Renew EPC: Sermons

"The Image of God-Part 1" - Genesis 1:26-31 - Nathan Edwards

What does it mean to be human?
 
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. Read Genesis 1:26-27. What do you notice in the text that highlights the specialness of mankind?
2. How does the creation of mankind in the image of God speak against acts of discrimination based on human differences?
3. Read James 3:8-9. How do we dehumanize people with our words? What affect has disrespectful rhetoric had in your ability to value people different from you?
4. Compare human value according to personhood theory vs. the image of God. Which one is a better basis for universal human rights, why?
5. Applying personhood theory involves answering three questions: What criteria? How much? and Who decides? Which of these questions troubles you the most?
6. Read Luke 1:39-44. How might you use this passage to show the unborn also bear the image of God?

"Firm Foundation" - Genesis 1:3-31 - Nathan Edwards

What explains the fullness of reality that we experience?
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. Why do you think our culture has adopted a fact/value split, i.e. a view that what is is real but whether it is good or bad is personal preference?
2. What are some of the difficulties you have had in the tension between understanding the world according to science vs. understanding the world according to faith? 
3. When you consider the two books of God, which one do you view as infallible and authoritative revelation? Explain your answer.
4. How might hemispatial neglect (i.e. inability to see all of reality) limit/distort a person who only studies the Book of Nature? Book of Scripture? How might this neglect affect the ability of each person to view the other person rightly and respectfully?
5. How might you use the reality of consciousness, free will, sense reliability, or human dignity to engage someone with a naturalistic worldview to reconsider the possibility of a Divine Creator?
6. How does Genesis 1 resolve the fact/value split? How does this give us confidence that our existence is meaningful?

"The Work of the Spirit" - Genesis 1:2 - Nathan Edwards

The same Spirit who works creation to completion, works in the believer.

"The Reason Why" - Genesis 1:1 - Nathan Edwards

We cannot truly know ourselves until we know the One who created us. 

"The Way of Investment" - 2 Peter 1:3-11 - Nathan Edwards

The way of investment into your walk with Jesus is simple... unpack the gospel into your life. 

"Tap, Tap, Tap" - 2 Kings 13:10-20a - Nathan Edwards

How do we keep our faith from the trap of apathy and indifference?

"Soli Deo Gloria" - Matthew 6:1-8 - Julian de Leiris

Living for God’s glory is not just about spectacular acts; it’s about the everyday choices we make, the unseen moments of faithfulness, and the quiet commitment to live authentically before Him.

"Amen" - Luke 4:16-21 (Christmas Eve) - Nathan Edwards

Jesus is God With Us to fulfill the promises of God to us

"Forever" - John 1:1-18 - Nathan Edwards

Jesus took on our mortality to give us His eternal joy.

"For Thine is the Glory" - Matthew 1:1-25 - Nathan Edwards

What is so scandalous about Christmas time? What makes Christmas so scandalous is that it reminds us of the fact that a holy, perfect, infinite God stepped into the frailty and weakness of the human world. Jesus took on flesh in order to take our shame so that we can be brought into His glory.