Embracing God's Abundance and Grace in Our Lives

 

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to talk about the God of abundance and how we often get caught up in a scarcity mentality, worrying about whether we have enough resources. Psalm 50 reminds us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, meaning He has everything we need. As we approach the end of our church's fiscal year, I invite you to pray with us about how we can best allocate our resources to make a kingdom impact.

I also want to introduce Nikki, our new Child Care Center Director. Nikki has a heart for ministry and has already been making a positive impact. Please join me in praying for her and the child care center as they continue to serve our community.

Next week, we have a special missions takeover service where you'll hear from our Mexico and Dominican Republic teams. Today, however, we are diving into Acts 15. This chapter deals with a significant issue in the early church: whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish customs, specifically circumcision, to be saved. This debate highlights the importance of understanding that salvation comes through grace, not through the law or any additional requirements.

During my recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I was reminded of the importance of sharing the gospel. We met people in dire situations, yet the most crucial need they had was to know Jesus. This experience reinforced the idea that helping others find and follow Jesus should be a top priority for all of us.

Acts 15 shows us that the early church leaders, including Peter and James, decided not to burden new believers with unnecessary requirements. They emphasized that salvation is through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This decision was crucial for the growth of the early church and serves as a reminder for us today to remove barriers that might prevent people from coming to Christ.

As we move forward, let's focus on making the gospel and the grace of Jesus a primary focus in our lives. Let's pray for those who don't know Christ and be ready to share our testimonies when the opportunity arises. Imagine the impact we could have if we filled every empty chair in this room with someone who has found new life in Jesus.

### Key Takeaways

1. God of Abundance: Reflect on Psalm 50, which reminds us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. This imagery helps us understand that God has all the resources we need. Instead of living with a scarcity mentality, let's trust in God's abundance and pray for wisdom in how to allocate our resources for His kingdom. [30:31]

2. Importance of Community: Introducing Nikki as our new Child Care Center Director highlights the importance of community and leadership in ministry. Nikki's role is crucial in shaping the lives of the children and staff she oversees. Let's pray for her and support her as she leads this vital ministry. [33:31]

3. Salvation Through Grace: Acts 15 teaches us that salvation comes through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the law or additional requirements. This understanding is essential for removing barriers that might prevent people from coming to Christ. Let's focus on sharing this grace with others. [54:58]

4. Priority of the Gospel: My experience in the Dominican Republic reinforced the importance of sharing the gospel. While meeting people's physical needs is important, their most crucial need is to know Jesus. Let's make it a priority to help others find and follow Jesus, both locally and globally. [41:21]

5. Removing Barriers: The early church leaders decided not to burden new believers with unnecessary requirements. This decision was crucial for the growth of the early church and serves as a reminder for us today. Let's examine how we might be making it difficult for others to turn to Jesus and work to remove those barriers. [56:29]

### YouTube Chapters

1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [0:30] - Introduction and Offering Moment
3. [2:00] - Reflecting on God's Abundance
4. [4:00] - Introduction of Nikki, New Child Care Center Director
5. [6:00] - Prayer for Nikki and Child Care Center
6. [7:30] - Upcoming Missions Takeover Service
7. [8:30] - Prayer Before Diving into Acts 15
8. [9:30] - Experience in the Dominican Republic
9. [12:00] - Importance of Sharing the Gospel
10. [15:00] - Acts 15: The Debate on Circumcision
11. [18:00] - Salvation Through Grace
12. [20:00] - Removing Barriers for New Believers
13. [22:00] - Reflecting on Our Priorities
14. [25:00] - Call to Action: Praying for and Inviting Others
15. [28:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 50:10-12 - "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."
2. Acts 15:1-11 - The debate on circumcision and the decision that salvation comes through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. 2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 50:10-12 tell us about God's ownership and resources?
2. In Acts 15, what was the main issue being debated among the early church leaders? [49:02]
3. How did Peter and James respond to the debate about circumcision in Acts 15? [53:18]
4. According to 2 Peter 3:9, what is God's desire for humanity?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that God owns "the cattle on a thousand hills" (Psalm 50:10-12) change our perspective on resource scarcity and generosity?
2. Why was it significant for the early church to decide that salvation comes through grace and not through adherence to the law (Acts 15:11)? [54:58]
3. How does the experience in the Dominican Republic illustrate the priority of sharing the gospel over meeting physical needs? [41:21]
4. What barriers might we unintentionally place in front of people who are seeking to know Jesus, according to the sermon? [56:29]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you are living with a scarcity mentality? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's abundance? [30:31]
2. How can you support and pray for leaders in your community, like Nikki, who are making a positive impact? What specific actions can you take this week? [33:31]
3. Think about the people in your life who don't know Jesus. How can you make sharing the gospel a priority in your interactions with them? [41:21]
4. Are there any traditions or expectations in your church that might be making it difficult for new believers to come to Christ? How can you work to remove these barriers? [56:29]
5. Identify one person you know who is curious about faith. What steps can you take this week to engage them in a spiritual conversation and share your testimony? [54:58]
6. How can you make the grace of Jesus a primary focus in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of this grace regularly? [54:58]
7. Imagine the impact if every empty chair in your church was filled with someone who has found new life in Jesus. What can you do to invite and welcome others to your church community? [01:05:15]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Abundance
Reflect on Psalm 50, which reminds us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. This imagery helps us understand that God has all the resources we need. Instead of living with a scarcity mentality, let's trust in God's abundance and pray for wisdom in how to allocate our resources for His kingdom. [30:31]

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: In what areas of your life are you currently experiencing a scarcity mentality? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's abundant provision today?


