Called to Community: Finding Motivation in God

God has always been in the business of calling His people to Himself, not just as individuals, but as a community with a purpose. From the earliest days, He reminded Israel that they were His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, set apart to represent Him to the world. This calling is not just ancient history—it’s a living reality for us today. Each of us is invited to find our motivation in God, to let Him be the source that drives us, especially when our own strength and hope run dry. The Psalms teach us to bring our honest selves before God, to ask Him to show us His ways, and even to speak truth to our own souls when discouragement sets in.

But it’s not enough to simply seek motivation from God; we are also called to understand what motivates Him. When Moses asked to know God more deeply, God revealed Himself as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, and forgiving. God’s motivation is restoration—shalom—the putting back together of all that is broken. He desires to forgive, to heal, and to make things right, but He also deals justly with persistent rebellion. This heart of God is not distant or theoretical; it is the very reason we can have hope and purpose in a world that often feels fractured.

As followers of Jesus, we are now called what Israel was meant to be: a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. This is not a title reserved for a select few, but a mantle for every believer. To be a priest in the real world means to stand in the gap for others, to intercede, to bring God’s presence and blessing into our workplaces, schools, families, and neighborhoods. It may feel improbable or even impossible, but God is at work in us, shaping us day by day to be the special people He created us to be. Our next step is simply to say yes—to ask God for His motivation, to step into our calling, and to trust that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True motivation is found in God, not in our own strength or fleeting desires. When we run out of energy or hope, the invitation is to go directly to God, asking Him to show us His ways and to fill us with His purpose. The Psalms model this honest dialogue, reminding us that it’s okay to speak to our own souls and to persistently seek God’s help, even when change feels slow or difficult. [07:07]
• 2. God’s motivation is restoration—He is driven by compassion, grace, patience, and a desire to make things whole. When we understand that God’s heart is to forgive and to bring shalom, it changes how we see ourselves and the world. We are not left to guess at God’s intentions; He has revealed Himself as abounding in love and faithfulness, always ready to forgive those who turn to Him. [14:13]
• 3. Our calling as a “kingdom of priests” is not just a theological idea, but a practical mission. Every believer is invited to stand in the gap for others, to intercede for our communities, workplaces, and families, and to be agents of God’s restoration wherever we go. This priestly role is not about perfection or special qualifications, but about willingness to say yes to God’s invitation. [27:54]
• 4. The process of becoming the special people God created us to be is ongoing and unique for each person. Whether we feel like we’re just starting out or have been walking with Jesus for decades, God is at work in us, shaping us through every step of obedience. Our part is to keep taking the next step, trusting that God’s work in us is not finished and that He delights in our progress, not just our arrival. [31:42]
• 5. Being a priest in the real world means bringing God’s presence into every sphere of life—praying for our workplaces, schools, and families, and investing in our church community. The impact of our faithfulness often extends far beyond what we can see, as God uses our service, prayers, and relationships to change lives and build His kingdom. The invitation is to invest ourselves fully, knowing that God brings a rich return on what we offer Him. [34:17]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:44] - What Motivates You?
• [03:48] - God’s Pattern of Motivation
• [05:22] - The Power of Remembering
• [05:58] - Finding Motivation in God
• [07:07] - Speaking Truth to Our Souls
• [08:56] - Persevering When Motivation Fades
• [11:18] - Israel’s Calling and Our Calling
• [12:21] - Moses’ Honest Conversation with God
• [14:13] - Discovering What Motivates God
• [17:47] - God’s Self-Description: Compassion and Grace
• [19:53] - God’s Justice and Forgiveness
• [24:25] - Our Mission: Restoration
• [26:44] - A Royal Priesthood: Our Identity
• [27:54] - The Priesthood of All Believers
• [30:10] - Standing in the Gap
• [31:42] - God’s Ongoing Work in Us
• [33:06] - What’s Your Next Step?
• [34:17] - Being a Priest in the Real World
• [35:38] - Investing in the Next Generation
• [36:22] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Exodus 19:4-6 — “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

- Exodus 34:5-7
“Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’”

- 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Observation Questions

1. In Exodus 19:4-6, what does God say is the purpose for calling Israel His “treasured possession” and a “kingdom of priests”?
2. According to Exodus 34:5-7, how does God describe Himself when He reveals His character to Moses?
3. In 1 Peter 2:9, what titles does Peter use for believers, and what is the purpose he gives for these titles?
4. The sermon mentions that the Psalms model honest conversations with God, including speaking truth to our own souls. What are some examples from the sermon of how this looks in practice? [07:07]

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean for God’s motivation to be “restoration” or “shalom,” and how does this shape the way we understand His actions in the world? [23:00]
2. The sermon says that being a “kingdom of priests” is not just for a select few, but for every believer. How does this challenge or affirm your understanding of your own role in God’s mission? [27:54]
3. When God describes Himself as “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” what does this reveal about how He wants to relate to us, especially when we fail or feel discouraged? [17:47]
4. The sermon talks about the process of God shaping us into His special people being ongoing and unique for each person. How does this perspective affect the way we view our spiritual growth and the growth of others? [31:42]

Application Questions

1. The Psalms show us it’s okay to bring our honest feelings to God and even “speak truth to our own souls.” When was the last time you did this? What would it look like for you to start this practice, especially when you feel unmotivated or discouraged? [07:07]
2. The sermon says true motivation is found in God, not in our own strength. What is one area of your life where you feel your motivation or hope is running low? How can you invite God to be your source in that area this week? [05:58]
3. God’s heart is to restore and forgive, but He also deals justly with persistent rebellion. Is there a place in your life where you need to ask for God’s forgiveness or help to change direction? What’s holding you back from doing that? [21:03]
4. As a “royal priesthood,” every believer is called to stand in the gap for others. Who is one person, group, or place (workplace, school, family, neighborhood) where you sense God might be inviting you to pray or intercede? What is one step you can take this week to do that? [30:10]
5. The sermon challenges us to invest ourselves fully in our church and community, trusting God to use our service and prayers. What is one practical way you can invest in your church family or serve someone this month? [34:17]
6. The process of becoming who God created us to be is ongoing. Where do you see God at work in your life right now, even if it feels slow or small? How can you celebrate or share that progress with someone else? [31:42]
7. The sermon ends by asking, “What is your next step?” What do you sense God is inviting you to say “yes” to in this season? How can your small group support you in taking that step? [33:06]