Mar. 12, 2023

Whence Came You?

 March 11 & 12, 2023

Primary Text: Colossians 1:15-17   

Previous Teaching: The Utmost Question

1)  Overwhelming Evidence

Psalm 14:1:  The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

Romans 1:20:  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

DQ 1) How is the meaning of life determined by whether or not there is a God?

DQ 2) What are the ramifications of denying God’s presence in the world?

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2)  Whose Image?

Romans 1:22-23:  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 

Romans 8:29:  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

DQ 3) What does it mean to be conformed to the likeness of Christ?

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  The Creator

Proverbs 16:4 (NASB):  The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Isaiah 66:1-2:  This is what the LORD says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  Where is the house you will build for me?  Where will my resting place be?  Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD.

DQ 1) If God did not create the world, what are the ramifications for the purposes of human life and moral philosophy?

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2)  All Things

Colossians 1:15-17:  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 2:10:  In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 

DQ 2) What evidence exists declaring that God created and sustains all things?

DQ 3) Do scientific “laws” depend upon “Intelligent Design” of the universe?  

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3)  Foolishness?

1 Corinthians 1:18-20:  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

DQ 4) Why have academicians outside the field of biology been inclined to apply evolutionary ideas to fields such as psychology, sociology, economics, etc.?

DQ 5) In what ways is the wisdom of the modern world foolish?

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