Embracing God's Boundless Mercy and Presence
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone, to our Home Experience. Today, I want to share a song that has been resonating deeply with me, "His Mercy is More." The chorus of this song is a powerful reminder of God's boundless mercy: "Praise the Lord, His mercy is more, stronger than darkness, new every morn. Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more." This song encapsulates the essence of God's grace, emphasizing that no matter how numerous our sins, His mercy surpasses them all. I encourage you to let this chorus dwell in your hearts and minds, as it has in mine.
Next, I introduced a practice we've been doing in our kids' ministry called the "Scripture Jar." This is a simple yet profound way to incorporate God's Word into our daily lives, especially during meal times. Today’s verse from Philippians 4:8-9 encourages us to focus on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. By meditating on these things and practicing them, we invite the peace of God into our lives.
I also shared a personal experience from my walks, where I found myself singing a song that beautifully expresses a deep longing for God's presence: "The more I seek you, the more I find you. The more I find you, the more I love you." This song speaks to the intimate relationship we can have with God, where we can sit at His feet, drink from His cup, and feel His heartbeat. This overwhelming love and peace are available to us when we seek Him earnestly.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Mercy is Boundless: The song "His Mercy is More" reminds us that God's mercy is stronger than any darkness we face and is renewed every morning. Despite the multitude of our sins, His mercy is always greater, offering us hope and redemption. Reflect on this truth and let it bring you comfort and assurance in your daily walk with God. [03:24]
2. Incorporating Scripture into Daily Life: The "Scripture Jar" is a practical tool to bring God's Word into our everyday routines. By reading and meditating on verses like Philippians 4:8-9 during meal times, we can focus our minds on what is true, honorable, and praiseworthy, thereby inviting God's peace into our homes and hearts. [05:10]
3. The Power of Worship: Singing songs of worship, like "The more I seek you, the more I find you," can deepen our relationship with God. These moments of worship allow us to experience His overwhelming love and peace, reminding us of the intimacy we can have with Him. Make worship a regular part of your life to continually draw closer to God. [06:24]
4. Seeking God's Presence: The lyrics "I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and breathe" illustrate a profound desire to be in God's presence. This imagery encourages us to seek a deeper, more personal connection with God, where we can find rest and peace in His presence. [08:54]
5. Experiencing God's Overwhelming Love: The repeated refrain of "This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming" highlights the transformative power of God's love. When we truly seek Him, we can experience a love and peace that surpass all understanding, filling our hearts and lives with His presence. [11:56]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[03:24] - "His Mercy is More" Song Introduction
[05:10] - Scripture Jar and Philippians 4:8-9
[06:24] - Personal Experience and Worship Song
[08:54] - Seeking God's Presence
[11:56] - Experiencing God's Overwhelming Love
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the chorus of the song "His Mercy is More" emphasize about God's mercy? [03:24]
2. How does the "Scripture Jar" practice help incorporate God's Word into daily life? [05:10]
3. What are the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8-9 that we are encouraged to focus on?
4. What imagery is used in the song "The more I seek you, the more I find you" to describe the relationship with God? [08:54]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the message of "His Mercy is More" provide comfort and assurance in our daily walk with God? [03:24]
2. In what ways can focusing on the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8-9 invite God's peace into our lives?
3. How can singing worship songs like "The more I seek you, the more I find you" deepen our relationship with God? [06:24]
4. What does the imagery of sitting at God's feet and drinking from His cup suggest about the intimacy we can have with Him? [08:54]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by your sins. How did you experience God's mercy in that situation? [03:24]
2. How can you incorporate the "Scripture Jar" practice into your daily routine? What specific steps will you take to make this a habit? [05:10]
3. Think about the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8-9. Which one do you find most challenging to focus on, and why? How can you work on this in the coming week?
