Deep and Wide: Rooted in God's Love for Growth
Summary
In this New Year sermon, I shared a vision for Risen Church as we embark on a journey called "Deep and Wide" for 2025. This vision is rooted in Ephesians 3, where Paul prays for the church to be strengthened in their inner being through the Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. The imagery of a tree rooted in the gospel of God's love is central to this vision, symbolizing our church's growth in depth and width for God's glory. This tree, with its roots deep in God's love, trunk and branches as conduits of grace, and fruit for the kingdom, represents our call to grow both individually and corporately.
The vision is not just a plan but a prophetic image that captures our imagination and passion, calling us to lift our eyes to something greater than ourselves. It is a call to lasting growth that goes deep in God's love and wide in God's mission. This growth is not about fleeting success but about being rooted in God's love, which surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God. It is about being conduits of God's love, stretching out to the world and producing fruit for His kingdom.
Drawing from Ezekiel's vision of a river flowing from the temple, we see a picture of God's love and presence flowing to the nations, bringing life wherever it goes. This river symbolizes the gospel, which transforms and heals, calling us to be part of this great commission. We are invited to wade into this river, to be filled with God's love, and to let it flow through us to the world.
As we step into 2025, we are called to be strong and courageous, sending our roots deep into the gospel, standing tall as conduits of grace, and celebrating the fruit of God's kingdom. This vision challenges us to take personal risks, to bring Jesus into every relationship, and to partner together in this mission. It is a call to embrace the fullness of God's love and to let it transform us and those around us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Rooted in Love: Our growth begins with being deeply rooted in God's love, which surpasses knowledge and fills us with His fullness. This love is the foundation for our strength and courage, enabling us to let go of worldly attachments and trust in God's goodness. [12:30]
2. Vision and Passion: True vision is a picture of the future that ignites passion in the present. It is not just a plan but a call to lift our eyes to something greater, capturing our imagination and commitment for God's kingdom. [08:11]
3. Conduits of Grace: We are called to stand tall and stretch wide as conduits of God's grace, bringing Jesus into every relationship. This requires personal risks and a commitment to God's mission, fueled by His love. [46:28]
4. Fruitful Living: Celebrating the fruit of God's kingdom involves recognizing our role as both the fruit and the bearers of fruit. We are called to glorify God and embrace His heart for the lost, partnering in His great commission. [51:03]
5. Partnership in Mission: Church is not just an event but a partnership in mission. We are invited to join together in prayer, fasting, and community, seeking God's vision for our lives and our church in 2025. [57:56]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:58] - Introduction to Deep and Wide
- [07:14] - The Power of Vision
- [09:45] - The Gospel Tree Imagery
- [12:30] - Rooted in God's Love
- [15:42] - Commissioned for God's Glory
- [20:01] - Ezekiel's Vision of the River
- [24:26] - Trees by the River
- [28:21] - Revelation and the Tree of Life
- [31:20] - Practical Application: Roots, Trunk, and Fruit
- [34:34] - Courage to Dive into God's Love
- [39:21] - Community and Commitment
- [46:28] - Stretching Wide in Mission
- [51:03] - Celebrating the Fruit
- [57:56] - Invitation to Prayer and Fasting
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Deep and Wide Vision for 2025
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 3:14-21
2. Ezekiel 47:1-12
3. Revelation 22:1-2
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Observation Questions:
1. In Ephesians 3:14-21, what does Paul pray for the church, and how does he describe the love of Christ? How does this relate to the imagery of a tree rooted in the gospel? [10:48]
2. According to Ezekiel 47:1-12, what transformation occurs as the river flows from the temple? How does this imagery connect to the sermon’s vision of God's love flowing to the nations? [20:01]
3. Revelation 22:1-2 describes a river and a tree. What are the characteristics of the tree, and how do they symbolize the church's role in the world? [28:21]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the church as conduits of grace, and what personal risks are involved in this mission? [46:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "rooted and grounded in love" according to Ephesians 3, and how does this foundation enable believers to comprehend the fullness of God? [12:30]
2. How does the vision of the river in Ezekiel 47 challenge the church to engage with the world, and what does it mean for the church to be a source of healing and life? [25:33]
3. In what ways does the imagery of the tree of life in Revelation 22 inspire the church to bear fruit for God's kingdom, and how does this relate to the sermon’s call for fruitful living? [27:36]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of vision and passion. How does this vision capture the imagination and commitment of the church for God's kingdom? [08:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal spiritual roots. How can you deepen your understanding and experience of God's love this year? What specific practices can help you stay rooted in His love? [34:34]
