Him We Proclaim

Genesis 6:9-7:10: Summary:Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and grace has made him different than the rest of the world. While humanity has largely taken the wide path, Noah walks with God in the straight and narrow. His faith is a living faith. That faith is given a specific exercise: to make known God's design for the world. That design includes the literal architecture of the ark. It also includes the revelation of divine judgment and God's salvation for sinners from it. The door is open until it's not. Noah heralds righteousness for a century. He does all the Lord commands. The ark is finished, but only Noah and his family take God's way of escape. Within the ark, there is gathered a new world to survive the flood. Once let out, that gathering, that new creation, makes the ark visible. So also we are a foretaste of Christ's new creation in this world and, as we conduct ourselves faithfully, we show the world there is salvation for the perishing.

Main idea(s): Those who live by faith make salvation visible and available to the perishing.

Sermon Outline:

Noah's difference from the world. (6:9-12)

God's design for the world. (6:13-22)

The ark's deposit of a new world. (7:1-10)

Genesis 6:1-8: Summary:Moses reports on the state of the world, down to every heart. In so doing, he throws us into a wilderness of spiritual depravity and captivity to sin. The good world is now a godless world. It's a graceless world. It's a world begging judgment, while standing in desperate need of the Gospel. The world without reflects the world within. It's only evil continually. Opposite this, and in view of it, stands the heart of God. While dealing seriously with sin, we learn of His long suffering patience. As it appeared, the impassioned God knew sorrow over the degeneracy of the humanity He made in His image and out of love. All would seem lost, as God promises a judgment second only to the return of Christ. But Noah found favor in God's eyes. The Creator is the Redeemer, and He is faithful to His promise and purpose of salvation. The only hope for the world is the One with power to regenerate the heart.

Sermon Outline:

The divine heart in view of depraved hearts. (6:1-7)

The divine hope in victory over depraved hearts. (6:8)

Genesis 5:1-32: Summary:

Set against an idolatrous civilization, Moses records the line of grace, from Adam to Noah. We're reminded of the fact and spread of sin and its consequences. The chapter is filled with funerals. But we're also stirred by the record of Enoch who, residing in the line of Seth, and giving rise to Lamech and Noah, walked with God and seems to have avoided the otherwise typical route to being with God forever. Death is not the end for those who walk with God. Salvation reigns supreme over sin. The text ends on a faithful father's hope: Noah. As Eve with Cain, then Abel, then Seth, so Lamech with Noah: perhaps he's the Lord's Christ. Well he is a type, but Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Savior Who overcomes sin and death and the curse. Jesus is the One Who can return sinners to eternal, worshipful Rest.

Sermon Outline:

The spread of sin.

The supremacy of salvation.

The certainty of the Seed.

Genesis 4:17-26: Summary:

The trajectory of Cain's sin and the world view behind it is played out here in the pages of Scripture. Two ways of responding to the fallen world are set next to each other. One, focused on the world and its things, is emblematic of Cain and his descendants. But a new son to Eve promises a new hope for restoration, and a narrowing of humanity towards the promised seed of the woman. Seth is not just a human child, but God stating that his plans are not thwarted, that he will keep his promises. Those who call on the name of the Lord represent another way of life, one that leads to Jesus.

Sermon Outline:

Sin and decay.

Hope has a name.

Hosea 1:1-11: Sermon Outline:

The Deep Mercy of God

The Wide Mercy of God

Isaiah 6:1-13: Summary:

A sermon with application for our ministry as a local church in our immediate community, or local missions.

Sermon outline:

See His Greatness: The Sovereign, Exalted Lord (vs 1-4)

See His Grace: The Sin atoning Lord (vs 5-7)

See His Great Commission: The Sending Lord (vs 8-13)

Genesis 4:1-16: Summary:

With the Lord's help, Eve is able to produce a man, another Adam. The hope of the gospel is kindled. But this gospel hope came with a conflict, and the conflict is not for some far-flung future. It comes swiftly, and with dire consequences. The Lord counsels with patience and mercy in spite of our sin. Will we listen?

