Deepening Our Connection with God Through Jesus
Summary
In today's sermon, I explored the profound nature of our relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of slowing down in our spiritual practices to truly connect with Him. I began by discussing the upcoming church events, including the ASC pray prayer online, the AGM and potluck, and our baptism Sunday on Easter. I highlighted the significance of these communal activities in fostering our spiritual growth and connection with the church family.
I then delved into the essence of God's nature and Jesus as the Word, drawing from the Gospel of John. I explained that Jesus shares God's attributes and is the personal revelation of our relational God. This understanding is crucial because it means that Jesus is not only a friend and brother to us but also deserving of our reverence and awe as the all-powerful God.
I also addressed the challenges we face in feeling connected to God. I shared personal anecdotes and biblical insights to illustrate that our feelings do not always reflect the reality of God's presence. I encouraged the congregation to trust in God's unchanging nature, even when our emotions suggest otherwise.
Furthermore, I offered practical advice on how to deepen our relationship with God. I suggested starting each day by dedicating it to God, reading the Bible slowly to allow it to impact our souls, and meditating on God's love. I emphasized the importance of prayer, using the Lord's Prayer as a guide, and the necessity of obedience to God's will.
I concluded the sermon with a call to action for those who have not yet committed their lives to Jesus. I led the congregation in a prayer of commitment and welcomed new believers into the family of God.
Key Takeaways:
- Slowing down in our spiritual practices allows us to be present with God and hear His voice more clearly. It's not about the quantity of time we spend in prayer or Bible reading, but the quality of our engagement with God. This practice can transform our inner dialogue into an ongoing conversation with the Divine. [01:23:47]
- Jesus, as the Word, is not only a part of the Trinity but also the personal revelation of God's relational nature. Understanding Jesus as both fully divine and fully human bridges the gap between us and God, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him. [55:37]
- Our feelings are not always reliable indicators of God's presence. We must remember that God's commitment to us is not based on our emotions but on His steadfast love and promises. This understanding can help us maintain our faith during spiritual dry spells. [01:01:49]
- Incorporating the Lord's Prayer into our daily prayer routine can provide structure and depth. It guides us through worship, submission to God's will, petition, repentance, and spiritual warfare, covering all aspects of our relationship with God. [01:18:11]
- Obedience to God's commands is a crucial aspect of our relationship with Him. Disobedience can lead to a sense of spiritual disconnect, while following His guidance can bring us closer to His heart and purposes for our lives. [01:21:13]
In summary, today's message was an invitation to slow down and intentionally seek a deeper connection with God through Jesus Christ. By understanding Jesus as the Word, embracing the full spectrum of our relationship with God, and committing to daily practices of devotion, we can experience the transformative power of His love and presence in our lives.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:1-5 (ESV) - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
2. John 15:4-5 (ESV) - "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 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."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 1:1-5, what are the key attributes of Jesus as the Word? How does this passage describe His relationship with God? [49:16]
2. In John 15:4-5, what does Jesus mean by "abide in me"? What is the result of abiding in Him according to these verses? [01:06:50]
3. The sermon mentioned that Jesus shares God's attributes and is the personal revelation of our relational God. How does John 1:1-5 support this statement? [49:57]
4. What practical advice did the pastor give for deepening our relationship with God? List at least three suggestions mentioned in the sermon. [01:08:14]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus is described as the Word in John 1:1-5? How does this understanding impact our view of Jesus' divinity and humanity? [49:57]
2. How can the concept of "abiding in Jesus" from John 15:4-5 be applied to our daily spiritual practices? What does it mean to remain in Him practically? [01:06:50]
3. The pastor mentioned that our feelings are not always reliable indicators of God's presence. How can we reconcile our emotions with the truth of God's unchanging nature? [01:01:49]
4. How does understanding Jesus as both fully divine and fully human bridge the gap between us and God? What implications does this have for our personal relationship with Him? [55:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are you taking the time to slow down and truly connect with God? What changes can you make to improve the quality of your engagement with Him? [01:23:47]
2. Think about a time when you felt disconnected from God. How did you handle that situation? What steps can you take to trust in God's unchanging nature during similar times in the future? [01:01:49]
3. The pastor suggested starting each day by dedicating it to God. How can you incorporate this practice into your morning routine? What specific prayer or action will you take? [01:08:14]
4. How can you incorporate the Lord's Prayer into your daily prayer routine to provide structure and depth? What part of the Lord's Prayer resonates most with you, and why? [01:18:11]
5. Reflect on the importance of obedience in your relationship with God. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to obey, but you have been hesitant? What steps will you take to follow His guidance? [01:21:13]
6. The pastor emphasized the importance of meditating on God's love. How can you create a habit of meditation in your daily life? What specific scripture or aspect of God's love will you focus on this week? [01:10:46]
7. Consider the communal activities mentioned in the sermon (ASC pray prayer online, AGM and potluck, baptism Sunday). How can participating in these events help you foster a deeper connection with your church family and with God? [43:43]
Devotional
Day 1: Presence Over Pace in Spiritual Practice
In a world that values speed and efficiency, it's easy to approach our spiritual life with the same hurried mindset. However, the true essence of connecting with God lies in the quality of our engagement, not the quantity. Slowing down allows us to be present with God, to hear His voice more clearly, and to let our inner dialogue evolve into a continuous conversation with the Divine. This practice isn't about ticking off a checklist of spiritual tasks but about nurturing a deep, personal relationship with our Creator. By taking the time to be still, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and guidance in our lives. [01:23:47]
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10)
Reflection: How can you create a daily routine that includes intentional moments of stillness to connect with God?
