The questions that were answered in this sermon are as follows: Why are there so many religions? How is Christianity different from any other religion? Is "utopia" even possible? How do we solve global problems? Is there such a thing as "truth"?
Getting a bit ahead of the material, I'd like to note that for that second question, one of the biggest differences between Christianity and other religions is that it's the only one that says there is only one way to get to God/salvation/etc. This is something of a controversial issue.
The notes for this sermon start out with a section called "The Top Pursuits of Mankind." These top pursuits are prosperity, peace, power, and purpose. Every generation of every society has been driven by a desire to find a utopian society - a desire that often conflicts with the pursuits above for individuals. Pastor Jason pointed out that basically, everyone is trying to get back to Genesis. They're trying to get back to the perfect of the Garden that once was.
However, every ideology has failed. No matter what the system is - democracy, socialism, monarchy, etc. - and no matter how well the idea works "in theory," every one has failed to achieve perfection.
The unifying factor of all religions is that they are the result of a search for a "Supreme Being" or "divinity." All mankind is searching for some reasonable meaning to life - even the atheist searches for this. However, the fact that there is a search, Pastor Jason pointed out, means that something was lost in the first place.
Pastor Jason pointed out that there are many religions and ancient cultures that have a story similar to that of Noah's Ark. In many cases, the differences are very subtle. This suggest that these societies have been able to uncover little pieces of the truth. It's like a puzzles and all societies have some of the pieces, but not all, so they can't make out what the answer is - what the finished puzzle looks like. From these pieces, they try to fill in rest themselves. That's how religions are created.
Looking down on this, God sees that each of these societies desire the truth, but they don't have enough of the puzzle to find the answer. That is why he sent Jesus. Only God has all the pieces to the puzzle, so only God can lead people to the "right answer."
The Kingdom was lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden - and the search began. Jesus came to regain that Kingdom (see all previous Kingdom Come parts). In John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The search is over; Jesus is the answer.
Jesus is the answer. This statement doesn't just apply to salvation. All problems of this world can be solved through the pursuit of the Kingdom. How? Well, Jesus' chose the Church as his "vehicle" to the Kingdom. When the church acts as the Church - in full pursuit of the Kingdom and in submission to the ways of Jesus Christ - you begin to see heaven on earth. Look at nations that are torn apart by war, hopelessness, and poverty. When missionaries come into those nations - acting as the Church rather than as men on a mission for themselves as is too often the case - you see reform. Historically, you see these nations begin to prosper and the products of war and poverty fade away. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Seek the Kingdom, and you will see the Kingdom on earth.
While we will probably never see completely what it is to see heaven on this earth - this earth will never go back to the perfect Garden it once was - there is no reason not to make it as close as we can. If the church acted as the Church we would see an end to so much of the world's problems.
To end this sermon, here is a list of some of the prophesies fulfilled by Jesus. There are 350 prophesies written in the Old Testament to be fulfilled by the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled every one of these. Not only that, about half of them were fulfilled while he was on the cross - and as we all know, there isn't much you can do while tied to a cross. The probability of someone being able to fulfill every one of these prophesies is 17 trillion to one. This list gives a keyword about the prophesy, the Old Testament prophesy, and then the New Testament fulfillment.
Birthplace: Micah 5:2-------Matthew 2:1,6
Mother: Isaiah 7:14-------Matthew 1:18-23
Tribe: Genesis 49:10-------Hebrews 7:14
His Work: Isaiah 61:1-3-------Luke 4:16-21
Healing: Isaiah 53:4-------Matthew 8:16-17
Teaching in Parables: Psalms 78:2-------Matthew 13:34-35
Triumphant Entry: Zechariah 9:9-------Matthew 21:1-11
Betrayer: Psalms 41:9-------John 13:18,19,26
Price Sold For: Zechariah 11:12-------Matthew 26:14-16
How the Money was Used: Zechariah 11:13-------Matthew 27:3-8
Disciples Forsake Him: Zechariah 13:7-------Matthew 26:31
Spit Upon Him: Isaiah 50:6-------Matthew 26:67
Smitten with Rod: Micah 5:1-------Matthew 27:30
Silence in Persecution: Isaiah 53:7-------Matthew 27:12-14
Manner of His Death: Zechariah 12:10-------John 19:18,34-37
Location of Wounds: Psalms 22:16-------John 20:25
Taunting Words: Psalms 22:7-8-------Matthew 27:39,41-44
Death Among Criminals: Isaiah 53:9,12-------Mark 15:27-28
His Agonizing Cry: Psalms 22:1-------Matthew 27:46
His Prayer for Enemies: Isaiah 53:12-------Luke 23:24
Drink Offered Him: Psalms 69:21-------John 19:28-30
Garments: Psalms 22:18-------John 19:23-24
No Bones Broken: Psalms 34:20-------John 19:36
His Burial: Isaiah 53:9-------Matthew 27:57-60
His Resurrection: Psalms 16:10-------Acts 2:30-31
His Ascension: Psalms 24:7-10-------1 Peter 3:22
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