Embracing God's Boundless Love and Inclusivity
Summary
### Summary
Welcome to Atkinson Congregational Church, where everyone is embraced regardless of their journey. Today, we reflected on the vastness of God's love and the inclusivity of His kingdom. We began with a call to worship, acknowledging the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We confessed our shortcomings and sought God's forgiveness, recognizing His infinite mercy and love.
The children's message highlighted the diversity and inclusivity of God's family, using the metaphor of a crayon box to illustrate how every color contributes to a beautiful picture. This theme of inclusivity continued with the baptism of Tulip Ari Wan, symbolizing her acceptance into the family of Christ and the church's commitment to nurture her faith.
Our scripture readings from Psalm 145 and Ephesians 3 emphasized God's universal love and the strength we derive from it. The sermon drew parallels between the global diversity seen in the Olympics and the expansive nature of God's kingdom. It challenged us to broaden our worldview and recognize that God's love extends far beyond our immediate surroundings.
We were reminded that our view of Christ and His kingdom can often be too narrow. Jesus' teachings and actions call us to embrace a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of His mission. The story of the life-saving station on the Maine coast served as a poignant reminder of the church's mission to save lives and extend God's love to all, not just those within our immediate community.
As we concluded, we were encouraged to go out into the world, share God's love, and invite others to experience His grace. The service ended with a prayer for courage and a hymn, reminding us that God's love is boundless and His kingdom is far greater than we can imagine.
### Key Takeaways
1. Inclusivity of God's Family: God's family is as diverse as a box of crayons, each color contributing to a beautiful picture. This metaphor reminds us that God's love is for everyone, regardless of their background or appearance. We are all part of a vast, inclusive family that spans the globe. [20:33]
2. Expansive Worldview: Our understanding of God's kingdom should extend beyond our immediate surroundings. Just as the Olympics showcase global diversity, we are called to recognize and embrace the vastness of God's creation and His love for all people. [45:14]
3. Comprehensive View of Christ: Our perception of Jesus should not be limited by cultural or personal biases. Jesus' teachings and actions reveal a more inclusive and comprehensive mission, inviting us to see Him as the Savior of all humanity, not just a select few. [53:01]
4. Mission of the Church: The story of the life-saving station illustrates the church's mission to save lives and extend God's love. As the church grows, it must remain focused on its primary mission rather than becoming insular and self-serving. [56:43]
5. Personal Evangelism: We are encouraged to identify someone in our lives who needs God's grace and love. By sharing our faith and inviting them to experience God's love, we fulfill our role in expanding His kingdom and bringing hope to those around us. [59:24]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[05:00] - Announcements
[11:49] - Call to Worship
[16:03] - Prayer of Confession
[17:12] - Assurance of Pardon
[18:36] - Children's Message
[22:08] - Baptism of Tulip Ari Wan
[31:22] - Scripture Reading: Psalm 145
[36:35] - Prayers of the People
[40:41] - Offertory
[43:55] - Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3
[45:14] - Sermon: God's Expansive Kingdom
[56:43] - Story of the Life-Saving Station
[59:24] - Personal Evangelism Challenge
[01:00:01] - Sending Prayer
[01:03:00] - Benediction and Closing Hymn
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)
> "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made."
2. Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
> "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
3. John 10:16 (NIV)
> "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
#### Observation Questions
1. What metaphor was used in the children's message to illustrate the diversity and inclusivity of God's family? ([19:50])
2. How does Psalm 145 describe God's character and His relationship with all creation? ([31:22])
3. According to Ephesians 3, what does Paul pray for believers to understand about God's love? ([43:55])
4. What story was shared in the sermon to illustrate the mission of the church and its potential pitfalls? ([54:20])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the metaphor of the crayon box help us understand the inclusivity of God's family? ([19:50])
2. In what ways does the story of the life-saving station challenge our understanding of the church's mission? ([54:20])
3. How can Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 help us expand our view of God's love and His kingdom? ([43:55])
4. What does Jesus mean when He says He has "other sheep that are not of this sheep pen" in John 10:16, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message of inclusivity? ([53:01])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the metaphor of the crayon box. How can you celebrate and embrace the diversity within your own church community? ([19:50])
2. The sermon emphasized the need to broaden our worldview. What steps can you take to learn more about different cultures and perspectives within the global Christian community? ([45:14])
3. Consider the story of the life-saving station. How can your church stay focused on its mission to save lives and extend God's love, rather than becoming insular? ([54:20])
4. Identify someone in your life who might need to experience God's grace and love. What specific actions can you take this week to share your faith with them? ([59:24])
5. How can you personally contribute to making your church a more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone, regardless of their background or appearance? ([20:33])
6. Reflect on your own view of Christ. Are there cultural or personal biases that might be limiting your understanding of His mission? How can you work to overcome these biases? ([53:01])
7. The sermon concluded with a call to go out into the world and share God's love. What practical steps can you take this week to live out this call in your daily life? ([01:00:01])
Devotional
Day 1: The Diversity of God's Family
God's family is as diverse as a box of crayons, each color contributing to a beautiful picture. This metaphor reminds us that God's love is for everyone, regardless of their background or appearance. We are all part of a vast, inclusive family that spans the globe. The children's message highlighted this diversity and inclusivity, using the crayon box to illustrate how every color contributes to a beautiful picture. This theme continued with the baptism of Tulip Ari Wan, symbolizing her acceptance into the family of Christ and the church's commitment to nurture her faith.
