God and Government Part 1 - SERMON NOTES

Below are Pastor Ben's sermon notes from this past Sunday, in case they may be helpful for further study. To listen to the sermon, click the link above.

Intro: (1) election year (2) How the Nations Rage (Leeman)

Purposes of Government
1. Building peace: (1) Genesis 9 the resetting of creation — v.1-7 repeat the command given to Adam and Eve (2) God desires the flourishing of people, cultures (cf. Joseph, Daniel) (3) government not just a “necessary evil” — traffic laws (4) different political opinions about how to best do this
2. Enforcing justice: (1) v.5-6 — enforcing justice key to societal flourishing (cf. Cain and Abel) (2) prevents justice that is too little (cf. bike for car) or too much (cf. Lamech) (3) grounded in image of God (4) applications — human rights, CPS, abortion, war key roles of govt
3. Staging redemption: (1) sequence of Genesis 9-12 — establishing of nations, followed by a focus on God’s redemptive plans (2) NT — Acts 17:26-27 (3) governments that do the first two create an environment for God’s kingdom to spread (cf. Roman roads)

Engaging in Government
1. Join the church: (1) Mt. 16:13-19 (2) “Christian” politics — Christ is the king, he pardons those who repent/believe and will judge/punish those who don’t (3) he is the foundation of the Church (4) “doing church” forces us to engage “political” issues (i.e. living together in peace)
2. Honor others: (1) 1 Peter 2:13-17 (2) v.17 — “honor” people/leaders with different political viewpoints, “love” brothers/sisters in Christ with different political viewpoints (3) we can do this be “fearing” God (i.e. remembering he is in control) (4) role of prayer (cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2)
3. Practice political stewardship: (1) utilize rights we have (cf. Paul’s trial process) — vote (2) listen to those who differ politically, agree when possible (cf. feminist rally) — avoid stereotypical lumping (3) don’t presume to know what God is doing (cf. Deut. 29:29) (i.e. how election turns out)

Conclusion: (1) only hope for nation — God’s kingdom at work through churches in the midst of an American kingdom (2) congressional staffer quote (172)