Experiencing God's Awesomeness in a Distracted World
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of actively seeking and experiencing God's presence in our lives. The speaker encourages the congregation to make time for God, whether at home or in church, and to come together in agreement to fully experience His presence. The importance of living in the light, being grateful, and reflecting on moments when we are awed by God's presence is highlighted, with a call to make this a daily practice.
The speaker contrasts the virtual world we live in with the supernatural world of God, warning against the distractions of artificial intelligence, media, and other created things that can disconnect us from God. Instead, they urge the audience to appreciate the amazingness of God, who sent His son to die on the cross, and to experience the power of His resurrection through knowing Him experientially.
The vastness of God is compared to being in a wide and open space, with much to explore and discover. The speaker encourages intentional recognition and appreciation of God's work in creation, personal lives, and family members. They use an example from the movie "Vacation" to illustrate how people can overlook God's awesomeness by being too busy with their schedules.
The speaker acknowledges the desire to worship God and be enlightened by His presence, encouraging the congregation to worship and reflect on God's awesomeness. They emphasize God's goodness, which surpasses any rating or opinion, and the importance of witnessing to the world by declaring the awesomeness of God. The speaker concludes by stating that our purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission and to be present in God's presence.
The sermon also discusses the incomparable greatness of God and the importance of exemplifying His awesomeness to others. The speaker expresses a desire for listeners to be filled with the fullness of God and to share about His awesomeness as the best gift this Christmas. They encourage praise and worship as a way to find God's awesomeness.
The speaker reflects on the reliance on technology and how it can distract from experiencing God. They share personal stories and examples of God's intervention in people's lives, urging the congregation to focus on God's awesomeness and not discount His ability to restore and save.
Key Takeaways:
- The act of coming together as a congregation to seek God's presence is a powerful experience that aligns believers and fosters a deeper connection with the divine. This unity in worship and prayer is essential for the church to collectively experience the fullness of God's presence.
- The modern world's distractions, particularly through technology and media, can lead to a disconnection from the supernatural reality of God. It is crucial to discern and resist these distractions to maintain a genuine relationship with God and experience His true awesomeness.
- God's vastness and the opportunity to explore His character and creation are likened to an open space filled with wonders. Believers are encouraged to pause and appreciate God's work in their lives and the world around them, rather than rushing through life and missing these divine moments.
- The speaker's personal conviction about not fully living in the all of who God is serves as a reminder for believers to continually seek a deeper understanding and experience of God's nature and love, which is essential for spiritual growth and fulfillment.
- The sermon concludes with a call to action for believers to be present in God's presence, to actively seek Him in every aspect of life, and to share the awesomeness of God with others, especially during the Christmas season, as a way to fulfill the Great Commission.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 11:33 - "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
2. Psalm 33:6-9 - "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast."
3. Philippians 3:10 (Amplified) - "And this, so that I may know Him experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His person more completely, and in the same way experience the power of His resurrection which overflows and is active in believers."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 11:33, what attributes of God are described as unsearchable and beyond finding out?
2. In Psalm 33:6-9, what actions of God demonstrate His power and majesty?
3. How does Philippians 3:10 describe the process of knowing Christ and experiencing His power?
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of pausing to reflect on God's awesomeness. What example from the movie "Vacation" was used to illustrate how we often overlook God's wonders? ([49:07])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Romans 11:33 speaks of the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge. How might this understanding affect a believer's trust in God's plans and judgments?
2. Psalm 33:6-9 calls for all the earth to stand in awe of God. What are some practical ways believers can cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for God in their daily lives?
3. Philippians 3:10 emphasizes knowing Christ experientially. What does it mean to know Christ in this way, and how can this deepen a believer's faith?
