Embracing God's Grace in Our Messy Lives
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we gather as a community of believers, redeemed by Christ, to worship and glorify God. We began our service by reading God's Word aloud, acknowledging His majesty and righteousness. We also welcomed our guests and encouraged them to connect with us through various means, emphasizing our commitment to helping everyone take their next steps in faith.
Our focus today is on the grace of God, especially in the messy and challenging times of our lives. We explored the story of Jacob from Genesis 28, where God met Jacob in a dream, extending His covenant and grace to him even in his lowest moments. This story reminds us that God's grace is available to us, no matter how far we feel from Him.
We prayed for our church community, other churches, and missionaries around the world, asking God to guide us in biblical faithfulness and to extend His grace to those in need. We also prayed for individuals in our congregation facing health challenges and grief, asking for God's healing and comfort.
In our sermon, we delved into the significance of Jacob's dream, where he saw a stairway reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. This vision symbolizes God's initiative to come down to us, reversing the Tower of Babel's attempt to reach God through human effort. It highlights that God's grace is not something we earn but something He freely gives.
We discussed three key truths about God's grace in our messy lives:
1. God provides a way of grace for us, meeting us in our lowest moments.
2. God's grace assures us of His presence, security, and significance in our lives.
3. Our response to God's grace should be one of worship and total commitment.
Jacob's transformation from a taker to a giver and a worshiper serves as a powerful example of how encountering God's grace changes us. We are called to respond to God's grace by dedicating our lives to Him, giving generously, and worshiping wholeheartedly.
As we conclude, we are reminded that God's grace is always available to us, even in the darkest times. Let us live in a way that reflects His grace and love, drawing closer to Him and to one another.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Grace in Our Lowest Moments: God's grace meets us in our lowest moments, just as He met Jacob when he was on the run and feeling far from home. This grace is not something we earn but a gift from God, reminding us that even in our darkest times, He is with us and extends His love and forgiveness. [49:03]
2. God's Initiative to Reach Us: The vision of Jacob's ladder symbolizes God's initiative to come down to us, reversing the human effort seen in the Tower of Babel. This teaches us that our relationship with God is not based on our efforts to reach Him but on His willingness to come to us and extend His grace. [52:29]
3. Assurance of God's Presence: God's promise to Jacob, "I am with you," is a powerful reminder that His presence is with us always. This assurance helps us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, knowing that we are never alone and that God's grace is sufficient for us. [01:02:25]
4. Transformation Through Grace: Encountering God's grace transforms us from takers to givers and worshipers. Jacob's response to God's grace was to give a tenth of all he had and to worship God wholeheartedly. This transformation is a testament to the power of grace to change our hearts and lives. [01:08:18]
5. Living a Life of Worship: Our response to God's grace should be a life of worship and total commitment to Him. This means dedicating every aspect of our lives to God, including our time, resources, and actions. Worship is not just a duty but an outpouring of a heart changed by God's grace. [01:11:38]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[15:39] - Reading God's Word
[28:05] - Connecting with Guests
[29:33] - Prayer and Worship
[42:10] - Sermon Introduction
[42:52] - Jacob's Dream and God's Grace
[49:03] - God's Grace in Our Lowest Moments
[52:29] - God's Initiative to Reach Us
[01:02:25] - Assurance of God's Presence
[01:08:18] - Transformation Through Grace
[01:11:38] - Living a Life of Worship
[01:23:20] - Announcements and Offering
[01:24:20] - New Members Class and Events
[01:25:40] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Genesis 28:10-22
### Observation Questions
1. What was Jacob's situation when he had the dream of the stairway to heaven? ([42:52])
2. What did God promise Jacob in his dream? ([43:37])
3. How did Jacob respond to the dream and God's promises? ([44:12])
4. What are the three key truths about God's grace mentioned in the sermon? ([50:46])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the vision of Jacob's ladder contrast with the Tower of Babel? ([52:29])
2. What does God's promise "I am with you" signify for Jacob and for us today? ([01:02:25])
3. How does encountering God's grace transform a person from a taker to a giver, as seen in Jacob's life? ([01:08:18])
4. Why is it important to respond to God's grace with worship and total commitment? ([01:11:38])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt far from God. How did you experience His grace during that period? ([49:03])
2. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of God's promise, "I am with you"? ([01:02:25])
3. How can you actively seek to see God's grace in the messy and challenging times of your life? ([50:46])
4. What steps can you take to transform from a taker to a giver in your daily life, inspired by Jacob's example? ([01:08:18])
5. How can you make your worship and commitment to God more wholehearted and less of a routine? ([01:11:38])
6. Identify one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's grace rather than your own efforts. How will you make this change? ([52:29])
7. How can you support someone in your community who is currently going through a "dark season" and needs to experience God's grace? ([49:03])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Grace in Our Lowest Moments
Description: God's grace meets us in our lowest moments, just as He met Jacob when he was on the run and feeling far from home. This grace is not something we earn but a gift from God, reminding us that even in our darkest times, He is with us and extends His love and forgiveness. Jacob's story in Genesis 28 illustrates that no matter how far we feel from God, His grace is always available to us. This grace is a powerful reminder that we are never alone, and God's love is unconditional and ever-present. [49:03]
Genesis 28:15 (ESV): "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt far from God. How did you experience His grace during that period? How can you remind yourself of His presence in your current challenges?
Day 2: God's Initiative to Reach Us
Description: The vision of Jacob's ladder symbolizes God's initiative to come down to us, reversing the human effort seen in the Tower of Babel. This teaches us that our relationship with God is not based on our efforts to reach Him but on His willingness to come to us and extend His grace. This divine initiative is a profound reminder that God seeks us out, even when we are not seeking Him. It underscores the truth that God's love and grace are proactive, reaching out to us in our need and drawing us into a relationship with Him. [52:29]
John 1:51 (ESV): "And he said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt God reaching out to you unexpectedly. How did this experience change your understanding of His grace? How can you be more open to recognizing God's initiative in your daily life?
Day 3: Assurance of God's Presence
Description: God's promise to Jacob, "I am with you," is a powerful reminder that His presence is with us always. This assurance helps us navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life, knowing that we are never alone and that God's grace is sufficient for us. The constant presence of God provides us with security, significance, and a sense of belonging, even in the midst of life's trials. This promise is a cornerstone of our faith, offering comfort and strength as we journey through both the highs and lows of life. [01:02:25]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to be reminded of God's presence? How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of His presence in your daily routines and decisions?
Day 4: Transformation Through Grace
Description: Encountering God's grace transforms us from takers to givers and worshipers. Jacob's response to God's grace was to give a tenth of all he had and to worship God wholeheartedly. This transformation is a testament to the power of grace to change our hearts and lives. When we truly experience God's grace, it compels us to live differently, prioritizing generosity, worship, and a life dedicated to God's purposes. This change is not just about external actions but a deep internal shift that aligns our hearts with God's heart. [01:08:18]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: How has God's grace transformed you in the past? Identify one area in your life where you still need transformation and ask God to work in that area today.
Day 5: Living a Life of Worship
Description: Our response to God's grace should be a life of worship and total commitment to Him. This means dedicating every aspect of our lives to God, including our time, resources, and actions. Worship is not just a duty but an outpouring of a heart changed by God's grace. True worship involves a holistic approach to life, where every decision and action is an act of devotion to God. It is about living in a way that reflects His grace and love, drawing closer to Him and to one another. [01:11:38]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What does living a life of worship look like for you? Identify one practical way you can dedicate a specific area of your life to God this week.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Hebron Baptist Church exists to glorify God by inviting everybody to take their next steps. We are committed to helping you to come alongside with you to connect with God. To mature in faith in Christ and tell others about Him. So maybe your first step is trusting in Christ. Maybe you need to grow in understanding the Bible. We want to help teach you how to do that. Maybe it's to share your faith. We want to teach you how to do that as well. But we are committed to help you." [28:52] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Friends, it is the cross of Jesus Christ that Jesus went and paid for our sins, that he went to the grave for three days, that he made a way to heaven so that God came to us, but we could go to God. It is in these lowest moments of our life that we can be assured that God knows us and cares for us that in our deepest messiest points of our life that God has made a way of grace for us a way for forgiveness a way through Jesus Christ a way that we know and experience God's resounding love for his people." [55:49] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Today maybe you've been searching and looking for a way to God maybe you've been looking in in the world or maybe you've looked in other religions or may you may you've looked in in your own ways to get there friends look no further than Jesus Christ today I pray that that you would see that Jesus hung on a cross to make a way for you that you cannot get there by your behaviors by your good works because you went with grandma a couple times to church you need to know that the only way for you to experience this grace is to believe and repent on Jesus Christ who died on the cross for you." [57:34] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, all those grace-filled moments, when God takes our hearts by surprise, we experience and know and see the love of God to us. May we live for him, this God of grace." [01:15:11] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So God, in this way, our church aspires to be people who are biblically faithful, and so Lord, I pray for us as a people that we would be more biblically faithful, that those of us are seeking your word, that would spend more time in your word, that as we are gathered, maybe just in everyday settings, that we would talk about your word more, that we would get together with other people and plumb the depths of your word, that we would become not just knowers of your word, but doers of your word. Because we want to be faithful to it. Lord, I pray that you would change us more in this way." [30:21] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Friends, there's probably been times in your life that you felt like that, that there's no way God could be with you. the grace of God breaks through every guilt and shame that we might feel, and that we can know God is with us. Maybe you need to write it on a note in your, on your, your mirror in your bathroom, or maybe you need to, to write it on something in your car, or maybe you need to remind yourself and, and, and pray this and say, God, I, I know, I am assured by the word. I am assured by the cross of Jesus Christ that you are with me." [01:04:29] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, when we receive the grace of God it should change our lives to become people sold out for him we can view the entries of our checkbook and the hunger of our worship as indicators of our love for God and our spiritual life. Our giving, our regular attendance to worship should not be guilt-driven obligation, should not be lawful means of punishment, but instead should be an outpouring of a heart that has been received the grace of God through Jesus Christ." [01:09:53] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, it should be our desire when we open the doors to people to run through to get out of the front seat to worship God, not to meander through and kick the dirt. Oh, I guess I got to go to worship today. Okay. Everybody in the car? Okay. We're here. Oh, what do we have after church today? Oh, yeah. Okay. We got that. Okay. Well, we'll, let's get this over with so we can go do that. Friends, we've come to worship the almighty God who by his grace gave us his son, Jesus, that without him, we would be far from him forever. But this God gave us grace." [01:13:34] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "In Christ, we don't stand at the bottom. We are able now by him to ascend to Mount Zion, to approach and enter the room, the throne room of God, and live in reverence of all of him. In view of that, how can our hearts not be in full dedication to him? Friends, in our messy life, God will meet us with grace and restore us to himself through Christ. He meets us in the messy times and messy parts of our lives, and he extends grace, to us." [01:15:11] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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