Embracing God's Presence: A Journey of Discovery

 

Summary

In our conversation today, we explored the profound theme of finding God and the ways in which He reveals Himself to us. We began by acknowledging the God of new beginnings, who invites us to let go of the past and embrace the present moment. This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how God desires to be known by us, as illustrated in the Genesis narrative. The shift from the generic term for God, Elohim, to the more intimate "Lord God" signifies a God who seeks a personal relationship with us, a God who wants to be known on a first-name basis.

Brittany Williams, a leader in the Alpha ministry, shared her insights on how people today are longing for an encounter with the living God. This longing is evident in the way Alpha has adapted its approach, moving encounter moments earlier in their courses to meet this deep desire. The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people having extraordinary encounters with God, and this is something that remains available to us today.

We also discussed the generational differences in spiritual questions. Each generation has its core question: Boomers ask if it's true, Gen X seeks authenticity, Millennials question its goodness, and Gen Z looks for beauty. Understanding these questions helps us engage in meaningful spiritual conversations across generations.

Creating an environment of listening and radical hospitality is crucial for exploring God. Listening is akin to loving, and it allows people to bring their true selves to the surface. This environment fosters genuine exploration and understanding of God.

Finally, Brittany shared how her own journey with God has evolved, moving from mountaintop experiences to recognizing God's presence in everyday moments. This transformation encourages us to be curious about God, seeking Him in the ordinary and the extraordinary, and finding His presence in every moment of our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. God of New Beginnings: Embrace the present moment, letting go of past burdens, as God offers us new beginnings. This reflects His desire for us to live fully in the now, experiencing His grace and presence in each moment. [00:40]

2. Personal Relationship with God: The shift from Elohim to "Lord God" in Genesis signifies God's desire for a personal relationship with us. He wants to be known intimately, inviting us to engage with Him on a first-name basis. [02:47]

3. Generational Spiritual Questions: Each generation has a unique spiritual question that guides their exploration of faith. Understanding these questions helps us engage in meaningful conversations and connect with others on their spiritual journeys. [06:52]

4. Environment of Listening: Creating a space of radical hospitality and listening is essential for exploring God. Listening is a form of love, allowing people to express their true selves and engage deeply with their spiritual longings. [07:40]

5. Curiosity about God: Encourage a spirit of curiosity in your relationship with God. Seek Him in everyday moments, asking where He is and what He is doing in your life. This curiosity leads to a deeper understanding and experience of His presence. [10:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:40] - God of New Beginnings
- [01:20] - Introduction to Alpha Ministry
- [02:03] - Genesis and God's Desire to Be Known
- [03:38] - Longing for an Encounter with God
- [05:08] - Generational Spiritual Questions
- [07:06] - Creating a Listening Environment
- [08:28] - Personal Journey with God
- [09:22] - Experiencing God in Everyday Moments
- [10:12] - Encouragement to Be Curious About God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 2:4 - "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens."
2. Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.'"

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the shift from "Elohim" to "Lord God" in Genesis 2:4, and how does it relate to God's desire for a personal relationship with us? [02:47]

2. How does Brittany Williams describe the current longing for an encounter with the living God, and what changes has Alpha made to address this longing? [03:55]

3. What are the core spiritual questions identified for each generation, and how do they differ from one another? [06:52]

4. According to the sermon, what role does listening play in creating an environment conducive to exploring God? [07:40]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the use of "Lord God" in Genesis 2:4 reflect God's intention to be known intimately by humanity, and what does this imply about our relationship with Him? [02:47]

2. In what ways does the longing for an encounter with God, as described by Brittany, reflect the biblical accounts of ordinary people having extraordinary encounters with God? [04:40]

3. How can understanding the generational spiritual questions help us engage in more meaningful spiritual conversations with people from different age groups? [06:52]

4. What does the statement "being listened to is so close to being loved" imply about the importance of listening in spiritual exploration and community building? [07:40]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there past burdens you need to let go of to embrace the new beginnings God offers? How can you start doing that this week? [00:40]

2. How can you cultivate a more personal relationship with God, moving beyond a generic understanding to knowing Him on a first-name basis? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [02:47]

3. Identify the core spiritual question of your generation. How does this question influence your own spiritual journey, and how can you use this understanding to connect with others? [06:52]

4. Think of a situation where you can practice radical hospitality and listening. How can you create an environment that allows others to express their true selves and explore their spiritual longings? [07:40]

5. Brittany mentioned recognizing God's presence in everyday moments. How can you become more aware of God's presence in your daily life, and what practices can help you cultivate this awareness? [09:22]

6. Consider a time when you experienced God in an unexpected way. How did that encounter impact your faith, and how can you remain open to such experiences in the future? [09:36]

7. How can you foster a spirit of curiosity about God in your daily life? What specific questions or practices can help you seek God's presence and activity in your current circumstances? [10:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Present with God’s Grace
In life, we often carry the weight of past burdens, which can hinder our ability to fully experience the present. God, however, is a God of new beginnings, inviting us to let go of the past and embrace the present moment. This invitation is not just about forgetting the past but about living fully in the now, where God’s grace and presence are most tangible. By embracing the present, we open ourselves to the new opportunities and experiences God has prepared for us, allowing His transformative power to work in our lives. [00:40]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What is one past burden you can release today to embrace the new beginnings God offers you?


