One God and many gods and their Lord

 There is the kind of god which is one God. Then there is the kind of gods which are many gods. The Father is the first kind, the one God. Jesus is in between. He is the kind of which there are many—so not the one God—but the Father gives him authority so he is above all of many. In other words, he is the lord above all powers except the Father.

Sermon outline: One God and many gods

 SERMON OUTLINE

SECTION 1 — The One God: The Father

Scripture begins with the affirmation that God is one:

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut 6:4)

Paul reinforces this:

“We know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one.” (1 Cor 8:4)

And Jesus identifies the Father as that One:

“This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

Thus, the Father is the One God—the source and ground of all.

Paul says it succinctly:

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.” (1 Cor 8:6)

Slide Outline: Section 1 — The One God

Title: The Father as the One God
Bullet Points:

• “The Lord is one” — Deut 6:4
• “No God but one” — 1 Cor 8:4
• “You, the only true God” — John 17:3
• One God, the Father — 1 Cor 8:6

SECTION 2 — The Secondary Category of “Gods”

Scripture also uses “gods” in another sense—a term for those who hold authority, whether human or heavenly. Jesus invokes this category when referencing Psalm 82:

“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?” (John 10:34; cf. Ps 82:6)

Here Jesus includes himself within this broad category—those addressed as “gods” due to their roles or positions. Yet he immediately distinguishes himself from all others in it:

“If he called them gods to whom the word of God came… do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:35–36)

Jesus stands within this category but is uniquely set apart:

• He alone is sanctified by the Father.
• He alone is sent into the world.
• He alone is the Christ—the appointed ruler and judge.

Slide Outline: Section 2 — The Secondary “Gods”

Title: The Psalm 82 “Gods”
Bullet Points:

• “I said, you are gods” — Psalm 82; John 10:34
• A functional/positional category
• Jesus acknowledges inclusion
• Jesus is distinct: sanctified, sent, Son of God — John 10:35–36

SECTION 3 — Jesus: Within the Category, Above All Others

Jesus occupies the space of the many “gods”, but he is also between these and the One God, because he is exalted by the Father far above every other authority.

He states:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18)

Paul explains the unfolding of this authority:

“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” (1 Cor 15:25)

This fulfills the cry of Psalm 82:

“Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall inherit all nations!” (Ps 82:8)

And in the New Testament, this judging role is given specifically to the one the Father appointed:

“…he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:27)

Slide Outline: Section 3 — Jesus Exalted Above All

Title: Jesus’ Unique Authority
Bullet Points:

• “All authority… given to me” — Matt 28:18
• Reigning until all enemies beneath his feet — 1 Cor 15:25
• Judge of all nations — Ps 82:8
• Authority to judge given to him — John 5:27

SECTION 4 — The Order Maintained: The Son and the Father

Though Jesus receives all authority, the New Testament maintains the relational order clearly:

“The head of Christ is God.” (1 Cor 11:3)

And Paul describes the final act of the Son’s reign:

“Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father… When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor 15:24–28)

Jesus is exalted beyond all powers:

“He is King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Rev 19:16)

Yet the Father remains ultimate:

“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.” (Rev 22:3)

Slide Outline: Section 4 — The Final Order

Title: The Father’s Final Supremacy
Bullet Points:

• “The head of Christ is God” — 1 Cor 11:3
• The kingdom handed to the Father — 1 Cor 15:24–28
• Son exalted: King of kings — Rev 19:16
• Father and Lamb share the throne — Rev 22:3

SECTION 5 — Summary of the Scriptural Picture

• The Father is the One God—the source of all things.
• Jesus stands within the Psalm 82 “gods,” yet is wholly distinct—sanctified, sent, the Christ, the Judge, and exalted above all authorities.
• All the many “gods,” whether human or heavenly in role, will ultimately be placed beneath his feet until the end.
• And finally, the Son hands the kingdom to the Father, that God may be all in all.

