Embracing God's Will: Transformation Through Prayer
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound impact of praying for God's will in our lives. We began by reflecting on the importance of discipleship and community through our Rooted program, emphasizing that spiritual growth happens best in small groups. We then transitioned into our main topic: understanding and praying for God's will, using Colossians 1:3-14 as our guiding scripture.
I shared a personal story from my youth, where the concept of God's will felt like a heavy burden, filled with anxiety about making the wrong choices. This led us to the central question: What happens in us when we begin to pray for God's will? We discovered three key outcomes.
First, when we pray for God's will, the root of the gospel produces the fruit of transformation in our lives. Paul reminds the Colossian church of their story, emphasizing that the gospel alone is sufficient for our growth and transformation. We don't need additional revelations or human traditions; the gospel is the deeper magic that changes us from within.
Second, praying for God's will changes our pursuits. Paul prays for the Colossians to have knowledge and wisdom, not just for intellectual growth but for living a life that reflects Jesus. He outlines four traits of spiritual growth: bearing good fruit, gaining true knowledge, enduring with patience, and giving joyful thanks. These traits shift our focus from worldly concerns to spiritual maturity.
Lastly, praying for God's will helps us embrace the story of hope. Paul reassures the Colossians that their hope is rooted in the gospel, which transforms their past, present, and future. This hope is adversarial, standing against cynicism and despair. It reminds us that our ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ, who has qualified, redeemed, and rescued us.
We concluded with a prayer exercise, inviting everyone to release their burdens to Jesus and seek what they truly need from Him. This exercise served as a reminder that God's will is not a burden but an invitation to experience a life filled with His presence and purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Root Produces the Fruit: When we pray for God's will, the gospel becomes the root that produces the fruit of transformation in our lives. This transformation is not about adding more to the gospel but understanding that the gospel alone is sufficient. It reminds us that our spiritual growth is rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ, which stands against any false teachings or cultural influences. [49:33]
2. Your Pursuits Change: Praying for God's will shifts our focus from worldly concerns to spiritual growth. Paul outlines four traits of spiritual growth: bearing good fruit, gaining true knowledge, enduring with patience, and giving joyful thanks. These traits help us live a life that reflects Jesus, changing our pursuits from self-centered goals to God-centered living. [59:01]
3. Embrace the Story of Hope: Our hope is rooted in the gospel, which transforms our past, present, and future. This hope stands against cynicism and despair, reminding us that our ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ. By embracing this story of hope, we can face the future with confidence, knowing that God is at work in ways we cannot see. [01:06:39]
4. Release Your Burdens to Jesus: When we pray for God's will, we are invited to release our burdens and anxieties to Jesus. This act of surrender allows us to experience God's peace and direction, knowing that He cares about our concerns and is guiding us towards His purpose. [01:14:13]
5. Experience God's Will as an Invitation: God's will is not a burden but an invitation to experience a life filled with His presence and purpose. By praying for God's will, we open ourselves to His guidance and transformation, allowing Him to work in and through us in ways that we could never imagine. [01:18:45]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[42:39] - Introduction to Rooted Program
[44:05] - Gratitude and Generosity
[47:01] - Personal Story: God's Will as a Burden
[48:27] - Introduction to Colossians 1:3-14
[49:56] - The Root Produces the Fruit
[51:24] - The Gospel's Global Impact
[52:52] - C.S. Lewis and Deeper Magic
[54:27] - The Weight of God's Will
[55:40] - The Vision of Jesus vs. Anxiety
[57:07] - Thankfulness and Freedom
[59:01] - Your Pursuits Change
[01:00:26] - Four Traits of Spiritual Growth
[01:03:17] - Personal Story: Pursuing a PhD
[01:04:59] - Embrace the Story of Hope
[01:06:39] - Faith, Hope, and Love
[01:08:04] - Nick Cave on Hopefulness
[01:11:11] - Radical Hope in Jesus
[01:12:50] - Embrace God's Will
[01:14:13] - Prayer Exercise: Releasing Burdens
[01:18:45] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 1:3-14
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three key outcomes of praying for God's will as discussed in the sermon? [47:01]
2. According to Colossians 1:3-14, what are the four traits of spiritual growth that Paul outlines? [59:01]
