The Bible's Story: Resurrection, Creation, and Human Dignity
Summary
Understanding the story of the Bible is crucial for both believers and skeptics alike. Many people are familiar with Bible stories, but few know the story of how the Bible came to be. This lack of understanding can make it easy to dismiss the Bible and Christianity. The story of the Bible doesn't begin in Genesis; it begins with the resurrection of Jesus. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, there would be no reason to document his life. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the reason the Bible exists.
The early church began in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified. The resurrection was so compelling that it transformed the lives of those who witnessed it, leading them to spread the message of Jesus. This led to the creation of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—which were considered valuable, reliable, and sacred by the early church. However, even after these Gospels were written, there was no Bible as we know it today.
The spread of Christianity among Gentiles posed a significant challenge, as they were accustomed to polytheism. The idea of one God was revolutionary and difficult for them to grasp. Yet, as they became interested in Jesus, they also became interested in the Jewish Scriptures, which provided the backstory to the new story of Jesus. This interest led to the inclusion of Jewish Scriptures in what would become the Christian Bible.
The Genesis creation account stands in stark contrast to other ancient creation myths. While other myths depict humans as an afterthought created to serve the gods, Genesis presents humanity as the pinnacle of creation, made in the image of God. This revolutionary idea introduced the concept of human dignity and worth, which was unheard of in ancient times. Genesis provides a monotheistic worldview that answers life's most important questions: why we are here and why we matter.
Key Takeaways:
- The story of the Bible begins with the resurrection of Jesus, not in Genesis. The resurrection is the reason the Bible exists, as it compelled witnesses to document Jesus' life. Understanding this backstory is crucial for appreciating the Bible's significance. [03:56]
- The early church began in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified. The resurrection transformed the lives of those who witnessed it, leading them to spread the message of Jesus. This led to the creation of the Gospels, which were considered sacred by the early church. [05:12]
- The spread of Christianity among Gentiles was challenging due to their polytheistic beliefs. However, their interest in Jesus led them to explore Jewish Scriptures, which provided the backstory to the new story of Jesus. This interest eventually led to the inclusion of Jewish Scriptures in the Christian Bible. [10:39]
- The Genesis creation account is unique and revolutionary. Unlike other ancient myths, Genesis presents humanity as the pinnacle of creation, made in the image of God. This introduced the concept of human dignity and worth, which was unheard of in ancient times. [25:44]
- Genesis provides a monotheistic worldview that answers life's most important questions: why we are here and why we matter. It presents a God who saves, redeems, and never gives up on us, offering a purpose and meaning to our existence. [32:33]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Introduction to the Series
[01:47] - The Importance of Understanding the Bible's Story
[03:42] - The Resurrection: The Beginning of the Bible's Story
[05:12] - The Birth of the Early Church
[07:26] - The Gospels: Sacred and Valuable
[08:25] - Challenges for Gentile Believers
[10:39] - Gentile Interest in Jewish Scriptures
[13:03] - The Unique Genesis Creation Account
[16:28] - The Revolutionary Idea of Human Dignity
[20:30] - Genesis and Modern Science
[25:44] - The Pinnacle of Creation: Humanity
[29:43] - The True Purpose of Genesis
[32:33] - A Monotheistic Worldview
[34:44] - The Inclusion of Jewish Scriptures in the Christian Bible
[35:29] - Recommended Resource: John Lennox's Book
[36:11] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
2. Genesis 1:26-27 - "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, why is the resurrection of Jesus considered the starting point of the Bible's story rather than Genesis? [03:56]
2. How did the early church's location in Jerusalem contribute to the spread of Christianity, according to the sermon? [05:12]
3. What challenges did Gentiles face when they became interested in Christianity, and how did this lead to the inclusion of Jewish Scriptures in the Christian Bible? [10:39]
4. How does the Genesis creation account differ from other ancient creation myths, as discussed in the sermon? [25:44]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the resurrection of Jesus be considered the cornerstone of the Christian faith, and how does this understanding affect one's view of the Bible? [03:56]
2. In what ways did the early church's belief in the resurrection transform their lives and actions, according to the sermon? [05:12]
3. How did the Gentiles' interest in Jewish Scriptures change their understanding of Jesus and Christianity? [10:39]
4. What implications does the Genesis account of creation have for understanding human dignity and worth, as highlighted in the sermon? [25:44]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of the Bible's story. How does knowing that it begins with the resurrection of Jesus change your perspective on its significance? [03:56]
2. The early church was willing to risk their lives to spread the message of Jesus. What are some ways you can be more courageous in sharing your faith today? [05:12]
3. Consider the challenges the Gentiles faced in accepting a monotheistic worldview. Are there any beliefs or practices in your life that might be hindering your full acceptance of the Christian faith? [10:39]
4. The Genesis account presents humanity as the pinnacle of creation. How does this view influence the way you treat others and yourself? [25:44]
5. Genesis provides a monotheistic worldview that answers life's important questions. How does this worldview impact your daily decisions and interactions with others? [32:33]
6. Think about a time when you felt your life lacked purpose or meaning. How can the understanding that you are made in the image of God provide clarity and direction? [25:44]
7. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to see your own worth or the worth of others. What steps can you take to align your view with the biblical understanding of human dignity? [25:44]
Devotional
Day 1: The Resurrection as the Bible's Foundation
The story of the Bible begins not with the creation account in Genesis, but with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This pivotal event is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and the reason the Bible exists. Without the resurrection, there would be no compelling reason to document the life and teachings of Jesus. The resurrection was so transformative that it compelled those who witnessed it to share the message of Jesus, leading to the creation of the Gospels. Understanding this backstory is crucial for appreciating the Bible's significance and its role in the lives of believers. [03:56]
1 Corinthians 15:14-15 (ESV): "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised."
Reflection: How does the resurrection of Jesus shape your understanding of the Bible and its importance in your life today?
Day 2: The Birth of the Early Church
The early church began in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified. The resurrection of Jesus was so compelling that it transformed the lives of those who witnessed it, leading them to spread the message of Jesus. This movement led to the creation of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—which were considered valuable, reliable, and sacred by the early church. The early church's commitment to sharing the message of Jesus, despite persecution and challenges, is a testament to the power of the resurrection and the truth of the Gospel. [05:12]
Acts 4:33 (ESV): "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."
Reflection: In what ways can you be a witness to the transformative power of the resurrection in your community today?
Day 3: Gentile Interest in Jewish Scriptures
The spread of Christianity among Gentiles posed a significant challenge, as they were accustomed to polytheism. The idea of one God was revolutionary and difficult for them to grasp. However, as they became interested in Jesus, they also became interested in the Jewish Scriptures, which provided the backstory to the new story of Jesus. This interest eventually led to the inclusion of Jewish Scriptures in the Christian Bible, bridging the Old and New Testaments and providing a comprehensive narrative of God's work in the world. [10:39]
Romans 15:4 (ESV): "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the Old Testament to enrich your faith and understanding of the New Testament?
Day 4: The Revolutionary Idea of Human Dignity
The Genesis creation account stands in stark contrast to other ancient creation myths. While other myths depict humans as an afterthought created to serve the gods, Genesis presents humanity as the pinnacle of creation, made in the image of God. This revolutionary idea introduced the concept of human dignity and worth, which was unheard of in ancient times. Genesis provides a monotheistic worldview that answers life's most important questions: why we are here and why we matter. [25:44]
Psalm 8:4-5 (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."
Reflection: How does understanding that you are made in the image of God influence the way you view yourself and others?
Day 5: A Monotheistic Worldview
Genesis provides a monotheistic worldview that answers life's most important questions: why we are here and why we matter. It presents a God who saves, redeems, and never gives up on us, offering a purpose and meaning to our existence. This worldview is foundational to the Christian faith and offers a lens through which believers can understand their place in the world and their relationship with God. [32:33]
Isaiah 45:5-6 (ESV): "I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other."
Reflection: In what ways can you live out a monotheistic worldview in your daily life, acknowledging God as the sole source of purpose and meaning?
