What’s wrong with us, the human race? The Bible tells us that it is a problem of underestimation. Through this series, we’re looking at the facets of sin: the history of humanity's ongoing battle through concrete examples and metaphors that show us the reality of sin.
Some might ask, “Why spend all these weeks talking about such a negative, unpopular, unpleasant subject as sin?” Some might not even be sure what they believe about God, so why should they be interested in sin at all? Two primary reasons: 1) The biblical teaching about sin is one of the strongest arguments for the truth of Christianity there is. 2) Without understanding the reality of sin, you'll never come to understand the amazing power of God's love and grace.
So tune in with us as we look deeper into the darkness of our sinfulness... all so we might witness the brightness of God's glory, and the beauty of the cross!
This sermon argues that we often underestimate sin, particularly pride, which, like leaven, secretly corrupts our spiritual lives and denies God's grace. True faith is found not in demanding a sign or relying on our own righteousness, but in humbly recognizing our unworthiness and gratefully receiving the sufficient and ultimate sign of God's love: the cross of Jesus Christ.
This sermon uses the story of King Saul to illustrate spiritual blind spots, which are areas of disobedience we hide from ourselves through denial, blame-shifting, and self-justification. True healing from these blind spots comes not from our own attempts at self-justification, but from humbling ourselves, confessing our sins, and finding our acceptance in the grace of Jesus Christ alone.
This sermon warns against the sin of misplaced trust, which leads to a cursed life of spiritual barrenness, and instead, calls for placing complete trust in God. Through a "heart transplant" given by Jesus, believers can overcome inherited patterns of distrust and become like a flourishing tree, rooted in God's promises and provision.
This sermon uses the story of Jonah to expose the sin of self-righteousness, which twists our hearts into anger and a refusal to extend God's grace to others. It presents Jesus as the "better Jonah," whose willing pursuit of His enemies and ultimate sacrifice on the cross provides a permanent solution to our self-righteousness by granting us His perfect righteousness.
This sermon teaches that sin is an underestimated, deceptive force that, like the story of Cain and Abel, hides and devours those who give in to it. It encourages believers to understand the full weight of sin in order to appreciate the magnitude of God's grace and the redemptive power of Jesus' sacrifice.
