QUESTION OF THE WEEK

A good friend of mine asked me this question from one of his college classes this weekend...

"How do Acts, Romans and Hebrews show Jesus as the ultimate expression of who God is, what God is, what God has done and the point of what God has done?"


So I answered...

All of Scripture is Christ Centered and Jesus IS the ultimate expression of who God is… that is why He is called the "Word of God" (Jn 1:1), “God with us” (Mt 1:23), and He could say things like “if you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). So, if this is the case then Acts, Romans, & Hebrews will be no different than the rest of Scripture.

Acts helps us to understand the flow of church history. The whole point of the Church is to follow Jesus example of being missionaries in our culture and proclaiming His message. Acts proclaims that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah (Acts 2:36) and that the Gospel message is for the whole world (Acts 17:23-27). The very fact that the early church labored to take the Gospel to the ends of the testifies to the fact that they thought Jesus was the crux of Christianity and the key to knowing and understanding God.

The theme of Romans is the Righteousness of God. Mans problem is unrighteousness. Jesus is then presented as the ultimate expression of God because He is the ultimate expression of Gods righteousness and He is the solution to mans problem of unrighteousness (Rom 3:24-26).

Hebrews is the ultimate Epistle about the Supremacy of Jesus Christ. Jesus is better than the Angels (Heb 1:13). Jesus is better than Moses (3:3). Jesus has a better priesthood (Heb 4-7). Jesus mediates a better covenant (8:1-13)! Jesus is the ultimate expression of God because He is the ultimate fulfillment of Gods Covenant… from the first Gospel promise in Genesis 3:15 to the fulfillment of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) as described in Hebrews 8:13. Jesus shows God to be a God who keeps His Word… even if it means coming to earth “in the flesh” and fulfilling it Himself in person. What has God done?... He has redeemed His people, according to His plan (Eph 1:4), without our help, for His glory!


What do you think?...

taught at Awana Varsity 12/03/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/a91423007202/audio.html


God Sends… Church


THE BIG IDEA ?:  What is the "church" and what is its purpose?

SO WHAT ?:  Jesus is God come into human culture as a missionary. We are to follow His example, proclaim His message, and be empowered by His Spirit.

INTRO
  •  Ever since I got saved, I have loved the Church
  •  Jesus loves the Church
  •  The Church is not "optional" in the life of the believer
  •  When considering the church we must consider 3 critical aspects... Jesus' EXAMPLE, Jesus' COMMAND, and the Holy Spirits EMPOWERMENT


1.  THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH

  •  Jesus is God, who came as a man, as a missionary, on a mission, into the culture of the earth, to reveal God and save sinners.
      >  Jesus' life is the model missionary life
      >  Jesus did not remain in the comforts of heaven but rather entered into a sinful culture on the earth as a missionary
      >  Jesus told us at least 39 times that He was a missionary from heaven who came to minister "in the flesh" in an earthly culture. (John 3:34; 4:34; 5:23, 24, 30, 36, 37, 38; 6:29, 38, 39, 44, 57; 7:16, 28, 29, 33; 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44, 45, 49; 13:20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 17:3, 8, 18, 21, 23, 25; 20:21)
  •  Jesus' earthly missional ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
      >  Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      >  anointed by the Holy Spirit His baptism,
      >  promised to baptize people in the Holy Spirit by John the Baptizer,
      >  said to be "fully of the Holy Spirit" and "lead by the Spirit."
      >  Jesus began his public ministry by reading Isaiah 61:1-2…
  •  to be Spirit filled and Spirit led is to be like Jesus... not some charismatic looney...
  •  Jesus also commands us to be missionaries in culture as he was: "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18) He also said, "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." (John 20:21)
  •  READ Acts 1:4-9
  •  READ Acts 2:1-11,  42-47
  •  The church is what happens because of the work of God the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives and minds of His people.  It is the Holy Spirit changing you from the inside out and giving you a new life with Jesus and His people.
  •  SUMMARY... Jesus came to earth on a MISSION... He COMMANDS us to follow Him in living out that mission... He sends and fills us with His SPIRIT to empower us to fulfill that mission.


