John O takes us through Genesis 3 to help us understand how It’s God's Business to Make Beauty Out of Chaos.
2021 Session 1: I Am The Bread of Life
Derrick Puckett also known as “Pastor D” opens this first session with a question, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”. Next, he explains the importance of Jesus using the phrase “I am”. He explains that “I am” means that God is:
#1 Self-existent
#2 Not dependent on anything else
#3 God is immutable (unchangeable)
#4 God is eternal
Exodus 3:14 says, “God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you”. He is trying to remind Moses and the people that he is God and he always with you no matter how far you get off track he is still God and still for you. Jesus uses this phrase twelve other times in the book of John and seven of those times he uses this phrase to explain who he is. He explains the importance of recognizing our idols whether it be sports, people, ourselves or other things we all have idols. The problem with idols is that we always will try to look for more from these things. This causes us to misplace our trust and hope. God says that I'm here and I'm trying to get your attention! He will always be forever. We always get in the way of ourselves to experience God's great glory. Pastor D reads Philippians 4:13 and reminds us that we need to be content with knowing God is with us. He ends with the same question he began, “Do you really believe in Jesus and does Jesus truly satisfy me?”.
2019 Session 1: Four Questions We Need to Ask Ourselves
Mack Stiles started the first session off explaining the Gospel of Christ using four helpful questions to help the audience break it down. The questions Mack asked were not only for the students attending who have never heard the Gospel, but also the students who have heard it and need to teach it to themselves. Believers of Jesus Christ are encouraged to never stop preaching the Gospel to themselves.
Who is God? What does the Bible say about Him?
Who am I?
Who is Christ? What did he do for me?
How do I respond?
To briefly summarize the answers to these questions; it is important to look at what perspective we are answering them from. Often times people will try to answer the questions above from our own personal experiences or views. This way of thinking is faulty.
Final thoughts: Mack gave some really neat perspective for what living in this world is like. He compared it to living in a shipwreck; you will find much treasure (worldly pleasures) and much brokenness on the ship. This is not the way it is supposed to be. As we look at these treasures, we must remember the reality of Satan’s deception. He will minimize our sin, lie, and promise untrue things. Satan over promises and under delivers. The sin of disbelief, not believing who God says He is is what ultimately plagues us in our walk with God. To believe the truths God reveals to us, we must continue preaching the Gospel to ourselves. Ask yourselves these questions and search for the truths in God’s Word. Jesus was our ransom, which means we were kidnapped by Satan (Romans 5:12), but Jesus gave his life as a ransom or a payment for our bondage. This sets us free. The cross was not plan B, it was plan A (1 Corinthians 15:21).