Embracing Community and Living in Christ's Promise

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we celebrated the power of community and the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus in times of need. Reflecting on recent events, such as the tornadoes that affected our community, we witnessed the church's immediate response to support those in need, particularly the Walt Disney Elementary School. This response exemplifies our calling to be connected as the body of Christ, emphasizing that our strength lies in unity and collective action. As we move forward, the vision for 2025 is clear: to deepen our connections within the church and the community, ensuring that we are prepared to act when called upon.

The heart of today's message is the profound truth that "it is finished," as declared by Jesus on the cross. This statement is not just a conclusion but a powerful declaration of the completed work of Christ, offering us eternal life, forgiveness, and adoption into God's family. However, to truly live in this reality, we must choose to walk in the principles of this promise, allowing it to transform our lives and ignite a fire within us.

As we look to the future, we are reminded of the dangers of growing cold in our faith. The scriptures warn us of a time when many will turn away from sound doctrine, seeking teachings that merely satisfy their desires. To combat this, we must remain on fire for the Lord, allowing His truth to burn away the lies and deceptions of the enemy. This requires a commitment to spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, fasting, and engaging with the Word of God.

In 2025, our focus will be on fostering a community that is not only connected but also on fire for Jesus. This involves practical steps like participating in prayer and fasting, reading through the Bible, connecting with church activities, and committing to giving. These actions will help us live out the truth that "it is finished," enabling us to be a light in the world and to share the transformative power of Jesus with others.

Key Takeaways:

1. Community Response and Unity: The recent tornadoes highlighted the importance of being a unified body of Christ, ready to respond to the needs of our community. Our collective efforts demonstrate the power of connection and the impact we can have when we work together. [11:48]

2. The Power of "It is Finished": Jesus' declaration on the cross signifies the completion of His work, offering us eternal life, forgiveness, and adoption. Embracing this truth requires us to live in the reality of His finished work, allowing it to transform our lives. [19:19]

3. Staying on Fire for the Lord: To avoid growing cold in our faith, we must remain close to God, allowing His fire to burn away lies and deceptions. This involves daily communication with God and living out His principles. [28:59]

4. Commitment to Spiritual Disciplines: Engaging in prayer, fasting, and Bible reading are essential practices that help us stay connected to God and His promises. These disciplines fuel our spiritual fire and prepare us for the work God has for us. [41:35]

5. Living Out the Promise: It's not enough to know God's promises; we must actively live them out. This involves making commitments to connect with the church, serve others, and give generously, allowing God to work through us to impact the world. [52:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [11:48] - Community Response to Tornadoes
- [14:22] - Vision for 2025
- [17:36] - Importance of Discipleship
- [19:19] - The Meaning of "It is Finished"
- [22:34] - Living in the Completed Work of Christ
- [25:39] - Warning Against Growing Cold
- [28:59] - Staying on Fire for the Lord
- [31:25] - Decision to Be on Fire for God
- [32:50] - Spiritual Goals for 2025
- [36:08] - Zealousness and Repentance
- [41:35] - Four Commitments for Spiritual Growth
- [46:29] - Connecting with Church Activities
- [50:18] - Commitment to Giving
- [52:13] - Living in the Truth of "It is Finished"

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 19:30 - "When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
2. 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
3. Matthew 24:12 - "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."

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Observation Questions:

