Embracing Redemption: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the third cup of the Four Cups series, focusing on the Cup of Redemption. We began with a humorous yet poignant story about sleepwalking, which served as a metaphor for those moments in life when we find ourselves asking, "How did I get here?" This question often arises when we reflect on the state of our hearts, especially when they have become hardened or distant due to life's trials and tribulations.
The Four Cups are rooted in the ancient Jewish Passover tradition, where each cup represents a promise from God found in Exodus 6. These promises outline the spiritual journey God intends for His followers: salvation, deliverance, redemption, and fulfillment. Today, we focused on the third promise: "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and mighty acts of judgment."
Redemption, as we explored, means to buy back, reform, and restore. God sees us in our brokenness and offers to restore us to our original, intended state. However, many Christians never fully experience this redemption due to feelings of inferiority and diversions. We often believe the lie that our past disqualifies us from God's love and purpose, but God sees us as His masterpieces, created for good works.
To drink from the Cup of Redemption, we must discover, develop, and use our spiritual gifts. These gifts are divine enablements given by God to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Our church offers a Next Steps class to help you discover your gifts and find your place in serving God and others. By doing so, you move closer to experiencing the fourth cup, the Cup of Fulfillment, which brings true satisfaction and purpose.
### Key Takeaways
1. Redemption Defined: Redemption means to buy back, reform, and restore. God sees us in our brokenness and offers to restore us to our original, intended state. This process involves recognizing that we are God's masterpieces, created for good works, despite our past mistakes. [09:31]
2. Inferiority Complex: Many Christians never fully experience redemption because they feel inferior and unworthy. They believe their past disqualifies them from God's love and purpose. However, God sees us differently; He sees us as His masterpieces, created for good works. [13:12]
3. Diversions: Diversions are those parts of our story that we think God can't use. We often feel that our mistakes and failures make us unworthy. Yet, God uses everything in our lives, both good and bad, for His glory. Our darkest moments can become powerful testimonies of God's grace. [15:54]
4. Discovering Spiritual Gifts: To drink from the Cup of Redemption, we must discover our spiritual gifts. These gifts are divine enablements given by God to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Our church offers a Next Steps class to help you discover your gifts and find your place in serving God and others. [19:51]
5. Serving Others: True fulfillment comes from serving God by serving others. Many Christians are spiritual consumers, focusing on what they can get rather than what they can give. By using our gifts to serve others, we experience a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God. [25:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:46] - Sleepwalking Story
[01:24] - Jet Lag and Exhaustion
[02:09] - Locked Out in Drawers
[02:51] - How Did I Get Here?
[03:55] - Four Cups Series Recap
[05:07] - The Four Promises of God
[06:09] - The Third Promise: Redemption
[07:15] - The Four Cups Explained
[08:19] - The Cup of Praise
[09:31] - What Does Redemption Mean?
[10:43] - American Restoration Analogy
[11:58] - Why Few Drink from the Third Cup
[13:12] - Inferiority Complex
[14:33] - God's Masterpiece
[15:54] - Diversions in Life
[17:12] - God's Unchanging Mind
[18:30] - Discovering Spiritual Gifts
[19:51] - Developing Your Gifts
[20:58] - Next Steps Class
[22:11] - Using Your Gifts
[23:24] - Equipping God's People
[24:39] - Serving Others
[25:54] - Spiritual Consumers
[27:23] - Give God One Year
[28:34] - Opportunities to Serve
[29:39] - Various Ministry Teams
[30:48] - Call to Action
[31:54] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Cup of Redemption
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 6:6-7: "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.'"
2. Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
3. Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the four promises of God mentioned in Exodus 6:6-7, and how do they relate to the Four Cups? [05:07]
2. According to the sermon, what does the term "redeem" mean, and how does it apply to our spiritual lives? [09:31]
3. How does Ephesians 2:10 describe our identity in Christ, and what term does Paul use to emphasize our value? [14:33]
4. What does Romans 8:28 suggest about the role of both good and bad experiences in our lives? [15:54]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the promise of redemption in Exodus 6:6-7 reflect God's commitment to restoring us? How does this promise impact your understanding of God's character? [06:09]
2. How does the concept of being God's "masterpiece" in Ephesians 2:10 challenge common feelings of inferiority among Christians? [13:12]
3. Romans 8:28 states that God uses "everything" for our good. How can this perspective change the way we view our past mistakes and failures? [15:54]
4. The sermon mentioned that many Christians never fully experience redemption due to feelings of unworthiness. How can understanding God's promises help overcome these feelings? [11:58]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps can you take to move closer to experiencing the Cup of Redemption in your life? [02:51]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of discovering and using our spiritual gifts. Have you identified your spiritual gifts? If not, what steps can you take to discover them? [19:51]
3. How can you actively combat feelings of inferiority and embrace your identity as God's masterpiece? Share a specific action you can take this week. [13:12]
4. Think about a diversion in your life that you believe God can't use. How can you reframe this part of your story to see it as a testimony of God's grace? [15:54]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of serving others to experience true fulfillment. Identify one way you can serve in your church or community this week. [25:54]
6. How can you encourage others in your small group to discover and use their spiritual gifts? What role can you play in supporting them? [22:11]
7. The pastor challenged the congregation to give God one year of being all in. What would it look like for you to fully commit to this challenge? What specific changes would you need to make in your daily life? [27:23]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the sermon on the Cup of Redemption, encouraging meaningful discussion and personal application.
Devotional
Day 1: Redemption Defined: God's Masterpiece Restored
Redemption means to buy back, reform, and restore. God sees us in our brokenness and offers to restore us to our original, intended state. This process involves recognizing that we are God's masterpieces, created for good works, despite our past mistakes. Many people struggle with the idea that their past disqualifies them from God's love and purpose. However, God sees beyond our failures and sees us as His masterpieces, created for good works. He offers us redemption, a chance to be restored to our original, intended state. [09:31]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Think about a past mistake that you believe disqualifies you from God's love. How can you begin to see yourself as God's masterpiece, created for good works, despite that mistake?
Day 2: Overcoming Inferiority Complex
Many Christians never fully experience redemption because they feel inferior and unworthy. They believe their past disqualifies them from God's love and purpose. However, God sees us differently; He sees us as His masterpieces, created for good works. This inferiority complex can be a significant barrier to experiencing the fullness of God's redemption. It's essential to understand that God's love and purpose for us are not based on our past but on His grace and mercy. [13:12]
Isaiah 43:1 (ESV): "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel inferior or unworthy. How can you remind yourself of God's perspective and His declaration that you are His?
Day 3: Embracing God's Use of Diversions
Diversions are those parts of our story that we think God can't use. We often feel that our mistakes and failures make us unworthy. Yet, God uses everything in our lives, both good and bad, for His glory. Our darkest moments can become powerful testimonies of God's grace. Understanding that God can use every part of our story for His glory can help us embrace our past and see it as a part of His redemptive plan. [15:54]
Romans 8:28 (ESV): "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Reflection: Reflect on a difficult or dark moment in your life. How can you see God's hand at work in that situation, and how might He use it for His glory?
Day 4: Discovering and Developing Spiritual Gifts
To drink from the Cup of Redemption, we must discover our spiritual gifts. These gifts are divine enablements given by God to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Our church offers a Next Steps class to help you discover your gifts and find your place in serving God and others. By discovering and developing our spiritual gifts, we can better understand our role in God's plan and move closer to experiencing the fullness of His redemption. [19:51]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What spiritual gifts do you believe God has given you? How can you take a step today to develop and use these gifts to serve others?
Day 5: Serving Others for True Fulfillment
True fulfillment comes from serving God by serving others. Many Christians are spiritual consumers, focusing on what they can get rather than what they can give. By using our gifts to serve others, we experience a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with God. Serving others allows us to live out our purpose and experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from being a part of God's redemptive work in the world. [25:54]
Matthew 20:28 (ESV): "Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: Think of one way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can this act of service help you experience a deeper relationship with God?
