4-5
Mar 2017, Christ Mountain Top, Lent 1
Mar 2017, Christ Mountain Top, Lent 1
Psalm
32 (call to worship)
32 (call to worship)
Matthew
4.1-11 (kids)
4.1-11 (kids)
Genesis
2.15 – 3.7 (message)
2.15 – 3.7 (message)
All our hungers
Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride
of life (1 John 2.16)
of life (1 John 2.16)
When lust has conceived, it gives birth to
sin … death (James 1.15)
sin … death (James 1.15)
Wealth, sex, power (ancient church)
Good things perverted by
sin
sin
Our relationship with food – a good thing
– perverted
– perverted
Eating disorders
Industrialization, chemicals, work
force
force
Bag of chips … just a few? Or, “once
you pop…”
you pop…”
No wonder this story of the “original sin”
involves food!
involves food!
“You will be like God!”
Genesis 3:6 saw that the tree was good for food
Sin dressed up as forbidden fruit (Romans
7, MSG)
7, MSG)
The rule, the “no”, only increases
its appeal
its appeal
All we need is a big red button with
the words, “Don’t”
the words, “Don’t”
Three problems in the story:
1. Whose fault?
Woman or man?
Pandora’s box – the woman … with hope
trapped in the box?
trapped in the box?
Romans 5 – the man!
Easier
to find fault than find solutions – human enterprise
to find fault than find solutions – human enterprise
Kids: It’s not my fault (accidents)
But it is your responsibility
Don’t assume I was always kind and
empathetic as a parent
empathetic as a parent
And, sometimes, it is your fault, you
knucklehead
knucklehead
2. No death!
· Genesis
2:17 in the day that you
eat of it you shall die.
2:17 in the day that you
eat of it you shall die.
· Genesis
3:4-5 the serpent said to
the woman, “You will not die; 5
for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.”
3:4-5 the serpent said to
the woman, “You will not die; 5
for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil.”
They don’t die “in the day”, though they
are banned from the tree of life
are banned from the tree of life
But, what is death? Other kinds of loss
Loss
of spouse to death, to infidelity
of spouse to death, to infidelity
Death
is about loss, absence
is about loss, absence
Their losses:
Partnership
to power (blame & shame)
to power (blame & shame)
Near
to far
to far
With each other: Naked to covered
With God: Daily walk to banishment
But it’s not my fault. Sure it is.
3. Original sin
Romans
5:12 sin came into the
world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all
because all have sinned (our responsibility)
5:12 sin came into the
world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all
because all have sinned (our responsibility)
Romans
5:18-19 just as one man’s
trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads
to justification and life for all. 19
For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the
one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
5:18-19 just as one man’s
trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads
to justification and life for all. 19
For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the
one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Original
sin, as in
sin, as in
The first?
Or, “patient zero”?
All
I know is that I do not remember a time in my life when I lacked a selfish
impulse: the desire, the craving, the hunger to satisfy ME at the expense of
someone or something else – obeying my parents, doing my homework, stealing
from a childhood friend, terrorizing the cat, striking my sister. And I really
wasn’t an awful child. After all, “Just Perfect” = JP. Your memory may be
different, that’s just my memory.
I know is that I do not remember a time in my life when I lacked a selfish
impulse: the desire, the craving, the hunger to satisfy ME at the expense of
someone or something else – obeying my parents, doing my homework, stealing
from a childhood friend, terrorizing the cat, striking my sister. And I really
wasn’t an awful child. After all, “Just Perfect” = JP. Your memory may be
different, that’s just my memory.
Failing Forward
Not
because of our goodness or effort. Not because we follow some inspirational
self-help guide. It’s as if we can’t help ourselves. We are hungry, we eat, and
we remain empty … or become empty.
because of our goodness or effort. Not because we follow some inspirational
self-help guide. It’s as if we can’t help ourselves. We are hungry, we eat, and
we remain empty … or become empty.
Psalm
106:14-15 lusted exceedingly in
the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into
their soul. (KJV)
106:14-15 lusted exceedingly in
the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into
their soul. (KJV)
Only
because God’s love is more persistent than our selfish impulse.
because God’s love is more persistent than our selfish impulse.
Genesis
3:15 I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike
your head, and you will strike his heel.
3:15 I will put enmity
between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike
your head, and you will strike his heel.
Extra
verse, “Sing my tongue the glorious battle”
verse, “Sing my tongue the glorious battle”
God in mercy saw us fallen,
sunk
in shame and misery,
in shame and misery,
felled
to death in Eden’s garden,
to death in Eden’s garden,
where
in pride we claimed the tree;
in pride we claimed the tree;
then
another tree was chosen,
another tree was chosen,
which
the world from death would free.
the world from death would free.
© 1967 Concordia Publishing House
Ro
5 (repeat)
5 (repeat)