2.  WHAT IS JESUS' RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH?

  •  Jesus has not abandoned His church and left us to do things on our own
  •  Jesus is the HEAD of the Church (Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
  •  Jesus is the APOSTLE who PLANTS the Church (Heb 3:1)
  •  Jesus is the LEADER who GROWS the Church (Mat 16:18)
  •  Jesus is the Chief PASTOR in EVERY Church (1 Pet 5:4)
  •  Jesus is PRESENT with the Church (Mat 28:20)
  •  Jesus is the one that SHUTS DOWN a faithless or fruitless Church (Rev 2:5)
  •  Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. He is the source of life, w/o Him we can do NOTHING (Jn 15:5)


3.  WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF AN AUTHENTIC CHURCH?

  •  How do we know what is an authentic church?... or a fake?... or a cult?...
  •  "universal" church = all the Christians all around the world.  The "local" church = local expressions of the universal church
  •  the local church is... a community of regenerated believers who worship Jesus as Lord & Savior and recognize the authority & inspiration of Scripture.  They gather under qualified leadership, for regular preaching & teaching, for worship, for observing the biblical ordinances (baptism & communion), are unified by the Spirit, and are disciplined for holiness.  They scatter to fulfill the great commandment to love and the great commission as missionaries to the world for God's glory and their joy. Therefore, an authentic church is...
      >  Regenerated church membership (born again member)
      >  Biblical
      >  Qualified leadership (Godly, biblical, Elders & Deacons as described in 1 Tim 3)
      >  Preaching, Teaching, and worship (assembling, teaching, & celebrating)
      >  Ordinances rightly administered (communion 7 baptism)
      >  Unified by the Spirit (united in love, truth, fruit, & gifts of the Spirit to serve)
      >  Disciplined for holiness (sin is dealt with in love to bring repentance & restoration)
      >  Obey the great commandment to love (fellowship, mutual care, one-another's)
      >  Obey the great commission to make disciples (evangelism & promoting grow)


4.  WHO HARMS THE CHURCH?

  •  burned out leaders
  •  false teachers
  •  false converts
  •  consumer Christians (adults feed themselves & someone else... it should not be about what you "get" but what you can "give")


5.  WHAT IS JESUS DOING AT CBC?



CONCLUSION:

  •  Jesus is God come into human culture as a missionary, on a mission!
  •  He commands us to follow His example, proclaim His message,
  •  It is only possible to fulfill Jesus mission when empowered by the Holy Spirit
  •  Jesus loves the Church and is vitally connected to the church.  As people that love Jesus and His Word we should love & be connected to His church too!  Live your life to serve Jesus through the church, to love those in the church, and to bring others by faith in the Gospel into the church family!
  •  Be wary of fake churches!

taught at Awana Varsity 11/19/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/b16b52949072/audio.html


God Saves... Resurrection


THE BIG IDEA ?:  The resurrection of Jesus is a "big deal".

SO WHAT ?:  The fact that Jesus returned from the dead gives the believer Hope... that Jesus is who He said He was... Lord, Savior, worthy of worship!


INTRO
  •  1 Cor 15:17  "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."

  •  Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no savior, no salvation, no forgiveness of sin, no hope of resurrected eternal life, no Christianity!... and Jesus is reduced to yet another good but dead man and therefore of no considerable help to us in this life or at its end.

  •  Without the resurrection of Jesus the few billion people who worship Jesus today as God are fools and their hope for a resurrection life after this life ends is the hope of silly fools.

  •  Jesus resurrection is the UNIQUE claim of Christianity...  some good reasons to believe it...


1.  WHAT IS RESURRECTION?

  •  did NOT mean "life after death" in the sense of a spiritual "afterlife"
  •  did NOT mean merely resuscitation
  •  DID mean new physical life after a period of being physically dead.


