Embracing God's Story: From Chaos to Abundant Life

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound connection between God's story and our own, emphasizing the narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. We began by acknowledging that life is best understood through stories, and God's story is the ultimate narrative that seeks to intertwine with ours. The central theme revolved around the abundant life Jesus offers, as highlighted in John 10:10, where Jesus contrasts the enemy's intent to steal, kill, and destroy with His promise of life in abundance.

We revisited the journey of God's people, starting with creation, where everything was deemed good, followed by the detour of sin, which introduced chaos and disconnection. God's response was to call Abraham, promising that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed. However, when Israel failed to fulfill this purpose, Jesus stepped in as the fulfillment of Israel's story, embodying the divine and offering a new way of being.

Jesus' life and claims were revolutionary, asserting His divinity and authority to forgive sins. His mission was to reveal the Father's heart, characterized by love and grace, shifting the paradigm from condemnation to connection. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus paid the ultimate price, becoming the perfect sacrifice to restore our relationship with God.

We discussed the significance of Jesus' resurrection, which not only validated His claims but also offered us eternal life, free from the fear of death. This renewal is not just for Israel but for the entire world, inviting us into a new covenant based on grace rather than law.

The sermon concluded with a call to action, inviting us to trust Jesus and embrace the abundant life He offers. We were encouraged to let go of our burdens, step out of chaos, and into a life of peace and purpose, reflecting God's love to the world around us.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Story: Life is best understood through stories, and God's story is the ultimate narrative that seeks to intertwine with ours. This perspective helps us see the world and our place in it through a lens of purpose and divine connection. [01:09:32]

2. Jesus as Fulfillment: Jesus is not just a solution but the fulfillment of Israel's story, embodying the divine and offering a new way of being. His life and claims were revolutionary, asserting His divinity and authority to forgive sins, and inviting us into a relationship with God. [01:14:50]

3. The Gift of Free Will: God's protection of our free will is a profound gift, allowing us to choose love and connection over chaos and self-rule. This freedom is essential for genuine love and relationship with God and others. [01:18:02]

4. The Significance of Resurrection: Jesus' resurrection is a pivotal event that offers us eternal life and freedom from the fear of death. It validates His claims and invites us into a new covenant based on grace, extending beyond Israel to the entire world. [01:21:44]

5. Embracing Abundant Life: We are called to trust Jesus and embrace the abundant life He offers, letting go of our burdens and stepping into a life of peace and purpose. This involves reflecting God's love to the world and living in a way that draws others to Him. [01:27:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:02:00] - Introduction and Purpose
- [00:05:30] - The Power of Story
- [00:10:00] - Creation and Purpose
- [00:15:00] - The Detour of Sin
- [00:20:00] - God's Response: Calling Abraham
- [00:25:00] - Jesus as Fulfillment
- [00:30:00] - The Claims of Jesus
- [00:35:00] - Understanding Jesus through Israel's Story
- [00:40:00] - The Gift of Free Will
- [00:45:00] - Jesus' Mission: Connection over Condemnation
- [00:50:00] - The Significance of Resurrection
- [00:55:00] - Embracing Abundant Life
- [01:00:00] - Call to Action: Trusting Jesus
- [01:05:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
2. Galatians 4:4-5 - "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."
3. Romans 5:17 - "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!"

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Observation Questions:

1. What does John 10:10 reveal about the contrasting intentions of Jesus and the enemy? How does this relate to the concept of abundant life? [01:09:32]

2. In Galatians 4:4-5, what is the significance of the timing mentioned in relation to Jesus' coming? How does this timing relate to the fulfillment of God's promise? [01:14:50]

3. According to Romans 5:17, what is the result of receiving God's grace and righteousness through Jesus? How does this passage describe the impact of Jesus' sacrifice? [01:21:44]

4. How does the sermon describe the journey of God's people from creation to redemption? What role does Jesus play in this narrative? [01:18:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of abundant life in John 10:10 challenge common perceptions of what it means to live a fulfilling life? [01:09:32]

2. Why might the timing of Jesus' coming, as described in Galatians 4:4-5, be significant in understanding God's plan for redemption? [01:14:50]

3. In what ways does Romans 5:17 illustrate the transformative power of grace in a believer's life? How does this relate to the idea of reigning in life through Jesus? [01:21:44]

4. How does the sermon explain the importance of understanding Israel's story to fully grasp the significance of Jesus' mission and claims? [01:18:02]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life story. How do you see God's narrative intertwining with yours, and what steps can you take to align more closely with His purpose? [01:09:32]

