Overcoming Fear: Embracing God's Unshakeable Kingdom

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the pervasive influence of fear in our response to cultural shifts, particularly concerning secularism, relativism, and the erosion of a biblical worldview. We began by acknowledging the challenges posed by secularism, which has shifted the focus from a God-centered universe to a consumer-driven society. This shift has led to a privatized and relativized understanding of truth, where personal experience often trumps objective reality. The Enlightenment's emphasis on autonomous reason further distanced humanity from divine authority, leading to a moral and spiritual vacuum that modernity struggles to fill.

We delved into the historical context of these ideas, tracing their roots back to figures like Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher, who sought to make Christianity relevant to a new age but inadvertently contributed to its domestication. This domestication has led to a form of Christianity that is more about personal happiness and moralism than about the transformative power of the gospel.

Despite these challenges, we are reminded that this is our Father's world, and He is actively involved in history. God has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through the gospel, we are invited to know Him personally. The gospel is not about us; it is about God's redemptive work in history, culminating in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This historical reality is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope.

We are called to engage with the world, not out of fear, but with the confidence that comes from knowing we are part of God's unfolding story. This is our Father's story, His work, and His kingdom. We are not building a kingdom; we are receiving one that cannot be shaken. In this assurance, we find the courage to live out our faith boldly, proclaiming the gospel to all nations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Secularism and Relativism: The shift from a God-centered universe to a consumer-driven society has led to a privatized and relativized understanding of truth. This cultural shift challenges us to reclaim a biblical worldview that acknowledges God's sovereignty over all creation. [01:42]

2. Historical Context of Modern Thought: Figures like Kant and Schleiermacher sought to make Christianity relevant but contributed to its domestication. Understanding this historical context helps us recognize the need for a faith that is both intellectually robust and spiritually vibrant. [08:53]

3. The Gospel's Historical Reality: The gospel is not about personal experience but about God's redemptive work in history. This historical reality is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope, reminding us that our faith is grounded in objective truth. [36:06]

4. God's Active Involvement: Despite cultural shifts, God remains actively involved in history. He has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, inviting us to know Him personally and participate in His redemptive work. This assurance empowers us to engage with the world confidently. [23:35]

5. Receiving an Unshakeable Kingdom: We are not building a kingdom; we are receiving one that cannot be shaken. This assurance frees us from fear and empowers us to live out our faith boldly, proclaiming the gospel to all nations with the confidence that comes from knowing we are part of God's unfolding story. [52:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:41] - Introduction to Fear and Secularism
- [01:06] - Secularism vs. Secularization
- [02:22] - Relativism and Pluralization
- [03:32] - Critique of Naturalism
- [05:24] - Enlightenment's Impact on Faith
- [07:33] - Kant and Schleiermacher's Influence
- [10:33] - God's Involvement in History
- [12:07] - Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
- [14:11] - Rationalism to Irrationalism
- [16:28] - Islamization and Cultural Shifts
- [18:46] - Divorcing Thinking, Feeling, and Acting
- [22:01] - Reasons Not to Fear
- [30:12] - Our Father's Story
- [40:07] - Our Father's Work
- [52:39] - Our Father's Kingdom

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Romans 1:1-6
2. 1 John 1:1-2
3. Hebrews 12:28-29

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the impact of secularism on society's understanding of truth? ([01:42])

2. What historical figures were mentioned in the sermon as having influenced the domestication of Christianity, and what were their contributions? ([08:53])

3. According to the sermon, how is the gospel described in terms of its historical reality and significance? ([36:06])

4. What does the sermon say about God's involvement in history and His revelation through Jesus Christ? ([23:35])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the shift from a God-centered universe to a consumer-driven society challenge believers to reclaim a biblical worldview? ([01:42])

2. In what ways did Kant and Schleiermacher's attempts to make Christianity relevant contribute to its domestication, according to the sermon? ([08:53])

3. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of the gospel's historical reality as the foundation of faith and hope? ([36:06])

4. What does it mean to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and how does this assurance empower believers to live out their faith? ([52:57])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own understanding of truth. How has secularism and relativism influenced your perspective, and what steps can you take to align more closely with a biblical worldview? ([01:42])

2. Consider the historical context of modern thought. How can understanding the contributions of figures like Kant and Schleiermacher help you develop a faith that is both intellectually robust and spiritually vibrant? ([08:53])

3. The sermon highlights the gospel's historical reality. How can you ensure that your faith is grounded in the objective truth of God's redemptive work in history? ([36:06])

4. In what ways can you actively engage with the world, not out of fear, but with the confidence that comes from knowing you are part of God's unfolding story? ([23:35])

5. How can the assurance of receiving an unshakeable kingdom free you from fear and empower you to live out your faith boldly? What specific actions can you take to proclaim the gospel to those around you? ([52:57])

6. Reflect on the idea that this is our Father's world and His story. How does this perspective change the way you view your role in God's kingdom? ([30:12])

7. Identify one area in your life where fear has held you back from fully living out your faith. What steps can you take this week to overcome that fear and trust in God's sovereignty? ([22:01])

Devotional

Day 1: Reclaiming a Biblical Worldview
The shift from a God-centered universe to a consumer-driven society has led to a privatized and relativized understanding of truth. This cultural shift challenges believers to reclaim a biblical worldview that acknowledges God's sovereignty over all creation. In a world where personal experience often trumps objective reality, it is crucial to remember that truth is not subjective but grounded in the character and revelation of God. By embracing a biblical worldview, believers can navigate cultural shifts with confidence, knowing that God's truth remains constant and unchanging. [01:42]

"For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers." (Psalm 24:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed cultural shifts to influence your understanding of truth? How can you actively reclaim a biblical worldview in your daily life?


