives today.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Ugliness of the World and Our Role in It: The world is filled with ugliness, from personal tragedies to global conflicts. We all contribute to this ugliness, and it's exhausting. G.K. Chesterton's response, "I am," to the question of what's wrong with the world, reminds us of our role in this brokenness. However, recognizing our part in the world's ugliness is the first step toward seeking God's transformative grace. [05:36]
2. The Overarching Story of the Bible: The Bible, despite being written by various authors over more than a thousand years, tells one overarching story. This story culminates in the book of Revelation, where we see God's ultimate plan for humanity. Understanding this big picture helps us see where God is taking us and gives us hope amidst the world's ugliness. [06:06]
3. The Vision of the New Jerusalem: In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of a new city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This city represents the culmination of God's grace and is a picture of indescribable beauty. It symbolizes the ultimate security, unity, and satisfaction we will have in God's presence. [09:54]
4. The Church as the Bride of Christ: We, the church, are the bride of Christ. Just as a sculptor chips away at a block of stone to reveal a masterpiece, Jesus is chipping away everything in us that is not beautiful. He is committed to making us reflect His glory and character. One day, we will be a repaired, restored, and beautiful people. [18:20]
5. Ultimate Satisfaction in God's Presence: The deepest longing of our hearts, which cannot be filled by any earthly accomplishment or relationship, will be fulfilled in our relationship with God. The new Jerusalem is described as a perfect cube, symbolizing the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwells. We will walk with God and dwell with Him, just as Adam and Eve did before the fall. This is the ultimate satisfaction our hearts long for. [37:09]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:31] - The Ugliness of the World
[05:06] - G.K. Chesterton's Profound Answer
[06:06] - The Overarching Story of the Bible
[09:54] - The Vision of the New Jerusalem
[18:20] - The Church as the Bride of Christ
[37:09] - Ultimate Satisfaction in God's Presence
[40:56] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 21:9-27 - This passage describes the vision of the new Jerusalem, the ultimate culmination of God's grace and the future hope for believers.
2. Ephesians 5:25-27 - This passage speaks about Christ's love for the church and His work in sanctifying and cleansing it to present it as a glorious, spotless bride.
3. Romans 8:29-30 - This passage highlights God's purpose in conforming believers to the image of His Son, emphasizing the process of justification and glorification.
### Observation Questions
1. In Revelation 21, what are some of the specific features of the new Jerusalem that John describes? ([08:17])
2. According to Ephesians 5:25-27, what is Christ's role in making the church beautiful and spotless?
3. What does Romans 8:29-30 say about the process God uses to conform believers to the image of Jesus?
4. How does the sermon describe the current state of the world and our role in its ugliness? ([05:36])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the vision of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21 symbolize about God's ultimate plan for humanity? ([09:54])
2. How does understanding Christ's work in sanctifying the church (Ephesians 5:25-27) change our perspective on personal and communal growth in faith? ([14:36])
3. In what ways does Romans 8:29-30 provide assurance and hope for believers in their spiritual journey?
4. How does recognizing our contribution to the world's ugliness (as mentioned in the sermon) help us seek God's transformative grace? ([05:36])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the vision of the new Jerusalem. How does this vision of ultimate beauty and security impact your daily life and faith? ([09:54])
2. Christ is committed to making His church beautiful and spotless. What are some practical ways you can cooperate with Christ's work in your life to reflect His glory and character? ([14:36])
3. Romans 8:29-30 speaks of being conformed to the image of Jesus. Identify one area in your life where you feel God is working to make you more like Jesus. How can you actively participate in this transformation?
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of the church being a place of racial, ethnic, and social diversity. How can you contribute to making your church a more inclusive and united community? ([30:34])
5. The deepest longing of our hearts can only be fulfilled in our relationship with God. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God and find true satisfaction in Him? ([37:09])
6. The sermon highlighted the security we will have in God's presence. How can you address and overcome specific fears or anxieties in your life by trusting in God's ultimate security? ([23:29])
7. Reflect on the statement, "I am" as the answer to what's wrong with the world. How can acknowledging your own role in the world's brokenness lead to personal and communal transformation through God's grace? ([05:36])
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Our Role in the World's Ugliness
The world is filled with ugliness, from personal tragedies to global conflicts. We all contribute to this ugliness, and it's exhausting. G.K. Chesterton's response, "I am," to the question of what's wrong with the world, reminds us of our role in this brokenness. However, recognizing our part in the world's ugliness is the first step toward seeking God's transformative grace. [05:36]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you contributed to conflict or negativity. How can you seek God's grace to transform your heart and actions in similar situations moving forward?
