Eternal Hope: Embracing God's Unchanging Nature
Summary
In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound significance of Jesus Christ, whose life and sacrifice have defined history and offer us a path to forgiveness and eternal life. We commemorated this through the act of communion, a tangible reminder of His grace and the new beginning He offers to all who believe. This sacred act is open to anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Savior, and it serves as a moment to realign our hearts with Him, seeking forgiveness and renewal.
Our community at Grace is beautifully diverse, representing various backgrounds, ages, and spiritual journeys. This diversity enriches our understanding and is a glimpse of the heavenly community. Whether you are a long-time believer or someone exploring faith, Grace is a safe space to ask questions and seek truth. We encourage everyone to consider what guides their life and gives it meaning, especially if they are uncertain about the Bible and its teachings.
Today's focus was on the eternal nature of God, as described in Psalm 90 and affirmed by both Jesus and the natural world. God is eternal, unchanging, and the author of an unending story. This truth is not just theological but deeply personal, offering us hope and purpose. Jesus, who is eternal, offers us the gift of eternal life, a promise that transforms our grief and gives us hope beyond this life. The universe itself, with its precise fine-tuning, points to a Creator who is powerful and eternal.
In a world of constant change, God remains the only true constant. His unchanging nature assures us of His faithfulness and love. As we navigate life's uncertainties, we are invited to trust in this eternal God and become part of His grand narrative. This decision to trust and follow Him is the most significant one we can make, offering us a place in His eternal story.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Significance of Communion: Communion is a sacred act that reminds us of Jesus' sacrifice and grace. It is a moment to realign our hearts with Him, seeking forgiveness and renewal. This act is open to anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Savior, offering a tangible connection to His love and grace. [16:27]
2. Diversity in Community: Our community's diversity reflects the richness of God's kingdom. It offers a broader perspective and a foretaste of heaven, where people from every background come together. This diversity is a strength, enriching our understanding and experience of faith. [35:55]
3. God's Eternal Nature: God is eternal and unchanging, as affirmed by scripture and the natural world. This truth offers us hope and purpose, assuring us of His faithfulness and love. In a world of constant change, God remains the only true constant. [42:15]
4. The Gift of Eternal Life: Jesus, who is eternal, offers us the gift of eternal life. This promise transforms our grief and gives us hope beyond this life. It is a gift we cannot earn but receive through faith in Him. [01:01:36]
5. The Fine-Tuned Universe: The precise fine-tuning of the universe points to a powerful and eternal Creator. This evidence from nature affirms the existence of God and His intentional design. It invites us to see the world as a reflection of His eternal power and divine nature. [56:00]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [16:27] - Invitation to Communion
- [17:52] - Prayer for Forgiveness
- [35:55] - Embracing Diversity
- [37:53] - Exploring Faith and Meaning
- [40:06] - God is Eternal
- [42:15] - The Unchanging Nature of God
- [48:40] - Knowing God Through Scripture
- [50:24] - Jesus Affirms His Divinity
- [51:34] - Jesus' Eternal Claim
- [53:02] - The Word Became Flesh
- [54:33] - Nature Reveals God
- [56:00] - Evidence of a Fine-Tuned Universe
- [01:01:36] - The Gift of Eternal Life
- [01:03:57] - Trusting the Eternal God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 90:2
- Romans 1:19-20
- John 1:1-14
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 90:2, what does it mean for God to be "from everlasting to everlasting"? How does this concept of God's eternal nature appear in the sermon? [42:15]
2. In Romans 1:19-20, how does Paul describe the evidence of God's eternal power and divine nature? How was this evidence discussed in the sermon? [54:33]
3. How does John 1:1-14 describe Jesus' eternal nature, and how does this align with the sermon’s message about Jesus being eternal? [53:02]
4. What examples from nature were given in the sermon to illustrate the fine-tuning of the universe as evidence of a Creator? [56:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the eternal nature of God, as described in Psalm 90, provide hope and purpose in the face of life's uncertainties? [42:15]
2. In what ways does the diversity of the Grace community reflect the richness of God's kingdom, and how does this diversity enhance the understanding of faith? [35:55]
3. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus offering eternal life, and why is this promise transformative for believers? [01:01:36]
4. What role does the act of communion play in realigning believers' hearts with Jesus, according to the sermon? [16:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the significance of communion in your own life. How can you use this sacred act to seek forgiveness and renewal in your relationship with Jesus? [16:27]
2. Consider the diversity within your own community or church. How can you actively contribute to embracing and celebrating this diversity as a reflection of God's kingdom? [35:55]
3. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's eternal and unchanging nature when facing personal challenges or uncertainties? [42:15]
4. How does the promise of eternal life through Jesus influence your perspective on grief and hope? Can you think of a recent situation where this promise provided comfort? [01:01:36]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's eternal plan. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in Him? [01:03:57]
6. How can you use the evidence of a fine-tuned universe to engage in conversations about faith with those who may be skeptical? [56:00]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s invitation to be part of God's eternal story. What practical steps can you take this week to align your life with His grand narrative? [01:06:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Communion as a Path to Renewal
Communion is a sacred act that serves as a tangible reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and grace. It is a moment to realign our hearts with Him, seeking forgiveness and renewal. This act is open to anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Savior, offering a tangible connection to His love and grace. Through communion, believers are invited to reflect on their spiritual journey, acknowledging their need for grace and the new beginning that Jesus offers. It is a time to pause, remember, and recommit to living a life that reflects His love and sacrifice. [16:27]
"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare for your next communion, what specific areas of your life do you need to bring before God for forgiveness and renewal? How can you use this sacred act to realign your heart with Him today?
