Embracing God's Goodness: Hope and Worship
Summary
The sermon delivered by the speaker is a profound exploration of the goodness of God and the importance of recognizing and worshiping Him. The speaker begins by identifying themselves as a "hope dealer," promising to provide hope through the message of God's unwavering goodness, as outlined in Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 23. They share a personal story about finding peace through the sound of a water fountain, likening it to the tranquility that God offers us in our times of stress.
The speaker joyfully returns to church, emphasizing the timeliness and relevance of the sermon series "Searching for God," which seeks to answer questions about God's character and existence. They address the doubts that may arise when people face challenges, using Psalm 23:6 and Psalm 100:5 to reassure the congregation of God's enduring goodness.
A poignant story is told of a rich man who plans to enjoy his wealth without acknowledging God, illustrating the dangers of pride and ingratitude—deemed the greatest sins, as exemplified by Satan's fall. The speaker warns against taking credit for God's work in our lives, as this can lead to judgment and negative consequences, and instead, encourages worship as a means to experience God's presence and power.
The speaker assures the congregation that God's goodness will lead them into heaven and that even in the midst of pain and difficult circumstances, there is hope. They invoke the significance of Good Friday, where the crucifixion of Jesus led to salvation and transformation for believers.
The sermon also tackles the topic of creation, arguing against the denial of a creator and discussing the concept of "something coming from nothing," referencing both atheist Richard Dawkins and theologian Thomas Aquinas. The speaker emphasizes that God's favor may not seem fair, but it is a testament to His goodness and mercy, and they encourage the congregation to trust in God's interpretation of their circumstances, rather than becoming cynical.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker highlights that recognizing God's goodness is essential to maintaining hope and peace in our lives. They use the metaphor of lying down in green pastures and being led beside quiet waters, along with a personal anecdote about a water fountain, to illustrate the tranquility that comes from trusting in God's care. This tranquility is a testament to the profound impact of God's peace on the human spirit, offering solace amidst the chaos of life. [33:59]
- Worship is not just an act of giving worth to God, but it is also beneficial for us. It opens the door to experiencing God's goodness, power, and presence. The speaker warns that failing to worship God can lead to self-worship, which ultimately results in destruction. This insight underscores the reciprocal nature of worship, where the act of glorifying God enriches our own lives with His divine presence. [04:49]
- The speaker asserts that God's goodness is not diminished by our circumstances. They share a story about a Chinese farmer to illustrate that what may seem like bad news can ultimately be good, encouraging listeners to trust in God's plan. This perspective challenges us to view our situations through the lens of faith, trusting that God's goodness will prevail even when our understanding is limited. [28:07]
- The sermon emphasizes that everything we have is a gift from God, and ingratitude and pride are at the root of atheism. The speaker references Romans 1:20, which speaks to God's attributes being evident in creation, to argue for the necessity of a creator. This point serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and gratitude in recognizing the divine hand in all aspects of life. [15:22]
- The speaker discusses the importance of prayer and seeking God's help, warning against the prideful belief that we can manage without divine assistance. They remind the audience of Jesus' teachings on the power of prayer, emphasizing that neglecting to focus on God's goodness can lead to self-reliance and a lack of faith. This takeaway calls us to a deeper reliance on God, recognizing that our strength and provision come from Him alone. [21:28]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 23:6 - "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
2. Psalm 100:5 - "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
3. Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 23:6, what are the two things that will follow the believer all the days of their life? How does this verse conclude?
