Clinging to Christ: Faithfulness, Love, and Purpose

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's unwavering faithfulness and the transformative power of His love. Life can be challenging, and as Rocky Balboa famously said, nothing can beat you down like life. However, when our lives are built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, we can withstand any storm. God has promised never to leave or forsake us, and it is our responsibility to cling tightly to His promises. We are reminded that hope has a name, and that name is Jesus. He has proven Himself time and again, and His love is the anchor that holds us together.

We delved into the concept of spiritual non-negotiables, emphasizing that as followers of Christ, we are called to live with purpose. Our lives have been radically redeemed and restored by God's amazing grace, and we are saved on purpose for a purpose. This purpose is not only for the world around us but also for those closest to us—our families, friends, and communities. We are called to be light, witnesses, and ambassadors, representing Christ in all we do.

The love of Christ is what constrains us, holding us tightly together and preventing us from drifting away. It is a love that is not a response to our actions but an initiation from God Himself. Jesus presented Himself as a sacrificial offering, willingly laying down His life for us. This sacrificial love is the foundation of our faith, and it compels us to live lives that honor and glorify God.

As we partake in communion, we remember the price Jesus paid for us. The bread symbolizes His body, and the juice represents His blood, reminding us of His sacrificial death. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a profound acknowledgment of the love that saved us.

Finally, we are encouraged to take a step of generosity, recognizing that as our church grows, so do our responsibilities. We are blessed to be a blessing, and by supporting the mission of the church, we can continue to reach more people with the message of Christ's love.

Key Takeaways:

- God's faithfulness is unwavering, and His promises are a firm foundation. When life gets tough, we must cling to His promises, knowing that He will never leave or forsake us. Our hope is in Jesus, who has proven Himself time and again. [00:57]

- Spiritual non-negotiables are essential for living a purposeful life. As followers of Christ, we are called to be light, witnesses, and ambassadors, representing Him in all we do. Our purpose is not only for the world but also for those closest to us. [10:57]

- The love of Christ constrains us, holding us together and preventing us from drifting away. This love is not a response to our actions but an initiation from God. Jesus willingly laid down His life for us, and this sacrificial love is the foundation of our faith. [15:24]

- Communion is a profound act of remembrance, acknowledging the price Jesus paid for us. The bread and juice symbolize His body and blood, reminding us of His sacrificial death. This act is not just a ritual but a deep acknowledgment of the love that saved us. [30:56]

- Generosity is a step of faith that supports the mission of the church. As our church grows, so do our responsibilities. By supporting the mission, we can continue to reach more people with the message of Christ's love and see lives transformed. [33:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:57] - God's Faithfulness and Promises
- [03:00] - Prayer and Gratitude
- [05:00] - Spiritual Non-Negotiables
- [07:30] - Purposeful Living in Christ
- [10:57] - The Love of Christ Constrains Us
- [15:24] - Jesus' Sacrificial Love
- [18:18] - The Need for a Savior
- [21:00] - Faith and Salvation
- [24:00] - Invitation to Accept Christ
- [27:27] - Celebrating New Believers
- [30:56] - Communion: Remembering the Sacrifice
- [33:47] - Call to Generosity
- [36:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
2. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
3. 2 Corinthians 5:14 - "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Matthew 6:33 suggest about the priorities we should have in our lives? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on seeking God's kingdom first? [09:00]

2. According to Ephesians 2:10, what is the purpose of our creation in Christ Jesus? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about being saved on purpose for a purpose? [12:00]

3. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, what does it mean for the love of Christ to "control" or "constrain" us? How was this concept explained in the sermon? [15:24]

4. How does the sermon describe the significance of communion in relation to Jesus' sacrificial love? [30:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might seeking first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) change the way a believer approaches daily challenges and decisions? [09:00]

2. What does it mean to be God's workmanship, as described in Ephesians 2:10, and how does this understanding impact a believer's sense of identity and purpose? [12:00]

3. How does the concept of being constrained by Christ's love (2 Corinthians 5:14) influence a believer's actions and decisions? What practical examples were given in the sermon? [15:24]

4. In what ways does the act of communion serve as a reminder of Jesus' sacrificial love, and how should this influence a believer's life and faith? [30:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where life felt overwhelming. How can you apply the principle of seeking God's kingdom first to find peace and direction in similar situations? [09:00]

2. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to be a light or witness. What steps can you take this week to fulfill this purpose? [12:00]

