Lord's Day Sermon
October 4, 2020
Creation Ex Nihilo: Where Did You Get the Dirt?
Sermon Details
Read passage (ESV) — Hebrews 11:1-3
By Faith
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Outline
- What Is the Doctrine of “Creation Ex Nihilo”?
- Where Does Scripture Teach Creation Ex Nihilo?
- Creation Ex Nihilo Refutes Two Erroneous Major Worldviews
- How Important Is Creation Ex Nihilo to You? Title: “Creation Ex Nihilo: Where Did You Get the Dirt?” Text: Hebrews 11:1-3; Romans 4:13-18 (ESV) Theme: The truth that God created what exists out of nothing means that God alone is uniquely sovereign, the first cause of everything. Because God is the first cause of all things, He is your first cause. Everything you are or hope to be belongs to the Triune God. 9 A n n o u n c e m e n t s Regularly scheduled events can be found on the church’s online Calendar. It can be also be viewed on the home page of www.spriggsroad.org or accessed in iCal Format. **Annual Church Picnic Postponed Due to Weather** NEW DATE - Saturday, Oct 17th, 3-7 pm Our annual church picnic will be held on Saturday, Oct 17th from 3-7 pm at the Deanes’ property. We will be making a few changes to be cautious, so please read carefully. We hope this will be an opportunity for our entire church family to be "together" during this unusual year. It will be outside and there will be plenty of room to spread out. Please be especially mindful of those with health risks. • Bring your own chairs/picnic blanket • Bring your own drinks (no cups or drinks will be provided) • A mask is recommended for going through the food line and when talking with others. • Food will be served at 5 pm. • There will be a set menu provided (no need to bring any food to share) We will be having Fried Chicken, Meatballs, Mac-n-cheese, Baked Beans, Corn, Salad, Applesauce, and Cookies. • Plates will be filled by servers with masks and gloves. • Feel free to bring your own picnic meal if you prefer. • Rain date will be the following Saturday. We will make an announcement by Friday, if needed. • Please submit or edit your RSVP on the Sign-Up Genius provided on the website Annual Men and Boys Campout—Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 15-17 The Annual Men and Boys Campout will be held at the Deanes’ property from Thursday to Saturday, Oct 15-17. You can join for any part you are able. Please RSVP and get more information, if needed, from Joe Deane (joseph.deane@spriggsroad.org). 8 C o n f e s s i o n o f S i n O God of Grace, we confess that our hearts are often far from You, that our affections are repeatedly given over to this fallen world, and that our wills are frequently set to do what is contrary to Your law. Forgive our waywardness. Redirect our affections. Renew our wills. Cleanse us from our pride and pardon our lips for spewing out contempt for our brethren. Our sins are great, but You are greater than our sin. Restore us to whole-hearted devotion to You in Christ, in Whom we pray. Amen. Personal Confession This time of silence is provided for private, personal confession. A s s u r a n c e o f P a r d o n 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. — Psalm 32:1-2, 6-8 (ESV) 5 Q u e s t i o n s t o D i s c u s s a t H o m e o r i n S m a l l G r o u p s 1. What is the formal doctrine of creation ex nihilo [See Westminster Confession of Faith, 4.1]? 2. What does creation ex nihilo mean? 3. Define the term “nothing.” What difficulty is there when defining or describing the concept of nothing? 4. How did many ancient Greeks understand the concept of nothing? 5. Where does Scripture teach the doctrine of creation ex nihilo? 6. How is the creation of the universe to be properly understood (Heb. 1:3)? 7. Why is faith required in order to properly understand the creation of the world? 8. How did creation ex nihilo impact Abraham’s response to God’s promise (Rom. 4:17)? 9. How is creation ex nihilo a necessary consequence (deduction) from Scripture? 10. What two erroneous major worldviews does creation ex nihilo refute? Describe these two views. 11. If creation ex nihilo is denied, what Biblical characteristic of God is surrendered? 12. How critical is it to embrace creation ex nihilo in order to be a faithful follower of Christ Jesus? 13. How does creation ex nihilo enable you to answer non-Christian views and perspec- tives of the world and reality? 14. Of what is creation ex nihilo an analogy? Explain how creation ex nihilo is an analogy of this. 15. In what ways does creation ex nihilo enrich and deepen your knowledge and under- standing of God? 6 T h e L o r d ’ s S u p p e r Announcement: All are invited to the Lord’s Table who have been baptized, have publicly professed faith in (either before a congregation of the Lord’s Church or to a body of Elders in a church where the Gospel of Christ is embraced) and allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior from your sins, and are members of the visible Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not publicly professed faith in Christ Jesus – the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh, lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross for sins, rose bodily from the dead, and who is returning to this earth in power and glory – please refrain from partaking of the Lord’s Table. We invite you to respond to the Gospel by first understanding that you have sinned personally against the God who made you and have violated His good and right laws for you to follow. God is holy and has every right to separate you from Himself and from all that is good and beautiful because of your freely chosen disobedience to Him. But the really good news is that you can be restored to the God who made you because of what Christ Jesus has done on the cross as a perfect substitute and payment for the penalty that you owe and deserve. Simply believing and trusting in what Jesus did for you means you will belong to the LORD God forever. Abraham, the Biblical example of one who was restored to God by faith alone, trusted God’s promise and the LORD God credited it, that trust, to him as righteousness. God has shown His love to the world, and to you, by giving His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not die and be separated from Him forever but rather have the life man was created to have in the presence of God, a life that never ends. This means that you cannot DO anything to earn your place with God. However, a true faith in Christ Jesus comes from a God- given desire that will produce behavior that does those things that are pleasing to Him. 7 Please seek out and contact one of our Pastors or Elders to talk more about your eternal future. You can find their