Choosing the Right Approach to God
Summary
### Summary
Tonight marks the beginning of our Freedom Group semester, and we are embarking on a 12-week journey to explore our approach to God. The central question we need to consider is: "What is going to be your approach to God?" This question is crucial because how we approach God is more important than the curriculum itself. Many people have a misguided understanding of who God is, often viewing Christianity as a set of rituals or a religious organization rather than a relationship with God. This misconception leads to a wrong approach to God, making Christianity feel like an obligation rather than a joy.
We began by examining the second story in the Bible, the story of Adam and Eve, which is fundamentally about choice. This story presents two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees symbolize two different approaches to God. The Tree of Life represents a life-giving, transformative relationship with God, while the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents a performance-based, external obedience that leads to death.
The devil's strategy is to make us choose the wrong tree by appealing to our desire to be godly, but through the wrong means. This deception leads us to believe that we can achieve godliness through our efforts rather than through a relationship with God. The result is shame and condemnation, rather than the life and freedom that God intends for us.
To ensure we are approaching God correctly, we need to understand the difference between these two trees. The Tree of Life says that Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to be close to God. In contrast, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil says we must do more to earn God's favor. We must choose to live from the Tree of Life, which leads to a joyful, transformative relationship with God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Approach to God Matters More Than Actions: Our approach to God is more important than the actions we take. Many people have a misguided understanding of God, viewing Christianity as a set of rituals rather than a relationship. This misconception leads to a wrong approach, making Christianity feel like an obligation rather than a joy. [01:54]
2. Two Trees, Two Approaches: The story of Adam and Eve presents two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees symbolize two different approaches to God. The Tree of Life represents a life-giving, transformative relationship with God, while the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents a performance-based, external obedience that leads to death. [05:58]
3. Deception of the Devil: The devil's strategy is to make us choose the wrong tree by appealing to our desire to be godly, but through the wrong means. This deception leads us to believe that we can achieve godliness through our efforts rather than through a relationship with God. The result is shame and condemnation, rather than the life and freedom that God intends for us. [10:01]
4. Living from the Tree of Life: To live from the Tree of Life, we must understand that Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to be close to God. This realization brings life and freedom, as opposed to the death that comes from trying to earn God's favor through our efforts. [15:21]
5. Guarding Our Hearts: We must guard our hearts from swinging back to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This involves making conscious decisions to live from the Tree of Life, focusing on our relationship with God rather than external obedience. This choice leads to a joyful, transformative relationship with God. [39:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:02] - Introduction to Freedom Group
[01:54] - Misguided Understanding of God
[02:40] - Encounter at the Airport
[03:40] - Branding Problem in Christianity
[04:34] - The Second Story in the Bible
[05:22] - Two Trees, Two Approaches
[06:36] - Consequences of the Wrong Tree
[07:51] - Forced Obedience vs. Heart Transformation
[08:35] - The Devil's Deception
[10:01] - Appeal to Godliness
[11:48] - Shame and Condemnation
[12:53] - Three Perspectives on the Two Trees
[13:23] - Performance-Based God
[15:21] - Jesus Has Already Done It
[17:19] - Misguided Teachings
[18:18] - Trying to Get God's Approval
[19:56] - God Already Loves You
[22:15] - Obey Out of Delight
[24:44] - Joy in Ministry
[25:45] - Commands Are Not Burdensome
[26:17] - Fall in Love with Jesus
[28:23] - Two Trees in John 14
[30:35] - Serve God Through Relationships
[33:08] - Temptation and Relationship with God
[34:10] - Respond to Sin with Life
[35:16] - No Condemnation in Christ
[37:26] - Grace and Truth
[39:00] - Guard Your Heart
[40:35] - Make a Choice
[41:06] - Choose Life
[42:11] - Closing Prayer and Group Directions
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 2:8-9, 16-17 (ESV) - "And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil... And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'"
2. John 14:15 (ESV) - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
3. Romans 5:8 (ESV) - "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two trees mentioned in Genesis 2, and what do they symbolize? [05:22]
2. According to the sermon, how does the devil deceive us into choosing the wrong tree? [10:01]
3. What does Jesus say in John 14:15 about the relationship between love and obedience? How does this relate to the two trees? [28:23]
