Intro:
- How does our popular culture reflect what we worship?
- How do your own choices reflect who/what you worship?
- What about the culture of your home?
Read:
Psa. 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12 let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Discuss:
- 1. The Bible (and the human history it describes) is a single story…the Gospel story.
*Walk through the sermon notes that talk about the Bible being a single story. Discuss what has been called the “crimson thread of redemption” that runs throughout and ties it all together. - The Gospel is for all people, everywhere.
*What are some idols of our culture and other cultures around the world?
* Jer. 10:2 This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. 5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” 6 No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.
*The way Jeremiah describes idolatry makes it sound ridiculous. Why can’t idolaters see it as such? Why can’t we see it as such when are struggling with it? - The Gospel is the righteousness of God
*What are some reasons the Psalmist put judgment and rejoicing together?
Ezek. 18:23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
Is. 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
*Discuss how those two verses dispel the myth that the “God of the Old Testament” was cruel and harsh.
Apply:
- Pray together that God would empower you to witness to Christ, suffer for that witness, and love and serve your neighbors in your everyday callings.
- Pray about being faithful in the here and now…without being lulled to sleep by the here and now…pray for specific areas of your life.