Day 2: The Role of Community in Ministry
Introducing Nikki as our new Child Care Center Director highlights the importance of community and leadership in ministry. Nikki's role is crucial in shaping the lives of the children and staff she oversees. Let's pray for her and support her as she leads this vital ministry. [33:31]

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV): "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."

Reflection: How can you actively support and pray for the leaders in your church community, especially those in new or challenging roles?


Day 3: Salvation Through Grace Alone
Acts 15 teaches us that salvation comes through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, not through adherence to the law or additional requirements. This understanding is essential for removing barriers that might prevent people from coming to Christ. Let's focus on sharing this grace with others. [54:58]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: Are there any "requirements" or expectations you have placed on yourself or others that might be hindering the acceptance of God's grace? How can you embrace and share the simplicity of salvation through grace today?


Day 4: Prioritizing the Gospel in Our Lives
My experience in the Dominican Republic reinforced the importance of sharing the gospel. While meeting people's physical needs is important, their most crucial need is to know Jesus. Let's make it a priority to help others find and follow Jesus, both locally and globally. [41:21]

Romans 10:14-15 (ESV): "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? What steps can you take this week to share the message of Jesus with them?


Day 5: Removing Barriers to Faith
The early church leaders decided not to burden new believers with unnecessary requirements. This decision was crucial for the growth of the early church and serves as a reminder for us today. Let's examine how we might be making it difficult for others to turn to Jesus and work to remove those barriers. [56:29]

Acts 15:19 (ESV): "Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God."

Reflection: Are there any traditions, practices, or attitudes in your life or church that might be creating barriers for new believers? How can you work to remove these barriers and make the path to Jesus clearer for others?

Quotes

1. "And so today I want to invite you to reflect on the God of abundance, the God who has more than enough. And specifically, I want to invite you to pray. And I want us to be praying together in the season ahead. We're coming to the end of our church's ministry year, fiscal year, and gearing up for a new ministry year. budget year. And as we do, I just want you to be praying with us. God, what is it you're calling us to in the season ahead? What is it that you want us to allocate your resources towards? How can we make the best kingdom impact with all that God wants to provide, free us up from a fear of scarcity, and remind us afresh how big and great our God is?" [30:31] (44 seconds) ( | | )

2. "And what hit me is we were helping meet some of the most basic needs that people need. And we were helping meet some of the most basic needs that people need. And we were helping that people have. But they knew what we need to know, that perhaps the most important need that every one of us has is that we need to know who Jesus is. We need to know the work that he did on the cross for us. We need to know the love and the life that he went to the cross to pay for us to have. We need the gospel." [41:21] (27 seconds) ( | | )

3. "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved just as they are. That's a good word, right? It's through grace. Do you know what grace is? Grace is a gift. Grace is God's kindness. It's a grace that is so rich, so valuable that Jesus pays for it with his life. His blood is spilled so that you and I can have life in him, that you and I can come to him, that you and I can be saved and transformed through Jesus. That's a grace. That's a gift." [54:58] (38 seconds) ( | | )

4. "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Think about it. Again, people are turning to Jesus by the masses, and there are people who are trying to make it difficult for those new followers of Christ. It causes me to reflect for a moment. How is it that you and I, how is it that the church today, the church in our country, makes it difficult for people who are turning to Jesus? We do this all the time. We do this in subtle ways." [56:29] (36 seconds) ( | | )

5. "Helping others find and follow Jesus needs to be one of my top priorities. That this is not something just for a mission trip. This is something for every one of us who follow Christ. We have found life in Jesus. We have found salvation. We have found healing. We've found freedom from shame. We've got to share this love and truth with others. It has to be one of our top priorities moving forward." [01:01:04] (26 seconds) ( | | )

6. "How have we made it difficult for others to turn to Jesus? Think about it. What are the things in our world, in our faith today that make it difficult for men and women to turn to Jesus? Maybe it's this belief that we think people need to be a part of a certain political party. I don't know if that one ever gets in the way. Maybe it's this idea that people have to dress a certain way. Maybe it's this idea that people need to act a certain way." [01:02:37] (27 seconds) ( | | )

7. "Is the gospel and the grace of Jesus a primary focus in your life? Is it? Do you desperately long to see men and women, young and old, find and follow Jesus in the year ahead? Because what I want to do today is challenge you to make that your priority. As you step into your offices this year, as you step into your places of work, as you step into your classrooms, the locker rooms, places in which you hang out with people, is it a priority of yours to help people find?" [01:03:52] (39 seconds) ( | | )

8. "What would it look like for us to have a fresh passion in this year ahead that we want people to find the freedom, the hope, the transformation, the salvation, find new life? My prayer is, God, stir up something new in us. I want to hear the stories of so many people turning to Jesus that, what are we going to do? The baptism tank is so full. But I'm looking at a chair right here for somebody who didn't make it this morning. Maybe they slept in because of whatever they were doing last night. They don't know Christ." [01:06:09] (37 seconds) ( | | )

9. "God, there's something so beautiful we see in the book of Acts. We see lives transformed. We see people changed. We see your power unleashed. And God, I don't want to be somebody who just goes through the motions with you. I don't want us to be a church that just goes through the motions. We want to step out in faith and see lives transformed. We want to see people find you. So would you stir something fresh in our hearts today? Help us not to be content with where we've been and what we've done, but help us to long for more." [01:07:11] (48 seconds) ( | | )

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Transcript
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