The Tower of Babel and Jesus Christ have connections? This latest installment on our Sunday School Series we hit the Tower narrative and how God works in and through humanity, even when we are messing up in sin. Often we can get trapped in the simplicity of some bible accounts that we forget to see just what God is doing. I pray this message is encouraging and impactful for Christ.
Key Doctrines:
Doctrine of Idolatry – This is the premise that man is created for relationship with God. yet, in our sin we try to fill that void and chasm with earthly and false things. Where God should reign, we let little “g” gods take the seat and bring us confusion and temporal pleasure. We see it played out today in false religions that bring salvation into the hands of man by works. Or in practices that make us simply gods, or good enough that God doesn’t have to change us. Idols are the item, thing or thought that holds us captive over Jesus. Things inherently bad obviously are easy to see as idols like drugs, false religion, self. Things neutral can becomes idols such as sports, friends, status and jobs when they trump God.
Doctrine of Grace – God’s grace is the premise that even in our dreadful and dead state God penetrated through and providentially intervenes in creation for us. Either dead in sin or alive in Jesus God’s grace is working on us constantly. Grace in its simplest definition is that “God gives us what we really do not deserve.” In common grace God is holding up all creation and fallen man with it. In irresistible grace God is calling forth to those who will surrender their lives to Christ. Yet, while we were still sinner Christ Jesus died for us to create a way for redemption. That is grace in the most simplistic and powerful means!
Points:
1. Follow Jesus, not your heart.
a. Unity with the world is separation from Jesus.
2. God will accomplish His will, there is more peace in submission than resisting!
3. If we are in Jesus, there is grace even in the pruning and chastising.
Questions:
1. Can you think of a time where you sought unity with people around secular things? How did it go?
a. What about when you sought unity with people around godly things? How did it go?
2. Seeing how God, even in punishment, will accomplish His will. How do we now view things we know we are called to, but might not like?
a. For example witnessing to people we might not know well, sharing your testimony..
3. Seeing that in Christ we are brought into the presence of God, the holy of holies. Does this bring us to a reality of conviction or condemnation?