Quotes
1. "You ever had a moment when you asked the question, how did my heart get here? You ever had a moment like this? ever had a moment when you didn't realize that like all the pain had accumulated so much and your heart was just so bitter you ever had a moment when it felt like all the things that have happened to you that they've caused your heart to become hardened you used to be so kind so gracious so loving and now you don't want anything to do with people your heart is hard you've been betrayed and so it feels like you'll never be able to love again and you you wake up one day and you think about it and you're like I wasn't always like this my heart wasn't always this hard my heart wasn't always this cold my heart wasn't always this distant distant and disconnected how did my heart get here" [02:51] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible is full of God's promises to people there's over 7,000 promises of God to humanity but there are four that that scholars call perpetual promises they're promises that God made in Exodus chapter 6 that keep on keeping on in fact if you read your Bible cover to cover you'll find them over and over and over again these four promises of God that God made in Exodus chapter 6 are the spiritual journey that God wants to take his followers on now we believe in this so much as a church that we've literally built our whole church around these four promises of God" [03:55] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God's like I'm going to save you but once I save you then I'm going to help you to work out the issues that are plaguing your heart salvation and the process of becoming more like Jesus are separate they're separate issues and a lot of people think about it backwards a lot of people think that I've got to get my life right I've got to stop my sin I've got to polish out all the rough edges of my life and then I can come to God and God's like no no no no salvation the first step is easy just let me save you and then when I save you I'm going to work out those issues that plague your heart" [05:07] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's like I want something that will once and for all fully satisfy your heart I'll give you a spoiler I'll give you a spoiler I'll give you a spoiler I'll give you a spoiler alert you'll never experience this until you get connected into a church family and you're doing something together that literally changes the world that's what God wants for you today I want to talk about this third cup the cup of redemption and it's important for me to help you understand that every word that we say it has meanings and if we don't understand the meaning we might have a wrong assumption about the cups" [08:19] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "This is what the picture of redemption means that God saw us in all of our sin we he we he made us for him we turned and ran from him and God's like I love you so much that I'll do whatever it takes I'll repurchase you I'll do whatever it takes I'll do whatever it takes I'll do whatever it takes I'll buy you back that the second picture of this word redeem is to change for the better or to reform God's like I see more in you than you see in yourself so I want to make you better than you ever were the third definition means to repair or to restore" [09:31] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If sin has destroyed your heart, if you feel unlovable, if you feel unworthy of receiving God's love, if you feel like you've done too much for God to ever, use you for his glory, God is in the business of redeeming and restoring our lives. Now, here's the crazy thing. Statistically, over 80% of Christians never get this. They get so stuck in their sin, so trapped in their ways that they never get it. And I want to ask the question, why do so few drink from this cup? Like, why is it that so few get it?" [11:58] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We believe this lie that we'll never be able to get past our past, that we'll never be good enough, that we'll never be fully forgiven. And so we buy into the lie. And every time we step out in faith to try to do something, we hear the voice of the enemy in our soul say, yeah, but you remember what you did. Yeah, you remember who you were. How could God possibly ever love you? How could God possibly use you? And so we make ourselves very, very low. I said it earlier. David says it like this in the book of Psalms. He says, you stoop down to make me great. You reach down with an outstretched arm and you make me great. You see me differently than I see me." [13:12] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When God made you, he didn't make a mistake and that he hardwired into you giftings and talents and abilities to be used to make a difference. And he uses this language that says you are his masterpiece. You are the pinnacle of his creation. God, the master author, is penning a story through your life that is so beautiful. And if you see all of your mistakes and all of your failures and all of your shortcomings as reasons God can't use you, you're not fully seeing it. You don't understand that God is really in the business of using everything for his glory." [14:33] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God uses all the good stuff in your life for his glory. And I got news for you. You ready? And he uses all of the junk, all the bad stuff in your life for his glory. Part of what makes our church special, in my humble opinion, is that God used one of the darkest moments of my life and my wife's life for his glory. Six months into marriage, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Six months into marriage, I had a heart attack. I flew home and I sat down with her the night before she started chemo and we prayed a prayer, oh God, never let us forget how we feel right now." [15:54] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty, never canceled, never rescinded. If you feel like God can't use you, but at one point, maybe he could have, God, you need to understand, he's still in the business of using you. In fact, I'll say it like this. God never changes his mind about you, ever. Like that should be good news to somebody because God can't and he won't change his mind about you. He's crazy about you. He loves you. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. He loves you." [17:12] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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