Podcast Summary: Times Square Church - Sermons
Episode: Redefining Very Good
Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena
Date: August 24, 2025
Main Theme Overview
Pastor Tim Dilena concludes the series “1 Billion Starts With 1” with a challenging and controversial sermon, “Redefining Very Good.” The message moves from historical battles over biblical truth to today’s cultural struggles, centering on foundational issues found in Genesis 1–3: creation, gender, marriage, and identity. Pastor Tim calls the church to affirm God’s original declaration of creation as “very good” and resist cultural attempts to redefine what God has made. He urges listeners to find their true identity in Christ and stand firm in biblical truth, even amid opposition.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Framing the Battle: History, Present, and Future
- The Scopes “Monkey” Trial (1925):
- Marked the beginning of the fight between biblical creation and evolution in the U.S. educational system.
- Led to efforts to remove God from the public narrative and curriculum (08:56).
- Legal and Cultural Shifts:
- Edwards v. Aguillard (1987): Supreme Court ruled creationism cannot be taught as science.
- Result: A culture “indoctrinated” against belief in a God-created universe.
- Modern-Day Battle: Genesis 2 Issues
- The battle has shifted from existence (Genesis 1: creation) to identity (Genesis 2: gender, marriage, and sexuality).
- Cultural norms increasingly seek to redefine gender and marriage, moving away from biblical foundations (25:15).
2. The Two Lies Pastor Tim Warns Against (22:38)
- Quote from a West Coast pastor:
- “Our culture has accepted two huge lies:
The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must be afraid or hate them.
The second is that to love someone means you have to agree with everything they believe. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.”
- “Our culture has accepted two huge lies:
- Pastor Tim’s Response:
- Christians are called to speak the truth in love, without fear or hatred, standing on Scripture.
3. The Present Crisis:
- Genesis 2 Battle:
- God created male and female, defined marriage; Jesus reaffirmed this (Matthew 19).
- Society seeks to override God’s ordering, allowing people to self-identify gender or redefine marriage (32:40).
- Cultural Pressures:
- Legal compulsion to use chosen pronouns; threat of fines in NYC for non-compliance.
- Churches and pastors face pressure to dilute or skip key scriptures for cultural acceptance.
4. “Redefining Very Good” — Theological Foundation
- God’s Design:
- Genesis 1:31 – “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”
- Culture now attempts to edit or “improve” what God called perfect.
- Pastor Tim’s Warning:
- “If you remove God, then there is no truth; if no truth, then there is no sin; if no sin, then there is no hell.” (36:10)
- Removing God and reinterpreting Scripture is spiritual identity theft.
5. Four Critical “Why” Questions from Jeremiah 8 (1:00:45)
Pastor Tim challenges listeners with four questions the prophet Jeremiah asked Israel before national judgment.
- #1: Why is this people backslidden? (Jer. 8:5)
- #2: Why are we just sitting here? (Jer. 8:14)
- #3: Why have they provoked Me? (Jer. 8:19)
- #4: Why has their health not been restored? (Jer. 8:22)
- These questions are posed as an examination of the church’s and individual believers’ response to current cultural drift.
6. The Real Issue: Identity Fraud (1:22:45)
- Spiritual Identity Theft:
- “We are fighting for the image of God on young people. …To deny God’s existence is to have identity stolen from you, who God made you to be.”
- God is the Source of True Identity:
- Pastor Tim encourages listeners to let God, not culture or legal systems, define who they are.
- True identity and value come solely from being made in God’s image and redeemed by Christ.
7. The Power of Testimony and Bread of Life (1:30:30)
- Testimony:
- The importance of unfiltered testimonies about life change through Christ; cultural forces may seek to censor or diminish these stories to fit norms.
- Spiritual "Bread":
- “Bread” as a metaphor for God’s truth and promises (“Give us this day our daily bread”).
- Thirty scriptures offered as “slices of bread” to speak over oneself to combat spiritual attack and insecurity (1:34:00).