4. How does Romans 5:8 illustrate God's love for us, even when we are sinners? [21:44]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Tree of Life differ from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in terms of our approach to God? [05:58]
2. Why is it important to understand that Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to be close to God? How does this affect our daily lives? [15:21]
3. How can the devil's strategy of appealing to our desire to be godly lead us away from a true relationship with God? [10:01]
4. What does it mean to "obey out of delight" rather than "obey out of duty," and how can this change our perspective on following God's commandments? [22:51]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current approach to God. Do you find yourself trying to earn His favor through your actions, or are you living from the Tree of Life? How can you shift your approach if needed? [01:54]
2. The sermon mentioned that the devil uses lies to deceive us. Can you identify any lies you have believed about your relationship with God? How can you replace these lies with the truth? [09:04]
3. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." How can you cultivate a deeper love for Jesus in your daily life, making obedience a natural response? [28:23]
4. Think about a time when you felt shame or condemnation. How can you respond to such feelings with the life-giving truth of the Tree of Life? [12:22]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of guarding our hearts from swinging back to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. What practical steps can you take to guard your heart and stay rooted in the Tree of Life? [39:00]
6. How can you serve God through relationships rather than rules in your interactions with others? Give a specific example of how you can apply this in your life this week. [31:08]
7. Identify one area in your life where you have been trying to get God's approval. How can you shift your mindset to receive the fact that He already loves you, even on your worst days? [19:56]
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart of Our Approach to God
Our approach to God is more important than the actions we take. Many people have a misguided understanding of God, viewing Christianity as a set of rituals rather than a relationship. This misconception leads to a wrong approach, making Christianity feel like an obligation rather than a joy. When we see God as a distant figure who demands rituals and performances, we miss out on the intimate relationship He desires with us. Instead, we should approach God with a heart that seeks a genuine relationship, understanding that He is a loving Father who wants to be close to us.
This shift in perspective transforms our faith from a burdensome set of rules to a joyful journey of growing closer to God. It allows us to experience the freedom and life that come from knowing Him personally. As we begin this 12-week journey, let us focus on approaching God with the right heart, seeking a relationship rather than mere religious observance. [01:54]
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from religious rituals to seeking a genuine relationship with God today?
Day 2: Two Trees, Two Approaches
The story of Adam and Eve presents two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees symbolize two different approaches to God. The Tree of Life represents a life-giving, transformative relationship with God, while the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil represents a performance-based, external obedience that leads to death. The Tree of Life invites us to live in the freedom and joy of knowing that God has already done everything necessary for us to be close to Him.
In contrast, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil leads us to believe that we must earn God's favor through our efforts. This approach results in a burdensome and joyless faith, filled with shame and condemnation. By choosing to live from the Tree of Life, we embrace the truth that our relationship with God is based on His grace and love, not our performance. [05:58]
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days."
Reflection: In what ways have you been approaching God through performance rather than relationship? How can you choose the Tree of Life today?
Day 3: The Deception of Self-Effort
The devil's strategy is to make us choose the wrong tree by appealing to our desire to be godly, but through the wrong means. This deception leads us to believe that we can achieve godliness through our efforts rather than through a relationship with God. The result is shame and condemnation, rather than the life and freedom that God intends for us. The enemy's tactic is to twist our good desire to be close to God into a burdensome and impossible task of self-effort.
When we fall into this trap, we find ourselves constantly striving and never feeling good enough. This is not the life God wants for us. He desires for us to rest in the finished work of Jesus and to live in the freedom that comes from knowing we are already loved and accepted by Him. [10:01]
Galatians 3:3 (ESV): "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
Reflection: Can you identify areas in your life where you are trying to earn God's favor through your efforts? How can you shift your focus to resting in His grace?
