Rediscovering God's Sovereignty and Awe in Faith

 

Summary

In our journey through the early church and its foundational sermons, we have been reminded of the dramatic actions of God and the ensuing division and controversy. This division persists today, echoing the philosophical musings of Friedrich Nietzsche, who famously declared, "God is dead." Nietzsche's statement was not a celebration but a lament, questioning the moral and existential void left in God's absence. This leads us to a profound question: Has the church today, in its quest for comfort and relevance, inadvertently "killed" God again?

Reflecting on my seminary days, I recall the emphasis on making church a place of comfort, where God's love is the central message. While comfort and compassion are vital, they are not the entirety of God's nature. The church has often reduced God to a comforting presence, akin to a "macaroni and cheese theology," where we add humanistic ideas to make it more palatable. This reductionism fails to address the challenging aspects of God's sovereignty and the reality of evil in the world.

The sovereignty of God, as Paul asserts, is a concept we must rediscover. It challenges us to confront the uncomfortable realities of life, such as natural disasters and human atrocities, without diminishing God's majesty. The fear of God, often misunderstood, is the foundation of wisdom. It calls us to a deeper awe and reverence for God, beyond mere comfort.

In light of recent global tragedies, we are reminded of the need for a compassionate response, rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty. The early church was marked by awe and reverence for God. Have we lost that sense of awe? Have we reduced God to a mere agent of comfort? These are not easy questions, and I do not have all the answers. But I urge us to consider whether we, as a church, have "killed" God again by diminishing His awesomeness. Let us strive to rediscover the fear and awe of God in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Nietzsche's Lament and the Church's Role: Nietzsche's declaration that "God is dead" was a lament over the moral void left in God's absence. Today, the church must reflect on whether it has contributed to this void by reducing God to a mere source of comfort, neglecting the full scope of His nature. [04:51]

2. The Danger of Comfort-Driven Theology: The church's focus on comfort can lead to a diluted understanding of God, akin to "macaroni and cheese theology." This approach risks neglecting the challenging aspects of God's sovereignty and the reality of evil, which are essential for a robust faith. [07:50]

3. Rediscovering God's Sovereignty: Paul's teachings remind us of God's sovereignty, which encompasses all creation. This sovereignty challenges us to confront life's harsh realities without diminishing God's majesty, urging us to rediscover the awe and reverence for God. [14:24]

4. The Misunderstood Fear of God: The fear of God, often mistranslated, is the foundation of wisdom. It calls us to a deeper understanding of God's nature, beyond comfort, and invites us to embrace the awe and reverence that characterized the early church. [16:13]

5. Responding to Global Tragedies: In the face of global tragedies, we are called to a compassionate response, rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty. This response requires us to balance the reality of evil with the majesty of God, fostering a deeper awe and reverence in our faith. [14:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:55] - Nietzsche's Lament
- [04:06] - Implications of God's "Death"
- [04:51] - Living in the Shadow of God
- [06:51] - Comfort vs. Sovereignty
- [07:50] - Macaroni and Cheese Theology
- [09:00] - Humanizing God and Jesus
- [10:30] - Paul's Assertion of Sovereignty
- [12:00] - Theological Challenges
- [14:24] - Responding to Tragedies
- [15:30] - Rediscovering Awe and Reverence
- [16:13] - Closing Reflections

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 17:24-28
- Proverbs 9:10

---

Observation Questions:

1. What does Nietzsche's statement "God is dead" imply about the moral and existential state of society? [04:06]

2. How does the sermon describe the church's tendency to reduce God to a comforting presence? [06:51]

3. What does Paul assert about God's sovereignty in Acts 17, and how does it challenge our understanding of God's role in the world? [14:24]

4. How is the fear of God described in the sermon, and why is it considered the foundation of wisdom? [16:13]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Nietzsche's lament about the "death" of God be relevant to the church's current approach to theology and comfort? [04:51]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a comfort-driven theology might dilute the understanding of God's sovereignty and the reality of evil? [07:50]

3. How does the sermon propose we balance the reality of global tragedies with the majesty of God, and what role does God's sovereignty play in this understanding? [14:24]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of rediscovering awe and reverence for God in our lives, and how does this relate to the early church's experience? [16:13]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your personal understanding of God's nature. Have you ever found yourself reducing God to a source of comfort? How can you expand your view to include His sovereignty and majesty? [06:51]

2. Consider a recent global tragedy. How did you respond, and how might a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty influence your response in the future? [14:24]

3. The sermon challenges us to rediscover the fear and awe of God. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a sense of awe and reverence in your daily life? [16:13]

4. How can you ensure that your faith is not just about comfort but also about confronting the challenging aspects of life with God's sovereignty in mind? [07:50]

5. Think about a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did your understanding of God's sovereignty affect your response, and what might you do differently now? [14:24]

6. How can you engage with others in your community to discuss and explore the full nature of God, beyond just comfort? What conversations or actions can you initiate this week? [06:51]

7. Reflect on the early church's sense of awe and reverence for God. How can you incorporate this attitude into your worship and spiritual practices? [16:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Church's Role in Nietzsche's Lament
In the 19th century, Friedrich Nietzsche declared, "God is dead," lamenting the moral and existential void left in God's absence. This statement challenges the church today to reflect on its role in potentially contributing to this void. By focusing solely on comfort and neglecting the full scope of God's nature, the church risks reducing God to a mere source of solace. This reductionism can lead to a shallow faith that fails to address the complexities of life and the profound nature of God. The church is called to embrace the entirety of God's character, including His sovereignty, justice, and majesty, to provide a more robust and meaningful faith experience. [04:51]

Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV): "And the Lord said: 'Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.'"