Sermon Outline:

Gospel hope (4:1-2)

Worship on our own terms (4:2-5a)

Sin's progress (4:5b-16)

Desire and rule

Genesis 3:14-24: Summary:

The Fall has occurred. God has, against human expectation, drawn near. The Creator is the Redeemer of sinners. But sin has consequences, and the just Judge passes sentence. Satan's rebellion will prove futile. From the woman, a world of people will be born sinners but, through the revelation of Christ, many will born again. If there's division within the human race, it's this one above all: slaves of sin and heirs of salvation. This will be achieved in an ironical way. Christ will be injured but, by His injury, the adversary will be destroyed. As the sentencing continues, the woman's lot includes pain in child-bearing and the re-affirmed headship of a now imperfect husband that, as in the Fall, she'll be inclined to want for herself. Adam's lot has its own labor pains. His green thumb will come through bloody callouses and, in the end, his earthly life will end in death. Things sound bleak. But Adam responds with faith. In the sentencing of the serpent, he's heard a promise of life from the dead. He names his wife 'Eve,' for she's to be the mother of the living. God puts off their coverings for the gift of His own. By a sacrifice, He's saved these two sinners; and by Christ, He has a better life in mind than any they could then live in the garden. In mercy, God casts them out, that they might not live forever with the presence of sin. This veil of tears is tough, but, as Death's been rendered a friend to the redeemed, we sojourn in the hope of Glory. It's a life to be lived, not by sight, but by faith until we see Him face to face.

Sermon Outline:

Christ revealed, or God preaching the Gospel. (3:14-19)

Christ believed, or sinners receiving the Gospel. (3:20)

Christ applied, or God saving sinners. (3:21-24)

Genesis 3:1-13: Summary:

The heavenly honeymoon is swiftly disturbed and interrupted by a creature of sinful craft. Hating God, and those bearing and promoting His image and glory, he poses as an advantageous friend, an angel of light. Desiring to poison the foundations of divine design, he approaches, not Adam, but the godly wife. Instead of protecting his wife, as honoring of her dignity and the call to love her, he stands idly by. Instead of taking recourse to God or her husband, as honoring of his guardian office, she takes it upon herself to engage the enemy and answer his inquisition. The details suggest that, with Adam’s guard down, her guard is susceptible also to his arrows of deception. Positing demonic curiosity, doubt, self-sufficiency, and falsehood, all while impugning God's character, the serpent supplies a sight that blinds, a benefit in sin, a lying word in which she truly trusts. Thus, she takes and eats. She sins. And her sin spreads. Adam also eats. They're both sinners. And sin never satisfies. They realize their grave transgression but, dead in sin, they know not how to cover it unto life again. In what's meant to surprise, God draws near to them in their sin and, though they hide, proving the futility of their covering, His ministry persists. Enduring their self-righteousness, He works them to the true source of their sin, preparing their souls for the grand reveal: grace greater than all their sin. Grace will have the last word over their grave. God comforts the undone that they're not done-for. Their sin will be undone by the finished work of Christ.

Sermon Outline:

Grieving the details of our death. (3:1-7)

Meeting the God of all grace. (3:8-13)

Genesis 2:18-25: Summary:

Among a world of good, God identifies something that's not good. Adam has all he needs for the satisfaction of his soul, but not quite all for fulfilling his commission. The transition from good to very good involves the creation of the woman, Adam's future wife, and the marriage that takes place between the two of them. She will be a helper fit for him. To demonstrate her unique fitness, God has his vicegerent, Adam, name all the animals. Job well done, he's confronted with the unfitness of the world for him and the work ahead. God then creates her from him. God brings her to him, and Adam sings her praise, to the glory of God. In her, God's given him more than all a perfect world could! Moses attaches some commentary to the scene. Marriage is instituted by God in a perfect world between one man and one woman for as long as the two shall live. He Himself, having separated them, unites them. The consummation of their marital union includes an innocent intimacy. All in all, the pattern is set that prophecies of the Gospel love of Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb to His Bride, the Church.

Sermon Outline:

The world's only problem. (2:18)

God's fitting provision. (2:19-22)

Adam's thankful praise. (2:23)

The Bible's prophetic pattern. (2:24-25)