Embracing Our Role in God's Redemptive Mission

Devotional

Day 1: The Communal Nature of Faith

Our relationship with God is both personal and communal. While each person must decide for themselves what they believe, we are part of a global church united in faith. This relationship is not isolated but is a shared experience with believers worldwide. The church community plays a vital role in nurturing and supporting each other in faith, creating a tapestry of shared beliefs and experiences that transcend individual understanding. This communal aspect of faith reminds us that we are never alone in our spiritual journey, as we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who walk alongside us. [42:44]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively engage with your church community this week to strengthen your faith and support others in their spiritual journey?

Day 2: Participating in God's Global Rescue Plan

God's saving power is for all nations, and we are called to participate in His redemptive work. This involves sharing the gospel and making disciples, recognizing that salvation is a global reality. As believers, we are invited to be part of God's mission to reach every corner of the earth, bringing hope and light to those who have not yet heard the good news. This calling challenges us to look beyond our immediate surroundings and consider how we can contribute to God's work on a global scale. [48:42]

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to share the gospel with someone who may not know Christ?

Day 3: Worship as a Daily Surrender

Worship is our created purpose, and it is a daily calling and total surrender to God. Our praise is not conditional on our circumstances but is a reflection of our relationship with God. Worship involves more than just singing songs; it is a lifestyle of devotion and obedience to God, acknowledging His sovereignty in every aspect of our lives. This daily surrender requires us to lay down our own desires and align our hearts with God's will, trusting in His perfect plan. [52:58]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, beyond traditional church services?

Day 4: Recognizing and Celebrating God's Blessings

The reward of God's blessing is evident in our lives, and we are called to recognize and celebrate His grace. This involves acknowledging the many ways God has blessed us and sharing those blessings with others. By cultivating a heart of gratitude, we become more aware of God's presence and provision in our lives, leading us to a deeper appreciation of His goodness. Celebrating God's blessings also encourages us to be generous with what we have received, using our resources to bless others and further God's kingdom. [58:54]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: Take a moment to list three specific blessings in your life. How can you use these blessings to serve others this week?

Day 5: Reverence and Participation in God's Mission

Reverence for God is a global reality, and we are called to fear Him and participate in His mission to reach the ends of the earth. This involves recognizing the global nature of God's work and joining in His mission. Reverence for God is not just about awe and respect; it is about aligning our lives with His purposes and being willing to go wherever He leads. As we participate in God's mission, we become part of a larger story that is unfolding across the world, bringing glory to His name. [01:04:12]

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's mission this week, whether locally or globally? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with His purposes?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we celebrated the profound responsibility and privilege of raising children in the faith. As a church, we are committed to supporting families in this high calling, recognizing that children are a heritage from the Lord, akin to arrows in the hands of a warrior. Our role is to shape and mold these young lives for God's glory, always pointing them to Jesus. This commitment extends beyond individual families to our entire church community, as we partner together to provide vibrant ministries that nurture and support these families in their journey.

We also explored the theme of God's redemptive work around the world, as captured in Psalm 67. This psalm invites us to lift our eyes and see the bigger picture of what God is building globally. It reminds us that God's work is about relationship, rescue, rejoicing, reward, and reverence. Our relationship with God is personal yet communal, as we are part of a global church united in faith. God's rescue plan is for all nations, and we are called to participate in this redemptive work by sharing the gospel and making disciples.

Rejoicing is central to our purpose, as we were created to worship God. Our praise is not limited to moments of joy but is a daily calling and a total surrender to God. We are part of a global choir, and our worship is a reflection of our relationship with God. The reward of God's blessing is evident in our lives, and we are called to recognize and celebrate His grace. Finally, reverence for God is a global reality, as we are called to fear Him and participate in His mission to reach the ends of the earth.

Key Takeaways

1. Relationship with God: Our relationship with God is both personal and communal. While each person must decide for themselves what they believe, we are part of a global church united in faith. This relationship is not isolated but is a shared experience with believers worldwide. [42:44]
2. God's Rescue Plan: God's saving power is for all nations, and we are called to participate in His redemptive work. This involves sharing the gospel and making disciples, recognizing that salvation is a global reality. [48:42]
3. Rejoicing in Worship: Worship is our created purpose, and it is a daily calling and total surrender to God. Our praise is not conditional on our circumstances but is a reflection of our relationship with God. [52:58]
4. Recognizing God's Blessing: The reward of God's blessing is evident in our lives, and we are called to recognize and celebrate His grace. This involves acknowledging the many ways God has blessed us and sharing those blessings with others. [58:54]
5. Reverence for God: Reverence for God is a global reality, and we are called to fear Him and participate in His mission to reach the ends of the earth. This involves recognizing the global nature of God's work and joining in His mission. [01:04:12]
** [64:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Celebrating Families
[02:15] - Commitment to Raise Children in Faith
[04:00] - Church's Role in Supporting Families
[06:45] - Introduction to Psalm 67
[09:30] - God's Global Redemptive Work
[12:00] - Relationship with God
[15:20] - God's Rescue Plan
[18:45] - Rejoicing in Worship
[22:10] - Recognizing God's Blessing
[25:30] - Reverence for God
[28:00] - Invitation to Participate in God's Mission
[31:15] - Call to Worship and Response
[34:00] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

And so parents, as I've told you all week, we are just so proud of others. And so my encouragement to you is as you mold and shape these amazing arrows, never forget that mom and dad need Jesus. And we are always, always, always going to point our children to him. And as a church, we want to partner with these families. This is one of the reasons why we sow into the ministries of our church so that we can provide vibrant, healthy children and preschool ministries to come alongside these families, to partner with them in programming and helping them to achieve this incredible high calling of being mom and dad to these amazing little boys and girls. [00:11:14] (37 seconds)

He says, may God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. One other significant difference is that the name for God in number six is Yahweh. That's the covenant name for God with his people, Israel. The name for God here in Psalm 67 is Elohim. That is the reference to God as it relates to his relationship with all people, all nations, all of his creation. So you can see this idea that God has initiated a relationship. And while it is personal, it's not singular. [00:44:50] (38 seconds)

Every person must make a decision for himself or herself about what we believe to whom we belong. It is very much a personal, but it is not individual only. It is not singular. It is not isolated. This is a work that God provides to us. It is a work that God provides to us. It is a work that God provides for the nations. It is a relationship that God forges with all people who choose to exercise faith and believe in him for salvation. [00:45:26] (28 seconds)

This is why in Matthew 28, just before Jesus ascends into heaven, everyone knows the great commission of Christ. This is the instruction that he has given to you and me as his church. He said, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of your neighborhood, of those who look like you, of all nations. This is a global redeeming work of God. [00:49:28] (28 seconds)

Seeing the bigger picture is about reverence. It's about reverence. Seeing the bigger picture of God is understanding the reverence of God. Listen to how the psalmist speaks about this in verse seven. He says, God shall bless us. Let all the ends of the earth fear him. Now, that word fear is not the common use of it the way you and I often refer to like the idea of being scared of something, but rather this, a biblical word fear is the idea of a terror of reverence. [01:06:24] (39 seconds)

In Acts chapter one in verse eight, when Jesus tells his disciples what's going to happen to his church, he says, power is going to come upon you. We know that to be the Holy Spirit, Acts chapter two. And he says, you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. It is a global reality what God has built. Just think about the missionary journeys of Paul. This man who received salvation directly from Christ, turned his world upside down. [01:07:50] (33 seconds)

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