2.  WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL EVIDENCE FOR JESUS' RESURRECTION?

  •  Jesus' resurrection was PROPHESIED in advance  Isa. 53:6-12
  •  Jesus PREDICTED his resurrection  Mk 8:31;  9:30-31;  10:33-34; Jn 2:18-22;  Mt 12:38-40
  •  Jesus DIED on the cross  Matt. 27:45-54; Mark 15:33-39; Luke 23:44-48; John 19:28-42
  •  Jesus was buried in a tomb that was EASY TO FIND  Matt. 27:57-60
  •  Jesus APPEARED physically alive 3 days after his death  Luk 24:1-12, 36-43;  Jn 20:17, 20-28
  •  Jesus' resurrection was recorded as Scripture SHORTLY after it occurred  1 Cor 15:3-4
  •  Jesus' resurrection convinced His FAMILY to worship him as God  Acts 1:14;  12:17;  15:12-21;  21:18;  1 Cor 15:7;  Gal. 2:9;  Jam 1:1;  Jude 1
  •  Jesus' resurrection was confirmed by his most bitter ENEMIES, like Paul.  Act 7:54-60; Act 9; Phil 3:4-6


3.  WHAT IS THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE FOR JESUS' RESURRECTION?

  •  The TRANSFORMATION of the disciples from cowards to men that no longer feared death and died as MARTYRS.
  •  The disciples stayed LOYAL to their Messiah in the face of great suffering and persecution.
  •  The CHARACTER of the disciples negates the prospect that they lied about the resurrection.
  •  The day of worship changed from Saturday to SUNDAY in honor of Jesus resurrection and in contrast to thousands of years of observance according to one of the 10 Commandments.
  •  The OBJECT of worship became Jesus as God... devout Bible-believing Jews risked blasphemy and hellfire to believe in Jesus as the true God.
  •  THEOLOGICAL CHANGES in the church included the sacraments of communion and baptism in honor of Jesus death and resurrection.
  •  WOMEN discovered the empty tomb according to the Scriptures and if the story were fabricated they would not have been included since they could not legally testify as witnesses.
  •  EARLY CHURCH preaching continually emphasized the fact of Jesus resurrection as the central truth of Christian faith.
  •  The TOMB of was not enshrined like so many religious leaders in that day for the simple fact he was not there but rather risen.
  •  GROWTH of the church can only be explained by the fact of the resurrection of Jesus as its cause.


4.  WHAT IS THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR JESUS' RESURRECTION?

  •  Thomas Arnold (professor of Modern History at Oxford): "No one fact in the history of mankind . . . is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort" than the fact that "Christ died and rose from the dead."
  •  Josephus (AD 37-100)
  •  Suetonius (AD 70-160)
  •  Pliny the Younger (AD 61 or 62-113)


5.  DEALING WITH OBJECTIONS

  •  Did Jesus just "swoon" on the cross?... NO
      >  He was scoured & crucified... the whole point is to KILL people
      >  He was crucified under the supervision of a Roman Executioner... a professional killer!
      >  He had a spear thrust through His heart
      >  wrapped in 100 lbs of linen & spices... placed in cold stone tomb... no medical attention
      >  How could he have rolled away the large stone and overpowered the Roman Soldiers?
  •  Did Jesus just rise from the dead "spiritually"?... NO
      >  Luk 24:39  "...a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones as you can see I have..."
      >  Jn 20:27-28  Jesus said "...observe My hands... My side" 
  •  Did Jesus followers just hallucinate?... NO
  •  Christianity borrowed the resurrection "myth" from paganism?  NO  (see Daniel 12:3)
  •  Other silly objections... Disciples went to the wrong tomb... Jesus had a twin brother... etc.


CONCLUSION
  •  Jesus is ALIVE!... He sits on the throne in heaven ruling as God & King & Savior today!...He saves people b/c He is alive… He hears prayer b/c He is alive… He knows you b/c He is alive… He is preparing a place for His people in Heaven b/c He is alive… He is coming back to earth someday b/c He is alive!!!
  •  What is the hope of the resurrection of Jesus?... ONLY Jesus has gone to death and returns to tell us about it.  Only Jesus returns as VICTOR of death and the grave.  No other world religion claims that its leader has returned from the graved! 
  •  Jesus alone has the authority to tell us what awaits us on the other side of death... JUDGEMENT
  •  Do I follow Jesus or not?  Belief in Jesus changes everything!...
      >  the believer does not worry about death
      >  gives us a collective hope… we can approach the death of our friends and family differently
      >  sins effects are hated, even among unbelievers, therefore we look forward to the world Jesus is preparing.  His resurrection shows us what is to come.
      >  life gets even better

taught at Awana Varsity 11/12/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