2. The sermon calls for taking personal risks to bring Jesus into every relationship. Identify one relationship where you can take a step of faith to share God's love. What might that look like practically? [46:28]
3. Consider the vision of being conduits of grace. How can you actively participate in your church's mission to reach out to the community? What specific actions can you take to stretch wide in God's mission? [43:57]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of celebrating the fruit of God's kingdom. How can you recognize and celebrate the spiritual growth and impact in your life and community? [51:03]
5. The sermon invites the church to partner in prayer and fasting. How can you incorporate these spiritual disciplines into your routine to align with God's vision for your life and church? [57:56]
6. Reflect on the imagery of the river bringing life wherever it flows. How can you be a source of life and healing in your workplace, neighborhood, or family? What steps can you take to let God's love flow through you? [25:33]
7. The sermon challenges us to embrace God's vision for our lives. What is one area where you feel God is calling you to grow deeper and wider in 2025? How can you take practical steps to pursue this vision? [52:56]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Rooted in God's Love
Our spiritual growth begins with being deeply rooted in God's love, which surpasses all knowledge and fills us with His fullness. This love is the foundation for our strength and courage, enabling us to let go of worldly attachments and trust in God's goodness. When we are rooted in His love, we find the strength to face challenges and the courage to pursue His calling for our lives. This deep-rooted love is not just a feeling but a transformative power that shapes our identity and purpose. It calls us to live beyond ourselves, to be vessels of His grace and truth in a world that desperately needs it. [12:30]
Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Think of a specific area in your life where you feel disconnected from God's love. How can you intentionally root yourself in His love today, perhaps through prayer, meditation, or an act of kindness?
Day 2: Vision and Passion
True vision is a picture of the future that ignites passion in the present. It is not merely a plan but a call to lift our eyes to something greater, capturing our imagination and commitment for God's kingdom. This vision challenges us to see beyond our current circumstances and to dream of what God can do through us. It is a prophetic image that stirs our hearts and compels us to action, inviting us to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. As we embrace this vision, we find our passion renewed and our purpose clarified, aligning our lives with God's greater story. [08:11]
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (ESV): "And the Lord answered me: 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.'"
Reflection: What is a vision or dream that God has placed on your heart? How can you take a small step today to pursue this vision with passion and commitment?
Day 3: Conduits of Grace
We are called to stand tall and stretch wide as conduits of God's grace, bringing Jesus into every relationship. This requires personal risks and a commitment to God's mission, fueled by His love. As conduits of grace, we are invited to be channels through which God's love and truth flow to others. This means stepping out of our comfort zones, engaging with those around us, and being intentional about sharing the hope we have in Christ. It is a call to live authentically and courageously, allowing God's grace to transform our interactions and relationships. [46:28]
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: Identify one relationship where you can be a conduit of God's grace today. What specific action can you take to demonstrate His love and truth in that relationship?
Day 4: Fruitful Living
Celebrating the fruit of God's kingdom involves recognizing our role as both the fruit and the bearers of fruit. We are called to glorify God and embrace His heart for the lost, partnering in His great commission. Fruitful living is about more than personal success; it is about contributing to God's kingdom and making a lasting impact in the lives of others. As we bear fruit, we reflect God's character and extend His love to those around us, inviting them to experience the fullness of life in Christ. This is a call to live intentionally and purposefully, aligning our lives with God's mission. [51:03]
John 15:5, 8 (ESV): "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing... By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can bear more fruit for God's kingdom? How can you intentionally cultivate this area to glorify God and bless others?
Day 5: Partnership in Mission
Church is not just an event but a partnership in mission. We are invited to join together in prayer, fasting, and community, seeking God's vision for our lives and our church in 2025. This partnership calls us to move beyond individualism and embrace the power of community, working together to fulfill God's purposes. As we partner in mission, we find strength in unity and encouragement in shared vision, supporting one another in our journey of faith. It is a call to be active participants in God's work, contributing our gifts and resources to advance His kingdom. [57:56]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in the mission of your church community this week? What specific steps can you take to contribute to the shared vision and support others in their journey of faith?
