Sermons About Man
The Key to Marriage Renewal
In Genesis 3:16, God curses the relationship between man and woman in response to Adam's disobedience. As we are restored to God in Christ, the Holy Spirit inwardly restores us in the image of God, and this restores marriage to God's original intent. We are to honor God through our relationships with our spouses, by remembering the grace that God has shown us, and showing grace to those around us. Colossians 3:9-10
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Confusion
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?" 50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
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God made humans
I have 2 brothers who don’t know who they are. Of course they know their names – and they could tell you all about their jobs. My bachelor brother hates his job and can’t wait till he retires. My married brother loves his work; but neither of them want to be identified by their jobs – nor by their family relationship. They both could tell you their family history – but this doesn’t define them. One brother told me that because our parents were Jewish and were brought up being told we were C of E, he doesn’t know who he is. Gen 1-3 are basic for our understanding of life. They are as relevant today as when first written. They speak of God the Creator, of people made like him and of their dis-graceful fall from perfection. Without them we would have no idea of WHY the world was made, and WHY we are as we are today. Yet Genesis 1-3 have given rise to fierce disagreements amongst Christian and non-Christian people. They have been explored as if they were modern science or a psychological text book. What we have in Genesis is a piece of brilliant ancient literature; describing the world coming into being, God making people to live on earth and the consequences of those people deciding to live in contradiction of their Creator. These 3 chapters are some of the most helpful in this world, and demand our close scrutiny. You’ll never find truth like this anywhere else; you may find a few myths about creation, but nothing so profound, so true, that rings with reality as we know it. This is the basis for both Jewish and Christian beliefs – and read correctly set us on a course to know the Creator God for ourselves.
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The Pursuit of Happiness: Work
We are made to work, to work hard, and to have dominion over God's creation.
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