Sermon: Whole (Physical Restoration II) ("The Way" series)

God restores us in a physical sense as well, and that isn't just some charismatic mumbo-jumbo! Our God heals. We see it time and time again. It is just as central to the story of our redemption as anything else. The reason physical restoration is so critical is because it is the most dramatic and tangible corollary to what God has done to our souls that we can sense in this mortal world. In Part 1, focus on the story of the dry bones and how it leads us to understanding God's dominion over life and death. Note that physical restoration alone was insufficient; it also came with the spirit and how this points to our misunderstanding of physical restoration... a demonstration of God's glory not a "magic healer". In Part 2, focus on the hopelessness of the man's situation and how cynicism has more than set in. Even in those situations, God can heal. Also note the significance of the Sabbath and how on a 'day of rest', God performed this work. This signifies that a restorative state is the desired "good" (Genesis reference) God craves.