INTRO:
  •  the cross is the most important event in all of history... w/o it our lives would be MEANINGLESS and our future would be HOPELESS!
  •  the cross is the symbol of Christianity... the "emblem of suffering & shame"

1.  WHAT IS CRUCIFIXION?
  •  invented by Persians 500 BC… perfected by Romans… outlawed by Constantine 300 AD
  •  crucifixion was reserved for the most horrendous criminals. Even the worst Romans were beheaded rather than crucified.  The Jews considered crucifixion the most horrific mode of death...
  •  excruciating = lit. "from the cross".  A word invented to describe the intense pain & suffering
  •  Death by ASPHYXIATION...
  •  Crucifixion was designed to make someone SUFFER for as long as the body could possible endure.... pain, blood loss, dehydration, shock... the person dies very SLOWLY
  •  Crucifixion was intended to be the most HUMILIATING & SHAMEFUL form of execution...

SCOURGING
  •  many people died from scourging w/o even making it to their cross
  •  "cat-o-nine tails" = a whip of long leather straps... at the end of each were heavy balls of metal intended to "tenderize" the victim.  Along each strap were hooks and sharp bits of metal or bone
  •  Once the hooks were sunk deeply into the tenderized flesh, the executioner would rip the skin, muscle, tendons, and even bones off the victim... EXTREMELY VIOLENT
  •  Isa. 52:14  "many were astonished at you-his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind."

CRUCIFIXION
  •  Jesus was young, and healthy, and strong... but, He was so physically devastated from his sleepless night, miles of walking, severe beating, and scourging that he collapsed under the weight of the cross (100 lbs)
  •  Jesus the carpenter, who had driven many nails into wood with his own hands, then had 6 or 7 inch long rough metal spikes driven into the most sensitive nerve centers on the human body, in his hands and feet. Jesus was nailed to his wooden cross. The cross would then be lifted and dropped into a hole.

3.  WHY DID JESUS DIE?
  •  How on earth can Christians call this gruesome scene "good news"?...
  •  Jesus' death was SUBSTITUTIONARY.  His death was in our place solely for our benefit and w/o benefit for himself. Just to be perfectly clear, this means that Jesus took the penalty for our sins in our place so we do not have to suffer the just penalty ourselves. The wrath of God that should have fallen on us and the death that our sins merit fell on Jesus.
  •  PENAL SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT is the central, essential, and guiding principle for understanding what Jesus' death accomplished on the cross
  •  ref.  Isa 53:5, 12;  Rom 4:25, 5:8;  1 Cor 15:3;  1 Pet 3:18;  1 Jn 2:2;  Gal 3:13

5.  Doesn't the cross contradict God's love?
  •  Brian McLaren used the term "cosmic child abuse" to describe "penal substitutionary atonement"
  •  Others will protest that a loving God would never sanction the bloody, unjust murder of Jesus.  Scripture plainly states, however, that it is at the cross of Jesus that the love of God for us is most clearly seen. Jesus himself said precisely this: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)
  •  Other Scriptures show His death on the cross is the place where love is most clearly seen…
      >  John 3:16
      >  Romans 5:8
      >  1 John 4:9-10
  •  Clearly, Jesus' bloody death on the cross is about love and everyone who loves Jesus should know that.

taught at Awana Varsity 11/05/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/4680d2899367/audio.html

INTRO: 
  •  Illustration:  when I was a young father... and I saw my firstborn infant son... God came like this!!!
  •  "incarnation" = "carne" / meat... in the flesh... not a human became God, but God became human
  •  If the OT prophecies do not point to Jesus, then who?... the OT teaches God will come, into human history, as a man.
  •  Many Rabbi's DID expect God to come as a man... thats why many accepted & worshipped Jesus as God!

1.  God WILL Come In The Flesh.
  •  Gen 3:15  1st Gospel promise…  (see Isa 59:16, 63:5… God is coming personally)
  •  Isa 7:14  virgin birth
  •  Mic 5:2  to be born in Bethlehem
  •  Mal 3:1  before the destruction of the temple

3.  Jesus Came As FULLY God AND FULLY Man
  •  Is Jesus fully God & fully man?... hypostatic union = Jesus having both human & divine natures
  •  Isa 6:1-10;  Jn 12:41
  •  numerous people have claimed to speak for God... BUT Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, and Gandhi did NOT claim to be God... in fact, they assured their followers that they were not God. Jesus, in contrast, clearly and repeatedly said He is God.
  •  Jn 10:33  Jesus claimed to be God and He NEVER recanted
  •  Jn 1:1-5, 10-14  John the beloved disciple, persecuted, exiled, and He never recanted.
  •  reference… Mark 14:61-64;  John 8:58-59;
  •  Was Jesus a real "flesh & blood" man? (had a human body, weaknesses, limitations, emotions)
        >  Born of a woman (Gal. 4:4)
        >  Had a normal body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)
        >  Grew up as a boy (Luke 2:52)
        >  Had a family (Matt. 13:54-58; Mark 6:3; 1 Cor. 9:5)
        >  Worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3)
        >  Got hungry (Matt. 4:2; 21:18) and thirsty (John 4:7; 19:28)
        >  Was stressed (John 13:21)
        >  Was happy (Luke 10:21-24; John 15:11; 17:13; Heb. 12:2, 22)
        >  Told jokes (Matt. 7:6; 23:24; Mark 4:21)
        >  Loved children (Matt. 19:13-15)
        >  Went to parties (Matt. 11:19)
        >  Loved his mom (John 19:26-27)
  •  Did Jesus ever claim to be God?
        >  He came from Heaven - Jn 3:13
        >  Was the Christ - Jn 4:26
        >  Had the right to judge Mankind - Jn 5:22
        >  Deserved the same degree of honor as God - Jn 5:
        >  Was predicted by the prophets - Jn 5:46
        >  Has the right to forgive sins committed against God - Mark 2:5
        >  Has the Power to raise himself from the dead - Jn 6:40
        >  Never committed a sin - Jn 8:46
        >  Has existed forever - Jn 8:48
        >  John 10:24-33;  John 14:6-10;  John 20:28;  Matt 21:15-16;  Matt 16:13-17

4.  Jesus Came As A MISSIONARY
  •  Jesus became a man, because He was concerned with saving men.  He came to be a substitutionary sacrifice
  •  Jesus came to the Jewish people, culture, clothes, language, etc.
  •  Phil 2:5-11
        >  Jesus never lost His divinity, He added humanity
        >  fully God... fully man
        >  no one could take His glory, His rights... He laid them down
        >  Christianity is not about what you do for God, its about what Jesus did for you.  Religion leads to pride or despair.  Christianity leads to humility and joy.
        >  He rules over all... He saves all... we live to make much of the name of Jesus.
        >  whats the big idea?... the main point... JESUS!
        >  bend the knee to Jesus... either as a friend and follower of Jesus... or as a foe of Jesus.

CONCLUSION :
  •  the Humility of Jesus... He became a servant to His enemies
  •  God comes in human flesh to RESCUE humanity
  •  We must be clear on the person & work of Jesus… Jesus became a man, because He was concerned with saving mankind.  He came to be a substitutionary sacrifice for sinful humanity to restore His people o relationship with the Father. There is no right relationship with God apart from Jesus!

taught at Awana Varsity 10/29/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/e3e2b2871015/audio.html

God Pursues-Covenant

1.  THE ADAMIC COVENANT
  •  the word "covenant" is not used here, but see Hos 6:7
  •  can be thought of in 2 parts...
        >  innocence = Gen 1:26-30;  2:16-17
        >  gracious = Gen 3:16-19
  •  Each covenant has 5 characteristics...
        >  the covenant MEDIATOR (the person God makes the covenant w/ & his covenant role)
        >  the BLESSINGS promised in the covenant.
        >  the CONDITIONS (or consequences) of the covenant.
        >  the "SIGN" by which the covenant will be celebrated and remembered
        >  the "FORM" that God's family takes as a result of the covenant.
  •  Mediator:  Adam & in his role as husband & representative all of humanity
  •  Blessing:  that their union will be fruitful… fill the earth… rule over creation.
  •  Condition:  do not eat from the tree… curse for disobedience is death / separation
  •  Sign:  the Sabbath
  •  God Family:  assumes the form of the marriage bond between husband and wife

