Highlight Moments
- We're going to be looking at how God wants to dwell with his people through the entirety of the Bible.
- God provides lots of things for us and often we mess them up.
- The single problem that is in the Bible is this: That we make a path away from God.
- God wants to dwell with his people in the Tabernacle and in the tabernacle the Israelites complain about what could have been.
- God wanted to dwell with them, but they neglected God.
Summary
The sermon explores how God desires to dwell with His people throughout the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the new earth. It highlights the recurring theme of human disobedience and God's persistent efforts to maintain a relationship with humanity.
Sermon Audio
Transcript
And why don't you guys thank Peyton, thank you Peyton. Well guys, what book are we in? We're in the book It only took eight weeks and you guys already know a book. We're in great job guys. We're in the book of John We're gonna be in chapter 8 now on Wednesdays as you've probably realized I love going through character studies So what character do you think we're gonna be covering today? Do you guys remember any characters from from Sunday? Jesus was certainly there. John was not in that chapter Today's character study is going to be on God's temple Yeah, that doesn't sound like much of a character so instead what we're gonna do We are going to be looking at how God wants to dwell with his people through the entirety of the Bible You heard me, right? We're gonna go Genesis to Revelation tonight. So how many guys have ever read through your entire Bible? How many of you guys have not read through your entire Bible how many guys have read through Zephaniah Some of you guys are lying when you raise your hand Well, that's perfect because we're gonna be going through every single book of the Bible and looking at how God wants to dwell with his People we're gonna be doing that through seven distinct periods in the Bible The first one is the Garden of Eden God wants to dwell with his people there The second is the tabernacle. The third is the first temple the second temple Jesus God's Spirit and then finally the new earth Now this probably all sounds very confusing, but we're gonna be breaking it down over the next 20 minutes and I don't mean dance moves We're gonna make this really easy for you guys to understand. Thanks Jake. Appreciate it, man Now we're gonna be looking at God's great big story of the world and God's great big story as told through the Bible So I'm super excited to look at this with you guys And the reason we're doing this is in John chapter 8 we see Jesus at the temple Again, and if you guys don't know the importance of the temple Then you're gonna be totally lost as to why John is talking about the temple so much So guys without further ado, we have seven sections to go through in the next 19 minutes So if you guys are ready to get on with it, let's get it. Let's do this Okay, let's go first things first the Garden of Eden the first section of the Bible that we're gonna be going through is Genesis you skipped a slide. Oh Man, that's so perfect. This is every book of the Bible. Can you guys read it? No, you don't need to it's fine This book up here is Genesis. What happens in Genesis? How does God want to dwell on his people? Well, it's the Garden of Eden Genesis 2 8 says this and the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east and there he put the man whom he had formed Perfect now, what do we see happens in this first thing? God wants to dwell with his people now God provides lots of things for us and often we mess them up That's basically the story of the entire Bible in a nutshell God provides we mess them up and then God responds by helping us out and we're gonna be seeing seven ways that that happens Throughout scripture and this first way God wants to dwell with his people in the Garden of Eden So he creates a paradise now, do you guys remember the Garden of Eden who was in the Garden of Eden? Just shout it out Adam and Eve and what did Adam and Eve eat from? the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve the problem in the garden is that they chose for themselves What was right and wrong and so because of that the consequence was leaving paradise This is Absolutely foundational to the entire rest of the Bible the single problem that is in the Bible is this That we make a path away from God. So we have God's kingdom right here. We got God's kingdom It's awesome. God gives us awesome things and then we say, you know, what's better than God's awesome things My things I'd rather do my things and do God's thing And so we leave God and the result of that as the Bible says is death. I Know it's terrible That is the first one God wants to dwell with his people in the Garden of Eden He created a paradise we decide what we want And so we have to leave that paradise from God Adam and Eve on this next slide. They chose for the self They said God look at this awesome garden around us. You've given us so much. Thank you Now go away. I want to go do my own thing. You guys ever said that before probably