Deepening Our Understanding of God's Nature and Joy

 

Summary

In today's reflection, I invite you to engage deeply with the concept of God, challenging us to think beyond the surface and explore the profound nature of the divine. Often, we neglect to think critically about God, treating our understanding as static or simplistic. Yet, just as we invest time and effort into understanding complex subjects like finance or personal relationships, we should also dedicate ourselves to understanding God, who is the most significant aspect of reality.

Dallas Willard's insights remind us that our perception of God shapes our feelings and actions. Jesus, as a joyous and creative figure, challenges us to rethink our image of God. He is not a morose monarch or a petty parent but a source of abundant joy. This joy can coexist with sorrow, illustrating the depth and richness of life in God's kingdom. Our understanding of God should be practical, providing solid grounds for hope and a personal, real love that dispels despair.

Adam Clark's theological reflections further deepen our understanding. God is eternal, independent, and self-existent, acting without external influence or need. He is absolute in dominion, pure, simple, and infinitely perfect. Unlike humans, God is not needy or dependent, allowing Him to give endlessly without depletion. His immensity and inconceivable existence remind us of our limitations and the vastness of divine wisdom and goodness.

The invitation today is to have second thoughts about God. When we observe the world, from the smallest sparrow to the grandest mountains, we are called to reflect on the intelligence and power behind creation. Believing in such a God transforms our lives, aligning our actions and thoughts with the reality of His existence. This is the God Jesus believed in, and by thinking deeply about Him, we align ourselves with the life and faith of Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

- Engage Deeply with God: Just as we invest time in understanding complex subjects, we should dedicate ourselves to understanding God, who is the most significant aspect of reality. This requires effort and a willingness to think critically about our beliefs. [01:37]

- Joy in the Kingdom: Jesus exemplifies a joyous and creative spirit, challenging us to rethink our image of God. His joy coexists with sorrow, illustrating the depth and richness of life in God's kingdom. This understanding provides solid grounds for hope and dispels despair. [04:18]

- God's Nature: God is eternal, independent, and self-existent, acting without external influence or need. He is absolute in dominion, pure, simple, and infinitely perfect. This understanding challenges us to reflect on our limitations and the vastness of divine wisdom and goodness. [06:11]

- God's Generosity: Unlike humans, God is not needy or dependent, allowing Him to give endlessly without depletion. His immensity and inconceivable existence remind us of the boundless nature of divine love and generosity. [07:51]

- Transformative Belief: Believing in such a God transforms our lives, aligning our actions and thoughts with the reality of His existence. This is the God Jesus believed in, and by thinking deeply about Him, we align ourselves with the life and faith of Jesus. [10:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - The Beauty of Creation
- [00:55] - Thinking Hard About God
- [01:37] - The Importance of Understanding God
- [02:25] - Revisiting Our Image of God
- [03:18] - Joy in Jesus' Teachings
- [04:36] - Practical Implications of Belief
- [05:20] - Deep Reflection on God's Nature
- [06:11] - God's Independence and Dominion
- [07:02] - God's Simplicity and Truth
- [08:10] - The Immensity of God
- [09:35] - God's Care for Creation
- [10:10] - Transformative Belief in God
- [10:38] - Assurance in God's Existence
- [11:12] - Closing and Resources

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:26 - "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
2. John 15:11 - "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
3. Psalm 145:3 - "Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, how does Jesus challenge our traditional image of God? [03:32]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the coexistence of joy and sorrow in the Kingdom of God? [04:18]
3. How does the sermon describe God's nature in terms of independence and self-existence? [05:53]
4. What examples from creation are used in the sermon to illustrate God's intelligence and power? [09:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of God being "eternal, independent, and self-existent" influence one's understanding of divine wisdom and goodness? [05:53]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a deeper understanding of God can transform a person's life and actions? [10:10]
3. How might the idea of God as a source of abundant joy, as described in the sermon, impact a believer's perspective on life's challenges? [04:02]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of personal reflection and critical thinking in one's faith journey? [01:37]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of God. How might you begin to engage more deeply with this understanding, similar to how you would with a complex subject like finance or relationships? [01:37]
2. Consider a time when you experienced joy and sorrow simultaneously. How can this experience help you relate to the concept of joy in God's kingdom? [04:18]
3. How can you incorporate the idea of God's generosity and independence into your daily life, especially in how you give to others? [07:51]
4. Think about a specific area in your life where you might be treating your understanding of God as static or simplistic. What steps can you take to challenge and expand this understanding? [00:55]
5. Identify a moment in your life where you felt God's presence in creation, like the beauty of a bird or a mountain. How can you use these moments to deepen your faith and trust in God's care? [09:35]
6. How can you practically align your actions and thoughts with the reality of God's existence, as suggested in the sermon? [10:24]
7. What is one specific way you can cultivate a joyous spirit in your life, reflecting the joy that Jesus exemplified? [03:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging with the Depth of God
Understanding God requires intentional effort and critical thinking. Just as we invest time in understanding complex subjects, we should dedicate ourselves to understanding God, who is the most significant aspect of reality. This involves moving beyond a static or simplistic view of God and engaging deeply with His profound nature. By doing so, we open ourselves to a richer and more meaningful relationship with the divine, allowing our perception of God to shape our feelings and actions in transformative ways. [01:37]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: What is one area of your understanding of God that you feel is static or simplistic? How can you challenge yourself to explore this aspect more deeply today?


Day 2: Joy and Sorrow in God's Kingdom
Jesus exemplifies a joyous and creative spirit, challenging us to rethink our image of God. He is not a morose monarch or a petty parent but a source of abundant joy. This joy can coexist with sorrow, illustrating the depth and richness of life in God's kingdom. By embracing this understanding, we find solid grounds for hope and a personal, real love that dispels despair. This perspective invites us to experience the fullness of life as Jesus did, with joy and sorrow intertwined. [04:18]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: How can you find joy in your current circumstances, even if they include sorrow? What practical steps can you take to embrace this joy today?


Day 3: The Infinite Nature of God
God is eternal, independent, and self-existent, acting without external influence or need. He is absolute in dominion, pure, simple, and infinitely perfect. This understanding challenges us to reflect on our limitations and the vastness of divine wisdom and goodness. By contemplating God's nature, we are reminded of our own dependence and the boundless nature of divine love and generosity. This reflection invites us to trust in God's wisdom and goodness, even when we cannot fully comprehend it. [06:11]

Job 11:7-9 (ESV): "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to limit God to your understanding? How can you practice trusting in His infinite wisdom and goodness today?


Day 4: God's Generosity and Independence
Unlike humans, God is not needy or dependent, allowing Him to give endlessly without depletion. His immensity and inconceivable existence remind us of the boundless nature of divine love and generosity. This understanding encourages us to rely on God's generosity, knowing that He provides abundantly and without reservation. By recognizing God's independence, we are invited to rest in His provision and to reflect His generosity in our own lives. [07:51]

Psalm 50:10-12 (ESV): "For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine."

Reflection: How can you reflect God's generosity in your interactions with others today? What is one specific way you can give without expecting anything in return?


Day 5: Transformative Belief in God
Believing in such a God transforms our lives, aligning our actions and thoughts with the reality of His existence. This is the God Jesus believed in, and by thinking deeply about Him, we align ourselves with the life and faith of Jesus. This transformative belief invites us to live in a way that reflects God's presence and power in our lives, influencing our decisions, relationships, and worldview. By embracing this belief, we are empowered to live with purpose and hope. [10:24]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life that needs to be more aligned with your belief in God? How can you take a step towards aligning this area with God's reality today?

Quotes


I want to invite you to think hard about God today. We don't do that very often. We're aware of the fact that to pursue knowing something takes work and it takes the desire of our heart. If you're interested in finance, you will know how to track currencies and understand about capital and markets. [00:52:30]

Central to the understanding and proclamation of the Christian Gospel today, as in Jesus' day, is a revisioning of what God's own life is like and how the physical Cosmos, including mountains and birds and snow, fits into it. It is a great and important task to come to terms with what we really think when we think of God. [01:57:54]

Dallas goes on page 64. Now Jesus himself was and is a joyous creative person. He does not allow us to continue thinking of Our Father who fills and overflows space as a morose and miserable Monarch, a frustrated and Petty parent, or a policeman on the prowl. [03:25:08]

One of the outstanding features of Jesus' personality was an abundance of joy. He said that he wanted their joy to be full, and they did not say pass the aspirin, for he was well known to them as a happy man. It is deeply illuminative of life in the Kingdom that such Joy is precisely able to coexist with deep sorrow and grief. [03:56:20]

To trust in God, we need a rich and accurate way of thinking and speaking about him to guide and support our life vision and our will. This is not abstract; it's incredibly practical because the real question is, do I believe that there are solid Grounds for Hope, and is his love personal and real? [04:26:10]

God is, he said, the eternal, independent, self-existent being, the being whose purposes and actions spring from himself without foreign motive or influence. In other words, God does nothing out of peer pressure. God is never alarmed. God has no fear. He who is absolute in Dominion. [05:47:46]

God is pure truth and pure love, infinitely perfect, eternally self-sufficient, needing nothing that he has made. Now imagine not ever needing anything. If you know an unhealthy two on the Enneagram, a needy person where it just feels like they're sucking in things from you, God doesn't have any needs. [07:18:44]

Illimitable in his immensity, no limits to what God can think or do, inconceivable in his mode of existence. Just trying to imagine what must it be like to be God, what must his experience of delight in all that he has made be like, known fully only by himself because an infinite mind can only be fully comprehended by itself. [07:57:25]

In a word, a being who this is God, from his infinite wisdom cannot err or be deceived, and from his infinite goodness can do nothing but what is eternally just and right and kind. So now today, the invitation is to have second thoughts about God, keep thinking about God. [09:03:47]

When you hear a bird, think about Jesus' comment that not a sparrow can fall from its nest but God knows and God cares because God made it and God feeds it. What kind of being is that? What kind of intelligence and power must there be to create a universe like this? [09:32:42]

Think of someone whose every action, whose slightest thought or inclination automatically assumes the reality of this God, and when you do this, you will have captured nothing less than the thought of Jesus, along with his life and his faith. That's the God he believed in. [10:15:18]

With this magnificent God positioned Among Us, Jesus brings the assurance. But the assurance that Jesus brings we don't have time for today, so we'll talk about that the assurance that the existence of This Magnificent of God brings to you and to me next time when we have more second thoughts. [10:38:39]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?