God is Good
1. “God is good” because he
- a. … Makes Good Things-
- And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. Genesis 1:31
- For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4
- What about me? If God created me am I good?
- I am not good but I reflect a good God. (Imago dei)
- The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence of the USA
- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
- All Biblical concepts that all find there fullness in Christ.
- What’s the “big idea” of scripture?
- Jesus is the Hero of Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration
- How is Jesus the Hero of Creation?
- We find our purpose in him! (Creation)
- So what happened?
- We got really lost and need help! (fall)
- Who will save us?
- Jesus will! He died and rose again to save us. (Redemption)
- You know what that means?
- I found my purpose again! (Restoration)
- What is it?
- to follow Jesus because he is our hero
- b. … works for our good.
- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. Romans 8:28
- c. … gives good gifts
- Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
- The basis for our worship is the goodness of God. He created us, is for us, gives us good gifts and doesn’t change.
- Malichi 3:6 “I am the Lord, I do not change”
1. Even when… We don’t feel like he is
- Last week, response to something good
- What if I don’t feel like it.
- God being good is not dependent on if you feel like He is. He just is.
- Discipline of worshiping anyway. THROUGH it.
- The other side of this coin. Going through the motions
- You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:7–9
- What’s the solution to either?
- Goodness of God! It leads to repentance. according to Romans 2:4
- Remember, he created you for a purpose!
2. Even when… Our circumstances are not
- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2–4
- unmet expectation leads to frustration
- Worship is a weapon against discouragement. Try it.
- God is good, and he works for our good.
3. Even when… the music isn’t
- The commands of scripture in regards to your response in worship is NOT based on whether or not you like the music.
- Good music can inspire worship but your main motivation to worship is the goodness of God… and since that NEVER changes, you can ALWAYS WORSHIP!
4. Even when we are not (Gospel —> Communion)
- But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4–7
- God is good because he gives good gifts. The greatest gift he gave was his son.
- God is good because…
- he creates good things, works for our good, and gives good gifts
- THEREFORE God is good
- Even when… We don’t feel like he is
- Even when… Our circumstances are not
- Even when… the music isn’t
- Even when we are not