Day 2: Understanding the Overarching Story of the Bible
The Bible, despite being written by various authors over more than a thousand years, tells one overarching story. This story culminates in the book of Revelation, where we see God's ultimate plan for humanity. Understanding this big picture helps us see where God is taking us and gives us hope amidst the world's ugliness. [06:06]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Reflection: How does understanding the Bible as one cohesive story change the way you read and apply it to your life? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of this overarching narrative?
Day 3: Embracing the Vision of the New Jerusalem
In Revelation 21, John describes a vision of a new city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This city represents the culmination of God's grace and is a picture of indescribable beauty. It symbolizes the ultimate security, unity, and satisfaction we will have in God's presence. [09:54]
Revelation 21:2-4 (ESV): "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
Reflection: What aspects of the vision of the new Jerusalem resonate most with you? How can this vision give you hope and shape the way you live your life today?
Day 4: Becoming the Bride of Christ
We, the church, are the bride of Christ. Just as a sculptor chips away at a block of stone to reveal a masterpiece, Jesus is chipping away everything in us that is not beautiful. He is committed to making us reflect His glory and character. One day, we will be a repaired, restored, and beautiful people. [18:20]
Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV): "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel Jesus is chipping away to make you more like Him? How can you cooperate with His transformative work in your daily life?
Day 5: Finding Ultimate Satisfaction in God's Presence
The deepest longing of our hearts, which cannot be filled by any earthly accomplishment or relationship, will be fulfilled in our relationship with God. The new Jerusalem is described as a perfect cube, symbolizing the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwells. We will walk with God and dwell with Him, just as Adam and Eve did before the fall. This is the ultimate satisfaction our hearts long for. [37:09]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: What earthly things do you find yourself seeking for satisfaction? How can you shift your focus to find true fulfillment in your relationship with God?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Our world does ugly really well, doesn't it? So much ugliness in this world. I mean, we could talk about it. We could talk about October 7th, 2023, when Hamas terrorists crossed the border from Gaza into Israel and slaughtered 1,200-plus innocent people, many of them women and children, without any provocation. We could talk about the brutal fighting that's continued over the last seven months. We could talk about a terrorist group that embeds itself intentionally within a civilian population and uses them as shields, part of the point so that there have been thousands and thousands of innocent civilians killed in the fighting since then. We could talk about it. It's been over two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. We kind of get tired of hearing about it here, it seems like. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives in that conflict that continues with no end in sight." [03:30]
2. "Fear and anxiety, that is a besetting sin in my life. What a wonderful thing to live without fear. I mean, fear cripples us. Any of you crippled by anxiety? Any of you struggle with anxiety or fear? I mean, it can rob us of joy in this world, right? Cripple everything. We do. Anxiety, you know, I wonder if I made the right choice. I wonder if I bought the right house. I wonder if I got the right car. I wonder if I married the right person. I wonder, you know, why did I go on that cruise? Why did I commit to doing that? Why did I commit to this? Why did I commit to doing that? Why did I take that job? What if there's another job? What if it's not the right job? We could live every day, just every decision, kind of crippled by anxiety and fear. Why did I get the Egg McMuffin? I know I wanted the biscuit. Everything. One day we will not be afraid anymore. We will be utterly secure." [24:10]
3. "Isn't that profound? To know that the one person who matters most to you will always love you no matter what? When you know the one person you want to love you, the only person ultimately you need to love you, to know that he will always love you, that Jesus will always love you, that he will never throw you away, he will never leave you, he will never abandon you, he will never be done with you, he will always be with you and for you. You don't have to be afraid. Because what's of ultimate value is never at risk." [26:21]
