Embracing Growth: Trusting God's Divine Process

 

Summary

In the quiet moments of the morning, as the sun begins to rise and the world awakens, we are reminded of the beauty and significance of growth. Growth is a divine process, orchestrated by God, who is the author of new beginnings. As we breathe in the fresh air of a new day, we are invited to let go of the past and embrace the present, recognizing it as a gift from God. This day, like every day, is an opportunity to seek God in all things, especially in the living and growing world around us.

The concept of growth is deeply rooted in the scriptures, particularly in the Book of Genesis, where God creates vegetation and plants that bear seeds. This imagery of seeds is powerful, symbolizing potential and the unfolding of life. Seeds are small, yet they hold immense potential, much like each of us. God has placed within every person seeds of grace and greatness, waiting to be nurtured and grown.

Growth, however, is not instantaneous. It is a slow, deliberate process, much like the creation of the universe itself. God, in His wisdom, chose to create through seeds, emphasizing the importance of patience and trust. In our fast-paced world, we often seek quick results, but true growth requires time and the willingness to embrace small beginnings. It is in the waiting and trusting that we learn to rely on God and His perfect timing.

Moreover, seeds must die to bring forth life, a profound truth that Jesus highlighted. This dying to self, allowing our own desires to be set aside, is essential for true growth. As we nurture our souls with noble thoughts, acts of generosity, and meaningful conversations, we begin to see the fruits of our labor.

Today, let us remember the lessons of the seed. Let us trust in the slow work of God, be patient with the process, and embrace the small beginnings. As we sow seeds of kindness, love, and faith, we participate in the divine work of creation, cultivating a life that reflects the goodness of God.

Key Takeaways:

1. Embrace New Beginnings: Each day is a fresh start, a gift from God. Let go of the past and embrace the present, seeking God in all things, especially in the beauty of creation. This mindset allows us to be fully present and open to the growth God has planned for us. [01:24]

2. The Power of Small Beginnings: Seeds, though small, hold immense potential. Similarly, God has placed within each of us seeds of grace and greatness. Embrace the small beginnings in your life, trusting that God will nurture them into something beautiful. [04:41]

3. Patience in Growth: True growth is a slow, deliberate process. In a world that values speed, remember that God is not in a hurry. Trust in His timing and allow the slow work of God to unfold in your life. [05:53]

4. The Necessity of Dying to Self: Just as seeds must die to bring forth life, we too must die to our own desires to experience true growth. This involves nurturing our souls with noble thoughts and acts of generosity, allowing God to work through us. [09:53]

5. Trust in the Process: Trust is essential in the growth process. Resist the urge to constantly check on the progress of your "seeds." Instead, have faith that God is at work, even when you cannot see it. [09:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Introduction to Growth
- [01:09] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [01:38] - Being Present with God
- [02:06] - The Lesson of the Seed
- [03:00] - The Power of the Seed
- [03:43] - Seeds and Human Potential
- [04:56] - The Slow Work of God
- [05:53] - God's Deliberate Creation
- [06:24] - Digital Asceticism
- [07:08] - The Cost of Convenience
- [08:07] - Building Delayed Gratification
- [09:03] - Boredom and Creativity
- [09:39] - The Necessity of Dying to Self
- [10:19] - Remembering God's Goodness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Divine Process of Growth

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:11-13 - "Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day."
2. Mark 4:30-32 - "Again he said, 'What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.'"

Observation Questions:
1. What does Genesis 1:11-13 tell us about God's creation process and the role of seeds in it?
2. How does the parable of the mustard seed in Mark 4:30-32 illustrate the concept of growth and potential?
3. According to the sermon, what are some characteristics of seeds that are important for understanding growth? [03:43]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between patience and growth? [05:53]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the imagery of seeds in Genesis and Mark reflect the potential God has placed within each of us? [04:29]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that growth requires a "dying to self"? How does this relate to Jesus' teaching about seeds? [09:53]
3. Why might God choose to create through a slow process, as described in the sermon? What does this teach us about His nature and our own lives? [05:09]
4. How does the sermon connect the concept of growth with the idea of being fully present with God? [01:38]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a new beginning in your life. How can you embrace it as a gift from God and seek His presence in it? [01:24]
2. Identify a small beginning in your life that you might be overlooking. How can you nurture it, trusting in God's plan for its growth? [04:41]
3. In what areas of your life do you struggle with impatience? How can you practice trusting in God's timing this week? [05:53]
4. Consider a personal desire or habit that you need to "die to" in order to experience true growth. What steps can you take to nurture your soul with noble thoughts and acts of generosity? [09:53]
5. How can you practice trusting in the process of growth without constantly checking for progress? What might this look like in your daily life? [09:24]
6. Think of a situation where you are tempted to choose convenience over growth. How can you embrace the "slow work of God" instead? [08:07]
7. How can you sow seeds of kindness, love, and faith in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to reflect God's goodness? [10:19]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Gift of Today
In the quiet moments of the morning, as the sun rises, we are reminded of the beauty and significance of growth. Each day is a fresh start, a gift from God, inviting us to let go of the past and embrace the present. This mindset allows us to be fully present and open to the growth God has planned for us. By seeking God in all things, especially in the beauty of creation, we can experience the divine work of new beginnings. [01:24]

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing from your past that you need to let go of today to fully embrace the present as a gift from God?


