New Eden Sermons

Individuals in the nation are committing acts of betrayal against God. This concerns Yahweh because betrayal against God always leads to betrayal against others, even their partners in the marriage covenant. Ultimately, this points us to the one faithful groom who's never betrayed His bride.

After reminding the nation of His love for them, God gets right into His case against the leaders of the nation - the priests. They had shunned their responsibilities, bringing chaos and cursing on God's people. The situation is dark, but it forces us to lift our eyes to the only true Priest of peace.

The prophet, Malachi, moderates a debate between God and His people. Israel's actions have proven that they are believing some lies about God, and these need to be challenged. God graciously starts by reminding them that no matter their earthly circumstances, He loves them. He always has, and He always will.

The Jacob portion of the story begins to wind down, and the narrator ties up some loose ends. The one constant through all the ups and downs, the highs and the lows, and the births and the deaths is this: God has been with Jacob everywhere he has gone.

The story gets dark and personal as Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is raped by a powerful man in a neighboring city. The act is reprehensible, and the story causes us to wonder what the response of the characters will be. Challenging ethical questions are raised about the solutions proposed, but the biggest question is this. Where is God, and how does he respond in the face of grave injustice? *DISCLAIM...

Chapter 15 of Luke contains one of the most familiar stories in the entire New Testament, the story of the prodigal son. Though this story has taken a life of its own, close examination causes us to stop and ask: Who really is the most prodigal one in the story?

God has been freely offering Jacob the blessing, but he's still striving to posture and earn. On the eve of a fearful meeting with his brother Esau, God interrupts and meets Jacob, speaking to him in the only language he'll understand - wrestling and striving.

The narrator of Genesis uses the close of the Jacob/Laban saga to reinforce an essential truth for God's people: "The Lord our God, the Lord is one." There are no other gods who compare to the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This story is not about Jacob's superiority over Laban. It's about God's superiority against the false gods of this age. He alone is worth...

Even while dwelling in a foreign land and even in the midst of much strife and pain, Jacob's family expands. God provides for this family - not because of their goodness but because of His. This points us to Jesus - the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise of a people and provision.

Jacob continues on the run, trying to escape the mess he created. But even as he runs, he can't outrun God's grace. Through the story of Jacob and his unwanted wife, Leah, we learn that there is grace abundant for the fleeing, the failing, and the forgotten.

God meets Jacob in the middle of his journey and confirms the unilateral promise of blessing. Even though Jacob has a hard time receiving this unconditional grace and still wants to bargain with God, he responds in worship the best way he can.

Rebekah and Jacob attempt to work out God's plans through deceitful means, which backfires and leads to division and the threat of death. Anytime humans try to play "God," chaos ensues. Thankfully, through a gracious inversion, God becomes human and puts everything back to right.

Isaac and his family are flooded with God's goodness, as they are given protection, provision, and peace - even while dwelling as foreigners in the midst of great famine. This provides us with a snapshot of Eden, foreshadowing the day when the true Shepherd will bring a new creation through his life, death, and resurrection.

God reveals that His upside-down way of working in the world will continue through a chosen one, Jacob, the younger of Rebekah's twins. This would've been a shocking revelation, but if we've been paying attention, we'll be in tune with the pattern that's emerging. This story points us forward to the most unlikely chosen One of all. And His success is guaranteed.

God has graciously revealed Himself to humanity through His creation and His word. Though this is remarkable, this revelation alone is not enough to redeem the world. The final revelation we're pointed to in Psalm 19 is the best news ever - God has revealed Himself finally and completely in the person of Jesus. And His redemption is offered to all.

God's design is that His people dwell in His presence. This is when we are most whole, happy, and secure. But this mission does not come without a cost. Christ Himself came and dwelt among sinful men and obeyed His Father, even unto death, so that we might be united to God's presence for eternity.

God's people are commanded to sing so that the praises of Yahweh might expand to every corner of the earth. But this isn't just any song. It's the song of God's salvation and kingship, that is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Christ. And when Jesus reigns, the entire earth will be at rest.

The psalmist, David, feels freedom to cry out and share with God how he feels, including making accusations against God Himself. But soon, his authentic anger gives way to a surprising joy and peace that is just as authentic. But how does this transformation happen? And is this same transformation possible for those of us who find ourselves still crying out, "How Long, O Lord?!?"

The Psalmist records a number of promises for the people of God in Psalm 91. But who are these promises really about? And how do they apply for us in our day and age? The answers drive us to rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Where do we turn when we need help? False idols of this age clamor for our attention and trust, but there is only one strong tower where we can find shelter. This Kingdom of God cannot be shaken and the reign of King Jesus will never end. He is the Rock of Ages.

The matriarch, Sarah, passes off the scene, and Abraham purchases a burial plot on which to bury her. Rebekah, a new matriarch, enters the story through the selfless servant of Abraham. Endings and beginnings. Death and life. Is this all just a part of the circle of life? Or is God sovereignly weaving together a story to remind us of resurrection hope beyond what the eye can see?

Abraham is asked to do the unthinkable and sacrifice his son, Isaac. As we should be, our ears are repulsed by this request. But is God just a monster and one of the many deities who demand child sacrifice? Or is this story meant to show us that He is entirely different?

The 21st chapter of Genesis is a story of contrasts: the child of promise and the child of works, the well of grace and the well of striving, the oath of God and the oath of man. These contrasts are meant to point us to the truth that the works of flesh enslave, but the gospel of Jesus brings freedom.

Through his sin, Abraham puts both his wife, Sarah, and King Abimelech's whole household in danger. The story is laced with irony. The foreign king is presented as the righteous one, while the chosen prophet acts cowardly and brings cursing on the nation. The king is innocent, but he still has no power to reverse the effects of Abraham's sin. This story causes us to look forward to a bette...

God hears the outcry of the oppressed in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, so He investigates. What He finds are some of the most heinous acts ever committed and the darkest parts of human hearts. But in the midst of this dark story, we might find ourselves realizing a truth so great that it's hard to believe. Could it really be that God's mercy on mankind is far greater than we could ever...