not out loud Thank you so much God Now go away. That's what Adam and Eve said All right guys bring it in bring it in That's our first section. God wants to dwell with his people in the Garden of Eden Now what happens when they leave the Garden of Eden? Well, they leave obviously and then God chooses a nation for himself. What was that nation called? Israel the nation was called Israel guys The nation that God chose was Israel now They went into Egypt as slaves and then came out and this is our second thing Where we are going to see how God dwells with his people the second section goes through Exodus Leviticus Exodus Leviticus numbers Deuteronomy Joshua judges and Ruth and what we see is that God wants to dwell with his people in the Tabernacle and in the tabernacle the Israelites complain about what could have been so let's check this out Exodus 25 8 says this Then have them make a sanctuary for me and I will dwell among them. That is Exodus 25 8 God wants to dwell with his people And what happens in this tabernacle? Let's take a look you guys God provided everything. So when the Israelites left Egypt, where'd they go? They were taken out by Moses No, they were taken out to the promised land and in the promised land for 40 years God provided manna He also provided me he provided all kinds of things for these Israelites. And what did the Israelites do? They complained they said God this bread that you give me every day that I don't have to go and bake or Have to find it's just right there in front of me. This is really cool But I wish I was back in Egypt eating onions. That's really what they say in here guys They complain even though God provided everything and the result was that those good things were spoiled now These same Israelites their children went into the promised land and when they went into the promised land How many of you guys know that Israel is in the desert? Okay, but it doesn't look like a desert because it has tons of rivers It's super green and lush and awesome and they go into there this promised land that God has given them and what do they do? They complain so because of that those good things were spoiled if you guys ever found Yes, how many guys know about the Nintendo switch to you do okay How many of you guys? All right boys How many of you guys would be upset at getting a Nintendo switch for Christmas None of you guys really But why isn't it the Nintendo switch to how many guys would be upset about getting an older model of iPhone? You'd be upset. Really this is for you You know You know our Adrian You Know that's crazy because you say that but when I read the Bible these Israelites were provided everything and they still complained You know, if I got a phone that was a little bit older than the newest model I'm sure I would find things wrong with it. But that's what happened That's exactly it is ungrateful. That's what happened to these Israelites here They complained about what could have been God wanted to dwell with them But they complained and so the result of that was that good things were spoiled the Israelites had food in the wilderness for 40 years They complained about it. And so they got stuck there and when they went into the promised land They wanted more and so they spoiled that good thing that God had given them now later They're still in the promised land and God builds a temple there and let's look at this next section So check it out. We're gonna be going through Samuel Kings Chronicles and all the rest of the books up there Sound good. Cool. This is our next section where we have the first temple. How many guys know what a temple is? What is the temple? Like the first churches that's close those are synagogues a temple is one central building. It's huge It's beautiful built by Solomon looks awesome. And it's where God's presence. It's where God's presence would dwell with Israel But the problem that the Israelites encountered was this they had God's presence there Which meant God was blessing them, but they wanted to keep God at arm's length So check it out God says I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel What happens in this period is that God gives the Israelites blessing. He makes them amazing among the other nations Okay, Israel is pretty tiny But when Solomon was king and when the temple was there God's presence was there They were super blessed other nations were going to Israel saying wow you guys are tiny but you guys are so awesome and So that that I think got to the Israelites heads because God was blessing Israel So what they decided to do is say thank you God No, they decided to neglect God. They went to other gods They tried to get more and more and more God wanted to dwell with them, but they neglected God They wanted to keep them at arm's distance. You guys ever do that with anything? No Well, that's how they were treating God Mm-hmm. They wanted to keep God at arm's length. Have you guys ever prayed for good grades before? Don't even lie. I raise a hand if you guys ever prayed for good grades before I definitely have I Still I still pray for good grades because why wouldn't I be praying for good