2. Consider the concept of abundant life as described in John 10:10. What specific areas of your life might be hindering you from experiencing this fullness, and how can you address them? [01:09:32]

3. How can you embrace the freedom and grace offered through Jesus, as mentioned in Galatians 4:4-5, in your daily decisions and interactions? [01:14:50]

4. In what ways can you reflect God's love and grace to those around you, as encouraged in the sermon? Identify one practical action you can take this week. [01:18:02]

5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of letting go of burdens to step into a life of peace and purpose. What burdens are you currently carrying, and how can you begin to release them? [01:27:36]

6. How does understanding the story of Israel enhance your appreciation of Jesus' role in God's plan? How can this understanding impact your faith journey? [01:18:02]

7. What is one specific way you can trust Jesus more deeply this week, as encouraged in the sermon? Consider a situation where you need to rely on His guidance and peace. [01:39:52]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Story as Our Lens
Life is best understood through stories, and God's story is the ultimate narrative that seeks to intertwine with ours. This perspective helps us see the world and our place in it through a lens of purpose and divine connection. By viewing our lives as part of God's grand narrative, we can find meaning and direction, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. This understanding invites us to align our personal stories with God's, allowing His purpose to guide our actions and decisions. [01:09:32]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally align your personal story with God's narrative today? What specific steps can you take to see your life through the lens of His purpose?


Day 2: Jesus as the Fulfillment of God's Promise
Jesus is not just a solution but the fulfillment of Israel's story, embodying the divine and offering a new way of being. His life and claims were revolutionary, asserting His divinity and authority to forgive sins, and inviting us into a relationship with God. By understanding Jesus as the culmination of God's promises, we can appreciate the depth of His mission and the transformative power of His presence in our lives. This realization calls us to embrace the new way of being that Jesus offers, characterized by love, grace, and connection with God. [01:14:50]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the new way of being that Jesus offers? How can you reflect His love and grace in your interactions with others today?


Day 3: The Gift of Free Will
God's protection of our free will is a profound gift, allowing us to choose love and connection over chaos and self-rule. This freedom is essential for genuine love and relationship with God and others. By recognizing the value of free will, we can appreciate the responsibility that comes with it and the opportunity to choose paths that lead to life and connection. This understanding encourages us to make choices that align with God's will and reflect His love in our daily lives. [01:18:02]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use your gift of free will to choose love and connection today? What specific decision can you make that aligns with God's will and reflects His love?


Day 4: The Power of Resurrection
Jesus' resurrection is a pivotal event that offers us eternal life and freedom from the fear of death. It validates His claims and invites us into a new covenant based on grace, extending beyond Israel to the entire world. By embracing the power of the resurrection, we can live with hope and confidence, knowing that death is not the end and that we are part of a greater story of redemption and restoration. This understanding empowers us to live boldly and share the message of hope with others. [01:21:44]

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope and confidence in your daily life? In what ways can you share this message of hope with someone who needs it today?


Day 5: Embracing Abundant Life
We are called to trust Jesus and embrace the abundant life He offers, letting go of our burdens and stepping into a life of peace and purpose. This involves reflecting God's love to the world and living in a way that draws others to Him. By embracing the abundant life, we can experience the fullness of joy and purpose that comes from a deep relationship with God. This call to action invites us to release our fears and anxieties, trusting in Jesus' promise of life in abundance. [01:27:36]

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10b, ESV)

Reflection: What burdens do you need to let go of to embrace the abundant life Jesus offers? How can you actively reflect God's love and purpose in your life today?

Quotes

"We see life through the lens of story so even if you think about science and math it's still a story behind it there's always a story behind the data or the equation is actually a story because that's the only way human beings actually can understand and see the world that's how we created to see the world through a story and that's why God's story is just yeah he he comes and he has a story and wants to partner with our story and so we want to look at that this morning." [00:54:51]

"My goal this morning is to put stones in your shoe because I my life I have a stone in my shoe that stone in my shoe is John 10 10 and Jesus says the enemy there's an enemy out there and to killed steal and destroy he's trying to kill steal and destroy but Jesus came to give life and life to the full or life in abundance some translations say and I'm like well what does that look like how does that show in our world right it's a bit of a stone in my shoe that when I saw this topic I was like yeah I wanted to this is I want to dig into this because it is the questions humanity wrestles with keep yeah it can keep you awake but there there is an answer and it's probably not what we think it is but the questions that we all wrestle in that is is with us that life of abundance is that sense of who am I and why am I here." [00:55:56]