4. "The Bible says there is a God-shaped vacuum in every human heart and that vacuum that emptiness can't be filled with any measure of accomplishment or anything you can get in this world. Everything you accomplish doesn't matter what you get you can win the lottery. You can win one of those multi-billion dollar lotteries they have now. It will not fill your heart. Do you know that? You can be married to the greatest spouse that could ever be found on earth that will not solve the deep longings of your heart. You can be popular in school or in your workplace or in your friend group it will not satisfy the longings of your heart. There is only one thing that can. It's a God-shaped vacuum. It's a relationship with the living God. It's what we lost at the very beginning of the story and unless it's recovered we will never be whole." [33:21]
5. "How much more for us the affection and love of Jesus will make us new? Do you understand? Whatever in us is ugly, we're not always going to be that way. We will be restored. We'll be repaired. We'll be made new. So the bride is repaired, but the second thing that we see in this passage is in the end, we will be secure. We will be a secure people. It tells us that. What in this passage did John see that would lead us to believe that we will be secure? Well, around the city, he saw the most impressive walls, right? I mean, they're really impressive. And understand, in the ancient world, it was imperative for a city to have strong walls. Strong and high walls made all the difference for the security of the people in the city." [21:29]
### Quotes for Members
1. "There's ugliness. It's on a macro level. It's on a micro level. It's in families. It's in communities. It's all around us. They asked G.K. Chesterton, this was in the aftermath of World War I, and they asked him, what's wrong with the world? It was a London newspaper. They sent this question out kind of generally. What's wrong with the world? G.K. Chesterton wrote back, and he said, two-word answer, I am. I am. The ugliness of the world is most real when we see it in ourselves even. That we contribute to the ugliness of the world. I contribute to the ugliness of this world. And so do you. And you know what? I'm tired of the ugly. Tired of the ugly." [05:06]
2. "We've been telling the big story of the Bible, right? The 66 books, many different authors, many different literary genres, written over a period of over 1,000 years, two different languages primarily, and yet essentially the Bible tells one story. There's one overarching metanarrative, one overarching big story that binds together Genesis 1, verse 1, all the way to the very last verse of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. One story binds it all together, and we're in the final chapter of that story. We're smack in the last chapter. And what we're trying to see is, where on earth are we going? Where in the world is God taking this whole thing? What is God doing? With this? With this world? The telos, that's the theological word. It just means the end. Where is the end? What is God's purpose? Where in the world are we going? We need to know that, don't we? We have got to know, because the ugliness of the world can be so pervasive." [06:06]
3. "Jesus is chipping away everything in you that's not beautiful, that's not who you were intended to be, created to be, everything that's not the you he intended you to be, everything in us that's ugly and unsavory and unlovely. And even now, the repair is underway in your life. And you will be beautiful. That's our future. That's where we're going. That's what he's doing. One day we'll be whole. One day we'll be lovely. One day we'll be beautiful." [18:57]
4. "You know, for the church of Jesus Christ to be a place of racial and ethnic and social diversity. A place where people, regardless of their education, their wealth, their vocation, their messiness, whatever it may be, all get together in one place. It's not supposed to be a place where you get together with people who are like you. You know, people from your neighborhood, people from your social strata. That's not the church of Jesus Christ. Do you know what the church of Jesus Christ is? You go to church with people and you become a church with people who aren't like you. People you probably would have nothing to do with except that Jesus has made you new and Jesus is healing us together and we include people in our lives we otherwise wouldn't. We don't group up only with people who are like us. That's not what the church is supposed to be. It's a place where people are wildly for each other. Very different people are wildly for each other. It's what our hearts long for." [31:07]
5. "The whole city was the Holy of Holies. The whole city was the dwelling place of God. The whole city was the temple. The bride gets Jesus. That's what he saw. Intimately. No barrier. The bride gets to walk with him and live with him. Just like remember Adam and Eve before the fall. What did they do? The Bible tells us all the way back in Genesis how it starts. They walked with him in the cool of the day. That intimacy. That's what we were created for. That's what God is doing. That's what God is leading us back to. Do you get it? We will walk with him. We will dwell with him. The deepest longing of our heart will be satisfied." [37:09]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?