Godbox
(Illinois Tech's Carr Chapel)
The first words of the first chapter of the Bible open with a powerful, foundational truth: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This shows that God exists and he is eternal. We learn that God is Spirit, and through his creation we can witness his infinite power and wisdom, and be encouraged and inspired by his infinite goodness and holiness.
King Solomon was abundantly blessed by God, but over time his heart was led astray by his hundreds of wives, and he began to follow their gods too. An idolatrous heart is like a cheating heart, and God in his anger would tear the kingdom away from Solomon. Yet out of his mercy he allowed Solomon to rule over 1 tribe, that one day a Savior king would come. God is angry with the wicked every day, but he sent his one and only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and bring us into his eternal kingdom.
Courage is said to be one of the best human virtues. It enables us to face difficulty, danger, or pain without fear. Ernest Hemingway defined it as, Grace under pressure. Andrew Jackson said, One man with courage makes a majority. But David linked it to his faith in God.
God loves a cheerful giver because God Himself is a cheerful giver. By his great grace, he pours out blessings to those who give so that they may be able to give, and reap a harvest of righteousness, all of it resulting in thanksgiving to God.
It is not easy to keep the faith because of sin in and around us, but faith is what gives us strength and power and enables us to bear good fruit unto God. Jesus cursed a fig tree that represented a hypocritical people that had no faith. Jesus then teaches his disciples to combine faith with prayer, that will enable us to trust in God and love one another.
Psalm 30:1-12
Key Verse: 30:4-5
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
In 2009, I lost my job because of the economy. It was one of the worst days of my life, but two years later God made it one of the best of my life.
Romans shows us the real problem in our lives, sin and death, and the only cure God has given through Jesus.
The cross finished the work, the tomb proved the victory, and the gospel still has power to change lives today.
On August 24, we will be starting a new sermon series called Bible 101, which will go over the basics of faith.
Since 2007, we have been serving Illinois Tech and the surrounding community with the word of God through Bible study and worship service. We are a church composed of alum and current students, who wish to see the love and grace of Jesus shared with others.