Embracing Transformation: Baptism, Repentance, and Intentional Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we celebrated the transformative power of baptism, a public declaration of one's personal decision to follow Jesus. Baptism symbolizes the death of our old sinful selves and the birth of a new life in Christ. It's a moment of joy and celebration, as we witness individuals proclaiming their faith and being immersed in water, representing their rebirth. This day is a testament to the miracles God continues to perform, as we see around 50 people taking this significant step in their spiritual journey. We also took a moment to pray for our mission team heading to Chiapas, Mexico, where they will build homes for widows, demonstrating the church's commitment to making a lasting impact through sustained efforts and generosity.
Reflecting on our spiritual journey, we explored the theme of drifting away from God. It's easy to find ourselves distant from Him, not because He has moved, but because we have. Jesus' parable of the sower reminds us that the condition of our hearts determines the fruitfulness of His word in our lives. We must strive to be like the good soil, receptive and ready to yield a bountiful harvest. To avoid drifting, we must be intentional in our relationship with God, prioritizing time with Him, surrounding ourselves with the right people, resisting temptation, and ensuring that our love for God surpasses our love for worldly things.
We also discussed the importance of repentance and returning to our first love. Repentance is not a heavy burden but a beautiful gift, allowing us to turn back to God and realign our lives with His purpose. By giving God the first of our time, resources, and attention, we can cultivate a heart that is fertile ground for His word. This intentional pursuit of God leads to a life of intimacy and closeness with Him, ensuring that we do not drift but remain steadfast in our faith.
Key Takeaways:
- Baptism as a Miracle: Baptism is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death of our old selves and the birth of a new life in Christ. It's a celebration of God's ongoing miracles, as individuals proclaim their faith and experience spiritual rebirth. This act of obedience and faith is a powerful reminder of God's transformative power in our lives. [17:23]
- Avoiding Spiritual Drift: Drifting from God happens when we become complacent in our spiritual journey. Like the parable of the sower, the condition of our hearts determines the fruitfulness of God's word. We must be intentional in our relationship with God, ensuring that we prioritize time with Him and surround ourselves with the right influences. [48:58]
- The Power of Repentance: Repentance is a gift that allows us to turn back to God and realign our lives with His purpose. It's not a burden but an opportunity to correct our course and return to our first love. By repenting and doing the things we did at first, we can restore our intimacy with God. [01:00:09]
- Intentional Pursuit of God: To avoid drifting, we must give God the first of our time, resources, and attention. This intentional pursuit leads to a life of intimacy and closeness with Him. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we ensure that our hearts remain fertile ground for His word. [51:30]
- Conviction vs. Condemnation: Conviction is a gift from God, prompting us to change and grow closer to Him. It's different from condemnation, which is a tool of the enemy to make us feel unworthy of God's love. Embracing conviction allows us to stop drifting and choose intentionality in our spiritual journey. [58:43]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [17:23] - Baptism Celebration
- [23:06] - Personal Testimonies
- [24:17] - Joyful Proclamations
- [26:26] - Community Support
- [27:56] - Mission to Chiapas
- [36:23] - Series Introduction: Bad Advice
- [40:04] - Personal Story: Car Breakdown
- [41:39] - Spiritual Drift
- [42:49] - Parable of the Sower
- [48:58] - Avoiding Drift
- [51:30] - Time and Attention
- [54:35] - Faking Faith
- [56:55] - Conviction vs. Condemnation
- [58:43] - Returning to First Love
- [01:02:23] - Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 13:18-23 - The Parable of the Sower
2. Hebrews 2:1 - Warning Against Drifting Away
3. Revelation 2:4-5 - Return to Your First Love
#### Observation Questions
1. What does baptism symbolize according to the sermon, and why is it considered a miracle? [17:23]
2. In the Parable of the Sower, what are the four types of soil mentioned, and how do they relate to the condition of our hearts? [42:49]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of spiritual drift, and what are some causes mentioned? [48:58]
4. What is the difference between conviction and condemnation as explained in the sermon? [56:55]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Parable of the Sower illustrate the importance of the condition of our hearts in receiving God's word? [42:49]
2. What practical steps can be taken to avoid spiritual drift, as suggested in the sermon? [48:58]
