Drawing Near: Embracing God's Invitation and Relationships
Summary
### Summary
Have you ever felt out of place, like you didn't belong somewhere? I shared a personal story from my childhood when I unexpectedly got to visit the Kentucky basketball locker room. It was an experience that felt surreal and undeserved, much like our access to God through Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes that we don't belong in God's presence by our own merit, but we are invited in through Jesus. This invitation is both collective and individual, as the gospel is for everyone and for each of us personally.
We are in a series called "Find Your People," exploring Hebrews 10 and the importance of life-changing relationships. Our journey from unbelief to belief is significantly impacted by these relationships. Trying to navigate faith alone often leads to failure, but with the support of others, our faith can grow and flourish. Life-changing relationships are not casual or neutral; they are deep, meaningful connections that propel us forward in our faith.
Hebrews 10:19-22 reminds us that we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. This confidence should lead us to draw near to God with a sincere heart. The original readers of Hebrews were persecuted and scattered, yet they were encouraged to draw near to God despite their circumstances. This is a call for us as well, to prioritize our relationship with God even amidst life's challenges.
Our relationship with God directly influences our relationships with others. If we feel distant from God, it often affects how we interact with those around us. Drawing near to God helps us to build life-changing relationships with others. We must also recognize that guilt and shame are barriers that can prevent us from drawing close to God. These feelings hold no weight when we understand the grace and mercy of Jesus.
As we seek to build life-changing relationships, we must ask ourselves if we are too ashamed to draw close to God or if we believe others are less deserving of the grace we've received. The church is a place where we can support each other in our faith journeys, helping each other draw closer to God and to one another.
### Key Takeaways
- Invitation to God's Presence: Just as I felt out of place in the Kentucky basketball locker room, we often feel unworthy of God's presence. However, through Jesus, we are invited into the Holy of Holies, a place we don't deserve to be but are welcomed into by grace. This invitation is both collective and individual, emphasizing the personal nature of the gospel. [31:39]
- Importance of Life-Changing Relationships: Our journey from unbelief to belief is significantly impacted by the relationships we form. Trying to navigate faith alone often leads to failure, but with the support of others, our faith can grow and flourish. Life-changing relationships are not casual or neutral; they are deep, meaningful connections that propel us forward in our faith. [34:20]
- Drawing Near to God: Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages us to draw near to God with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith. Despite life's challenges and our feelings of unworthiness, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God. This closeness with God is essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. [37:43]
- Overcoming Guilt and Shame: Guilt and shame are barriers that can prevent us from drawing close to God. These feelings hold no weight when we understand the grace and mercy of Jesus. Our confidence to enter God's presence is based on Jesus' sacrifice, not our own merit. [47:42]
- Impact on Relationships with Others: Our relationship with God directly influences our relationships with others. If we feel distant from God, it often affects how we interact with those around us. Drawing near to God helps us to build life-changing relationships with others, as our faith and love overflow into our interactions. [50:59]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[29:31] - Childhood Story: Kentucky Basketball Game
[30:20] - Unexpected Invitation to the Locker Room
[31:39] - Access to God's Presence Through Jesus
[32:43] - Collective and Individual Nature of the Gospel
[33:35] - Importance of Life-Changing Relationships
[34:20] - Faith Journey and Community Support
[35:28] - Opportunities for Building Relationships
[36:27] - Hebrews 10:19-21 Recap
[37:43] - Drawing Near to God
[39:08] - Confidence Through Jesus
[40:23] - God's Knowledge and Desire for Closeness
[41:13] - Busyness vs. True Connection with God
[42:43] - Reflecting on Closeness with God
[44:46] - Overcoming Barriers to Closeness
[47:42] - Guilt and Shame as Barriers
[49:23] - Relationship with God and Others
[51:44] - Questions for Reflection
[56:30] - Closing Exercise and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV): "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 10:19-22 say about our confidence to enter the Most Holy Place? What is the basis for this confidence?
2. How does the writer of Hebrews describe the way we should draw near to God? What are the conditions mentioned in verse 22?
3. In the sermon, the pastor shared a personal story about feeling out of place in the Kentucky basketball locker room. How does this story relate to our access to God's presence through Jesus? [31:39]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of life-changing relationships and their impact on our faith journey? [34:20]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that we can enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, according to Hebrews 10:19-22? How does this change our relationship with God?
2. The sermon mentioned that the original readers of Hebrews were persecuted and scattered. How might their circumstances have influenced their understanding of drawing near to God? [37:43]
3. How do guilt and shame act as barriers to drawing close to God, as discussed in the sermon? What does the passage in Hebrews say about overcoming these barriers? [47:42]
4. The pastor emphasized the importance of life-changing relationships in our faith journey. How do these relationships help us move from unbelief to belief? [34:20]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy to be in God's presence. How did you overcome that feeling, or how can you begin to overcome it now? [31:39]
2. Hebrews 10:22 encourages us to draw near to God with a sincere heart. What practical steps can you take this week to draw closer to God, despite any feelings of unworthiness or guilt?
3. The sermon highlighted the impact of life-changing relationships on our faith. Identify one person in your life who has significantly influenced your faith journey. How can you express your gratitude to them this week? [34:20]
4. Consider the barriers of guilt and shame that might be preventing you from drawing close to God. What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of Jesus' grace and mercy? [47:42]
5. The pastor mentioned that our relationship with God directly influences our relationships with others. Reflect on your current relationships. How can you improve these relationships by first strengthening your relationship with God? [50:59]
6. Are there any life-neutral relationships in your life that need to become life-changing? What steps can you take to deepen these connections and make them more meaningful? [34:54]
7. The sermon discussed the importance of not feeling too ashamed to draw close to God. How can you encourage someone in your small group who might be struggling with this feeling? [52:17]
This guide is designed to help your small group engage deeply with the sermon and the passage from Hebrews, fostering both personal reflection and communal support.
Devotional
Day 1: Invitation to God's Presence
Have you ever felt out of place, like you didn't belong somewhere? This feeling can be similar to how we might feel about entering God's presence. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes that we don't belong in God's presence by our own merit, but we are invited in through Jesus. This invitation is both collective and individual, as the gospel is for everyone and for each of us personally. Just as the speaker felt out of place in the Kentucky basketball locker room, we often feel unworthy of God's presence. However, through Jesus, we are invited into the Holy of Holies, a place we don't deserve to be but are welcomed into by grace. This invitation is both collective and individual, emphasizing the personal nature of the gospel. [31:39]
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV): "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt unworthy of God's presence. How can you remind yourself today that through Jesus, you are invited to draw near to God with confidence?
Day 2: Importance of Life-Changing Relationships
Our journey from unbelief to belief is significantly impacted by the relationships we form. Trying to navigate faith alone often leads to failure, but with the support of others, our faith can grow and flourish. Life-changing relationships are not casual or neutral; they are deep, meaningful connections that propel us forward in our faith. The importance of these relationships is highlighted in Hebrews 10, where the writer encourages believers to support one another in their faith journeys. These relationships are essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. [34:20]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who has significantly impacted your faith journey. How can you express your gratitude to them today and continue to nurture that relationship?
Day 3: Drawing Near to God
Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages us to draw near to God with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith. Despite life's challenges and our feelings of unworthiness, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God. This closeness with God is essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. The original readers of Hebrews were persecuted and scattered, yet they were encouraged to draw near to God despite their circumstances. This is a call for us as well, to prioritize our relationship with God even amidst life's challenges. [37:43]
James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to draw nearer to God? Consider setting aside a specific time for prayer, reading Scripture, or worship.
Day 4: Overcoming Guilt and Shame
Guilt and shame are barriers that can prevent us from drawing close to God. These feelings hold no weight when we understand the grace and mercy of Jesus. Our confidence to enter God's presence is based on Jesus' sacrifice, not our own merit. Understanding this truth can help us overcome the barriers of guilt and shame that often keep us from experiencing the fullness of God's love and grace. [47:42]
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Reflect on any feelings of guilt or shame that you may be carrying. How can you bring these to God today and embrace His forgiveness and grace?
Day 5: Impact on Relationships with Others
Our relationship with God directly influences our relationships with others. If we feel distant from God, it often affects how we interact with those around us. Drawing near to God helps us to build life-changing relationships with others, as our faith and love overflow into our interactions. The church is a place where we can support each other in our faith journeys, helping each other draw closer to God and to one another. [50:59]
1 John 4:20-21 (ESV): "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that may be strained or distant. How can you draw nearer to God today to help improve and heal that relationship? Consider reaching out to that person with a gesture of love and reconciliation.
Quotes
1. "And, and the writer of Hebrews, when, when he is, is describing the presence of God, there is, there is an air to his writing where it's like, no, no, no. We don't belong here. But you get to be close to God. And, and I'm not trying to, if you're thinking I'm trying to compare like Rupp Arena to the presence of God, maybe you're right, but, but you're not. Like, it's not completely one for one. But you, you can carry along with me. But just the, the reality of what the, the writer in Hebrews is saying, it's like you get access into the Holy of Holies." [31:39] (34 seconds)
2. "You don't belong, but you're invited in. Your sin would disqualify you, but you're invited in. You have no business stepping behind the curtain. But because of Jesus Christ, you have a way to God. And the reality that we talked about last week is that, that, that the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's, it's a very collective gospel. It is, it is for, as, as Acts 2.39, if you see out on the wall, the, the light bulb wall, it says, for all those who are far, all whom the Lord our God will call. And we know that God calls all of us." [32:43] (33 seconds)
3. "Your movement from unbelief to belief will be delayed or negated without life-changing relationships. See, First Christian is here to help others move from unbelief to belief. That movement from unbelief to belief, that, that, that transition of faith, the, the steps of faith that we have the opportunity to take in our life through Jesus Christ, that, that movement is delayed, or altogether negated without life-changing relationships. Because me on my own, trying to survive understanding who God created me to be and how he acts or asks me to live my life on my own, complete miserable failure." [33:35] (41 seconds)
4. "Don't forget to draw near to God. Don't cast that relationship to the side. In spite of your circumstances, in spite of the challenges that you face, in spite of everything whirling around you, don't forsake drawing near to God. There's some ups and downs that come with drawing close to God. I, I think at times when, when we look and, and what we're reminded of in, in verses 19 through 21 is that, is that Jesus is the reason we have an opportunity to draw close to God. It's the reason that we can enter with confidence, as it says." [38:16] (44 seconds)
5. "The reality of our relationship with God is, is, is this, this understanding of why He created us and what He's called us into and the promise that He's made to us. You see, the reality of, of Him creating us to begin with, like, He, He knows every imaginable and unimaginable thing about each and every one of us. Like, if you were to process and go, who are the people in my life that know me more than everyone else? It doesn't even hold a candle to the reality of what God knows about you the relationship and the closeness that He desires." [39:43] (37 seconds)
6. "And all of the while, and all of the busy things, the busyness of, like, doing Jesus-y things, sometimes I forget to actually sit with the God who wants to hear from me. And has something to say to me. And, and, and it's this, it's this stop the whirlwind of everything else and pause long enough to just go, what would God speak to me today? Like, think about other relationships that you have. Like, like at work, or, or in your house, or in your neighborhood, or different things. Like, like, take my coworkers. Like, like, we're around each other. We have all these conversations. Like, there is so much." [42:17] (33 seconds)
7. "And here's the reality. No matter how that answer lands in your heart today, it does not speak to God's distance from you. So, like, I've had to be reminded of that at different times. Sometimes I felt like, God, where are you? Can I just, a little honest, can we be honest as a church? We're collective, we're individual. How many times have you prayed to God, God, where are you? Can I show of hands? Some of you. Some of you. Bald, brave people, thank you so much. Like, man, God, where are you? Where have you gone? You feel as distant from me as anything else in life. It doesn't actually mean that he is." [45:22] (43 seconds)
8. "And the reality is, is that guilt and shame are tactics that hold no weight the closer to God we draw. That guilt and shame are tactics that hold no weight the closer to God we draw. See, at times, I can't get close to God I know what's inside my heart. I have to shrink back from even believing I deserve or could fathom being close to the God who created me because the shame and guilt that I feel of my past, of the reality that lives behind me, the skeletons in my closet and the things that I've done, the things that I've said, the things that I have tried to understand and manipulate around me, I can't draw close to God because why would God want to draw close to someone like me?" [47:42] (50 seconds)
9. "And the reality of the grace that we have received is one that is only through Jesus Christ. His life and death and burial and resurrection that navigates the separation from us to God in our sin. I can draw close to God. You can draw close to God. So here's what I do. The band's going to come out and they're going to lead us in a song here in just a second. But I want to do like if you've got something on your lap or something in your hands, put it to the side for just a second." [56:30] (33 seconds)
10. "And here's reality. Like the reality of the way God uses the church, like when you kind of feel like, man, that's the church. The church is when other people can gather around and study scripture together and live life together and go, you know what? You deserve it just as little as I do, but we're going to take steps together to figure it out. I might draw closer to God because of the other person. The other relationships I'm in. saying yes to a small group, saying yes to a Bible study, saying yes to like cooking and having a conversation with other guys, like saying yes to a women's study, a young adult night, like saying yes to any of these things might be the step you need in drawing closer to God." [54:14] (37 seconds)
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