Day 4: Embracing the Finished Work of Jesus
To live from the Tree of Life, we must understand that Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to be close to God. This realization brings life and freedom, as opposed to the death that comes from trying to earn God's favor through our efforts. When we embrace the finished work of Jesus, we experience the joy and transformation that come from a genuine relationship with God.
This truth liberates us from the constant striving and performance-based mentality that leads to burnout and discouragement. Instead, we can live in the assurance that we are already loved and accepted by God because of what Jesus has done. This understanding transforms our obedience from a burdensome duty to a joyful response to God's love. [15:21]
Hebrews 10:14 (ESV): "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
Reflection: How does understanding the finished work of Jesus change the way you approach your relationship with God? What steps can you take to live in this freedom today?
Day 5: Guarding Our Hearts
We must guard our hearts from swinging back to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This involves making conscious decisions to live from the Tree of Life, focusing on our relationship with God rather than external obedience. This choice leads to a joyful, transformative relationship with God. It requires vigilance and intentionality to keep our hearts aligned with the truth of God's grace and love.
By regularly examining our motives and actions, we can ensure that we are living from a place of relationship rather than performance. This ongoing process helps us to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us and to avoid the pitfalls of legalism and self-effort. [39:00]
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to guard your heart and ensure you are living from the Tree of Life? How can you remind yourself daily of God's grace and love?
Quotes
1. "Your approach to freedom is more important than the curriculum itself. In other words, while the curriculum is great and you're going to see that, your approach to God and how you view your journey towards God is what's most important. And the reason why I say that is when it comes to Christianity, a lot of people have a really a misguided understanding of who God is. You might even call it maybe like a branding problem." [01:02] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We have this view of God and it's almost like we have to endure the service. You ever been in a church like that? Like, I guess I'll go. I'll endure the message this week. I'll endure, you know, the fellowship this week. And it's just kind of like we have this wrong approach to church and to God." [01:54] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The problem with that is, you know, we see Christianity not as a relationship, but being a part of a denomination or some type of religious organization. And it's really about a relationship with God and knowing Him versus being part of an organization." [03:40] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "How you view God will determine how you approach Him. And this applies to your marriage and your finances and every aspect of your life, because you want to approach God through life-giving relationship, not learned behavior. Amen?" [07:14] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The tree of the knowledge of good and evil says, do more to get to God. It says do more to get to God. Now I think a lot of people actually have believed this growing up. Because we tend to sometimes look at God like kind of a Wizard of Oz kind of view of God." [13:23] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "What we have to realize though is here's what the Tree of Life says, that to receive the fact that Jesus has already done it. To receive the fact that Jesus has already done it. The realization of that brings so much, I think, life to us as we begin to understand that everything that needs to be done to get to God has been done. Amen? It's been done." [15:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "You can fulfill the commands of the Bible better by falling in love with God rather than trying to obey everything the Bible tells you to do. Why don't you think about that? You can fulfill the commands of the Bible better by falling in love with God rather than trying to obey everything the Bible tells you to do." [30:35] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Temptation is a test of your relationship with God not your self-control. Think about that for a second. Temptation is a test of your relationship with God, not your self-control. So next time you're tempted and we're all going to be tempted, right? Realize that it probably exposes more about how close you are to God rather than how disciplined you are." [33:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Condemnation says you messed up and you're a bum. I can't believe you did that. Conviction says this, you messed up and here's the way out. It's just a different approach. And by the way, it's really easy for us to receive that personally. It's a little harder for us to extend that to others." [34:43] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "What are you going to do to be godly? What are you going to do? How are you going to pursue God? What's going to be your approach? Back to the question. What's going to be your approach to God? And here's the answer. In a word, you have to make a choice. You have to make a choice, and you have to make it all the time." [40:35] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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