E kala mai our sermon (Pt.1) from last week on Genesis 6.9 - Genesis 8 wasn’t recorded. Last week, we looked at 8 scenes that made up the flood narrative. Today we went back to Genesis 6-8 to consider how the flood points us forward to greater things to come. Through Genesis 6-8 we learn that the flood helps us to anticipate: 1) a New Covenant, 2) a New Creation, 3) A New Adam, 4) A New Humanity, and 5) a New Baptism.

E kala mai, last week’s sermon on Genesis 5 was not recorded. Today in Genesis 6.1-8, we see that great wickedness was spreading across the earth. And in the midst of this great wickedness, we find the grace of God coming to sinners. Anytime we see mercy in judgment, we should be floored and astounded. There are two big themes we find here: 1) the corruption of the earth (1-5) and 2) the response of God (6-8).

We take a break from our Genesis series to meditate on 1 Peter 5.1-11. Here we see how pastors and church members should be relating to one another. Pastors must shepherd faithfully and church members must receive shepherding faithfully. In verses 1-4 we find five encouragements for faithful pastors. Then in verses 5-11, we find two encouragements for faithful members.

E kala mai, last week’s sermon on Genesis 3.14-24 was not recorded. This week, in Genesis 4, we find three reasons why we need to be killing sin. The first reason is because sin’s desire is for you, the second reason is because sin will take dominion over your life, and the third reason you need to kill sin is because Christ (as the promised offspring of the woman) has already triumphed over sin through his death and resurrection.

In Genesis 3.1-13, the time of testing had come for Adam. Should he succeed in obeying the covenant by refraining from eating from the forbidden tree, Adam and all his prosperity would enjoy the blessings of life with God forever. But should he fail and break the covenant by eating from the forbidden tree, Adam and his descendants would be shut out from the life of God and experience the curse of death. There are two main scenes that play out in this narrative: 1) the temptation of Adam (1-6) and 2) the fall of Adam (7-13).

In Romans 8.18-39 we find some of the most profound and glorious truths in all of Christian doctrine. These truths help us navigate all the complexities of the Christian life because the Christian life is full of rejoicing and suffering. And when we go through the stormy trials of life, the church is called by God to be a source of comfort. We are to comfort one another in our sorrows and affliction with the truth of the gospel. In this text we find three important realities that will help us as we comfort each other: 1) the reality of inescapable suffering, 2) the reality of incomparable hope, and 3) the reality of inseparable love.

In Genesis 2.18-25, we find the creation of the first marriage. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman in a lifetime covenant. In the garden we find the goodness, beauty, and truthfulness of God’s design for marriage. And Marriage must be upheld in honor by all people, but especially, the church. There are three foundational truths that we consider to help us with that: 1) The Necessity of Marriage, 2) The Celebration of Marriage, and 3) The Union of Marriage.

In Genesis 2.4-17, we find the extravagant generosity of God toward Adam in his original state prior to the fall. There are three really important ideas that we unpack in this text: 1) Eden’s garden-sanctuary, 2) Eden’s prophet, priest, and king, and 3) Eden’s promises and threats.

In Genesis 2.1-3, God rests from his work of creation and by doing so, he sets an example and pattern for all people to follow. Here we learn that we must sanctify the sabbath, devoting a special day in our weeks for worship and to rest. If we’re going to do that, there are four important themes we need to understand concerning God’s rest: 1) The completion of the cosmic temple, 2) the coronation of the cosmic king, 3) the consecration of the sabbath day, and 4) the consummation of the sabbath rest.

We continue to meditate on Genesis 1.26-28. Last Sunday we considered what it meant to bear God’s image. Today we considered seven societal implications of being made in God’s image: 1) Man is creaturely, 2) Human-life is sacred, 3) Gender is a gift, 4) Family is foundational, 5) Sin is dehumanizing, 6) Sin is cosmic treason, and 7) the Church is essential.

In Genesis 1.26-28, we learn the that creator whom we image is trinitarian. In other words, He is the one true and living God who exists in a plurality of persons. We also consider three foundational truths about being created in God’s image: 1) we were created to uniquely represent God, 2) we were created uniquely relate to God, and 3) we were created to uniquely receive God’s law.

Genesis 1 gives us the definitive, inspired, inerrant, authoritative word from God on creation and the origin of the cosmos. In this sermon, we considered four introductory points to the book of Genesis, including 7 important interpretative lenses that we must use to be faithful interpreters of Genesis: 1) we interpret Genesis historically, 2) we interpret Genesis canonically, 3) we interpret Genesis theo-centrically, 4) we interpret Genesis redemptively, 5) we interpret Genesis typologically, 6) we interpret Genesis covenantally, and 7) we interpret Genesis worshipfully.

Psalm 133 is the final sermon text in our reconciliation series. Here we learn the best way to guard our peace is by celebrating and enjoying it. In Psalm 133, we find four reasons why we should enjoy and delight in our peace: 1) Our Peace is Good, 2) Our Peace is Holy, 3) Our Peace is Life-Giving, and 4) Our Peace is Eternal.

In Luke 15, we continue our series on reconciliation by looking at the last element of the reconciliation process: restoration. Jesus tells three parables: 1) the lost sheep, 2) the lost coin, and 3) the lost son. In these parables Jesus builds on the themes of restoration, rejoicing, and resentment. His main point is to teach us that anytime there is sin, confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration, we should rejoice and celebrate like our Father in Heaven.

We continue our series on biblical reconciliation by considering the 4th step in the reconciliation process: forgiveness. In Matthew 18.21-35, we consider the extent with forgiveness and the scandal of unforgiveness. We also consider 5 common misconceptions about forgiveness.

We continue our reconciliation series by preaching from Ephesians 4.17-24. In this sermon, we consider the third step of the reconciliation process: repentance. Here we consider the three R’s of repentance: 1) Reject the sin (22), 2) Renew your mind (23), and 3) Replace sinful behavior with righteous behavior (24).

In 1 John 1.5-10, we’re continuing our series through reconciliation. In this sermon, we consider the second step or phase in the process of reconciliation, which is confession. Here we answer three questions about confession from our text: 1) What is Confession? 2) Why is Confession Necessary? and 3) How is Confession Practiced?

This sermon is part 2 of our 6 part series on reconciliation. In James 4.1-10, we find the source (vv.1-5) and solution (vv.6-10) of conflict. Here we learn that the source of conflict is never the devil, or our biological issues, or other people. Rather the source is always our own sinful desires. We also learn that the solution is humility before God. And James gives us 5 expressions of humility that God desires in our conflict (submitting and drawing near to God, resisting the devil, cleansing and lamenting our sin).

Conflict is unavoidable, even in the church. We desperately need to understand and practice biblical reconciliation. This sermon part 1 of a six part series on reconciliation. Reconciliation can be categorized in two ways: 1) vertical (between us and God) and 2) horizontal (between one another). Before we can practice horizontal reconciliation we must understand vertical reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5.17-21, we consider: 1) The Model of Reconciliation, 2) The Ministry of Reconciliation, and 3) The Message of Reconciliation.

In 1 Timothy 6.20-21, Paul gives Timothy one final charge. He exhorts Timothy to guard the gospel and avoid false teaching. This is something he’s done throughout this letter but as he wraps up he wants to make sure Timothy does not forgot why he’s in Ephesus. In a similar way, every true church and every true christian has been entrusted with the gospel and also must take the responsibility to guard it very seriously. In this sermon we contemplate two big ideas: 1) the Preservation of the Gospel (20-21) and 2) the provision of Grace (21).