Experiencing God Week 3 Gods Invitation 05/31/26

Devotional

Day 1: When God Says "Go" but We Head to Tarshish

The story of Jonah reveals how easily we prioritize personal comfort over divine purpose. Jonah knew God’s clear instruction yet fled toward self-preservation, trading Nineveh’s redemption for a ship’s temporary shelter. His defiance mirrors our own resistance when God’s call disrupts our plans. Running from God never leads to freedom—it strands us in storms of our own making. Yet even in rebellion, God’s pursuit remains relentless, redirecting us toward His mercy. True peace comes not in avoiding His will but surrendering to it. [44:05]

But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to move toward obedience, and what “Tarshish” have you been tempted to choose instead? How might resisting His direction cost you more than surrendering?

Day 2: Stepping Into the Unknown With Abraham’s Faith

God’s call to Abram required leaving certainty for a promise with no map. At 75, Abram embraced a journey defined by trust, not details. His obedience wasn’t reckless—it was rooted in confidence in the One who called. Like Abram, we’re often asked to walk without full clarity, believing God’s presence outshines the unknown. Faith thrives when we release our need for control and fix our eyes on the Guide, not the road. [53:14]

The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country…to the land that I will show you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. He took Sarai his wife…and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. (Genesis 12:1,4–5, ESV)

Reflection: What “unknown” is God asking you to trust Him with today? How might clinging to predictability hinder your ability to follow His voice?

Day 3: The Crossroads of Self-Centered or God-Centered

Our lives orbit either self or Savior. Jonah’s anger exposed a heart valuing personal preferences over God’s compassion, while Abraham’s journey revealed surrender to a higher story. A self-centered life demands control; a God-centered life finds freedom in releasing it. Every decision—whether to cling to comfort or embrace costly obedience—reveals who sits on the throne of our hearts. [38:27]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What recent choice or reaction has revealed a tendency toward self-centeredness? How could shifting focus to God’s purposes change your perspective?

Day 4: Obedience Is the Echo of Trust

Abraham’s steps toward Canaan weren’t blind—they were anchored in trust. True obedience flows not from obligation but confidence in God’s character. Like a parent guiding a child through darkness, God asks us to hold His hand, not demand the full itinerary. Each “yes” to Him, however small, deepens our reliance on His faithfulness over our own understanding. [58:56]

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. (Matthew 6:33–34, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to obey without knowing the full outcome? How does His past faithfulness encourage you to say “yes” today?

Day 5: Beautiful Feet on Uncomfortable Paths

God’s mission advances through ordinary people willing to go. Paul celebrates “beautiful feet” not for their elegance but their direction—moving toward brokenness with Gospel hope. Whether across oceans or neighborhoods, our availability matters more than our ability. The question isn’t “Can God use me?” but “Am I willing to be sent?” [33:36]

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14–15, ESV)

Reflection: Where has God already placed you to be His “beautiful feet”? What hesitation do you need to release to fully embrace that role?

Sermon Summary

God is already at work. The Father is not absent or indifferent to history. He takes the initiative, orchestrates circumstances, and chooses to involve his image bearers as his hands and feet. Reality three of Experiencing God says the invitation comes from God. He opens doors, then asks if a disciple will join him where he is already moving. Romans 10 sets the strategy in motion. The text promises salvation to all who call, then asks how calling can happen without hearing, hearing without a messenger, and a messenger without being sent. Scripture makes the answer plain. God sends people. He speaks through ordinary voices and walks his love into neighborhoods on ordinary feet.

The invitation always reveals the center. A self-centered life measures everything by personal comfort, control, and affirmation. A God-centered life banks on God’s ability, not self. It seeks his kingdom first, denies self, and keeps eyes on where he is active. The difference shows up in goals, perspective, and power source. One demands autonomy. The other practices surrender.

Jonah pictures self-centeredness. God says go east to Nineveh. Jonah heads west to Tarshish. The prophet knows God’s voice and assignment, yet chooses preference over purpose. Even after mercy floods a wicked city, Jonah fumes because grace lands on people he dislikes. His anger unmasks his heart. He wanted them smitten, not saved. God’s gentle question exposes the center. Is it right to be angry at mercy?

Abraham pictures God-centeredness. God gives a call without a map. Leave your country. Go to the land I will show you. Abraham sets out at seventy-five, trusting the Caller more than the coordinates. He walks by the next step, not the master plan. The same God who stands at the starting line also stands at the destination. That confidence frees a pilgrim to move before every detail is known.

Obedience is the evidence of trust. When God invites, delay and disobedience are the real risks. God will accomplish his purposes through someone. Faith counts it loss to miss the chance to join him. For a church discerning a new campus or a believer considering a next step, the question is the same. Is the hand open to God? If so, he will lead step by step, and the path will make sense as the feet move.

