Living In The House
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
April 12th Sermon, Day 5
Imagine an architect showing you detailed blueprints for your dream home. The blueprints are essential - they show the structure, design, and intention. But once the house is built, you don't live in the blueprint; you live in the actual house.
The Old Testament is like those blueprints. It was incredibly detailed and absolutely essential for understanding God's plan, but now that Jesus has come, we live in the reality of what those blueprints pointed toward. You don't have to try to earn righteousness through rules and rituals anymore. You don't have to wonder if you're good enough or if you've done enough. Jesus has built the house of salvation, and you get to live in it through faith. The Old Testament succeeded perfectly in its purpose - pointing us to Jesus. Now you can live in the freedom of God's grace, knowing that what needed to be accomplished has already been accomplished by Christ.
Bible Verse
'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.' - Matthew 5:17
Reflection Question
What would change in your daily life if you truly lived in the 'house' of grace rather than trying to follow the 'blueprint' of rules?
Quote
The Old Testament, it's like a blueprint for a house. The blueprint is incredibly detailed, right? It shows structure, design, intention. It's essential for construction. But once the house is built, you don't live in the blueprint. You live in the house.
Prayer
Lord, help me live in the freedom of Your grace rather than the burden of trying to earn Your love. Thank You for the house of salvation You've built through Jesus.
The Same Faithful God
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
April 12th Sermon, Day 4
Some people think the God of the Old Testament is different from the God revealed in Jesus - harsh versus loving, angry versus graceful. But this misses the beautiful consistency of God's character throughout all of Scripture. The same God who showed patience with rebellious Israel is the God we see in Jesus. The same God who kept His promises to Abraham is the God who keeps His promises to you today. The same God who showed mercy after judgment is the God who offers you grace through faith.
Jesus didn't introduce a new God; He revealed the fullness of the same God who has always been holy, patient, merciful, and faithful. This means you can trust God's character completely. His love isn't a recent development - it's been His heart toward humanity from the very beginning. When you read the Old Testament, you're not seeing a different God; you're seeing the same God who loves you enough to send Jesus.
Bible Verse
'In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.' - Hebrews 8:13
Reflection Question
How does seeing God's consistent character throughout both testaments strengthen your trust in Him today?
Quote
The Old Testament reveals the same God we see in Jesus. A God who is holy, a God who's patient, a God who shows mercy, a God who keeps his promises, even grace.
Prayer
Father, thank You for being the same yesterday, today, and forever. Help me trust in Your unchanging love and faithfulness.
Recognizing Our Need
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
April 12th Sermon, Day 3
Sometimes we don't realize how much we need help until we try to do something ourselves. The Old Testament serves as a mirror, showing us the gap between God's holiness and our reality. It's not meant to discourage us but to help us recognize our desperate need for a Savior.
Throughout Scripture, we see the same pattern: God gives instructions, people fail to follow them, consequences follow, and then God shows mercy. This cycle reveals two crucial truths - our inability to save ourselves and God's unwavering commitment to rescue us anyway. Without understanding our need, we can't fully appreciate the gift of salvation. The Old Testament doesn't condemn us; it prepares us to receive the grace that comes through Jesus. Today, instead of being discouraged by your failures, let them point you toward the One who never fails and who offers you His righteousness as a gift.
Bible Verse
'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.' - Matthew 5:17
Reflection Question
How has recognizing your own need for a Savior deepened your appreciation for what Jesus has done?
Quote
One of the most important roles of the Old Testament is this. It showed us our need for a savior.
Prayer
God, thank You for showing me my need for You. Help me find hope in Your mercy rather than despair in my failures.
The Perfect Fulfillment
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
April 12th Sermon, Day 2
We all know the frustration of starting something and not finishing it. Incomplete projects, broken promises, and unmet expectations are part of human experience. But Jesus is different. Where humanity consistently failed to keep God's commands, Jesus succeeded perfectly. Every requirement of the law, every standard of righteousness, every expectation - He fulfilled them all without failure.
This isn't just about rule-following; it's about Jesus becoming everything we could never be. When Israel stumbled, Jesus stood firm. When we fall short, Jesus measures up completely. This means you don't have to carry the weight of trying to earn God's approval through perfect behavior. Jesus has already done what needed to be done. His perfect obedience becomes your righteousness when you trust in Him. You can rest in His completed work rather than striving in your own incomplete efforts.
Bible Verse
'In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.' - Hebrews 8:13
Reflection Question
What areas of your life do you still try to 'earn' God's favor instead of resting in Jesus' perfect fulfillment?
Quote
Every command, every requirement, he fulfilled them without failure. And when Israel failed, Jesus succeeded.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for perfectly fulfilling what I could never accomplish. Help me rest in Your completed work rather than striving in my own strength.
From Shadow To Substance
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church
April 12th Sermon, Day 1
Have you ever noticed how a shadow tells you something is there, even when you can't see the object itself? The Old Testament works much like that shadow - it's real and meaningful, but it points to something greater. Every story, law, and prophecy was preparing the way for Jesus Christ. When we read about Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, we see a preview of God's ultimate sacrifice. When we study the Passover lamb, we glimpse the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.
The Old Testament isn't outdated or irrelevant; it's the foundation that helps us understand the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished. Without understanding the shadow, we can't fully appreciate the substance. Today, as you encounter challenges or feel distant from God, remember that He has been consistently working throughout history to reveal Himself and His love for you.
Bible Verse
'Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.' - Matthew 5:17
Reflection Question
How does understanding the Old Testament as a 'shadow' of Jesus change the way you read those ancient stories?
Quote
Think of it this way. The Old Testament is like a shadow, and Jesus is the substance. Now, a shadow is real. It tells you something's there, but it's not the thing itself.
Prayer
Lord, help me see Jesus more clearly through the pages of the Old Testament. Open my eyes to the beautiful ways You've been revealing Your plan of salvation throughout history.