Embracing Change: Moving Forward in Faith
Summary
In the sermon, I explored the concept of change and transition, using the biblical story of the Israelites returning from exile in Babylon and rebuilding the city of Jerusalem as a metaphor. I emphasized that the Israelites' dream was to restore the city and the temple to their former glory, but those who remembered the original temple wept at the sight of the new one, realizing it would never be the same. I used this story to illustrate the idea that no one can step in the same river twice, meaning that both the river and the person stepping into it are always changing, and we can never truly go back to the way things were.
I also discussed the theme of God doing new things, even if they are not what we expected or hoped for. I used the example of a man named Joe who, after losing everything to addiction, found a new purpose and a chance to dream again through a life regeneration program at the Union Gospel Mission. I concluded the sermon by emphasizing that while we cannot go back to the past, we can move forward into a new future where God may yet do things that none of us have anticipated.
Key Takeaways:
- The concept of "no one can step in the same river twice" is a metaphor for the inevitability of change and the impossibility of returning to the past exactly as it was. ([36:25])
- God is always doing new things, even if they are not what we expected or hoped for. This is a theme in both the book of Ezra and the Book of Revelation. ([38:45])
- The new temple built by the Israelites returning from exile may not have been like the old one, but it was still a place where God was worshipped, God's word was proclaimed, and children were raised in faith. ([39:27])
- The story of Joe's recovery from addiction at the Union Gospel Mission illustrates that we can't change the past, but we can move forward into a new future where God may yet do things that none of us have anticipated. ([42:38])
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. God works through programs like the Union Gospel Mission to transform lives, providing individuals with a new purpose and a chance to dream again. This is exemplified in the story of Joe, whose life was turned around through the program. [40:10]
2. The concept of "no one steps in the same river twice" is explored, highlighting that both the river (our circumstances) and the person stepping into it (us) are always changing. This is seen in the story of the Israelites returning from exile, expecting to rebuild Jerusalem as it was, but realizing it will never be the same. [33:13]
3. The sermon emphasizes that while we cannot go back to the past, we can move forward into a new future where God may do things we have not anticipated. This is seen in the Book of Revelation's depiction of a New Jerusalem, different from the old, yet filled with God's presence. [38:45]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Ezra Chapter 3
2. Revelation Chapter 21
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In the story of Joe, what were the key elements that led to his transformation? [40:10]
2. How did the Israelites' expectations differ from the reality when they returned from exile? [33:13]
3. What are the key differences between the old and new Jerusalem as described in the Book of Revelation? [38:45]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Joe illustrate the power of faith and community in overcoming personal struggles? [40:10]
2. What does the phrase "no one steps in the same river twice" mean in the context of the Israelites' return from exile? [33:13]
3. How does the depiction of the New Jerusalem in Revelation reflect the sermon's message about moving forward into an unexpected future with God? [38:45]
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you, like Joe, experienced a significant transformation in your life? How did faith play a role in that transformation? [40:10]
2. Have you ever experienced a situation where you had to accept that you couldn't return to a past situation, much like the Israelites returning from exile? How did you navigate this? [33:13]
3. How can we apply the concept of embracing a new, unexpected future with God in our own lives, as depicted in the New Jerusalem in Revelation? [38:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Newness of God's Work
God is always doing new things, and while we may yearn for the past, we must embrace the newness of God's work in our lives. The stream of life keeps flowing forward, and we cannot step in the same river twice. We cannot go back to a time in the past, but we can go forward into a new future where God may yet do things that none of us have anticipated. [34:52]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot..."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you yearned for the past. How can you embrace the newness of God's work in your life?
Day 2: The Glory of God's New Temple
The new temple may not be like the old temple, but it can still be a place where God is worshipped. It is a place where God's word is proclaimed, where children are raised in faith, and where God's people can discover again and again that God can still work in their lives at any stage. [38:45]
Haggai 2:9 - "The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
Reflection: How can you make your life a "new temple" where God is worshipped and His word is proclaimed?
Day 3: The Restoration of Relationships
God can restore broken relationships, even those that seem beyond repair. Through prayer and surrendering our problems to God, He can restore our relationships and give us a new purpose for living. [41:48]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them."
Reflection: Is there a broken relationship in your life that you need to surrender to God for restoration?
Day 4: The Pain of Loss and Change
Change can bring about a sense of loss and grief, especially when it involves something we hold dear. However, even in our tears of sorrow, we can trust that God is at work, bringing about a new work in our lives. [35:34]
Psalm 30:5 - "For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
Reflection: What changes are you currently experiencing that are causing you to grieve? How can you trust God in the midst of these changes?
Day 5: The Light of God in Our Lives
God and Jesus bring light into our lives in ways we never would have expected. Even in the darkest times, their presence can illuminate our path and guide us forward. [39:27]
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Reflection: How has God's light guided you in unexpected ways in your life?
Quotes
1. "God worked through that program in Spokane to turn Joe's life around, giving him sobriety and a new purpose for living. After about 18 months, Joe thought about going home, at least going back to see his oldest daughter and her children whom he had not seen for six years." - 41:00
2. "What I learned at the mission gave me a chance to dream again. I learned that you can't change the past. I also learned to turn my problems over to God through prayer. He answered one of them for me I thought would never happen, restoring my relationship to my daughter." - 42:38
3. "The philosopher Heraclitus once said no one steps in the same river twice by which I think he meant two things. One, the river is always changing and two, the person who steps in it is always changing. Time, like a stream, always moves forward." - 33:13
4. "When the older generations of Israelites who had seen the former Temple and all of its Glory saw this new temple built out of stone, they wept not with tears of joy but with tears of Sorrow, grieving the loss of its former glory." - 36:25
5. "We cannot go back to a time in the past but we can go forward into a new future where God May yet do things that none of us have anticipated." - 38:45
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