The Greatest Problem We Face

1. The Hook

RABBIT:

In 1859, a wealthy landowner in Australia named Thomas Austin released thirteen European wild rabbits onto his estate. It seemed like a harmless decision. He simply wanted rabbits to hunt for sport. After all, what damage could thirteen rabbits possibly cause? Yet those rabbits multiplied rapidly. Within a few decades, they had spread across much of the Australian continent. Their population grew into the hundreds of millions, destroying crops, stripping vegetation, causing severe soil erosion, and damaging entire ecosystems. What began with thirteen rabbits became one of the greatest environmental disasters in Australian history. A small decision created a massive problem because its consequences were underestimated.

ADAM AND EVE:

This 1 verse (Genesis 3:6 “6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”) altered the rest of the 31,101 verses contained in Scripture.

That one bite changed everything.

One act of disobedience brought sin into the world. One decision shattered humanity’s relationship with God. One bite introduced shame, guilt, suffering, pain, and death into God’s perfect creation. Every funeral that has ever been conducted, every tear that has ever been shed, every broken heart, every act of violence, every injustice, and every tragedy can ultimately be traced back to that moment when sin entered the world.

What appeared to be a small act became humanity’s greatest problem.

DAVID:

Psalm 3 “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. 1 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah”

Psalm 51 “To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”

It wasn’t his son trying to kill him or the massive armies that were trying to surround him that were David’s greatest problem. Rather it was the sin in his life that caused a shattered relationship with His God. He was worried he had lost his shield and his refuge.

2. The Context

The context of our lessons really begins with the context of each one of us…

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— I don’t know of anyone except Jesus who was able to remain sinless.

3. The Text

Purpose: Help people understand what the text says, means, and reveals.

Elements:

Walk through the text section by section or idea by idea [List major movements or points in the text]

Explain terms, context, and theological implications concisely [Summarize key truths or insights]

Highlight the main truth—simple, clear, memorable [Write main takeaway sentence here]

4. The Application

Purpose: Move from understanding to transformation.

Elements:

Show what this truth means for our lives today [Describe practical, real-life application]

Use stories or examples that make obedience concrete [Add modern illustration or testimony]

Appeal to both head and heart—conviction and hope [Write your emotional appeal or challenge]

5. The Invitation

Purpose: Unite the congregation around the shared call of God.

Elements:

Summarize the key truth in one simple, memorable sentence [Rephrase your main point or truth here]

End with a vision of what life looks like if we all live this truth together [Picture of kingdom life]

Invite response—repentance, baptism, prayer, encouragement [Describe call to action or invitation moment]