1. What recent event did the church respond to, and how did this demonstrate the power of community? [11:48]
2. What does the phrase "It is finished" signify in the context of Jesus' work on the cross? [19:19]
3. According to the sermon, what are some dangers of growing cold in our faith? [24:16]
4. What spiritual disciplines were highlighted as essential for staying connected to God? [41:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the declaration "It is finished" impact a believer's understanding of salvation and forgiveness? [19:19]
2. In what ways can a church community help prevent individuals from growing cold in their faith? [28:59]
3. What might be some reasons people turn away from sound doctrine, according to the sermon? [25:39]
4. How can spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting ignite a believer's passion for God? [41:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt the power of community in your life. How can you contribute to fostering a stronger sense of community in your church? [11:48]
2. "It is finished" is a powerful statement. How does this truth affect your daily life and decisions? [19:19]
3. Identify one area in your spiritual life where you feel you might be growing cold. What steps can you take to rekindle your passion for God? [24:16]
4. What specific spiritual discipline can you commit to this week to help you stay connected to God? [41:35]
5. How can you actively participate in your church's vision for 2025 to deepen connections and be on fire for Jesus? [14:22]
6. Consider the warning against seeking teachings that satisfy personal desires. How can you ensure you are grounded in sound doctrine? [25:39]
7. What practical steps can you take to live out the truth that "it is finished" in your interactions with others? [52:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Strength of Unity in Community
In times of crisis, the power of community becomes evident. When tornadoes recently struck, the church's immediate response to support those affected, especially at Walt Disney Elementary School, showcased the strength found in unity. This collective action is a testament to the calling of being the body of Christ, where each member plays a vital role. The church's response exemplifies how unity can lead to impactful change, emphasizing that together, we can achieve more than we could alone. As we look to the future, the vision is to deepen these connections, ensuring readiness to act when needed. [11:48]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you witnessed or experienced the power of community. How can you contribute to fostering unity in your church or local community today?


Day 2: Embracing the Completed Work of Christ
The declaration "it is finished" by Jesus on the cross is a profound statement of His completed work, offering eternal life, forgiveness, and adoption into God's family. This truth is not merely a conclusion but a transformative promise that invites believers to live in its reality. To fully embrace this, one must allow the finished work of Christ to transform their life, igniting a passion for living out His principles. This involves a conscious choice to walk in the light of His promises, letting them shape every aspect of life. [19:19]

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." (Colossians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to accept Christ's forgiveness. How can you begin to live in the freedom of His completed work today?


Day 3: Staying Passionate in Faith
The scriptures warn of a time when many will turn away from sound doctrine, seeking teachings that satisfy their desires. To avoid growing cold in faith, believers must remain passionate for the Lord, allowing His truth to dispel lies and deceptions. This requires a commitment to spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, fasting, and engaging with the Word of God. By staying close to God, one can maintain a fervent faith that withstands the challenges of the world. [28:59]

"But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:13, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a spiritual discipline you have neglected. What steps can you take this week to reignite your passion for God through this practice?


Day 4: The Importance of Spiritual Disciplines
Engaging in spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and Bible reading is essential for staying connected to God and His promises. These practices fuel spiritual growth and prepare believers for the work God has for them. By committing to these disciplines, one can cultivate a deeper relationship with God, allowing His truth to guide and transform their life. This commitment is crucial for living out the truth that "it is finished" and being a light in the world. [41:35]

"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: Choose one spiritual discipline to focus on this week. How can you incorporate it into your daily routine to deepen your connection with God?


Day 5: Living Out God's Promises
Knowing God's promises is not enough; believers must actively live them out. This involves making commitments to connect with the church, serve others, and give generously. By doing so, one allows God to work through them to impact the world. Living out these promises requires intentionality and a willingness to let God use one's life for His purposes. This active faith is a powerful testimony of the transformative power of Jesus. [52:13]

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider one promise of God that you struggle to live out. What practical steps can you take today to embody this promise in your actions and interactions with others?

Quotes



"And what it is finished means is that you will have eternal life. Amen? John 3 .15 says, what whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. It also means you have been forgiven by God. Hear that, everyone. You have been forgiven by God. 1 John 1 .9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." [00:20:17] (32 seconds)


"It is finished means that there is an eternal life for you. God has forgiven you of your sins, and you have been adopted by the Father. If you choose to accept it, but you can't change it, it is done and complete, and this is the truth. But you have to choose it to be who you are in the name of Jesus. Amen? It is finished. It means that things are complete and set in order by Jesus." [00:21:03] (31 seconds)


"Because if you're living in worry, doubt, and fear, you may not be believing that it is finished. Most of us don't use hope in the same way God shows hope. We use hope as, I hope this happens for me. I hope I get this. And God says, his hope is Jesus has died for your sins once and for all. His hope is a guarantee." [00:22:34] (34 seconds)


