All In: Surrendering to God's Transformative Love

 

Summary

Reflecting on the past weekend, I am reminded of the profound transformations that occur when individuals encounter the love and grace of God. Each baptism and testimony is a testament to the power of God to redeem and renew lives, no matter the past. One story that stands out is of a man who, after years of struggle, found hope and purpose in Christ. His declaration of being "all in" for Jesus is a powerful illustration of the Christian life. This commitment mirrors the Apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15, where he speaks of sacrificing everything for the hope of the resurrection. Christianity is not a mere addition to our lives; it is a complete surrender, a total investment in the truth of Jesus' resurrection and the promise of eternal life.

This leads us to a critical self-examination: Are we truly "all in" for Christ? Does our lifestyle reflect a wholehearted commitment to Him? It's not enough to be moved by a message; we must act on it. The Bible warns against being hearers only, deceiving ourselves into thinking that mere agreement is enough. True faith is demonstrated through action, as seen in the church of Sardis in Revelation 3, which had a reputation for being alive but was spiritually dead due to a lack of deeds.

This brings us to a pivotal moment for our church. We are called to build, not just physically, but spiritually. The story of Haggai challenges us to prioritize God's house over our own comforts. It's time to step out in faith, to sacrifice for the sake of God's kingdom, and to trust that He will bless our efforts. This is not just about constructing a building; it's about creating a space where lives can be transformed, where the gospel can be proclaimed, and where the community can witness the vibrancy of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. Transformation Through Surrender: The Christian life is about being "all in" for Jesus, surrendering everything for the sake of the gospel. This means living with the conviction that our hope in the resurrection is worth every sacrifice. Are we willing to lay everything on the line for Christ? [02:38]

2. Faith in Action: True faith is demonstrated through action. It's not enough to be moved by a message; we must act on it. The church of Sardis serves as a warning against having a reputation for being alive while being spiritually dead due to a lack of deeds. [09:14]

3. Prioritizing God's Kingdom: The story of Haggai challenges us to prioritize God's house over our own comforts. It's a call to examine our resources and ask if we are truly investing in what matters eternally. [13:14]

4. Community and Sacrifice: Building God's kingdom requires a collective effort. It's about coming together as a community, each person contributing their part, and experiencing the joy of working towards a common goal. [23:01]

5. Trusting in God's Provision: As we step out in faith and sacrifice for God's kingdom, we can trust that He will provide. God's blessings often follow our obedience and willingness to give sacrificially. [24:05]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Reflections on Last Weekend
[00:31] - Stories of Transformation
[01:54] - Being "All In" for Christ
[02:38] - The Christian Life as Total Surrender
[03:48] - The Treasure of the Kingdom
[04:41] - Self-Examination: Are You All In?
[06:41] - Moving Beyond Hearing to Action
[08:14] - The Deception of Mere Hearing
[09:14] - The Warning to the Church of Sardis
[11:00] - Accountability and Action
[13:14] - The Challenge of Haggai
[18:34] - Prioritizing God's House
[22:10] - Community Effort in Building
[24:05] - Trusting in God's Blessing
[29:10] - Vision for the Future
[35:10] - Sacrificial Giving and Faith
[43:43] - God's Love and Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
2. Revelation 3:1-2
3. Haggai 1:2-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says he is "all in" for the hope of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15? How does this relate to the story of the man who declared he was "all in" for Jesus? [02:38]

2. In Revelation 3, what was the issue with the church of Sardis, and how does it serve as a warning for us today? [09:14]

3. According to the sermon, what was the main message of the prophet Haggai to the people regarding the building of God's house? [13:14]

4. How did the pastor describe the transformation of individuals who encountered God's love and grace during the past weekend? [00:10]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "all in" for Christ challenge the way we currently live our lives? What does it mean to sacrifice everything for the hope of the resurrection? [02:38]