Quotes
The story of the Bible begins not in Genesis, the story of the Bible begins when Jesus was discovered alive after he had been crucified. It's important to know, as we talked about last week. If Jesus had been crucified and didn't rise from the dead, you need to understand, this would not exist. [00:03:50]
When that tomb was discovered empty, and when his disciples, and by disciples I don't mean the 12 apostles. The hundreds of people that followed Jesus from the banks of the Jordan River throughout his ministry. When they saw him alive from the dead, these men and women who ran for their lives when he was arrested, went into the streets of Jerusalem and proclaimed not what they had read about, not what they'd heard about but what they had seen with their own eyes a resurrected Savior. [00:04:37]
The Apostle Paul and others left Judea and began telling Gentiles, non-Jewish people about the claims of Jesus. And the biggest transition, the biggest struggle for Gentiles who were enamored by the life of Jesus and the message of Jesus. And Gentiles who wanted to embrace the life of Jesus, embrace Jesus as their Savior and as their Lord. The struggle for them was the whole idea of giving up everything they had been brought up to believe, giving up everything that everyone around them had been brought up to believe, and embracing the idea that there was only one God. [00:08:10]
When Gentiles became enamored with one particular Jew, who would that be? - [Congregation] Jesus. - Yeah, it's not a trick question everybody who would that be? - Jesus. - Yes, when the Gentile world became enamored with one particular Jew, they became enamored with the sacred text of the Jews. Now, before Jesus came along this was not the case. I mean there were always a tiny, tiny, tiny percentage of Gentiles who followed Judaism as close as they could. [00:11:03]
When they discovered that The Law and the Prophets were the back story to this new story, they became interested in the Jewish text. They weren't interested in Judaism and this causes a problem later on, they were interested in finding Jesus in the text of the Jewish people. Now to their amazement, to their shock and awe. To a degree of amazement, we can't even begin to describe when they began to explore the text of the Jews, when they begin to read it for themselves they didn't even know what to call some of these. [00:12:59]
Genesis is a worldview unto itself. An extraordinary, ahead of its time worldview. In fact, the scientific community, the modern scientific community wouldn't even begin to catch up with the first statement in Genesis until 1927. When a Belgian priest, first suggested the theory that we call the Big Bang Theory. That the universe had a beginning, maybe you know this, now you will. Since the time of Aristotle in the 4th century BC, since the time of Aristotle everyone pretty much assumed that the universe just existed, that it had always existed. [00:19:02]
Genesis tells us the religion that was older than any of the current religions in the first century. Genesis says what no other pagan myth said. Then God said, "Let us make man kind in our image." In the Jewish text the creation of mankind, womankind is the pinnacle not the afterthought of creation which means, don't miss this. Dignity, the dignity of every man, the dignity of every woman, the dignity of every child is established at the very beginning, this was unheard of. [00:25:42]
In the very beginning, God told the Jewish people, "You will make no idols. You'll make no idol of me, Yahweh, you'll make no idol or images out of animals or other people, or anything that crawls on the ground or flies in the air. You will have no other gods before me because there aren't any other gods." And I'm telling you in stark contrast to the Egyptian pantheon of gods that they had just escaped from. God says, "You will not worship nature." [00:27:34]
God created mankind, in his own image, unthinkable. "In the image of God." It's repeated for emphasis. "In the image of God he created them." Ladies, male and female, he created them. Look up here. You've heard me say this before if you've been around. I think every woman should be a Christian. Jesus was the first to elevate the status of women, this is why so many women follow Jesus. [00:28:37]
Genesis:1, creates and gives us, and provides us with the meta-narrative of our lives, the big picture. The ultimate context for human experience a monotheistic worldview. A worldview, and please don't miss this, this is so important. A worldview that answers, life's most important questions, the why questions. The why is there something rather than nothing question. More personal, why are you here? And why do you matter? [00:32:46]
You are not the result of some cosmic conflict between the gods, and you were not created by the universe. God wanted image-bearers who could know and relate to one another, and image-bearers that can know and relate to him and this is my favorite part. And when the time was right. when everything was just as it needed to be, Yahweh the God of Genesis, joined us, but that's later I'm getting ahead of myself. [00:33:04]
In the opening line of the Hebrew Bible, in the opening line of the Hebrew Bible they realized something. That it was very difficult, very difficult for first century Jews to acknowledge. In the opening line of the scripture that they began to adopt as their own scripture, they realized that the Jews had it right all along, which of course only fueled their interest in The Law and the Prophets, the Hebrew Scriptures. [00:34:01]
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