Set My Soul Afire

WEEK 1- WHO JESUS IS: HIS PERFECT SACRIFICE INTRO TO WEEK 1 Maybe you have heard of the word “gospel,” or maybe this is the first time you are coming across it. If you have heard it a million times, if someone were to ask you, how would you define it? At its core, the gospel is simple; it is the good news of Jesus. In fact, that is actually the definition of the word- “gospel” literally means “good news!” We are sinners in need of a Savior. God graciously and mercifully provided that Savior for us. The story of this good news begins as early as Genesis 1, and you can find the redemption story throughout every book, chapter, and sentence in the Bible. All stories in Scripture point to Jesus. God created a perfect world and everything in it to glorify Him. He created humans, both male and female, in His image. He gave Adam and Eve free will, but God also gave them instructions to obey; He wouldn’t be a good and loving God if He made them automatically obey His commands blindly, as if they were robots under His control. Satan, disguising himself as a serpent, took advantage of this free will and tempted the first man and woman to sin- sin meaning they missed the mark. Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord, and this original sin would be what separates humankind from God until Christ’s return. God cannot be in the presence of sin. He is perfect and holy; sin is the opposite. From the second we are born, we are sinners. Even on our best day, when we think we deserve all things good, we are still sinful people. In order for humans to be made right with the Lord once again, something had to be done. A sacrifice had to be made to pay for our sins. In the Old Testament times, individuals were made right with God by following a long list of rules and regulations that the Lord provided. They were under the Old Covenant. Those who believed in the Lord had to constantly make sacrifices after sinning in order to be reconciled with God (by sacrifices, I mean they had to do things like offer a perfect lamb at the altar, certain grains, things of that nature). These sacrifices were only temporary fixes. We needed something eternal! God’s redemption plan was always to send His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and die for us on the cross. We find this New Covenant, this new promise- this new plan for a sacrifice- in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Jesus, being 100% God, and 100% man, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and took upon our sins. He became our Mediator— the One who steps in the gap and makes us right with God. We needed a perfect, lasting sacrifice so we could be in fellowship with God, as Adam and Eve were before the original sin. Jesus graciously took upon the cross and was crucified for the world’s sins. He died and rose on the third day. This is what makes our faith worth everything! The foundation of a strong Christian faith is understanding how Jesus is our perfect sacrifice. MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK- JOHN 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ADD THESE SONGS TO YOUR PLAYLIST THIS WEEK! Build My Life – Housefires Come As You Are – Crowder Do It Again – Elevation Worship Faithful Now – Vertical Worship Firm Foundation – Cody Carnes and Maverick City Music Fishes and Loaves – Josiah Queen Goodness of God – CeCe Winans Graves into Gardens – Elevation Worship Great Are You Lord- All Sons & Daughters He Shall Reign Forevermore – Chris Tomlin I Will Follow – Chris Tomlin King of Kings – Hillsong Worship Light of the World – Lauren Daigle Man of Your Word – Maverick City Music Promises – Maverick City Music Same God – Elevation Worship Thank You Jesus for the Blood – Charity Gayle Waymaker – Sinach What a Beautiful Name – Hillsong Worship Yes and Amen – Chris Tomlin