Belonging Before Belief: Embracing God's Invitation

Sep 16, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God Loves You and Desires a Relationship With You

No matter your background or beliefs, God’s love for you is unwavering and personal. He is not distant or uninterested; instead, He actively seeks a relationship with you, inviting you to move from simply belonging to truly believing. God’s purpose is for you to reach out to Him, to seek Him, and to discover that He is never far from any one of us. In Him, we live, move, and have our being—He is the source of our existence and the One who longs for us to respond to His invitation. [05:25]

Acts 17:27-28 (ESV)
"That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’"

Reflection: In what ways have you sensed God reaching out to you, even in times or places where you felt far from Him? How might you respond to His invitation today?

Day 2: Our Sin Separates Us From God

Sin is not just a list of wrongdoings but a deep reality that separates us from the relationship God desires to have with us. Whether through the law of Moses, Jesus’ summary of the law, or the law written on our hearts, we all fall short of God’s perfect standard. This separation is not something we can bridge on our own, but it is essential to recognize our need for reconciliation and the reality that, apart from God’s intervention, we remain distant from Him. [07:39]

Romans 3:23 (ESV)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Reflection: When you consider your own life, where do you see evidence of falling short of God’s standard? How does acknowledging this separation affect your desire for a relationship with Him?

Day 3: Jesus Paid the Price for Your Sin

The good news is that God did not leave us in our separation—Jesus bridged the gap by taking the punishment for our sins on Himself. While we were powerless and still sinners, Christ died for us, demonstrating God’s immense love and grace. This sacrificial act is not something we could ever earn or achieve; it is a gift freely given, inviting us to trust in Jesus and the price He paid so that we might be reconciled to God. [10:12]

Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus died for you while you were still far from God change the way you view His love and your own worth? What does it mean for you to trust in the sacrifice He made?

Day 4: Repentance—A Complete Reorientation of the Heart

Repentance is not about shame or self-punishment, but a heartfelt turning away from sin and toward God. It involves recognizing our sin, experiencing genuine remorse, praying for mercy, making amends where possible, nurturing new fruit in our lives, and ultimately thanking God for His kindness that leads us to repentance. This process is a gift of God’s grace, enabling us to move from pride to gratitude and from self-sufficiency to dependence on Him. [21:11]

Luke 5:8 (ESV)
"But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to honestly recognize your sin and turn toward God? What would it look like for you to take the first step of repentance today?

Day 5: Real Repentance Results in Real Change

True repentance is evidenced by a transformed life—one that produces new fruit in keeping with repentance. It’s not enough to simply feel remorse or say sorry; God calls us to nurture new habits, attitudes, and actions that reflect His love and character. As we stay connected to Jesus, the vine, the Holy Spirit cultivates in us qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control, making our faith visible and tangible to others. [34:34]

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

Reflection: What is one specific area where you sense God calling you to nurture new fruit in your life? How can you take a practical step today to let your repentance bear visible change?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the heart of what it means to believe in Jesus and to enter into a genuine relationship with God. Many of us have been taught a process that starts with belief, then behavior, then belonging, and finally settling into passive participation. But God’s way is different—He starts by offering us belonging, even before we believe or behave. God’s love is extended to us while we are still far from Him, and He invites us to respond to that love.

The journey of belief is not about checking doctrinal boxes or following a set of rules. It’s about encountering the living God, recognizing our need for Him, and responding with our whole lives. Through the story of Sean, a thoughtful skeptic, we see that the central question is not about resolving every intellectual doubt, but about what we will do with Jesus. The four spiritual truths—God loves you and desires a relationship with you; your sin separates you from God; Jesus paid the price for your sin; and you have a choice—form the foundation of this invitation.