3.  THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
  •  TURN to Gen 12:1-3;  17:1-14;  22:16-18
  •  God pursues a pagan man, living in a pagan city, who worshiped false gods.
  •  Mediator:  Abraham in his representative role as chieftain
  •  Blessing:  land… bless his descendants… become a great nation... Seed will bless all nations
  •  Condition:  Circumcision is the condition that his descendants must obey
  •  Sign:  mark of circumcision
  •  God Family:  God's family takes a "tribal" form

CONCLUSION:
  •  How does Gods covenant love affect my covenant relationships?... my wife... my children... my church membership...???
  •  Jesus is a better ADAM, NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES, and a better DAVID.
        >  Jesus is a perfect representative and always remained faithful & obedient to the father
        >  Jesus is an ark that saves a multitude from the coming flood of Gods wrath
        >  Jesus is always faithful, give us a place in His Kingdom… He is a blessing to the whole world
        >  Jesus fulfilled the law… perfect sacrifice… judges… Leads people to freedom
        >  Jesus is a perfect King who rules in righteousness… forever… in holiness, and peace.
  •  What is the proper response to Gods covenant love and promises?... REPENTANCE from sin and FAITH in Jesus Christ

taught at Awana Varsity 10/02/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/86a6f2857216/audio.html

taught at Awana Varsity 11/12/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/544452833452/audio.html

INTRO
  •  God created the entire universe out of nothing; it was initially very good; and He created it to glorify himself.

1.  GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE OUT OF NOTHING
    •  READ Gen 1:1-2;  1:26-27;  2:7
    •  Psa 33:6,9;  Neh 9:6;  Jn 1:3;  Col 1:16;  Heb 11:3
    •  the fact that God created the universe out of nothing means that everything that exists was created with a meaning and a purpose. 

2.  GOD IS DISTINCT FROM HIS CREATION
    •  God is both TRANSCENDANT and IMMANENT. Creation is distinct from God but always dependant on Him.  God is far above creation yet always involved in it. 

3.  GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE TO SHOW HIS GLORY
    •  Isaiah 43:7;  Psalms 19:1-2;  Revelation 4:11 
    •  The creation of the universe was a totally FREE ACT of God. God freely chose to create the universe to demonstrate His excellence & to put all of His attributes on display.

4.  THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED AS "VERY GOOD"
    •  see Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, & 31

5.  CREATION vs. SCIENCE
    •  Is Christianity at odds with Science?... NO, in reality, real science is impossible without a Christian worldview.
    •  Theory of evolution?… Age of the earth?...

CONCLUSION
  •  The doctrine of creation teaches us the material universe is good in itself… it encourages us to do scientific and technological research... It helps promote worship & praise to God… & it reminds us that God is sovereign over the universe He created.  All of the universe is created for His purposes and will ultimately fulfill His plan.

taught Awana Varsity 10/08/2008
based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

3. What The Bible Says…
  •  reference Isaiah 55:11;  Psa 19:7;  119:11;  Prov 30:5-6;  Heb 4:12;   2 Pet 1:20-21;  1 Pet 1:24-25;   1 Cor 15:1,3-4;  2 Tim 3:16-17; 
  •  Acts 17:10-11  Bereans
  •  2 Pet 3:15-16  Peter sanctions the writings of Paul
  •  1 Tim 5:18  Paul sanctions the writings of Luke
  •  Rev 22:18-19  No one else is given authority to write Scripture

CONCLUSION
  •  "What if I say the Bible is Gods Holy Word, complete, inspired w/o flaw?;
But from day to day its pages stay unread & I fail to learn from Gods Holy law;
What if I do not go there to seek the truth of which I glibly speak for guidance in this earthly way? Does it matter what I say?”
  •  What is our commitment to the Word?... Can we say what Job said?? (Job 23:12)

Pastor Nate taught 8/6/2008 to Jr & Sr High
based on an outline by James MacDonald