Deepening Our Relationship with God
Summary
In today's message, I emphasized the importance of truly knowing God rather than just knowing about Him. It's easy to accumulate knowledge about God, much like knowing statistics about a famous athlete, but the real question is whether we have a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is the core of our faith, and it is what will matter when we stand before God. We must strive to know Him deeply, beyond just facts and figures, and ensure that He knows us as well.
I shared a personal story about a time when my church was planning to build a large sanctuary, but I felt convicted about the $20 million cost. I realized that the money could be better used to help those in need around the world. This led to a decision to focus on meeting outside and using resources to support causes like the Children's Hunger Fund. This experience taught me the importance of aligning our actions with the gospel and prioritizing the needs of others over material comforts.
Reflecting on the recent readings from the Gospel of John, I was reminded of the profound promises Jesus made to His disciples. He spoke of the greater works that believers would do and the power of prayer in His name. This challenges us to believe in the potential of our faith and the power of God working through us. We are called to be a distinct people, set apart from the world, demonstrating God's power and love through our actions.
I encouraged everyone to pursue a deeper experience of God, to believe in the promises of Scripture, and to seek unity within the church. As we grow in our relationship with God and with each other, we can expect to see more of His power and love manifested in our lives. This is a journey of faith, and I am excited to pursue it together with our community.
Key Takeaways:
- Knowing God vs. Knowing About God: It's crucial to move beyond mere knowledge of God to a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is what will matter when we stand before Him, and it requires intentional time spent in prayer and scripture, allowing God to know us intimately. [01:19]
- Aligning Actions with the Gospel: Our resources and actions should reflect the priorities of the gospel. Instead of investing in material comforts, we should focus on meeting the needs of others, demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ in tangible ways. [03:06]
- The Power of Prayer and Faith: Jesus promised that believers would do greater works and that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. This challenges us to deepen our faith and trust in God's power, believing that He can do more than we can imagine. [10:50]
- Being Set Apart as God's People: God desires a people who are distinct from the world, reflecting His holiness and power. Our lives should be a testament to His presence, drawing others to Him through our love, unity, and faithfulness. [08:12]
- Pursuing Unity and More of God: As a church, we are called to pursue unity and a deeper experience of God. By believing in His promises and seeking His presence, we can expect to see more of His power and love in our community. [19:55]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
- [01:19] - The Importance of Relationship
- [02:07] - A Personal Story of Conviction
- [03:06] - Aligning Actions with the Gospel
- [04:21] - The Dream of Helping Others
- [05:45] - Reflections on the Gospel of John
- [06:48] - Experiencing More of God
- [08:12] - Being Set Apart as God's People
- [10:50] - The Power of Prayer and Faith
- [13:18] - Taking Jesus' Words Seriously
- [16:21] - Distinguishing Ourselves Through Prayer
- [19:25] - Pursuing Unity and More of God
- [22:21] - A Personal Prayer Answered
- [25:18] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 14:12-14
2. James 1:27
3. Matthew 7:21-23
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 14:12-14, what does Jesus promise to those who believe in Him? How does this relate to the idea of doing "greater works"? [10:31]
2. What was the pastor's personal story about the church building project, and how did it reflect the principle of aligning actions with the gospel? [02:37]
3. According to James 1:27, what does "true religion" involve, and how does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on caring for others? [08:12]
4. How does the pastor describe the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him? [00:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the promise of doing "greater works" in John 14:12-14 challenge a believer's understanding of their faith and potential impact in the world? [10:31]
2. Reflecting on the pastor's decision to forego a large church building, what does this story suggest about the priorities of a faith community? [02:37]
3. In what ways does the call to be "set apart" as God's people, as mentioned in the sermon, align with the teachings in James 1:27? [08:12]
4. How does the pastor's emphasis on a personal relationship with God challenge common perceptions of religious knowledge and practice? [00:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with God. Are there areas where you feel you know more about Him than actually knowing Him? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [00:50]
2. Consider the resources and time you have. How can you align your actions more closely with the gospel, prioritizing the needs of others over material comforts? [02:37]
3. Jesus promises that believers will do greater works. What is one area in your life where you can step out in faith, trusting in God's power to work through you? [10:31]
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of unity within the church. How can you contribute to fostering unity in your church community, especially when disagreements arise? [19:55]
5. Reflect on the idea of being "set apart" as God's people. What is one practical way you can demonstrate God's love and holiness in your daily life? [08:12]
6. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine, believing in the power of prayer as described in John 14:12-14? [10:31]
7. Think about a time when you prioritized knowledge about God over a relationship with Him. What changes can you make to ensure your faith is relational rather than just informational? [00:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Moving from Knowledge to Relationship
To truly know God is to move beyond mere facts and figures about Him and to cultivate a personal relationship with Him. This relationship is the essence of faith and will be what matters when standing before God. It requires intentional time spent in prayer and scripture, allowing God to know us intimately. This is akin to knowing a friend deeply rather than just knowing about a celebrity. The journey of faith is about deepening this relationship, ensuring that it is not just one-sided but mutual, where God knows us as well. [01:19]
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: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your personal relationship with God, moving beyond just knowing about Him?
Day 2: Aligning Resources with Gospel Priorities
Aligning our actions and resources with the gospel means prioritizing the needs of others over material comforts. The story of choosing to forgo a costly sanctuary in favor of supporting global causes like the Children's Hunger Fund exemplifies this principle. It challenges us to reflect on how we use our resources and whether they reflect the love and compassion of Christ. This alignment is not just about financial resources but also about time, energy, and talents, ensuring they are used to demonstrate Christ's love in tangible ways. [03:06]
1 John 3:17-18 (ESV): "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Consider your current use of resources. How can you better align them with the priorities of the gospel to meet the needs of others?
Day 3: Embracing the Power of Prayer and Faith
Jesus promised that believers would do greater works and that whatever we ask in His name, He will do. This challenges us to deepen our faith and trust in God's power, believing that He can do more than we can imagine. It is a call to embrace the potential of our faith and the power of God working through us. This promise is not just about miraculous works but also about the everyday power of prayer and faith in transforming lives and situations. [10:50]
Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV): "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to trust God more deeply and believe in the power of prayer?
Day 4: Living as a Distinct People of God
God desires a people who are distinct from the world, reflecting His holiness and power. Our lives should be a testament to His presence, drawing others to Him through our love, unity, and faithfulness. Being set apart means living in a way that is counter-cultural, demonstrating God's power and love through our actions. It is about being a light in the darkness, showing the world what it means to live as God's people. [08:12]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: In what ways can you live more distinctly as a follower of Christ, reflecting His holiness and love in your daily interactions?
Day 5: Pursuing Unity and a Deeper Experience of God
As a church, we are called to pursue unity and a deeper experience of God. By believing in His promises and seeking His presence, we can expect to see more of His power and love in our community. This pursuit is a journey of faith, where we grow in our relationship with God and with each other. Unity within the church is a powerful testimony to the world, showing the transformative power of God's love. [19:55]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your church community and seek a deeper experience of God together with others?
Quotes
"That's the core of what we're doing here is I don't want you to just tell me about a bunch of stuff you know about God. Okay, there's a lot of people who can tell me verses and memorize stuff and tell me this fact and even go into Hebrew and Greek about this, this, this, but at the end of the day, do you know him?" [00:41:52]
"That's why we so emphasize getting alone with God and reading the Bible when no one else is around you, praying to him and him knowing you and answering you where you start getting so excited about this relationship with him and knowing him. It's like I don't care about anyone else that I know. You know, I know him." [01:16:39]
"I realized that the money could be better used to help those in need around the world. This led to a decision to focus on meeting outside and using resources to support causes like the Children's Hunger Fund. This experience taught me the importance of aligning our actions with the gospel and prioritizing the needs of others over material comforts." [02:54:08]
"All this money now, any offering we get, no one gets paid here. There's no buildings here. There's no cost here because we care about the poor and the needs around the world, and we're just going, man, we got to get it to them. We got to care for them." [05:02:44]
"God's desire, he always, ever since Abraham, ever since, you know, you know, Abraham in the Old Testament, he's always wanted a group of people that was totally different from the rest of the world, right? That's what he wanted of Israel. I want you guys so different because he says I'm going to be with you." [06:52:00]
"That's why he says you want to practice True Religion, he goes care for the widows and the orphans in their distress and keep yourself unstained by the world. Don't think like the world, okay? I know what's popular, we see what's on every show and everyone say he goes but you know what, that's not what I asked you to be." [08:10:28]
"Jesus says truly truly the Son of God says truly truly then you go okay I can believe that okay I could look you and I go I promise you and I might be lying I'm capable of lying you're capable of lying to me Jesus is not capable of lying and he says truly truly I say to you whoever believes in me will do the works that I do." [13:06:20]
"Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and greater Works than these will he do because I'm going to the father whatever you ask in my name this I will do that the father may be glorified in the son if you ask me anything in my name I will do it." [10:37:39]
"God says when there's a group like that that takes my my my word literally and they start praying in my name he because I'll do whatever they ask I I was telling guys back from where I came from I go man when I left Southern California I had no idea what I was heading into." [18:11:20]
"I want to experience more of this where Jesus you abide in me and you will bear much fruit I think there's more prayers to be answered I think there's more fruit to be seen and I think there's more power of the holy spirit that God wants us to experience as a body if we believe in it." [19:25:00]
"As much as we are becoming more and more unified I go there's even more where we become perfectly one and then so much fruit is going to come from us but we got to keep believing believing in our prayers taking the word of God over everything else all the other noise we hear out there." [19:57:40]
"Don't let Satan get in here and try to divide us up and get us bickering over stupid things okay I'll say things that offend you you'll say things that offend me let's get let's get beyond that okay that's his plan that's Satan's plan to try to divide us up and get irritated with one another." [20:36:15]
Chatbot
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