Engaging with God: A Journey of Transformation
Summary
Today marks the beginning of an exciting eight-week journey as we delve into the study of "Experiencing God." This study is designed to help us move beyond the superficial game of hide-and-seek we often play with God, where we hide due to shame or fear of His calling. Instead, we are called to draw near to God, as James 4:8 reminds us, and to be the church He desires us to be. This journey is not just about attending church or listening to sermons; it's about actively engaging with God and allowing Him to transform our lives.
Reflecting on the story of Abraham, we see how God revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh, the provider, when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Similarly, Moses experienced God as Jehovah Nisi, the banner of victory, during the battle against the Amalekites. These stories illustrate that God desires to reveal His nature to us through our obedience and trust in Him. Our relationship with God is not static; it is an ever-growing journey of experiencing His love, guidance, and power.
As we embark on this study, we are encouraged to loosen our grip on our own agendas and control, allowing God to work in and through us. This requires us to ask the right questions, not "What is God's will for my life?" but "What is God's will?" and how can we align ourselves with it. God is always at work around us, and He invites us to join Him in His work, not because He needs us, but because He wants to develop Christ's character in us and deepen our relationship with Him.
This week, let's focus on recognizing where God is working around us and be willing to step into those opportunities. Whether it's at work, in the grocery store, or in our communities, God is inviting us to be part of His plan. As we engage with the study materials, participate in life groups, and practice what we learn, we will begin to see God in new ways and experience His presence more profoundly.
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Key Takeaways:
1. God's Reluctance in Hide-and-Seek: Just as Adam and Eve hid from God due to shame, we often hide from God when we feel guilty or afraid of His calling. However, God desires us to come out of hiding and engage with Him, as doing so allows us to experience His grace and purpose in our lives. [05:51]
2. Experiencing God Through Obedience: The stories of Abraham and Moses show that experiencing God often requires obedience and trust. When we let go of our control and follow God's lead, we encounter His nature as a provider and victor, deepening our relationship with Him. [23:20]
3. God's Ever-Present Work: God is always at work around us, inviting us to join Him. This requires us to shift our focus from our own plans to His will, asking, "What is God's will?" rather than "What is God's will for my life?" This perspective allows us to align with His purpose and experience His presence. [39:44]
4. The Importance of Letting Go: To truly experience God, we must be willing to loosen our grip on our own agendas and control. This involves trusting God's love, guidance, and power, knowing that His will is best and that He desires to develop Christ's character in us. [26:13]
5. Active Engagement in God's Work: As we embark on this study, we are encouraged to actively engage with God by participating in life groups, practicing what we learn, and being open to His invitations to join His work. This active engagement will lead to a deeper experience of God's presence and transformation in our lives. [45:52]
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Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:07] - Introduction to the Study
[05:51] - The Game of Hide-and-Seek with God
[07:09] - Theme of the Year: Be the Church
[08:57] - Describing Your Relationship with God
[11:45] - Questions to Ponder
[13:21] - Trusting God More
[14:02] - Abraham's Experience with God
[19:34] - God as El Shaddai
[21:05] - Jehovah Jireh: God the Provider
[23:20] - Moses and the Amalekites
[24:48] - Loosening Control
[26:13] - Journey of Self-Discovery
[29:23] - David's Story of Trust
[39:44] - God is Always at Work
[41:36] - Producing Christ's Character
[42:29] - Asking the Right Questions
[45:52] - Engaging with the Study
[47:56] - Call to Action and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Experiencing God
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
2. Genesis 22:14 - "So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'"
3. Exodus 17:15 - "Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does James 4:8 suggest about the relationship between our actions and God's presence? [07:09]
2. How did Abraham experience God as Jehovah Jireh in Genesis 22, and what was the outcome of his obedience? [21:05]
3. In the story of Moses and the Amalekites, how did Moses experience God as Jehovah Nisi, and what role did his actions play in the battle's outcome? [23:20]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of asking "What is God's will?" instead of "What is God's will for my life?" [42:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "coming near to God" in James 4:8 be practically applied in a believer's daily life? [07:09]
2. What does the story of Abraham and Isaac teach about the nature of God's provision and the importance of trust and obedience? [21:05]
3. How does the story of Moses and the Amalekites illustrate the importance of community and support in experiencing God's victory? [23:20]
4. Why is it important to shift our focus from our personal agendas to aligning with God's will, as discussed in the sermon? [42:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. What steps can you take this week to draw nearer to Him, as encouraged in James 4:8? [07:09]
2. Abraham's obedience led to a profound experience of God's provision. Is there an area in your life where you need to trust God more fully? How can you take a step of faith this week? [21:05]
3. Moses needed the support of others to keep his hands raised during the battle. Who in your life can you rely on for spiritual support, and how can you strengthen those relationships? [23:20]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of asking the right questions. How can you shift your focus from "What is God's will for my life?" to "What is God's will?" in your current circumstances? [42:29]
5. Identify one area where you are holding onto control. What practical steps can you take to loosen your grip and allow God to work in that area? [26:13]
6. The sermon encouraged active engagement in God's work. What is one specific way you can participate in God's work in your community this week? [45:52]
7. Consider the idea that God is always at work around you. How can you become more aware of His presence and activity in your daily life? [39:44]
Devotional
Day 1: Coming Out of Hiding
In our spiritual journey, we often find ourselves hiding from God due to feelings of shame or fear, much like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. This tendency to hide can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of God's grace and purpose in our lives. God, however, desires for us to come out of hiding and engage with Him openly. By doing so, we allow ourselves to be transformed by His love and to live out the calling He has for us. This week, consider how you might be hiding from God and what steps you can take to draw nearer to Him. [05:51]
Genesis 3:8-10 (ESV): "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you are hiding from God? How can you take a step towards openness and vulnerability with Him today?
