Sermons

God's Glory Among the Nations

September 28, 2025 Preacher: Gareth Franks Series: Missions Emphasis

Topic: The Church, Missions Scripture: Habakkuk 2:12–14

In a time when Babylon seemed unstoppable—building cities through bloodshed and injustice—God speaks to His people Israel, through the prophet Habakkuk. He declares that human glory will burn, but His glory will flood the earth “as the waters cover the sea.” God calls us in this text to reject the glory of human empires and embrace the glory of God. A vision that invites us to labor not for vanity, but for eternity. A vision that reminds us: the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. Our study will follow the outline below: 

  1. The Judgment of Human Pride (v.12)
  2. The Emptiness of Self-Made Glory (v.13)
  3. The Promise of Divine Revelation (v.14)

Verses 12 and 13 remind us that violence and exploitation cannot sustain lasting success. Those who build cities through bloodshed and injustice, will face God's just judgment and all such efforts are ultimately futile. The Lord warns that the labor invested in these corrupt foundations will be burned away, and the people’s toil will amount to nothing. 

Verse 14 offers a powerful contrast to the preceding judgment: it envisions a future where divine justice prevails and the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as abundantly as the waters cover the sea. This verse serves as a hopeful promise that, despite human corruption and violence, God's presence and truth will ultimately saturate the world.

Getting Started                          

  1. “If you were packing for a mission trip and could only bring three items (besides essentials), what would they be?”
  •     Read Habakkuk 2:6-14
  1. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or convicting?

Digging Deeper

  1. What does the word “woe” signify in prophetic literature, and how does it shape the tone of Habakkuk 2:12? 
  1. What does Habakkuk 2:13 teach us about the emptiness of striving for success without doing what's right? 
  1. What theological message is conveyed by the contrast between verses 12–13 and verse 14?   

The Heart of the Matter

  1. Habakkuk lived in a world of violence and injustice, yet God gave him a vision of hope. What fears have kept you from sharing the gospel, and how does this passage help you overcome them? 
  1. We have already seen the contrast between Babylon’s self-glory and God’s glory. We are called to labor for eternity, not vanity. What are some ways that the devil has tempted you in the past to pursue selfish, vain glory? And how has this stopped you from focusing on the spread of His glory? 
  1. Does the quote we heard from C.T. Studd resonate with you? “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” In a world chasing recognition and empty vain glory, what are some ways you can be more effective in living intentionally and sacrificially for the sake of the gospel?

 

 

More in Missions Emphasis

September 21, 2025

Be Still and Know that I am God

September 14, 2025

How Scripture Informed, Guided, and Fuelled Paul’s Mission

September 7, 2025

Praise and Proclamation