Embracing God's Call: Making Room for Transformation
Summary
### Summary
Today, we embarked on a new series titled "Make Room," focusing on the profound question: "Can God use me?" Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, we explored how God often chooses the seemingly insignificant and despised to fulfill His grand purposes. The Apostle Paul reminds us that God doesn't require our worldly wisdom, influence, or noble birth to use us. Instead, He delights in using the foolish, weak, and lowly to shame the wise and strong, ensuring that no one can boast before Him.
Reflecting on our own lives, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to be used by God. The enemy often tries to convince us that our past disqualifies us, but the truth is that God can transform our past into a powerful testimony for His glory. The key is to get our hearts right with God and be willing to pay the price, which may include facing ridicule and rejection from the world, and sometimes even from our own families.
The message of the cross, which is Jesus plus nothing, is considered foolishness by the world. Yet, it is this very "foolishness" that has the power to change lives eternally. As we prepare to expand to two services, we must make room in our hearts for Jesus and be ready to share our faith, even if it seems foolish to others. By doing so, we can help others experience the transformative power of Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. God Uses the Unlikely: God often chooses the foolish, weak, and lowly to fulfill His purposes, ensuring that no one can boast before Him. This means that our past mistakes and lack of worldly qualifications do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, they can become powerful testimonies of His grace and power. [04:32]
2. Willingness to Pay the Price: Being used by God requires a willingness to pay the price, which may include facing ridicule and rejection from the world and even from our own families. This is a test of our faith and commitment to God's higher calling. [19:32]
3. The Power of the Cross: The message of the cross, which is Jesus plus nothing, is considered foolishness by the world. However, it is this very "foolishness" that has the power to change lives eternally. We must embrace and proclaim this message boldly. [20:21]
4. Making Room for Jesus: Before we can make room for others, we must first make room for Jesus in our own lives. This involves surrendering our hearts to Him and allowing His transformative power to work in us. Only then can we effectively invite others to experience the same transformation. [37:31]
5. Impact of Simple Messengers: God delights in using simple, seemingly insignificant people to accomplish His purposes. When we allow God to use us, despite our perceived inadequacies, we become vessels of His glory, and no one can take credit for what He does through us. [35:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:15] - Honoring Our Teams and Pastors
[02:19] - The Beauty of Diversity in Miami
[03:27] - Introduction to the Series: Make Room
[04:32] - Can God Use Me?
[06:31] - Prayer for Guidance and Strength
[07:16] - The Importance of Asking "Can God Use Me?"
[08:00] - Overcoming the Lies of the Enemy
[09:49] - Misconceptions About Being Used by God
[10:38] - God's Perspective on Influence and Talent
[12:08] - God's Choice of the Despised and Lowly
[13:47] - Becoming a Child of the King
[14:44] - Biblical Qualifications to Be Used by God
[15:40] - Reflecting on Our Own Importance
[16:35] - Rebuking Lies and Embracing God's Truth
[17:33] - Getting Our Hearts Right with God
[18:31] - The Higher Standard of God's Kingdom
[19:32] - The Price of Making Room
[20:21] - The Message of the Cross
[22:02] - Jesus Plus Nothing Else
[23:55] - The World's View of the Cross
[25:56] - The Eternal Impact of Our Choices
[27:44] - Facing Ridicule from Family and Friends
[29:40] - Honoring and Loving Despite Rejection
[31:36] - Personal Testimony: The Power of Simple Faith
[33:29] - Transformation Through Jesus
[35:23] - God Uses Simple Messengers
[37:31] - Making Room for Jesus
[39:29] - Preparing for Two Services
[41:01] - Living Out Our Faith
[42:59] - Invitation to Accept Jesus
[44:55] - Celebrating New Believers
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: "Make Room"
#### Bible Reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV)
> "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, what types of people does God choose to fulfill His purposes? Why does He choose these types of people? [04:32]
2. What does the Apostle Paul mean when he says that God chose the "foolish things of the world to shame the wise"? [04:32]
3. In the sermon, what are some examples given of how the enemy tries to convince us that our past disqualifies us from being used by God? [08:00]
4. How does the message of the cross, described as "Jesus plus nothing," contrast with the world's view of wisdom and strength? [20:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God chooses the "foolish," "weak," and "lowly" to accomplish His purposes? How does this reflect on God's character and His kingdom? [04:32]
2. What does it mean to "get our heart right with God," and why is this important for being used by Him? [16:35]
3. How can facing ridicule and rejection from the world, and sometimes even from our own families, be a test of our faith and commitment to God's higher calling? [27:44]
4. Why does the world view the message of the cross as foolishness, and how should this understanding impact the way we share our faith? [20:21]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel insignificant or unqualified? How can you allow God to use these perceived weaknesses for His glory? [04:32]
2. Have you ever felt that your past disqualifies you from being used by God? How can you transform your past into a powerful testimony for His glory? [08:00]
3. Are you willing to pay the price of facing ridicule and rejection for the sake of being used by God? What steps can you take to prepare yourself for this challenge? [19:32]
4. How can you make more room for Jesus in your daily life? What specific changes can you make to surrender your heart more fully to Him? [37:31]
5. Think of a time when you felt foolish for sharing your faith. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from that experience to be bolder in the future? [20:21]
6. Identify one person in your life who might view the message of the cross as foolishness. How can you lovingly and effectively share the transformative power of Christ with them? [23:55]
7. As we prepare to expand to two services, what practical steps can you take to invite others to experience the transformative power of Christ at our church? [39:29]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, "Make Room," and to encourage personal reflection and practical application of the message.
