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The First Revolt

August 9, 2026

Why does our culture feel increasingly chaotic?

In the home.
In schools.
In the workplace.
In marriage.
Toward government.
Toward law enforcement.
Toward the church.

What is wrong with our world?

Rebellion.

The problem began in a garden.

“¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (NLT)

“²⁷So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. ²⁸Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.’” Genesis 1:27-28 (NLT)

“³¹Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!” Genesis 1:31 (NLT)

“⁸Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there He placed the man He had made. ⁹The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden He placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:8-9 (NLT)

“¹⁵The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—¹⁷except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’” Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)

“¹The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ²‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ³‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, “You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.”’ ⁴‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ⁵‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’ ⁶The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. ⁷At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. ⁸When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. ⁹Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ ¹⁰He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’ ¹¹‘Who told you that you were naked?’ the Lord God asked. ‘Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?’ ¹²The man replied, ‘It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ ¹³Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What have you done?’ ‘The serpent deceived me,’ she replied. ‘That’s why I ate it.’ ¹⁴Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. ¹⁵And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’ ¹⁶Then He said to the woman, ‘I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.’ ¹⁷And to the man He said, ‘Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. ¹⁸It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. ¹⁹By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.’” Genesis 3:1-19 (NLT)

“²³So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden … ” Genesis 3:23 (NLT

A Theology of Authority

God’s authority was good from the beginning.
- God gave Adam purpose.
- God gave Adam provision.
- God gave Adam relationship.
- God gave Adam responsibility.
- God’s command wasn't oppression. It was protection.
- God's authority didn’t threaten Adam's freedom. It protected it.
Satan attacked God’s authority.
- The serpent wasn’t offering fruit. He was offering a throne.
- John Calvin: Unbelief always precedes disobedience.
- Every temptation is an invitation to replace God’s authority with your own.
Humanity chose self-rule and chaos entered every area of life.
- The first sin wasn’t breaking a rule. It was rejecting a Ruler.
- Every chapter after Genesis 3 echoes the same truth: Rebellion leads to chaos.

Can you see this in our world today?

Can you see it in your own heart and life?

Is there hope?

The problem began in a garden. What if it was resolved in a garden?

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Getting Under and Getting Over

August 16, 2026

For many, “authority” and “submission” are dirty words.

Authority = controlling, abusive, corrupt

Submission = inferior, weak, losing

What if that’s not true?

Authority Issues: The Root of the Chaos

Part 1 Recap:

God is the author of authority.
His authority is good.
Satan attacked God’s authority.
We choose self-rule and invite chaos into our lives.

Get under and get over

When we’re under God’s authority, we’re protected.

“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)

(Psalm 91, 1 Peter 5:6, John 10:27-29)

When we’re outside God’s authority, we’re in danger.

“Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Romans 1:28 (NLT)

(Proverbs 14:12, John 15:5-6, Galatians 6:8)

When we’re under God’s authority, we’re entrusted with authority.

“… You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. …” Matthew 25:21 (NLT)

(Luke 10:19, 2 Corinthians 10:8, Romans 13:1)

When we’re outside God’s authority, we compromise our authority.

“… Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15:23 (NLT)

Numbers 20:12

When we’re under God’s authority
- we’re protected.
- we’re entrusted with authority.
When we’re outside God’s authority
- we’re in danger.
- we compromise our authority.

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 (NLT)

Jesus followers submit to human authority unless it requires us to disobey God.
“But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’” Acts 5:29 (NLT)
Examples of God-given legitimate authorities: marriage, including mutual submission (Eph. 5:21) and wives to husbands (Eph. 5:22); parents; church leaders; employers, bosses, and organizational leaders; teachers; law enforcement; government, etc.

“²So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. ³For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. ⁴The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good.” Romans 13:2-4 (NLT)

When God entrusts you with authority, it’s not about you but about serving others.

“⁴But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. ⁵So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.” Romans 13:4-5 (NLT)

Insubordination dishonors God!
Submission to authority is an act of worship!

Authority and submission are powerful and beautiful.

Authority = responsibility, stewardship, service
Submission = humility, trust, strength

From eternity, God has existed in perfect authority, submission, and unity.

The Father sends the Son. (John 3:16)
The Son submits to the Father. (John 6:38)
The Spirit speaks what He receives from the Son. (John 16:14)

Jesus’ humble submission to the Father made our salvation possible.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 (NLT)
1st Garden (Eden) → Rebellion (Adam) → Death
2nd Garden (Gethsemane) → Submission (Jesus) → Life

Jesus follower, what do you need to resubmit to God’s authority?

If you’re not following Jesus, are you ready to submit your life to His authority?