Embracing God's Power: A Journey of Faith
Summary
In today's gathering at John Wesley Methodist Church, we embarked on a spiritual journey under the theme "God is Big Enough." This series and capital campaign aim to strengthen our faith and community, focusing on God's immense power and presence in our lives. We are reminded that our journey is not just about physical improvements to our church but a deeper spiritual commitment to future generations. Through prayer, devotion, and community activities, we are called to reflect on God's greatness and our role in His plan.
Our grounding scripture from Ephesians 3:12-21 emphasizes the boundless love and power of God. It encourages us to approach God with boldness and confidence, rooted in faith. The passage highlights that God's resources are unlimited, empowering us with inner strength through His Spirit. This empowerment is not just for personal growth but for the collective strength of the church, enabling us to accomplish more than we could ever imagine.
The story of the "God is Big Enough" message, originating from two Methodist pastors, serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to handle any challenge, including serious illness. This message has resonated widely, symbolizing faith in God's power to overcome adversity. As we move forward with our capital campaign, we are reminded that our efforts are grounded in faith and God's purposes. We are called to trust in God's power and to seek His guidance in all that we do.
As we reflect on our faith journey, we are encouraged to dream big and pray boldly, trusting that God will exceed our expectations. Our commitment to this campaign is not just a financial one but a spiritual journey, inviting us to seek God's will and purpose for our church and our lives. Through communion, we are reminded of Christ's sacrifice and the hope that comes from His redemptive work. This hope is a foundation for our faith, empowering us to live boldly and confidently in God's presence.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith as a Foundation: Faith is not merely belief in God's existence but the foundation of our confidence. It allows us to approach God boldly, knowing that His power and presence are within us. This confidence transforms our hearts and circumstances, enabling us to live a life rooted in God's love and strength. [49:16]
2. God's Unlimited Resources: God's resources are limitless, empowering us with inner strength through His Spirit. This empowerment is not just for personal growth but for the collective strength of the church, enabling us to accomplish more than we could ever imagine. [51:12]
3. The Power of Community: The church, as the body of Christ, holds unlimited power when united in faith. This collective strength is a beautiful testament to God's glory, allowing us to move forward in His purpose and power. [53:35]
4. Living for God's Glory: Our gifts and resources are given to us for the purpose of glorifying God, not ourselves. We are reminded that the ultimate goal of our lives and the church is to make God's glory known across generations. [55:34]
5. Dreaming and Praying Boldly: Faith allows us to dream big and pray boldly, trusting that God will exceed our expectations. Every act of faith, whether through prayer or giving, is an investment in God's glory and the future of His church. [01:01:38]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[31:42] - Introduction to the Series
[41:40] - Ephesians 3:12-21 Scripture Reading
[43:12] - The Origin of "God is Big Enough"
[44:49] - Faith and God's Power
[46:16] - Commitment and Prayer
[47:52] - Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians
[49:16] - Boldness in Faith
[51:12] - Empowerment by God's Spirit
[53:35] - Transformation Through Faith
[54:51] - God's Glory and Our Purpose
[55:34] - The Church's Role Across Generations
[57:00] - Legacy and Future Generations
[58:16] - Faithfulness of God
[59:42] - Ten Truths About Faith
[01:01:38] - Dreaming and Praying Boldly
[01:03:05] - Communion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "God is Big Enough"
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 3:12-21
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 3:12, what allows us to come boldly and confidently into God's presence? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on faith as a foundation? [49:16]
2. In the sermon, how is the story of the "God is Big Enough" message used to illustrate God's power in handling challenges? [43:12]
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of how God's unlimited resources empower both personal and collective growth within the church? [51:12]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of the church in glorifying God across generations? [55:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God's unlimited resources in Ephesians 3:16-17 challenge or affirm your understanding of personal and communal empowerment in faith? [51:12]
2. The sermon mentions dreaming big and praying boldly. How does this align with the idea of God accomplishing more than we can ask or imagine, as stated in Ephesians 3:20? [54:51]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith transforms our hearts before our circumstances? How does this transformation manifest in daily life? [59:42]
4. How does the sermon’s emphasis on living for God's glory challenge the common pursuit of personal achievements and recognition? [55:34]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did your faith in God's power help you navigate that situation? How might the "God is Big Enough" message encourage you in future challenges? [43:12]
2. The sermon encourages us to dream big and pray boldly. What is one specific dream or prayer you have for your life or community that you feel God is calling you to pursue with boldness? [01:01:38]
3. Consider the idea that faith transforms our hearts before our circumstances. How can you cultivate a heart transformation in an area of your life where you currently feel stuck or challenged? [59:42]
4. How can you contribute to the collective strength of your church community, using the gifts and resources God has given you, to glorify Him? [51:12]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of leaving a legacy of faith for future generations. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith impacts the next generation in your family or community? [57:00]
6. In what ways can you actively participate in making God's glory known in your daily interactions and decisions? How does this align with the sermon’s call to live for God's glory? [55:34]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about God's faithfulness. How can you remind yourself of God's past faithfulness in your life to strengthen your faith in current and future situations? [58:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Bold Faith as Our Foundation
Faith is not merely an acknowledgment of God's existence; it is the foundation of our confidence and the lens through which we view our lives. This faith allows us to approach God with boldness, knowing that His power and presence are within us. It transforms our hearts and circumstances, enabling us to live a life rooted in God's love and strength. When we embrace this bold faith, we are empowered to face challenges with courage and to trust in God's plan for our lives. This confidence in God is not just for personal assurance but also for the collective strength of the church, as we unite in faith to accomplish more than we could ever imagine. [49:16]
"For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also." (Philippians 3:3-4 ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to approach God with more boldness and confidence? How can you begin to trust Him more deeply in this area today?
