Embracing Our Identity as God's Chosen Ambassadors
Summary
In the sermon series "Living Chosen," we explored the profound identity and mission of being God's chosen people. This identity is not just a label; it's a call to action. We are set apart to be ambassadors for Christ, engaging actively in what God is orchestrating in and around us. This mission involves being God's welcoming hands, inviting others into His family right where we live, work, and play.
Reflecting on the story of the Israelites in Numbers 13, we discussed the critical choice between focusing on obstacles or embracing the promises of God. Like Caleb and Joshua, we are encouraged to trust that God is with us, despite the giants and fortified cities we face in our own lives.
Central to our discussion was the transformative power of Jesus's timeless truth. His word stands as our foundation, offering stability and direction through every season of life. It's not merely historical text; it's alive, actively shaping our lives and our responses to life's challenges. This truth is not just for us but for everyone, underscoring the inclusive nature of the gospel.
We delved into personal testimonies of how God's intervention changes lives—sometimes dramatically, other times subtly. These stories of divine provision and redirected paths highlight that God is intimately involved in the details of our lives. Whether through significant miracles or quiet whispers, God's presence is a constant source of transformation.
Moreover, we emphasized the role of God's Word in guiding us. It acts as a lamp to our feet, illuminating our next steps but not necessarily the entire path. This requires us to walk by faith, trusting in God's guidance through His Word, which equips us for every good work and molds us more into the likeness of Christ.
In conclusion, the sermon reiterated the importance of standing firm on the promises of God, especially when faced with life's storms. The unchanging nature of Jesus assures us that He who has been faithful will continue to be so, empowering us to share our stories of His faithfulness with others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace Your Chosen Identity and Mission: As God's chosen, our primary role is to be His ambassadors. This involves more than understanding our identity; it requires active participation in God's work around us. By focusing on God's promises rather than our obstacles, we can move forward in faith, making a tangible difference in our communities. [01:32]
2. The Transformative Power of Jesus's Truth: The gospel is a dynamic and living truth that changes lives. It's not confined by time or culture, making it relevant for everyone, everywhere. As we anchor ourselves in this truth, we find the strength and guidance to navigate life's challenges, knowing that Jesus's teachings provide the foundation we need. [03:01]
3. God's Word as Our Guide: Scripture is not just ancient text; it's God-breathed and alive, actively speaking into our lives. It offers us wisdom and direction, acting as a lamp to our feet in a world filled with uncertainty. By engaging with the Word, we allow it to shape our decisions and form us more into the image of Christ. [09:08]
4. The Continuous Presence and Provision of God: God's involvement in our lives is both macroscopic and personal. He changes circumstances and hearts, providing for our needs in unexpected ways. This ongoing provision is a testament to His love and care, reminding us that we are never alone in our journey. [10:43]
5. Sharing Our Stories of Faithfulness: Our personal experiences of God's faithfulness are not just for us to hold but to share. They are powerful testimonies that can encourage and uplift others. By sharing how God has worked in our lives, we participate in the ministry of reconciliation, pointing others to the hope and truth found in Christ. [07:38]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living Chosen
#### Bible Reading
1. Numbers 13:1-2, 26-33 - The story of the Israelites scouting the Promised Land.
2. Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
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#### Observation Questions
1. What were the two main obstacles the Israelites faced when scouting the Promised Land in Numbers 13? ([01:32])
2. According to Hebrews 13:8, what is the nature of Jesus Christ? How does this provide comfort to believers? ([03:01])
3. What does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say about the purpose and usefulness of Scripture? ([09:08])
4. How did Caleb and Joshua's perspective differ from the other scouts in Numbers 13? ([01:32])
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Israelites focused on the obstacles rather than God's promises in Numbers 13? How does this reflect our own tendencies? ([01:32])
2. How does the unchanging nature of Jesus (Hebrews 13:8) impact our faith during difficult times? ([03:01])
3. In what ways can Scripture act as a "lamp to our feet" in our daily lives, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:16-17? ([09:08])
4. How do personal testimonies of God's intervention, whether dramatic or subtle, strengthen our faith and the faith of others? ([07:38])
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant obstacle. How did focusing on God's promises help you navigate that situation? ([01:32])
2. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus is unchanging. How can this truth provide stability in your current life circumstances? ([03:01])
3. Think about a recent decision you made. How did you seek guidance from Scripture, and how did it influence your choice? ([09:08])
4. Share a personal story of how God has provided for you in an unexpected way. How can sharing this story encourage someone else in your small group? ([07:38])
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust God's guidance more fully. What steps can you take this week to walk by faith in that area? ([13:56])
6. How can you actively participate in being an ambassador for Christ in your community, workplace, or social circles? ([01:32])
7. What is one practical way you can engage with God's Word more deeply this week to allow it to shape your decisions and actions? ([09:08])
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This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of identity, mission, and the transformative power of God's Word as discussed in the "Living Chosen" sermon series. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Our Role as God's Ambassadors
As God's chosen, we are called to be more than mere spectators in our faith; we are to be active participants in His divine plan. This means stepping out in faith, engaging with the world around us, and inviting others to experience the love and grace found in Christ. Our identity as chosen people is not just a privilege; it's a profound responsibility. We are set apart to actively participate in God's work, focusing on His promises rather than the obstacles that may loom large before us. This active participation is crucial in making a tangible difference in our communities and beyond. [01:32]
2 Corinthians 5:20 - "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Reflection: Who in your community can you actively engage with this week to share the love and truth of Jesus Christ?