In our daily lives, we often encounter people who are different from us in various ways. It is essential to remember that these differences are what make God's family beautiful and complete. Embracing diversity means recognizing that every person has a unique role to play in God's kingdom, and we are called to love and accept them just as they are. [20:33]
Romans 12:4-5 (ESV): "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is different from you in background, culture, or appearance. How can you show them God's love and acceptance today?
Day 2: Embracing a Global Perspective
Our understanding of God's kingdom should extend beyond our immediate surroundings. Just as the Olympics showcase global diversity, we are called to recognize and embrace the vastness of God's creation and His love for all people. The scripture readings from Psalm 145 and Ephesians 3 emphasized God's universal love and the strength we derive from it. The sermon challenged us to broaden our worldview and recognize that God's love extends far beyond our immediate surroundings.
In a world that often focuses on divisions and differences, it is crucial to remember that God's love knows no boundaries. By embracing a global perspective, we can better understand the vastness of God's kingdom and our role in it. This means being open to learning about different cultures, traditions, and ways of life, and recognizing that God's love is present in all of them. [45:14]
Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us."
Reflection: What is one way you can learn about and appreciate a different culture or tradition this week? How can this help you see God's love in a new light?
Day 3: Seeing Christ Beyond Our Biases
Our perception of Jesus should not be limited by cultural or personal biases. Jesus' teachings and actions reveal a more inclusive and comprehensive mission, inviting us to see Him as the Savior of all humanity, not just a select few. The sermon reminded us that our view of Christ and His kingdom can often be too narrow, and we are called to embrace a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of His mission.
It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing Jesus through the lens of our own experiences and biases. However, Jesus' message is one of inclusivity and love for all people, regardless of their background or circumstances. By challenging ourselves to see Christ beyond our biases, we can better understand His mission and our role in it. [53:01]
Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when your personal biases may have influenced your view of Jesus or His teachings. How can you work to see Christ's mission more inclusively?
Day 4: The Church's Mission to Save Lives
The story of the life-saving station illustrates the church's mission to save lives and extend God's love. As the church grows, it must remain focused on its primary mission rather than becoming insular and self-serving. The sermon used this story as a poignant reminder of the church's mission to save lives and extend God's love to all, not just those within our immediate community.
The church is called to be a beacon of hope and love in the world, reaching out to those in need and sharing the message of God's grace. It is essential to remember that our mission is not just to serve ourselves but to extend God's love to everyone, especially those who are lost or hurting. By staying focused on this mission, we can ensure that the church remains a vital and life-saving force in the world. [56:43]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Think of a way your church can reach out to the community and extend God's love to those in need. How can you personally contribute to this mission?
Day 5: Personal Evangelism and Sharing God's Love
We are encouraged to identify someone in our lives who needs God's grace and love. By sharing our faith and inviting them to experience God's love, we fulfill our role in expanding His kingdom and bringing hope to those around us. The sermon concluded with a challenge to go out into the world, share God's love, and invite others to experience His grace.
Personal evangelism is a powerful way to share the message of God's love with those around us. By identifying someone in our lives who needs God's grace and love, we can take intentional steps to share our faith and invite them to experience the transformative power of God's love. This not only helps to expand God's kingdom but also brings hope and healing to those who need it most. [59:24]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to experience God's love. How can you share your faith with them in a gentle and respectful way this week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Today I have a story for you about how amazing it is to be part of God's family, and how big God's family, and how big God's family is. Yep. In the Bible, there's a book called Ephesians, and there's a part where Paul, who was one of Jesus' friends, says a beautiful prayer. He says, For this reason I kneel before God, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. What Paul meant is that God is like a loving parent to everybody in the whole world." [19:11] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So imagine you had a box, a bunch of crayons. But when you opened up the box, every crayon was the same color. How would that be? Yeah, not so great. We like lots of colors, right? And it's the same way with God's family. Paul continues his prayer asking God to help us understand that how wide and long and high and deep God's love is, and that it's for everybody, no matter what." [19:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The good news is, if you're willing to pursue the inclusive fullness of God's reign, God will open the door to a bigger and more colorful world than you can ever imagine. And if you're not, your world will continue to shrink and get smaller and more insular and more ingrown." [54:20] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, as you leave worship today and go back into your life and your community this week, ask yourself, who is the one person I know who is most in need of God's grace and love? Then go to that person and share with them in your own words what your faith means to you, and perhaps invite them to join you next Sunday and God to do the rest." [59:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Paul says, I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you'll have the power to grasp love's width and length, height and depth together with all believers. I ask that you'll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge, so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God." [45:14] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But knowing that they're out there, and knowing that there are billions of people who have lived and died without ever hearing the good news about Jesus, and knowing that our God, through the example of Jesus, sought a more inclusive gathering of all people into the family of God, gives me comfort. That those folks are included in a way that I just may not understand." [53:43] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul says he's discovered the mystery of Christ, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body and fellow partakers in his promise in Christ Jesus through the good news. To our 21st century ears, that sounds kind of lame. Of course the Gentiles are fellow heirs. Why shouldn't they be? But to the devout Jews of Paul's day, this was unthinkable. Jews and Gentiles didn't mix. Every Jewish-born girl knew that, and yet Paul says that day is over and gone." [58:07] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "For the church of Jesus Christ is not some sort of holy club, but a mission outpost, a life-saving station, filled with those who are willing to brave the perils of a sin-sick world in order to bring hope and the promise of salvation to the wayward and the lost. And here's where it gets kind of weird. Those wayward and lost ones aren't in some far-off continent. They're right outside our door." [59:24] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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