Awakening to Truth: Love, Identity, and Compassion

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Truth and Love

In a world where truth is often subjective and love is misunderstood, the church is called to be a beacon of both. An awakening in the church will be centered around a search for absolute truth and the churches that preach this truth in love. This means that we must not stop teaching the truth of God's Word, as it cuts to the heart and reveals our need for the Holy Spirit to live out our purpose. Truth without love can be harsh, and love without truth can be misleading. Therefore, we must balance both to effectively minister to those around us. [23:26]

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you had to speak the truth. How did you balance truth and love in that situation? What could you do differently next time to ensure both are present?

Day 2: Biological and Physiological Realities

Understanding the biological and physiological realities of male and female is crucial in navigating conversations about gender and identity. Biologically, males and females are defined by their chromosomes, and this cannot be changed by surgery or hormonal treatments. Physiologically, the reproductive systems of males and females are distinct and cannot be altered to function as the opposite sex. This understanding helps us approach the topic with clarity and compassion, recognizing the inherent design and purpose God has for each individual. [40:00]

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Reflection: How does understanding the biological and physiological realities of gender help you approach conversations about identity with compassion and truth? What steps can you take to educate yourself further on this topic?

Day 3: Theological Foundations

We are created in the image of God, male and female, and this is foundational to our identity. Our bodies are a gift from God, and we must honor Him with them. Sin has distorted our understanding of identity, but we must return to the truth of who God says we are. This theological foundation helps us navigate the complexities of identity with a clear understanding of God's design and purpose for our lives. [45:07]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: Reflect on how being created in the image of God shapes your understanding of your identity. How can you honor God with your body and your life today?

Day 4: Compassion and Truth in Addressing Gender Dysphoria

When someone struggles with their gender identity, it is crucial to listen with love and provide godly counsel. We must not change our theology based on new seasons of life but rather lean into the truth of God's Word. Renewing our minds and bringing our bodies into submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is essential. This approach allows us to extend compassion while standing firm on biblical truths. [55:18]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: Think of someone you know who may be struggling with their gender identity. How can you show them love and compassion while also sharing the truth of God's Word? What practical steps can you take to support them?

Day 5: Standing Firm on Biblical Truths

We must stand firm on biblical truths while extending grace and compassion to those who struggle. Our identity is not tied to our feelings or desires but to who God says we are. We are created in His image, fearfully and wonderfully made, and called to live out His purposes in our lives. This firm foundation allows us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and grace, knowing that our identity is secure in Christ. [57:59]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to stand firm on biblical truths? How can you seek God's strength and wisdom to remain steadfast in those areas? What practical steps can you take to live out your identity in Christ today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the concept of spiritual awakening and the importance of truth and love in the church. Historically, every 50 to 60 years, there has been a significant move of God, and we are on the cusp of another such awakening. This awakening will be centered around a search for absolute truth and the churches that preach this truth in love. We emphasized the necessity of the Holy Spirit in living out our purpose and the importance of gratitude in our daily lives.

We also delved into a challenging topic: sex, gender, and identity. We discussed the biological, physiological, theological, and practical aspects of this conversation. Biologically, males and females are defined by their chromosomes, and this cannot be changed by surgery or hormonal treatments. Physiologically, the reproductive systems of males and females are distinct and cannot be altered to function as the opposite sex. Theologically, we are created in the image of God, male and female, and this is foundational to our identity.

We addressed the issue of gender dysphoria, emphasizing the need for compassion and truth. When someone struggles with their gender identity, it is crucial to listen with love and provide godly counsel. We must not change our theology based on new seasons of life but rather lean into the truth of God's Word. We are called to renew our minds and bring our bodies into submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, we must stand firm on biblical truths while extending grace and compassion to those who struggle. Our identity is not tied to our feelings or desires but to who God says we are. We are created in His image, fearfully and wonderfully made, and called to live out His purposes in our lives.

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Key Takeaways

1. oLZD8Ibq0&t=1406s'>[23:26]
2. Biological and Physiological Realities: Biologically, males and females are defined by their chromosomes, and this cannot be changed by surgery or hormonal treatments. Physiologically, the reproductive systems of males and females are distinct and cannot be altered to function as the opposite sex. This understanding is crucial in navigating conversations about gender and identity.

3. Theological Foundations: We are created in the image of God, male and female, and this is foundational to our identity. Our bodies are a gift from God, and we must honor Him with them. Sin has distorted our understanding of identity, but we must return to the truth of who God says we are.

4. Compassion and Truth in Addressing Gender Dysphoria: When someone struggles with their gender identity, it is crucial to listen with love and provide godly counsel. We must not change our theology based on new seasons of life but rather lean into the truth of God's Word. Renewing our minds and bringing our bodies into submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is essential.

5. Standing Firm on Biblical Truths: We must stand firm on biblical truths while extending grace and compassion to those who struggle. Our identity is not tied to our feelings or desires but to who God says we are. We are created in His image, fearfully and wonderfully made, and called to live out His purposes in our lives.

