Sermon Notes
God’s Mercy vs. Sin’s Power
Exodus 34:5-7 – The most quoted Bible passage in the Bible:
“The Lord, the Lord, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
“Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Key Insight:
God’s faithful love extends to thousands of generations.
God’s judgment of sin is limited to three or four.
James 2:13: “God’s mercy triumphs over judgment.”
The Reality of Generational Sin
Sin doesn’t weaken over time; it compounds unless it’s broken.
Sin as a Power: It enslaves and corrupts systems, structures, relationships—not just individuals.
Abraham’s Family Line:
1. Genesis 12:11-13: Abraham lies.
2. Genesis 26:7: Isaac repeats the same lie.
3. Genesis 27:19: Jacob deceives his father.
4. Genesis 37:31-36: Jacob’s sons sell their brother into slavery and lie about his death.
Quote: “Sin will wreak havoc in your life and your children’s lives until it is dealt with.”
Jesus Came to Set Us Free
Colossians 1:13-14 – “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”
Romans 6:6-7 – “Our old self was crucified… we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
Jesus’ Mission: To break the power of sin and restore freedom.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Stories shape identity. Some are true, but some are lies passed down.
Dr. Rob Reimer: “The stories we tell ourselves shape who we become, but many are filled with lies from our past.”
John Mark Comer: “We live at the intersection of stories. Some are true, others are lies. Spiritual formation begins with unmasking the lies and replacing them with God’s truth.”
John 9: Breaking the Wrong Stories
The Blind Man’s Story:
1. John 9:2: “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
2. Jesus challenges their karma theology—suffering isn’t always punishment.
3. John 9:3-5: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
Jesus invites him into a new story:
Healing was not instant—he had to participate by washing in the Pool of Siloam.
Key Thought: “Sometimes healing is messy and inconvenient, but it requires participation.”
Breaking the Wrong Stories We Believe
Lies We Believe About Ourselves:
1. “I’m unlovable.”
2. “I have to be perfect.”
3. “My sins are too bad for God to forgive.”
Lies We Believe About God:
1. “God doesn’t care.”
2. “God won’t provide.”
3. “God doesn’t do miracles anymore.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Generational Sins & Patterns to Break
Generational patterns worksheet
- Anger & Violence
- Perfectionism & Performance-Based Worth
- Prejudice & Injustice
- Financial Mismanagement
- Addictions & Unhealthy Habits
Key Challenge: Identify which lies you’ve believed and invite the Holy Spirit to rewrite your story.
Closing Prayer and Commitent
Tear up the past: Physically destroying the list of generational sins as a symbolic act of breaking agreements with sin.
Prayer of Confession & Freedom:
“Lord, I confess and repent for believing these lies. I break every agreement I’ve made with sin and declare my freedom in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, show me how to walk in this freedom.”
Questions and challenges:
Q: Pastor Jason talked about the stories we tell ourselves. What’s a childhood story (funny or meaningful) that shaped how you saw yourself growing up?
Q: In Exodus 34:6-7, we see that God’s love extends to thousands of generations, but sin impacts only three or four. What does this tell us about God’s character?
Q: The disciples assumed the blind man in John 9 was suffering because of either his or his parents’ sin. How do we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking struggles are always caused by sin or punishment?
Q: Pastor Jason said, “Sin doesn’t just disappear over time—it compounds.” Have you seen patterns in your family (or others) where struggles have been passed down? What breaks the cycle?
Q: One of the biggest obstacles to freedom is believing lies about ourselves or God. What’s a false story you’ve believed, and how has God been rewriting it in your life?
Q: Jesus told the blind man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam—he had to participate in his healing. What’s one step you can take this week to step into the freedom God has for you? How can our group support you?