3. How does Paul describe the transformation that the gospel brings to the Colossian church in Colossians 1:3-14? [49:56]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the gospel being the "root" that produces "fruit" challenge or affirm your current understanding of spiritual growth? [49:56]
2. In what ways do the four traits of spiritual growth (bearing good fruit, gaining true knowledge, enduring with patience, and giving joyful thanks) reflect a life that is aligned with God's will? [59:01]
3. How does embracing the story of hope, as described in the sermon, help combat feelings of cynicism and despair in your life? [01:06:39]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by the concept of God's will. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an invitation rather than a burden? [47:01]
2. Which of the four traits of spiritual growth do you find most challenging to cultivate in your life? What practical steps can you take to develop this trait? [59:01]
3. How can you remind yourself daily that the gospel alone is sufficient for your growth and transformation, without needing additional revelations or human traditions? [49:56]
4. Think about a current pursuit in your life. How can you align this pursuit more closely with the knowledge and wisdom of God's will? [01:00:26]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to release your burdens to Jesus. What steps will you take this week to surrender this area to Him? [01:14:13]
6. How can you actively embrace and share the story of hope in your community, especially in a world that often feels cynical and despairing? [01:06:39]
7. What is one small, redemptive act of kindness you can perform this week to demonstrate the hope you have in Jesus? [01:11:11]
Devotional
Day 1: The Gospel as the Root of Transformation
When we pray for God's will, the gospel becomes the root that produces the fruit of transformation in our lives. This transformation is not about adding more to the gospel but understanding that the gospel alone is sufficient. It reminds us that our spiritual growth is rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ, which stands against any false teachings or cultural influences. The gospel is the deeper magic that changes us from within, as Paul reminds the Colossian church of their story. This transformation is a testament to the power of the gospel, which alone is sufficient for our growth and transformation. [49:33]
Colossians 1:6 (ESV): "which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth."
Reflection: How can you allow the gospel to be the root of your transformation today? What specific area of your life needs to be transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ?
Day 2: Shifting Our Pursuits to Reflect Jesus
Praying for God's will shifts our focus from worldly concerns to spiritual growth. Paul outlines four traits of spiritual growth: bearing good fruit, gaining true knowledge, enduring with patience, and giving joyful thanks. These traits help us live a life that reflects Jesus, changing our pursuits from self-centered goals to God-centered living. When we seek God's will, our priorities and pursuits change, aligning more closely with His desires for our lives. This shift in focus allows us to grow spiritually and live a life that honors God. [59:01]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What worldly pursuit can you shift today to focus more on spiritual growth? How can you bear good fruit in your daily life?
Day 3: Embracing the Story of Hope
Our hope is rooted in the gospel, which transforms our past, present, and future. This hope stands against cynicism and despair, reminding us that our ultimate hope is in Jesus Christ. By embracing this story of hope, we can face the future with confidence, knowing that God is at work in ways we cannot see. This hope is adversarial, standing against the negativity and hopelessness that the world often presents. It reassures us that our hope is secure in Jesus, who has qualified, redeemed, and rescued us. [01:06:39]
Colossians 1:5 (ESV): "because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel."
Reflection: How can you embrace the story of hope in your life today? What specific situation in your life needs to be transformed by the hope of the gospel?
Day 4: Releasing Burdens to Jesus
When we pray for God's will, we are invited to release our burdens and anxieties to Jesus. This act of surrender allows us to experience God's peace and direction, knowing that He cares about our concerns and is guiding us towards His purpose. By releasing our burdens to Jesus, we acknowledge that we cannot carry them on our own and trust in His strength and guidance. This surrender brings us peace and aligns us with God's will for our lives. [01:14:13]
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV): "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Reflection: What burden or anxiety can you release to Jesus today? How can you trust Him to guide you towards His purpose?