Sin is not just a list of wrongs, but a breach in our relationship with God, revealed through the law, through Jesus’ teaching, and through the law written on our hearts. We cannot bridge the gap on our own, but Jesus has done what we could not. The call is to respond—not just with mental agreement, but with repentance and faith. Repentance is not about shame or self-punishment, but a deep, grace-enabled turning of the heart. It involves recognizing our sin, experiencing genuine remorse, praying for mercy, embracing making amends, nurturing new fruit, and finally, thanking God for His kindness that leads us to repentance.

Repentance is a gift, not a burden. It is God’s kindness that draws us to turn from self-sufficiency to dependence on Him. As we walk through these movements of the heart, we are not left in shame, but are brought into grace and gratitude. The question remains for each of us: Where are we on this journey? Are we still standing at a distance, or are we ready to cross the bridge Jesus has provided? God’s invitation is open—will you respond with repentance and faith, and step into the life He offers?

Key Takeaways

1. Belonging Precedes Belief God’s approach is radically inclusive—He offers belonging before we believe or behave. This flips the script of religious performance and invites us to experience His love even while we are still far off. Our journey toward God begins not with our effort, but with His initiative and embrace. This belonging is the foundation upon which true belief is built. [02:03]
2. The Central Question: What Will You Do With Jesus? Intellectual doubts and theological questions are real, but the heart of the matter is always Jesus Himself. The most important decision is not about resolving every issue, but about how we respond to the person and work of Christ. The invitation is to move beyond analysis to encounter, to let the question of Jesus’ identity and sacrifice become personal. Our response to Him determines everything else. [04:30]
3. Repentance: A Six-Movement Journey of the Heart Repentance is not a single act, but a process involving recognition of sin, genuine remorse, a plea for mercy, making amends, nurturing new fruit, and gratitude. Each movement draws us deeper into God’s grace and away from self-justification. True repentance is not self-hatred, but honest self-assessment in the light of God’s holiness and love. It is a grace-enabled turning that leads to transformation, not just regret. [21:11]
4. Making Amends and Nurturing New Fruit Real repentance is evidenced by a desire to make things right where possible and to cultivate new patterns of life. This means taking practical steps to repair relationships and to live differently, not as a way to earn forgiveness, but as a response to God’s mercy. The fruit of repentance is seen in changed attitudes, habits, and relationships, as we cooperate with the Spirit’s work in us. [32:48]
5. Repentance Is a Gift, Not a Burden God’s kindness is what leads us to repentance; it is not something we manufacture on our own. Each step of turning from sin is enabled by His grace, and the end result is gratitude, not shame. Repentance is a descent from pride into humility, from self-sufficiency into dependence, and from regret into thanksgiving for God’s mercy. We thank God that He hears our prayers for forgiveness and grants us new life. [35:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:03] - The Vision: Flipping the Script on Belief
[03:43] - A Conversation About Belief: Sean and Sue
[04:30] - The Central Question: What Will You Do With Jesus?
[05:25] - Four Spiritual Truths: God Loves You
[06:49] - Sin Separates Us from God
[07:39] - Understanding God’s Law
[09:11] - The Rich Young Man and the Law
[18:09] - More Than Sorry: Repentance and Faith
[18:47] - Repentance: The Two-Part Dance
[21:11] - The Six Movements of Repentance
[22:49] - Recognizing Our Sin
[25:03] - Experiencing Remorse
[29:15] - Praying for Mercy
[31:33] - Embracing Making Amends
[33:45] - Nurturing New Fruit
[35:58] - Thanking God for the Gift of Repentance

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV)
> Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Luke 5:8 (ESV)
> But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV)
> Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Observation Questions