4. How can you make worship a regular part of your life? Identify a specific time and place where you can dedicate to worship each day. [06:24]
5. Describe a moment when you felt a deep connection with God. What were you doing, and how can you recreate that experience more often? [08:54]
6. The song "The more I seek you, the more I find you" speaks of an intimate relationship with God. What practical steps can you take to seek God more earnestly in your daily life? [08:54]
7. How can you share the message of God's overwhelming love and peace with someone who is struggling? Think of a specific person and plan a way to reach out to them this week. [11:56]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Mercy is Boundless
God's mercy is a profound and boundless gift that surpasses all our sins and shortcomings. The song "His Mercy is More" beautifully captures this truth, reminding us that no matter how numerous our sins, God's mercy is always greater. This mercy is stronger than any darkness we face and is renewed every morning, offering us hope and redemption. Reflecting on this truth can bring comfort and assurance in our daily walk with God, knowing that His mercy is always available to us, no matter our past or present struggles. Let this truth dwell in your heart and mind, bringing you peace and encouragement.
[03:24]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt overwhelmed by your mistakes or sins. How can you embrace God's boundless mercy today and allow it to bring you peace and hope?
Day 2: Incorporating Scripture into Daily Life
Incorporating God's Word into our daily routines can transform our lives and bring us closer to Him. The "Scripture Jar" is a practical tool that encourages us to read and meditate on Bible verses during meal times. By focusing on verses like Philippians 4:8-9, we can direct our minds towards what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This practice invites the peace of God into our homes and hearts, helping us to live in alignment with His will and experience His presence in our daily lives.
[05:10]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of incorporating Scripture into your routine? What specific steps can you take to ensure that God's Word is a central part of your day?
Day 3: The Power of Worship
Worship is a powerful way to deepen our relationship with God and experience His overwhelming love and peace. Singing songs of worship, like "The more I seek you, the more I find you," allows us to express our longing for God's presence and draw closer to Him. These moments of worship remind us of the intimacy we can have with God, where we can sit at His feet, drink from His cup, and feel His heartbeat. Making worship a regular part of our lives helps us to continually seek and find God, experiencing His love and peace in profound ways.
[06:24]
Psalm 95:1-2 (ESV): "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine? What specific songs or practices help you to feel closer to God and experience His presence?
Day 4: Seeking God's Presence
Seeking God's presence is a profound and transformative experience that brings us closer to Him. The lyrics "I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand, lay back against you and breathe" illustrate a deep desire to be in God's presence. This imagery encourages us to seek a deeper, more personal connection with God, where we can find rest and peace in His presence. By earnestly seeking Him, we can experience the fullness of His love and the peace that surpasses all understanding.
[08:54]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reflection: What steps can you take to seek God's presence more intentionally in your life? How can you create moments of stillness and reflection to experience His peace and love?
Day 5: Experiencing God's Overwhelming Love
God's love is deep and overwhelming, offering us a transformative experience that fills our hearts and lives with His presence. The repeated refrain of "This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming" highlights the power of God's love. When we truly seek Him, we can experience a love and peace that surpass all understanding. This love transforms us, bringing us closer to God and filling our lives with His presence and peace.
[11:56]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How have you experienced God's overwhelming love in your life? What can you do today to open your heart more fully to His love and allow it to transform you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Praise the Lord, His mercy is more, stronger than darkness, new every morn. Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more. Praise the Lord, His mercy is more, stronger than darkness, new every morn. Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more." [03:24] (9 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you're always like us looking for something to like kind of get the prayers going during supper time, sitting around the table, this is a really cool way to do it. So this is the verse today. It is a long one, but it is very good. So I just randomly pulled it out. So this is Philippians 4, 8 through 9." [05:10] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I've been doing this new thing. I've been walking lately. I'm not a runner unless a bear is chasing me. But I've been walking and it's just been so good just to be able to have time together." [06:24] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "This is something we've been doing in kids' ministry. If you've been watching, if you haven't, it's OK. I just wanted to share it with you. This is our scripture jar. This is one of the four Ss we taught our students—our kids to do during dinner time. Or whenever they would like." [05:10] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Well, I was walking and I was listening to some kind of like ambient kind of like music. It's not even like, it's kind of like a like little swells of music, if you get, if you understand what I'm saying. It's kind of like when you walk into a spa or something. Well, this song, I hadn't ever done this song ever, never, ever. This song washed over me and I just started singing it." [06:24] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The more I seek you, the more I find you. The more I find you. This love is so deep. It's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace. It's overwhelming. I want to sit at your feet. Drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breathe. Feel your heartbeat." [08:54] (-94 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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