2. In Psalm 100:5, what three attributes of God are highlighted?
3. What does Romans 1:20 say about the visibility of God's attributes through creation? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on atheism and ingratitude? [13:24]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise in Psalm 23:6 provide comfort and assurance to believers, especially in times of stress and uncertainty? [02:42]
2. What does the speaker mean when they say that worship opens the door to all of God's goodness? How does this concept challenge or affirm your current understanding of worship? [06:08]
3. Reflecting on Romans 1:20, how does recognizing God's attributes in creation influence our sense of gratitude and humility? [14:01]
4. How does the story of the rich man in Luke 12:16-21 illustrate the dangers of pride and ingratitude? What lessons can we draw from this parable about acknowledging God's role in our lives? [09:20]
#### Application Questions
1. The speaker mentioned that focusing on God's goodness can help reduce stress and bring peace. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of God's goodness daily? [04:49]
2. Worship is described as a way to experience God's presence and power. How can you incorporate more intentional worship into your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this? [06:08]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of gratitude and humility. Can you identify areas in your life where you might be taking credit for what God has done? How can you shift your perspective to give God the glory? [08:12]
4. The speaker shared a story about a Chinese farmer to illustrate that what seems like bad news can ultimately be good. Can you think of a time in your life when a difficult situation turned out to be a blessing? How did that experience shape your faith? [26:11]
5. The sermon warns against the dangers of self-reliance and encourages seeking God's help through prayer. Are there specific areas in your life where you have been relying on your own strength instead of seeking God's assistance? How can you start to change that? [21:28]
6. Reflect on the idea that God's goodness is not diminished by our circumstances. How can you maintain hope and trust in God's plan when facing challenging situations? [25:29]
7. The speaker mentioned that ingratitude and pride are at the root of atheism. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility in your daily interactions and decisions? [13:24]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of God's goodness, worship, gratitude, and reliance on God, as discussed in the sermon. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: Tranquility in Divine Trust
Trusting in God's care brings a peace that transcends all understanding, much like the calmness one feels by still waters. This peace is a gift, allowing one to rest in green pastures despite life's turmoil. It is a testament to the profound impact of God's peace on the human spirit, offering solace amidst the chaos of life. [33:59]
Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more to experience His perfect peace?
Day 2: The Reciprocity of Worship
Worship is a mutual exchange where glorifying God invites His presence and power into our lives. It is not merely an act of giving worth to God but also a means for us to experience His goodness. This insight underscores the reciprocal nature of worship, enriching our lives with divine presence. [04:49]
1 Chronicles 16:11 - "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional acts of worship into your daily routine to experience God's presence?
Day 3: Perceiving Goodness in All Circumstances
God's goodness remains constant, even when our circumstances seem dire. Like the story of the Chinese farmer, what may appear as misfortune can ultimately lead to blessing. This perspective challenges us to view our situations through the lens of faith, trusting that God's goodness will prevail. [28:07]
James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when a difficult situation turned out to be a blessing in disguise? How did it change your view of God's goodness?
Day 4: Humility and Gratitude in Creation
Acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God fosters humility and gratitude. The complexity and beauty of creation point to the necessity of a divine creator. This reminder calls us to recognize the divine hand in all aspects of life, countering pride and ingratitude. [15:22]
Romans 11:36 - "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."
Reflection: What are some aspects of creation that inspire gratitude in you, and how can you express that gratitude today?
Day 5: Reliance on Divine Strength
Prayer is an acknowledgment of our dependence on God's strength and provision. It is a warning against self-reliance and an invitation to trust in divine assistance. Jesus' teachings on prayer emphasize the importance of focusing on God's goodness and our need for His help. [21:28]
2 Corinthians 1:9 - "Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you've been relying on your own strength? How can you shift to rely on God's strength in this area?
Quotes
1) "We Believe today that even in bad difficulties even in bad situations even in moments where we're wondering where God is that God is still good no matter what the bad news is sometime good news could be disguised and bad news it's not the news you receive it's the report you believe" [25:29]
2) "all of a sudden you begin to take credit for things that are in your life when God should be getting the glory do you realize that Satan was cast out of Heaven because of Pride he was ungrateful he had in gratitude in his life the Bible tells us a story I can't read the whole story here but it's in Acts CH 12 there's the King by the name of King Herod and the Bible says he stands up one day and he makes this speech and the people begin to clap and the people begin to honor him and they say this is the voice of God and not of man and the Bible says he begins to kind of Glory yeah yeah and that moment the Bible said judgment came on that man and he was struck with the disease and he died because of why not because of greed not because of murder not because of something immoral but because the man was prideful and ungrateful and not giving God the glory." [12:00]
3) "Something can't come out of nothing that mean there is something always there it's God right that's who it was." [17:27]
4) "He makes me lie down in Green Pastures he leads me beside Quiet Waters and other words this is the metaphor for peace he lets you lay down he lets you be in peace in tranquility" [33:25]
5) "The moment we begin to not focus on God's goodness let me just be very clear today it will cause all kinds of problems in your life" [04:49]
6) "When we cry to God, when we begin to pray to God, that God meets our need, that God's the one that gets the glory, that everything we have is because of God." [23:25]
7) "Powerful worship opens the door to all of God's goodness...worshiping God is actually more for your benefit than God's." [06:51]
8) "You're alive today because of God's goodness...when you begin not to focus on the goodness of God, you begin to take credit and find yourself in depression." [08:12]
9) "God's goodness is going to be with me... I will never Outlast the goodness of God." [38:01]
10) "If we're not careful when we don't focus on the goodness of God we become pessimistic or cynical about the future...hope and goodness are connected." [29:18]
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