There are few things more powerful than the right words at the right time. Sometimes it’s THE right word that makes all the difference. The bible is full of moments when things seem dark and hopeless- when all is lost. When those moments come, it’s not unusual for a phrase to show up right next to it: “But God.” The essence of our Christian faith is bundled in those two words. It represents a God who acts, who remembers, who cares, and who shows up when He is most needed.

Can you explain your Christian faith? If you had an opportunity, what would you say? Where would you start? Would you feel comfortable summarizing the essence of what you believe? In our current series “Four Small Words,” we try and summarize the Christian faith in the simplest terms possible- four seemingly insignificant words. This week we explain how the word “through” provides many ways to show us what has gone wrong with this world and the good news of the Gospel that shows us how God provided a solution to all that has gone wrong.

Sometimes the best things come in small packages. Even though they may not demand much attention, small words can have profound meaning and massive impacts on our lives. As we begin our new sermon series, we look at how one word can be at the heart of our faith and how we live out our day-to-day lives.

Every day we see a new set of stories that can make us think that the end of the world is imminent. This world doesn’t leave much room for hope and joy when that day comes. Fortunately, the Bible speaks a greater word and while the world may not give us much to look forward to- the Book of Revelation does. In a book often full of confusing imagery, the message of the book is often lost. Fortunately, we know how it ends and that provides us with both encouragement and endurance until the end.

Stories shape us. They mold us. They move us. They guide us. They make us. We have spent nearly two years exploring Luke’s story about this man Jesus. That story from beginning to end and everything in between is the most significant story this world has ever known. Every story is somehow connected to that one- even our own. As we try to summarize Luke’s account of this man Jesus, we consider what it means for our own lives and for eternity.

Not all classrooms and not all teachers are created equally. In the wake of Jesus’s death, his disciples were left trying to figure out what life held for them. They had to come to terms with what they had seen from this man they thought was the Messiah, but now was gone. There were rumors that he had come back from the dead, but that seemed far-fetched- or was it? As they walked back to their lives, two disciples were treated to the greatest lecture the world has ever heard and it changed everything for them- and it should change everything for you too.

Jesus’s story is unexpected from the very beginning. His birth, his life, and his death are full of surprising teachings and events that leave the crowds in awe and the religious leaders in anger right up to his final breath. But the heartbeat of our faith is that his story doesn’t end there. And because of that everyone, from the Roman Soldier to the terrified disciples to us today, has a hope that is unshakeable and eternal.

As Jesus makes his way to the cross, each step reveals the stark difference between Him and us. After being poured out as a drink offering, betrayed, and then denied- it would be easy, even justified, for Jesus to wonder what all this suffering is for. After all, what does He get out of it? But that question is one that we would ask, not Jesus. His motivation is entirely different than ours and in that motivation we find our only hope.

All things were made by him. He holds all things together. He is the image of the invisible God. He is the firstborn of all creation. Every knee will bow to him. Yet he stands mocked, beaten, handcuffed, and betrayed. How does the Son of God walk among us and this is the story we have to tell about him? It doesn’t make any sense… unless that’s the story He’s been writing since the very beginning.

Sometimes sin is outright rebellion and disobedience. Sometimes it’s simply forgetting your place in the story and thinking you’re the main character. When everything needs to revolve around you, you make decisions about your glory, comfort, and priorities. We can only worship God rightly when we have him at the center of the story. The disciples got this wrong all the time. Jesus never did.