Day 2: The Potential Within Small Beginnings
Seeds, though small, hold immense potential. Similarly, God has placed within each of us seeds of grace and greatness. Embrace the small beginnings in your life, trusting that God will nurture them into something beautiful. Just as seeds grow into something magnificent, so too can the small acts of faith and love in our lives. [04:41]

"And he said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.'" (Mark 4:26-27, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a small beginning in your life that you often overlook. How can you nurture it today, trusting in its potential to grow?


Day 3: Trusting in God's Timing
True growth is a slow, deliberate process. In a world that values speed, remember that God is not in a hurry. Trust in His timing and allow the slow work of God to unfold in your life. Patience is essential, as it teaches us to rely on God's perfect timing rather than our own understanding. [05:53]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with impatience? How can you practice trusting in God's timing today?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of Self-Denial
Just as seeds must die to bring forth life, we too must die to our own desires to experience true growth. This involves nurturing our souls with noble thoughts and acts of generosity, allowing God to work through us. By setting aside our own desires, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's grace. [09:53]

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one desire or habit you need to set aside to allow for spiritual growth? How can you begin this process today?


Day 5: Faith in the Unseen Work of God
Trust is essential in the growth process. Resist the urge to constantly check on the progress of your "seeds." Instead, have faith that God is at work, even when you cannot see it. This faith allows us to participate in the divine work of creation, cultivating a life that reflects the goodness of God. [09:24]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where you are tempted to doubt God's work. How can you practice faith in the unseen today?

Quotes


Our God is a god of new beginnings, growth reminds us of that so take deep breath that's a gift of God, let go of yesterday Yesterday's Gone God will erase that Embrace this day because this day is his gift lift up your hearts let's look for God everywhere, including all of the living and growing things that God loves. [00:01:09]

I want you to think today about the speed of growth where do you want to grow in your own life and for these next few moments I don't want you to be in a hurry, I want you to be fully present right here right now, because this is the only place we find God, and it's only when we are rooted in the presence of God that growth in life happens. [00:01:38]

The first one was when someone discovered the law of the seed the power of the seed, and for human beings who had had to just Hunt and Gather it became possible to live in one place to put down roots to build cities and culture and civilization and this theme of seed growth from a seed that God thought out that God created is a fundamental one in scripture. [00:03:43]

Jesus says in Mark chapter 4 the mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds but when it's planted it will grow up into the largest plant, my friend Sam says and I love this you know you can count how many seeds are in an apple you cannot count how many apples are in a seed, you never know with a human being what potential is in them. [00:04:56]

God decided that he would build creation through seeds that he would have growth happen through seeds, um Trumper Longman who is a Old Testament scholar points out that God could have created everything in an instant, but he deliberately does not and the best that we know right now our universe about 14.6 billion years old why because God is not in a hurry. [00:05:53]

and in the account in Genesis God takes time on the first day to create and then God knocks off what does God do at night it doesn't tell us you watch TV, um Dallas Willard used to say about the Trinity when people would ask what was the Trinity doing what was God doing before creation Dallas would say he was enjoying themselves, father son and spirit are never in a hurry. [00:06:24]

and she writes about, um, how to how do we practice what she calls digital asceticism, that is not not to become addicted to the screens that Rush us through life, and she asked some folks who are expert in this area my growing concern is even the best types of screen use displaces the actual material that has created God's world around us. [00:06:24]

by allowing them to go through the experience of having a meltdown and not getting what they want you are actually building a muscle of delayed gratification the law of the seed, in between the seed and the tree the seed and the plant the seed and the fruit there is time, you're actually building a muscle of delayed gratification of having these coping mechanisms that long term are the things you want them to have. [00:08:07]

boredom is the doorway to deep creativity, boredom is the doorway to deep creativity because then we wait, and God has built that into creation, that is the reason why he has put seeds, seeds are slow, so today let the slow work of God take place in you, and Trust seeds teach us trust if you're always digging up the seed to see how's the root it's not going to do very well. [00:09:03]

unless a seed a grain of wheat falls into the Earth and dies and remains alone but if it dies if it goes into the ground God made creation that way to teach us how it is that life works, when we die to ourselves, and send out little roots, and take in nourish nourishment nurture from great thoughts and acts of generosity and conversations with other people, and Noble words that we can read, that's when growth happens. [00:09:39]

so today every time you see a plant remember God and that God is good, remember the law of the sea to what shall I compare the kingdom of God, it's like a sea the solar winter sow some seeds, today do not be in a hurry, today cultivate the growth that comes from the slow work of God end of teaching, beginning of your day with God. [00:10:19]

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Transcript
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