Advent: Hope
Reading by Rick Spitzer
Sermon Notes
What does it mean to be Human?
- Human: “A sick, retarded, and idiotic species whose degree of intelligence makes life and reality worse off than it could be. “
- “The root of all problems.”
- “God’s first, only, and greatest mistake, assuming that there is a God.”
How does the bible define humanity? People created in God’s image and likeness.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’’ Genesis 1:27–28
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
BUT the bible also says things like …
‘‘For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’’ Mark 7:21-23
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9
One thing we can all agree on, CHristian or not, we need help.
- The thinker, a cognitive person; intelligent, smart, & quick on his feet.
- Process- This makes sense so I feel good about it and give it a go
- The Feeler, an emotional person; positive, empathetic, loving, caring
- Process- I like it so it makes sense and give it a go
- The Worker, a task-orientated person; implements, reliable, get’s things done
- Process- I’m doing this so there must be a good reason & I feel good about it
- I was not good at working.
My Story
- I have learned that by doing something without knowing why or feeling good about it can bring understanding and a change of heart.
But is this process biblical?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. James 1:22–24
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9–10
- Its not think more, feel more, work more
- It’s be like Jesus!
- Please turn to Matthew 26:36
- The body of Christ- We all need each other.
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-27
We are the body of Christ.