Embracing the Transformative Presence of Christ

Summary

In our time together today, we explored the profound promise and presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. We began by reflecting on the early church and the disciples' direct experience with Jesus, which filled them with awe and wonder. Yet, Jesus promised something even greater: the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us today, offering peace, direction, and strength in our complex lives. This living presence of Christ is a source of joy, reminding us that we are never alone and that He is with us as a community, calling us to love one another and be His light in the world.

We delved into the concept of the "prize" that Paul speaks of in his letters. This prize is multifaceted: it includes the transformation of our character to become more like Christ, the citizenship we hold in heaven, and the promise of our bodies being transformed into glorious ones. Paul encourages us to press on towards this prize, not out of obligation, but as a response to the incredible gift of salvation we have received through Christ. This journey requires effort and a commitment to strive for perfection, not to earn salvation, but as a grateful response to it.

We also discussed the challenges and helps on this journey. Paul emphasizes the importance of letting go of the past, including hurts and disappointments, to fully embrace the upward call of God. This involves listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance and allowing Him to transform us step by step. Additionally, we are encouraged to find and imitate those who have embraced this journey, who live with kindness, generosity, and the light of Christ.

Finally, we acknowledged the hindrances that can arise, such as living a self-centered life or being an enemy of the cross. Instead, we are called to focus on the ultimate prize, the love of God, and the transformation He offers. By meditating on this prize and responding with gratitude, we can live lives that honor and glorify God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Holy Spirit is a profound gift, offering us peace, direction, and strength in our daily lives. This presence of Christ is a source of joy, reminding us that we are never alone and that He is with us as a community. [11:52]

- The prize Paul speaks of includes the transformation of our character, our citizenship in heaven, and the promise of our bodies being transformed. This journey requires effort and a commitment to strive for perfection as a response to the gift of salvation. [22:08]

- Letting go of the past, including hurts and disappointments, is crucial to fully embrace the upward call of God. This involves listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance and allowing Him to transform us step by step. [41:16]

- Imitating those who have embraced the journey of faith, who live with kindness and generosity, can inspire us to live well for Jesus. These individuals serve as examples of the light and love of Christ. [46:29]

- Focusing on the ultimate prize, the love of God, and the transformation He offers, helps us overcome hindrances such as self-centeredness and being an enemy of the cross. By meditating on this prize, we can live lives that honor and glorify God. [47:27]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [08:13] - Call to Worship
- [11:52] - The Promise of the Holy Spirit
- [13:01] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
- [14:32] - Prayer of Confession
- [18:04] - Children's Lesson: The Prize
- [22:08] - Understanding the Prize
- [29:13] - Transformation and Citizenship
- [31:38] - The Challenge of Perfection
- [36:31] - Pressing On in Faith
- [41:16] - Letting Go of the Past
- [43:47] - The Upward Call
- [46:29] - Imitating Godly Examples
- [47:27] - Overcoming Hindrances
- [52:52] - Responding to God's Love
- [53:46] - Hymn: God's Leadership
- [01:00:34] - Prayers for Leaders and Community
- [01:04:46] - Final Hymn: She Comes Sailing on the Wind

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV) - "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
2. John 14:16-17 (ESV) - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
3. Ephesians 2:6 (ESV) - "And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what are some of the ways the Holy Spirit offers us peace, direction, and strength in our daily lives? [11:52]
2. What does Paul mean by the "prize" he is pressing towards, as discussed in the sermon? [22:08]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of letting go of the past to embrace the upward call of God? [41:16]
4. What examples were given in the sermon of individuals who have embraced the journey of faith and serve as godly examples? [46:29]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17 relate to the idea of never being alone, as mentioned in the sermon? [11:52]
2. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul talks about pressing on toward the goal. How does this concept of striving for the prize reflect our response to the gift of salvation? [22:08]
3. What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven, as mentioned in Ephesians 2:6, and how does this citizenship influence our daily lives? [29:13]
4. How can letting go of past hurts and disappointments, as discussed in the sermon, help us in our spiritual journey? [41:16]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit offering you peace or direction. How did that experience impact your faith journey? [11:52]
2. What are some practical steps you can take to "press on" toward the prize in your own life, as Paul describes in Philippians 3:12-14? [22:08]
3. Identify a past hurt or disappointment that you need to let go of. What steps can you take this week to release it and embrace God's upward call? [41:16]
4. Think of someone in your life who exemplifies kindness and generosity. How can you imitate their example in your interactions with others? [46:29]
5. Are there areas in your life where you feel self-centered or resistant to the cross? How can you refocus on the love of God and the transformation He offers? [47:27]
6. Consider your current community or church involvement. How can you contribute to being a light in the world, as the sermon encourages? [11:52]
7. What specific actions can you take to meditate on the ultimate prize of God's love and transformation in your daily routine? [47:27]

Devotional

Day 1: The Holy Spirit's Presence in Our Lives
The Holy Spirit is a profound gift, offering us peace, direction, and strength in our daily lives. This presence of Christ is a source of joy, reminding us that we are never alone and that He is with us as a community. The early church experienced the awe and wonder of Jesus' presence, but He promised something even greater: the Holy Spirit. This promise is fulfilled in our lives today, providing us with guidance and comfort amidst life's complexities. The Holy Spirit's presence is a constant reminder of Jesus' love and His call for us to love one another and be His light in the world. [11:52]

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in a specific area of your life where you feel lost or overwhelmed today?

