Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

Life in this world can be difficult and discouraging. This passage tells us why. The Lord speaks forth penalties and their consequences on account of the first man and woman's disobedience. The serpent is forever humiliated, the woman will experience specific and enduring pain, and the man will struggle with a cursed and uncooperative earth. But even in the midst of such negative impacts upon...

Though Adam and Eve are hiding from His presence, the Lord is compassionately seeking them out. The questions God asks are designed to bring the first man and woman to the point of confession. It is only by agreeing with God about the true state of affairs that there can be movement toward the reconciliation He freely offers.

The serpent's temptations begin to work in Eve's mind. The appeal of the fruit to her physical senses, her heart, and her pride converge. Deceived, Eve eats. This is followed by Adam's open rebellion as he also eats. Feeling exposed, they sew fig leaves together in a futile attempt to cover their guilt and shame. Where the first man fails the test in the garden, the Son of Man succeeds...

If Genesis 1-2 explain God's intention for the creation of man, then chapter 3 describes what went wrong. In the dialogue between the serpent and Eve, the identity of this malevolent presence in the garden becomes apparent. We see from the passage the two temptations Eve faced: the temptation to doubt God's Word and the temptation to deny God's Word. Beneath his lies, the serpent calls...

The first time Scripture records the words of Adam, they are in reference to the first woman. With poetic phrasing, Adam expresses the togetherness of marriage. This is followed by the model for marriage. And finally, this passage reveals the priorities of marriage.

As the priest of the sacred space called the garden of Eden, the first man is provided with all he needs. However, the Lord makes him aware of his incompleteness, the one way in which Adam's life is "not good." How God chooses to remedy his relational desires tells us that man also needs 1) relationships with others, 2) a specific companion, and 3) a suitable helper.

What did the first man do in the garden where God placed him? He worked. From this passage we learn that work is good and purposeful. We also see that for the Christian, God intends for work to be worship. Finally, in order for Adam to demonstrate love for His Creator, God gives him a test. Love can only be real if one has a choice to love or not.

What will God do with the man He created? Put him in a garden. From this we see the provision of God, the plan of God, and the presence of God. In Eden, heaven met earth. Though the first man lost access to the garden, through Jesus Christ we enjoy fellowship with God once again.

This psalm teaches us something about worship, particularly coming into God's presence in worship. We learn from David's words that 1) God is always present; that 2) we must come into His presence; and 3) the church is where God is most present.

The creation week is over. Or is it? This passage begins a detailed recounting of the sixth day creation of man. In it we see the 1) potential of the first man, 2) the intimacy God shared with the first man, and 3) the power of the last Adam over the first man.

The seventh day of creation is different from all the other days. It sets the pattern for the rest that God offers. But we are only able to enter that rest because He first entered His. In this passage we observe God's rest of satisfaction, God's rest in a cosmic temple, and God's eternal rest. Now, the invitation of Jesus to all is, "Come to Me all you are weary and heavy-laden,...

We are each created in the image of God. This means we are called to represent God well. But how do we go about doing that? In this passage we discover God's purpose for every human being. We are each called to multiply and fill, subdue and rule, and receive and enjoy. Though this creation commission has been distorted by sin, it has also been transformed into the Great Commission by Jesus Chr...

According to a recent study, most Americans believe Jesus rose from the dead (66%). They just "seem to see little connection between Jesus rising and their daily lives." Yet, the Apostle Paul wrote: "If Christ has not been raised... then your faith also in in vain." The resurrection matters because it is a historical fact, a spiritual necessity, and is future focused.

As imagers of God, we are to represent Him in the ways He intends for us to do so. From this passage we discover man's original identity and responsibility. Though sin now means we no longer reflect God as we should, the Lord does not cease to see us as made in His image, nor should we cease to see one another as image-bearers.

On the fifth and sixth days of creation God creates animated life. The Lord speaks the first blessing in the Bible to the fish and the birds. This establishes the pattern that God's commands always follow His blessings. The abundance, beauty, and creativity of creation are balanced with its variety, functionality, and order.

The fourth day sees the creation of the sun, moon, and stars. Not only do these give light to the earth, they serve as signs that move us to worship God. The fourth day creations filled ancient man with awe. They do no less for modern man, especially as technological advancements continue to reveal the vastness and wonders of space. Man is the focus of God's creation. And though the light of t...

On the second day of creation God creates a space where He undisputably reigns. On the third day He creates a place where He will work. What God is doing in your life today is good. What God is doing in your life today is also preparing you for what He will do in the future.

God speaks creation into being through His Word. He is a speaking God. The first thing God creates is light. He is also a God who reveals Himself. God's Word together with God's light bring spiritual life. It is by God's light that we properly see reality. In God there is no darkness at all. Therefore, the light is good.

The first book of the Bible opens with a statement that answers some of the most fundamental questions of existence. Knowing what God did in the beginning gives us insight into what we can expect Him to do in our lives. The God who brings order out of chaos is preparing to bring form and structure to a formless and empty earth.

In this last message on the Ten Commandments, we consider how the Israelites reacted to God's Law. The Law is holy, righteous, and good. Yet, it serves a different purpose for the non-Christian than it does for the Christian. The Ten Commandments still apply to the church, but the desire and ability to keep them is a result of God's work in the heart. Commandments that reveal sin become la...

At first glance the tenth commandment appears to be simply tacked on to the end of other more "serious" laws. But the difference between this commandment and the other nine is significant. It's the only one that deals with an internal act that only God can see. Coveting is the sin that has the potential to open our eyes to every other sin. Our desire for what is not rightfully ours t...

This commandment is rooted in the context of judicial proceedings. However, speaking falsehood is not only bearing false witness, but also slander, gossip, flattery, and exaggeration. If Jesus is the Truth, then His people must speak and live truthfully.

The eighth commandment protects private property. Private property ownership is a biblical concept. Christians are called to be generous in their giving, but you must first possess something in order to give it. The eighth commandment forbids far more than theft. It also encourages far more than simply refraining from taking what is not yours. You are a steward of whatever possessions you have bee...

In order to understand how breaking the seventh commandment is so destructive, we must first understand the design of marriage. We discover that what is prohibited by this commandment goes far beyond the act of adultery. It addresses all sexual immorality, including that which occurs in the thought life. We can resist immorality when tempted, but only through the faithful and merciful High Priest,...

The sixth commandment forbids the deliberate taking of innocent human life. The Old Testament gives us many examples of the types of killing that constitute murder. From these we glean principles that equip us to battle our contemporary culture of death. More than the physical act, murder is a matter of the heart.