Day 2: The Dynamic and Living Truth of the Gospel
The gospel is not confined by time or culture; it is a living truth that continually transforms lives. Anchoring ourselves in the teachings of Jesus provides us with the foundation needed to navigate life's challenges. This truth is dynamic, actively shaping our lives and offering stability and direction through every season. As we delve deeper into the gospel, we find strength and guidance, knowing that Jesus's teachings are not just historical texts but are alive and relevant in our daily lives. [03:01]
Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Reflection: How can you more fully integrate the living truth of the gospel into your daily decisions and interactions?
Day 3: Scripture as Our Guide in Uncertainty
God's Word is not merely an ancient text; it is breathed out by God and is alive, actively speaking into our lives today. It serves as a lamp to our feet, illuminating our next steps in a world filled with uncertainty. By engaging with Scripture, we allow it to shape our decisions and form us more into the image of Christ. This divine guidance requires us to walk by faith, trusting in God's provision through His Word, which equips us for every good work. [09:08]
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: What specific part of Scripture can you study this week to seek guidance for a decision you are facing?
Day 4: Recognizing God's Continuous Presence and Provision
God's involvement in our lives is both grand and intimate. He orchestrates changes in circumstances and hearts, providing for our needs in ways that often surpass our understanding. This ongoing provision is a testament to His love and care, reminding us that we are never alone, regardless of the challenges we face. Whether through significant miracles or quiet whispers, God's presence is a constant source of comfort and transformation. [10:43]
Genesis 28:15 - "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Reflection: Can you identify a recent instance where you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way?
Day 5: Sharing Our Stories of God's Faithfulness
Our personal experiences of God's faithfulness are powerful tools for ministry. They are not just for us to hold onto but are meant to be shared, offering hope and encouragement to others. By recounting how God has worked in our lives, we participate in the ministry of reconciliation, pointing others to the hope and truth found in Christ. These stories of divine intervention and faithfulness can uplift and inspire those around us, drawing them closer to God. [07:38]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 - "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
Reflection: What is one story of God's faithfulness in your life that you can share with someone this week to encourage them in their faith journey?
Quotes
"All right, well last week we kicked off a sermon series entitled Living Chosen, and it's a vision series that reminds us both of who we are as God's people, that we are chosen, that we have been set apart, but also the mission, the purpose for which we have been chosen and set apart. And that mission ultimately is to say we're going to be ambassadors for Christ, ambassadors in what God is already doing in and through us and around us, and we're going to step into that." [01:32]
"And for us today, in some ways, we have the this before us. What are we going to focus on? Are we going to focus on the challenges and the problems and the hurdles in front of us, or are we going to focus on this reality that God has promised to go with us, and that he is doing things that we aren't even aware of yet, that he is preparing the places for us to go, both as individuals and as a church." [01:32]
"And today what we're doing is we're going to dive into the first value that you kind of spoke to us, or spoke through the survey several months ago. This value that says, Jesus's timeless truth changes lives. And it's this notion that we as a church, we as God's people, love his word. That we are rooted and we stand on his, his word." [03:01]
"God's Word, what Jesus teaches, God's Word, and not just the Scripture and the text, but Jesus, the Word, He is our firm foundation. It says when life gets hard, when the storms come, when the cancer is diagnosed, when the relationship hits this rocky path, when you get laid off and you don't know what you're going to do, where do we run to? What do we do?" [15:42]
"God's Word is His Word. It's, yes, written by human authors, and yet it's inspired by God. God spoke into these words. He breathed into these words. And as we see that, that means that these words are alive and active. They're not just words on a page. They're not just words on a page. They're not just words on a page or words on a screen in a Bible app. They are God's Word." [09:08]
"And see, that is what God's Word does. It's alive. It's life-giving. It reminds us of who we are and what is ours in Christ. But it's also the Bible reads us. It's why you can open up the Bible to the same passage at different points in your life, and the words don't change, the meaning doesn't change, but it hits you a little bit different because it's speaking into what you're going through." [10:43]
"And this is what Jesus does. He steps into our life, and He leaves His mark. So, and He gives us a story to tell. A story of His faithfulness, of His goodness, of His love, and in how it is He has worked in our lives. And that's something that we get to share, that we should be sharing with other people." [07:38]
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