"God's response he called who did he call to partner with him abraham yeah he called abraham to partner with him abraham let's go on a journey i want you to go on a journey i want you to head out and um yeah be a great nation be a light to the world and what was the promise that he gave abraham to bless the whole world yeah and his descendants the nation of israel to be a blessing and um yeah and what what happens when the ones that were called didn't fulfill the purpose because last week joan talked about that if israel did not fulfill that they didn't fulfill what they were called to where does that leave us hey well what does that look like and that's when jesus steps in not just as a solution but actually the fulfillment of israel's purpose as a descendant of the line jesus come into that place." [01:00:44]

"And it is a, but that time that he protects, I believe that God protects our free will. Our freedom to choose is the greatest gift that humanity, that he's given us, because without that, there's no love. And so in his protecting that free will, he allows us on these journeys. We go on this journey, and yeah, and that's where Jesus comes in. And he come into that space to partner with and to show the world God's love, to show the world that freedom to, yeah, for us to step out of slavery and into the life that he has for us." [01:08:30]

"Jesus come, because he wanted to actually reveal the Father's heart, heart of love for humans, of why he created us, and what the purpose of this, of this life is. So yeah, come to reveal the Father, that divine love, something that, yeah, can only be experienced, it can't be rationalized. It's like something that is hard to put into language. It is encountering God, and encountering that love, yeah, that, that changes us. Jesus come to redeem. He come to redeem Israel's story, and our story." [01:15:01]

"And Jesus, the new Adam, he restored that identity and purpose. He brought about, he showed that, he exampled it to us. He won the battle over sin and death. And now, we can be part of that family. And he talks about, in John 15, or Luke 15, and being grafted in, grafted into his family. He chose us. He chooses. He calls all of the world, right? Israel, we're to be a blessing to all of the world, all people, into this new way of life." [01:27:36]

"And he says, I'll leave you with my spirit, and I want you to be my temple. And a temple is always a place where the divine, yeah, the divine mid -earth. That's where God dwelled. And he says, you are my temple. You are my dwelling place. This is where I want. I want you to touch earth and release that love and, yeah, to be a witness to my image and display, display that love. And that's what God has come to restore. Restore us so that we can bless those around us. And not restore us just for my sake, but actually restore me for your sake, and vice versa." [01:28:13]

"And so that's, yeah, the sacrifice. And then, of course, what happened three days later? Jesus rose. He rose from that grave. That death could not swallow him. That could not hold him. That grave, that tomb was empty. And this changes everything. And you know, we can say, like, is there any proof? Because this is just a fable or something we believe in from this book called the Bible, which is actually, in fact, the most proven history book of all time, of, like, the oldest book of the history of that time. The Bible has the most proof to prove it. And so many that have tried to prove it wrong actually end up encountering Jesus because they just can't deny it." [01:31:32]

"And, you know, you think, okay, there's his 12 disciples and the others that were part of that. They, when he rose again, they actually gave their life to this, to the point of death. And they say that if you are lying and you get to the point, put to the point of dying, you will always crack. And yet they didn't. And that is proof, right? That is proof that actually this is true. That he did rise again. That he conquered death and that we don't have to fear. We do not have to fear. Our death is not the end because we are now eternal. We're eternity connected with the divine, with God and who he is and the love that, yeah, he, the supreme value of God and who he is. That we are, yeah, interwoven into his story and that we're eternal beings now." [01:32:52]

"And it's a beautiful, yeah, beautiful place. And that stone in my shoe that I know that it's not humanly possible, but it's heavenly possible to live in that place. And that's what I need to continually remind myself to bring myself back into, of the renewal, the fullness of what God has for us. And so, yeah, the way forward, the way forward from this, because we've heard God's story and what Jesus has come and the climax of the story. And now what? Now what? How do we live this forward? How do we respond?" [01:37:24]

"There's divine reality that is accessible for us to, yeah, to bring to the world around us. And he calls us. And that's why it's not become a Christian and zap into heaven straight away, because he wants us to witness to the world. He wants us to be the shining light here in Te Puke. That the people around us in our community are just so blown away with the lives that we live, that they're like, I want that. I need that. That we're not burdened by the things of this world, but that we live freely." [01:39:11]

"And it's not a rational answer, right? It's a relational answer. Through relationship with God, through relationship with each other, and actually through healed relationship with ourselves. That we are not, we don't need to be identified as the things we've done or the things we do, but rather we're created to reflect his image and shine that out. And when we let him shine through us, that is the place. Yeah, it's just such a beautiful place to be. So this morning, I just like, yeah, I'd love you all to stand with me and I just want to pray into this space." [01:40:31]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?