- Practical Example:
- Binding God’s Word to heart and mind brings peace, especially in the night’s battles and anxious moments.
8. Concluding Challenge:
- Call to Stand:
- The church must not be cowed by “the furnace, finances, or losing friends” (1:16:10).
- Commitment echoes the faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, standing even when it means facing fire.
- Restoration of Identity:
- Every person, regardless of background, can find hope, value, purpose, and a restored identity in Christ.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Nature of Sin and God’s Goodness:
- “Sin is thinking, ‘I know better than God.’ …God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.” (06:30, Pastor Tim)
On Standing in Love and Truth:
- “You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” (22:38, quoting anonymous West Coast pastor)
- “If there’s anything that comes out that doesn’t sound like Jesus, then it’s probably me.” (24:32, Pastor Tim)
On the Stakes of the Cultural Battle:
- “If there is no God, then there is no truth. And if there’s no truth, then there is no sin. And if there’s no sin, then there is no hell.” (36:10, Pastor Tim)
- “Once you abolish God, the government becomes God.” (34:20, quoting G.K. Chesterton)
On Censorship and Testimony:
- “Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself. Men reject the Bible because it contradicts them.” (49:01, Pastor Tim paraphrasing)
On Spiritual Fire and Courage:
- “When the three Hebrew boys in Babylon said ‘we won’t bow to your laws,’ Jesus didn’t show up in their defiance. Jesus showed up in their fire.” (44:22, Pastor Tim)
On Spiritual Identity Theft:
- “Identity fraud isn’t just financial, it’s spiritual—when an unauthorized devil comes in and says, ‘This is what you really are.’” (1:22:45, Pastor Tim)
On God’s View of You:
- “Your identity is not from you. It’s not from a government. It’s not from a book. Your identity is what God thinks about you and what God says about you.” (1:28:50, Pastor Tim)
On The Ultimate Victory:
- “What natural selection could not have done in a thousand years, God accomplished in two decades.” (1:54:40, Pastor Tim, quoting Darwin’s journal re: South American city’s transformation by missionaries)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00-08:00 – Welcome, global greetings, prayer for Pastor Conlon
- 08:56 – Historical context: The Scopes Monkey Trial and fight for creation in education
- 22:38 – The two cultural lies and conviction/compassion
- 24:32 – Pastor’s burden, the clarity of God’s Word, and his prayer
- 32:40 – The present fight: gender, marriage, identity (Genesis 2)
- 34:20 – Chesterton quote on government replacing God
- 36:10 – Removing God: logical consequences
- 44:22 – Courage in fire: Daniel 3 analogy
- 49:01 – On rejecting uncomfortable scripture & societal pushback
- 1:00:45 – The four “why” questions from Jeremiah for spiritual reflection
- 1:16:10 – Why churches cave: finances, friends, fear of the furnace
- 1:22:45 – The main point: identity fraud and God’s image
- 1:28:50 – God’s viewpoint on identity: “You are God’s masterpiece…”
- 1:34:00 – “30 slices of bread”: Scriptures for spiritual affirmation
- 1:39:00 – Practical example of clinging to the Word for peace and protection
- 1:54:40 – Darwin’s observation: The miraculous impact of God via missionaries
- 1:57:00–End – Response: invitation to receive the “bread of life,” personal prayer, closing reflections
Conclusion: Takeaways for Listeners
- God’s “very good” creation still stands, regardless of cultural redefinitions.
- Scripture, not society, is the foundation for identity, purpose, and destiny.
- True compassion speaks truth with love and without compromise.
- Believers must stand courageously, knowing God’s presence is promised in every trial.
- Hold onto God’s Word as spiritual “bread” for every circumstance, especially in times of doubt and attack.
- Every person is invited to find healing, restoration, and a new identity in Jesus Christ.
This summary captures the spirit and critical content of Pastor Tim Dilena’s message, offering clear guidance and encouragement to stand on God’s original design declared as “very good.”