Adapting Faith: Embracing Community and Love

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Spiritual Adaptability

In our spiritual journey, we often encounter unexpected challenges that require us to adjust and adapt our plans. This adaptability is crucial for spiritual growth and victory, much like the halftime adjustments in a football game. During times like Lent, we are given the opportunity for introspection and spiritual realignment, allowing us to reassess our spiritual journey and make necessary tweaks to ensure we end the year victorious in our faith. By being open to change and willing to pivot when needed, we can navigate the uncertainties of life with grace and resilience. [06:30]

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your spiritual life where you need to make an adjustment or change? How can you begin to implement this change today?

Day 2: Discovering Identity Through Community

Our identity in Christ is discovered within the context of community. We are not solitary beings; we are created to be social, to serve, and to find fulfillment in our interactions with others. This sense of community is crucial in understanding who we are in Jesus. As children of God, our divine heritage shapes our character and purpose. By engaging with others, we find our purpose and fulfillment, as we are meant to be part of a greater body, not isolated individuals. [10:11]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively engage with your community this week to better understand your identity in Christ? What specific action can you take to serve others?

Day 3: Living Out the Power of Love

Love is the foundation of our identity as children of God. Through sacrificial love, we become more like God, learning to give selflessly and value others for who they are, not for what they can offer us. Families and church communities serve as training grounds where we learn to love sacrificially, to give without expecting in return. This agape love, a selfless, giving love, sets us apart and draws us closer to God's likeness. [14:23]

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you show sacrificial love to today? What practical steps can you take to demonstrate this love?

Day 4: Utilizing Spiritual Gifts in Community

Our spiritual gifts are unique expressions of God's presence in us, meant to be used within the church community to build up the body of Christ. Each of us has a role to play, and our gifts are designed to complement one another, creating a harmonious and effective spiritual community. By cultivating these gifts, we contribute to the growth and strength of the church, leading to natural blessings as God always begins with the spiritual. [20:17]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching." (Romans 12:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What spiritual gift has God given you, and how can you use it to serve your church community this week?

Day 5: Confession and Confidence in Christ

Confessing Jesus as the Son of God aligns us with God's purpose and love, empowering us to love as God loves. This confession is a powerful declaration that signifies our inclusion in God's divine family. It gives us confidence and boldness, casting out fear and doubt, and moving us closer to the perfection God desires for us. As we grow in love, we gain confidence and boldness, contributing positively to the lives of others. [27:41]

"So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6, ESV)

Reflection: How does your confession of faith in Jesus give you confidence in your daily life? What fears or doubts can you bring to God today, trusting in His help and guidance?

Sermon Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves making plans, only to encounter unexpected challenges that require us to adjust and adapt. This is much like the halftime adjustments in a football game, where the ability to pivot and change course can lead to victory. In our Christian walk, we must be prepared to make these adjustments, especially during times like Lent, which offer us a chance for introspection and spiritual realignment. It's a time to reassess our spiritual journey and make necessary tweaks to ensure we end the year victorious in our faith.

Our identity in Christ is discovered within the context of community. We are not solitary beings; we are created to be social, to serve, and to find fulfillment in our interactions with others. This sense of community is crucial in understanding who we are in Jesus. We are children of God, and this divine heritage is not just a title but a reality that shapes our character and purpose. The greatness and potential of God reside within us, and we are called to be lights in a dark world, shining God's love and hope to those around us.

Love is the essence of our identity as children of God. It is through love that we become more like God. Families and church communities are the training grounds where we learn to love sacrificially, to give without expecting in return, and to value others for who they are, not for what they can offer us. This agape love, a selfless, giving love, is what sets us apart and draws us closer to God's likeness.

Our spiritual gifts are unique expressions of God's presence in us, and they are meant to be used within the church community to build up the body of Christ. Each of us has a role to play, and our gifts are designed to complement one another, creating a harmonious and effective spiritual community. It is through the cultivation of these gifts that the natural blessings follow, as God always begins with the spiritual.

Finally, our confession that Jesus is the Son of God is a powerful declaration that aligns us with God's purpose and love. It is a statement that the enemy fears because it signifies our inclusion in God's divine family. This confession empowers us to love as God loves, to remain patient and hopeful, and to contribute positively to the lives of others. As we grow in love, we gain confidence and boldness, casting out fear and doubt, and moving closer to the perfection God desires for us.

Key Takeaways

1. Adaptability in Faith: Just as a football team makes halftime adjustments, our spiritual journey requires us to adapt and adjust our plans when faced with unexpected challenges. This adaptability is crucial for spiritual growth and victory. [06:30]
2. Community and Identity: Our identity in Christ is discovered within the context of community. Serving and interacting with others helps us find our purpose and fulfillment, as we are not meant to be isolated but to be part of a greater body. [10:11]
3. The Power of Love: Love is the foundation of our identity as children of God. Through sacrificial love, we become more like God, learning to give selflessly and value others for who they are, not for what they can offer us. [14:23]
4. Spiritual Gifts and Community: Our spiritual gifts are unique expressions of God's presence in us, meant to be used within the church community to build up the body of Christ. The cultivation of these gifts leads to natural blessings. [20:17]
5. Confession and Confidence: Confessing Jesus as the Son of God aligns us with God's purpose and love, empowering us to love as God loves. This confession gives us confidence and boldness, casting out fear and doubt. [27:41]
** [27:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Plans and Adjustments
[03:30] - Halftime Adjustments in Faith
[06:30] - Discovering Identity in Community
[08:45] - Divine Blueprint and Hope
[10:11] - Children of God and Humility
[12:30] - Purpose and Impact
[14:23] - Learning Love in Family
[17:54] - Agape Love and Giving
[20:17] - Spiritual Gifts and Church Community
[22:45] - Confession of Jesus as Son of God
[24:23] - The Power of Confession
[27:41] - Love, Patience, and Hope
[29:30] - Confidence and Boldness in Love
[31:00] - Closing Reflections

