Sermon Tone Analysis

With today’s sermon time I just want to tell the gospel—meaning that “good news” which is the basis of our Christian faith and hope and future.

And I want to tell it from a big-picture point-of-view that looks at the overarching story of the Bible.

The way of approaching this that has helped me the most is to think of the whole Bible in 5 parts (like five acts of a play you might watch in a theater).

Creation

Gen 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Not the popular view in today’s science books, but don’t think that means it’s illogical or wrong.

It takes a great (illogical) leap of faith to explain the origin of life, the awesome splendor and intricate design of the universe without the Creator.

With a word, God spoke all the colors of light into the darkness, spoke the stars and planets into being, formed the Earth with an atmosphere conducive to life and filled it with a stunning array of plant and animal life.

The pinnacle of that creation was a man and a woman:

The man and the woman lived and worked in a garden called Eden.

There were two trees of great significance: “The tree of life” (from which they could eat) and “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (off limits, resulting in death).

Eve was tempted by the serpent.

Eve ate.

Adam ate.... Just as we all have.

There were consequences.

God’s good creation was marred - there would now be enmity and pain and struggle and death.

They were driven out of the garden, no longer able to eat of the tree of life.

Dark days followed: murder, violence, and devastating evil that grieved God.

But God would reclaim and restore his good creation, humankind in particular.

Community

Sometime later, while there were people of all kinds of languages, tribes, and nations scattered throughout the earth, God called a man named Abram and promised to make him into a great nation that would then bless all the families of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).

Abraham, Isaac (God would provide the sacrifice), and Jacob

12 Tribes - Given God’s blessing, guidance, deliverance, and law (10 Commandments, a distinct nation with unique customs and values)

The history of this community (God’s people) is a roller coaster of highs (Moses/deliverance, Joshua/conqueror, Judges/rescue, David/great king, Prophets/God’s message) and lows (wilderness/persistent unbelief, Promised Land/compromise and corruption, Judges/spiral into darkness, king after king fails, prophet after prophet disregarded and killed).

Eventually, God’s people are exiled away from their land and temple and ruled by foreigners.

Even when the time of exile is over—it doesn’t seem over.

Nothing is like it used to be.

What will come of God’s plan?

As you read the OT, it seems that God’s purpose for this family to bless all families of the earth has completely unraveled… because of sin.

Christ

This is the climax of the story, and all of history pivots on this.

Christ came to make that new covenant in which our sins are forgiven and forgotten—indeed to make it with his own blood.

Christ is that King with everlasting dominion and glory.

Christ is the that Son of Man to crush the head of the serpent.

Through the sinless life, sacrificial death, and shocking resurrection of Jesus, God has dealt with our problem.

Our sin longer alienates us; we are reconciled to God.

The wrath and punishment that we deserved; nailed to the cross.

And death will no longer have the last word; eternal life awaits all who are in Christ.

-opening the way back to the life

-reconciling us to God and restoring the image of God marred by sin

-reclaiming us as the people of His rule

New Community

“I will build my church” - Matt 16:18.

Jesus had gathered disciples to make them fishers of men, now he sends them: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...” Matt 28:19-20.

Mission Continued: God’s promise to Abram (to bless all people on earth through him) is now ready to go viral (family of believers, Jew & Gentile)

Gift of Family: we need others; sometimes we may under-appreciate and under-experience this gift of a Christ-built church

Reversal of the curse: Holy Spirit, new possibilities (transformation), Pentecost is like a replay of the law given on Sinai (but with reverse effect), darkness is unraveling

We haven’t seen yet the final resolution that Jesus has secured, but already we live in the new possibilities that come under the rule of Jesus and continue to mission for the sake of all peoples.

New Creation

While the beginnings of this are already underway within and among us, the fullness of it is yet to come.

God says: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (Rev 21).

The same one who spoke everything into existence “in the beginning,” has told us in advance of “the end.”

There will be punishment for those not reconciled to God in Christ.

For the church, the bride of Christ, all will be made new.