4. The sermon highlighted the distractions of modern technology. How can believers discern and resist these distractions to maintain a genuine relationship with God? ([58:06])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent moment when you were awed by God's presence. How can you make pausing to appreciate God's work a daily practice? ([46:22])
2. The sermon discussed the dangers of being distracted by technology and media. Identify one specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on God. What steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction? ([58:06])
3. The speaker encouraged intentional recognition of God's work in creation and personal lives. What is one way you can intentionally recognize and appreciate God's work in your life this week? ([47:51])
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of worship and reflecting on God's awesomeness. How can you incorporate more worship and reflection into your daily routine? ([51:13])
5. The speaker urged believers to share the awesomeness of God with others. Think of one person in your life who needs to hear about God's greatness. How can you share this with them in a meaningful way this week? ([01:14:32])
6. The sermon emphasized being present in God's presence. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are fully present in your time with God, both individually and as a congregation? ([01:19:24])
7. Reflect on the idea of being awed by the supernatural versus being intrigued by the artificial. How can you shift your focus from man-made distractions to the wonders of God's creation and presence? ([01:00:23])
Devotional
Day 1: Unity in Divine Pursuit
Seeking God's presence together as a congregation is not just a routine; it's a powerful act that unites hearts and deepens the collective experience of the divine. This shared pursuit aligns believers with each other and with God's spirit, creating a strong community that can stand firm in faith and support one another in spiritual growth. [07:40]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering unity and a shared pursuit of God's presence within your church community?
Day 2: Resisting Worldly Distractions
In a world saturated with technology and media, it's essential to discern and resist distractions that can sever our connection to the supernatural reality of God. By intentionally setting aside time for God and being mindful of our media consumption, we can maintain a genuine relationship with Him and experience His true awesomeness. [14:25]
Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to minimize distractions and focus more on your relationship with God?
Day 3: Appreciating Divine Wonders
God's vastness invites us to explore and appreciate His character and creation. It's important to pause in our busy lives to recognize and be grateful for the divine moments and works around us. This appreciation leads to a deeper understanding of God's nature and His love for us. [21:37]
Psalm 111:2 - "Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them."
Reflection: What are some aspects of God's creation or character that you have overlooked recently? How can you take time today to appreciate and ponder them?
Day 4: Living in Awe of God
The call to live in awe of God is a reminder to continually seek a deeper understanding and experience of His nature and love. This pursuit is essential for spiritual growth and fulfillment, and it transforms how we view ourselves and the world around us. [29:15]
Psalm 27:4 - "One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a daily practice of living in awe of God's nature and love?
Day 5: Sharing God's Awesomeness
Our purpose is to be present in God's presence and to actively seek Him in every aspect of life. By sharing the awesomeness of God with others, especially during significant seasons like Christmas, we fulfill the Great Commission and spread the joy of knowing Him. [35:52]
1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Reflection: Who can you share the awesomeness of God with today, and how can you demonstrate His love through your actions?
Quotes
"We need to explore the vastness of God; we'll never ever uncover it all... but man, let's enjoy the journey, let's see all that he has for us." [01:08:47] (Download)
"God can restore and this is what I want us to really focus on today: the awesomeness of God that we don't discount. He is still able and can take care of me, deliver me, save me." [55:25] (Download)
"There is Supernatural intelligence, there's Supernatural things that God wants to do in our life, the awesomeness of God that he desires us to live in." [58:44] (Download)
"When you begin just to talk about and to declare the goodness of God, then it swells up within us... if we would rate the goodness of God, it would exceed, it would be a box office sellout." [01:16:31] (Download)
"We worship an awesome God... God is wanting us to witness to a world, to bring light into a dark place and declare the awesomeness of God." [01:18:43] (Download)
"God has set so much before us, but often we are in such a hurry, don't mean to be, don't even recognize that we are, but I think He is calling us to be intentional about looking at all that He has done." [47:51] (Download)
"As we strengthen our relationship with God and we explore his character and creation, then we will see more of the supernatural than we see of the artificial." [01:10:17] (Download)
"May we not be deceived by the counterfeits, may we not be deceived by the imitations that the enemy has put before us, may we not take for granted the amazingness of God." [01:12:18] (Download)
"God's awesomeness is supreme, it's overall. He loves you today, he has so much for us to find out about him. So during this season, let's set a place at our table for God, let's make room in our daily time for God." [01:20:51] (Download)
"I believe that you're going to Enlighten our physical eyes but God more so I believe that you're going to Enlighten our spiritual eyes." [01:23:12] (Download)
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