Devotional
Day 1: God Uses the Unlikely
God often chooses the foolish, weak, and lowly to fulfill His purposes, ensuring that no one can boast before Him. This means that our past mistakes and lack of worldly qualifications do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, they can become powerful testimonies of His grace and power. God delights in using those who seem insignificant in the eyes of the world to accomplish His grand purposes. This is a reminder that our value and potential are not determined by human standards but by God's sovereign choice and grace.
Reflect on the fact that God can transform your past into a powerful testimony for His glory. No matter what you have been through or how insignificant you may feel, God can use you in ways you never imagined. The key is to get your heart right with God and be willing to be used by Him. [04:32]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Think of a past mistake or weakness that you feel disqualifies you from being used by God. How can you offer this to God today and ask Him to transform it into a testimony of His grace?
Day 2: Willingness to Pay the Price
Being used by God requires a willingness to pay the price, which may include facing ridicule and rejection from the world and even from our own families. This is a test of our faith and commitment to God's higher calling. When we choose to follow God's calling, we may encounter opposition and misunderstanding from those around us. This can be challenging, but it is also an opportunity to demonstrate our faith and trust in God's plan for our lives.
The enemy often tries to convince us that the cost is too high, but the truth is that the rewards of following God's calling far outweigh the temporary challenges we may face. By standing firm in our faith and commitment, we can become powerful witnesses of God's love and truth. [19:32]
Matthew 10:37-39 (ESV): "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Reflection: Are you willing to face ridicule and rejection for the sake of following God's calling? What steps can you take today to strengthen your commitment to God's higher calling, even in the face of opposition?
Day 3: The Power of the Cross
The message of the cross, which is Jesus plus nothing, is considered foolishness by the world. However, it is this very "foolishness" that has the power to change lives eternally. We must embrace and proclaim this message boldly. The world may view the message of the cross as foolish or irrelevant, but it is the foundation of our faith and the source of our salvation.
By embracing the simplicity and power of the cross, we can experience true transformation and share this life-changing message with others. It is important to remember that the power of the cross lies not in our eloquence or wisdom, but in the simple truth of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection. [20:21]
1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Reflection: How can you boldly proclaim the message of the cross in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to share the transformative power of Jesus with those around you?
Day 4: Making Room for Jesus
Before we can make room for others, we must first make room for Jesus in our own lives. This involves surrendering our hearts to Him and allowing His transformative power to work in us. Only then can we effectively invite others to experience the same transformation. Making room for Jesus means prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else and allowing His presence to shape every aspect of our lives.
As we prepare to expand to two services, it is crucial that we make room in our hearts for Jesus and be ready to share our faith, even if it seems foolish to others. By doing so, we can help others experience the transformative power of Christ. [37:31]
Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Reflection: What areas of your life do you need to surrender to Jesus to make more room for Him? How can you prioritize your relationship with Him today?
Day 5: Impact of Simple Messengers
God delights in using simple, seemingly insignificant people to accomplish His purposes. When we allow God to use us, despite our perceived inadequacies, we become vessels of His glory, and no one can take credit for what He does through us. This is a powerful reminder that our worth and effectiveness are not determined by our abilities or qualifications, but by our willingness to be used by God.