### [23:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:26] - The Necessity of Truth and Love
[24:34] - Moment of Gratitude
[25:34] - Expressing Gratitude to God
[26:56] - Announcements and Night of Worship
[27:32] - Welcome to Relevant and The Good Life
[28:07] - Teachings of Jesus and Difficult Conversations
[28:56] - Sitting Down for Heavy Conversations
[29:30] - Get Off My Lawn Series Introduction
[30:47] - Election Season and Standing for Truth
[32:29] - Loving People, Loathing Ideologies
[33:57] - Theology vs. Politics
[35:14] - Types of People in Churches
[36:07] - Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
[36:35] - Ground Rules for Discussing Gender and Identity
[37:25] - Culture and Gender Definitions
[39:01] - Four Components of Identity Conversation
[40:00] - Biology of Male and Female
[42:05] - Theology of Male and Female
[45:07] - Created in the Image of God
[55:18] - Compassion and Truth in Addressing Gender Dysphoria
[57:59] - Standing Firm on Biblical Truths
[72:51] - Who God Says You Are
[76:21] - Invitation to Reach Out
[77:20] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 1:27, how did God create mankind, and what does this imply about our identity?
In Romans 12:1-2, what are believers urged to do with their bodies and minds, and why is this important?
What warning does Colossians 2:8 give about philosophies and traditions, and how does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on ideologies? [33:11]
What are the four components of the identity conversation mentioned in the sermon, and why are they significant? [39:01]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding that we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) influence our view of identity and gender?
What does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and to renew our minds according to Romans 12:1-2, especially in the context of gender and identity issues? [59:08]
How can the warning in Colossians 2:8 about deceptive philosophies help us navigate cultural conversations about gender and identity? [33:11]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of truth and love. How can these two principles be balanced when addressing sensitive topics like gender dysphoria? [55:18]

Application Questions

Reflect on Genesis 1:27. How does knowing you are created in the image of God affect your understanding of your own identity? How can this truth help you in your daily life?
Romans 12:1-2 talks about renewing our minds. What specific steps can you take this week to renew your mind and align your thoughts with God’s truth, especially in areas where you might struggle with identity or self-worth? [59:08]
The sermon discussed the importance of standing firm on biblical truths while extending grace and compassion. Can you think of a situation where you struggled to balance truth and love? How did you handle it, and what could you do differently next time? [57:59]
How can you show compassion and provide godly counsel to someone struggling with gender dysphoria, as suggested in the sermon? What practical steps can you take to listen with love and offer support? [55:18]
The sermon mentioned the necessity of not changing our theology based on new seasons of life. Have you ever felt tempted to adjust your beliefs due to personal or cultural pressures? How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience? [57:00]
The pastor emphasized the importance of gratitude in our daily lives. How can you incorporate a moment of gratitude into your daily routine this week? What are you thankful for today? [25:34]
The sermon highlighted the need for the Holy Spirit in living out our purpose. How can you cultivate a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit in your life, especially when facing challenging conversations or decisions? [23:26]

Sermon Clips

1. "I do believe, I told you this last week, that I believe that an awakening to happen in the church in America, or anywhere in the world, will be centered around two things. That would be the fact that we are in a search for truth, absolute truth. And the churches that are going to see the hand of God move, are the ones who preach the truth in love. And so, number one, we will not stop teaching the truth of God's word." [23:26] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "God loves you. Everything we do in our church and in my life in ministry and in your life in ministry, I hope, points to one thing. The never-ending, never-changing love of Jesus. And so, today, wherever you're going through, yeah, whatever you're going through, whatever you're battling with, whatever doubts or fears, to those words today that God loves you." [24:34] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We believe that the people of God ought to be the most generous people on the planet. And so, we bring our tithes and our offerings during this moment of gratitude. You'll see me take out my phone and give through one of our online platforms, tithes and offerings. But we also use this moment of gratitude to express our gratitude to God for the good things He's done." [25:34] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We want to let every single person know this is a place where you can come find hope, come find healing, and come find wholeness in Christ. However, we're not going to allow ideologies and agendas to tell us what we ought to believe. So you can come in. You're just not changing the landscaping. You're not changing the landscaping. You're just not telling us how to live our life." [30:03] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "It is entirely possible to love a person and loathe the ideology. In other words, I can love my children. And if they start believing and following some crazy way of living or thinking, I can disagree with them, tell them we're not going to do that at my home, but it doesn't mean I don't love them. In fact, my love requires me to speak that into their life." [32:29] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We are not animals. We are humans created in the image of God, God's prized creation. A Latin term we know is the imago Dei or the image of God is where we get this idea. So every human, each and every one of you, every person watching online was created with intrinsic value in the image of God. This is not just physical. It is spiritual. We're the only creature with a spiritual makeup." [46:09] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We will walk through anything with anybody who says, man, I'm struggling, I'm battling, and I want to honor God through this struggle. And I want to, I want to bring everything. We're going to walk hand in hand with anybody going through any struggle in life to help them find the grace of God and live out their purpose by bringing everything into the Lordship of Jesus Christ." [01:05:42] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The very first attack on humanity was an attack on their identity. You say, what do you mean? See, we think people were attacked in various ways. And what is the enemy's tactic? The enemy's tactic in Genesis chapter three was to undermine God's word about who God said Eve was." [01:06:59] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We can allow our feelings in our amygdala and our brain to control us and bring everything else into alignment with how we feel and what we want, which is what we're doing in this idea of transitioning. Or we can allow our minds to be transformed by a new way of thinking, and then submit every feeling, emotion, and desire to the life-changing ways of Jesus. That's what he calls us to do." [01:11:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "You are created in his image. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are God's handiwork. However, like everyone else, you are a sinner in need of a Savior. You have been given through Christ Jesus the opportunity to be adopted as a son or a daughter of God. And if you put your trust in Christ Jesus, you are bought with the price, and your body is not your own." [01:12:51] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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