grades, right? So check this out you guys you pray for good grades and then you get them. What do you do? You explode joy, do you say thank you God for the good grades. Yeah, you do. Okay. I also do that So we say thank you God that you've given me these good grades But then you feel God continue to speak to you and God says hey, maybe you shouldn't be hanging out with this person And what do you do you say? Thanks for the good grades, but actually I'm gonna stop you right there That's keeping God at arm's length. And it's what these Israelites we're doing and not only the Israelites, but it's also what we do We say God, I'm really thankful I'm really thankful for the blessing you've given me. But when you start telling me stuff that's gonna make me uncomfortable I'm gonna keep you at arm's length I'm just gonna stop you right there and the result of that was that their blessing stopped God's presence was in Israel and so they believed well, whatever we do God is gonna be blessing us. So, you know what? Thank you God for all this cool stuff. But as far as I'm concerned go away, they were keeping God at arm's length and Then what happens they get exiled. Does anyone here know what the exile is? What is it Jake? Nah So when Israel When they said God, I mean, I'm gonna keep you at arm's length. Thank you for all this blessing But you know, I'm just gonna stop you right there. Please don't correct anything that I'm gonna do Well, they got sent off to other nations. They got kicked out of Israel. You're exactly right They got kicked out to Assyria and Babylon and then they eventually were in Persia and that happens in these books right here They eventually return to the land they get kicked out and God says, you know what I'm gonna give you a second chance at this land And so they come back and that happens in Ezra Nehemiah Haggai Zechariah and Malachi. So if you guys have read them That's where they are So God gives them a second chance and Zechariah 2 10 says this God's talking to Israel and he says shout and be glad daughter Zion for I am coming and I will live and I will die God's talking to Israel and he says shout and be glad daughter Zion for I am coming and I will live among you declares the Lord So God's coming back to Israel. This is awesome. They went off to exile because they were doing bad stuff They neglected God, but God still wanted to do well with his people. And so he gives them a second chance And what happens? Well God gave second chances But what happened with the what happened with the Pharisees? Well, the Pharisees are in this period right now the second temple they come back They build the second temple and they say, you know, we got sent off because we weren't following God before So instead of having a relationship with God, we're just gonna do all the stuff that the Torah says to do They were showing an unhealthy fear of God. They said man God. I just want you off my back Guys ever said that before how many you guys have ever been told to do chores before? How many of you guys say no, I'm not gonna do my chores don't even lie Okay, how many of your parents have gotten angry with you about not doing your chores? Oh That was more hands than then said have chores at all Do your parents get angry at you Okay. So when your parents get angry at you for not doing your chores, what do you do? Thanks, buddy Well, you're probably gonna do it, right if your parents are on your back about it and they say hey, you know what? As long as you're not doing your chores, you're gonna be grounded. You guys ever heard that before? So you do your chores to that what so you can get your phone back. So you get your switch back. Okay. Oh, perfect It's right here this right here when the Israelites came back from exile. They believed this was who God was so they Said you know what fine God I'll do the stuff you want me to do I'll pray I'll go to church. I'll read your word. I'll do my chores, whatever because they wanted to get an angry God off their back They totally misunderstood God God wanted to dwell with them, but they were just saying you know what God I'll do what you want Because I want you to leave us alone and that's what we have on the next slide. I'll do the stuff you want Just leave me alone. You guys ever thought that? I'm not gonna do my chores. I'm not gonna do my chores. I'm not gonna do my chores I'll do the stuff you want. Just leave me alone You guys ever thought that before that like if you don't go to church god's gonna like make your life terrible really I'm really happy for you man that you've never thought that I'm sure that I thought that back in the day that you know If we're not doing the stuff god wants us to do he's gonna make our life terrible Well, that's what these That's what these Israelites thought Shh But fear always hurts Hey boys Fear always hurts our view of god So we do what an angry parent wants and these israelites They were doing what they thought an angry god wanted them to do just to get him off of their back In exile, they remembered god and god gave them their land back But unfortunately, they did not really know who god was. So what