Day 2: Striving for the Prize
The prize Paul speaks of includes the transformation of our character, our citizenship in heaven, and the promise of our bodies being transformed. This journey requires effort and a commitment to strive for perfection as a response to the gift of salvation. Paul encourages believers to press on towards this prize, not out of obligation, but as a grateful response to the incredible gift of salvation received through Christ. This journey involves a transformation that aligns us more closely with Christ's character, reminding us of our heavenly citizenship and the future glory that awaits us. [22:08]

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your character that you feel God is calling you to transform? How can you take a step towards that transformation today?

Day 3: Embracing the Upward Call
Letting go of the past, including hurts and disappointments, is crucial to fully embrace the upward call of God. This involves listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance and allowing Him to transform us step by step. Paul emphasizes the importance of releasing past burdens to move forward in faith. By doing so, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, who guides us towards God's higher calling. This process requires trust and a willingness to be led by the Spirit, allowing Him to shape us into the image of Christ. [41:16]

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." (Philippians 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: What past hurt or disappointment do you need to let go of to fully embrace God's call for your life? How can you begin this process today?

Day 4: Imitating Godly Examples
Imitating those who have embraced the journey of faith, who live with kindness and generosity, can inspire us to live well for Jesus. These individuals serve as examples of the light and love of Christ. By observing and learning from those who embody Christ-like qualities, we can be encouraged to grow in our own faith journey. These godly examples provide a tangible representation of what it means to live a life that honors God, motivating us to pursue a similar path of righteousness and love. [46:29]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that exemplifies Christ-like qualities? How can you intentionally learn from their example this week?

Day 5: Focusing on the Ultimate Prize
Focusing on the ultimate prize, the love of God, and the transformation He offers, helps us overcome hindrances such as self-centeredness and being an enemy of the cross. By meditating on this prize, we can live lives that honor and glorify God. The love of God is the ultimate reward, and by keeping our eyes on this prize, we can navigate life's challenges with a heart full of gratitude. This focus enables us to overcome obstacles that may hinder our spiritual growth, allowing us to live in a way that reflects God's glory. [47:27]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one earthly distraction that is keeping you from focusing on God's ultimate prize? How can you shift your focus towards God's love and transformation today?

Quotes

1. "And so in reality, the living presence of Jesus Christ is speaking to me and to you, that you have encountered the living Christ in those moments where you pray, and you sense a sense of peace or direction, those moments when you have no strength and you're strengthened, those moments when you go for a walk and you're just filled with awe and worship. I mean, Christ is alive, and he's been ministering to you and to me in the complexity of our living." [00:11:52] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And not only is he with us, but as a community, he's with us. And so we gather to worship week after week to connect again with each other and with his call that we love each other, and then his call that we go into the world and be light, his light. And in it all, he is at the center. His very presence is with us." [00:12:34] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "forgive us oh God and give us courage and commitment to serve as your saints in this time and this place whatever the challenges may be amen Ephesians says that all the resources of heaven are ours in Christ Jesus in fact that we are seated at the heavenly places and so we have all the resources we need to be the people he's calling us to be and so whatever you need today to be holy and good and don't trust on your own resources ask for his help and time and time again he grants us those resources and we become more and more alive in him may you experience that right now amen" [00:14:57] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "He's saying that Christ has established this transforming work in our very character, and he's saying, I'm pressing in, and then he goes on to say it's not just about being morally pure and having the heart of God in us that we're doing and living in the way that Jesus would have us do, and when Jesus would do a review of our day and our heart, he would say it's perfect, and so Paul is like working on that. He's pressing in on it with the resources that he has as a Christ follower, the resources of heaven, the resources of the Holy Spirit. They're teaming up, and he's pressing in on it, and that's part of the prize." [00:29:06] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "And the third prize that he's given us is that he says, your bodies will be transformed. You're going to have, he's going to take you from your lowly body, like my body, you know, I don't know about your body, mine's getting a little tired, you know. I was doing some dancing last night, and I realized, you know, I'm sore, and I can't do those moves that I could do before, I can't get down as low as I could get, you know, I'm just getting, my body's not the same anymore." [00:29:07] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "I mean, I can throw darts at a dartboard. That's easy, right? But if you said I had to get a bullseye every single time, I would tell you that's hard, right? And so Paul's saying, I am trying to get a bullseye in everything that I think. I hold every thought captive. I'm trying to get a bullseye and I want to do exactly, I no longer live, but it's Christ who lives in me. I want the life of Christ to live fully in me. I want to be about his agenda his every everything about him and so there's an incredible challenge right once you once you get a sense of the prize that we have in Christ and then we say okay listen what can I do I have this debt of love that I owe you Jesus how can I I know I can never pay you back but but what's a response that would be faithful to you and Paul Paul is saying listen this is the faithful response that we strive to be perfect that we give it a good go" [00:31:55] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And so being perfect means there's some stuff that we got to let go of. There's some baggage that we hold on to that we just got to let go of. They're going to slow us in our progress. So you want help? Paul's saying, you got to let go of some stuff. And so he says, forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead, I've pressed towards the goal, the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus." [00:42:44] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "And John's really instructive in that. He says that when we begin to sense the burden that we're not perfect, that we have, we have sin. Sin means missing the mark. It means not being perfect, not being godly. When we notice that, and when it's identified for us, that specific thing, the Holy Spirit speaks in specifics. This is the thing that you're doing. This is what you're saying. This is the relationship that needs mending. He begins to let us know, and then sometimes we have this little cross moment where we begin to say, listen, I need some help here. And that's where we get the resources as a citizen. I need help in order to be truthful, and diplomatic, and graceful. Can you help me in this?" [00:45:47] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?