Beyond Beauty

Sermon Notes

We live in a world designed not just for FUNCTION, but for AWE.

[Ecclesiastes 3:11] Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

We don't need beauty to SURVIVE, but is makes us feel ALIVE.

[Genesis 1:29-31] Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. [30] And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground--everything that has life." And that is what happened. [31] Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

God created BEAUTY and the SENSES for us to enjoy it.

[Ecclesiastes 9:7-8] So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! [8] Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!

He didn’t have to MAKE it this way, but He DID.

[Psalm 27:4 ESV] One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Beauty leads us beyond the THING we see to the ONE who made it.

Beauty is a reflection of God's GLORY.

[Romans 1:20-22] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. [21] Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. [22] Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.