did god do? Well, as we saw just a second ago god sends jesus to correct this bad view All right Now guys, we just covered the entire old testament and we're going to go through the new testament. Are you guys ready? Awesome i'll take that as a yes There sure is We're going to start out with the very beginning of the new testament matthew mark luke and john and that tells the story of who? Matthew jesus What book are we in on the weekends? Stop What book are we in on the weekends guys? We're in the book of john and that's one of these gospels here we're learning about jesus and john 1 14 says this 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 These gospels tell the story of jesus's life. And what is jesus doing? Well, jesus is god in human flesh Jesus is the epitome the absolute best example of god wanting to dwell with his people So what we see is this In the gospels jesus offers salvation to everyone. But what do the israelites say? Well, they only want the benefits of following god. They don't want to follow god when jesus says hey following me is going to be difficult That's something that we've definitely looked at and so because of that the gospel that good news Went to the gentiles instead of to just the jews so How many of you guys in here would would confidently say that you're saved? I wish it was more you guys That i'm not talking about you What the heck? Okay Oh check this out. So how many of you guys know that you're saved by faith in jesus and not by something that you do Okay, that's awesome Well something that we as christians do something we as christians do is we say We say god you saved me and I don't have to do anything for that and then when god speaks to us and says Hey, you know what? I want to do something with you. I want to push you out of your comfort zone What do we say? Actually god, I don't have to work to be saved. I'm good I don't have to work for you to save me and go to heaven So i'm just going to say a prayer and then do nothing else You guys ever heard of that before? It's not why Okay, in other words you would say that's not what a real relationship looks like And that right there is what the israelites were doing the israelites around jesus I'm sure you guys remember we're loving the miracles of jesus. Do you guys remember that? They thought the miracles were awesome the loaves and fishes being multiplied. That was so cool. Jesus But when jesus called them to follow him what they say Nah, i'm good. I'm gonna follow you for the miracles, but I don't want the rest of that stuff. That stuff is hard Jesus wanted to dwell with these people But the israelites only wanted jesus because of his miracles not because of what he was saying and so that gospel Went out to all the other nations who were not promised it And that is where we get to where we are right now So we just covered the gospels now The gospels now we're going to cover the rest of the new testament until revelation and in the rest of the new testament God's spirit goes out to all the nations through his disciples, which is awesome. And that's where we are right now in time today Where god's spirit is in all of us christians and he goes with us into all the different nations So let's check out what the new testament says It says do you not know that you are god's temple and that god's spirit dwells in you That's first corinthians 3 16 and is personally my favorite book in the entire bible Now I have a question for you guys Why do you guys think people outside the church think christianity is hateful? It's not rhetorical yeah Okay, what do you think noah You Let me tell you guys people outside the church do think that christianity is hateful And they think that because of hateful christians. So let's look at this this verse that we just looked at says Do you not know that you are god's temple and that god's spirit dwells within you? So what happens in the rest of the new testament god gives his spirit to be in us because why He wants to dwell with us. And so wherever we go God goes with us, right? But what do we do? How many of you guys still have a problem with sin and selfishness? If you're not raising your hand Oh, actually everyone's raising their hand. Perfect. That's great. I'm glad you guys are all very self-aware So when we go to sin, who do we take with us? We take god because god's spirit is in us and so when we're going to sin And other people look at us as examples of who jesus is What do they think about jesus? Well that jesus wants to go and do those things, too And the result of that is god's spirit in us telling us that is wrong. So how many guys in here can drive? I mean with a I mean with a with a driver's license Okay, cool, how many guys know how many guys know high schoolers who can drive Ah, this is perfect. Actually. Awesome. Awesome So imagine your high schooler friend Take someone to the bank And their friend goes and robs the bank and gets back in the car Who's going to jail? They're both going to jail why Because What if what if the driver didn't even know their friend was going to rob the bank? Are they still going to jail? Yeah, why? Why why would