Day 2: Obedience as a Pathway to Experience God
The stories of Abraham and Moses illustrate that experiencing God often requires obedience and trust. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Moses' leadership during the battle against the Amalekites are powerful examples of how God reveals His nature to us when we let go of our control and follow His lead. Through obedience, we encounter God as our provider and victor, deepening our relationship with Him. Reflect on how you can practice obedience in your own life to experience God's presence more fully. [23:20]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: In what specific situation is God calling you to trust and obey Him today, even if it means letting go of your own plans?
Day 3: Aligning with God's Will
God is always at work around us, inviting us to join Him in His plans. This requires a shift in perspective from asking, "What is God's will for my life?" to simply asking, "What is God's will?" By aligning ourselves with His purpose, we can experience His presence and work in our lives more profoundly. This week, focus on recognizing where God is working around you and consider how you can align yourself with His will. [39:44]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to shift your focus from your own plans to seeking God's will? How can you begin to make that shift today?
Day 4: Letting Go of Control
To truly experience God, we must be willing to loosen our grip on our own agendas and control. This involves trusting in God's love, guidance, and power, knowing that His will is best for us. By letting go, we allow God to develop Christ's character in us and to work through us in ways we may not have imagined. Consider what it means for you to let go of control and trust God more fully in your life. [26:13]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are holding on too tightly? What would it look like to surrender that area to God today?
Day 5: Actively Engaging in God's Work
As we embark on this study, we are encouraged to actively engage with God by participating in life groups, practicing what we learn, and being open to His invitations to join His work. This active engagement will lead to a deeper experience of God's presence and transformation in our lives. Reflect on how you can be more intentional in engaging with God's work around you this week. [45:52]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to engage more deeply with God's work in your community or church? How can you commit to following through with this action?
Quotes
"Abraham experienced God in one of the natures that he has, not only his love, but he also learned that God is the provider of anything and everything that we need. What an amazing moment of experience. It's one thing to hear it. We talk about it, but have you experienced that? Do you know God as the provider? Have you experienced that personally? And if you have, like me, you know, that's an amazing experience." [00:21:24] (34 seconds)
"God is working in and around you to do, I think, three things. One, he wants to produce Christ's character in you, okay? He wants to help you to be more like him. He is inviting you into his work so that you can know him more. He wants a growing relationship with you. He desires it. He thinks about you constantly. He wants to be involved in your life, but all too often, we just don't have enough time for him." [00:41:39] (30 seconds)
"God is always working around us. And so that's our reality that we focus on today. It's the one that we will talk about all week. It's what our devotions are going to guide us in. It's what we're going to think through is that God is always doing something around you. We know from even what we talked about last November when we were walking through the elections and what was happening in our world, God's involved on a macro level." [00:48:50] (33 seconds)
"God had a plan for Moses and he had a plan for the Israelites. And God chose to involve them both in what he wanted to happen on a macro level to free a whole group of people. But on a micro level to influence their individual lives. And it was one of the big ones was Moses. And the. Influence that he put there. So why wouldn't God just, if he's always working around us, then why wouldn't he just do it himself?" [00:50:28] (29 seconds)
"God is inviting you to do that. Whitney, I'm going to have you just stand on your feet. Come up and just play for a second. As we close out today, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that's the first part to experiencing God. I hope that you will want to start that relationship. Maybe you've had it on the back burner, and you thought, well, one day I'm going to do it. Well, now's the time to do it, all right?" [00:48:40] (23 seconds)
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