"When you're on fire for the Lord, this is how you overcome this. When you're on fire for the Lord, when you're close to the Lord and you're talking to the Lord every day and you're on fire, when these lies come in, the fire of the Lord burns them up into nothing. It divides the truth from the lie and it will burn that stuff up. But if you're cold, if you're growing cold because you're trying to do these things on your own without the Lord being in there, those things don't get burned up and you turn into a garbage can. Collecting the lies. Because there's no fire from the Lord to burn. And all of a sudden you're collecting bitterness, you're collecting offense, you're collecting wrong thinking, and this stuff is not going away because you're growing cold because you aren't on fire for the Lord so that the Lord's fire consumes the lies and tells you the difference between the two. Amen, church? Listen to this, church. If you can remember a time you used to love Jesus more than you do now, you're going to be able to remember a time you used to love Jesus more than you do now. If you can remember a time you used to love Jesus more than you love Him now, you are probably lukewarm. You have probably backslid. Listen to it again. If you can remember a time before when you loved Jesus more than you love Him right now, you're lukewarm." [00:29:35] (85 seconds)


"And church, I'm telling you something right now. I am talking to the lukewarm Christians that are in this room that are ready to get on fire. If you want to get on fire, these are the things that you need to do. Repent and ask the Lord for the fire of God to be in your life. Step one. Amen. Because if you don't choose to get on fire, you're going to grow cold. You will grow cold. And when you grow cold, you're going to start separating and dividing things. And all of a sudden you're not doing all the commandments that he's called you to do. And that joy thing we talked about in Christmas, it's gone just like December, 2024 is." [00:36:08] (41 seconds)


"Because if you cut something out, the goal is you replace it with time with God. You're fasting those things that consume time and you're giving that time back to God. Amen. And you do the 21 days of prayer and fasting. Start with that, getting your fire stoked up and going. Everybody in this room can do a call at 6 a .m. for 10 minutes. I'm going to lose my beauty sleep. I'm just letting you know it eventually goes away on its own. I identified three people laughing louder than others. I'm going to be talking to you. After the service. No, I'm kidding. 21 days of prayer and fasting. Number two, read the Bible plan." [00:41:35] (45 seconds)


"Number three is connect in the church. That's what the Lord put on my heart for 2025 is us to connect, to connect in the body. When you connect to the body of Christ, people will speak into your life words of knowledge that you would not have been able to hear because you're not going to be able to connect. You've got to get connected in what the body of Christ is doing. Amen. If you come to this church on a regular basis, you should be connecting into the areas that are going on in the church to the best of your ability. One of the first ones I can talk about is Tuesday night prayer." [00:46:29] (37 seconds)


"make a commitment to give to the church. Commit. If you've never given to the church or it's something you don't do regularly, I want you to commit. Make a commitment. Trust God. The Bible says, God says to test me in this giving. And so take a step of faith and trust God and give to this church. Not because I want you money, because I have a place I'm trying to go. I'm trying to build this out next door so we can invite more people in this community to experience who Jesus is." [00:50:18] (38 seconds)


"This is not one person's job. This is a community. This is the body of Christ coming together. Amen. And so I want to ask you something. Do you live your life in a way where you can stand in what Jesus said that it is finished? And do you believe that to be true by living your life out that way? Because if you're not, you need to step into the one, you need to step into all four of these commitments. They're not very hard to do." [00:52:13] (33 seconds)


"And we thank you, Lord, that your son died on the cross for every one of our sins, past, present, and future. Lord, we are free because of the work you have already completed. Jesus said, it is finished over my life. My past sin, Jesus said, it is finished. That is not your identity anymore. And so, Lord, we receive your truth today. We receive the power of your word and the love that you have given us. Lord, help us to be a consuming fire, to imitate you, and to share Jesus with others. Lord, I just pray over my brothers and sisters in this room right now that they would just say yes to begin something new, this year to begin something new." [00:55:42] (47 seconds)


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Transcript
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