Day 2: Understanding the Historical Context of Modern Thought
Figures like Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Schleiermacher sought to make Christianity relevant to a new age but inadvertently contributed to its domestication. This domestication has led to a form of Christianity that is more about personal happiness and moralism than about the transformative power of the gospel. Understanding this historical context helps believers recognize the need for a faith that is both intellectually robust and spiritually vibrant. By examining the roots of modern thought, Christians can better understand the challenges they face today and the importance of maintaining a faith that is true to the gospel. [08:53]

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8, ESV)

Reflection: How has the domestication of Christianity affected your personal faith journey? What steps can you take to ensure your faith remains both intellectually robust and spiritually vibrant?


Day 3: Embracing the Gospel's Historical Reality
The gospel is not about personal experience but about God's redemptive work in history. This historical reality is the foundation of our faith and the source of our hope, reminding us that our faith is grounded in objective truth. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not mere stories but historical events that have transformed the course of history. By embracing the gospel's historical reality, believers can find assurance in the truth of their faith and the hope it provides for the future. [36:06]

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the historical reality of the gospel impact your faith? In what ways can you share this truth with others in your community?


Day 4: Recognizing God's Active Involvement in History
Despite cultural shifts, God remains actively involved in history. He has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, inviting us to know Him personally and participate in His redemptive work. This assurance empowers believers to engage with the world confidently, knowing that they are part of God's unfolding story. By recognizing God's active involvement, Christians can find courage and strength to live out their faith boldly, trusting in His sovereignty and purpose. [23:35]

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you seen God's active involvement in your life and the world around you? How can this assurance empower you to engage with the world more confidently?


Day 5: Receiving an Unshakeable Kingdom
Believers are not building a kingdom; they are receiving one that cannot be shaken. This assurance frees them from fear and empowers them to live out their faith boldly, proclaiming the gospel to all nations with the confidence that comes from knowing they are part of God's unfolding story. By focusing on the unshakeable kingdom they are receiving, Christians can find peace and courage in the midst of uncertainty, trusting in God's ultimate plan and purpose. [52:57]

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: How does the assurance of receiving an unshakeable kingdom impact your daily life? What steps can you take to live out your faith more boldly and proclaim the gospel to those around you?

Quotes



Secularism is what we usually have in mind. That is not a process so much as an ideology that pushes God out of the universe. No longer even in our cities is the church with its spires pointing toward heaven that’s the center of town but the mall directing us to our own consumer profile. [00:01:42]

Relativism comes out of this as sociologists point out first of all a religion becomes privatized. That is, it’s all about what I feel or experience inside me. It’s my truth, not public truth. In the second stage of secularization in the sense of secularism is a pluralization. I have my truth. You have your truth. [00:02:22]

The huge assumption in the Enlightenment was that reason, unlike authority, unlike anything else that we believe, reason is totally unbiased. Aware that the fire they started might burn down the house of morality, many of these thinkers tried to rescue some indispensable remnants. They weren’t concerned about the tree, but they liked the fruit. [00:05:24]

Schleiermacher said we do have direct experience of God in our hearts. And he’s the father of modern liberalism. What none of these thinkers believed was that Christianity from start to finish is not a religion of the universal but of the particular. It’s not about at its heart what is always and everywhere true in all times and places, eternal timeless truths. [00:09:00]

God’s an outdoor God. He likes this world. He likes to work in it. He created it. Even though it’s fallen, He has promised to redeem it. And through its winding way has brought history to the place where in the fullness of time, a virgin conceived and bore the Son of God. God’s very involved. [00:10:33]

Sociologist Christian Smith and his team discovered that the practicing religion in America right now across denominations is what he called moralistic, therapeutic deism. It’s moralistic because it’s basically be good, try to be good, try to do the right thing, don’t pull your sister’s hair. It’s therapeutic because ultimately God exists for your happiness. [00:12:07]

The gospel is the gospel of God, the announcement of God’s purposes, promises, and achievements, not ours. We’ve got to take the focus off of us. What do we want? Who cares what we want? We don’t know what we want. Our… Our… We have absolutely no way of adjudicating for ourselves what is the greatest problem that we have. [00:32:39]

The gospel is not itself about us. It’s about God – God the Father saving us in the Son, bringing us to the Son by His Spirit. It saves precisely because it’s not about us. I don’t know about you, but I’m not… I’m not very good news. And it’s wonderful to know when I’m not good news, that I’m not the gospel. [00:37:44]

Christianity isn’t about timeless truths that are always true in every time and every place. Have you noticed that all of the elements of the Apostles or Nicene Creed, except for God Almighty, are claims about things that have happened in history from creation to the consummation? Jesus was born in the fullness of time, not out of time, but in the fullness of time. [00:40:07]

According to new atheists like Richard Dawkins, faith is the great copout, he says, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of the lack of evidence. Now of course, that’s ridiculous, but there are lots of ways he could get that impression from the popular encounter of many Christians on the street. [00:41:46]

The Jews, the Romans, and the Christians all believed that Jesus was crucified and that Jesus was buried. There’s no disagreement on those two points even among liberal scholars. The question is about whether He was raised. According to the Koran, the Romans never killed Him but were made to think that they did. [00:50:06]

We are not building a kingdom. The writer to the Hebrews says, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us worship in reverence and in awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Unlike all the kingdoms of this age, this kingdom will last because we didn’t build it. [00:52:57]

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Transcript
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