Creekside Church, Sunday, May 12, 2024
The Christian Worldview Is Irrelevant
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
“I don’t believe in the God you don’t believe in.”
Today I want to make two things clear about Christianity so that you can properly reject it or remain skeptical of it ;)
#1 CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS SAVED US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
Ephesians 2:1-8
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Our relationship with God is not based on fear.
Our obedience is not a form of trying to earn his favour.
We’re not earning or working our way to righteousness.
There are not rules we are trying to follow so that God will accept us.
Christian says, “I’m saved by works”! Jesus' works. And his work is finished.
Jesus was righteous, and his righteousness gets credited to me.
At the cross I hand him my sin and he hands me his righteousness.
We follow Jesus as a response of trust that he will lead us into life.
Following Jesus is the reversal of the garden when Eve believed that God was tricking her and didn't want what was best for her.
This means you don’t clean yourself up before you go to God.
It means you don’t avoid God when you've made a mess of your life.
You run to the Father and pray, “Father I’m weak, forgive me, help me, empower me by your Spirit.”
God is the initiator. Christians are responders.
---
#2 JESUS' CENTRAL MESSAGE WAS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is a central theme in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. It appears more than 80 times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Kingdom of God is not primarily about physical space or territory but rather about kingly rule, reign, and sovereign control. It represents the everlasting realm where God is sovereign, and Jesus Christ rules forever.
In this kingdom, God’s authority is recognized, and His will is obeyed.
The Kingdom of God is the dynamic reign of God over heaven and earth; all things visible and invisible.
God’s present spiritual reign over His people (Colossians 1:13) and Jesus’ future reign in the new creation (Revelation 20).
The range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done. – Dallas Willard
Mark 1:14-15
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
•John the Baptist: He announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 3:2).
•Jesus Himself: He preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
•Parables: Jesus used parables to reveal secrets about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11).
•Prayer: He encouraged His followers to pray for the coming of the Kingdom (Matthew 6:10).
•Last words: (Acts 1:1-3) - Jesus’ last words before ascension to heaven. Notice the kingdom theme as the main theme.
The message isn't about getting into heaven after you die but in participating in the life of heaven here on earth right now.
---
Being part of the Church is about joining in Jesus' kingdom mission.
Becoming a person who prays and lives out, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
---
Let me remind you, one more time: You don’t have to have it all figured out before you start following Jesus.
Today I want to make two things clear about Christianity so that you can properly reject it or remain skeptical of it ;)
#1 CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS SAVED US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
Ephesians 2:1-8
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Our relationship with God is not based on fear.
Our obedience is not a form of trying to earn his favour.
We’re not earning or working our way to righteousness.
There are not rules we are trying to follow so that God will accept us.
Christian says, “I’m saved by works”! Jesus' works. And his work is finished.
Jesus was righteous, and his righteousness gets credited to me.
At the cross I hand him my sin and he hands me his righteousness.
We follow Jesus as a response of trust that he will lead us into life.
Following Jesus is the reversal of the garden when Eve believed that God was tricking her and didn't want what was best for her.
This means you don’t clean yourself up before you go to God.
It means you don’t avoid God when you've made a mess of your life.
You run to the Father and pray, “Father I’m weak, forgive me, help me, empower me by your Spirit.”
God is the initiator. Christians are responders.
---
#2 JESUS' CENTRAL MESSAGE WAS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Kingdom of God is a central theme in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. It appears more than 80 times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The Kingdom of God is not primarily about physical space or territory but rather about kingly rule, reign, and sovereign control. It represents the everlasting realm where God is sovereign, and Jesus Christ rules forever.
In this kingdom, God’s authority is recognized, and His will is obeyed.
The Kingdom of God is the dynamic reign of God over heaven and earth; all things visible and invisible.
God’s present spiritual reign over His people (Colossians 1:13) and Jesus’ future reign in the new creation (Revelation 20).
The range of God’s effective will, where what God wants done is done. – Dallas Willard
Mark 1:14-15
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
•John the Baptist: He announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 3:2).
•Jesus Himself: He preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
•Parables: Jesus used parables to reveal secrets about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11).
•Prayer: He encouraged His followers to pray for the coming of the Kingdom (Matthew 6:10).
•Last words: (Acts 1:1-3) - Jesus’ last words before ascension to heaven. Notice the kingdom theme as the main theme.
The message isn't about getting into heaven after you die but in participating in the life of heaven here on earth right now.
---
Being part of the Church is about joining in Jesus' kingdom mission.
Becoming a person who prays and lives out, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
---
Let me remind you, one more time: You don’t have to have it all figured out before you start following Jesus.