Day 2: Jesus: The Bridge to the Divine
Understanding Jesus as the Word is to recognize Him as the ultimate revelation of God's relational nature. Jesus, fully divine and fully human, bridges the gap between humanity and the Divine, inviting us into a deeper relationship with God. He is not just a friend or brother but also the all-powerful God deserving of our reverence. This dual nature of Jesus allows us to relate to God in a personal way, understanding that He is accessible and empathetic to our human experience while also being the sovereign Lord of the universe. [55:37]
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of Jesus as both God and man in your daily spiritual walk?
Day 3: Trusting God Beyond Our Feelings
Our emotions are fickle and can often lead us to feel disconnected from God. However, the steadfast love and promises of God are not contingent on our fluctuating feelings. Trusting in God's unchanging nature is essential, especially during times when we feel spiritually dry. By anchoring our faith in His promises, we can navigate through emotional highs and lows with the assurance that God's presence in our lives is constant and unwavering. [01:01:49]
"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6)
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you felt distant from God and how you were reminded of His constant presence?
Day 4: Structured Prayer Through the Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is a profound template that Jesus provided for our daily communication with God. It encompasses worship, submission to God's will, petition, repentance, and spiritual warfare. By incorporating this prayer into our daily routine, we can ensure that our prayers cover all aspects of our relationship with God. This structured approach to prayer can deepen our spiritual life and provide a comprehensive framework for our conversations with the Divine. [01:18:11]
"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'" (Matthew 6:9-10)
Reflection: How can the structure of the Lord's Prayer guide and enhance your personal prayer life today?
Day 5: Obedience as the Path to Intimacy with God
Obedience to God's commands is not merely a duty but a pathway to a closer relationship with Him. Disobedience can create a barrier between us and God, while obedience aligns us with His heart and purposes for our lives. By following God's guidance, we demonstrate our love and trust in Him, which in turn fosters a deeper sense of spiritual connection and fulfillment. [01:21:13]
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
Reflection: What is one area of God's commands you struggle with, and how can you take a step towards obedience today?
Quotes
1) "God wants us to talk to him but sometimes he wants us to shut up and just be with him. Just be with him and what you will find over time as you practice just dedicating your day to him, slowing down and just being with him is all of a sudden, I have found that I'll be driving down the road and all of a sudden I'll just find out that my inner dialogue is actually prayer." [01:23:47] ()
2) "We got to slow down. Can you imagine if you spoke to your spouse or your best friend that way? It's so great to be with you, how was your day, good, that's awesome, alright yeah talk to you later. Like if that was every conversation you had. We need to dedicate our time to the Lord, we should slow down and then start with the Bible." [01:12:36] ()
3) "If you're reading narrative, you let it hit your soul, let a word or an image or a feeling hit your soul and then here's the thing, a lot of us Protestants, evangelicals, we're very anti-meditation aren't we? Christian meditation is actually ruminate, it's what cows do, you chew on the cud, you swallow the cud, you bring the cud back up, you chew on it some more." [01:16:28] ()
4) "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name, that's a time where I give him thanks for the things that he's done and I ask him to be glorified in my life. Give us this day our daily bread, God I need this thing here, I need you to be working in this way. Forgive us our trespasses, that's called repentance by the way." [01:18:11] ()
5) "Obey, you know the darkest nights of the soul that I have experienced are those times where God 6 months prior had told me to do something and I'd gone that's not really my jam God, I'm not going to do that. Sitting there beating my head against the wall, God why aren't you doing anything? And all of a sudden it's like, well have you done such and such yet?" [01:21:13] ()
6) "Jesus the word shares God's nature. What this also means is that when I come before Jesus as we're going to see in a moment, we come before Jesus as a friend, as a brother, but we also come before him with a reverence and an awe understanding that he is all powerful, that he stands so far above us as to be incomprehensible." [54:53] ()
7) "Jesus is the word, what is the word? Well the word behind word is the Greek word logos and logos is actually a brilliant term utilized by John here because as he writes to both Greek and Hebrew audiences, this word combines both into one. For Greeks, the logos is the rational mind that rules the universe." [55:37] ()
8) "God loves us and he humbled himself in the person of Jesus Christ to come and be born of the Virgin Mary, to live the life that we cannot live, to bridge the gap between us and God. And not only that but he walks across the bridge that he creates and invites us into what only he can invite us into." [01:00:24] ()
9) "Sometimes our feelings do not share the whole story with us. Just because you feel some sort of way does not mean that that is the reality of the Universe. Rebecca has been struggling as of late, she's developed this propensity to look at people's looks or their lack of response and interpret in such a way that she's like they all hate me." [01:02:32] ()
10) "How fast do we go through life? I got to get this done and I got to get that done. When's the last time that you were going at a pace through life where you had that weird feeling you need to stop off there and you actually went okay and you stopped off somewhere? Or where you felt like God wanted you to say something to someone and you weren't like God there's someone waiting in the car I got to go." [01:11:28] ()
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