Restoration Through Covenant: From Eden to Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound narrative of the Garden of Eden and its significance in the broader context of God's covenants with humanity. We began by acknowledging the power and majesty of God, praising Him for breaking the chains of sin and death through Jesus Christ, our living hope. As we transitioned from worship to the study of Scripture, we delved into the story of Eden, situated in the fertile land of Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization. This story, though ancient and undateable, sets the stage for understanding the foundational covenants between God and humanity.
We discussed the five major covenants of the Old Testament—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David—and how they trace the journey of God's people. The first covenant with Adam, though not explicitly stated as a covenant in the text, lays the groundwork for understanding God's relationship with humanity. This covenant, though broken by Adam and Eve's desire for control and knowledge, sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative of redemption.
Moses, who recorded the book of Genesis, emphasized the structure of authority established by God during creation. Each day of creation not only brought forth new elements but also established a hierarchy of authority, culminating in humanity's dominion over the earth and God's ultimate authority over all. This structure was disrupted by the fall, leading to a broken relationship between humanity and creation, and between humanity and God.
The narrative of the Old Testament is a continuous effort by God to restore this broken relationship, culminating in the new covenant through Jesus Christ, the second Adam. This new covenant restores humanity to its intended place as people of God, living in His presence. As we reflect on this, we are reminded of our own struggles with control and the need to surrender to God's authority.
In our time of communion, we are invited to let go of our need for control and embrace the grace of the new covenant. As we partake in the bread and the cup, we remember Christ's sacrifice and the restoration it brings. We are called to live as people of the new covenant, sharing God's love and hope with a broken world.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Significance of the First Covenant: The covenant with Adam, though not explicitly stated, is foundational. It establishes the relationship between God and humanity, highlighting humanity's role in caring for creation and living in God's presence. This covenant, though broken, sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative of redemption. [31:25]
2. Authority and Creation: The seven days of creation not only describe the formation of the world but also establish a hierarchy of authority. Humanity is given dominion over the earth, but God retains ultimate authority. This structure is disrupted by the fall, leading to a broken relationship that God seeks to restore throughout the biblical narrative. [36:26]
3. The Role of Oral Tradition: Before the written word, stories like those in Genesis were passed down orally. Moses' recording of these stories marks a significant transition, preserving the foundational narratives of God's covenants with humanity. This oral tradition underscores the importance of remembering and retelling God's acts of faithfulness. [34:00]
4. The New Covenant through Christ: Jesus, the second Adam, restores the broken covenant. His life, death, and resurrection bring humanity back into right relationship with God. This new covenant emphasizes grace and redemption, calling us to live as people transformed by Christ's sacrifice. [45:29]
5. Surrendering Control: The fall of humanity is rooted in a desire for control and knowledge. This struggle continues today as we seek to understand and control our lives. True peace and restoration come from surrendering to God's authority and trusting in His plan, even when we do not see the full picture. [48:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[25:02] - Opening Prayer and Children's Dismissal
[28:46] - Introduction to the Garden of Eden
[29:31] - The Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia
[30:29] - The Five Major Covenants
[31:25] - The First Covenant with Adam
[32:19] - Understanding Ancient Contracts
[33:05] - The Profile of a Covenant
[34:00] - Oral Tradition and Moses' Role
[35:35] - Genesis 1 as an Introduction
[36:26] - The Seven Days of Creation
[37:14] - Authority in Creation
[38:43] - The Suzerain Vassal Contract
[39:29] - The Seventh Day and Rest
[40:26] - The Story of Authority
[41:33] - The Land Grant of Eden
[42:19] - The Broken Covenant
[43:06] - The Consequences of the Fall
[44:01] - God's Effort to Restore
[45:29] - The New Covenant through Christ
[46:10] - The Temptation of Knowledge
[47:27] - Trusting God's Plan
[48:00] - The Struggle for Control
[49:08] - Preparing for Communion
[50:10] - Confession and Forgiveness
[51:24] - The Lord's Table
[52:04] - Communion Instructions
[54:02] - Closing Announcements
[01:04:49] - Vacation Bible School Reminder
[01:05:19] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:1-31 (The Creation Story)
2. Genesis 2:1-3 (The Seventh Day, God Rests)
3. Romans 5:12-21 (The New Covenant through Christ, the Second Adam)
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the five major covenants of the Old Testament mentioned in the sermon? ([31:25])
2. How does the structure of the seven days of creation establish a hierarchy of authority? ([36:26])
3. What role did oral tradition play in the preservation of the stories in Genesis before they were written down by Moses? ([34:00])
4. How does the new covenant through Jesus Christ restore the broken relationship between humanity and God? ([45:29])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the covenant with Adam considered foundational even though it is not explicitly stated as a covenant in the text? ([33:05])
2. How does the fall of humanity disrupt the hierarchy of authority established during creation? ([37:57])
3. In what ways does the new covenant through Christ differ from the old covenants mentioned in the sermon? ([45:29])
4. How does the desire for control and knowledge, as seen in the fall of humanity, continue to affect our relationship with God today? ([48:00])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the significance of the first covenant with Adam. How does understanding this covenant impact your view of your relationship with God and your role in creation? ([31:25])
2. The sermon mentioned the struggle for control and the need to surrender to God's authority. What areas of your life are you trying to control that you need to surrender to God? ([48:00])
3. How can you actively live out the new covenant through Christ in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to share God's love and hope with others? ([45:29])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of oral tradition in preserving God's acts of faithfulness. How can you incorporate the practice of remembering and retelling God's faithfulness in your family or community? ([34:00])
5. During communion, we are invited to let go of our need for control and embrace God's grace. What specific steps can you take this week to let go of control and trust in God's plan for your life? ([49:08])
6. The fall of humanity was rooted in a desire for control and knowledge. Identify a situation where you are seeking control or knowledge that belongs to God. How can you shift your focus to trust in God's wisdom and timing? ([48:00])
7. The sermon mentioned the restoration of humanity through the new covenant in Christ. How can you remind yourself daily of this restoration and live as a person transformed by Christ's sacrifice? ([45:29])
Devotional
Day 1: The Foundational Covenant with Adam
The covenant with Adam, though not explicitly stated in the text, is foundational for understanding God's relationship with humanity. This covenant highlights humanity's role in caring for creation and living in God's presence. Despite Adam and Eve's failure to uphold this covenant, it sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative of redemption. The brokenness introduced by their desire for control and knowledge underscores the need for God's continuous effort to restore the relationship between Him and humanity. This foundational covenant is a reminder of our intended purpose and the grace that God extends to us despite our shortcomings. [31:25]
Genesis 2:15-17 (ESV): "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'"
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's creation today, acknowledging your role in His divine plan?