3. How does the sermon define repentance, and why is it considered a gift rather than a burden? [01:00:09]
4. What does it mean to return to your first love, and how can this impact one's spiritual journey? [58:43]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you experienced a time when you felt closer to God than you do now? What steps can you take to rekindle that closeness? [41:39]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right people. Who are the five most influential voices in your life, and how do they impact your spiritual growth? [51:30]
3. Consider the distractions in your life that may be causing you to drift from God. What specific changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with Him? [48:58]
4. Repentance is described as a change in direction. Is there an area in your life where you need to turn back to God? What practical steps can you take to make this change? [01:00:09]
5. How can you intentionally give God the first of your time, resources, and attention this week? Identify one specific action you can take to prioritize God in your daily routine. [01:00:09]
6. Reflect on the concept of conviction versus condemnation. How can you embrace conviction as a positive force for growth in your spiritual life? [56:55]
7. The sermon mentions the mission team's work in Chiapas, Mexico. How can you contribute to your community or church's mission efforts, either locally or globally? [27:56]
Devotional
I'm ready to create the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Baptism as a Symbol of New Life
Baptism is a profound act of faith, symbolizing the death of our old selves and the birth of a new life in Christ. It is a public declaration of one's commitment to follow Jesus, marking a significant step in the spiritual journey. This act of obedience is a celebration of God's transformative power, as individuals experience spiritual rebirth and proclaim their faith. Witnessing baptism is a reminder of the miracles God continues to perform in our lives, as seen in the joy and celebration of those who take this step. [17:23]
Romans 6:4 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Reflection: Think about your own spiritual journey. How can you publicly declare your faith in a way that reflects your commitment to a new life in Christ today?
Day 2: Guarding Against Spiritual Drift
Drifting from God often occurs when we become complacent in our spiritual journey. Like the parable of the sower, the condition of our hearts determines the fruitfulness of God's word in our lives. To avoid drifting, we must be intentional in our relationship with God, prioritizing time with Him and surrounding ourselves with the right influences. This intentionality ensures that we remain connected to God and continue to grow in our faith, rather than becoming distant. [48:58]
Hebrews 2:1 (ESV): "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you feel spiritually complacent. What specific steps can you take this week to re-engage and draw closer to God?
Day 3: Embracing the Gift of Repentance
Repentance is a beautiful gift that allows us to turn back to God and realign our lives with His purpose. It is not a burden but an opportunity to correct our course and return to our first love. By repenting and doing the things we did at first, we can restore our intimacy with God. This act of turning back to God is essential for maintaining a close relationship with Him and ensuring that we do not drift away. [01:00:09]
Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment when you felt distant from God. How can you embrace repentance today to realign your life with His purpose?
Day 4: Prioritizing God in Our Lives
To avoid drifting, we must give God the first of our time, resources, and attention. This intentional pursuit leads to a life of intimacy and closeness with Him. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we ensure that our hearts remain fertile ground for His word. This commitment to putting God first in all aspects of our lives is crucial for spiritual growth and maintaining a strong connection with Him. [51:30]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can prioritize God in your daily routine this week? How can this change impact your relationship with Him?
Day 5: Understanding Conviction vs. Condemnation
Conviction is a gift from God, prompting us to change and grow closer to Him. It is different from condemnation, which is a tool of the enemy to make us feel unworthy of God's love. Embracing conviction allows us to stop drifting and choose intentionality in our spiritual journey. Understanding the difference between conviction and condemnation is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship with God and ensuring that we continue to grow in our faith. [58:43]
2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV): "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience of conviction. How can you embrace this as an opportunity for growth rather than feeling condemned?
