The Tower of Babel

Central Theme: The Tower of Babel reveals humanity's rebellious and prideful tendencies that oppose God's plan and create confusion in our world—a story about all of us.

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I. INTRODUCTION: More Than a Children's Story (Genesis 11)

A. Common understanding: Origin of languages and population spread

B. Deeper truth: Reveals human pride and rebellion against God

C. This is a story about all of us today

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II. SETTING THE STAGE (Genesis 10-11)

A. Biblical timeline: After creation, fall, Cain/Abel, Noah's flood

B. Genesis 10: Table of Nations - Noah's descendants spread out

C. Genesis 10:32 - Nations scattered after the flood

D. Enter the Tower of Babel story

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III. THE STORY ITSELF (Genesis 11:1-9)

A. One language, common speech

B. Settlement in Shinar - brick and mortar technology

C. Their motivation: "Let us build... make a name for ourselves"

D. God's response: Confusion of language and scattering

E. Key observations:

Frequent use of "we" and "us" - collective pride

Reaching to the heavens - spiritual rebellion

Taking on God's role - eliminating need for God

All about self-glory

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IV. BIBLICAL PRECEDENT: THE GARDEN PATTERN (Genesis 3:1-5)

A. Satan's temptation: "You will be like God"

B. Same rebellion: Don't need God, don't need to obey

C. Trust your own intellect rather than God

D. Connection: Pride and rebellion bring confusion and chaos

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V. HOW WE STILL BUILD TOWERS TODAY (Paul David Tripp's Insight)

A. Tower #1: Seeking Self-Recognition

"Anytime we take credit for what only God could have done"

We crave recognition, praise, honor - even in Christian service

Living in a "look at me" world

Biblical response: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 - Secret service vs. public praise

B. Tower #2: Rejecting God's Moral Boundaries

"Anytime we step over God's moral boundaries telling ourselves we're smarter"

"Babel" means "gateway to god" - assuming God's privileges

We dismiss commands, rationalize disobedience, become our own gods

Biblical warnings: Isaiah 5:20-21, Judges 17:6

Illustration: Board game rules - you can't just make them up

C. Tower #3: Claiming Ownership of God's Gifts

"Anytime we act as if our life, gifts, and resources belong to us"

Success leads to selfish use of gifts

Challenge: $10,000 test - first thought: what can I buy vs. how can I bless?

Spending on ourselves leads to debt, stress, emptiness

Key question: Am I being blessed to bless others?

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VI. THE ANTIDOTE: SCRIPTURE'S SOLUTION

A. Live for God's Glory, Not Personal Glory

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "Do it all for the glory of God"

Colossians 3:17 - "Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus"

1 Peter 4:10-11 - Use gifts to serve others, point to Jesus

Ministry principle: It's not about me

B. Be Obedient Even When It Conflicts with Our Standards

Proverbs 3:5-7 - "Trust in the Lord... lean not on your own understanding"

God knows better than we do

God knows better than all the experts

C. Practice Generosity

Acts 20:35 - "More blessed to give than to receive"

Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you"

Focus: How can I bless others with what God has given me?

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VII. THE CONTRAST: BABEL vs. ABRAHAM (Genesis 12:1-3)

A. Babel's Way:

Self-blessing through human effort

Building towers to reach God

"All about us"

B. Abraham's Way:

Genesis 12:1-3 - God's promise to bless

Key phrase: "I will bless you"

Not through our devices or towers

Only through living in complete submission to God

C. The Choice:

Futile attempt at self-glorification and independence (Babel)

vs.

God's gracious plan through humble obedience and dependence (Abraham)

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VIII. CONCLUSION: SELF-EXAMINATION

A. Are we more like the people of Genesis 11 than we'd like to admit?

B. Where are we building towers in our own lives?

C. Call to action: Choose Abraham's path of humble dependence over Babel's path of prideful independence

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Key Takeaways:

1.           Pride and rebellion are humanity's consistent problems, not just ancient history

2.           We still build towers through self-recognition, moral rebellion, and claiming ownership of God's gifts

3.           The solution is living for God's glory, obeying His standards, and practicing generosity

4.           True blessing comes through humble submission to God, not human achievement