Fairy Tales - Part 1

Intro

Opening Story/Illustration: Tonight we are going to start a new series we are calling, Fairy tales.

Before we dive in, let’s take a moment and discuss. Turn to your neighbor and tell them your favorite fairy tale and why.

Fairy tales are interesting. They are stories which never seem to grow old. I watched fairy tale movies as a kid and my daughter watches the same fairy tale movies. I was told many of these stories as a kid and my daughter hears and listens with anticipation of the same stories. Why? What makes these stories so compelling?

Transition to Text: I think they are so compelling because they are true. Not that the stories themselves are actually true, but that there is something within these stories that deep down, we sense to be true. These stories are pictures, mirrors of a reality that deep down we know to be true. So for the next few weeks, I want to look at a few different Fairy Tales.

I think they are so compelling because they are true. Not that the stories themselves are actually true, but that there is something within these stories that deep down, we sense to be true. These stories are pictures, mirrors of a reality that deep down we know to be true. So for the next few weeks, I want to look at a few different Fairy Tales.

Text:

One of my Favorite Fairy Tales is “Beauty and the Beast.” My favorite scene from Beauty and Beast happens to be this one..(Show Clip)

Transition to Text: Maybe I’m weird, but every-time I watch this clip, I get a little tear in my eye. Because It reminds me of a powerful truth found in scripture.

Text:

Revelation 21:1–5 ESV

1 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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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 anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

4. Discuss: What do you hope this new world scripture talks about will look like?

Points

We Live in a Broken world

The world, much like the beast and his castle, are under a dark curse.

There’s a song, in the movie, in which the castle servant’s sing about looking forward to being “human again.” We all live in a broken world, under a dark curse called sin.

I’ve heard it said that sin is “dehumanizing.” Sin strips us of our God-given, God-ordained plan and purpose. It warps us. It turns us into beasts.

There’s a longing inside of each of us to be “human again.” To be whole.

The world is a messed up and dark place. But it’s not just the world that’s the problem. Deep inside all of us is a broken, dark place.

God will one day make all things new!

The writer of Revelation here tells us God’s end goal.

There is a lot of speculation over the end times. Fights and theological arguments abound. But in all of that, sometimes, I think, God’s end goal is lost. What’s his end Goal? TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!

This scene we watched from Beauty and the Beast provides us with this beautiful picture of what Jesus will one day do.

One day, His love will finally break the curse of sin and death. Those who are in Christ will be fully human again, fully alive again.

There will be no more death or pain

No more sorrow or tears

No more suffering

No more brokenness

Everything will be made new!

This is the great hope of the Christian - That one day Jesus is going to make all things new.

If you’re suffering in sickness now, hold on

If you’re dealing with pain and frustration now, hold on

If you’re tempted to give up today, Hold on

Jesus makes all things new!

That’s great, but - What does this mean for us now ?

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

What does this mean? The process of restoration has already started!

God’s restoration project is already underway!

When we are “in Christ” we are made new!

There are several options here for meaning that Paul, I believe left open for us.

1) We are made new

2) We are participates and part of the new creation

I prefer the 2nd part - Because it hits both. We are made new as part of God’s plant to make all creation new!

I think this context lends itself that direction:

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This means it’s not just hope for the future, but hope for the now! It means we are made new, are being made new, and are working with God to bring about this “newness” in the world.

Conclusion

Main idea: Jesus makes all things new

So What? What would it look like this week for you to bring newness to the world around you?

Now what? What do you need to be made new?

Healing?

An area of Struggle?

There is hope, because Jesus makes all things new!