Q and A: How did God create mankind?

Here's a question we didn't get to Sunda morning, Jan. 22 after Sam and I went through John 3:16.

Q: "I still don't get how God formed people".

A: First, here's what the Bible says about God's creation of mankind.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,[a] and the creatures that crawl[b] on the earth.”

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. - Genesis 1:26-27 HCSB

Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. - Genesis 2:7

The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found as his complement. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. 22 Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man.- Genesis 2:20-23

Creation was a one-time act of God. Keep in mind, it was something only God could do. So even though we have a hard time imagining how God created Adam and Eve, that shouldn't discourage us from believing what the Bible says.

Because we weren't there and didn't see it leaves exactly how this took place up to our imaginations. I mean, how did God scoop up some "dust from the ground" and fashion a man from it? Did God literally breathe a breath into the man's nose? Why did He choose a rib to make the first woman?

So, none of us quite fully understands the details of how God created man. If the details were important for us to know, God would have filled us in. But because we don't have the details we just have to accept that it was a supernatural act on God's part, doing something humanly impossible.

And that's what faith is about. We trust and believe what God says and has done even if we can't explain it or don't comprehend it.

Why do you put that disclaimer at the bottom of the outline?

You've seen it. It simply says,

"Any/all outlines whether adapted or in their original form are used “by permission” of their original authors."

What's that all about?

On (rare) occasion, usually during a special series, such as "40 Days of Love", which we did in the fall of '10, I'll use the outlines of the originator of that series. The disclaimer simply says that if the sermon is not my own, I have permission from the "owner" to use it...that I'm not plagiarizing.

Although I doubt there are few, if any, truly original ideas or ways to express biblical truth, the vast majority of what is preached at Nags Head Church is developed by the preachers. Even if we have a guest preacher, as we did a few Sundays ago with Larry Benson, you'll still find that disclaimer. And knowing Larry, I'm sure he "originated" his sermon that Sunday.

Is there anything wrong with a preacher using another's material? Not unless he takes credit for it being his own. I heard a preacher say, "If my bullet fits your gun, shoot it." After all, if it's truth, it's God's truth. Certainly, if a preacher is always preaching downloaded or copied sermons, that would be cause for concern. But at NHC, if a sermon is not "original", it's the exception, not the rule.

Another example is the last series we did, "Freedom from Religion". I knew I was going to miss one of the Sundays, but wanted us to stay on course, and asked Andy to preach. To keep the series (which I developed) consistent, I provided him the outline and direction of the message, or the "skeleton", and Andy was free to put in his own particular illustrations, use his "style" and add the "meat" to the sermon.

Occasionally I'll even have visiting pastors or pastor friends who hear about a series we're doing ask me for my notes. I'm glad to send them, and if they work for him, great! We're all on the same team, and it probably shouldn't really matter who gets the "credit". At least that's how I look at it when sharing my "stuff".

Anyway, I would think that what really matters is not, "Who's sermon is this?", but "Is this biblical and true?" That's a standard that all of our elders at NHC seek to uphold.

Now, I need to get back to preparing for this Sunday.

Why do you use different Bible translations when you teach?

One of our questions was, “Why do you use different translations (versions) of the Bible when you teach?” Good question. I use different Bible translations for several reasons.

First, because I can! Computer programs have made it so copy and paste is simple. My Bible program allows me to look at numerous translations at the same time.

Second, because sometimes one translation says the verse in a clearer way than others. That doesn’t mean the meaning or interpretation is changed, but the words are easier to understand. One of the great things about a church that is reaching out is that there are always very young believers. Good communication means the communicator is reaching every level if possible. That doesn’t “water down” the Scripture. It simply makes it easier to grasp for some.

Third, with the plethora of translations available (most of which are well done and faithful to the original languages) and knowing that any number of them might be in the laps of the congregation, sticking to one isn’t an issue.

When I teach from a particular passage, as I did recently in Romans, I’ll primarily use one version as my base. Currently my two favorites to use are the New Living Translation and the Holman Christian Study Bible. There are versions I will not use (the Good News Bible and the Revised Standard Version, for example) because their scholarship and/or choices are not close enough to the original manuscripts meaning.

I also steer clear of using paraphrases, such as the Living Bible and The Message. But on the rare occasion I do refer to one I point out that it is a paraphrase. A paraphrase, by the way, isn’t a bad thing. But neither is it a translation from the original languages. Instead, a paraphrase asks, “How would I say that in my own words?”. So a paraphrase is subjective. But then, really, what is a sermon? It’s an explanation of a text in the preacher’s own words.

In the notes we give out on Sundays we always include the references for each Scripture verse used and I encourage everyone to go home and look them up as a follow up to the sermons. God’s Word needs to dwell within us, and that takes study.

Be like the Bereans. Luke noted in Acts 11:17 that they were “more noble than the Thessalonicans because they searched the scriptures daily to see if the things [Paul had taught them] were so.” Check that verse out, by the way.