Day 2: Know God Personally and Intimately
The shift from the generic term Elohim to the more intimate "Lord God" in Genesis signifies a profound truth: God desires a personal relationship with each of us. He wants to be known on a first-name basis, inviting us into a deeper, more intimate connection with Him. This personal relationship is not just about knowing about God but truly knowing Him, experiencing His love, and engaging with Him in our daily lives. As we seek to know God personally, we discover the richness of His character and the depth of His love for us. [02:47]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: How can you engage with God on a more personal level today, moving beyond knowledge to intimacy?


Day 3: Engage Across Generations with Understanding
Each generation has its unique spiritual questions that guide their exploration of faith. Boomers ask if it's true, Gen X seeks authenticity, Millennials question its goodness, and Gen Z looks for beauty. Understanding these generational questions helps us engage in meaningful spiritual conversations, allowing us to connect with others on their spiritual journeys. By recognizing and respecting these differences, we can foster deeper connections and share the timeless truths of faith in ways that resonate with each generation. [06:52]

1 Chronicles 12:32 (ESV): "Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."

Reflection: What is one way you can engage in a meaningful spiritual conversation with someone from a different generation today?


Day 4: Create a Space of Radical Hospitality
Creating an environment of listening and radical hospitality is essential for exploring God. Listening is akin to loving, as it allows people to bring their true selves to the surface. In such an environment, individuals feel valued and understood, fostering genuine exploration and understanding of God. By practicing radical hospitality, we create spaces where people can encounter God’s love and grace, leading to transformative spiritual experiences. [07:40]

Romans 12:13 (ESV): "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Reflection: How can you create a space of radical hospitality and listening for someone in your life today?


Day 5: Cultivate Curiosity in Your Walk with God
A spirit of curiosity in our relationship with God leads to a deeper understanding and experience of His presence. By seeking Him in everyday moments, we open ourselves to discovering where He is and what He is doing in our lives. This curiosity encourages us to look for God not only in the extraordinary but also in the ordinary, recognizing His presence in every aspect of our lives. As we cultivate this curiosity, we grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God. [10:38]

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV): "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."

Reflection: What is one ordinary moment today where you can intentionally seek to recognize God’s presence?

Quotes

"God wipes all that away Embrace this day, this moment lift up your hearts we're going to talk together about finding God. I'm especially excited to do that with Brittany. Brittany and I used to work together back at Midland church back in the day." [00:51:36]

"First there's a change in the word order from that big Cosmic Heaven and the earth now God's going to come down and so the word Earth comes fear he's coming down to us Earth comes first but then in the first chapter it just uses the generic term for God the word that everybody in the ancient near East would have used Elohim." [02:27:58]

"Somehow inside of us we want to know if there's a Transcendent aspect to reality if there is a God we want to know and the idea that God wants to be known by us is pretty radical uh you're thinking about this watching this every day what are you learning about how people come to know God." [03:20:27]

"People are really longing for an encounter with the Living God, they really are. I mean I think you know in Alpha we used to, and we still do kind of put those encounter moments later in the course and we're hearing more and more no let's move those up earlier because people are longing for an encounter with God." [03:55:47]

"James Chung and intervarsity and he was studying generational Theory and kind of started asking could there be a spiritual element to the idea that each generation asks a core question and he found that yeah there is that Boomers kind of that core question that boomers are asking is, is it true, is it factually true." [05:22:32]

"Gen X, a little bit beyond is it true is it authentic and does it mean something to you and then Millennials are asking the question, is it good, um I'm not just interested in what are the minimum entrance requirements for heaven, but I want to know is this thing good for my life right now and today." [05:59:59]

"One of the things we talk about so much is just an environment of listening, radical hospitality and dependence on the holy spirit so listening I think in our culture there's just so few places that people are truly listened to that it is kind of a radical idea." [07:17:34]

"Being listened to is so close to being loved that for the average person the two are nearly indistinguishable and so it's just that listening and loving environment that creates a space where our true selves can come to the surface and we really get to a Level Playing Field where we all experience human longing and need." [07:38:60]

"I grew up in environments where it was kind of Mountaintop to Mountaintop experiences and I think my my own Journey with God has evolved a lot and Alpha's played a role for sure but has evolved into kind of remembering that the power and the presence of God is available to me at any moment." [08:45:24]

"There can be these moments you see them sometimes scripture where somebody has a deeply powerful or deeply emotionally different sometimes it's tempting to worship The Experience rather than God so there's something wonderful about saying actually I can experience God in any moment, very calm it might be just trying to do my duty." [09:31:50]

"Be curious about God where can I find you, what are you doing what do you have to say to me in this moment right now today, all day long be curious about God." [10:34:22]

"Curiosity with God but to be curious about God where can I find you, what are you doing what do you have to say to me in this moment right now today, all day long be curious about God." [10:32:22]

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Transcript
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