sermon notes

I was packing up today and ran across my journals from last year. Here's a sermon from last March that I think is applicable at the moment.

3/15/2009
Image: Part 2, Popularity
Genesis 4:1-16

There are three important types of relationships:
1) with God, 2) with ourselves, 3) with others
Anthony Hoekema, "...Man cannot be truly human apart from others."

I. The Distortion of Relationships

• Cain was despondent about his acceptance (v. 1-5)
• Abel gave a better sacrifice, by faith (Hebrews 11:4)
• Cain took relationships into his own hands - he didn't see Abel as a reflection of God's image
• Cain is left isolated from the Lord and other people
• Principles:
• We struggle with our acceptance before God and others
• We take relationships into our own hands
• We need to acknowledge our deceitfulness and insecurity
• God intended much more in relationships

II. The Redemption of Relationships

• God reaches out to us by asking questions.
• He helps us realize our potential to sin.
• He gives us opportunity to repent.
• Hebrews 12:23-24
• We are accepted by God only through the mediation of Jesus Christ.
• We are accepted by faith in Jesus Christ.
• Don't remain in this cycle of struggles, self-reliance, and isolation.
• Live in the light of redeemed relationships.

The One Thing
Knowing how God relates to us enables us to fully relate to others.

I don't think I ever expected to read this again. But God does bring things up, I guess.