Reflection: In what ways might you have reduced God to a source of comfort in your life? How can you begin to embrace the full scope of His nature today?


Day 2: The Danger of Comfort-Driven Theology
The church's focus on comfort can lead to a diluted understanding of God, often referred to as "macaroni and cheese theology." This approach risks neglecting the challenging aspects of God's sovereignty and the reality of evil, which are essential for a robust faith. By prioritizing comfort, the church may inadvertently avoid addressing difficult questions about suffering, justice, and the nature of God. A faith that only seeks comfort can become shallow and unable to withstand life's trials. Instead, believers are encouraged to engage with the complexities of faith, embracing both the comforting and challenging aspects of God's character. [07:50]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How has the pursuit of comfort influenced your understanding of God? What steps can you take to deepen your faith by embracing the challenging aspects of His nature?


Day 3: Rediscovering God's Sovereignty
Paul's teachings remind us of God's sovereignty, which encompasses all creation. This sovereignty challenges us to confront life's harsh realities without diminishing God's majesty. In a world filled with natural disasters and human atrocities, believers are called to trust in God's ultimate authority and plan. Rediscovering God's sovereignty invites us to live with a sense of awe and reverence, recognizing that God's ways are higher than our own. This perspective encourages a deeper faith that acknowledges both the beauty and the brokenness of the world, trusting in God's ultimate purpose and plan. [14:24]

Job 42:2-3 (ESV): "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's sovereignty? How can you cultivate a deeper sense of awe and reverence for God today?


Day 4: The Misunderstood Fear of God
The fear of God, often misunderstood, is the foundation of wisdom. It calls us to a deeper understanding of God's nature, beyond comfort, and invites us to embrace the awe and reverence that characterized the early church. This fear is not about being afraid of God but about recognizing His holiness, power, and majesty. It is an invitation to live in a way that honors God, acknowledging His rightful place in our lives. By embracing the fear of God, believers can develop a more profound and meaningful relationship with Him, rooted in respect and reverence. [16:13]

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Reflection: How do you understand the fear of God in your life? What changes can you make to live with a greater sense of awe and reverence for Him?


Day 5: Responding to Global Tragedies
In the face of global tragedies, believers are called to a compassionate response, rooted in the understanding of God's sovereignty. This response requires balancing the reality of evil with the majesty of God, fostering a deeper awe and reverence in faith. By acknowledging God's sovereignty, believers can find hope and strength to respond to suffering with compassion and love. This perspective encourages a faith that is active and engaged, seeking to bring God's love and justice to a hurting world. In doing so, believers can reflect God's character and offer hope to those in need. [14:24]

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: How can you respond to global tragedies with compassion and love today? What practical steps can you take to reflect God's character in a hurting world?

Quotes

"The last few weeks we've had some conversations about the first sermons, the first church, and they've all been about the fact that God had done something absolutely dramatic, and an invitation to be part of that, with the acknowledgement that it was going to create quite a bit of division and controversy. Here we are thousands of years later, and we still have lots of division and controversy about these questions." [00:01:47] (38 seconds)


"Some of the most ruthless, awful human beings ever to have power loved Nietzsche. And they were collectively all, in addition to being savage butchers, they were also morons, because Nietzsche was so much more than God is... God is dead. It was not a celebration of this fact. It was almost more of a lament." [00:03:03] (35 seconds)


"And I encourage people, you've got to read this stuff. Don't just take the Coles Notes versions. Go and read what he said. Let me just offer you this. This is what he said. God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. Then he goes on to say, how shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers?" [00:03:38] (28 seconds)


"And for most of my years in ministry, that's what I've tried to do. But there's an underlying unease about that. Because for me, God is so much more than just, you know, a comforting presence. God is so much more than what I think the church has reduced God to, which is really in many ways a glorified therapist." [00:06:40] (27 seconds)


"but then i kind of discovered how to make you know a nice well my mom kind of showed me how to make a nice cheese sauce and lately i've been saying well okay we we've got the church is is kind of promoting a macaroni and cheese theology but we've we're starting to add in a little what i would call a kind of garlic bread of humanism right we're just we're making we're rounding out the comfort food by by , bringing in very humanistic ideas and in invariably we've humanized god and we certainly have humanized jesus to the point where what do we do when we encounter a piece of scripture like we're just read because you can't just push it aside i've seen that happen too often we can't just dilute it down and diminish it what is paul saying" [00:08:09] (63 seconds)


"Where do I really, why do I struggle with these things? Well, when I see an earthquake that takes, what, almost 25 ,000 lives and counting this week, that's when you got to start to, and I got no easy answers for you folks, but what do you do with that? Shortly, we will pray for a compassionate, strong response to the global community, to the devastation in Asia Minor, in contemporary Turkey and Syria." [00:13:43] (41 seconds)


"That is a function of, if we believe, and I hope we do, that God is, as Paul says in Acts 17, the creator of all that we can physically define as the human realm. Creation of all that we know, and earthquakes, and tornadoes, and floods, and droughts, and hurricanes are all a function of that. Setting aside all the contemporary debate right now about whether those things are getting worse or not, but just the function of, then what do you do about that? Well, I believe it is a function of God's sovereignty." [00:14:32] (42 seconds)


"And I believe that we need to rediscover the spirit of the first church. Because what the first church is saying, where is the awe? Where is the awe in your life about God? Have you taken God, diminished him down to nothing more than an agent of comfort?" [00:15:14] (27 seconds)


"How do you settle that, rectify that, with the reality of what happens in our world? Not easy questions. I don't have any answers. I'm not going to leave you any today. I'm just going to ask you a question. I asked you to consider that question I asked earlier. Have we, have we as a church killed God again?" [00:15:39] (21 seconds)


Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 09, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?