The Power of Creation

Oklahoma Pastors’ ConferenceOctober 14-15, 2013

What the Mission Says

The Mission

Creation Apologetics is not simply a defense of the Doctrine of Creation but it is also a communication of the foundations for the Gospel to where we can then present the Cross with meaning to the degree that ours and any generation can understand.

The Mission

When asked to estimate the likelihood that they will continue to participate in church life once they are living on their own, levels dip precipitously to only one of every three teens. (nearly 30%). –Barna Research Online, ‘Teenagers Embrace Religion but Are Not Excited About Christianity,’ January 10, 2000.

The Power of Creation

Oklahoma Pastors’ Conference

What the Mission Says

The Mission

“Now I see God’s Word not in vague or deceptive terms but as specific historic truth that I can depend upon; including Origins.”

“Now the Promises of the Bible are much more comforting.”

The Power of Creation

Oklahoma Pastors’ Conference

What the Mission Says

The Mission

The Reformation gave scientists the freedom to explore the order, balance and unity in the physical world in an unprecedented way in world history.

The Mission

A Creator without a Redeemer is only law and hopelessness.

But a Redeemer without a Creator is next to meaningless.

The Mission

Satan responds to the Reformation in history by introducing Higher Criticism in the areas of science and literature. His strategy is to place man as the authority over everything, especially Scripture.

The Mission“The voice of evidence for the Flood is clear and

unmistakable, as we have seen, but modern geology refuses to hear this voice. Instead, it has built up a system based entirely upon organic evolution, which leaves no room for an omnipotent Creator, or a personal God, directing the affairs of men and the universe which He created. The world as it is today is said to be the result of a slow process of evolution which has been going on for millions and billions of years and will continue onward and upward through endless time. This is the accepted view of our age.

The Mission“The writers of our science textbooks propound this

theory as truth. The youth of today is brought up on this theory in school and in college. The press, radio, and current literature popularize it, and the uncritical public accepts it as true. Anyone daring to question this theory is considered an obscurantist or a fanatic. But the theory as proposed is irreconcilable with Scripture, and every attempt at a compromise is a surrender of revealed truth in favor of mere human speculation and hypothesis.” - Dr. Alfred Rehwinkel, The Flood, p 257, 1951.

The Mission

“The major theological concepts are incomplete and leave much to be desired, if the content that Genesis offers should be subtracted.”

“Before God can be known as Savior, He must be understood as the Creator of humankind and of the world.”

H. C. Leupold. Genesis, volume one

The MissionFive Items at Risk

• The Authority of the Word• Law/Gospel Model (operational)• Evangelism Assumptions• Integrity of the Body of Christ• Personal Faith

The Mission

“When I came to understand the place of six day creation relative to the cross, my faith began to soar and grow like it never had done before. Now I can simply trust as I once did.”

– Lay Member, Good Shepherd, Borger, TX

The Mission

   How beautiful upon the mountainsare the feet of him who brings good

news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,

who publishes salvation,who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Is. 52:7

The Mission

Our mission is to open people’s eyes more and more to the Reign of God through Jesus Christ.

That conversation includes Creation, where we come from and where we are going.

The Power of Creation

Oklahoma Pastors’ Conference

What the Mission Says

The Mission

The Torah Story . . .

The message of the Reign of God is incomplete or it is just a fanciful story without the biblical construct of origins.

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” – 1 Peter 4:19

The Power of Creation

Oklahoma Pastors’ Conference

What the Mission Says

Resources (very short list)

Websiteswww.answersingenesis.org/www.icr.org/

VideosEvolution vs God (Ray Comfort – AIG & Living Waters)The Created Cosmos (AIG)Geologic Evidence for Very Rapid Strata Deposition in the Grand Canyon (Steve Austin – AIG & ICR)

BooksIn The Beginning, God . . . (Joel Heck)The Flood (Alfred Rehwinkel)Refuting Compromise (Joseph Sarfati)