2. What are the dangers of being a church or individual that has a reputation for being alive but is spiritually dead, as described in Revelation 3? How can we avoid this pitfall? [09:14]

3. How does the story of Haggai challenge us to prioritize God's kingdom over our own comforts? What does this look like in practical terms for our church and personal lives? [13:14]

4. The pastor mentioned that true faith is demonstrated through action. How can we ensure that our faith is not just about hearing the word but also doing it? [08:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are you "all in" for Christ? What specific areas of your life might need to change to reflect a wholehearted commitment to Him? [04:41]

2. Consider the warning to the church of Sardis. How can you ensure that your spiritual life is not just about appearances but is genuinely alive and active? [09:14]

3. In what ways can you prioritize God's kingdom over your own comforts this week? Identify one specific action you can take to invest in what matters eternally. [13:14]

4. The pastor spoke about the importance of community and collective effort in building God's kingdom. How can you contribute to this effort within your church or community? [23:01]

5. Trusting in God's provision was a key takeaway from the sermon. What is one area of your life where you need to step out in faith and trust that God will provide? [24:05]

6. The pastor shared stories of individuals making sacrifices for the sake of God's kingdom. What is one sacrifice you feel called to make for the growth of your church or community? [37:09]

7. How can you move beyond being a hearer of the word to being a doer? Identify one specific message or teaching from the past week that you can act upon. [08:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Total Surrender to Christ
The Christian life calls for a complete surrender to Jesus, where believers are "all in" for the sake of the gospel. This means living with the conviction that the hope in the resurrection is worth every sacrifice. The story of a man who found hope and purpose in Christ after years of struggle exemplifies this transformation. His commitment to being "all in" for Jesus mirrors the Apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15, where he speaks of sacrificing everything for the hope of the resurrection. This is a call to examine whether we are willing to lay everything on the line for Christ. [02:38]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 2: Faith Expressed Through Action
True faith is not just about being moved by a message but acting on it. The Bible warns against being hearers only, deceiving ourselves into thinking that mere agreement is enough. The church of Sardis serves as a warning against having a reputation for being alive while being spiritually dead due to a lack of deeds. This calls for a critical self-examination of whether our lifestyle reflects a wholehearted commitment to Christ. Are we truly living out our faith through our actions? [09:14]

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:17, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one specific action you can take today to demonstrate your faith in a tangible way. How can this action reflect your commitment to Christ?


Day 3: Prioritizing God's Kingdom
The story of Haggai challenges believers to prioritize God's house over their own comforts. This is a call to examine our resources and ask if we are truly investing in what matters eternally. Building God's kingdom requires a shift in focus from personal comforts to spiritual priorities. Are we willing to sacrifice our own comforts for the sake of God's kingdom? [13:14]

"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" (Haggai 1:4, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your current priorities and resources. What is one way you can invest more in God's kingdom today, even if it means sacrificing personal comfort?


Day 4: Community and Sacrifice
Building God's kingdom is a collective effort that requires each person to contribute their part. It's about coming together as a community and experiencing the joy of working towards a common goal. This involves sacrifice and a willingness to work together for the sake of the gospel. Are we ready to join hands with others in building a space where lives can be transformed? [23:01]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a way you can contribute to your church community this week. How can you encourage others to join you in this effort?


Day 5: Trusting in God's Provision
As believers step out in faith and sacrifice for God's kingdom, they can trust that He will provide. God's blessings often follow obedience and a willingness to give sacrificially. This trust in God's provision is essential as we build His kingdom and prioritize His purposes over our own. Are we willing to trust that God will bless our efforts as we step out in faith? [24:05]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you trusted God to provide for your needs. How can this experience encourage you to step out in faith and trust Him with a current challenge?