Bible Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading

**1 John 4:15-18** - "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
**Romans 12:4-6** - "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."
**John 15:12-13** - "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

#### Observation Questions

What does 1 John 4:15-18 say about the relationship between love and fear? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on love as the foundation of our identity in Christ? [27:41]
According to Romans 12:4-6, how are spiritual gifts meant to function within the church community? How does this align with the sermon’s discussion on the role of spiritual gifts? [20:17]
In John 15:12-13, what is the commandment given by Jesus, and how does it reflect the concept of agape love discussed in the sermon? [14:23]
How does the sermon describe the importance of community in discovering our identity in Christ? [06:30]

#### Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "perfect love casting out fear" in 1 John 4:18 challenge common perceptions of love and fear in relationships? [27:41]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that our spiritual gifts are expressions of God's presence in us? How does this understanding impact the way we view our roles in the church? [20:17]
How does the sermon illustrate the idea that love is the essence of our identity as children of God? What practical examples are given to demonstrate this? [14:23]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between confession of Jesus as the Son of God and our confidence in faith? [24:23]

#### Application Questions

Reflect on a recent challenge in your life. How did you adapt your plans, and what role did your faith play in that process? How can you apply the concept of "halftime adjustments" in your spiritual journey? [06:30]
Think about your current involvement in your church community. How are you using your spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ? What steps can you take to better utilize these gifts? [20:17]
Identify a relationship in your life where fear might be present. How can you apply the principle of "perfect love casting out fear" to transform that relationship? [27:41]
Consider the ways you express love in your family or community. How can you practice agape love more intentionally, especially in situations where it might be challenging? [14:23]
Reflect on your confession of faith. How does acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God influence your daily actions and interactions with others? [24:23]
In what ways can you contribute to fostering a sense of community and identity in Christ within your church or small group? How can you encourage others to discover their spiritual gifts? [06:30]
How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of your identity as a child of God, and what practical steps can you take to live out this identity in your daily life? [10:11]

Sermon Clips

And today I pull up and, you know, what I usually do is I park in my spot and then I make a couple of trips as I bring my bags in and get everything settled. And just as I pulled up, all of a sudden there was a deluge and it was pouring down. So then I had to, like, back up and look through the water and get under the portico here and come through this way and unload this way. And, you know, we have our plans. And I, I put front in my hands. [00:02:43] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

And he said, well, we went into the game with a plan, but we realized usually by halftime we needed to make some adjustments to those plans. And he said, the reason we won so many games was halftime adjustments. And I would say that when it comes to our Christian walk, we can study, we can read, we have a wonderful Bible study group. [00:03:55] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

And that is when our faith is really put to the test. When things happen that we weren't expecting, that is when you're really put to the test. And in our series here on Who Am I, I think during this Lenten period, it is an opportunity for us to do some adjustments. Maybe not a halftime adjustment, but maybe like a mid-year adjustment. [00:04:53] (31 seconds) Edit Clip

It is as we serve within a team or a body that's greater than ourselves, that is how we find our purpose. That's how we find our fulfillment. That is how we find our identity because none of us is an island. We were not created to be these lonesome beings. We were created to be social beings so that we could be able to give and we would be able to serve and through that action, we are able to find purpose and fulfillment in ourselves. [00:06:30] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

But then we also saw that we have this divine blueprint, this spiritual DNA that we are offspring of God. We are children of God. And so in the same way that you have characteristics both naturally and experientially from your family that you grew up in, even though you have it in the same way, but even more so, you have that as a child of God, that when we are born of God, when we are born again, we are now growing up from the spiritual DNA he has put within us. [00:07:07] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

And that DNA has these plans. In the same way that you have a game plan, you have now a life plan. You have plans that God has for your life at certain checkpoints in the future. But in order for us to actually execute and fulfill that plan, it says that we have to have hope. That the hope. That the hope. That the hope. That the hope. That the hope. Thank you. [00:07:48] (24 seconds) Edit Clip

of knowing that God has a good plan for your life. The hope of knowing that God has designed you to be made and to live a life in his likeness and to have that hope with boldness and with positive expectation. That that is the anchor that allows us to reel ourselves in closer to God. So community and hope are key elements for our discovery of who we are in Jesus Christ. [00:08:08] (41 seconds) Edit Clip

And so that means that when we are children of God, that means that there is greatness in each and every one of us. There is a divine purpose in each and every one of us. That we were born to grow up into his likeness. That we might have an impact on the world. That we might be shining lights in a dark world. And that your light that you shine is the light of God in this world to help bring people to God and to help bring them out of this world's darkness and into his wondrous light. [00:10:35] (36 seconds) Edit Clip

That we have that purpose, as we've said, in teams, in communities, in environs, in social structures. Why? So that all of the, it's God's. desire that all of us would be saved and it's the enemy's desire that none of us would be saved and therefore it behooves us to take every opportunity that we have to shine God's light in the presence of others indiscriminately let him be the judge we won't know until we see him face to face and I hope that that's not for another 80 years amen but when you see him face to face I pray that you'll be able to look back and stand there with Jesus look back over your life and he can point to all of the wonderful opportunities he gave you to be a shining light and you can smile with joy and say yes I did yes I did Lord yes I did shine hope and shine goodness and yes I did put value into the life of another and yes I did have a testimony about how my life was changed by having a relationship with Jesus Christ and yes that person's life was redirected because of that testimony [00:11:11] (87 seconds) Edit Clip

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