Genesis 1:3-5 (ESV) English Standard Version 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:14-19…
Beliefs have consequences. What we believe about creation effects the way we live. Last week we learned how God revealed Himself as Creator and how all creation testifies to His creative work. Today, we want to
look at why God is necessary for the critical matters of life – morality, purpose, and community. Only the Biblical account of creation is adequate to give meaning to life and guidance in our actions. As God has made us religious creatures; we will find meaning only in Him. Where do we see the necessity of God in creation?
One of the biggest questions we need to consider is the origin of the universe. It is not an idle question. The way we answer that question affects decisions we make on a daily basis. None of us were there for the beginning. Still, God in His grace chose to show us how it happened in the book of Genesis. The first thing the Bible shows us is not “how” creation happened but “who” created. These things are shown to us so we can know our personal Creator. What do we know about God as Creator?
Why is it so easy for us to lose focus on the One who has loved us with a perfect love and blesses us with every temporal and spiritual blessing? Jesus purifies His own people by sharing His heart of grief, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)
What are your priorities? What do you treasure in this life? Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Is purity in heart a treasure you seek?
If we follow the advice of the world, we will build our own mini-kingdoms without much concern with God’s opinion of our work. How many people live their lives, set their goals, and make their plans without any place for God’s Word? Our passage today deals with the vanity of our worldly plans, of the plans we make without considering the Lord. If we are going to build something that lasts, we must build it around God – around His purposes and His character. God is building His kingdom. It will last. The question for each of us is whether we are on His agenda or our own.
The world is full of vulnerable people. The book of Ruth tells the story of a vulnerable young woman who leaves her country to join her mother-inlaw and live in the land of Israel. It’s also the story of one man who protected her in her vulnerability – a man named Boaz. Today, we want to see his story and see how he protected this vulnerable woman who had left her own people, even her own religion, to be part of the nation of Israel and to worship the God of Israel. We may notice people around us who are vulnerable, some of whom are: children, immigrants and refugees, women, ethnic minorities, the sick, and others. How would we care for them with the care God calls us to demonstrate?
As we read the final verses of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we will notice how much he valued his relationships. Without their help, it is simply impossible to imagine how he would have been as successful in bringing the gospel throughout the Roman empire. Relationships are as vital as they are difficult, so it is especially important to keep God’s purposes in mind. Because relationships matter, we must pursue them through our relationship with Christ. A growing Christian life is a relationally connected life.
Ephesians 4:7-16 English Standard Version (ESV) 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He…
