A Christ That's Caring Series

NOT JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY

A Christ That’s Caring

Ephesians 3:14-19

INTRODUCTION:

A. Last week I began a series of messages titled "Not Just Another Sunday"

1. Even though it may have gone unnoticed by many in the world, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead it was much more than just another Sunday

a. Because of what happened that day you have a life worthy living

b. What happened that day–that week--reminds us that we have a Savior that’s truly caring

c. READ: Ephesians 3:14-19

B. The most important thing that you’ll ever believe in life, is what you believe about God.

1. Because, what you believe about God affects every other area of your life

a. It affects how you...

deal with your past

face the future

live today

b. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can distort our view about God.

Our background can distort our view

The media–things we read and see on TV

Painful experiences

What other people tell us and our own insecurities can distort our view of God

Our sin can distort our view of God

c. The result is that a lot of people have an inaccurate picture of God

d. Some people think that God is like...

An impersonal force (like on Star Wars–may the force be with you)

A judgmental parent that can never be pleased

A cruel tyrant or dictator

2. The problem is that when you don’t understand what God is really like, then you generally make one of two mistakes

a. You deny Him and say "I don’t believe in God."

b. You just create your own little god

A lot of people say things like, "I like to think of God as..." and then fill in the blank

c. Let me say something here–when you get right down to it your opinion about God doesn’t really matter, nor does my opinion really matter

d. What matters is the truth!

e. The truth is that He cares about you and desires more than anything to have a relationship with you

f. Imagine that, the Creator of the universe wants to know you on a personal level

I> HE CARES ENOUGH TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO ME

A. There is only one way that you or I could ever know anything about God–God has chosen to let us understand Him in ways that we can comprehend

1. We are not able to fully understand God

a. Our lives here on earth have a beginning and an end, so it is difficult for us to fathom God who has not beginning or end

b. Yet, God has chosen to give us glimpse of what He is really like

c. So how does He do that?

B. Through Creation–all we have to do is look at the world around us

1. We can see that God is organized

a. The alignment of the planets and the paths intersect one another

b. A full moon can be pretty impressive, but just think about planets like Saturn which has 31 moons and they never run into each other

c. We’re just the right distance from the sun making life possible.

2. By looking at nature we know that God is powerful

a. All we have to do is consider the power of the sun, the wind, the power in the waves of the ocean or even in a single atom.

3. We know that God is creative and loves variety

a. Look at all of the different species, smells, tastes

4. When we look at a sunset we are reminded that God loves beauty

a. You are reminded that God loves beauty every time you look at your spouse

b. And every time you look in the mirror you are reminded that God has a sense of humor

C. But, the most important things that you need to know about God your can’t learn from nature

1. If all we did was look at the world, we would have a very limited view of God

2. So, God came up with a second way to reveal Himself to us

a. 2000 years ago, God came to earth in human form so humans could understand Him

b. Col. 1:15 (LB)

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God."

3. When Jesus was on the earth He said--John 14:9 (NIV)

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

a. That’s a pretty bold statement when you think about it

b. Of course, Jesus made a lot of bold statements

"I am God"

"I am the only way to heaven"

"I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by Me."

c. He said, "I’m it. If you’ve seen me then you’ve see God."

D. Critical Question - Was He telling the truth?