Quotes



I mean what a great statement he says to this church he goes man you've got it, you know yourselves, this reputation that you're just so fired up you're so alive he goes but I know what you actually do, and you're dead, the god of the universe looked at that church and says everyone else thinks you're so great you're so alive great reputation he goes I look at you and I say you're dead. [09:14]

I really believe it is better to not hear a message than to hear a message and do nothing about it. I really believe that because you see if you never heard the message then you're not accountable for it you can go I don't know you know right but once you know the truth and you know what God Said and God has spoken and then you say no or you don't do anything about it that's that's a concerning thing. [11:18]

The story of Haggai is about the Jews coming back into their land the Persian Empire allows them to come back and inhabit the land the Holy Land once again and I didn't really share all of this last week just for brevity of time but uh you know when the Jews came back into their land after the Exile by the Babylonians they come back in under the Persian Empire and they they do actually build the foundation to the temple. [13:14]

Meanwhile during that time they start building their own houses really nice houses and so God sends the prophet Haggai and says hey you guys are saying it's not time to build but if your houses sure look pretty nice it sure was time to build those you know and he goes what's up with God's house why aren't you doing that and that's what the story was. [13:57]

I was just very convicted by that phrase because I go you know what maybe I've uh I've held some things back, I couldn't sleep because the next phrase in verse 4 when he says when he asked that question is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses while this house remains a ruin laying there on my bed my nice house and going man is is that it should I be comfortable or should I be uncomfortable because there's a work to be done. [18:34]

I believe it's time to build something that'll just house thousands of people where thousands of people in this community can come and hear the word understand what Jesus did for them fall in love with them absolutely I'm convinced that God doesn't want Cornerstone Church tucked away on Winifred Street oh we're kind of over there by Penny Pinchers you know that little you know I I believe it's time to build a big obnoxious building in the middle of the city to where everyone knows the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well absolutely. [27:10]

I want to build something I want us to create something where where we just show Lord you know what our honor to you and a place where people can come and not get turned away because of space or being too crowded or having two inches in the aisles between seats or whatever else it's just a it's just a statement and I I get so excited about this I think about this and I I just go man I'm not getting any younger you know and I want to do something with my life. [29:10]

I want this to be a place where millions of dollars are raised for the poor where we care for the poor we you know feed the needy we've already started planting churches another place I just want this to be a center where people just know you know what we're just a church planting machine you know the colleges has started and it's going strong and we got these Future Leaders coming out of that and I want that to be established and have its location right there maybe Chuck E cheese you know or whatever you know but just you know what this this whole thing and it's and it's a reality. [29:50]

I believe I've earned the right to stand before you and the trust to say look when you give to Cornerstone Church you're not making anyone rich okay that I believe I've earned this right to stand before you today and ask you to sacrifice and give and for you to know this is going to the Lord's work um man I I've prayed about this I've looked over my finances how I've dealt with the church finances I've dealt with my own and I said you know what it's all for this moment to say look hopefully you can trust what's going on here hopefully you can trust me in my life. [35:10]

I want to give you some time during service today to pray and ask God God what what would I get excited about giving to you this year okay I've never done anything like this before but but for you to just think through okay what would I like to sacrifice because this whole thing is is not only did he stir the leadership but he stirred the whole remnant of the people and what's been exciting this week is like there have been a couple of people that came up and just not knowing anything about what's going on in my heart they're saying you know I've just been bugged about this passage you know something needs to be done something needs to happen to do something not just yell and clap and scream but actually do something. [36:23]

The Bible describes our Salvation as a free gift and then we after getting this gift of forgiveness and knowing that his son died for us we just go man I'll I'll do anything for that God I want to give I I'm not trying to pay him back I can't ever pay him back he's given me the greatest gift ever I'm the most blessed man on this Earth here I freely give I want to give this gift to him that's all this giving thing is about but for you what you need to know is that God wants to give you that eternal life he wants to give you a relationship with him to where you can walk out and know that if you died today he'd come in the presence of God and be forgiven and spend eternity with him and that all comes through a genuine Faith a genuine belief in his son Jesus Christ. [43:43]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?