Where do we come from? Is there real right and wrong? Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Where are we going?
Have you ever asked these questions?
In the Winter of 2018, New City pastors and guests preached a sermon series on some of the first order questions of life; questions of deep substance and of great significance to how we live our lives. People often pass through life without thinking about these fundamental questions:
- The Question of Origin: Where Do We Come From?
- The Question of Morality: Is there Real Right and Wrong?
- The Question of Identity: Who Am I?
- The Question of Meaning: What is the Meaning of Life?
- The Question of Destiny: Where are We Going?
This series is rigorous intellectually: each sermon makes space for listeners who may not share a faith in God, or have questions and doubts about Christianity. Each sermon seeks to make the case that Christianity offers a more stable footing for life than modern, secular belief.
If you want to explore the great questions of life, this series is for you.
The Question of Origin: “Where Do We Come From? (the Harmony of Science and Faith)” by Kevin Haah
Are we just a random accident in the universe or are we created by God? Pastor Kevin dives into the questions of (1) the origin of the universe and (2) the origin of life. Then, (3) we will look at what this means for us.
First, regarding the origins of the universe, Pastor Kevin digs into the scientific explanation for the creation: The Big Bang Theory and the “fine-tuning problem” that the scientists grapple with; and he presents the implications of the Big Bang Theory and the problems posed by the multiverse hypothesis (an alternative explanation to the fine-tuning problem), making the case for a creator outside of the created universe as the answer most consistent with the Big Bang Theory and the best answer to the fine-tuning problem. Second, regarding the origin of life, Pastor Kevin makes a case for the BioLogos perspective that harmonizes the theory of evolution with the Genesis account. Third, regarding what all these things mean, Pastor Kevin argues that the creation reveals the glory of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Click HERE for the MANUSCRIPT of the sermon.
Click HERE for the MP3 of the sermon.
“The Question of Morality: Is There Real Right and Wrong?” by Daniel Perez
We all believe that some activities and attitudes are objectively right or objectively wrong, but what grounds our belief in objective right and wrong?
This week’s sermon made the case that the existence of a loving and good God is the surest foundation for belief in objective morality. Apart from a foundation in a loving and good God, there is little basis to ultimately justify objective moral values, like love and justice. The sermon examined three views from atheism – meaninglessness, moral relativism, and secular rationalism – and then turned to the Christian message about God’s love and justice. It is good news that God is just, since it means wrongdoing will not go unpunished, but, as sinners, our wrongdoing is included. An important aspect of the gospel is that, on the cross, God took into himself the judgment that belonged to us, forgiving and freeing us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him and others.
Click HERE for the MP3 of the sermon.
Click HERE for the Homework and Group Guide related to the sermon.
“The Question of Identity: Who Am I?” by Kevin Haah
Pastor Kevin discussed three ways to approach our identity: (1) discover the true self in the inside (the “self-discovery approach”); (2) be who you want to be (the “build your identity approach”); and (3) the gospel-identity approach.
The self-discovery approach says that each of us should look deep inside of him or herself and find the true self and live accordingly. The problem with this is that it is often confusing to find our true selves. How do we know? And, if we are honest with ourselves, what we find inside is often not good. The build your identity approach says that you can be what you want to be. The problem is that when we build our identity on our own effort, we end up in with a host of problems. When we fail, it is not just a setback, it destroys us because our identity is destroyed. When we succeed, we often become more judgmental and prideful.
The gospel-identity approach says three things: (1) we are created in the image of God; (2) we have marred that image because we walked away from God and sinned; and (3) God loves us so much that he came, died, and resurrected for us so that we can be adopted as his “sons” with all the rights in His family. The second and third points say that we are sinners who are loved by God as his child through his grace. This leads to both humility (because we are sinners) and confidence (because we are his child through grace). This is a beautiful identity that has the power to change us and make us live on solid ground and gives us the ability to face our own heart of darkness and love and embrace one another. Allow the Spirit of God to testify to your spirit that you are a child of God.
Click HERE for the sermon manuscript.
Click HERE for the Homework and Group Guide related to the sermon.
Click HERE for MP3 of the sermon.
“The Question of Meaning: What is the Meaning of Life?” by Kevin Haah
Pastor Kevin discussed two ways to approach the issue of meaning in our lives: (1) the modern approach; (2) the gospel approach.
The modern approach starts out with the assumption that there is no God or that God does not affect our lives. Then, the inevitable conclusion is that we are just an accident in the universe; and therefore, there is no meaning whatsoever. However, because it is difficult to live without meaning, this approach seeks to create meaning. But, Pastor Kevin discussed a couple of problems of this approach: (1) it is not intellectually honest because, at the end, there is no meaning (at the end, there is no point to it); and (2) a created meaning of life is not durable because suffering can often destroy the meaning. So, for example, if the romantic love in your marriage is your meaning of life, and if your marriage falls apart, this would destroy your meaning of life.
The gospel approach says that Jesus is the meaning of life. In John 1:1-5, John tells us that Jesus is the Word, and in the original language (Greek), it is Logos. The word for Logos is where we get the word logic; but it means more than that; it means the reason for or meaning of life. Ancient Greeks debated about what the Logos of life is. It is in this context that John declared that Jesus is the Logos of life! The Logos is not a philosophy or an idea; it is a person. This means that Jesus is the meaning of life.
Click HERE for the sermon manuscript.
Click HERE for the Homework and Group Guide related to the sermon.
Click HERE for MP3 of the sermon.
“The Question of Destiny: Where Are We Going?” by Kevin Haah
The resurrection of Jesus tells us where we are going, our ultimate destiny. From 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor Kevin shared (1) the evidence of the resurrection; and (2) the significance of the resurrection.
The Apostles didn’t tell people to just believe the resurrection of Jesus. They were witnesses to the fact and presented evidence of the resurrection. These eye-witness accounts are good evidence of the resurrection because: (1) there are numerous witness statements attesting to the fact written within 15-20 years after the resurrection, a time not long enough to become a legend; (2) the accounts are too counterproductive to be a legend (if they made it up, they would not have included some of these details); (3) the accounts are too detailed to be legends; (4) there is no other plausible explanation for the start of the church; and (5) the witnesses died for their faith. You can’t philosophically argue away this historical fact by saying that it is a miracle and miracles don’t happen. The only way to determine if it is true is to see if there is adequate historical evidence. And there is good historical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus.
The significance of the resurrection: The resurrection shows us (1) that our sins are forgiven; (2) that someday, we will also be resurrected into the kind of super-physical body that Jesus resurrected into; and (3) that this resurrection power is available for us in the present.
Click HERE for the sermon manuscript.
Click HERE for the Homework and Group Guide related to the sermon.