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May 08, 2022

Beauty and the Gospel

Beauty and the Gospel

Passage: Colossians 1:1-15

Speaker: Craig Lotz

Series: General Topic

Keywords: culture, arts, beauty, creativity

Created in His image, we spend much of our lives seeking to understand our story; hearing echoes of answers throughout culture. We long to be found in a bigger story and unite with the Source of all beauty.

Readings & Scripture

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP:
LEADER: For thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,
and bounced upon her knees.

ALL: 13 As one whom his mother comforts,
so I will comfort you;
you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH/SCRIPTURE READING/CORPORATE PRAYER: Psalm 19:1-4a, 14
LEADER: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

ALL: 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

SCRIPTURAL BLESSING: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
LEADER: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”5 And he who was seated on the throne said,

ALL: “Behold, I am making all things new.”
LEADER: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
ALL: And also with you.

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Genesis 1:27, 31
  • Exodus 31:1-5
  • Luke 24:25-27
  • John 1:1-3, 11-13
  • Acts 17:22-28
  • Romans 1:19-23
  • 1 Corinthians 15:49
  • Colossians 3:10

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What is God like in creativity?
    1. Why are we creative?
    2. How is our creativity different from God?
  2. It has been said, that all artists seek to "make the invisible...visible." Explain.
  3. What exactly is "Christian art?"
    1. Does it only come from Christians?
    2. What makes it more "fully Christian?"
      1. Give examples from the Psalms
    3. What are some of the basic questions all artists are seeking to answer (knowingly or unknowingly) through their works?
  4. Why is all humanity drawn to certain stories?
    1. Are there certain aspects about ourselves as humans we tend to leave out?
    2. In what ways are we trying to tell a Bigger story?
  5. What are we hoping to find in all these stories?
    1. Why does it seem like humanity never really changes (ethically)?
    2. What might it look like to see ourselves more clearly.
    3. What kind of Hero are we looking for?
  6. We long to "unite" with the beauty we create yet it never seems to be enough. Why?
    1.  Is there a deeper connection we're longing for in all creativity?
  7. What kind of ending to the story are all we all hoping for?

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SERMONS/TALKS