3. Think of a time when you felt constrained by Christ's love to act in a certain way. How did this influence your decision, and how can you remain open to such guidance in the future? [15:24]

4. How can the remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice during communion inspire you to live a life that honors and glorifies God? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with this inspiration? [30:56]

5. Consider the role of generosity in your life. How can you take a step of faith in this area to support the mission of your church or community? [33:47]

6. Reflect on your spiritual non-negotiables. Are there any areas where you feel you might be drifting? What practical steps can you take to stay anchored in your faith? [15:24]

7. How can you actively represent Christ in your family, workplace, or community this week? Identify one specific action you can take to be a witness or ambassador for Christ. [12:00]

Devotional

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Quotes



"So God became a man right the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we realized that Jesus Christ didn't come here by accident he came here on purpose for a purpose and that's because we needed a clean heart a brand new start we needed our lives restored back into the family of God and so we study the Bible at Granite United Church we don't care about church tradition we don't we don't ask what does the denomination say at Granite we want to know what does the Bible say what does the Bible say in proper context and what are you gonna do because that's the tension the tension isn't finding God's will it's obeying and surrendering to God's will right and so what we've learned through this series is God's Word is God's will God's will is what's best for your life despite when anybody who they who truly cares about you says the best plan for your life is God's plan God's Word reveals his will his will is his best and God's best brings his blessing and that's why Jesus said in Matthew 6 33 seek first the kingdom of God in his righteousness he's got everything else taken care of so we go all the way back to week number one and we're like in week number nine I don't even know and we said when we focus on father's business God takes care of our business and that's what Jesus meant said seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness the father's got everything else taken care of and then we realize the Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10 where we learn in the Bible that those of us who now know Christ we are in Christ someone say in Christ and Ephesians 2 10 says that" [00:03:39] (109 seconds)


"And then we realized Paul's like, at the end of the day, there's something that keeps us totally like, I'm not going to disappoint the Lord. I am not drifting. I am not walking away. I am not going to abandon my spiritual non -negotiables. We learned last week, if you were able to attend online, three of those I am's were this. I am light, so I must shine. I am a witness, so I must share. I am an ambassador, so I must represent. Somebody say represent." [00:07:43] (37 seconds)


"And so we know this as followers of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 10, we're called to draw attention to ourself, to bring glory to? And yet, this is why the spiritual non -negotiables have to be I musts in our lives, because, again, saved on purpose for a purpose, and that purpose just isn't for the world that's out there among us, but for some of us, it's for those who live with us, for our spouses, for our children, for our tweenagers, for our teenagers, for our family, our friends. Why? Because, listen, we are light. We are a witness. We need to represent as ambassadors, because..." [00:08:45] (45 seconds)


"Paul's like, hey, hey, all this stuff that God saved you, awesome. That God separated you. You're now holy. You're a priesthood. That's all great. You're one of a kind, God designed masterpiece. Somebody say amen. He's like, that's great. But I'm going to tell you the one thing that constraineth us. And I use the King James Version because this word constraineth, I'm sure you used it a lot, this past week, is really the word, the best English translation of the word in the original language. And here's what the word constraineth meaneth. It means this. It means constraineth. To hold tightly together." [00:09:39] (45 seconds)


"It means to press it in. To keep the pressure on. To keep it from getting loosey -goosey. To keep it from falling apart. Paul says, here's what he's saying. He says, after everything we've studied, here's the thing that keeps it tight for me. Here's the thing that I can't get over. Here's the thing that keeps it from getting loosey -goosey for me. Here's the thing that keeps it from breaking apart. Here's the thing that keeps it from breaking apart. Here's the thing that keeps it from breaking apart." [00:10:24] (34 seconds)


"I can't get over the love of Jesus Christ. I can't get over how God loves me. I can't get over what Jesus did for me. It is the love of Christ because here's the deal. I know me." [00:10:57] (17 seconds)


"And Paul's like, you know, if you follow Paul's writings, the older, the more mature he became in Christ, the more he understood how undeserving he was of what Christ did for him. He was constantly blown away by God's love." [00:11:14] (25 seconds)


"He's like, at the end of the day, nobody loved me like Jesus. Nobody cares for me like Jesus. Nobody's done anything for me like Jesus. And that's why I can't drift. That's why I can't slip away. That's why I can't walk away. This is what keeps it together for me. I keep my mind focused on God's love for me. And here's what you got to understand. He went first." [00:11:31] (27 seconds)


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Transcript
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