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Quotes
1) "Baptism is a public declaration of a person's personal decision to follow Jesus. Notice I said personal and not private. The difference is if it's private, you don't share it. Personal means it was meant to be shared and celebrated. So here's what baptism is. It's when we take a person who has made the decision to follow Jesus. We immerse them in the water, celebrating the fact that their former sinful self is dead, buried, and gone. And when they come out of the water, the reason they celebrate, the reason you lose your mind is because we're reminded of the fact that Jesus has done a miracle and he's made them new. He's brought them back to life in him. It's a big deal." [17:23] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "If you're here and you might feel distant from God, far from God, he hasn't moved. We move. A.W. Tozer said that you're as close to God as you choose to be. His desire is to be close. His desire is to be near. So we have to be the kind of people who make this decision that I'm never gonna settle for drifting but I'm gonna be intentional about pursuing God." [42:49] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "The author of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 2 verse 1 said this. He said, we must pay attention, pay most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, the word of God. And here's the reason, so that we do not drift away. Like, we have two choices. We can either be intentional about following the way of Jesus. But if we're not intentional, what will happen is we'll take our eyes off. And it's not on purpose. It's not like we want to hurt God or break God's heart. It's just slowly over time, we drift." [48:58] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "If you want to drift from God, give anything but God your focus. In the book of Psalm, David is in a desert. He says this, Psalm 63 verse one, he says, you God are my God. Earnestly, like with all of my heart, with all of my passion, I seek you. He says, I thirst for you. My whole being longs for you in a dry and parched land where there is no water. Imagine being in a desert. Imagine being isolated far from any sort of water or source of life. And finding a cup of water. He said, that is what my soul longs for you. Like, like a person so parched from being in the desert, how they long for water. Can you say that this is true for you? If you can't, today's the day when we choose to stop drifting." [51:30] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "If you want to drift from God, love this world more than you love God. Now, I want you to see some strong language in 1 John. John, who was close to Jesus, said, do not love the world or anything in the world, for if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. This is so strong. Let me say it to you as kindly as I can. There is nothing wrong with loving your life. In fact, read the scripture in totality. God wants you to love your life, enjoy your life, have fun. Enjoy a walk on the beach. Enjoy a beautiful sunset. Enjoy holding hands with your spouse. Enjoy eating a great meal. Enjoy slow dancing in the rain. Enjoy your football team, because I can't this season. Enjoy your life, right? Enjoy it. Hear me. Hear me. But may none of it take the place of the throne of your heart, which was designed exclusively for God, okay?" [54:35] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Condemnation is a work of the enemy to make you feel like you'll never be able to get God's love, his blessing, and his favor. It's the voice of the enemy in your mind saying you'll never get past this, you'll never get over it, you'll never heal. God could never love you. That is condemnation. Some years ago, I preached a message on racism. And it was in the height of 2020 when the whole world was going crazy. And I preached a message on racism that I would preach today to any audience in the world. In the message, I basically said that racism is sin, it is of the enemy. Racism must die in our generation. We were created to love one another, all of us created in the image of God. Beautiful message on racism, beautiful message. And after the message, I got one of the ugliest responses ever from a person who said, I've been in church my whole life. I've been in church my whole life. I've been in church my whole life. I've been in church my whole life. And I've never heard a message more condemning. You just want to say back to them, is it possible that you've conflated the words condemnation and conviction? Condemnation is from the enemy. Conviction is from God. I want you to hear this. Conviction is a gift from God. If you're here today and you're like, I just feel far from God and everything you've said pointed it out to me, it's a gift. Why is it a gift? Because it's your opportunity to stop drifting and to choose intentionality." [58:43] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Repent means this. It means to be going one direction. And to repent means to turn. It means to change directions. So here's what God is saying. If you feel like you've drifted far away, if you feel like there was a point in your life where we were once so close, but you've moved, repent. What does that mean? It means saying, God, at one point, I was chasing after the things from you, but I've gotten off course. Today, I'm turning back to you. So simple. Number two is this. It's do the things you did at first. Let me challenge you. This is right from scripture. I challenge you to give God the first of everything you've got. Ready? Give God the first of your day. Before you get on your phone, before you check what's happening on Instagram or whatever you get on, give God a few minutes of your day. I challenge you to give God the first of your week. Make being in church a priority. I challenge you to say, God, make my heart good soil, the kind of place where you plant your word, and what happens is fruit comes out of my life as a response. I challenge you to put God first in the area of serving, the first of your time, first in the area of giving, the first of your finances, and watch what? Happens." [01:00:09] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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