In 2 Corinthians 5:20, what is Paul’s main appeal to his readers? What does it mean to be “reconciled to God”?
When Simon Peter encounters Jesus’ power in Luke 5:8, how does he respond, and what does this reveal about his understanding of himself and Jesus?
According to Psalm 51:1-4, how does David describe his sin and his need for God’s mercy?
The sermon describes repentance as a six-movement journey. What are the six movements, and how are they different from simply feeling sorry? [[21:11]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God offers us belonging before we believe or behave. How does this challenge the way we often think about coming to God or being part of a church? [[02:03]]
Why is it important to move beyond just “checking doctrinal boxes” or following rules, and instead focus on encountering the living God? [[18:47]]
The story of Sean in the sermon highlights the central question: “What will you do with Jesus?” Why is this question more important than resolving every intellectual or theological doubt? [[04:30]]
Repentance is described as a gift, not a burden. How does seeing repentance as a gift change the way someone might approach God with their failures? [[35:58]]

Application Questions

The sermon flips the script by saying “belonging precedes belief.” Have you ever felt like you needed to believe or behave a certain way before you could belong? How did that affect your relationship with God or the church? [[02:03]]
Think about the six movements of repentance: recognize your sin, experience remorse, pray for mercy, embrace making amends, nurture new fruit, and thank God. Which of these is most challenging for you, and why? [[21:11]]
Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you sense God is inviting you to make amends? What practical step could you take this week to begin that process? [[32:48]]
The sermon says that nurturing new fruit is evidence of real repentance. What is one area of your life where you want to see new fruit (like patience, kindness, or self-control)? What is a specific action you can take to nurture that fruit this week? [[34:34]]
Repentance is not about shame or self-punishment, but about turning to God’s grace. Are there areas where you tend to get stuck in regret or self-blame? How can you shift your focus to gratitude for God’s kindness instead? [[35:58]]
The central question is, “What will you do with Jesus?” If you haven’t made a personal decision about Jesus, what is holding you back? If you have, how can you help someone else wrestle with this question in a loving way? [[04:30]]
The sermon describes repentance as a journey from pride to humility and from self-sufficiency to dependence on God. Where do you see yourself on this journey right now? What would it look like to take the next step? [[35:58]]

Sermon Clips

“A lot of times in Christianity, it feels like we've been encouraged to engage in a process that just doesn't work very well. And the process has usually gone from this. It's like believe, behave, belong, and be seated, okay? In other words, when we, as a church, so often when we've engaged with people, we first want to see if they believe like us, all right? And after we say, okay, you believe like us, then we want to make sure they behave like us, too, like they have the same moral standards and all of that. And if that's true, those first two are true, then we say you belong with us. But then we have like this unexciting finish, we can say be seated and just hear what we have to say, okay? And the book talks about flipping that around and instead starting with belong, just like God does.”

“God loves you and longs for a relationship with you, no matter who you are or where you come from. Remember the line from Paul's sermon back in chapter five? God's purpose for your life is to reach out to him, to respond to his invitation, to move from the anchor of belonging to the secure anchor of believing.”

“For Christians, I said, to sin is to break God's law, which everyone other than Jesus has done. I turned in my Bible and pointed to Romans 3 .23. For all have sinned, he read, and fall short of the glory of God. I saw that Sean agreed. I didn't need to convince him that all people, including himself, have sinned. My conversation with Sean was focused on the simple truth that we all fall short of God's standards.”

“The law intended by God to create a loving civil society and connection with him had become for this young man's something merely memorized, but not truly lived out. The truth is he couldn't live them out. Neither can anyone.”

“Recognizing our sin isn't about comparing ourselves to other people. It's about seeing ourselves in light of God's power and perfection. When Isaiah saw it, he said this, woe to me, I am ruined. I am a man of unclean lips. When Job encountered it, he said, I despise myself and I repent in dust and ashes. When Peter witnessed it, he cried, go away from me, Lord. I'm a sinful man. Sin recognition isn't self -hatred. It's honest self -assessment, like turning on the lights in a room that you thought was clean only to see the dust and the cobwebs that you've been living with.”

“Because of our sin we're here eternally separated from God I explained then I pointed at the right side while God wants us to be in relationship with him here but this distance is too great for us to cross on our own what do we do Sean asked nothing we can't do a thing about it but God did.”

