September 14, 2023 | Pastor Robert Lee
Passage: Genesis 11:1-9
The default of the human heart is to try and obtain ultimate security and belonging by making a name for ourselves. But the gospel offers us a different way. In this message titled The Way Up Is Down, the account of the Tower of Babel shows us how God lowers the proud, but exalts the humble.
► Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1–9)
CROSS REFERENCES
► …Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. (Psalm 61:2–3)
► 6 [Jesus], though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name… (Philippians 2:6–9)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What were some of the highlights and lowlights of your week? Everyone needs to get a chance to answer!
- Describe the reputation you have and why? In other words, what do your family, classmates, friends, co-workers, and teammates think of you? How did you get that reputation
- Consider the formula motivating the Babelites desire to build a city with a great tower: Success + Fame = Security. In what ways are you tempted to live according to that formula?
- The Babelites tried to make a name for themselves through achievements and success. But how does the good news about Jesus (the gospel) transform our hearts to live differently?
- How is this account of the Tower of Babel similar and/or different from today’s development of smarter and smarter Artificial Intelligence?
- Pray!
--------------------------------------------------------------
RISEN is a ministry of the Sheboygan eFree Church for students in grades 6 - 12 that aims to transform lives by proclaiming the resurrected Jesus Christ in all of His grace and glory.
Would you like to join us? Find more information at our website.
► Student Ministries
CONNECT WITH SHEBOYGAN EFREE STUDENT MINISTRIES
► Instagram
LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST
► Apple Podcasts
► Spotify
Series Information
