My project is focused on how the Bible is connected together as one book that is centered on Jesus. The series takes you through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation from a Christ-centered perspective. Each sermon below focuses on one aspect of the meta-narrative of Scripture, taking you from Genesis to Revelation in six messages.

Sermon 1 – Creation

Text: Genesis 1-2

Description: Where are we? Who are we? What should we be doing? These are the questions the first couple of chapters in the book of Genesis answers. So Where are we? Who are we? What should we be doing? Find out in today’s message.

Sermon 2 – Fall

Text: Genesis 2-11

Description: Rebellion against God and His right to rule exists in this world. In big ways and small ways, we cast off what we have been created to do — to act as kingly priests who worship God as His representatives, administering His Kingly rule over this world as little “k” kings, while faithfully serving God in accordance with His Word.

How did we get to this place? To a place where we openly and cavalierly reject the purpose for which we have been created?

Sermon 3 – Promise

Text: Genesis 12-Exodus 19; Jeremiah 31:33-34

Description: God has a plan He is actively working out to restore this broken world. We know that God has a plan because He reveals His plan to us in Scripture.

What is God’s plan to restore this broken world?

In Genesis twelve, God promises Abram that a large nation will come from him. Not only will a large nation come from Abram, but eventually the promised seed, who will crush the head of the serpent and redeem mankind from the curse, will come from Abram’s family line. There is a problem with God’s promise to Abram. Abram’s wife Sarai is barren. She has not provided Abram one child, let alone a nation. God, however, is undeterred. Sarai eventually has a son and the nation begins to grow. The sermon highlights the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom. He confounds the mind of man with his choices and actions. The message also highlights God’s intention to work with unlikely characters, revealing his power and might, which should drive us to trust in and worship him.

Sermon 4 – Redemption

Text: Various

Description: There is one carpenter who not only built and probably remodeled homes in his day, but He also and more importantly is working to restore this entire world. In order to get to this carpenter and understand His restoration project, we have taken a long journey from the East of Eden. A journey that has led us to the climax of God’s restoration project.

The climax, the center of the biblical story is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the center because He is the promised seed from Genesis 3:15 and from the line of Abraham. He is the king who will sit on David’s throne forever and ever. He is one who deals a death blow to Satan and ultimately restores our relationship with the Father and eventually this entire world. Jesus is the ultimate carpenter of the ultimate restoration project, which is why the biblical narrative centers on Jesus. Jesus, and the redemption he provides, is the only hope for mankind since he alone frees us from the curse.

How does Jesus restore everything? How does He restore our relationship with the Father? How does He eventually restore this entire world? How does this lowly and humble carpenter deal a death blow to Satan?

Jesus Christ provides redemption from the curse through his perfect life, substitutionary death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the only hope for mankind since he alone provides redemption and a promised future resurrection to a perfect life in His perfect kingdom for those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

Sermon 5 – Redemption Lived Out

Text: Acts 2:42-47; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:4-5, 8

Description: Nothing brings us together like Jesus. If you think about it, that is amazing in and of itself because the people of God, the recreated New Covenant community, or what we might refer to as the church, is comprised of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. We are a diverse yet unified group.

I don’t know about you, but I feel that unity when I meet another Christian. It doesn’t matter where I’m at. I could be half-way across the world or down at the local Starbucks. When I meet a fellow believer, there is an instant connection and bond that’s formed. I immediately feel comfortable and connected with them.

Why is that? It is because we are unified in our mission and devotion. It is our mission that draws us together. This is why it is important we understand what our mission is and what we should be devoted to as a church.

What is the unified mission and devotion of the New Covenant community (the Church)? Who commissions and empowers us to live as a New Covenant community (the Church)?

Acts 2:42-47 teaches us to devote ourselves to several practices. We should devote ourselves to receive the teaching of God Word, allowing it to teach us more about God, Jesus, and how we are to live as a New Covenant community. We should also devote ourselves to fellowshipping with one another in a real authentic community. As well as we should break bread together, which symbolizes consistent participation in the Lord’s Supper. Additionally, we should devote ourselves to praying for one another.

Most all those practices above are internal to a community that already exists. They are good and right. We should do them. But we haven’t been called to solely devote ourselves to Inreach. We have also been called to Outreach. Part of living for God is expanding His kingdom as we seek to bring others into it. As New Covenant people, as the church, we have a mission. A mission that should unify and focus us. We are to work to win disciple-making disciples for God’s glory by going, baptizing, and teaching (Matt 28:18-20). We don’t win disciples in our own power, rather we do it through the empowering work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5,8).

Sermon 6 – Recreation / Restoration

Text: Revelation 21-22

Description: There is one book and one story that will eventually come to an end. There is no stopping time. It keeps marching forward, which means God’s story will eventually come to an end whether we are ready for it to come or not.

As believers, we don’t have to fear the end of God’s story because we know how it will end. God gives us a sneak peek, a spoiler, if you will, of what His restoration project will look like when it is finished. Believe me, you want to be a part of God’s restoration project.

How does God’s story end? And how can we experience the joys of the end of God’s story?

God’s restoration project ends with His New Covenant community living in a recreated and restored world, with unhindered access to God, worshipping Him as He perfectly reigns and rules over them.

We are able to experience the joys of the kingdom to come by believing the good news about Jesus — that He redeems us from our sin.