Embracing New Beginnings: Trusting God's Goodness

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound truth that God is a God of new beginnings, inviting us to let go of the past and embrace the present as a divine gift. We delved into the story of Genesis 3, where the serpent's craftiness is not about a talking snake but a force that tempts us to believe falsehoods about God. This temptation is not merely about disobedience but about fostering a distrust in God's goodness, which hinders our ability to fully abandon ourselves to His guidance and care.

The narrative of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is not about arbitrary rules but about the interactive participation in evil, which is forbidden. God desires us to know the difference between good and evil but not to assume the role of God in deciding what is good for us. This calls for a humble submission to the good, which is deeply associated with God. Legalism, as illustrated by Eve's addition to God's command, distorts God's nature, making Him seem unreasonable and distant. This distortion leads to a lack of trust and submission to God.

We also examined how legalism manifests in various forms, from historical religious practices to modern-day political ideologies. Legalism creates a superficial conformity that divides humanity into "us versus them," while God calls us into a life of grace. In grace, we recognize our need for God and are called to love and embrace others, moving beyond external conformity to a deeper spiritual reality.

As we navigate our daily lives, we are encouraged to question any beliefs about God that might prevent us from fully trusting Him. By rejecting false beliefs about God, we open ourselves to a life of humility, gratitude, and hope, recognizing the divine gifts in every moment.

Key Takeaways:

- God of New Beginnings: Embrace each day as a gift from God, letting go of past burdens and opening your heart to His presence in every moment. This mindset allows us to find God in the ordinary and the extraordinary, transforming our daily experiences into opportunities for spiritual growth. [00:42]

- The Subtlety of Temptation: The serpent's temptation in Genesis is not about blatant disobedience but about sowing seeds of doubt regarding God's goodness. This subtle deception can lead us away from trusting God fully, highlighting the importance of discerning truth from falsehood in our spiritual journey. [02:06]

- Understanding the Tree of Knowledge: The prohibition against eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is about avoiding the participation in evil. God calls us to know good and evil but not to assume His role in determining what is good for us, urging us to live in humble submission to His will. [03:46]

- The Trap of Legalism: Legalism distorts our understanding of God, making Him seem distant and unreasonable. By adding human-made rules to God's commands, we risk creating a false image of God that hinders our spiritual growth and relationship with Him. [05:14]

- Grace Over Legalism: God calls us out of legalism into a life of grace, where our worth is not measured by external conformity but by our recognition of our need for Him. This grace-filled life invites us to love and embrace others, moving beyond divisive ideologies to a deeper unity in Christ. [11:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - Embracing New Beginnings
- [00:57] - Questioning Our Beliefs
- [01:11] - The Craftiness of the Serpent
- [01:27] - God's Generous Gift
- [01:51] - The Subtle Temptation
- [02:06] - Trusting God's Goodness
- [02:32] - The Tree of Knowledge
- [03:15] - Forbidden Knowledge
- [03:46] - Living in Submission
- [04:27] - Eve's Legalism
- [05:14] - The Distortion of Legalism
- [06:17] - Personal Encounters with Legalism
- [09:21] - Modern Legalism
- [11:09] - Embracing Grace
- [12:33] - Beginning Your Day with God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 3:1-6
- Philippians 2:3-4
- Romans 12:2

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Observation Questions:

1. In Genesis 3:1-6, how does the serpent's question to Eve distort God's original command? What is the significance of this distortion? [01:11]

2. According to the sermon, what is the deeper meaning behind the prohibition of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? How does this relate to the concept of interactive participation in evil? [02:32]

3. How does the sermon describe the impact of legalism on our perception of God? What example from Genesis 3 illustrates this point? [05:14]

4. What are some modern examples of legalism mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from traditional forms of legalism? [09:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the subtlety of the serpent's temptation in Genesis 3 reflect the ways in which doubt about God's goodness can manifest in our lives today? [02:06]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that legalism can create a false image of God? How might this affect a person's spiritual growth and relationship with God? [05:14]

3. The sermon mentions that God calls us out of legalism into a life of grace. How does this transition from legalism to grace change the way we view our relationship with God and others? [11:09]

4. How does the sermon connect the idea of new beginnings with the concept of grace? What role does humility play in embracing new beginnings? [00:42]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a belief you hold about God that might prevent you from fully trusting Him. How can you begin to challenge and change this belief? [11:38]

2. Consider a time when you added your own rules to God's commands, similar to Eve's addition in Genesis 3. How did this affect your relationship with God and others? [05:14]

3. Identify a modern form of legalism you have encountered in your life. How can you move beyond this legalism to embrace a life of grace? [09:21]

4. The sermon encourages us to find God in every moment. What is one practical way you can start recognizing God's presence in your daily life? [00:42]

5. Think of a situation where you have been tempted to doubt God's goodness. How can you remind yourself of His goodness in similar situations in the future? [02:06]

6. How can you practice humility and gratitude in your daily interactions, recognizing them as divine gifts? What specific steps can you take this week? [11:53]

7. Reflect on a divisive ideology or belief you hold. How can you shift your focus from external conformity to a deeper unity in Christ? [11:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Each Day as a Divine Gift
In the journey of faith, recognizing each day as a divine gift from God allows us to let go of past burdens and open our hearts to His presence in every moment. This mindset transforms our daily experiences into opportunities for spiritual growth, helping us find God in both the ordinary and the extraordinary. By embracing new beginnings, we align ourselves with God's purpose, allowing His grace to guide us through life's challenges and joys. [00:42]

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 past burden or regret can you release today to fully embrace the new beginnings God offers you?