Day 2: Tapping into God's Unlimited Resources
God's resources are limitless, and through His Spirit, we are empowered with inner strength. This empowerment is not solely for personal growth but for the collective strength of the church, enabling us to accomplish more than we could ever imagine. When we recognize that God's resources are available to us, we can step out in faith, knowing that He will provide what we need to fulfill His purposes. This understanding encourages us to dream big and to trust that God will exceed our expectations as we align our lives with His will. [51:12]
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on God's unlimited resources rather than your own? What specific step can you take today to trust in His provision?
Day 3: The Power of a United Community
The church, as the body of Christ, holds unlimited power when united in faith. This collective strength is a beautiful testament to God's glory, allowing us to move forward in His purpose and power. When we come together as a community, we are able to support one another, share our gifts, and work towards a common goal that glorifies God. This unity is not just about being together physically but being united in spirit and purpose, reflecting God's love to the world around us. [53:35]
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32 ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity and strength of your church community? What is one action you can take this week to support and uplift others in your congregation?
Day 4: Living for God's Glory Across Generations
Our gifts and resources are given to us for the purpose of glorifying God, not ourselves. We are reminded that the ultimate goal of our lives and the church is to make God's glory known across generations. This perspective shifts our focus from temporary achievements to eternal impact, encouraging us to invest in the spiritual growth of future generations. By living for God's glory, we leave a legacy of faith that inspires others to seek His presence and purpose in their lives. [55:34]
"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." (Psalm 145:4 ESV)
Reflection: What legacy of faith are you building for future generations? How can you intentionally invest in the spiritual growth of those who come after you?
Day 5: Dreaming and Praying Boldly
Faith allows us to dream big and pray boldly, trusting that God will exceed our expectations. Every act of faith, whether through prayer or giving, is an investment in God's glory and the future of His church. When we dream and pray with boldness, we open ourselves to the possibilities of what God can do in and through us. This boldness is not about our own desires but aligning our dreams with God's will, trusting that He will accomplish more than we could ever imagine. [01:01:38]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)
Reflection: What bold prayer or dream have you been hesitant to bring before God? How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him with your biggest hopes and dreams?
Quotes
Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence so please don't lose heart because of my trials here I am suffering for you so you should feel honored when all of this. I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [00:40:42] (25 seconds)
I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit. Then Christ will make his hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And now, and may you have the power to understand as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, how deep. [00:41:31] (32 seconds)
Now, I pray that from his glorious unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength and now all glory to God, who is able through his mighty power to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him and the church and Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever. Amen. [00:42:16] (19 seconds)
And that is really central, I think, to walking in faith, that we trust in God's power and his capacity to accomplish things in our life, in our spirit, in our world. Again, the series name for our capital campaign, God is big enough. This is the next chapter in our church's life. In phase one of the master plan, what we're trying to do is refresh some things, maintain some things, also just update some things and make them better. [00:44:49] (32 seconds)
And Paul is actually praying over the earliest of Christians that he loved, and they believed they loved him, and it's the church at Ephesus. And he prays in this scripture for faith, but he prays for spiritual growth upon them. He prays for this understanding that they will have that God has this amazing ability, and that is the firm foundation in which they need to live life. [00:46:55] (35 seconds)
The truth is, faith is not just belief in God's existence, but an actual foundation of our confidence. If you know you have confidence, confidence from what you believe in the relationship that you have with God and what he has done in your life. Now, verse 14 and 15, Paul goes on. He says, when I think of all of this, I fall to my knees and I pray to the Father. [00:50:04] (28 seconds)
Now, verse 16, Paul, I pray that from his glorious, and we're going to get back to that in a little bit, his glorious unlimited resources, he will empower you with inner strength through your spirit, through his spirit. Now, empowered by God, he will empower you with inner strength through your spirit, through his spirit. Now, that sounds pretty, think about it. Have you ever been living life? You go, man, I'm exhausted. [00:51:20] (27 seconds)
The truth is, is that faith unlocks the power of God in our lives, in our church, ensuring that we move forward in his strength rather than our own. So, it's about him. In verse 19, may you experience the love of Christ. Though it is too great to understand fully, which that is so cool to think about. It's like, man, it's even bigger than what I understand. [00:53:55] (30 seconds)
Well, plain and simple, the answer is for the glory of God. For the glory of God. Not for our own glory. And we tend to forget that because this world is all about our own glory, our own accomplishments, our own stuff. The things that we can gather and keep and never really give away or give back to God. [00:55:34] (22 seconds)
And the third thing is, the church exists. The church exists to glorify God and bring awareness across generations. That's what Habakkuk was talking about. God gets the glory through the church, through the Bible, John Wesley Methodist Church, for generations to come. This is the very reason he wants to work in us and through us. And so he is glorified. [00:56:28] (32 seconds)
And take the time, please take the time to see the bigger picture. See the glory. See the generations to come. Dream. Dream boldly. Pray boldly. Allow space for God. Exceed your expectations. And that comes in different ways. But if you think about every dollar that's given, every moment that we spend praying is an investment in God's glory. [01:01:49] (29 seconds)
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