Romans
I am really loving this series! Now we are into Paul’s harsh truth about God’s anger at our sin.. I thought this was going to be all really tough, but I honestly think these “Be Right” sermons are really really great. If you’ve missed the foundational messages to understand this series, you should definitely go back and check them out! Our watch page has all of them there.
Return and Restart
This coming Sunday is our first official in-person service. I was really happy we were able to give it a little bit of a runthrough to get ready for you. I am excited about it, and I hope you will reserve your seat.
If you are a little wary to join a group of worshippers just yet, I certainly understand. We will still be live-streaming for the indefinite future.
If you haven’t received it already, we’ll be sending out an email with a HUGE update about this coming weekend, and a link to reserve your seat!
The Glory of God
Has observing or experiencing something in creation ever made you feel small? If so, share your experience with the group.
Have you ever struggled to believe that God cares about you personally? Why?
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
Psalm 8:1-2 NLT
The term “LORD” in verse 1 refers to the divine name Yahweh, “I am who I am,” that God told Moses in Exodus 3:14. What does this term imply about the nature of God?
God is the ultimate being. He has no beginning because He has always been and always will be God. He depends on nothing in order to exist, while everything in creation depends on Him for its existence. This name implies that He is above all things—He is wiser and more beautiful and wonderful than everything everywhere. All creation exists to praise Him.
We talked about it on Sunday… How is God’s majesty revealed in creation?
Why does God use infants to triumph over His enemies? What does this prove or accomplish?
God’s majesty is highlighted in verse 2 in that God not only stoops to care and provide for infants, but that He makes them the means of His triumphs. God could conquer His enemies in any number of dramatic and powerful ways, but He instead chooses to overcome them through the praises of children and nursing babies. This is an incredibly important theme in the Bible—God triumphs not through grand displays of power but through profound and mysterious displays of humility.
The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’” Then he returned to Bethany, where he stayed overnight.
Matthew 21:15-17 NLT
How did Jesus fulfill Psalm 8:2 in this story?
This episode with the chief priests and the experts of the law came about shortly after Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Babies and children represent weakness and vulnerability. Babies do not have strong voices and wise words with which to make their wills known. In other words, God has chosen to exercise His rule and power in the world through the praise of babies and children because He wants to make crystal clear to the world that this is a work of God, so that “no one can boast in His presence.” The cross is the ultimate example of how God has chosen to bring redemption through humility. The God who is majestic over all the earth chooses to become man and dwell among us. He then humbles Himself even further by dying on the cross for our sins.
Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NLT
Why does God chose weak and lowly things to shame the strong?
What does this emphasis on children in Psalm 8 and Matthew 21 tell us about what God values? If God has chosen to bring redemption by humbling Himself, what does that tell us about how we should live?
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
Psalm 19:1-4 NLT
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.
So, the lowliest and the highest proclaim the glory of God… What is wrong with us here in the middle?
How does nature proclaiming the glory of God change the way you think about the purpose of beauty around us?
God put Adam and Eve in charge of this beautiful planet… What does that say about his view of us?
What does that say about Him?
How does knowing God has given you value and offered you redemption in Christ change the way you think about yourself?
How could you humble yourself to serve someone this week? How might doing so point him or her to Christ?
Who in your life is difficult to love? How might considering that God has bestowed “honor and majesty” on all people help you actively love that person?