Better than Adam

People like to think humanity is good at its core, but then there are news reports like this one:
 PEZ Candy hosts an annual Easter egg hunt in its hometown of Orange, Connecticut, but had to abruptly cancel the event in 2016 because of the adults.  The child-focused tradition turned into chaos on March 26 when parents stormed the egg-covered fields before the event even started.  Over 9,000 eggs were placed on three separate fields with each designed for certain age groups.  Before the PEZ staff was ready to begin, parents rushed onto the first field to get a head start.  Then like swarming locusts, they hurried their children from the first field to the second and third fields. Before the posted start time arrived, everything was gone (USA Today, March 28, 2016).

Humanity has a problem called a sinful nature. No matter how good you are, you've experienced that pull to do things that you know are wrong, and you've failed to prevent yourself from falling prey to those desires--at the very least every once in a while.

This message begins a new series where we will be looking at a few places in the Old Testament of the Bible where we can see Jesus and learn about him. In this message, we'll be looking at Adam and we're going to see that, even in humanity's darkest hour, God gave us a glimmer of hope.

Suggested Bible Reading: Genesis 2:4-3:24 (NLT).

Look again at Genesis 3:15: "And I will cause hostility between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offsprings and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." Here is a glimmer of hope as Jesus enters the scene.

God created the world, already knowing the sacrifice he would make for you.

The sacrifice he made was sending Jesus for us. Here's what Paul says that accomplished:

Romans 5:12-21 (NLT) "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

What Paul is saying is that:

Adam's sin brought death and defeat; Jesus' death brings life and victory!

Because of what Jesus has done, you're no longer stuck with the consequences of Adam's decision. Instead:

You have a choice to make: will you accept Christ's life, or will you continue on the path toward death?

Whichever path you get on, there will be consequences. But at the end, will you look back and be proud of the decision you have made, or disappointed in it?

Action Step: Share the hope we have with those struggling to find it.

If you would like to accept Jesus' gift of new life, send us an email or contact us via phone or Facebook Messenger!

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Beyond: Reaching Beyond Ourselves

Sometimes it can be amazing to hear stories about all that Jesus has done in people's lives. What's really great is that these stories are not uncommon. Why is that? It's because, no matter your situation, Jesus Changes Everything. Jesus' impact on our lives is the reason why we must be driven to obey his command to share with others what he has done.

Text: Romans 10:9-15

Following Jesus changes your mind, your heart, and your mouth.

Paul explains in verse 10 the fundamentals of a faith that brings eternal life, and that faith is going to change you. For example, believing something in your heart involves your mind, but it goes beyond mere mental assent to some historical facts and moves into something that becomes the core of who you are.

People who begin to follow Jesus find that things in their lives--even their own selves--change!

Jesus Changes Everything

This is why we’re so profoundly moved by him, why we meet together, why give time and money and effort, why we should desire to tell others about him. 

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done: Jesus died because he loves you and wants to bring you into an eternal, life- giving relationship with him.”

If the Good News of Jesus is meant for everyone, how can they respond if they don’t hear it? 

You need to get the message out there

Through supporting missionaries or responding to the call to missions yourself

By sharing the love of Jesus and your story of how he has changed you with others.

Action Step:

Commit to share your faith or offer to pray for 1 unchurched person a week.

Listen to the whole message here:

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Holding on to Intimacy

Whether you are married, engaged, dating, or single, it does not change the fact that you have been designed for intimacy. It also does not change the fact that intimacy can be slippery: here one moment and gone the next. Yet, intimacy in our human relationships and in our relationship with God is something that we can fight for and grow.

Intimacy is Fleeting

Song of Solomon 5:2-6 uses poetic language to describe a scene in which a recently married woman has a dream about her husband. But what starts out a desire-filled scene breaks down and suddenly there is emptiness. No matter the relationship--with your spouse or with God--intimacy will wax and wane.

Holding on to intimacy requires self-sacrifice.

in Song of Solomon 5:7, the woman runs out into the streets at night to find her beloved, but the streets are not safe and she is violated by the nigh watchmen for her troubles. Still, she does not give up on finding the intimacy she once had with her husband.

What are you willing to give up to hold on to intimacy? What is crowding out the space you need to dedicate to pursuing your relationship with your spouse and/or with God?

Holding on to intimacy may require outside help--before it is too late.

Song of Solomon 5:8. If you need help, get it NOW. Too many people wait until things are really bad before finding outside help. Too many couples come to their pastor or counsellor for help as a last-ditch effort and usually it will fail. If they would just come earlier, they might actually be able to turn the relationship around.

Intimacy requires seeing the other as a singular individual worthy of your devoted attention.

Song of Solomon 6:2-9. The beloved has access to all kinds of women to fulfill his sexual desires if that is what he had wished; however, he desires this singular woman: his wife. She is worthy of his attention. Likewise, God is worthy of your attention.

Holding on to intimacy requires letting go of something else.

What will you give up to hold on to intimacy in your relationships?

Fight to hold on to intimacy!

Listen to the whole message here: