Deepening Our Relationship: Knowing and Obeying God
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Arrows Church! Today, we delved into the essence of truly knowing God, as part of our summer series, "Prove It," which is a study through 1 John. We explored the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. In our culture, acquiring knowledge is easy, but the journey of truly knowing God is profound and transformative. We can know facts about God, but the real joy and fulfillment come from experiencing Him personally.
We discussed the importance of proving our relationship with God through three key aspects: knowing God, loving God, and believing in God. John, in his letter, provides us with tests to evaluate our relationship with God. Today, we focused on the first test: Do we obey God's commands? This isn't about knowing God superficially but knowing Him deeply and intimately.
We examined how our obedience to God's commands is a reflection of our love and knowledge of Him. Obedience is not a one-time action but a continuous commitment. John emphasizes that knowing God is not just about intellectual assent but about a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example.
We also touched on the reality that many people might think they know God but are not truly living in obedience to His commands. This is a call to self-examination and a deeper commitment to living out our faith authentically. Knowing God is not about perfection but about a genuine, ongoing relationship that transforms our lives.
### Key Takeaways
1. Knowing God vs. Knowing About God: There is a significant difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. Knowing about God is like acquiring information, but truly knowing Him involves a transformative journey that brings joy and fulfillment. This deep, personal relationship with God is what brings true spiritual growth and satisfaction. [06:16]
2. Obedience as Proof of Knowing God: Our obedience to God's commands is the evidence of our relationship with Him. John makes it clear that if we claim to know God but do not obey His commands, we are deceiving ourselves. True knowledge of God is reflected in our actions and our commitment to follow His ways. [14:12]
3. Continuous Obedience: Obedience to God is not a one-time event but a continuous, ongoing commitment. We are called to continually obey and walk as Jesus did. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [25:49]
4. Self-Examination: It's crucial to regularly examine our lives to ensure we are truly living in obedience to God. This involves asking ourselves hard questions and being honest about our spiritual state. If we find areas where we are not obeying God's commands, we need to address them and seek to grow in our relationship with Him. [29:34]
5. Confidence in Knowing God: John writes to assure us that we can have confidence in our relationship with God. We don't have to live in uncertainty or doubt. By living in obedience to God's commands and walking as Jesus did, we can know with certainty that we are in a genuine relationship with Him. [31:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:01] - Opening Prayer
[02:02] - Importance of Engaging with God's Word
[03:55] - Overview of the "Prove It" Series
[05:26] - Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
[08:56] - The Journey of Knowing God
[11:06] - The Importance of God's Existence
[14:12] - Obedience as Proof of Knowing God
[17:47] - What Commands to Obey
[19:42] - True Obedience to God's Commands
[22:27] - Two Types of People: Obedient vs. Disobedient
[25:49] - Continuous Obedience
[29:34] - Self-Examination and Spiritual Growth
[31:04] - Confidence in Knowing God
[34:36] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)
> "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 2:3-6, what is the evidence that we truly know God?
2. How does John describe the person who claims to know God but does not obey His commands? ([14:12])
3. What does it mean to "walk as Jesus did" according to the passage and the sermon? ([25:49])
4. How does John link obedience to God's commands with the completeness of God's love in us? ([23:43])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does John emphasize that knowing God is proven through obedience to His commands? How does this challenge common perceptions of faith? ([14:12])
2. What are the implications of John’s statement that someone who claims to know God but does not obey His commands is a liar? How does this affect our understanding of genuine faith? ([22:27])
3. How can continuous obedience to God's commands transform our relationship with Him? What does this look like in practical terms? ([25:49])
4. In what ways does self-examination play a role in ensuring we are living in obedience to God? How can this practice lead to spiritual growth? ([29:34])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you claim to know God but struggle to obey His commands? What steps can you take to align your actions with your faith? ([14:54])
2. How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God beyond just knowing about Him? What practical steps can you take this week to experience God personally? ([06:16])
3. Continuous obedience is a key theme in the sermon. Identify one specific command of God that you find challenging to obey consistently. What can you do to improve in this area? ([25:49])
4. Self-examination is crucial for spiritual growth. What are some hard questions you need to ask yourself to ensure you are living in obedience to God? How can you create a habit of regular self-examination? ([29:34])
5. John assures us that we can have confidence in our relationship with God. How can you build this confidence in your daily life? What practices or habits can help reinforce your faith and assurance? ([31:04])
6. Think of a time when you felt you were merely acquiring knowledge about God rather than truly knowing Him. What changes can you make to ensure your faith journey is more about experiencing God personally? ([06:16])
7. How can you support others in your small group or community to live out their faith authentically and in obedience to God's commands? What role can you play in encouraging and holding each other accountable? ([34:00])
Devotional
Day 1: The Difference Between Knowing God and Knowing About God
Knowing about God is like acquiring information, but truly knowing Him involves a transformative journey that brings joy and fulfillment. This deep, personal relationship with God is what brings true spiritual growth and satisfaction. In our culture, acquiring knowledge is easy, but the journey of truly knowing God is profound and transformative. We can know facts about God, but the real joy and fulfillment come from experiencing Him personally. This isn't about knowing God superficially but knowing Him deeply and intimately.
Our relationship with God should be more than just intellectual assent; it should be a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [06:16]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: Think about your current relationship with God. Are you merely acquiring information about Him, or are you experiencing a transformative relationship? What steps can you take today to deepen your personal experience with God?
Day 2: Obedience as Proof of Knowing God
Our obedience to God's commands is the evidence of our relationship with Him. John makes it clear that if we claim to know God but do not obey His commands, we are deceiving ourselves. True knowledge of God is reflected in our actions and our commitment to follow His ways. Obedience is not a one-time action but a continuous commitment.
John emphasizes that knowing God is not just about intellectual assent but about a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [14:12]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions. Are they in alignment with God's commands? What specific area of your life can you bring into greater obedience to God today?
Day 3: Continuous Obedience
Obedience to God is not a one-time event but a continuous, ongoing commitment. We are called to continually obey and walk as Jesus did. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will.
John emphasizes that knowing God is not just about intellectual assent but about a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [25:49]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: Consider your daily walk with God. Are you consistently obeying His commands? What practical steps can you take to ensure your obedience is continuous and not just occasional?
Day 4: Self-Examination
It's crucial to regularly examine our lives to ensure we are truly living in obedience to God. This involves asking ourselves hard questions and being honest about our spiritual state. If we find areas where we are not obeying God's commands, we need to address them and seek to grow in our relationship with Him.
John emphasizes that knowing God is not just about intellectual assent but about a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [29:34]
2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"
Reflection: Take a moment to examine your life. Are there areas where you are not living in obedience to God? What steps can you take to address these areas and grow in your relationship with Him?
Day 5: Confidence in Knowing God
John writes to assure us that we can have confidence in our relationship with God. We don't have to live in uncertainty or doubt. By living in obedience to God's commands and walking as Jesus did, we can know with certainty that we are in a genuine relationship with Him.
John emphasizes that knowing God is not just about intellectual assent but about a transformative relationship that manifests in our actions. We must walk as Jesus did, continually obeying and following His example. This means living a life of faith, trust, worship, and service, consistently aligning our actions with God's will. [31:04]
