Origin

I recently watched a talk show clip in which the son of a Hamas leader confronted a pro-Palestinian guest,

arguing that those who excuse or soften Hamas’s actions are no better than Hamas itself.

The guest struggled to respond, repeatedly stumbling over the uncomfortable truths he placed before her and the audience.

He concluded with this paraphrased sobering statement:

“anyone who cannot plainly condemn the hatred toward Jews displayed by Hamas on October 7 is, in a real sense, complicit in crimes against humanity.”

That final paraphrased statement is what I want us to sit with for a moment this morning as we begin our new series

on the four core questions of life—

Origin, Meaning, Morality, and Destiny.

His point was not political; it was profoundly moral.

To show sympathy for the atrocities committed on October 7 is to forfeit something essential to our humanity.

He was insisting that every human being should possess at least a basic level of compassion for other human beings—

enough to recognize evil when it parades itself openly,

enough to recoil at violence so utterly devoid of

mercy, — dignity, — and love for human life.

So, is he right?

In order to find out, we have to understand his world view.

Every worldview must answer four unavoidable questions—

Where did we come from?

Why are we here?

How should we live?

Where are we going?

Only Christianity provides answers that are

coherent,

hopeful,

morally grounding,

and eternally satisfying.

First Question: Where did we come from?

Primary Texts:

Genesis 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:26–27 NKJV

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Psalm 139:13–16 NKJV

13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

John 1:1–3 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Colossians 1:16–17 NKJV

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

If our origin is random, our lives are meaningless. If our origin is intentional, our lives are sacred.

Contrast With Other Worldviews:

Naturalism: Chance + time + matter = life

Eastern pantheism: We are illusions or fragments of the divine

Postmodernism: Origin is irrelevant—make your own story

Christianity: A personal God intentionally created us in His image

Key Truths to Emphasize:

God is before all things

Humans are created with dignity and purpose

The image of God grounds human worth—not intelligence, productivity, or success

Pastoral Application:

You are not an accident of biology or a mistake of history

Your life has value even when culture says otherwise

Suffering does not erase purpose

Christ Connection: Jesus is not part of creation—He is the Creator who entered His creation.

Week 2 – MEANING

“Why Am I Here? Created for More Than Survival”

Key Question: What is the meaning of life?

Primary Texts:

Ecclesiastes 1:2–3; 12:13

Isaiah 43:7

Micah 6:8

John 10:10

Big Idea: Meaning is not found in success, pleasure, or self-expression—but in knowing and glorifying God.

Contrast With Other Worldviews:

Secularism: Meaning is self-created

Hedonism: Meaning is pleasure

Careerism: Meaning is achievement

Christianity: Meaning flows from relationship with God and participation in His mission

Key Truths:

Self-made meaning collapses under suffering

God-given meaning sustains through hardship

We are created for God, not merely by God

Pastoral Application:

Why midlife crises happen

Why “having it all” still feels empty

Why serving Christ brings deep fulfillment

Christ Connection: Jesus doesn’t just give meaning—He is the meaning (John 14:6).

Week 3 – MORALITY

“Right, Wrong, and the God Who Speaks”

Key Question: How should we live?

Primary Texts:

Romans 2:14–15

Micah 6:8

Matthew 22:37–40

Romans 3:23

Big Idea: If there is no moral Lawgiver, there is no moral law—only preference.

Contrast With Other Worldviews:

Relativism: What’s right is what feels right

Cultural morality: Right and wrong change with society

Power morality: Might makes right

Christianity: Moral truth flows from the holy character of God

Key Truths:

Everyone lives as though moral truth exists

Our conscience points beyond ourselves

God’s law reveals our need for grace

Pastoral Application:

Why injustice outrages us

Why guilt won’t go away

Why forgiveness matters

Christ Connection: Jesus fulfills the law we broke and offers righteousness we could never earn.

Week 4 – DESTINY

“Where Are We Going? Death Is Not the End”

Key Question: What happens after this life?

Primary Texts:

Hebrews 9:27

John 11:25–26

1 Corinthians 15:19–22

Revelation 21:1–5

Big Idea: Every worldview offers a destiny—but only Christianity offers resurrection, justice, and hope.

Contrast With Other Worldviews:

Materialism: Death is the end

Eastern religions: Endless cycles

Universalism: Everyone wins regardless

Christianity: Judgment, redemption, resurrection, and new creation

Key Truths:

Death is an enemy Christ defeated

Eternity gives weight to our choices now

Hope transforms how we suffer and live

Pastoral Application:

Comfort in grief

Courage in persecution

Urgency in evangelism

Christ Connection: The empty tomb is Christianity’s receipt—our destiny is secured because Christ lives.

Optional Week 5 – RESPONSE

“So What Now? Living the Christian Worldview”

Text: Romans 12:1–2 Focus: Living intentionally, thinking biblically, engaging culture faithfully

Series Closing Thought (Repeat Weekly)

“The Bible does not merely answer life’s questions—it tells the true story of the world, and invites us to live inside it.”