Key Takeaways

1. God invites into his ongoing work [31:38] God is not looking for people to invent a mission. He is already moving and then sets an invitation in front of those who belong to him. The sending in Romans 10 shows how he chooses ears, mouths, and feet to carry saving news. Joining him starts with noticing where he is already at work and saying yes. [31:38]
2. Availability beats ability every time [36:44] The pattern across Scripture is not superstar talent but open hands. God takes ordinary people and accomplishes his purposes through surrendered lives. The critical question is not competency but consent, not “can I” but “will I.” When the center shifts to God, he supplies what the assignment requires. [36:44]
3. Self-centeredness runs west from Nineveh [46:32] Jonah knows God’s heart yet prefers convenience and prejudice over compassion. His flight shows how self as center treats God’s call as negotiable, even when eternity is in the balance. Anger at mercy exposes a hard center that would rather win than love. The cure begins with repentance and a fresh look at God’s heart for enemies. [46:32]
4. Obedience proves trust step by step [57:06] Abraham moves without a full blueprint because the Caller is trustworthy. Faith often receives the next step, not the tenth, and learns God’s faithfulness while walking. The greater risk is refusing the invitation and missing the work God intends to share. Trust shows up in motion, not just intention. [57:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:15] - Adoption vote and Experiencing God
[31:38] - God orchestrates and uses people
[33:36] - Beautiful feet, sent people
[36:44] - Availability over ability
[38:27] - Self-centered vs God-centered heart
[42:33] - Jonah’s call and refusal
[45:52] - From Joppa toward Tarshish
[49:28] - Nineveh’s repentance, Jonah’s rage
[51:14] - God’s question exposes the heart
[52:19] - Abraham steps into the unknown
[54:28] - God at the destination
[57:06] - Step-by-step obedience
[58:56] - Obedience is the evidence
[63:28] - Open-handed discernment and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)
Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV)
Genesis 12:1-5 (ESV)

Observation Questions

According to Romans 10:13-15, what sequence does Paul describe as necessary for people to call on the Lord and be saved?
In Jonah 1:1-3, how does Jonah respond to God’s command, and what does his choice of destination (Tarshish) reveal about his heart?
What specific instructions does God give Abraham in Genesis 12:1, and what does Abraham not receive in terms of details about the journey?
The sermon emphasized that "availability beats ability every time" ([36:44]). What biblical examples were given to support this idea?

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jonah have been so resistant to God’s call to preach to Nineveh, even though he clearly knew God’s character (Jonah 4:2)?
In Genesis 12:1-5, Abraham obeys God’s call without knowing the full plan. What does this suggest about the relationship between trust and obedience?
Paul’s rhetorical questions in Romans 10:14-15 highlight a chain of responsibility. Why do you think God designed salvation to depend on ordinary people being “sent” to share the message?
The sermon contrasted Jonah’s anger at mercy with Abraham’s step-by-step trust ([57:06]). How do these two responses reflect opposing views of God’s authority and love?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time you sensed God inviting you to join Him in a specific action (e.g., a conversation, serving, forgiving). What made it easy or hard to say “yes”? How did your response reveal your “center” (self or God)?
Jonah’s story shows how prejudice and comfort can override compassion ([46:32]). Are there people or situations in your life where you’ve been reluctant to extend grace? What practical step could you take to align your heart with God’s?
Abraham moved forward without a full blueprint. What “next step” is God asking you to take right now that requires trust without all the details? How can you actively depend on Him in this?
The sermon warned that “delay and disobedience are the real risks” when God invites ([58:56]). Where have you been postponing obedience, and what would it look like to surrender that area today?
How can you cultivate a habit of “seeking first God’s kingdom” (Matthew 6:33) in your daily decisions—like work, relationships, or finances—to shift from self-centered to God-centered living?
The phrase “open hands” was used to describe availability to God ([36:44]). What is one thing (e.g., time, skill, resource) you’ve been holding tightly that God might be asking you to release for His purposes?

Sermon Clips

41s

#MissedGratitude

“that in the midst of that, Jonah would just be like blown away. So excited that god could use somebody like him even in his hesitancy that he went and proclaimed what god had done after he got spit out there on the seashore. You would think that Jonah would be thrilled at at what god had done but go back to the the the book of Jonah. Go to Jonah chapter four, the last chapter of the the four chapters in Jonah. Look at the last chapter and look at how how Jonah responds after all this happens. Nineveh relents, the king turns, leads him in in national repentance. But to Jonah, this seemed very wrong and he became angry.”

23s

#RiskIsDisobedience

“You know? God cares about the details. God cares about the unknowns that we see, but he knows that he's in charge and he knows he's gonna take care of it. And if I could be honest, the real risk in my opinion is to not be obedient. When god says to do something, that's the real risk. To not respond to his invitation and I don't wanna miss out on that.”

32s

#RepentanceAndGrace

“That's for every person in this room by the way. That's God's heartbeat for you. God is not against you. God wants to bring about and show and highlight, shine the the brightness of his righteousness into your heart to highlight the things that need to change. And his whole heartbeat in bringing that up is so that you might turn it over to him, repent and turn from that sin, and this is what God wants to do through Jonah for the people of Nineveh, but we're talking about thousands and thousands of people in this major metropolitan city. We're told in verse three, Jonah's response. Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed”

37s

#ChooseCompassion

“But he's right. God is compassionate. As compassionate with Jonah as he is with these Ninevites. Jonah says, I know your heart God. I know you forgive these people. I knew that they would turn from you and you would forgive them and you wouldn't smite them. I wanted them smitten. Whatever the past tense. I wanted them smitten, smoted by you. God, I want you to burn take them out and you didn't do it and I'm mad. Look at God's answer in verse four. Jonah, is it right for you to be angry about this? Is it right for you? Because here's the thing,”

Ask a question about this sermon

East Pickens This sermon · AI assistant

How does God use people to accomplish work?

What distinguishes a God centered from self centered life?

How should believers respond to vague divine invitations?

Experiencing God Week 3 Gods Invitation 05/31/26

Devotional

Day 1: When God Says "Go" but We Head to Tarshish

Day 2: Stepping Into the Unknown With Abraham’s Faith

Day 3: The Crossroads of Self-Centered or God-Centered

Day 4: Obedience Is the Echo of Trust

Day 5: Beautiful Feet on Uncomfortable Paths

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Experiencing God Week 3 Gods Invitation 05/31/26

Share