Romans 1:16-24a
The primary symbol of Christianity has always been the cross. The cross is at the heart of our faith. But increasingly what Christianity has considered good news is considered by the rest of our culture to be bad news, even ludicrous and sinister. How do we connect with our culture?
The other issue this morning is religion versus the gospel. Human thinking often confuses Christianity with religion. In reality Christianity is an anti-religion with the way God interacts with us and the way God deals with sin. Don’t let anyone lump Christianity into the religion category. God doesn’t work that way.
Isaiah 55:6-13
God does not sit back in heaven, being amused at our limited efforts to understand the infinite. All other religions seem to be this way. But not Christianity. God has taken the initiative to become one of us. And God has left clues everywhere.
Romans 1:16-25
The other issue addressed this morning is the accusation that you cannot take the Bible literally. Some of the most respected scientists in the world are committed Christians who trust in the accuracy of the Bible. How can two brilliant persons see the same evidence and come to opposite conclusions? Come and see.
Matthew 16:13-20
The other issue addressed this morning is how can a loving God send people to hell? In the next 365 days (one year) 2.4 million Americans will die, and most of them will go into eternity without Jesus Christ. The loving thing to do is to tell them the truth. But there is a way to do this that builds bridges instead of walls.