Day 5: Experiencing God's Will as an Invitation
God's will is not a burden but an invitation to experience a life filled with His presence and purpose. By praying for God's will, we open ourselves to His guidance and transformation, allowing Him to work in and through us in ways that we could never imagine. This perspective shift helps us see God's will as a loving invitation rather than a heavy obligation. It encourages us to embrace His plans for our lives with joy and anticipation, knowing that He has our best interests at heart. [01:18:45]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: How can you view God's will as an invitation rather than a burden today? What steps can you take to open yourself to His guidance and transformation?
Quotes
1. "When you pray for God's will, the root produces the fruit. Now let me be clear, when I talk about the root producing the fruit, it's the root of the gospel produces the fruit of transformation, of growth in our lives. Paul begins this letter, he's building rapport with people. That he's never met or never known. And what we see is later on, we see that Epaphras was the one that actually brought the gospel to the Colossian church. Before Paul even talks about God's will for the Colossian church, he has to remind them of their story." [49:56] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, not good advice. In Colossians 2, if you read, there was a problem in the Colossian church. There was false teachers. There was influences from culture that were saying, you need these special, revelations. You need these human traditions. You need all of these extra things. It's the gospel plus Jesus. And I'm here to tell you today, if you have the gospel plus Jesus, you have nothing because the gospel can stand on its own. And what Paul is saying here, the root of the gospel produces the fruit in you. Whatever the future holds, whatever you're going through, whatever you're facing, you have to remember the gospel." [51:24] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you pray for God's will, your pursuits change. Reading this section about God's will, we want knowledge. So number one, we want information. So we want this information. We can Google anything. We can find anything. We can go to libraries. Information is out there right now. But we also want knowledge of God's will. We want to know the future. We want to know, who should I marry? What should I do? We have all of these questions. But when we talk about the knowledge of God's will, what Paul is really saying is the knowledge and wisdom to become more like Jesus. It's the knowledge and the wisdom to know how to live your Monday through Saturday. It's the knowledge and wisdom to live an everyday life, to live where you are." [59:01] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you pray for God's will, the vision of Jesus begins to become bigger and bigger. And the vision of your anxiety comes into smaller and smaller. I think what Paul is trying to say is he's trying to say, hey, before I talk about God's will, don't forget where he came from. Don't forget the gospel. You don't need anything more than So what are you basing your life on? Where's your life rooted? Where's the deeper magic of your life?" [55:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When you pray for God's will, you embrace the story of hope. How many of you are feeling hopeless this morning? How many of you, when you look at the future, you're more worried, you're more concerned? You're saying, Pete, I don't have any questions about God's will. The future doesn't look good. I love what Paul does in Colossians 1.5 back in this prayer. So Paul gives this triad. He says, faith, hope, and love. But what's unique about the Colossian church is this. Paul says, your faith and love rooted in hope. Rooted in hope." [01:04:59] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When we pray for God's will, I think Jesus becomes bigger and our problems become smaller. I think Jesus becomes bigger and our anxiety lowers. God wants you to experience his will more than you would ever think or imagine. And so when you pray, I think what God wants you to do is help you to see him." [01:14:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Our hope is not in an election. Our hope is not in CNN. Our hope is not in Fox News. Our hope is not in getting the job that we want. Our hope is not getting that promotion. Our hope is not more money in the bank account. Our hope is not having the bigger house. Though none of these things are bad, what we're finding is this, what Paul is saying, your radical hope, your hope is in the one that qualified you. Your hope is in the one that redeemed you. Your hope is in the one that loved you. Your hope is in the one that died on a cross and rose again." [01:11:11] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When you embrace the story of hope, you begin to see people and your situations and your job and even what you do with your time and your schedule and your money, you see it differently because you believe this, is that God can take things that seem insignificant, like reading to your child, like putting your child to bed or mowing the lawn. God can take these small, insignificant things that are part of his will and make eternal differences. And not because you earned it or white-knuckled it, but because you've embraced the story of hope." [01:14:13] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Aug 26, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?