November 28, 2010: The Gospel of Striking and Crushing – Dave Neuhausel

It all begins in the garden - it’s in this scene in the first few chapters of the bible that the reality of all humanity is established.  This seemingly insignificant verse is our first hint that this creator/God is in fact committed to our thriving as much as he is justice in the garden.  Scholars have often called this passage the “proto-evangel” or “first gospel” because it points to the primary work of what Jesus’ life and ministry would one day be all about, namely, goodnews!  There is a sense that from the moment sin entered the world, so did God’s commitment to redeem humanity from their poor choices.  God is so committed to our life over our death that he will even use our journey, our experience and even our sin and failings to transform us.  If that is not good news I don’t know what is…