By embracing our role as simple messengers, we can experience the joy and fulfillment of being part of God's grand plan. It is not about our strength or wisdom, but about our availability and obedience to God's calling. [35:23]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: In what ways do you feel inadequate or insignificant in your ability to serve God? How can you offer these feelings to God and trust Him to use you as a vessel of His glory?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You matter to God. And I want you to listen to what Paul says. We're going to start reading in verse 26. We're going to read verses 26, 27, 28, and 29, okay? We've titled this message or this teaching, very simple, Can God Use Me? Can God use me? Can God use you?" [03:27] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The enemy puts in the mind of many people that God can never use them. Because all they think about is their past. But here's the wonderful thing about what we just read. Jesus says sometimes the worse your past, the better the present. Did you hear that? The uglier the past, the more painful the past, the better the present." [08:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It doesn't matter who we are and it doesn't matter what we've done, God can and will use us. That's the key in all of this. See, with the world standards, if you do certain... If you do certain things, they'll disqualify you. Amen? Are you hearing this? In the standard of the world, if you don't reach a certain standard or you've done something, they'll put you in certain tiers of positions. That's the world. God never thinks like that." [17:33] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus changes people's lives forever. Not religion, not our willpower, not the books that we read. Books are great to read, but that book didn't change your life. Your willpower is great, but there comes a power. A moment that that power is gone, you have no more strength. You see, you and I get to drink from a fountain that never runs dry. You and I get to be replenished from a power, from a source that never quits, and that's Jesus Christ." [25:56] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The message of the cross is Jesus plus nothing. He's enough. If you want to get into theological terms, it's this. It's the incarnation of Christ, which means God himself taking human form. And being born in Bethlehem. A sinless man. That's the incarnation. That's step one. The second step is that perfect baby boy. 33 years later, suffered the most horrific death any human has ever suffered. He went to the cross. And he went to that cross and he literally died. He took my penalty. Jesus, without having to, took my shame, my punishment upon him. And he satisfied the father with what he did." [20:21] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Can God use me? You know, I think one of the questions that all of us that say we love Jesus, one of the most important things that we should ask ourselves for people that have come to know Jesus as their Savior is this. This is important. And a lot of people miss out on so many blessings because they never ask this question. They say, God, Jesus, thank you for my salvation. Thank you for my church. Thank you for my pastors. Thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. They all say that. They love that. But they never sometimes ask this question because it's a scary question. Because if they ask it and they don't like the answer, well, there's a problem. But this is a question that everyone should ask themselves today. I had to ask myself today, too. This is a question. Can God use me? Can God use me?" [07:16] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God never thinks this way. God never thinks that way. Not according to what we just read. God doesn't care about our popularity. God doesn't care about our talent. God doesn't care about our influence in society. God doesn't care about any of that. So if you're thinking about influence or about talent or popularity or how many people you have in your Instagram account or whatever, God says, I'm not interested in any of that. And if you're focusing on that, you're wasting my time. That's what God says." [10:38] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God says, I'm going to take the despised. I'm going to take the people that no one else values. This is real. I'm going to take the people that no one thinks is important. And with those despised people, with those people that are not very important in the eyes of the world, with those people that are not feeling very valued right now, I'm going to change the world. That's what God said in his word. That's exactly what Paul just said. He said, not many of you when you came to Jesus were important. Not many of you were of noble birth. Right? Listen. In God's word, when you see the people that he used, not many of them were important. Some of them were. Absolutely." [12:08] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If we get our heart right with God, listen, not perfection, okay? If we get our heart right with God and we're willing to pay the price, that's the thing. If we're willing to pay the price, God will use you. Okay. One of the wonderful things is this, and we sang about this, just so great. It doesn't matter who we are and it doesn't matter what we've done, God can and will use us. That's the key in all of this." [17:33] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If I'm going to make... Make room. Everyone that's sitting here today and watching online, the future of Vive City Chapel lies within you right now. This is critical for you to understand in the name of Jesus. Look what Paul says in verse 18 of 1 Corinthians 1. He says, for the message, the cross is what? Foolishness. Now, you know what the message is? We're going to get into a little bit of theology. The message of the cross is called the gospel. That's the message. And the message of the cross, listen to this, it's really simple. It's Jesus plus nothing else. That's what it is." [19:32] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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