Embracing God's Love: Key Indicators of Spiritual Growth

The most meaningful life we can lead is one that fulfills God's plan for us. This requires us to evaluate our spiritual journey and ask ourselves how we are progressing toward this goal. The Old Covenant was performance-based, but the New Covenant is "loved-based," meaning our spiritual life is rooted in understanding how deeply we are loved by God. This love is the foundation for everything else, including our ability to love others. Our spiritual progress should not be measured by our past performance or track record, which are lagging indicators, but by leading indicators that guide us toward Christlikeness.

One of the primary leading indicators is our sense of "lovedness"—how deeply we feel loved by God. This is not about how much we love others but about receiving God's love, which is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Another leading indicator is gratitude. A heart filled with gratitude is a heart that recognizes God's grace and is open to His Spirit. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to despair and discouragement.

Hope is another crucial leading indicator. It is through hope that we are saved, and it is hope that keeps us moving forward even when we cannot see the outcome. The Holy Spirit groans within us, sharing in our weaknesses and interceding for us with hope. This hope fuels our longing for purity, which is not merely the absence of sin but a craving for the beauty and life of Christ within us.

Finally, we must understand that victory over sin is a lagging indicator. It is not the primary measure of our spiritual health. Instead, we should focus on breaking sinful habits and cultivating a longing for purity. This journey requires surrendering our performance-based mindset and embracing the love and grace of God. By focusing on these leading indicators—lovedness, gratitude, hope, and longing for purity—we align ourselves with God's plan and experience true spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Lovedness as a Foundation: Our spiritual life is rooted in understanding how deeply we are loved by God. This love is the foundation for everything else, including our ability to love others. We must constantly engage with our sense of lovedness, as it is a leading indicator of our spiritual health. [03:32]
• 2. Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice: Gratitude is a powerful antidote to despair and discouragement. It opens our hearts to God's grace and aligns us with His Spirit. By cultivating gratitude, we acknowledge God's presence and blessings in our lives, which strengthens our faith and resilience. [17:00]
• 3. Hope as a Guiding Light: Hope is essential for our spiritual journey. It is through hope that we are saved, and it keeps us moving forward even when we cannot see the outcome. The Holy Spirit groans within us, sharing in our weaknesses and interceding for us with hope. [20:25]
• 4. Longing for Purity: Purity is not merely the absence of sin but a craving for the beauty and life of Christ within us. This longing for purity is a leading indicator of our spiritual growth and aligns us with God's plan. It requires us to partner with the Holy Spirit and seek His guidance. [23:15]
• 5. Surrendering Performance-Based Mindsets: We must surrender our performance-based mindset and embrace the love and grace of God. By focusing on leading indicators like lovedness, gratitude, hope, and longing for purity, we align ourselves with God's plan and experience true spiritual growth. [13:13]
  ** [13:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:10] - Fulfilling God's Plan
• [00:52] - Measuring Spiritual Progress
• [02:12] - Old Covenant vs. New Covenant
• [03:19] - Living at the Level of Lovedness
• [04:43] - The Father's Lap
• [06:03] - Leading vs. Lagging Indicators
• [09:00] - Lovedness as a Measurement
• [12:18] - Love Beyond Knowledge
• [14:03] - Surrendering to God's Love
• [16:06] - Gratitude and Grace
• [19:47] - The Importance of Hope
• [22:17] - Longing for Purity
• [25:10] - Sustaining Words and Purity
• [27:38] - Fighting for Leading Indicators

1. Romans 5:5-10 - Discusses the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and Christ's sacrifice for us while we were still sinners.
2. Ephesians 3:14-21 - Paul's prayer for believers to be rooted and grounded in love, comprehending the vastness of Christ's love.
3. 1 John 3:2-3 - Speaks about the hope of being like Christ and the resulting purification.

1. What does the sermon suggest is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? ([02:12])
2. According to the sermon, what are the "leading indicators" of spiritual health? ([06:03])
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our sense of "lovedness"? ([09:49])
4. What is the significance of gratitude as mentioned in the sermon? ([16:06])

1. How does the concept of "lovedness" as a leading indicator challenge traditional views of spiritual growth? ([03:19])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that hope influences our spiritual journey? ([19:47])
3. How does the sermon redefine purity, and why is it considered a leading indicator rather than a lagging one? ([22:17])
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between gratitude and grace? ([17:00])

1. Reflect on your current sense of "lovedness" by God. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of this love in your daily life? ([03:19])
2. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with gratitude. What practical steps can you take to develop a more grateful heart? ([16:06])
3. Consider a situation where you feel hopeless. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to groan with you and renew your hope? ([20:25])
4. What are some habitual sins or performance-based mindsets you need to surrender to embrace God's grace more fully? ([13:13])
5. How can you actively cultivate a longing for purity in your life, beyond just avoiding sin? ([22:17])
6. Think of a recent challenge or setback. How can you reframe it as an opportunity to grow in hope and gratitude? ([19:47])
7. How can you incorporate the leading indicators of lovedness, gratitude, hope, and longing for purity into your spiritual practices this week? ([27:38])