Day 2: Embracing Diversity in Community
Our community's diversity reflects the richness of God's kingdom. It offers a broader perspective and a foretaste of heaven, where people from every background come together. This diversity is a strength, enriching our understanding and experience of faith. In a world that often divides, the church stands as a testament to unity in diversity, showing that different backgrounds, ages, and spiritual journeys can come together in harmony. This unity is not just a social ideal but a spiritual reality that mirrors the heavenly community. [35:55]
"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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the unity and diversity of your community? What steps can you take to better understand and appreciate the different backgrounds and perspectives within your church?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Eternal Nature
God is eternal and unchanging, as affirmed by scripture and the natural world. This truth offers us hope and purpose, assuring us of His faithfulness and love. In a world of constant change, God remains the only true constant. His eternal nature is a source of comfort and stability, inviting us to trust in His unchanging character. As we navigate life's uncertainties, we are reminded that God's promises are steadfast, and His love endures forever. [42:15]
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's unchanging nature? How can you remind yourself of His eternal faithfulness in moments of doubt or uncertainty?
Day 4: Receiving the Gift of Eternal Life
Jesus, who is eternal, offers us the gift of eternal life. This promise transforms our grief and gives us hope beyond this life. It is a gift we cannot earn but receive through faith in Him. The assurance of eternal life changes our perspective on earthly struggles, providing a hope that transcends our current circumstances. This gift invites us to live with an eternal mindset, focusing on what truly matters and aligning our lives with God's eternal purposes. [01:01:36]
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: How does the promise of eternal life influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes can you make to live more fully in light of this eternal hope?
Day 5: Recognizing the Creator in a Fine-Tuned Universe
The precise fine-tuning of the universe points to a powerful and eternal Creator. This evidence from nature affirms the existence of God and His intentional design. It invites us to see the world as a reflection of His eternal power and divine nature. The complexity and order of the universe serve as a testament to God's creative genius, encouraging us to worship Him as the ultimate Designer. This understanding deepens our appreciation for the world around us and strengthens our faith in a God who is both powerful and personal. [56:00]
"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, ESV)
Reflection: How does recognizing God's hand in the intricacies of the universe impact your view of Him? What steps can you take to cultivate a greater sense of wonder and worship for the Creator in your daily life?
Quotes
Every time we write out the year, it's a reminder that someone came into our world whose life was so significant that we define history as either being before him or after him. His name is Jesus, as you know, and what we commemorate today is the most significant events of his life, that having lived a perfect life, that Jesus went to the cross and he died a death he didn't deserve in his 30s so that you and I could be forgiven, receive a new start, and be adopted into a family that lasts forever, sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. [00:15:13] (49 seconds)
It's for anybody who's given their life to Jesus. If you've opened up your heart to Christ and said, Jesus, I can't. I'll never be good enough. My good will never outweigh my bad to the extent that I'm acceptable to you, to a holy father, but Jesus, you did it for me, and I trust you. I want to follow you. Forgive me. If you've taken that step, you're welcome to participate with us in this time. Those of you engaging online, if you want to go to your kitchen and get sort of a drink and a bread element, we just welcome you to participate with us. [00:16:36] (33 seconds)
You know, we come from all kinds of different backgrounds. I love the fact that grace is a diverse place. We're diverse generationally. We have a lot of babies being born, and we have a lot of senior adults and a lot of people in between. We're diverse ethnically. I think that honors God in a big way, and I pray it'll become even more the case that it makes us richer, it gives us a broader perspective, and it's a foretaste of what heaven is going to be like when there's people from every language and people group on the planet. We're diverse socioeconomically, educationally. [00:35:15] (37 seconds)
Before the mountains were born. Just think about, pause and just think. Before like anything in our world was created, before the mountains, were born, or you brought forth the whole world. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. Here's what he's saying. That before anything existed, before anyone else existed, God was. He was there. He always was and always will be. No beginning and no end. In fact, you hear that in the very first words of the Bible. It just says, say those three words with me. You remember how they go? Genesis 1 .1, in the beginning. [00:41:05] (44 seconds)
The world, even before it was born, God in some way was alive and active. And the psalmist worships the Lord in another psalm and says, Lord, your throne was established long ago. You are from all eternity, alive forever. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It's hard for us to even comprehend, isn't it? Some of you remember, you know, sitting in chemistry or physics class, and you're just sitting there going, this class feels like it's going to last, what, forever, right? I think some of you have the same experience I did. [00:42:22] (44 seconds)
And so the person that he was 2 ,000 years ago and 5 ,000 and an unfathomable amount of time to go back in history is the same God he is today. So when we read in the Scripture this morning in Matthew chapter 11, Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are what? Weary and burdened. Yeah, some of you read that. And I will give you rest for your souls, for I'm gentle and humble in heart. And we read that. And he's unchanging. Like, that's who God is today. That's the invitation that Jesus issues to us as much as the first time he said that. [00:49:03] (39 seconds)
Jesus says, I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. It's pretty clear what he's saying about himself, right? Jesus claims the attributes of God. In fact, his contemporary, he's got that. Some of them were very upset about it. They thought it was blasphemy that Jesus was claiming to be God. One of the most startling comments he made is in John chapter 8, where Jesus is having a conversation with the religious leaders, and he says this. He says, I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, what? I am. [00:51:34] (42 seconds)
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