they go to jail too if they didn't do anything? They're still an accomplice Well if they had no idea what they were doing and they were just going with their friend and their friend robbed a bank Everyone thinks they're guilty. Why because they went there with them and when people outside of the church say wow Christians are supposed to have god's spirit in them and then they see christians being hateful or christians going towards sin What do they think about jesus? That he wants to do those things there is There is a pastor. I wouldn't actually call him a pastor. There is someone who preaches from a pulpit Well, I would not personally call a pastor, but he calls himself a pastor in phoenix, arizona And I want to read to you guys a real quote From this person. Are you guys ready? He says this If I had a button on the pulpit, I could push that every homosexual would fall over dead i'd push it till I break my finger Do you guys see that's terrible do you see what I just read when I asked the question That's horrible bro, and you're standing against jesus, I hope you repent of that Why do Why do people outside the church hey boys bring it in Why do people outside the church think christianity is hateful Because they see christians who say they have god's spirit in them and represent jesus being hateful God wants to dwell with us But when he does that we take him off to sin and to be hateful and people get that view of god as well now so far This has been nothing But in my opinion very depressing Because we have god who's doing awesome things for his people and awesome things for us. And what do we do? We just mess the whole thing up and we paint a terrible picture of god to all the people in the world That sounds absolutely horrible It's a picture for sin guys Yeah, it sends a trap. Don't fall for the trap I know So So far this has been pretty depressing. So do you think I should just leave it there? Do you think the bible leaves it there? No Let's see. I'm not no Let's see what the bible says. What is god going to do about this? About this depressing situation. Well, we're going to turn to the very best last book of the bible revelation That is so good, do you know revelations about jake And You literally those those are the exact words I was going to use the end of the world and the beginning Of the new world. Why do I say that because in revelation it says this This is john speaking. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth He will dwell with them and they will be his people and god himself will be with them as their god And that is in revelation 21 What does god do about this terrible situation where he keeps providing for us and we keep messing everything up? Well, he makes everything new again God goes back way back to the garden of eden where everything was good And he remakes it but this time he makes it without the possibility of sin Do you guys know that uh, we're going to be staying up in heaven with god forever? Okay, that's awesome kind of embarrassing but i'm gonna tell you guys actually that's not correct We don't just stay in heaven with god forever because god god remakes the earth so we can be here with him God wants to dwell with his people And when he does that He makes everything new and we have access to that through faith in him and the result finally Not something that we mess up. We have faith in him. We get to have eternity with him On here the new heaven the new earth to be in god's presence forever That is awesome. God makes everything new and we get to be with him through faith and there's no more problems Guys, can we just take a second to acknowledge that you guys just went through the entire story of the entire bible all 66 books Let's go guys You've never read the whole bible before that was the whole thing in a nutshell So i'm gonna invite up worship as we close out I want you guys to notice No, we didn't they were all highlighted up there bud I want you guys to notice something We get relationship with god wrong a lot Are we mess things up a lot? but Relationship with jesus is not just about stuff you do on the outside It is a personal inward relationship with him And when you love someone inside you naturally display that on the outside So that's what we're supposed to do as christians have a relationship with him on the inside and then show that relation relationship on the outside so So what we're going to do is we're going to practice loving him in our hearts with this worship and our breakout groups We get to learn how to love him on the outside together as christians who encourage one another and point one another to jesus So guys, let's pray and payden's going to close us out with the final song. We're gonna have some breakout groups. All right, let's do it God, we thank you so much for this time. I thank you lord that uh, You've just allowed us to get through all 66 books of the bible crazy accomplishment Uh that we can just know more of who you are. We thank you for that Please be with us as we Sing this final worship song and as we go out into our breakout groups in jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen
