Embracing Change Through God's Transformative Love
Summary
In my recent sermon, I discussed the transformative power of God's love and the importance of being open to change and following God's guidance, even when it leads us out of our comfort zones. I shared personal stories and biblical insights to illustrate these themes.
I began by recounting the early days of our church, which my father and I started in 2001. I emphasized the importance of loving people without trying to fix them, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives instead. I shared a story about a biker couple who came to our church. We simply loved them, and over time, they decided to get married in our church, a decision they came to without any pressure from us.
I then spoke about the fulfillment that comes from stepping into what God has for us, even when it's uncomfortable. I used my own experience of being called to serve in a church an hour away from home, which eventually became a place I deeply cared about. However, when the church's finances began to suffer, and the congregation started to dwindle, I had to confront the possibility that God was leading me elsewhere.
I shared the story of the temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70 AD, to illustrate how sometimes things need to be torn down in our lives for God to do a new thing. The destruction of the temple allowed for the new understanding that God's presence is not confined to a building but lives within us.
I also recounted the challenges faced by the Israelites after leaving Egypt and how God had to let an entire generation pass away before the new generation, free from the slave mentality, could enter the Promised Land. This story served as a metaphor for the need to let go of old mindsets and be open to the new things God wants to do in our lives.
Finally, I spoke about the need to be willing to step out in faith, even when the path is not clear. I used the example of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River, which did not part until their feet were wet, to illustrate that sometimes we must take the first step before God reveals the next part of our journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing God's love for us and others is foundational to our faith journey. When we focus on loving people as God loves us, we create an environment where the Holy Spirit can work effectively in hearts and lives. This approach is not about changing others but about being vessels of God's transformative love. [27:08]
- Fulfillment in God's plan often requires stepping out of our comfort zones. The story of the biker couple's marriage at our church exemplifies how God's work unfolds when we trust in His timing and methods, rather than forcing our own agenda. This principle applies to both personal growth and ministry. [28:49]
- The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem serves as a powerful reminder that our identity should be rooted in Christ, not in external structures or circumstances. When we allow God to remove what is no longer needed, He creates space for something new and better to emerge, teaching us to find our true identity in Him. [31:18]
- The story of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land challenges us to let go of old mentalities that enslave us. It is a call to embrace a new mindset that aligns with God's purposes, enabling us to move forward into the destiny He has prepared for us. [25:17]
- Faith requires action, and often, God's guidance comes as we take steps forward. The priests stepping into the Jordan River is a metaphor for our own journey of faith, where we must be willing to get our feet wet, trusting that God will make a way where there seems to be no way. [47:21]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 3:14-17 (NIV)
> "So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."
2. 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)
> "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"
3. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
> "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River before it parted? (Joshua 3:14-17)
2. How does 1 Corinthians 3:16 redefine the concept of where God's presence dwells?
3. What does Romans 12:2 say about the process of transformation and understanding God's will?
4. In the sermon, what was the pastor's experience with the biker couple, and how did it illustrate the power of God's love? [27:08]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God required the priests to step into the Jordan River before it parted, rather than parting it beforehand? How does this relate to the concept of faith in action? (Joshua 3:14-17)
2. How does understanding that we are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16) change the way we view our identity and our daily lives?
3. What are some old mindsets that Romans 12:2 suggests we need to let go of in order to embrace God's new plans for us?
4. The pastor mentioned that sometimes things need to be torn down in our lives for God to do something new. How does this idea challenge or comfort you? [31:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to step out in faith without knowing the outcome. How did that experience shape your trust in God? [47:21]
2. The pastor shared a story about loving people without trying to fix them. How can you apply this principle in your relationships this week? [27:08]
3. Are there any "temples" in your life—things you rely on for identity or security—that God might be asking you to let go of? How can you begin to release them? [31:18]
4. What old mindsets or habits might be holding you back from fully embracing God's plans for you? How can you start renewing your mind according to Romans 12:2?
5. The Israelites had to let go of their slave mentality before entering the Promised Land. What mentalities or beliefs do you need to let go of to move forward in your faith journey? [25:17]
6. Think of a specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone. What is one practical step you can take this week to move in that direction? [34:46]
7. How can you create an environment in your community or church where the Holy Spirit can work effectively in people's lives, as illustrated by the pastor's story of the biker couple? [27:08]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, encouraging both personal reflection and practical application.
Devotional
Day 1: Love as a Vessel for Transformation
God's love is not about changing others but about allowing His transformative power to work through us. When we love others without an agenda, we create a space where the Holy Spirit can move freely. This love is patient and kind, not envious or boastful, and it rejoices with the truth. It is through this love that people are drawn to God and experience the changes He desires for them. This approach requires a relinquishing of control, trusting that God knows best how to work in each person's life. It's about being present and supportive, rather than directive and insistent. By embodying this love, one becomes a vessel through which God can pour out His grace and lead others towards His will for their lives. [27:08]
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:7-8 ESV
Reflection: How can you show God's love to someone in your life today without trying to fix or change them?
Day 2: Stepping Beyond Comfort for Fulfillment
True fulfillment often lies beyond the boundaries of comfort. It is in the willingness to step into the unknown, trusting in God's plan, that one finds a deeper sense of purpose. This may involve taking on challenges that seem daunting or embracing changes that are uncomfortable. However, it is through these experiences that growth occurs and God's work is made manifest. The story of the biker couple's marriage is a testament to the beauty that unfolds when one trusts in God's timing and surrenders personal comfort for divine purpose. It is a reminder that God's plans are higher than our own and that fulfillment comes from aligning with His will, not our own preferences or fears. [28:49]
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to move out of your comfort zone in faith?
Day 3: Finding Identity Beyond Structures
The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem symbolizes the breaking down of external structures to reveal a deeper spiritual truth: our identity is in Christ, not in the physical or material world. This powerful event teaches us that God's presence is not confined to any building or institution but resides within us. When we allow God to remove what is no longer serving His purpose, we make room for new growth and understanding. This process can be painful, but it is necessary for spiritual renewal and for finding our true identity in Him. [31:18]
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
Reflection: What external 'structures' in your life might be hindering your spiritual growth, and how can you begin to let them go?
Day 4: Embracing a New Mindset for God's Promises
The journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land serves as a powerful metaphor for the transformation required to embrace God's promises. Just as an entire generation had to pass before a new mindset could take hold, we too must let go of old mentalities that enslave us. This means shedding fears, doubts, and behaviors that are not in line with God's purposes. It is a call to renew our minds, to adopt a perspective that is free from the bondage of the past, and to step into the destiny that God has prepared for us. [25:17]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
Reflection: What 'slave mentality' might you need to release in order to step into the fullness of what God has for you?
Day 5: Faith in Action Through Uncertain Steps
The act of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River before it parted is a vivid illustration of faith in action. It reminds us that God often requires us to take the first step into uncertainty before He reveals the rest of the path. This step of faith can be intimidating, but it is essential for experiencing God's power and guidance. It is a call to trust in God's promises, even when the way forward is not clear, and to believe that He will provide the means to accomplish His will as we move in obedience. [47:21]
"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'" - Joshua 3:7 ESV
Reflection: What 'Jordan River' is God asking you to step into today, and what might be your first step of faith?
Quotes
"Once you establish that you are a child of God, a blood-bought saint, a born-again believer, you are the child of the most high King, this is where your identity is. Your identity is in Him." [33:42] ()
"God has to shift things in our life sometimes so it's going to get uncomfortable before it gets better. He wants to do something new if we will follow Him." [44:02] ()
"We cannot see God do anything for us until we're willing to step into that all that brush where it doesn't look like there's a way through in that Wilderness." [45:09] ()
"You will feel so much more fulfilled in what God takes you to than the comfort you feel of where you are." [48:45] ()
"God says take it and I'll bless you. I'll use you as an example of what I can do with a willing servant." [50:36] ()
"Just love on people. This is what we have to understand, the church is a place where we are to be sister Martha, we have to love them like they've never been loved before." [28:49] ()
"God shifted that, allowed it to be destroyed so that he can say no, now I am in you. You are the Temple of the Holy Ghost." [31:18] ()
"Sometimes you got to get your foot wet before God will open up the waters for you to pass through. It's faith, y'all, it's faith." [47:21] ()
"We just begin to fall in love with the place and the people just fell in love with us and so they said why can't you be our pastor full time." [34:46] ()
"God just doing something in our congregation... I had to change my mindset so once we decided to merge the churches... they got the funds to reach the community." [39:51] ()
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