Day 2: Authority and Creation
The seven days of creation not only describe the formation of the world but also establish a hierarchy of authority. Humanity is given dominion over the earth, but God retains ultimate authority. This structure was disrupted by the fall, leading to a broken relationship that God seeks to restore throughout the biblical narrative. Understanding this hierarchy helps us recognize our place in creation and the importance of submitting to God's ultimate authority. The disruption caused by the fall serves as a reminder of the consequences of stepping outside of God's established order. [36:26]
Psalm 8:4-6 (ESV): "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to acknowledge God's ultimate authority, and how can you begin to surrender those areas to Him today?
Day 3: The Role of Oral Tradition
Before the written word, stories like those in Genesis were passed down orally. Moses' recording of these stories marks a significant transition, preserving the foundational narratives of God's covenants with humanity. This oral tradition underscores the importance of remembering and retelling God's acts of faithfulness. By understanding the role of oral tradition, we can appreciate the depth and richness of the biblical narrative and the importance of passing down our faith stories to future generations. [34:00]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: What is one story of God's faithfulness in your life that you can share with someone today to encourage their faith journey?
Day 4: The New Covenant through Christ
Jesus, the second Adam, restores the broken covenant. His life, death, and resurrection bring humanity back into right relationship with God. This new covenant emphasizes grace and redemption, calling us to live as people transformed by Christ's sacrifice. The new covenant is a fulfillment of God's promise to restore humanity, offering us a path to reconciliation and eternal life. Embracing this new covenant means living in the light of Christ's sacrifice and sharing His love and hope with a broken world. [45:29]
Hebrews 8:10-12 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."
Reflection: How can you live out the grace and redemption of the new covenant in your daily interactions with others?
Day 5: Surrendering Control
The fall of humanity is rooted in a desire for control and knowledge. This struggle continues today as we seek to understand and control our lives. True peace and restoration come from surrendering to God's authority and trusting in His plan, even when we do not see the full picture. Surrendering control is a daily act of faith, requiring us to let go of our own desires and trust in God's greater wisdom and love. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of His peace and the joy of living in alignment with His will. [48:00]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What steps can you take today to trust Him more fully in that area?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "But you, God, you are all-powerful, you are a God of peace, and you are our loving Father. As we worship you this morning, Lord, I pray that you keep that forefront in all of our minds, hearts, and souls. As we shift from singing about who you are, I pray, Lord, that you bring the scriptures alive to us, whether we're in this room or in the children's spaces, that you show your love through your story." [25:02] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We live as new testament people. We live as new covenant people. Because we are the product of the second Adam's come. That he restored us back to being people of God, created to be in the presence of God. Now that doesn't mean we don't get tempted today. Amen?" [46:10] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We live in the grace of the New Covenant. So whatever it is that's on us today that's weighing us down or is holding us from being 100% the person God wants us to be, He wants to receive it from us today, so we can let go and be fully the person He wants. And we can't do that unless we let it go." [49:40] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So the plan was the people of God, in the place of God, dwelling with the presence of God. That was the covenant. That was the agreement. That God created humanity to be of him, in his land, in the land that he gave, dwelling in his presence. But the plan was broken and the covenant was broken because humanity wasn't happy with what they were given." [42:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Because see, when we broke the very first covenant, creation became disconnected. Everything in the created order became unbalanced. And no longer did humanity have complete authority over everything God created. And no longer did everything God created, have balance with itself. Now as humans, when we tried to do the things of earth, we had to work hard. And it cost us pain and sweat and toil and suffering and death." [43:06] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The suzerain, or Yahweh, God, offers his vassals, Adam and Eve, the land grant, or Eden, with the stipulation that humanity care for it and protect it. So that's the requirements of the covenant. This was God's perfect plan. This was the intent of all things. The people of God, in the place of God, dwelling in the presence of God. Yet, as with all covenants, God's perfect plan was dependent on the choice of the vassal." [41:33] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We get tempted. And I think wanting knowledge that is God's knowledge is maybe the biggest temptation. And is that not what Eve was tempted with? She wanted the knowledge of God. And how many times do we want to know what God's plan is? Is that not the knowledge of God? How many times do we want to know how God is going to fix something and not have to just walk through it?" [46:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Friends, as you leave, I just want to give you one reminder. This week we have multiple days we're going to be decorating here at the church for Vacation Bible School. Hey! You're not excited. There you go. It's time to get the VBS energy on. Okay. Which is next week. I know. I know. All of you should be very like getting ramped up for that." [01:04:49] (329 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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