Rick

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 2)

Because of these Biblical principles (in the previous post) that guide our observance of Communion, which includes liberty, Nags Head Church's approach to Communion allows us to both form our own traditions and stay true to the Scriptures.

For example, we observe Communion on Wednesdays, on Sundays, on at least one Friday and then on Christmas Eve, whenever that falls each year. Starting in 1991 when Rick came as our pastor, we went from a church that celebrated communion once/quarter (4 times a year) to a monthly celebration on Sunday evenings. That change kept in mind that Communion is the most intimate gathering of the church. On Sunday nights we were able to have more of that "family reunion" time that Sunday mornings couldn't provide with so many guests.

We also for many years included a covered dish meal that typically followed the Lord's Supper. Logistically, however, even after moving into the new building we found ourselves out of space for everyone to sit together. That dictated we do something differently. God uses things like crowding to move us forward. Our belief that as we grow larger we should be growing smaller at the same time through Connection Groups gave us the natural transition to allow "meal fellowships" to become part of our small group strategy. And think about it, even in a room with 150 people at tables, your real fellowship is limited to those at your table.

Because our Sunday worship gatherings take into account that the church is inviting and bringing their non-believing friends moved us to establish a second worship gathering designed especially for believers. That led us to begin First Wednesdays, and we then began to observe Communion at those gatherings.

Back in the summer of 2010, realizing some folks' schedules just made it difficult to be at church midweek the elders decided to add some additional Sunday mornings throughout the year as Communion gatherings as well. In July and August of 2009 and 2010 Communion was held on Sundays, and our plan now is to offer it at least once per quarter on Sunday mornings.

One of the great characteristics of NHC is that change is part of our make-up. We're not afraid to change if and when we see it is needed or beneficial and when that change is in keeping with our vision and purpose.

So,in addition to the 9 or 10 First Wednesdays, we'll be having Communion 4-5 times on Sundays plus Good Friday and Christmas Eve. That means at NHC you’ll have at least 15 opportunities to come to the Lord’s Table.

The key to Communion is not when it is observed or even how often, but that whenever we come together around the Lord's Table it is with a clean heart of gratitude for what Jesus did for us on the cross. And it is our conviction that every partner do all he/she can to participate as often as possible.

Communion at Nags Head Church (Pt. 1)

When the Lord Jesus began the first Communion gathering with His remaining 11 disciples (Judas had left the Supper to betray Him) He gave them this command: "As often as you do this do it in remembrance of me". As a Christian church we view that command seriously and as a baptist church view it as one of the two ordinances Jesus gave the church, the other being baptism.

There is quite a bit of Scripture to draw from that teaches us about the meaning and purpose of Communion or the Lord's Supper/Table, beginning the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. We can also learn from the first church in Jerusalem the importance of observing Communion and from Paul's corrective letter to the Corinthian church we learn even more about it.

Some try to argue that Communion should be observed each Sunday. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with a weekly observance, it seems clear that becoming legalistic about when to have Communion misses the point. Jesus didn't dictate how often or even when. His first Communion was in the middle of the week, either on a Wednesday or Thursday night. So that tells us it doesn't have to be on a Sunday.

The Jerusalem believers, we're told in Acts 2, observed Communion daily. But then in 1 Corinthians 11:17 Paul speaks of Communion being observed when the church gathers together. Yet nothing is said of if it was every time they met or if it was only when the whole church met together or if it was in home groups. Nothing is said that it must be on a Sunday or any other particular day. And since nothing definitive is said we have to surmise that in this area of "how often/when" God gives us liberty. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule. We are free as a church to make those decisions.

It's also vital that we understand the purposes of Communion as set forth in the Scriptures. First, Communion is a time for believers to gather together to remember the suffering and crucifixion of Christ as our Savior. Because it is an ordinance of the church it is also open only to those who know Christ as Savior. That Jesus did not begin the first Communion until after Judas had left reinforces this.

Second, it is a time for fellowship in the church. Fellowship is much deeper in meaning than what we tend to first think. Fellowship may include food, but food isn't a necessity for fellowship. In fact, the word for fellowship and communion in the Greek language are the same and means "partnership". Gathering around the bread and the cup is a spiritual time of recognizing we belong together because we belong to Christ.

Third, Communion is a time for introspection - each believer looking within his/her own heart and evaluating his/her own relationship both with God and with one another. So, it is a time for reconciliation both with God and with others who may need my forgiveness or I may need theirs.

Fourth, Communion is a time to be reminded that Christ is returning. He told us to continue observing Communion until the day we observe it with Him. It gives us hope.

Fifth, the elements of Communion - the bread and the cup of wine (or in our case juice) are simply symbols of Jesus body and blood. They do not in some way physically or mystically become His body and blood. But they are real reminders as we eat and drink them together.

These principles from the Bible guide our approach to Communion.

Next: Why do we observe Communion when we do at Nags Head Church?