1 John 2:3-5 (ESV): "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him."
Reflection: Reflect on your confidence in your relationship with God. Do you live in uncertainty or doubt? How can living in obedience to God's commands help you gain confidence in your relationship with Him?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Arrows Church is a community where everyone's welcome. That includes you. Nobody's perfect. That also includes you. And with Jesus, anything is possible, and we believe that. And so if that's what you're looking for, man, stay aboard. Let's ride this ship, okay?" (16 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Knowing something feels the same as not knowing it. There's no euphoria in knowing it, right? Now, imagine this. Imagine I gave you a tape measure, a really long tape measure, but a tape measure, and a pencil and some sheets of paper, and I tasked you with finding out how many miles it was between Omaha and Henry. Can you imagine the journey that you would have to take? All the stops you would have to make, all the measurements, right? Everybody you would meet along the way, all the places you would have to stop and eat, the journey that you would take, the routes and the roads and all of that." (40 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Knowing God is not important. It's not, seriously. It's of no importance if God doesn't exist. Who cares if we know him, if he doesn't exist? Aren't we just wasting our time? Aren't you wasting your time? Aren't you wasting your time being here? Aren't you wasting your time bringing a Bible here? And a Bible, what's that anyway? It's about some guy that doesn't exist. Praying, who are you praying to? Someone that doesn't exist? Aren't we wasting everything if he doesn't exist? But what if he does exist? What if his existence is the most important thing that matters?" (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There is no knowing God apart from knowing Jesus. How many times have you seen an entertainer or an actor or an athlete or anybody with a microphone in front of them and they all want to give glory to God? That's awesome. That's awesome. What you mean by that is I want to give glory to God who through his son Jesus Christ made it possible that I can even know him. If that's what you mean, then great. But if that's not what you mean, you're not giving anybody anything. There is no giving God any glory apart from Jesus Christ. That's it. That's the only way we can know God is through Jesus." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you're wondering if you know God, and you're asking yourself that question, do I know God? How can I prove to myself and to others that I know God? Ask yourself this question. Do I obey God's commands? Now be careful, because a lot of you are like, well, of course I do. I mean, I'm a good person. I mean, I try to do good things. I mean, I love God. I love others. And oftentimes what we mean when we say, I love God and I love others, is we say, I love God when it's convenient." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The first two weeks of this series, of the Prove It series, was really kind of laying the groundwork of what John was saying and why he wrote the letter of 1 John to begin with. By the way, Prove It is a study through 1 John. So if you have a Bible, go ahead and turn over to 1 John. That's where we're going to be. And it's a walk through that. And the first two weeks were the intro. And then the third week, which was supposed to be June 2nd, but now it's today, that was actually the beginning of the meat of the content, what John is writing about. And what he begins to say is he begins to say three things. One, it's important that you can prove that you know God. And then he says it's important that you can prove that you love God. And finally, it's important that you can prove that you believe in God. So that is the overarching picture of the whole letter of 1 John." (58 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Knowing the true God is different than you knowing your interpretation of God. Does that make sense? Yes. Knowing the real, true God is different than you knowing the God that is in your head that you think is God. If you have in your head an image of what God is like, and that image just happens to align with all the ways you think and all the beliefs you have and all the views that you stand on, you're probably not believing in the true God. If your God is just a very powerful, powerful version of yourself, the Bible calls that idolatry, and it's very terrible." (54 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The first thing I want you to notice is how our obedience is tied to loving and knowing. You see that? The verse says, if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. Knowing and loving God comes through our obedience to God by doing his commands. That's how we know. That's how we love. There is no knowing and loving without obedience. This is why it's important that you know this. Because if you don't know what God commanded, how can you do it? This is why it's so important to know what he commanded." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "John is not writing to the spiritually elite here. He's not writing to varsity level Christians. He is writing to everyone that claims to be a believer. He is writing to you if you claim to be a believer. And this is really important. Because the big question that we ask is, am I obeying God's commands? Are you doing these things? Not, are you doing these things perfectly? Remember, perfection was never the goal. Are you doing these things? Are these things that sum up your life? Are you doing them? Because you can't do them apart from Jesus. And with Jesus, you can't help but to do them." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What John is saying is if you are not doing those things that we just had listed, if you are not obeying God's commands, it's not that you're because you're a new Christian. It's because you're not even on the graph. You're nowhere on the graph. Because if you were on the graph, in anywhere in between there, you would be doing these. And John is saying it's impossible for you to not do these things if you know God. If you do know him, you will do them. And if you don't know him, you can't do them. I hope that hits you as hard as it hit me. And I didn't write this. Remember, John is writing this. And he is pulling no punches." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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