Slide Outline: Section 5 — Summary

Title: The Full Scriptural Framework
Bullet Points:

• The Father: the One God
• Jesus: within the “gods,” yet uniquely set apart
• Exalted above all authorities
• All things beneath his feet
• Final submission to the Father — God all in all

There is the one God and then there is the one Lord

 There is the kind of God which is one God. Scripture affirms:

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut 6:4)

Paul echoes this explicitly:
“We know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one.” (1 Cor 8:4)

And Jesus identifies the Father as that One:
“This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

Thus the Father is the first kind—the One God, the source of all.

Paul reinforces this distinction:
“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.” (1 Cor 8:6)

Then there is another kind of “gods,” of which there are many—created rulers, authorities, and heavenly beings. Jesus refers to this category when he cites Psalm 82:
“Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?” (John 10:34; cf. Ps 82:6)

Here Jesus places himself within that same category—among those addressed with the term “gods.”
But at the same time, he distinguishes himself from them by immediately stressing his unique consecration and divine appointment:

“If he called them gods to whom the word of God came… do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:35–36)

In other words, Jesus acknowledges that he stands in the Psalm 82 “gods” category, yet he is unlike the rest of them:
• He alone is sanctified (set apart) by the Father.
• He alone is sent into the world.
• He alone is the Christ, God’s appointed ruler and judge.

Thus Jesus is both within that category and above it.

Jesus occupies the space between the many “gods” and the Father, but is exalted infinitely above the former by the Father himself.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18)

This is clarified in Paul’s kingdom vision:
“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” (1 Cor 15:25)

Jesus is appointed as judge over all the “gods” of Psalm 82, fulfilling the psalm’s climactic cry:
“Arise, O God, judge the earth, for you shall inherit all nations!” (Ps 82:8)
In the New Testament, this role is fulfilled by the one whom the Father has appointed:
“…he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:27)

Yet even with all authority given to him, the New Testament keeps the order clear:

“The head of Christ is God.” (1 Cor 11:3)

And Paul describes the final act of Christ’s reign:
“Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father… When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor 15:24–28)

Revelation shows the Son’s supreme exaltation:
“He is King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Rev 19:16)

Yet the Father remains ultimate:
“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.” (Rev 22:3)

So:

The Father is the one God, the source of all things.
Jesus places himself within the Psalm 82 “gods,” yet stands utterly apart from them—sanctified, sent, the Christ, the Judge, and Lord over all powers.
And all the many lesser “gods” will be placed beneath his feet until the end.

God and gods

 There is the kind of god which is one God. Then there is the kind of gods which are many gods.

The Vine

 Branches, Fellowship, and the Faith Once Delivered

A branch that does not remain in the teachings of Christ is not merely unfruitful — it is cut off.

John 15:5–6 (ESV)

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.”
6 “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers…”

Fellowship with Christ and the apostles is lost when the teaching is forsaken.

1 John 1:3 (ESV)

3 “…so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”

Any claim of continuity with the original Church requires faithfulness to the original gospel — not merely institutional descent.

Galatians 1:8 (ESV)

8 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Branches can be cut out, and new branches grafted in.
Cut out of Jesus by God.
Grafted in to Jesus by God.

Romans 11:20–21, 23 (ESV)

20 “They were broken off because of their unbelief…”
21 “…neither will he spare you.”
23 “…God has the power to graft them in again.”

The Message

 God sends a messenger—whether a prophet, an apostle, or any person through whom He chooses to speak.

This messenger carries God’s own message, a word whose authority is divine rather than human.
When the message is heard, it awakens and persuades faith in the listener.
And that faith, responding to God’s message, becomes the means through which salvation is received.

It is like a global alert broadcast from heaven: a message issued by God Himself, transmitted through His chosen messengers. When that message is received with faith, it elicits the response that saves. Yet unlike any earthly alert system, this entire process—from the sending, to the speaking, to the believing, to the saving—is the work of God accomplishing His purpose from the heavenly realm.

Two resurrections

 We are all human beings so we all die. We know that. But because of Jesus, through him, there are two resurrections coming which will eventually include us all. The first will be for the worthy. The second will be for the remainder. It is not so simple because there will be a thousand year gap between the two resurrections. Out of all who die all will be raised by one resurrection or the other. There are some exceptions such as those who are worthy but still alive at the time of the first resurrection. (Some of these might even be alive today.) These will be the first large group of human beings in history to not die, because Jesus at his coming will make them like the resurrected worthy ones, immortal. Then comes that thousand year gap. Much will happen in that time. Jesus with the worthy immortal ones will judge the living, and rule. Then will come the second resurrection, when Jesus will preside over the resurrection of all the dead, from greatest to least. This is the final Judgement Day. So we see that it is Jesus who sorts all humans generally into mainly two groups: A group of those worthy of living forever and ruling and judging with him, and the remainder group, many of whom will be excluded from eternal life with him and God. Then Jesus will hand over all his authority to God and subject himself to God forever, but God will give him authority to sit with God on God’s eternal throne. 

Claims of continuity with the original Church

 A branch that does not remain in the teachings of the vine is not merely unfruitful — it is cut off.

Fellowship with Christ and the apostles is lost.

Therefore, any claim of continuity with the original Church requires demonstrable faithfulness to the original gospel, not just historical or institutional succession.

— AI with Stephen D Green

Gospel sermon - preaching version with notes for slides

 Life Needs a Solid Foundation: A Preaching Version

Introduction

Friends, we all want something solid to build our lives on. Life can feel shaky, uncertain, and sometimes downright stormy. Jesus gives us the answer. Listen to His words:

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24–27)

Notice the contrast. One house stands; the other collapses. The difference is the foundation. To live with stability, we must build on Jesus’ words and the message He entrusted to His apostles. That’s our starting point.

Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power

When we read Scripture carefully, we discover something fascinating: the heavenly realm is not made up of only one figure. The Father is the Most High God—but He is not the only one with divine authority.

Daniel saw this in a vision:

"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13–14)

Here, the "Ancient of Days" is God the Father. And yet, there is another figure, “one like a son of man,” who receives authority. Scripture is presenting more than a solitary figure of divine power.

Psalm 82 reinforces this truth:

"God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 'I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.'" (Psalm 82:1, 6)

The Most High presides over other beings who share in delegated authority. Scripture paints a hierarchy, not a flat, single numerical divinity.

Jesus Himself Points to This Plurality

Jesus affirmed this understanding. He appealed to the Jewish law requiring two witnesses when He spoke about Himself and the Father:

"In your Law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me." (John 8:17–18)

Two witnesses must be two beings. Jesus used this distinction to make His point.

When accused of blasphemy, He cited Psalm 82:

"Jesus answered them, 'Is it not written in your Law, "I said, you are gods"?'" (John 10:34)

Jesus showed that recognizing other divine figures does not diminish God’s supremacy.

Peter affirmed Jesus’ full humanity:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—" (Acts 2:22)

Yet God exalted Him above every other authority:

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."(Acts 2:36)

The Son is a divine figure in the Psalm 82 sense:

"But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.'" (Hebrews 1:8–9)

Yet Jesus remains distinct from the Father:

"Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17)

The Father and the Son Work in Unity, Not Identity

The Father and the Son operate in perfect harmony, yet they are not the same being. Paul explains:

"Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)

The Son receives authority from the Father:

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" (Matthew 28:18)

He always acts in accordance with the Father:

"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'" (John 5:19)

Their unity is real, but it is unity of purpose, truth, and action:

"That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:21)

Notice: this is not a merging of identities—it is perfect cooperation.

The Message About Jesus

The message is clear. God appointed Jesus as Lord and Messiah:

"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."(Acts 2:36)

He gave His life for us:

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)

God raised Him from the dead:

"And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." (Acts 3:15)

Now He lives forever and holds authority above all powers:

"That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church." (Ephesians 1:20–22)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Those who believe this message receive the Holy Spirit:

"And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:38)

The Spirit guides into truth:

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.'"(John 16:13)

The Spirit purifies our lives:

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5)

And marks us as belonging to the Son:

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:13–14)

The Freedom Jesus Brings

Finally, Jesus promises:

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

The truth He brings—His grace, His teaching, His life—is the foundation that frees us from sin, from fear, and from instability. Christ died for you, and in Him, your life can be built on unshakable truth.

Sermon Slide Blueprint – “Life Needs a Solid Foundation”

Slide 1 – Title Slide

Title: Life Needs a Solid Foundation
Subtitle: Building Your Life on Jesus’ Words
Background/Image Suggestion: Rock cliff with sunlight
Cue: Welcome audience; introduce theme of stability in life through God’s truth

Slide 2 – Life Needs a Solid Foundation

Title: Life Needs a Solid Foundation
Bullets:

• Hear and do the words of Jesus
• Wise man builds on rock
• Foolish man builds on sand
  Scripture Snippet: “Everyone who hears these words of mine…like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matt. 7:24)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Left: house on rock, Right: house on sand

Slide 3 – Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power

Title: Scripture Shows More Than One Heavenly Power
Bullets:

• Father is Most High God
• Others have delegated divine authority
• Hierarchy, not flat divinity
  Scripture Snippets:
• Daniel 7:13–14: “One like a son of man…was given dominion and glory and a kingdom.”
• Psalm 82:1,6: “I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High…”
  Background/Image Suggestion: Celestial sky, throne icon

Slide 4 – Jesus Himself Points to This Plurality

Title: Jesus Confirms Multiple Divine Figures
Bullets:

• Two witnesses: Himself and Father (John 8:17–18)
• Quotes Psalm 82 to defend plurality (John 10:34)
• Fully human yet exalted (Acts 2:22,36; Hebrews 1:8–9)
  Scripture Snippet: “Is it not written…‘I said, you are gods’?” (John 10:34)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Jesus teaching, scroll/Bible icon

Slide 5 – The Father and the Son Work in Unity, Not Identity

Title: Unity Without Merging Identities
Bullets:

• Father holds supreme authority (1 Cor 8:4–6)
• Son receives authority (Matt. 28:18)
• Unity of purpose, not identity (John 5:19; John 17:21)
  Scripture Snippet: “Truly, truly, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Two hands together or interlocking circles

Slide 6 – The Message About Jesus

Title: The Central Message of Jesus
Bullets:

• Appointed Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)
• Suffered and died for sins (1 Peter 3:18)
• Raised and exalted (Acts 3:15; Eph. 1:20–22)
• Holds authority above all powers
  Scripture Snippet: “God has made him both Lord and Christ…” (Acts 2:36)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Cross and crown, rays of light

Slide 7 – The Work of the Holy Spirit

Title: The Holy Spirit at Work
Bullets:

• Given to believers (Acts 2:38)
• Guides into truth (John 16:13)
• Purifies and renews (Titus 3:5)
• Marks belonging to the Son (Eph. 1:13–14)
  Scripture Snippet: “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Dove or flame icon with soft glow

Slide 8 – The Freedom Jesus Brings

Title: Freedom Through the Truth
Bullets:

• Truth sets us free (John 8:32)
• Grace and stability for life
• Foundation in Christ
  Scripture Snippet: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
  Background/Image Suggestion: Open chains, sunrise, light breaking darkness

Slide 9 – Closing Slide

Title: Build Your Life on Christ
Bullets:

• Hear, believe, and obey
• Receive the Spirit
• Stand firm on His truth
  Optional: Prayer or invitation at bottom
  Background/Image Suggestion: Rock or anchor with calm horizon

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