“This is the good news Sean Jesus paid the price for your sins on the cross he was punished in your place you and I should have been crucified for our sins but Jesus said I will take the punishment for them.”

“No, I'm not asking you to be loved God already loves you and there's nothing you can do about it the choice is whether you'll love him back put him first trust him with your life eternity hangs in the balance.”

“He hadn't just made a decision he was ready to act on it we met at a KFC near my apartment true story KFC is kind of the place to be isn't it TN it's kind of a great hangout we met at a KFC near my apartment the irony wasn't lost on me discussing eternal matters in this with amid the smell of fried chicken and the chatter of Beijing college students but somehow the ordinary setting made the moment more sacred.”

“In my talk with Sean about believing I stress two things repentance and faith the two are foundational for belief and that's our next focus in this book but before we continue let's pause these four spiritual truths aren't just Sean story they're yours too the same God who pursued Sean at my dining room table in Beijing is pursuing you right now wherever you're reading this or listening the question remains will you choose to believe in Jesus.”

“For many, belief has been reduced to checking a doctrinal box or following a behavioral checklist, but biblical belief is far more transformational. It's a complete reorientation of our lives. As Sean discovered in that Beijing KFC, biblical belief has two essential ingredients, repentance and faith.”

“Notice the pattern, repentance and faith, turn and trust. It's a two -step dance. Every believer must learn. You can't have one without the other. Yet many people try to skip one of these steps. Some want faith without repentance. I'll trust Jesus, but keep on living my own way. Others attempt repentance without faith. I'll try to be better on my own and earn my way. Neither approach works.”

“Biblical repentance is none of these things. It's actually a complete reorientation, a literal turning around of our hearts and lives, something God's grace enables and empowers.”

“Sin recognition isn't self -hatred. It's honest self -assessment, like turning on the lights in a room that you thought was clean only to see the dust and the cobwebs that you've been living with. Whether by looking at the law of God with the power and the perfection of his beauty, take a moment even now to let the light of his love reveal the reality of your sin.”

“Godly sorrow, true remorse is other -focus. It gives the pain we've caused God and it grieves the pain we've caused God and others. The sorrow doesn't paralyze us, it propels us toward change. The difference? Worldly sorrow says, I can't believe I got caught. Godly sorrow says, I can't believe the pain I've inflicted. One leads to death, the other to life.”

“The tax collector's prayer is remarkable. No excuses, no comparisons, no bargaining, just a seven -word plea. God, have mercy on me, a sinner. This is the posture of repentance, not informing God of our apology, but praying for his mercy. Notice how the Pharisee's prayer was about what he'd done right, while the tax collectors was about what only God could make right. Who went home forgiven? Not the religious expert, the man who had begged for mercy.”

“Making amends is an indicator of real repentance. Paul saw it as evidence of the Corinthians godly sorrow. Listen to what he says in 2nd Corinthians 7 11. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you. What earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. Do you hear it? The Corinthians were essentially asking, we made a mistake. How can we fix it? How can we restore and provide restitution? How can we make amends? When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus he instinctively knew that making amends as part of repentance.”

“Real repentance results in real change. New life nurtures new fruit. The fruit might start small, newfound patience with your co -workers, unexpected generosity toward a difficult neighbor, surprising peace in traffic. But over time, as we stay connected to the vine, John 15, the fruit becomes evident. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self -control begin to characterize our lives.”

“Repentance is a grace of God's Spirit, whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly...Reformed a grace of God's spirit says Watson a gift of God's love Paul confirms this God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance Romans 2 2 verse 4 in other words repentance isn't just toward God. It's a gift from God.”

“Each movement of repent has brought us lower Not into shame, but into grace We've descended from pride into gratitude from self -sufficiency into God -dependence This is repentance But we're only halfway there remember biblical belief has two arrows aligned with the cross repentance and faith We'll discuss faith in the next chapter, but for now Thank God that repentance isn't something you have to manufacture God makes it possible through his loving kindness.”

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