TITLE: How God speaks to us today. - PowerPoint Presentation

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TITLE: How God speaks to us today.

TEXT: Hebrews 1:1-3

THEME: Jesus is God’s ultimate revelation of HimselfSlide3
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The percentage of people who say they definitely do not believe in God has remained constant at around 6-7% with only a brief bump up to 9% in 1995.Slide5

Over the last few decades the percentage of those making this claim has dropped significantly.Slide6

The percentage of atheists is the highest level ever recorded for any age group at 16%.Slide7

40% are sitting in the middle of the “God continuum” undecided on belief verses non-belief. This group will soon be joined by the new breed God-thinkers – the emerging millennials.Slide8

Among those who believe in God and are professing Christians there is increasing division about what is God is like. Slide9

People are less inclined today to follow denominational beliefs and practices and are forming their own views of God by taking bits and pieces from other religions, cultural influences and personal views. Slide10

Biblical literacy is at an all-time low. Many in these camps have views of God that no longer resemble historical views of God and have become their own individualized religions.Slide11

Question

“How do we know what God is like?”Slide12

Answer

“We know what God is like through the person and work of Jesus Christ.” Slide13

“Why should I accept Jesus as the source of understanding what God is like?”Slide14
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SETTING:

1. The identity of the author of Hebrews

Unknown

His writings were accepted by the apostles and it is possible he was one of them.

He was a Jew who believed in Jesus in that he had a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament, Hebrew culture and beliefs, and Jesus and the New Covenant.Slide16

SETTING:

1

.

The Identify of the Author Hebrews

2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians Slide17

SETTING:

1

.

The Identify of the Author Hebrews

2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians

3. The book is an argument and warning that they cannot go back Slide18

SETTING:

1

.

The Identify of the Author Hebrews

2. The book is primarily directed to persecuted Hebrew Christians

3. The book is an argument and warning that they cannot go back

4. Jesus is the superior revelation of GodSlide19
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Why should I accept Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation?Slide21

I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)Slide22

There are two basic premises to historical Christianity.

1. There is a God.

2. He has spoken. Slide23

The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?”

1.

God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation.Slide24

The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?”

1.

God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation.

2. God has spoken through the Bible-Special RevelationSlide25

The ultimate question is, “How has God revealed Himself?”

1.

God has spoken in creation (Psalm 19) which we call “General Revelation.

2. God has spoken through the Bible-Special Revelation

3. God has spoken through Incarnational Revelation- JesusSlide26

I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)

A. In the past God spoke:Slide27

2 Timothy 3:16

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”Slide28

Peter 1: 20-21

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

.”Slide29

I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)

A. In the past God spoke:

1. Through

ProphetsSlide30

Prophets did two things:

1.

They spoke on issues contemporary to their day on behalf of God.

2. They foretold the futureSlide31

Deuteronomy 18:18-22

“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my nameSlide32

Deuteronomy 18:18-22

20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death 21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LordSlide33

Deuteronomy 18:18-22

22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.”Slide34
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I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)

A. In the past God spoke:

1. Through Prophets

2. At many times Slide36

I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)

A. In the past God spoke:

1. Through Prophets

2. At many times

3. In many ways: Slide37

Ways God spoke in the past

Dreams (Gen. 28:12)

Visions (Gen. 15:1)

Theophany’s (Gen. 12:7)

Person to person, personal (Gen. 3:8

Verbal (Gen. 7:7)

Personal (Gen. 147:19)

Miracles (Deut. 4:34)

Theophonic media (cloud, Ex. 24:16; shekinah glory, Ex. 25:8,

Writing on walls (Dan.6)

Donkeys as in the case of Balaam.(Ex. 22)

Angels (Gen. 11)

Bushes (Ex. 3)Slide38

Seven categories of claims of Biblical Contradictions.

1) Translation

2) Scribal

3) Theological

4) Literary Techniques

5) Contradictions Regarding Jesus

6) Messianic Genealogy Conflicts

7) Miscellany (mixture of unrelated passages)Slide39
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I. Because He supersedes all past methods of

revelation

(1-2)

A. In the past God spoke:

1. Through Prophets

2. At many times

3. In many ways

B. Now

God speaks through Jesus.Slide41

John 1:1-14

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…”Slide42

John 1:1-14

“14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”Slide43

“Logos”

The idea of message, logic, reason, thought, and communication. Jesus is identified as the Word-

the “logos”

. He is Gods communication of Himself in the fleshSlide44

B. Now God speaks through Jesus.

1. He is God’s

SonSlide45

B. Now God speaks through Jesus.

1. He is God’s

Son

2. He was appointed heir of all thingsSlide46

B. Now God speaks through Jesus.

1. He is God’s

Son

2. He was appointed heir of all things

3. He is the creator of the

universe

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Does

this story

make sense

?

A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. If there are no snags it can be very peaceful. But if it breaks loose, you won't get another chance.Slide48

Read it again: The key word is kite

A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. If there are no snags it can be very peaceful. But if it breaks loose, you won't get another chance.Slide49

Jesus is the kite of our story of life.

Once you have Jesus as the context or the framework of understanding God and creation, all of the details start to fall into place.Slide50
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II. Because He is

God

(3)

A.

He is the Radiance of God’s glorySlide52

II. Because He is

God

(3)

A.

He is the Radiance of God’s glory

B. He is the

exact

representation of God’s beingSlide53

II. Because He is

God

(3)

A.

He is the Radiance of God’s glory

B. He is the

exact

representation of God’s being

C. He sits at God’s right handSlide54

Hebrews 10:12

“But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”Slide55
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APPLICATION

1. There is a God and he has spoken. His creation is a result of his speaking. “God said, “Let there be light and there was light.”Slide57

APPLICATION

1. There is a God and he has spoken. His creation is a result of his speaking. “God said, “Let there be light and there was light.”

2. God has given us His Word, the Scriptures, to instruct us and guide us. Let us study and learn them so that we enjoy the life God desires for us.Slide58

APPLICATION

3. God’s ultimate revelation is incarnational- Let us look to Jesus to find our ultimate understanding of His greatness and being part of His family.Slide59

APPLICATION

3. God’s ultimate revelation is incarnational- Let us look to Jesus to find our ultimate understanding of His greatness and being part of His family.

4. God can speak to the world through us in that we, the church, are the body of Christ. We can make God and Jesus known. We are God’s present incarnational word to the world. It is through relationships with lost people that we can make God known to them.Slide60

APPLICATION

5. Dedicate your life to Jesus today so that you may know God and make Him known.

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Francis Chan- Quote

“I kept thinking, If Jesus was on earth, I think this is what it would feel like to walk with him. He just loved everyone he ran into, and he would tell them about God. People were just drawn to his love and affection." And then Dan said this, "The day I spent with Vaughn was the closest thing I've ever experienced to walking with Jesus."Slide63