Pictures of You Sermon Series
Pictures of You: A Gallery of Salvation Images
Systems vs. Pictures
Christian salvation is a notion that countless thinkers have tried to neatly systematize. And while there are many neat systems, it is curious that so many of them differ from one another. What steps must one take to receive it? Why is it necessary? How does one live it out? What benefits does it offer?
While the New Testament offers a lot of information that we can use to answer these questions, it doesn’t offer a neat systematic treatment. Instead, the NT offers illustrations. It paints pictures. It creates lasting images. Salvation is like becoming a citizen of a new country, it’s like being healed from a fatal disease, it’s like being freed from prison, along with many other snapshot ideas.
Join us throughout this series as we learn to talk about salvation in a different way. And if you think about it, invite a friend and share the Word.
Pictures of You: Messages
The New Testament is an art gallery of ideas on how salvation compares to elements of our earthly lives. These ten messages will take us on a tour of that gallery, hopefully helping those who do not yet understand Christian salvation to see it for the first time, and helping those who have seen it understand better how to talk about salvation with their friends and family.
Weekly Titles
August 28 — Pictures from the Boardroom: Salvation is a new covenant that God offers us. It is offered freely, and accepted freely, but acceptance of it means agreement to the covenant’s stipulations. Jesus is not only Savior, he is also Lord, but he is a Lord who longs to have a relationship with us. (Jer 31:31-34; Ezek 36:25-28; Lk 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25; 2 Cor 3:5-6; Eph 2:12-13; Gal 3-4; Heb 8-10)
September 4 — Pictures from Immigration: Salvation means joining a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God. It means living life as a foreigner in this world and as a citizen of God’s kingdom, a spiritual kingdom now, and a physical kingdom to come. (Mk 1:15, 10:13-31; John 3:3-5, 18:36; Matt 4:17)
September 11 — Pictures from the Afterlife: Salvation does not mean a pain-free existence in this life, and it doesn’t mean salvation from death. It does, however, mean that more awaits us on the other side of death. Some of salvation’s benefits can be received now, some can only be received then. (John 12:25; Matt 25:31-46; Mk 10:30; Gal 6:8-9; Rom 6:23; John 3:14-15, 4:14, 5:25-29, 6:40, 6:68, 10:28, 11:25-26; 1 Jn 5:13; John 20:31)
September 18 — Pictures from the Maternity Ward: Salvation is new birth. It is the dying of one’s selfish desires, and the fresh birth of one’s spirit, which longs to stay in tune with God and his work in the world. (Matt 19:28; John 3:1-21; Titus 3:3-5; 1 Pet 1:3, 23; 1 John 5:1-5; Rom 8:19-23; Eph 4:22-24; John 3:3)
September 25 — Educator's Day — Pictures from the Classroom: Salvation occurs in a moment, but it also occurs in a process that lasts our entire lives as we learn to be holy and live holy just like our Father who is holy. (1 Cor 1:2; 1 Pet 1:13-16, 2:5, 9; Eph 5:25-27, 2:21; 1 Cor 6:10-11, 19; 2 Tim 2:20-21; 1 Thess 2:12, 4:7, 5:23-24; Rom 15:16; Heb 10:10; Acts 15:9; Phil 2:6-11, 3:12-16; 1 Pet 1:15)
October 2 — Pictures from Prison: Salvation is freedom from the bondage of sin, it is our ransom being paid by the blood of Jesus, and it is freedom to live our lives more wholly and fully in tune with what we were created to be. (Isa 43:3-4; Mt 18:17; Mk 7:35, 10:45, 20:28; Lk 13:12, 16; John 8:32-36; Acts 20:28; Rom 3:24, 6:16-22; 1 Cor 6:20, 7:23, 9:19; 2 Cor 3:17; Gal 1:4, 5:1; Eph 1:13-14; Col 1:14, 2:13-14, 3:13; 1 Tim 2:3-6; Tit 2:14; Heb 2:14-15, 9:12; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Rev 1:5, 5:9)
October 9 — Pictures from the ER: Salvation is healing from a fatal disease. It is being reunited with our community in this world and, ultimately, with our family and friends in the world to come. Salvation is rescue, that comes when all hope is lost. (Mt 1:21, 9:22, 11:4-5; Lk 8:36, 50, 7:50; Mk 2:17; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Tim 1:15; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Cor 1:18; 1 Thess 1:10; Rom 10:9-17)
October 16 — Pictures from the Orphanage: Salvation is being adopted into a brand new family, with a perfect, loving Father, and all manner of brothers and sisters that make living life more full and free. (Rom 1:18-25; 1Thes 5:23; 2 Thes 3:16; Jn 14:27; 2 Cor 5:19-20; Col 1:20-23; Rom 5:1-2,8-11; 2 Cor 6:18; Gal 4:4-5; Rom 8:14-23)
October 23 — Pictures from the Courtroom: Salvation is being declared innocent, even when in reality we are all guilty. It is having a standing before God that is completely pure of any wrongdoing. (Rom 1:16-17, 3:3-10, 3:21-26, 4:25, 5:1-9; Matt 12:36-37; Gal 2:16; James 2:24)
October 30 — Pictures from the Lab: Salvation is a never-ending transformation in this life, culminating only in our final glorification after death. It sets the goal of Christlikeness ahead of us, and then challenges us to spend the rest of our lives trying to love others like he did, commune with God like he did, and serve others like he did. (Gal 4:19; 2 Pet 1:3–8; John 14:17, 15:1-11, 17:20–26; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:19–20, 3:13–14; Col 1:27, 2:6; Eph 1:1-13; Phil 1:8, 2:19, 2:24, 4:13, 1:14, 4:1, 4:7; Rom 8:38–39; 1 Cor 15:22)
November 6 — Pictures from the Road: Salvation is the journey of a lifetime. It is full of hills and valleys, beautiful vistas and barren landscapes, high-speed stretches and leisurely cruises. While some may choose to skip out on it, there really is no better place on earth than the road that leads to heaven. (Mark 13:9–13; Heb 3:12–14, 4:14–16, 6:9-12, 10:1, 10:19–36, 12:1–3; Rev 1:9, 2:7, 2:10–11, 2:13, 2:17, 2:26, 3:5, 3:7–13, 3:21)