Day 2: Discern Truth from Falsehood in Temptation
The subtlety of temptation, as illustrated by the serpent in Genesis, is not about blatant disobedience but about sowing seeds of doubt regarding God's goodness. This deception can lead us away from fully trusting God, emphasizing the importance of discerning truth from falsehood in our spiritual journey. By questioning and rejecting false beliefs about God, we open ourselves to a life of humility, gratitude, and hope, recognizing the divine gifts in every moment. [02:06]

2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV): "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

Reflection: What doubts or false beliefs about God might be hindering your trust in Him today, and how can you seek His truth?


Day 3: Live in Humble Submission to God's Will
The narrative of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil teaches us about avoiding participation in evil and living in humble submission to God's will. God calls us to know the difference between good and evil but not to assume His role in determining what is good for us. This requires a humble submission to the good, which is deeply associated with God, allowing His wisdom to guide our decisions and actions. [03:46]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to submit to God's will, and what steps can you take today to trust His guidance?


Day 4: Avoid the Distortion of Legalism
Legalism distorts our understanding of God, making Him seem distant and unreasonable. By adding human-made rules to God's commands, we risk creating a false image of God that hinders our spiritual growth and relationship with Him. Embracing a life of grace over legalism invites us to love and embrace others, moving beyond divisive ideologies to a deeper unity in Christ. [05:14]

Colossians 2:20-23 (ESV): "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch'... These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

Reflection: Are there any human-made rules or traditions that have distorted your view of God, and how can you refocus on His grace today?


Day 5: Embrace a Life of Grace and Unity
God calls us out of legalism into a life of grace, where our worth is not measured by external conformity but by our recognition of our need for Him. This grace-filled life invites us to love and embrace others, moving beyond divisive ideologies to a deeper unity in Christ. By living in grace, we acknowledge our dependence on God and extend His love to those around us, fostering a community of faith and compassion. [11:09]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: How can you actively demonstrate God's grace to someone in your life today, moving beyond external conformity to genuine love and unity?

Quotes

our God is a god of new beginnings so take a deep breath let go yesterday Embrace this day it's God's Gift lift up your hearts and we're gonna learn to find God in every moment every inch of space we had a lot of ground to cover today so let's Dive In let's start with this question is there anything you believe or think about God that could keep you from abandoning yourself to his guidance and care with utter devotion [00:28:34]

now of course God did not say that they couldn't eat from any tree in the garden to the contrary we're told repeatedly in the first and second chapters God made all these reasons that I give them to you as a gift and that they were wonderful to look at and that their food was delicious and God said you're free to eat from them if they couldn't eat from any tree they starved to death [00:82:79]

it just suggests that God said something that God did not say it just the Temptation here is believe something bad about God and the reason for that is not just that you'll get a pass a failing grade on your theology test when you're trying to get into heaven the reason is so that you will not with confident abandon yourself to God and to the good and we all know there is this moral order that is beyond ourselves [00:120:36]

so what God is saying is that we are not to interact with evil we're not to take on ourselves the assumption that I can choose like God what is good and what is evil there are certain knowledges that are is forbidden to me knowing how to lie really well that's forbid me knowing what it feels like to power up on an innocent child and use anger to manipulate them that is forbidden to me [00:179:40]

and of course the good is deeply associated with God so it's a very good and a very non-arbitrary thing when God says you won't eat from that tree you will not do that which is destructive to Shalom to Creation to other people and to yourselves that's what that's about the woman says to the serpent but we may eat from the trees in the garden [00:246:78]

now here Eve becomes the first legalist God never says You must not touch it but Eve quotes God is saying that so far this story is very subtle and very fascinating why does it say that why did he say that well she is now becoming the first legalist and legalism we add human made rules to that moral Transcendent order that we are all to submit to and when she does that it makes God seem a little unreasonable [00:314:04]

I've had many close-up encounters with legalism he writes I came out of a southern fundamentalist culture that frowned on Co-Ed swimming wearing shorts jewelry or makeup dancing bowling reading the Sunday newspaper alcohol was a sin of a different order with a sulfurous stench of Hellfire about it later I attended a Bible College where in an era of mini skirts Dean's legislated a skirt length below the knee [00:377:75]

and God calls us always always always out of the realm of legalism legalism always involves external Conformity it's always kind of trivial and superficial but also exhausting it always splits Humanity up into US versus them and he always calls us out of that into Grace and in Grace I don't measure my goodness by my external Conformity to a code of behavior or ideology or thought I recognize my great need for God which calls me also to love and embrace all other human beings [00:653:60]

so today um ask yourself is there anything you believe about God God says you can't touch any trees no he didn't is there anything you believe about God that would keep you from abandoning yourself to him fully today don't believe anything bad about God just for a day give that a shot today be humble and recognize my need for God today be grateful and look for moments of gifts [00:690:30]

hey somebody who I love very much plays Wordle every day and today the word that they always start word with was actually the word of word and so I called them because they knew they were real busy they probably wouldn't play today like this is your day you get to guess it on the very first day just a silly little thing but a moment of great joy and God thinks that I get to be a part of something like that today be hopeful and look for your purpose [00:724:98]

don't believe anything bad about God end of teaching beginning of your day with the god of new beginnings [00:749:39]

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Transcript
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