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Quotes
"Lasting growth goes deep in God's love and wide in God's mission, all for God's glory. Lasting growth, real growth. I'm not talking about a weed that just pops up and is gone. Real growth, lasting growth, healthy growth goes deep. Deep in God's love and wide in God's mission, all for God's glory." [00:06:14] (35 seconds)
"One of my favorite definitions of vision, though, is that it's a picture of something in the future that produces passion in the present. Think about that. That vision is a picture of something in the future. Utilizing your imagination, seeing what things could be in the future, and that produces then a passion in the present for that thing to come about, that vision, that image." [00:07:28] (29 seconds)
"Now, discipline is part of it. But that discipline is all a discipline to keep your roots in his love. To not be uprooted. That's what discipline does. But discipline is not an end in itself. Discipline, obedience, all of that stuff is for those who recognize and fear God and fear going anywhere from or apart from God and root deep into his love." [00:12:55] (30 seconds)
"The vision that Paul is casting here, the vision that the Bible is casting for us all is to wade into this river of God's love in Christ, to dive in and be filled up, to take deep draughts. Of this gospel, even when it's crazy intimidating. In order that you then fulfill your commission." [00:15:24] (24 seconds)
"And it's through the resurrection, Jesus paves the way to eternal life with God the Father. And it's an eternal life that starts now, not just one day when we die. It starts the moment we place our faith and our hope in what Christ did for us through the cross and through resurrection. And he fills us up with his Holy Spirit, and he begins to transform us from the inside out, and he begins to call us to drink deeply of this living water, this river of life." [00:23:21] (27 seconds)
"Send your roots deep into the gospel of God's love in Christ. Send your roots. I mean, like, send it. Right? Like, just send it. Go for it. Send them deep into the gospel of God's love in Christ. Number two, trunk and branches. Stand tall and stretch wide as conduits of grace on mission with the Lord." [00:33:03] (27 seconds)
"Guys, when you're abiding in the river of life and you're drinking deeply from his love and his grace and his glory, it gives you a backbone and a confidence that makes you like a pillar in the midst of an insecure world. The good thing about the trunk of a tree is that it's sturdy. It's reliable. It's committed. It's rooted like a pillar for the kingdom of God in a world full of shifting priorities." [00:44:16] (28 seconds)
"Transformed lives, disciples making disciples, church planting churches, God's kingdom going and growing deep and wide on earth as it is in heaven. And the moment we as a church lose sight of this great commission is the moment we've lost sight of it. sight of jesus and made it about ourselves our city is littered with those types of relics they have steeples on top but they've lost complete sight of his great commission now our city is also full of some amazing churches praise god right and we continually stand with them pray with them partner with them and move the kingdom forward but we all have to keep our eyes fixed on the king and his kingdom so we're not just talking about gathering a crowd here we're talking about lasting growth that goes deep in god's love and wide in god's mission all for god's glory guys i truly believe that partnering together with risen church can be one of if not the most exciting thing that god does in your life ever i really believe that what an honor what an opportunity we're praying for a more permanent facility here to help grow deeper and wider we're praying for god to raise up more leaders to make more disciples to launch more community groups we're excited to be launching our weekly risen youth next sunday yeah amen i'm excited which is already shaping to be pretty amazing ministry um we want to embrace those families with pre -teens and teenagers with the gospel like i can already think of a ton of people that i'm excited to invite now knowing that we have something for their middle schoolers right because some any middle schoolers in here right now are like can we end this sermon already but downstairs they're going to catch a lot and they're going to have fun it's going to be great okay and so here's my invitation would you join me in fasting and praying for risen church this wednesday during lunch we'll talk about what happens next week but this week on wednesday and you don't have to do it wednesday you can do it on tuesday it'd be you know it's nice to do it all together but on wednesday would you take that time during lunch and let that hunger be reoriented toward the heart of god and his great commission specifically through risen church to capture this vision like i'll be sending out some prayer prompts this week so again if you haven't filled out that connect card please do so so we can keep you informed and keep you updated this time of prayer and fasting is just to whet our appetites for the next few weeks as we dive in even deeper into prayer and worship and fasting and the heart behind it all which we're going to kick off next week but would you allow the lord to take you deeper and your life and the life of our own church to get deeper and wider would you let his spirit cast vision to you even in the midst of it like even now even now this morning would you let the vision of what could be this this year, draw you to your knees in prayer to ponder, meditate, reflect on, receive what God has for you. Maybe it's a vision of your own marriage." [00:52:56] (0 seconds)
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